Review: French twosome Polo & Pan spent the first part of their career giddily fusing tropical house and synth-pop into attractive new shapes, before exploring the world of chillwave on 2021 sophomore album Cyclorama. Four years later, and now signed to major label Virgin, they've once again upped their game, delivering a set of accessible, attractive and sun-drenched fusions of synth-pop and dance-pop that draw inspiration from a variety of musical cultures around the world. For proof, check highlights including the effortlessly dreamy 'Pareidolies', the immersive nu-disco chug of Beth Ditto collaboration 'Petitle Etoile', steamy, Air-esque Balearic shuffler '22:23' (with Vico and Antonin) and string-drenched, Gainsbourg-influenced closing cut 'La Nuit' (with Arthur Teboul).
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll" (A-Trak remix radio edit)
Klaxons - "Two Receivers"
The Rapture - "Sister Saviour" (DFA vocal remix)
Goose - "Black Gloves"
Simian Mobile Disco - "Hustler"
Test Icicles - "What's Your Damage" (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke remix)
CSS - "Let's Make Love & Listen To Death From Above"
We Have Band - "Hear It In The Cans"
Fujiya & Miyagi - "Knickerbocker"
Friendly Fires - "Jump In The Pool"
Playgroup - "Make It Happen" (Full Length version)
Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"
Tom Vek - "I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes"
Shit Disco - "OK"
Zongamin - "Bongo Song"
Black Strobe - "Italian Fireflies"
Fischerspooner - "Emerge"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Satan Said Dance"
Phoenix - "1901"
The Killers - "Mr Brightside" (Jacques Lu Cont Thin White Duke radio remix)
Cut Copy - "Going Nowhere"
!!! - "Me & Guiliani Down By The School Yard - A True Story"
Review: Given that much time has passed since the original nu-rave and, ahem, 'indie sleaze' days of the noughties, it was perhaps inevitable that we'd get a celebratory compilation sooner, rather than later. Two Piers has done a pretty good job of marking those movements - or the 'nu-rave' end of it at least - on Strobes In Space. There are plenty of bona-fide crossover anthems of the period present - Justice v Simian's 'We Are Your Friends', New Yong Pony Club's punk-funk inspired 'Ice Cream', the Jacques Lu Cont revision of The Killers 'Mr Brightside' and LCD Soundsystem's 'Tribulations' included - alongside genuine underground club classics and tracks that undoubtedly deserve another airing (see Simian Mobile Disco's 'Hustler', Tiga's 'You're Gonna Want It', Playgroup's genuinely brilliant 'Make It Happen' and Soulwax's 'NY Excuse').
Wynd Chymes - "Checkin' Out Your Stuff" (12" version)
GQ - "Is It Cool"
Phil Upchurch - "Could It Be You" (feat Marlena Shaw)
The Floaters & Shu Ga - "Not Enough For Me"
Linda Clifford - "I Want To Get Away With You"
David Williams - "When Your Dreams Come True"
Anthony Lockett - "Decisions"
Review: The Nighttime Lovers series, which deftly showcases the forgotten and overlooked corners of 1980s disco, electrofunk and synth-powered dancefloor soul, reaches its 36th instalment. As you'd expect given the high number of previous volumes, the selections tend towards the defiantly deep, with more familiar artists being represented by lesser-known treats. So, instead of the much-loved 'Love Me Like That', Reel To Reel offers up the glossier, slap-bass propelled 80s soul of 'Don't Keep Me Hanging On', Cashmere contributes the sweet and tactile 'We Need Love' and GQ drops the eyes-closed lead vocals and horn-heavy peak-time hustle of 'Is It Cool'. Other highlights include Phil Upchruch's Marlena Shaw-sporting 'It's Got To Be You', Linda Clifford's superb 'I Want To Get Away With You' and the squelchy synth-disco of 'Decisions' by Anthony Lockett.
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