Review: MOTEL PHANTASMA - Claptrap EP (Razor-N-Tape Records)

Is it me or does the phrase 'Claptrap' seem out of place for trendy NYC label Razor-N-Tape? It's the type of word you'd hear t'up North or at least not south of Birmingham?  So how'd it get in the Fania dancefloors of New York? 

MOTEL PHANTASMA is actually a mystery duo (I wonder who that could be?) and they've got a double A-sided 7" that'll get you all the attention a DJ would need.

Side A is hot as 'Claptrap' warped Baile Funk with early Kraftwerk circa-pocket calculator; "that's Claptrap" I hear you say (and you'd be right) but try not to clap you're way onto the dancefloor in a perverted flamenco synth wave way.

 

But that's nothing compared to Afro-boogie Zamrock disco of 'Noude' featuring the vocals of Kaleta as 70s 'Shaft In Africa' cool hits NYC.

This is a heavyweight and totally different to label boss' JKriv recent collaboration with Megatronic and their 'Out Of Time' release (see review HERE) but both are equally necessary and fun. 

BUY LINK: MOTEL PHANTASMA, Kaleta - Noude

 

Artist: MOTEL PHANTASMA

Title: Out Of Time
Release date: 12th September, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTD125
Format :  7" - 2 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Nomi Ruiz & Eli Escobar - Love Louder (Razor-N-Tape Records)

When you've already made a name for yourself as a vocalist with Hercules & Love Affair, Jessica 6 and countless collaborations, Nomi Ruiz teams up to 'Love Louder' together on Razor-N-Tape Records with a full album.  

Yes that's right!  Jessica 6, the Brooklyn-based Nu-disco/pop trio that were on Peacefrog who had that crossover connections with ANOHNI and hipsters Hercules & Love Affair.  All very NY trendy so add to that background DJ/Producer Eli Escobar's credentials, whowonder why these Nuyoricans haven't released a debut album until now after thier first collaboration in 2011.

One reason may well be that whether it's his own productions, edits or remixes, Escobar is prolific and he's perfect at getting that Disco/Latin/percussion/dancefloor combination perfect.  So it's cool that he's happy to play to the support to Nomi's singing talents on these eight tracks; that said, it works in a delicate synth-pop way like the title track and 'The Spell' that draw on that Love Affair tension/angst.  

'Heathens' and 'Full Fantasy' are upbeat enough for dancefloor plays but the album is indeed full of tension as in Nomi's own words, "We live in a world and a city where this sense of imminent loss surrounds us” and never a truer word said in the two weeks leading up to the release but they have both had mutual friends pass recently and 'Go Be Gone' catches the theme perfectly and at the same time, it's a love letter to the ever changing landscape of NYC itself (Ed. insert your local urban centre as it's a global issue).

Whilst we would all like to dance our summers away, this album is a reminder of other things; possibly the two themes come together with 'Blindside' (can we have an extended more dubby version?), 'Glitter & Gold' and the city sex theme of 'Juice'.

They've moved quite a long way from the DFA template (Ed. haven't we all?)   We've said it before, we're always impressed with a Razor-N-Tape project and 'Love Louder' is no exception.

 
BUY LINK: Nomi Ruiz & Eli Escobar - Love Louder

Artist: Nomi Ruiz & Eli Escobar 

Title: Love Louder 
Release date: 27th July, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTR082
Format :  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp