Review: MDA Grooves - Universo Positivo Remixed EP (Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar) (Universo Positivo Records)

For over 40 yeas (already), MDA - Mundo de Aventuras - have been melded urban club with Latin and Afro styles into modern Dance music so let's get 4 of today's top groovesters to rework some of their best tracks from Universo Positivo's catalog!

You'll know the name Universo Positivo as founder, Joseph Salvador who set up the label/Amsterdam club scene in the 1990s mostly on back of his own productions whilst the first release was by Orlando Voorn and Amp Fiddler (RIP)!  And now, regular readers will recognise the movers of dance, Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar as a current day 'Gang of Four' remixers picked out for this the game of Twister (Ed. see the cover artwork?)

Kai Alce, (last seen HERE on the NDATL Remix of 'What You Came Here For') who is seen as a "most influential architect" of deep house kicks off extending 'Sonido Latino' into jazzy-soul vibra-cool a la Roy Ayers' raceway/lounge.

Sean McCabe is another never too far from a remix (for the past 20 years) so he knows a sandy samba shuffle for 'Ipanema Jazz' (Ed. hardly on the beach as he's based in Bristol!) as keys/synths and trumpet battle it out out on a cuíca rub(dub).

Talking of UK samba, Medlar is another producer far from the beach in his South London studio (perhaps Rotherhithe pier is the closest) but he does love an Island and a remix (see HERE) and he revolves 'U R The Revolution' into the mainroom 'hands in the air' retro-house banger (Ed. this is not a 'clean' edit).

But standing on top in his usual educational way is co-founder of Razor-N-Tape, JKriv who might be based in Brooklyn but seems capable of turning any sound into fun-loving disco heaven like his version of 'Caparica Sunset' which will get anyone on a upbeat (also check out the recent 'Reel Ones' EP HERE).

Expect to hear these tracks all summer long.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDR: https://bfan.link/universo-positivo-remixed

Artist:  MDA Grooves 

Title: Universo Positivo Remixed EP (Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar)
Release date: 29th May, 2026
Label : Universo Positivo
Catalog Number : UP029
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Diogo Strausz - Caramba EP (w/ Kai Alce and Lex Wolf Remixes) (Razor-N-Tape)

"¡Ay, caramba!", you might say, not another essential release on Razor-N-Tape?

Yes that's right!  Diogo Strausz who brought you  'Emancipação' that many thought was a modern Azymuth, returns with a new verson of 'Canto Das Três Raças' and a Kai Alcé NDATL Vocal Mix.

No surprise that the Brazilian producer's track sounds, feels and dances like Clara Nunes' original version on a 'Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls' (with Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge) - perfect London [or insert you're own Capital] Jazz Dance samba/música popular brasileira classic.

It's bound to appear on a Mr Bongo compilation in years' to come but no need to wait as if you get this, the Atalanta based Kai Alcé knows how to make it even more dancey.  You'll recall what he did on 'The Symington Avenue' EP by Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (see review HERE) so if you you want to be in the groove as those musclecars, you know what to do.

Not only that, on other side, 'Caramba' is more NY percussively heavy with a disco ball of synths, whistles and cuíca.  And on the remix, try the Lex Wolf Technobloco Mix where the Lextension master (Ed. did you see what he did there) reformulates 'Caramba' into over 8 minutes of "Kraftwerk meets Marcos Valle".

We're always impressed with a Razor-N-Tape project but this is "¡Ay, caramba!" even for them.

 

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/diogo-strausz-caramba-ep-vinyl/1077536-01/

Artist: Diogo Strausz 

Title: Caramba EP
Release date: 4th April, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTR079
Format :  12" - 4 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Reagan Grey - Kenetic EP (Wolf Music Recordings)

You can't get more kenetic with this new EP by Reagan Grey on Wolf Music, it's the definition of movement; so Detroit!

A quick trip down the road from Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (also Wolf Music, 'The Symington Avenue' EP - see review HERE) you'll find Toronto based Reagan Grey who has been deep underground for many years (including 'What You Came Here For' (Kai Alce NDATL Remix'), SLiCK Records and the international Local Talk (including 'Now That You Are Gone' featuring Christie Nelson).

I doesn't take long before you're engrossed with the vocals of Christie Nelson and the big Detroit groove of 'Not Giving Up' that's typical main room peak time.

It might come as a bit of a surprise for Finn Rees (he of 30/70, Close Counters and his album 'Dawn Is A Melody' on Mr Bongo - see review HERE) but his appearance move the track 'Your Love' down to the Balearic with swirling synths and arms in the air piano-inspired house. 

She can't possibly keep this up for the two tracks on reverse?  Oh yes she can with 'Starlight' which is mad for late nights and the title track 'Kenetic' is packed full on kenetic energy groove.

This is her debut release on Wolf Music and it's not likely to be the last.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/reagan-grey-kinetic-ep-vinyl/1138167-01/

Artist: Reagan Grey 

Title: Kenetic EP
Release date: 13th March, 2026
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP084
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp