disco
Pink Skull – Taki Chrome / Strummer Maxxx [HNR040]
Imagine Andrew Weatherall producing Pere Ubu. The 7” Taki Chrome / Strummer Maxxx single by Pink Skull released on Höga Nord Rekords give a hint of how such a collaboration would sound. Mid seventies kraut rock á la “Neu 75” meet leftfield and sophisticated punk. The record has an organic warmth to it yet the excessive use of electronics: most instruments on the tracks are synthesizers and drum machines – all Moog, Korg and whatnot. In the warmth of the Pink Skull-sound you suddenly get a wash of cold, hard rain from all directions. These elements of surprise create edges in the round soundscape and brings chaos to the mix. This is of course all part of Julian Grefes (founder of Pink Skull) plan. Pink Skull propels you out of the quarantine like a shiny metal free bird released from its rusty cage.
VA – Italomania [TOYT121]
Toy Tonics presents 8 reworks of rare and unexpected Italian disco and funky pop music from the 1970ies. Not the usual electronic Italodisco classics, but here come some more organic sounding band-disco music from the time of 1976 – 82. Positive vibrations and high quality dance pop reworked for today’s advanced dancefloors by Toy Tonics head honcho Kapote and his Italian friends BPlan and Paul Older. Some of these edits already have been released as bandcamp only, but because of extreme demand for vinyl Toy Tonics did this limited edition double vinyl release.
Patrick Cowley featuring Sylvester – Do You Wanna Funk? / Don’t Stop [SPEC-1829]
Storming electronic disco anthem from 1982 on official repress. Patrick Cowley and Sylvester’s megaton bomb of a record is often cited as being one of THE definitive disco records from the dawn of the 1980’s. Influencing everything from the burgeoning house sound to Italo disco, synth-pop and way beyond, ‘Do You Wanna Funk’ is simply a classic in every respect. Released on the seminal San Francisco 80s Disco/Hi-NRG label that Cowley had founded, it found it’s way onto the turntables – and in turn – onto the dance-floors of every self-respecting disc jockey and nightclub for the next few decades. This is it, pure energy, uplift, body shocking electronic funk of the highest order. On the flipside of this very special reissue you’ll find Sylvester’s ‘Don’t Stop’ lifted from the ‘Do You Wanna Funk’ long player, yet another roof raising, slamming and soulful performance from one of the most influential disco performers and figures of all time, an unmissable 12″ for real.
XVARR – Transitional Being EP [AM-02]
Aural Medium has handpicked six tracks for this special new release which spans the last decade. As such, Transitional Being shows off another side to the production palette of XVARR. These are tracks that are steeped in ritualistic dance heritage but also enslaved to technology. They are often built around taught drum patterns and sequenced basslines, with twinkling synths up top and more than a slight trace of comic energy in the mould of Weatherall or Baldelli. Tracks lure you into a state of trance and on the more club orientated tracks presented here there is nowhere you would rather be.
Tom Guycot – Deranged Fan LP [GDLP011]
The telephone rings at midnight. The sound echoes through the halls of your home in the Hollywood hills. Nervously you pick up the heavy receiver only to hear the desperate breathing of a lunatic… The same lunatic that has been calling for months. Welcome to ‘Deranged Fan’ the score to an imagined American thriller by Tom Guycot. Laying somewhere between the Italian and French legends and Harold Faltermeyer, Deranged Fan is Beverly Hills Cop on mescaline and chloroform. Vintage strings sing over analog bass on a journey to the darkest places of your mind… Can you escape your fate as one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood? Or will you end up just another tabloid fable…
Rex Ronny & DJ Sotofett – Epidermis [FP075]
8 years after his last visit to Full Pupp, DJ Sotofett returns, accompanied by Rex Ronny, to embodies a solid 7 track EP with a strong Sci-Fi pallet of Cosmic-Italo racers. “Epidermis” is not another conjectural Nu-Disco record but a strong Disco-Dub infused travel in rhythm and melody. The entirety of the EP is bound together by four Galactic synth tracks and three driving Disco cuts, all with an individual approach. It’s a solid nod to the excellence producers of Italian Disco and UK left-of-center dance music has taught us since the late 70’s.
Arp Frique – Nyame Ye / Qi Quem Que Nos [RHSJ016]
Limited 7 inch for Recordstore day 2021. Tracks feature are taken from Arp Frique’s upcoming album ”The Seed”.
VA – Native Dance 02 [ND002]
Bayetë returns with a second Native Dance edits sampler, teaming up this time with close friends and local producers (Baguette, Miraa., Probably Sean, Uma) on four dancefloor-ready edits roving over luscious chanson, quirky downtempo, and sun-soaked italo-pop.
Ivan Mamao Conti & Grassmass – A Mina / Caatinga [ND007]
Legendary master drummer Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti teams up with Brazilian producer Grassmass on two experimental funk monsters of the highest order that perfectly illustrate the Azymuth founding member’s constant desire to push his signature sound towards the future. Recife born/São Paulo based bass player, producer and founder of experimental label UIVO Records Rodrigo Coelho aka grassmass is not only a long time collaborator with influential names like Naná Vasconcelos, Arto Lindsay and Ivan Conti “Mamão”, but also hosts projects with some of today’s brazilian edgiest talents Negro Leo and Thiago Nassif. Advanced Brazilian music on Rush Hour’s sister label New Dawn.
Martin Matiske – Melodic Motion [BAP148]
Melodic Motion sees Martin Matiske use his machines in a new way. Across four tracks, the German musician inspires. Melodic Motion sees Martin Matiske use his machines in a new way. Across four tracks, the German musician inspires. “Digital Emotion” is built on crisp drum patterns, patterns from which Matiske arcs rich analogue notes. Vocals, employed almost like samples, give a human quality to this future-world vision. Technology is a central theme of the EP. Human qualities melt in robotic currents in “Computer Dance,” colder electro tones merging with warm and cheer-filled videogame echoes. “Information Product” maintains some of the electro character of its predecessor. Yet this is far from a dark piece, its uplifting piano keys surging with optimism. The icier tones of “Transmission” closes. Warm arpeggios rise against a front of crystalline chords in this final foray into this ever-so-close world of tomorrow.
Kid Machine – Italo Moderni Mix #69
VA – LYO Free Edits #04 [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Les Yeux Orange provides again some free edits through their bandcamp page. Enjoy and feel free to leave a tip if you liked the edits.
VA – Höga Nord 100 – The Effect Will Last Forever [HNRBOX004]
What better way to celebrate 100 releases than with a handmade box containing soul expanding music!? Höga Nord Rekords have reached an important goal and releases a rare box set containing all 12” from the HNRUK-series plus a new record from Birds, unique for this box. Except Birds, this compilation includes Dark Strands, High Boys, Vox Low, Timothy J. Fairplay, Fontän, Bird Of Paradise, Mythologen, Jamie Paton and Frak. This exclusive handmade box made in Norrmalms kartongfabrik in Stockholm, is a celebration to the Scandinavian Bronze age. You’ll find rock carvings like those on the artwork scattered over the land but mostly near Gothenburg, home of Höga Nord Rekords on the Swedish west coast. Archaeological evidence proves similarities in ornaments and pictures between the Nordic and European Bronze age, just like you find common features in the music released on our label. Though the acts in this compilation box come from all over Europe and beyond, they stem from an obscured and mysterious common source of escapism, purity and creativity.
Rodion & Mammarella – Sierra Madre [SLOMO047]
Next up on Slow Motion, Rodion and Fabrizio Mammarella are back with another collaboration EP. All tracks are recorded in Mexico City, bringing in Mexican artist Mijo as a featuring on the track ‘’Cerro Gordo’’. Moreover, italo-belgian duo Front De Cadeaux join with a remix that grabs elements from both the original tracks, reworked in one timeless piece of music.
VA – LYO Presents : Driving Blind (Vol. 2) [LYO-DIGI#002]
LYO is back and ready to take your breath away with the second volume of their compilation series «Driving Blind».
They follow up on their first exquisite offering with an even wider and larger selection of 23 tracks from captivating artists from all over the globe. Selected with care and love, it will bring you on an electronic journey pushing boundaries of style featuring only fresh new original music.
The Popular People’s Front – Ammo 2 [PPFAMMO2]
Reliable as ever, The Popular People’s Front return with a fresh batch of club-ready ammunition from their secret stash.
Something a little more than an edit, but still flirting dangerously between acceptable sampling & straight up sonic shop-lifting. Four more certified floor-fillers from the vaults.
Unknown Artist – Light Touches 05 [LTR05]
Light Touches Records is devoted to shed a new light to hot rarities, unknown grooves as well as forgotten classics. The new 12” is a hot smoking one ready for the summer, that kicks off with “Things”, a dope sensuous groove paired with an enchanting and fierce voice. “Arigato” pushes the dance vibes in the jazz-funk territory with some killer groove and solos all the way thru. Closing the 12” is the stunning “Helpful”, a rich, uplifting philly instrumental of the best kind.
Kozmik Funk – Disco Darkness EP [NYC009]
Kozmik Funk delivers 4 slabs of Dark Space Disco on NYC Records. 3 original space excursions and 1 cover of the Klein + MBO Italo Classic, “Dirty Talk”.
The Hipodrome Of Music 