Leng 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: After an absence of a few years, 40 Thieves return to Leng Records with one of their most special releases to date: a hook-up with long-time Patrick Adams collaborator Gary Davis and long serving soulstress Cinammon Jones. What's on offer is a re-make of one of Jones' songs, 'The Gift', whose sweet lyrics celebrate the arrival of a new day. 40 Thieves take, explored first in the A-side 'Disco Mix', sounds like it was designed to be danced to during a San Francisco sunrise - think dub disco delays, hypnotic grooves, bubbly electronics, languid guitar licks and gentle melodies. Over on the flip, they take the track further into 'woozy 6am open air dancing territory' on a superb, stretched out 'Disco Dub' mix, before peppering a killer drum track with spaced-out electronics on the 'Beats' version.

Review: The deep house maestro that is Ron Trent has been tapped up for some of his remix expertise by the good folk at Leng. He is charged with tackling Harks & Mudd's 'Susta' and turns out two versions. His opening remix is all grown up Balearic sounds. Gentle percussion is scattered over the leggy house drums, noodling Rhodes chords bring colour and a breathy female vocal layers in the sun kissed soul. It's an immediate classic. On the flip comes his dub, which is more fleshy and elastic, but with just as much soul and warmth.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


Greek DJ/producer Lex has been part of the scene in his home city of Athens since the dawn of the millennium, though it's only in the last few years that he's focused more on making music. The results of his efforts, which were previously showcased on 12" singles for Leng and Samosa Records, amongst others, have been quietly impressive. His debut album, Waving, continues in the same vein, utilising a pool of musician friends to craft cuts that blur the boundaries between sun-kissed, sofa-friendly Balearic warmth and subtly funk-fuelled, dub disco-framed dancefloor shufflers. The plentiful highlights include the stunning, tropical-tinged opener, 'Punta Allen', the organ-sporting vocal squelch-along 'Window Spells', acid-flecked nu-disco-meets-cosmic disco workout 'Silver Peace' and high-octane number 'Down My Soul'.

Review: Baz Bradley and A Girl Called Kate team up to make Orbs Of Light, cementing their decades-long collaborative synergy with a slice of contemporary Balearic beat. 'Billion Days' hears Kate loll through a resolute vocal line, as its production opens up an ever-expansive beach-bound vista, whether by sequenced steel pans or synths. The 10" also includes remixes by 40 Thieves and Mind Fair, who add their own twists to the original.

Review: Payfone's track record to date is exceptional, with the duo delivering some of their most impressive work on Paul 'Mudd' Murphy and Simon Purnell's label, Leng. 'I Feel You', which sees them reunite with vocalist and songwriter Kyd Neirida (who is depicted on the cover and previously featured on 2022 single 'Put Your Face Away'), is another strong offering. Their original mix is impeccable - a slow-motion shuffler in which Neirida's expressive, emotional vocals rise above a rubbery synth bassline, metronomic beats and flashes of effects-laden guitar. Murphy dons his Mudd alias to deliver vocal and instrumental takes that expand the sound further - he is a master of slow-motion Balearic disco after all - with guest musician Michele Chiavarini adding the crowning touch via some gorgeous, life-affirming piano solos.

Review: Leng Records' 59th release is something a little different: a very personal collection of largely obscure and hard-to-find gems, mostly created by European pop producers in the late '70s and early '80s, from artist and record collector Paul Beckett. Firmly Balearic and sun-soaked in tone, there's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout. For proof, first check Ray & John's 'Day By Day (Instrumental), which sounds like Please-era Pet Shop Boys reclining at a pool party in Rimini, before admiring the space rock/synth-pop fusion of 'Angelo' by Angel'o. Over on the flip, Beckett offers up three more slices of glassy-eyed goodness, with the loved-up deep synth pop of Angel and the fretless bass-sporting wooziness of Eggs Time standing out.