IRMA Italy 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Anduze is a new school vocalist with an old school soul sound. He has that rare quality of being able to bring to mind greats like Marvin Gaye and James Brown while also having his own sound. He reimagines the greats on this new album that was written during the pandemic and blurs the lies between jazz, soul, funk, R&B and pop similar in fashion to the likes of Prince or Lenny Kravitz. Raised on the native land of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Anduze draws also on reggae sounds on the deep cut 'Helen' while picking up the funk on cuts such as 'How To Love A Good Man.'

Review: Don Carlos' 'Aqua' is the second album to be released by the Varese-based producer, and in its day, it came to be renowned for its rare white label edition (contrasting to the main version which contained a smug-looking Don on its blue-tinged front). The generic version became a collectors' item, thanks to a combination of its tasteful design and the inclusion of the classic house track 'Alone' which shocked the dance music community at the time of its release. Now, finally, the generic version gets an unlikely reissue, with many remixes of Alone in tow, not to mention obscurer tracks like 'Ipnotica' and 'Move Your Body'.

Review: Don Carlos will always be best known as the legendary Italian producer behind the enduring Balearic and Italo/dream house classic 'Alone' which was, rather impressively, his first ever release. Here we get to hear some of his favourite tunes on another vital volume of this series from his longtime home label Irma Records. All the tracks on this essential double pack have been re-edited by Don Carlos himself, especially for this occasion with highlights from the likes of Deep Aural Penetration, Love Nation and Outdance.

Review: Leading Italian disco outlet IRMA is back with more irresistible and dazzling goodness, this time courtesy of Funky Destination with some pretty standout remixes. 'Take It Down' opens up as a new version by LTJ Xperience that has percolating funk lines and slow, sensuous grooves. 'Mr Bong' (Louie Beat Re-work) is a more percussive number with brilliant drumming and sunny melodies and 'Take It Down' offers a sensuous soul sound and some psyched-out guitar riffs. Last of all is the most streamy and busy of the lot with unresolved drum loops, disco percussion and rousing pads that will fill the floor.

Review: Since appearing in limited numbers back in 2019, vinyl copies of Luca Trevisi's seventh album as LTJ Xperience, Deepening of a Groove, have swapped hands for surprising sums online. IRMA has responded by delivering this reissue. We're glad they have, because it's one of the Italian veteran's strongest sets - a wonderfully groove-driven fusion of chugging disco, deep house, jazz-funk, soul and sample-rich club cuts that's packed to the rafters with playable treats. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the acid-flecked loop funk of 'Deeper', the rolling swamp funk headiness of harmonica-laden future classic 'I'm Coming Down', the sensual nu-disco soul of 'Infiltrator', and the bluesy, slow-motion hypnotism of standout 'Black Feeling'.

Review: Luca LTJ Trevisi is LTJ Xperience and he began his DJ and producer career in the 80s. He was a resident at two of Italy's most acclaimed clubs and sure knows how to craft a tune. As well as his own originals he is a master of the remix and someone who can rework any cut to be even more potent not he floor. He proves that here with four new versions that span deep and dreamy and cosmic disco. He tackles Vasquez, Black Mighty Wax, Soultrend Orchestra and Papik & Sarah Jane Morris and turns each into gold.