‘Colpo Rovente’ is one of the rarest soundtrack albums in the Italian film music history. This soundtrack stands out from the traditional period into the psychedelic era. Soft-spoken and suave cool jazz, along with hallucinogenic go-go sounds appears throughout the film and soundtrack. Dynamic big band tunes are stunningly matched with impossibly beautiful jazz funk scores infused with a touch of bossa nova.
Released by Pizzico for the first time in 2009 with the moniker “Erre”, Marco Antonio Spaventi was one of the most pleasant surprises about what an excellent techno producer can do with his beloved background: Italo disco. Influenced by soundtrack masters as Vangelis, John Carpenter and most of all Italian maestro’s like Nico Fidenco, Pino Donaggio, Francesco De Masi, and appearing in the sky like a laser beam in a post-atomic Bronx filmed by Enzo G. Castellari, the positive first album of MA Spaventi called “Viaggi” is landing. A real journey into obscure worlds, dirty streets, atomic sunsets, broken hearts and analog feelings, a blessing for your most romantic and cinematic essence. Could this folding full length fit the modern dance floors? Maybe It could be better for the outcast clubs of a near future: synths atmosphere are sweet and pressing at the same time, the melodies and beats fit together in a succession of deep emotions, the “tape” sounds old school and totally irresistible. Pizzico is proud to present MA Spaventi’s VIAGGI: nine exclusive tracks for a brand new album, invoking and evoking dusty Italo vibes, analog synths and written soundtracks for unwritten movies.
Cosmic Club 16 in the house, and for this one Skylax have delved deep into the mystic universe of the ever enigmatic Violence FM with a four track EP quite simply out of this dimension… Etoiles EP is an inconceivable work of art from Violence FM that will leave listeners stargazing for more, not to mention an extraterrestrial remix of Chez Damier’s ‘El Fin Esta Cerca’ on the flip.
Black Booby is back on it with the Disco NoT Disco Summer release. First up on the A-side there’s ‘Sun Lab Export’ from Richard Rogers’ mystery partner, an edit of the super-unknown ‘Laxton Superb’ by Dutch 80’s electronic outfit Spectral Display. Next up is ‘I Need Somebody Raw’ a new take on disco’s campest hero Sylvester’s ‘I Need Somebody To Love Tonight’. Then moving on to the B-side, we have ‘Jungle Booby’ which is already attracting some underground heat, as this reworking of late 70s French disco group Kikrokos’ track ‘Jungle D.J.’ sees Rogers take the original’s intro for a long session on the dancefloor in its own right. Finally, ‘And She Walks’, a take on Kazino’s ‘Binary’, sees them revamp the original B-side (of Around My Dream) by highlighting its darker sonic sensibilities.
Sophisticated deep and athmospheric techno by Les Enfants Terribles. An extra fine release number one to start this fresh venture by Dutch dj/producer JP Enfant. These terrible kids all ready made name in their local scene and are now ready to step over the border.
After quite a wait Indelible Expression Part II has landed on Appian Sound. Warm early morning Techno from Swedens Evigt Mörker. Two hypnotic shuffling, shimmering live jams from Italian duo Hiver and French duo G-Prod. XDB finishes off with a punchy kick drum based groover. Timeless cuts of varying degrees of intensity to suit all intimate dancefloors.
The first release on Kristina Records, featuring four tracks by Frawl aka Cian Frawley. Nice deep, meancholic house tracks with fragile melodies and a lovely flow.
For the first reference, Sounds of The City welcomes the mysterious Spirit Of The Black 808. Invasion Of The Black Bass it’s warm in every way and infectious. Both tracks share the same chords grid, one could be a re-interpretation of the other. Both are very warm and melodic. Frenzy In Firenze on the other side demonstrates SB8’s skills for groovy tools and more DJ oriented tunes.
Arnaldo drops his first EP for Smallville for three years. This is a wonderfully fluid delight, with all three tracks offering a near perfect balance of lolloping grooves, glassy-eyed melodies and eyes-shut chords. A-side “Moving On” sets the tone, layering dreamy pads and cascading melodies atop a shuffling groove. He gets a little more forthright on the cymbal-heavy deep house pump of “Never Used To Be Better”, before calming things down with the heavenly throb, woozy spoken vocal samples and cyclical melodies of “Million Mile Love”.
The Corner presents Beau Wanzer and Shawn O’Sullivan with their Civil Duty self titled hard hitting album, not for the faint at heart.
This record sees O’Sullivan inject a little more flavour than what was heard on the Interchangeable Patterns Part 1 release, and he kicks it off with a linear A1 cut that sounds like a reduced Sandwell District production boiled down to suite both the house and techno listener. The A-side’s second track pitches rapid tonal bleeps against phased out percussive snaps, while the B1 delves into deeper, Detroit inspired techno. B2 cut stays in Detroit, while adding some tribal elements to mark an EP that may be the first transmission of change in O’Sullivan’s trademark Mosaic and Bluetrain sound.
Weekend Circuit releases its first V/A series, Ground-Fault-Interrupt. Spread over 2 parts, the record’s eight tracks further showcase what the label has been become known for, a highly-focussed, well-contemplated brand with music to match. The second part includes tracks by Sleeparchive, Alderaan, P.E.A.R.L. and Coldgeist.
Laid down with authority by L/F/D/M are four no nonsense cuts blasting fresh air into that perennially en vogue phenomenon known as acid house. Opener ”Spare Ribs, No Napkin” is meaty and greasy with abandon, as rude and distorted as it is irresistibly syncopated. ”Cutting Fingers” contrasts with a slow burn with a deep kick anchoring shifting rhythms and unsettlingly hypnotic riffs. Flip this treasure over and get pummeled by the rolling stomp of ”Heavy Clouds with its massive 808s and just-off-the-nose acid cycles. Closing things out is the bright paranoid jack of ippos In Slumber” with its muted chords adding freaky color to steady and heady 707/303 workout that charms and overpowers with an electric stink that lingers long after the needle has reached the lead-out groove.
Optimo Trax 015 sees label boss JD Twitch indulge his love of cult Australian DIY act Severed Heads with a trio of dub version culled from the B-sides of their 1980s 12″ output. Titled quite artfully Big Saints Reward (1987 – 90 dubs), perennial Twitch favourite “Greater Reward” features prominently with the Dub version accompanied by an all new “Piano Power Edit” from the Optimo man which takes full advantage of the glorious keys that characterise the track. Complementing these, the B-side houses “Big Car (Crash dub)” and “All Saints Day (Saints Dub Day)” which add further credence to the notion Severed Heads are one of the most important acts in the formation of club music as we know it today.
Albion is back with a 6 track EP of delightful cosmotropical disco edits. In true Rotating Souls tradition only the freshest cuts make it to the table. Bursting out the A1 like a chrome clad sapce pimp, “Veni Vidi Voodoo” blasts psychedelic synths all over the shop before exploding into a crazy cosmic disco funk number. Somewhere between an obscure 1970s italian space opera and a sleazy blaxploitation jam. Next up, “Turning On” sees the vocoder in full effect as Albion turns out a percussive Italo disco chugger perfect for the pitch black warehouse. A3 ‘Mind Confusion’: outdoorsy psychedelic festival synth disco sounds. As we saunter over to the B-side, “Nightliner” gets properly cosmic with some totally galactic jazz-funk leanings. If you need some funky guitars, moog melodies, sweet strings, and tropical sounds in your set, throw this one on. “Shangri La” beams us down from the stars to the sun and fun of Miami thanks to a true electro disco stomp. Rocking Balearo-Beach style guitars and funky synth solos, this is undoubtedly one for the synth funk freaks. Last but not least, “All We Need Is Each Other” is a catchy vocal number which seems to blend the infectious guitar part from Barrabas’ “Woman” with another breezy Euro-pop gem for all out Balearic dancefloor destruction.
Andre-Marie Tala is one of the father figures of African music. Born in the western Provence of Bandjoun, Cameroon, his early years were plagued with tragedy. He lost his mother at 4, his father at 12 and then when on to lose his sight 15. Thankfully, the love of music stayed with him throughout his career and with the help of Manu Dibango he made his first recordings in 1972 and had two hits in Cameroon with Sikati and Potaksima. He created a group, the Rock Boys, later the Black Tigers, with Sam Fan Thomas as guitarist. At this time, Africa was immersed in music from overseas and many American acts toured all over Africa. Whilst touring Cameroon, Tala handed James Brown a demo of his song ”Hot Koki”. Seemingly, the Godfather liked it a lot, he actually re-recorded it and released it as his own song, entitled ‘Hustle’. In doing so, he took all credit for composing, which meant Tala had to sue Brown and luckily he won the case! We had so many great LP’s to choose from Tala but we decided to start with ‘Arabica’ where we find Tala in experimental mode. We hit the ground running with the lead track ‘Arabica’, disco drums, phased guitar licks and sweet soulful backing vocals, what’s not to like? ‘Black Gold’ takes the same path as laid out on ‘Arabica’ but we see the introduction of the Moog Synthesizer and the funky Rhodes Piano. ‘Sugar Lump’ is once again up-tempo and has bassline to get your body moving in the right direction. ‘I know what you want’ has a more traditional song approach Tala simply asks his love interest ‘not to let him down’. ‘Soweto’ is a Balearic DJ classic! Beautiful layers of guitar and flute ease you through this one. Soweto was a troubled place and high on the thoughts on African people around this time, this song reflects that. We end with ’20 ans’ a more tradition song with some Hammond organ and super sweet guitar playing from Tala once again. This record demands a high fee for obvious reasons so don’t miss your chance to own this official reissue which has been made with love.
