Mar 16 2016

[Audio] Jari Menari’s ‘Tiki Man’ EP

The Tiki Man EP is the latest release from London’s Musik Box label and it’s arguably their best, and most eclectic, to date. Musik Box is, of course, home to all things House, Disco and Boogie set up by renowned beat-mongering duo Punks Jump Up, now PJU; now on it’s sixth release after a string of rock solid, and slightly quirky, floorfillers.

Tiki Man is the product of Jari Menari; who are, in turn, one half of PJU teaming up with one half of Swiss Disco experimentalists In Flagranti. Which makes sense as they are both products of that early 2000s Indie-Dance boom.

In Flagranti have been knocking out woozy Disco epics since way back in 2002, largely on their own label but occasionally for the likes of Kitsuné, Phantasy and Gomma. Intergalactic Bubblegum and Business Acumen both hold a massive place in my heart as the soundtrack to my last few years living in London. Similarly Punks Jump Up have served up some of the finest Boogie-fuelled monsters of the last decade. From Dance To Our Disco to the Chromeo’s Dave1 featuring Mr. Overtime, via collaborations with Dubka and Earl Grey, a new PJU release is always something to get excited about. Particularly the basslines. Oh how I love me some PJU bassline!

The EP’s title track is an insane six minutes of half rapped/half chanted vocals over one of those basslines. A thick late-80s House groove, pure white glove stuff, accentuated with synth stabs and popping purcussion, Tiki Man has a Chicago House core with a particularly British twist. Tanz La Tête continues in a similar vein, upping the jacking element into a hypnotic symphony of rolling 909 purcussion and punchy Roland bass; tied together with looped vocal snatches, a pure vintage floorfiller.

There’s a slight EBM/Newbeat slant to Body Conscious with it’s reverb heavy synthetic industrial purcussion and undulating waves of effects rolling in and out of the track while I Want U (But I Want U 4 Myself) serves up an almost New York Indie-Disco flavour mixed with a little Detroit Electro and Chicago warehouse vibes. Live bass and organ set this one apart from the rest of the EP.

The TIki Man EP is an example of what can happen where people truly steeped in the history of dance music come together to experiment, the results are eclectic and left-field, but rock solidly classic House.

♫ Jari Menari – Tiki Man

♫ Jari Menari – Tanz La Tête

♫ Jari Menari – Body Conscious

♫ Jari Menari – I Want U (But I Want U 4 Myself)

Jari Menari’s Tiki Man EP is out now.

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Mar 15 2016

[Audio] Lindstrøm’s ‘Closing Shot’

Norwegian Cosmic Disco pioneer Hans-Peter Lindstrøm’s output can swing from the crowd-pleasing floorfillers to eclectic and freeform sonic experiments. You never know quite which you are going to get but you know what either way it will be musically exciting; and no doubt funky as all hell.

Closing Shot is the man’s new single, taken from a forthcoming EP set to drop 8th July on Lindstrøm’s own Feedility imprint. Closing Shot kicks off Lindstrøm’s 2016, after a super busy 2015 loaded with collaborations and reMixes (notably reMixes from Foals and Grizzly Bear and collabs with Todd Rundgren & Emil Nikolaisen), and see’s Hans-Peter getting his head down and serving up what he does best. Full on Cosmic Disco weirdness.

In the classic Lindstrøm vein, Closing Shot hits around the seven minute mark and is loaded with nice vintage synth hook set to a wobbly bass groove. The opening salvo of claps and chords set the tone for this return to the dancefloor, as with all Lindstrøm tunes; taking it’s time to ease you into it’s hypnotic flow. Gradually layering bright retro leads and spaced-out percussion over a commanding kick, Closing Shot builds it’s base until it’s final minute kicks in with a spine-tingling finale of sparkling arpeggios and syncopated synth stabs.

It’s a lovely, nostalgic and fun track aimed squarely at the dancefloor and one that bodes extremely well for the forthcoming album.

♫ Lindstrøm – Closing Shot

Lindstrøm’s Closing Shot is out now.

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Mar 11 2016

[Audio] Touch Tone’s ‘Taken By You’

Touch Tone has only gone and made an ElectroPop record, hasn’t he! Andrew Verner, one time Short Circuit Dreamwaver, has come on in leaps and bound since becoming Touch Tone. From his retro Robo-Pop beginnings through a Tropical House odyssey to this point. With a tune ready for the big time.

Andrew’s output has been solidly top quality for the past seven years since his Binary beginnings (has it really been seven years!). You can always rely on Touch Tone to drop something quintessentially electronic with heapings of synth funk in the bass department. Taken By You is no different. Well, it’s a little different.

Teaming up with vocalist Amanda Ply, Touch Tone serves up his most commercially viable offering to date. Seriously, this could quite easily chart. Built on a core of thick Synth Disco, the track layers up the big-room House elements and isn’t stingy with the coursing sweeps and chill-inducing hooks. This provides a fine backing for Amanda’s massive vocal performance, both epic and insanely catchy.

The track was released at the end of last month, so you can go and pick it up right now. I hope the weather is starting to get better wherever you are, ‘cos this is one for sunny days and free time. Without a care in the world, you’ll be humming this for hours afterward.

♫ Touch Tone (Feat. Amanda Ply) – Taken By You

Touch Tone’s Taken By You is out now.

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Dec 21 2015

[Audio] Goldroom reMixes’ Chvrches’ ‘Leave A Trace’

Well now. This is a cheeky end to the year. We were actually not going to be writing about anything new now until 2016. Aside from the electronic rumors Awards just before the new year we had cleared our desks and left the office for the holidays. And then this happens.

We actually knew this was coming, but when it didn’t arrive when we expected we just assumed it had been delayed until the new year. Not quite, this one snuck out this last weekend before X-mas pulling us back to the keyboard like we were on call. As much as we wanted to be putting our feet up with a very large drink this was just too special to pass on.

What can make us temporarily put aside seasonal laziness you ask? Two of our most favourite acts of the century on the same release. That’s what. Chvrches have only gone and got Goldroom to reMix Leave A Trace for them!

You know we love Chvrches. You must do. Whether it’s handing their début album, The Bones Of What You Believe, the tops album spot in the 2013 electronic rumors Awards or calling seeing Chvrches live “a religious experience for us” on Instagram or owning every Chvrches vinyl release, including the ones that are worth three figures; you could definitely say we were kinda’ fans of the Glaswegian trio. One of the best things to happen to ElectroPop for some time both in terms of intelligent songwriting that connects with people and makes people dance, and in terms of popularity for the genre. Just type “Chvrches” into the search field on the right, you’ll see post after post praising their new synthetic emotions, you can read our lengthy review of their new album, Every Open Eye, right here..

Similarly, what can we say that we haven’t already said about Goldroom. Josh is a long-time friend of electronic rumors. Coming up with his band NightWaves and his label/collective Binary in parallel to ourselves our relationship with Josh has always been one of mutual support, he’s contributed tracks to our label; and we once ran an entire week in collaboration, devoted to Binary artists. When he changed gears and became Goldroom the man just blew up, and well deserved it was too. There are fewer more talented, and nicer guys on the scene today. Goldroom is living proof that sometimes the cream really does rise to the top.

So Goldroom reMixing Chvrches has us excited even before pressing play. Also apprehensive, a pairing like this has a lot to live up to. Goldroom sweet, comfortable, Disco and House should be a refreshingly euphoric backing for the impassioned vocals of Lauren Mayberry.

And it is! Phew. Crisis averted. This is right up there with Ikonika’s reMix of Chvrches’ Lies.

The latest Chvrches album tends to veer more toward the 80s in terms of songwriting and arrangement (if not sound) than their première offering, and this plays right into Goldroom’s blissfully nostalgic hands. Josh presents a deceptively complex tapestry of interwoven synth lines and percussion to bring together a little Balearic and a little summery House, and even a little of his own 80s retro past,to Chvrches anthemic SynthPop. One of the things that struck us about this new reMix was that, aside from being one of the hugest floorfillers we’ve heard this year, how this is the most Dreamwave track Joash has releasing in a long time (Josh invented, or at least christened Dreamwave back in the day). It’s kinda like the musical equivalent of a bunch of old friends throwing an awesome surprise party for you,

Josh keeps things immensely deep and groove on this one. The brick-wall solid kick and Californian Moog-y bass providing the foundation for waves of warm synths and intricate instrumentation. From the distorted vocoding and the bright Indie-esque riffs to the majestic and emotive piano hooks; Goldroom delivers a rich and always compelling soundtrack which complements Chvrches’ anthemic opus perfectly. At once rousing and decadent while at the same time being aimed squarely at the dancefloor. Crikey, that’s quite a build too!

♫ Chvrches =- Leave A Trace (Goldroom reMix)

Chvrches’ Leave A Trace is out now

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Dec 16 2015

[Mixtape] MiGHty mOUse’s ‘Discolife Episode 2’

MiGHty mOUse – Discolife Episode 2 = Whoop! Just in time for X-mas there’s a new mixtape from our galactic Disco overlord MiGHty mOUse. It’s a glorious of Disco, House and Indie-Dance with an eclectic twist. Featuring tracks from Air Zaire, Crazy P, Sébastien Tellier, Satin Jackets, Married The Believer and MiGHty mOUse’s own Du Tonc this one is loaded with spacey goodness. Perfect for pre-X-mas party’s warm up.

♫ MiGHty mOUse – Discolife Episode 2

The tracklist:

01. Land Of Light – Higher Love (The Backwoods reMix)
02. Rodin – Bocca Hills
03. Du Tonc – We Can Hold On (Satin Jackets reMix)
04. I-Cube – 109 BPM
05. Vox Low – Something Is Wrong (Original Mix)
06. Air Zaire – Love 94 (MiGHty mOUse reMix)
07. Heretic – Trite Progression
08. Tolouse Low Trax – Jeidem Fall (Wolf Muller Mix)
09. Argy & Mama – Who Am I (Rampa reMix)
10. Luminodisco – Oh Mary (Original Mix)
11. Crazy P – Cruel Mistress (Asadinho reMix)
12. Clavis – Banza
13. Tuccillo & Kiko Navarro (Feat. Amor) – Lovery (Pablo Fierro reMix)
14. Saliva Commandos – Orfa Murd
15. Adesso Versions – Pride
16. David Mayer (Feat. Sonoma) – Bold
17. Matrixxman – The Sigil (David Mayer reMix)
18. Married The Believer – Invisible Giving (Wolf Muller reMix)
19. Sébastien Tellier – La Ritournelle

MiGHty mOUse’s current single, Dusk, is out now.

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Nov 24 2015

[Audio] mighty mOUse reMixes Air Zaïre’s ‘Love ’94’

Cosmic cruiser mighty mOUse is back with a brand new reMix. The UK’s Disco don has been concentrating more on his own releases recently, with the likes of Luna and Dusk slaying it, and a hectic touring schedule. Couple that with his work in superduo Du Tonc and it’s no wonder he hasn’t had time to reMix for a while. The reMix silence has just broken, however, with this new work for Air Zaïre’s Love ‘94.

Air Zaïre has been bubbling away for a while now, not making massive waves but getting on all the right mixtapes with the likes of Tensnake and Goldroom rocking his jams,. The Brooklyn based producer has teamed up with AIMES’ Wonder Stories label for this latest release. Love ‘94 features Daniela Cabrera on vocals and some smooth and carefree summery piano vibes to be put on hold until the weather is better.

mighty mOUse cooks up a tasty treat with this one. A piano fuelled House track with comforting Tropical overtones. Switching between a gloriously relaxed piano hook and a similar riff played out on squelchy, almost Acidic, synths is a nice way to keep the groove sounding fresh as mighty mOUse weaves it in and out of a symphony of island percussion and pleasing pads. Tied together with a joyous rubbery bassline, this reMix is pure top-down feel good vibes, using just a hint of the original’s vocals to keep the hazy mood going. Top stuff to keep you warm this winter.

♫ Air Zaïre (Feat. Daniela) – Love ‘94 (mighty mOUse reMix)

Air Zaïre’s Love ‘94 is out now

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Nov 23 2015

[Audio] Rex The Dog’s ‘You Are A Blade’ EP

We’re big fans of Rex The Dog around these parts. He’s like this nexus point of everything we hold dear; SynthPop, Disco, Electro, Italo, vintage drum machines and analog synths. There’s nothing glossy or overproduced about Rex’s music, this is the raw sound of electronic music. Groove leaden and intricate. Robotic drum machines ticking and undulating modular arpeggios.

Arpeggios that, these days, come from an increasing number of had-made modular components born of the time between 2013’s Do You Feel What Feel?, and Sicko from earlier this year, not being wasted. The more human side of the dup, Jake Williams, having spent 2014 and 2014 taking electronics classes to learn to build rack modules exactly how he wanted them.

Once on the way to building his new colossus Jake and Rex (the canine contingent part of Rex The Dog) returned to releasing, and returned to their original label Kompakt, to drop Sicko on us a few moths ago and are now following that up with another three tracks of organized electronic chaos in the form of the You Are a Blade EP.

The EP’s title track is an atmospheric slice of Sci-Fi Electro. You Are A Blade could easily soundtrack a dystopian future with its; gruelling Techno bassline and array of ethereal lead lines. Sweeping over an old School Electro beat, layers of analog warbling paint a neon soaked picture loaded with mystery and intrigue. But don’t worry, it’s a full on dancefloor beast too, and when it hits it’s peak around the seven minute mark you will be compelled to dance. Musik Hypnotises, the first of the flip-sides is an analog squelching excursion in nostalgic grooves. This is proper Electro, B-Boy style, with added 303-esque riffs. It brings to mind some of the darker Electro and Acid experiments of Juan Atkins. If you like Post-Kraftwerk robot beats and burbling Acid hook then this one is for you. Intoxicating and imposing. The EP completes itself with Iain Bank homage Wasp Factory whose spiky modular synth patterns complement the title perfectly. A powerhouse Techno track with unrelenting layers of intertwining hooks that was no doubt the result of Jake jamming with his modular set-up. You Are A Blade is one for the synth aficionados as well as those who love losing themselves in deep electronic soundscapes on the dancefloor.

♫ Rex The Dog – You Are A Blade (Radio Rip)

Rex The Dog’s You Are A Blade is out now.

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Oct 29 2015

[Audio] Du Tonc’s ‘We Can Hold On’

The duo of Du Tonc coming together was one of those moments in music that is just so exciting. We’d longtime been fans of Aussie Indie-Electro outfit Van She, probable the most guitary band we are fans of, who rode the crest of the 2006/2006 Electro explosion with both a string of catchy as hell ditties and some storming Van She Tech reMixes. And post Van She the guys have done the business too; Touch Sensitive, Arithmatix!, Tear Council have all been at the top of their game, as was Matt Van Schie peddling his solo line in silky smooth SynthPop that was both glorious and intimate.

So you can imagine how badass it was when, back in 2013, when Matt teamed up with another Matt to form a Matt themed double-act. MiGHty mOUse (no, we’re never going to stop writing it like that!) is a powerhouse on the Nu-Disco scene. The UK finest purveyor of Cosmic and Left-Field Disco (and more recently some Houseier offerings) MiGHty mOUse has not only been at the top of his game, producing, editing, reMixing and DJing, for the best part of a decade but also curated the Disco Circus series which are absolutely essential for anyone interested in modern dance music. His burbling analog Boogie productions are always something to look forward to.

These two Matts, together as Du Tonc, have released a string of amazing tunes in the years since they exploded onto the scene. Weaving breezy Indie-ElectroPop melodies into space age dancefloor grooves Du Tonc have consistently delivered atmospheric and intoxicating sunkissed tracks that you can just sink into. It’s no wonder the duo ended up on Belgian fine-taste label Eskimo.

So their new single has just been released, and We Can Hold On is a woozy excursion in psychedelic island Funk. The dual juggernauts of thick synth bass and a slap riff make for a rock solid core that practically compels you head to nod in time. Spacious pads and bubbling hooks intermingle with subtly guitar to form a swirling and mysterious soundtrack for Matt’s comforting vocals. No Du Tonc track would be complete without a hint of nostalgia; and We Can Hold On certainly brings it with just enough of a hint of a mid-80s summertime dream. Du Tonc have released enough material now for us to be able to say, with some certainty, that their forthcoming album should be a killer. It would be very hard to fuck it up!

♫ Du Tonc – We Can Hold On

Du Tonc’s We Can Hold On is out now.

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Oct 28 2015

[Audio] Pat Lok’s ‘Your Lips’

If your want soulful House of Funkified Disco and you’re in North America you had best be going to Mr. Pat Lok. The Vancouverite (is that a word?) is one of the most consistently amazing producer working in this genre right now. Whether he’s getting smooth and soulful, or getting the party started, Pat Lok always delivers.

He’s gearing up for the release of his second single this year, which we think (taking into account reMixes and whatnot) is a good release schedule. Steady and regular without oversaturation. Pat Lok keeps them wanting more.

The maestro has teamed up with fellow Canadian Electro Soul trio Dirty Radio for his new single, Your Lips. The single follows on from his smooth House collaboration with singer/songwriter Desirée Dawson, the well received All In My Head, from the beginning of this year and by the sound if it, will be doing the same kind of damage.

Your Lips serves up an easy groove. Dirty Radio’s Shaddy’s vocals are a smooth as silk here as he croons over Lok’s analog fuelled groove. Lok eases off of the attack on the synths he uses in this one to give to track a lazy groove; the hooks here have no urgency, they are content to flow with the tide of the tune. Carried along by the laid-back beats, the tune is all about giving room to the vocals, so they can do their thing and weave their sultry and smoky atmosphere throughout.

♫ Pat Lok (Feat. Dirty Radio) – Your Lips

Pat Lok’s Your Lips is released 13th November.

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Oct 28 2015

[Download] Nude Disco & Curtis Chip’s ‘High Rollers’

The media empire that is Nude Disco released their second compilation album, Nude Disco Selections Vol 2, earlier this year and have released a string of single from the release in the processing months. The bonus track from the Bandcamp release of the album was High Rollers, from Nude Disco himself and Curtis Chip, now available as a free single.

Nude Disco, the act, the record label, and the club night, is the brainchild of Vern (of Stretch & Vern fame) and through the record label and club night has become a hub for South London Disco, Italo and Boogie heads who flock to the Brixton collective. Considering that our little musical collective spans the globe, we have always been a little jealous of Brixton posse, cantered around the (currently on hiatus) Nude Disco club night there’s a real sense of community with these guys.

As a producer Nude Disco has released a whole host of top quality Nu-Disco tunes, remixes and mixtapes and for this one he has teamed up with repeat collaborator Arron Curtis A.K.A Curtis Chip to drop a weighty slab of synth funk in the form of High Rollers.

High Rollers centres itself around a loop from High Fashion’s Feelin’ Lucky Lately, from their 1982 album Feelin’ Lucky, which filters in and out of an array of fresh beats and lush synths to create a warm, comfortable vibe. This is one Disco tune that envelops you in it’s smoothest of smooth grooves, freeing you from your woes. Like an audio Instagram filter, this one drops a nostalgic veil over your life while you’re listening. It’s a free download too, so you can keep it and stick it on when you life needs smoothing out for five minutes.