Reviews:35

Gavin Herlihy
‘Endless Feeling EP’
Culprit

It’s hard to top the Larse reworking of Endless Feeling from the tail end of last year’s E.P from Gavin Herily. I mean not that the original was more than good enough (it was after all excellent) but this new version adds some extra fizz to the production for 2012. The array of impressive vocal treatments remains intact as indeed do the tension building guitar/ synth licks but Larse re-tweaks it all supplying energetic, shuffling hats and a choice pounding beat. Inxec and Shaun Reeves then replay Tell Me What You Need by perking up the drums and evolving the sounds into a blissful climax, while Geddes hits home with a heavy-duty bass driven 928 version that shimmers distinctively with funky percussion and emotive electronics. 8

http://www.beatport.com/#release/endless-feeling-ep-re-loaded/858877

https://www.facebook.com/CulpritLA#!/CulpritLA

 

Lawnchair Generals
‘Don’t Stop’
Lazy Days Recordings

Not only does this reference a personal Disco favourite but also screams syncopation is King and/ or indeed Queen. Produced by Peter Christianson and Carlos Mendoza this Hi-Nrg trip down memory lane is nothing less than excitement personified, although this time with added punch, fresh synth and a faster tempo. Try the Original or the Dub which has extra chords and drums for satisfaction most definitely guaranteed. Rob Mello’s No Ears Mix reconstructs everything bar a touch of voice and neatly transforms it into deeper tech styled intrigue. 8

release: 14 February 2012

http://lazydaysrecordings.com/

http://www.lawnchairgenerals.com/main.html

 

Pulp Disco & The Outcasts
‘Witches’
Legendary Sound Research

Following on from Overnight To Dusseldorf on Ashley Beedle’s  Out Hear Audio comes this smoothly pulsating and rather fabulous exercise in Cosmic/ Disco/ House (definitely not a genre but certainly a cool clash of ideas). Sensibly paced and augmented by tasty percussion throughout this blends together sassy euro-syncopation with a timely House chord sequence and breathy voices impressively, leaving The Legendary 1979 Orchestra to rework the elements with hats to the fore and additional off-kilter keys. Second track Rimini (Estasi Dell Amore) feels even better getting sleazy with nasty synths and a climatic arrangement that oozes European appeal, and then some more… 8

http://www.junodownload.com/products/witches/1900935-02/?ref=4e6116a603e9b

 

Sandman & Riverside feat ft. Kymberli Wright
‘It’s Too Late’
Fast FWD Records

The Original version of It’s Too Late combines a powerful sparing of percussion played intently with Jazz in mind alongside heavy Rhodes and notable scat vocals. And as truly impressive as it that all sounds (and is), for me Ron Trent once again provides the icing to the cake. Intensity is the middle name here as an array of rhythms envelope you in a series of dance reference points that score equally high on passion and imagination. The Dub proceeds to play around with the gorgeous instrumentation paying perfect compliment. KZR then strip it all back to highlight more voice on their Late Night Dub with a neat Reprise taking care of the rest. 9

release 21 February 2012

http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=136597

www.fastfwdmusic.com

 

Nolan
‘Thief’
Nurvous Records

Alter Ego Nolan’s instantly appealing production sounds like it was recorded in the hot sunshine on a sandy beach somewhere in the Med. I know it’s only February but who’s counting. Out soon on NYC’s sister label to the seminal Nurvous imprint this is based around a familiar, though not obvious, party-time piano loop with competing vocal edits and thumping beats all vying for your attention. However the HXU aka Huxley vs Timo Garcia remix is an altogether more sober affair: dropping the mood, feeling deeper, more soulful and is sublimely fine. Cocktails at dawn. 8

http://soundcloud.com/n-lan

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nolan/308232542555564

 

Jon Sweetname
‘Dulce Amor’ (Remixes)
Loco Records Supreme

Love the Touchan remix of this track from Barcelona’s Jon Sweetname precisely because it delivers the unexpected. Which in this case is a slightly sinister bassline aided by a whirring vocal loop and creative electronics all of which create an unsettling, though thoroughly enticing mood. The Martin Nowakowski follows with yet more imaginative touches and treatments on his slightly more ‘up’ feeling version. Something a bit different and therefore clearly worth your time. 8

release: 6 February 2012 on Beatport

www.loco-records.com

 Inspiration: Goody Goody ‘It Looks Like Love’ (1978)