Bumblebee Unlimited – Lady Bug (Remixes) [GLR120003]

Groove Line Records continue with another Patrick Adams & Greg Carmichael produced classic, Lady Bug, by Bumblebee Unlimited, the second in our series of 12 audiophile reissues from the Disco underground. Side A is the Disco Mix by John Morales and Frank Trimarco. A solid kick opens the track before Morales’s trademark percussion is introduced. Then the slick bass, guitar and piano groove play alongside the innovative synth lines and drive the rhythm forward, before the addition of that simple but engaging single note piano groove… the core element of the track, and the synthesized vocal between the Lady Bug in question and the bee who’s chasing her. Side B features the Disco Remix by the legendary Larry Levan. Starting with the full drums and percussion Levan adds each element at an earlier stage than the Disco Mix, so the full track, including the vocal, hits you at just over a minute and doesn’t let go until the fade, giving a more intense dance floor experience.

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Bumblebee Unlimited – Lady Bug (Remixes) [GLR120003]

VA – Crumbs 002 [CRUMBS002]

Tee Mango rides some seriously wig flipping synth lines over an irresistible tropical groove that just builds beautifully into a bona fide ‘moment’ on the floor. Treating us with two solid gold Soulful extensions: Allenby Chilton takes on a little known Etta jam, amplifies the Funk elements and transforms the song into an altogether more heavyweight workout. Finally Fence take on a rare late 70’s psychedelic Soul tune, again adding some 21st century wide-screen sonics and dancefloor dynamic.

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VA – Crumbs 002 [CRUMBS002]

House of Jezebel – Back In Dogtown USA [VD16]

Voyage Direct label turns to a man who needs little introduction: Dutch legend and man of many pseudonyms Danny Wolfers aka Legowelt. For this first outing on Voyage Direct, Wolfers resurrects the House of Jezebel alias and delivers two tracks of synth-laden analogue house goodness. “Back In Dogtown USA” sets the tone, as Wolfers layers rising chords, darting electronics and wide-eyed synthesizer melodies over a clattering analogue house groove. Wolfers’ ups the tempo dramatically on “I Took A Train In 1979”, transplanting us to the far reaches of our galaxy via jackin’ techno drums, picturesque organ melodies, drifting chords and intoxicating pads. There are echoes of classic Detroit techno, surging Rotterdam electro and vintage cosmic disco, yet it doesn’t really sound like any of these things.

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House of Jezebel – Back In Dogtown USA [VD16]

Head High – Mega Trap [POWERHOUSE505]

Right on cue, Rene Pawlowitz drops another set of Head High bangers just in time for summer. While previous releases from his Power House imprint have been short but sweet affairs, the brilliantly named Megatrap offers a full nine tracks of what Hard Wax have referred to quite concisely as “uplifting Breakbeat Techno in golden 1990s leaning style”. Those who have heard the previous Head High material will know exactly what to expect, but there’s still much excitement to be had in getting stuck into such a sizeable portion of throwback techno, the likes of which are likely to liven up any party. There was never any doubt, but Pawlowitz has done it again.

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Head High – Mega Trap [POWERHOUSE505]

Morgan Buckley – Shout Out To All The Weirdos In Rathmines [RHD-016BUCKLEY]

Word to the weirdos. Morgan Buckley’s vinyl debut with so many ideas and so much energy it’s almost hard to take it all on board in one listen. The sound of a man soaking it up and pouring it out.12″ comes with insert and a touch of ★magic☆.

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Morgan Buckley – Shout Out To All The Weirdos In Rathmines [RHD-016BUCKLEY]

Voiron – Radome EP [CCRT006]

A lush 90s vibe haunts this first offering by new Parisian talent Voiron, but not one of simple nostalgia – one of real class. Including a reshape of the EP’s main theme by American producer Fred P to digress towards soulful deep house territory.

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Voiron – Radome EP [CCRT006]

Lapien / Metropolis – Marchland EP [PF006]

Nick Lapien has been sharpening his music sound a number of monikers; Metropolis, Nepal and his own name. On labels like Other Heights and Sequencias the Dutch man has moulded smoke stained Chicago, textured Techno and drifting Ambient. For Photic Fields this homegrown talent brings together two of his nom de plums under the banner of Marchland. Basslines bulge, pressing against dampened claps for “Ballad of a Man.” Banks of harmony drift off an analogue ocean, arcs of string dawning into a rich radiance. Submerged notes bend and blur with “Bobby Konders”, streams of synth flowing past columns of carved percussion. Rolling chords see Lapien don his Metropolis mask for “Black Motor Boogie.” Acid vultures circle with beady eyed intent, claws writhe and flex amidst a flurry of beat and pad. The shimmering keys of “The Gatekeeper” takes the listener throw a winding pass. Curving 303 contortions fold and reform under pressurised bursts of tom, cymbal and snare to end this journey into Marchland.

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Lapien / Metropolis – Marchland EP [PF006]

Automatic Tasty – Rites of Wrong EP [COMMUNICATION003]

Wrong Island returns with yet another big hitter, welcoming Automatic Tasty to the fold with a 7 track mini-LP. The record starts with a Cassette Boy style attack on the emptiness of daytime TV before firing into a half hour of psychedelic acid house. From the bleepy funk of A Public Service Announcement to the all-out acid assault of Cheers Curtis this record is like what we think Drexciya would have sounded like if theyd written tracks about the hills and fields of Ireland instead of underwater kingdoms, this is perfect summertime music as good for drinking cider in the Sun as it would be for the dancefloor.

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Automatic Tasty – Rites of Wrong EP [COMMUNICATION003]

Crystal Maze – Twilight People [RHYTHM011]

CRYSTAL MAZE - Twilight People EP

Crystal Maze’s return on Bio Rhythm. Three cosmic techno jams of the absolute highest order, crafted & molded after dark at the Crystal’s analog alchemist lab.

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Crystal Maze – Twilight People [RHYTHM011]