Disco Recommendations September 2010

Review: Instruments Of Rapture is already one of those labels that has a stamp of quality indelibly marked on every release. This 12" from IOR newcomer Craig Bratley is no exception, with the chugging, acid-tinged slow mo disco of "Birdshell" sprawled across the A Side. Flip over for two stellar remixes from Burnt Island Casuals (Harri & The Revenge) and 6th Borough Project (The Revenge & Craig Smith) , the latter of which wins the award for Juno favourite, with hip-hop and soul vocal samples layered on top of the mix on top to glittering effect.

Review: The clamour and hype surrounding Tensnake's remix of Azari & III's "Reckless With Your Love" has surpassed the inner disco circle and spread as far and wide as Pitchfork and The Metro. No real surprise as both the remixer and remixee are certainly Premier League material. The liberal usage of C & C Music Factory splits audiences once the signature piano stabs are dropped in, but this remix alone is likely to secure Permanent Vacation one of their best selling 12 inches to date. But yet, it's not even the best remix on this record. That honour falls to Midnight Magic, who have already won many a heart via their debut single "Beam Me Up". Employing a similar sound to that track, Midnight Magic's remix has a vintage disco bump that submerged in cavernous echo, with the soaring string and horn arrangements laced over the chorus a true delight. Tuff City Kids aka Gerd Jansen and Phillip Lauer (Arto Mwambe/Brontosaurus) dispel with the vocal refrain and opt for some prime Muzic Box jack which brilliantly teases out an acid tinged variant on the original's distinctive synth melody. The less than prolific German duo of Good Guy Mikesh & Filburt return from the wilderness with a brilliant burning deep house rework which rounds off a superlative remix package.

Review: Repress of the debut Sofrito Super Singles which celebrates the Afro-disco and boogie scene of South Africa, - where Salsoul meets Soweto. Comes housed in a new look Sofrito house sleeve. The three track EP features Teaspoon & The Waves - led by veteran alto player Teaspoon Ndelu. They released one album in 1980, covering a mix of disco and funk sounds for the SA dancefloors. Oh yeh Soweto is a cheeky version of Lamont Dozier's Going Back To My Roots - changing the lyrics and toughening up the beats, but with the same killer riffs. Saturday Night Special is from the same LP, a spaced out Afro Disco groove with excellent percussion and psychedelic synths, re-edited by the Sofrito team. The B side features a track by the Nzimande Allstars - another mysterious group of session musicians. The drawn out groove of Highway Sporo Disco fuses a heavy disco backing with jive guitar and stellar horns and organ for a unique taste of the underground sound of the Cape.

Review: The seminal 2002 bump of the Freaks Switching Channels remix of Crue L Grand Orchestra's "(You Are) More Than Paradise" gets a timely reissue here backed with two variants on the same track from Mr Theo Parrish. Head straight for the long version from the Sound Signature boss which consumes nearly all of the B Side with a breezy jazzy brilliance.

Review: Dutch imprint Kindred Spirits drop the first in a series of disco and boogie rarity reissues curated by esteemed digger Zafar Chowdry. The string heavy disco bump of China Burton's "You Don't Care About My Love" is spread across the A Side whilst Razzmatazz's "Set It Out" has burning organs riffs that demand dancing on the flip.

Review: Good things come to those that wait and Capricorn Rising finally grace us with two new tweaks. The mysterious imprint hit all the right spots with their first release last year, digging out a rarity from the Can archives and giving a Sting assisted Eberhard Schoener oddity the balearic haus rerub. Across Side A of Capri 002, Fanfare's shuffling rare funk delight "Gotham Oddysey" is given a shimmering refix via Volcov. The mid section horn blow out is particularly special! On the flip, another rarity in Joe Bisso's "Playtime" is given the Phlash & Quaff edit treatment, lacing the percussion, horns and guitar licks in plenty of infectious delay.

Review: Claremont 56 deliver another stunningly presented 12' pressed up on muddy gold which holds two versions of Holger Czukay's "My Persian Love". This brilliant journey into kaleidoscopic cosmiche psychedelia was the Can legend's first composition after leaving the band and it's complemented by an equally spellbinding 2010 update.

Review: Deeplay Music boss man Martin Brodin launches his new MB Disco imprint with Croatian disco deity Ilija Rudman the object of some remix treatment on the inaugural release. Lifting Rudman's "See" from the Deeplay archives Brodin embellishes the track with a burning boogie strut, with overdubbed synth lines the melodic backdrop to filtered vocals and a chuggy beat. The ever mysterious Drop Out Orchestra opt for a more traditional NYC Disco flavour on their remix with low slung bass and rhythm licks in abundance amidst the glittering flourishes. With subsequent releases from the likes of Newcleus, Ray Mang and Giorgio Moroder on the horizon, Brodin's imprint is certainly one to look out for.

Review: DFA continue to hit the right note in the second half of 2010 with this encouraging debut release from NDF aka Bruno Pronsato and Sergio Giogini, hot on the heels of essential releases from The Crystal Ark and Jee Day. The original version of "Since We Last Met" is steeped in melancholic beauty which spreads from the warm synth melodies to the undulating kaleidoscopic chords and intermittent bursts of languid vocals. Beyond the mid point inclusion of some sub heavy kicks, this is a track that has no illusions towards crescendo building, its purpose is to enchant and delight - something that is achieved with ample success. Ricardo Villalobos makes his DFA debut across the B Side with a 12 minute plus abridged 12' edit of the suitably expansive 17 minute remix which appears on the digital release. Giogini's vocals cascade in the mix around off kilter drum programming and a bodily function sampling bassline that combines with dubby melodies for a truly hypnotic effect. Top release!

Review: Four track EP of thumping cosmic discoid weirdness from the mysterious Heavy Rotation camp. If you can imagine a glorious amalgamation of the best bits of Beppe Loda, Space, Giorgio Moroder and Cerrone then your potent imagination might have a sound similar to the two tracks from Albion. On the flip, Spacelex rework a moog heavy weirdo disco punk funk odyssey regarding the rise and fall of a Roman Emperor. Extra points for the vintage 70s sci fi sleeve design.goes here

Review: Gavin Russom's second release as the Crystal Ark, the snappily titled "The Tangible Presence of the Miraculous" hurtles along at a hypnotic 135bpm. It's not short either at near 14 minutes but totally captivates, not least due to the menacing acid pulse that dips and throbs throughout. On top this Russom plays orchestrator to thumping percussion from Alberto Lopez, layers of druggy synths and vocal interplay between long term collaborator Viva Ruiz and Lizzy Yoder. At the tracks most psychedelic point, a haunting organ riff comes to the fore before yielding to Russom's own chant of being on fire which melds to now completely lysergic acid throb as the track plays out. On the flipside, Russom presents an equally intricate dub version which reduces the vocal contributions to the rhythmic chanting and puts the focus squarely on transforming the acid throb into a mind melting druggy globule of brilliance. Amazing 12".

Review: Love Saves The Day, Kaine's collaboration with disco chanteuse du jour Kathy Diamond, is certainly one of this years more simplistically anthemic disco cuts with little more than the gloriously euphoric piano riffs to accompany Miss Diamond's distinctive tones. Needwant call in the favours on remix duties with Boston duo Soul Clap and Lithuanian Mario Basanov. Part of the Wolf & Lamb clique, Soul Clap are on the rise and their remix does them justice, with retro drum programming the backdrop to shimmering piano and expertly judged dubbing on Diamonds vocals. No stranger to the Needwant imprint, Basanov steps up with two differing takes. The uplifting vocal remake is steeped in the 80s, all intermittent guitar licks and burning synth bass lines, but it's the dub version where Basanov really impresses though. The track is built around a killer bassline squelch and snappy kicks, with Diamond's vocals chopped up and stretched out sublimely across the soft flourishes of piano. Another top release from Needwant.