disco
Francisco – Lineabeat [SLOMO015]
Linea Beat is Slow Motion’s latest offshoot, focusing strictly on the whacked out sounds of mid-eighties electronic disco. Long term label partner Francisco has turned his drum machines up to 11 and set lazers stun on this jacking disco 12”. Side A sees Cosmo joining the fun bringing along with him the ghost of cult Italo favourites Fun Fun for a throbbing excursion into sunrise elettro. Hands will be in the air for this one for sure. On the flip side things are sleazy, breezy and pulsating with the swagger of Rimini in 1986
VA – Under The Influence Vol.4 [ZEDDCD032]
Given the infamous depth of Nick The Record’s vinyl collection, you’d expect this contribution to Z Records’ excellent Under The Influence series to be packed to the rafters with unheralded gems. Predictably, it is, delivering 22 cuts that should be thrillingly new to all but the most dusty-fingered collectors. Picking out highlights from such an excellent and in-depth collection is tough, but try the steel drums-laden celebration of Boogsie’s “Can’t You See Me”, the synth-laden jazz-funk badness of “Keep Your Shoes” by MC and His Great Googa-Moogas, and the fizzing, melody-rich 808 electro of Ronnie Jones “Video Games”. If that’s not enough there’s also a swathe of DJ-friendly re-edits from Nick himself.
Hesperius Draco – Cathar Rhytms LP [FRV016]
Few newcomers have created that stir that Italy’s Alessandro Parisi has caused. Following releases on Lux Rec, Minimal Rome and Flight Recorder this young producer has captivated audiences with his textured electronics and vivid soundscapes. It is to this bright talent that Frigio Records have turned to proudly introduce the label’s first full vinyl full length: Cathar Rhythms. Soundtracks have always been a focal point for Parisi, a core of his inspiration. This love of the analogue movie score permeates the six track album, fortified with a new toughened rhythmic edge.
Invisible Menders – Porn Wax Eight [PW008]
The Porn Wax releases can always be counted on to be some psychedelic, tripped out disco and this release does not disappoint. “Affected” is spaced out disco goodness, while “To Be Discontinued” has more of an Italodisco throwback vibe to it.
Man Power – Flacid Trax [HVN022]
Tokyo Matt / Mori Ra & Asn – Balearico Cosmico Edit [MME3003]
Tokyo Matt from the Otaku Soundsystem and Mori Ra & Asn from Tokyo Oyama Edit presenting 4 edits out of this world. All very atmospherics, they are the ideal combination of space disco, Balearic rock, jazz, pop and fusion.
Japan Blues – Brasserie Heroique Edits Pt 2 [BH010]
Berceuse Heroique label deliver the second 12″ from the Heroique Edits series, coming form Japan Blues, aka Ethbo Records founder Howard Williams takes an altogether more eccentric approach. Opener “Half Dead Pulse” is dreamy, melodic and, well, rather odd, with vocal chants and fluid melodies riding a skittering drum machine rhythm and long, drawn-out chords. “Baroque Mutiny” sounds like post-punk-meets-chiming synth-pop (with a dubwise beat), but is almost certainly an edit of an obscure new wave track. Finally, “Mysterious Satsuma” delivers an attractive blend of exotic, Eastern synth lines and curious, experimental Italo rhythms.
Emile Strunz – North Sea Body Music [FLR010]
‘Merck 274350’ With its propulsive mechanical basslines, industrial-strength percussion, and a Germanic vocodered mantra, this Teutonic Panzer Tank of a track takes absolutely no prisoners – an electronic matter of fact statement inspired by the passing of time, fate, circumstance, and synchronicity. Holland’s misanthropic high priest of psychedelic, doomy, dark house & techno, Drvg Cvltvre, delivers a trippy interpretation, turning the track into a lysergic love letter to this iconic chemical catalyst, maintaining the dynamic bassline of the original but adding a nagging 303 line to deliver an explosive 3am dancefloor device. One Step Closer to Heaven begins with a metronomic, rhythmic New Beat stomp and a nagging insidious synth refrain that recalls the more electronic side of New Order. Muscular synth riffs then drop in and out of the mix, taking the track into dark EBM territory and ramping up the pressure before the influences of Giorgio Moroder and Cerrone come to the fore, propelling the track into a rapture of hypnotic celestial electronic disco.
Em Vee / Pappi Del Pancake & Claude Von Reefer – Did 16 EP [DID016]
For the latest edition of the intriguing Dessert Islands Discs re-edit series, the label has called upon the well-renowned scalpel talents of German-in-Amsterdam Marcel Vogel, AKA Em Vee. The Double Denim-sporting eccentric drops another gem in the shape of “White Heat Shake It Out (Edit)”, a bouncy and seductive disco chop-job that makes great use of the source material’s bustling groove and steamy, spoken word vocals. On the flip, lesser-known re-edit heads Papi Del Pancake and Claude Von Reefer take up the challenge. Their “Gimme What You Got” has a little more deep house shuffle, but retains the key instrumentation and feel of a sumptuous disco-soul jam.
Michele – Disco Dance [WES12110]
Spacey electronic disco from 1977… Not only was this ahead of its time, but it features the works of two of disco’s most respected, revered studio artists; Tom Moulton and Patrick Cowley. Long-since sought after, West End have done us the good service of reissuing it in all its glory. Cowley’s mega mix is linear, dubbed out and naked in vibe, which gives it a really neat timeless groove sensation. The disco mix is a little more frenetic and of its time thanks to the big drums, overlayed guitars and Michele’s sensuous vocals.
VA – Rock The Box Vol.1 [HS004]
Those with a passion for ’80s electrofunk, boogie, synth jams, machine soul and proto-house should already be aware of Inskwel and Benny Badge’s Hot Shot label. The imprint specializes in delivering fresh music inspired by those sounds. Here, the Australian duo gathers together a superb selection of contemporary revivalist sounds from like-minded souls. Highlights are naturally plentiful, from the rubbery bass and vintage synths of First Touch’s “Sure Feels Good To Me” and Jupiter Gang’s bodypoppin’ electro workout “America”, to the deep proto-house of Paradise Box’s “Slave 2 Knowledge” and Inkswel’s acid-tinged midtempo deep house rework of High Accord’s “You Are (My Number One Priority)”.
The Black Madonna – Stay [DINER002]
The Black Madonna tries a different approach on this debut for the recently launched Night Owl Diner label. You could certainly describe both tracks as “Balearic”, and there’s a real air of wide-eyed positivity about the tumbling melodies, swirling synth-strings and mid-80s pop production of head-nodding deep house cut “Stay”. It’s pretty darn tasty, all told. Almost as good is “Requiem”, which appears to be built around a loop lifted from Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal’s “Saturday Love” (with, of course, additional synths and tuneful electronics).
Mind Fair – C.E.R.E.M.O.N.Y [CHANNEL037]
The first part of another Golf channel double header from the insanely prolific and scarily on form combination of Dean Meredith & Ben Shenton. A side ‘C.E.R.E.M.O.N.Y’ has been dubbed ‘the barnyard stomp’ by split secs’ / sonns’ Travis Kirschbaum (aka TK Disco) – 11 minutes of bluesy peyote riot that features Derek Holt of 70’s black country legends The Climax Blues Band. B side ‘Hiding from my Shadow’ is ripe with the funk too, but takes us away from the fertile stench of the psychedelic session in the barn and instead channels Minneapolis via Stafford as P-funk squiggles give way to Mr. Meredith’s trademark chugging bass.
RFM – Natural Flavor [JOLLYJAMS016]
Funky Family – Funky Is On [EXIT0003]
Classic Italian Disco including Leo Mas & Fabrice Instrumental Dub and a Dj Rocca Vocal Edit.
Antoni Maiovvi – Psychoplasmics EP [COTF004]
Antoni Maiovvi joins the Crimes Of The Future family in a perfect match of Italo horror running out of the disco, leaving behind the gentle thud of dark techno in a dark Roman Alleyway. Junior Fairplay’s inaguaral remix takes us out of the darkness to a happy ending in sunnier climbs on a beach somehere in Portofino.
Volkan Akaalp – Baskin OST [GD006]
Giallo Disco journeys further east with the release of Baskin. Our first original soundtrack written by Turkish composer Volkan Akaalp for the short film by enfant terrible Can Evranol (To My Mother And Father). Baskin tells the story of four cops discovering a nightmare of Lovecraftian proportions during a routine investigation. This incredible soundtrack is an eastern twist on the works of Fabio Frizzi, industrially corroded by early 90s R&S Records. Shot independently in Istanbul, Turkey, during the height of the Gezi riots Baskin has been described as ”Disgusting. Disorienting. Brilliant” by Horror director Eli Roth. Comes with a full colour sleeve and two exclusive remixes on the b-side by Giallo Disco heads Vercetti Technicolor and Antoni Maiovvi.
Unit Black Flight – Tracks From The Trailer EP [GD005]
From the dystopian future of 1997 the legendary warrior unit known as Unit Black Flight, is now a lone survivor in a world gone mad. ‘Tracks From The Trailer’ is the sound of one man’s weapons upgrade montage as he prepares to escape Indianapolis and heads ol’ Californy-Way to the beat of a LinnDrum. Giallo Disco Records are proud to present the incredible Unit Black Flight, who’s previous releases on Bunker, Strange Life and Seed have never been too far from our DJ Bags. The ‘Tracks From The Trailer’ EP comprises of remastered cuts from the 2012 digital only release, plus a special remix from Minimal Rome’s Heinrich Dressel. This is Horror Disco at its finest.
The Hipodrome Of Music 