Review: The Funkin' Machine - Nun Trovo & Chiki Chicancan (Star Creature)

Naples in the summer is perfect for some Italo Disco on the dancefloor! 

After Mirlaqi's 'Life As A Whole' (see review HERE) and the remixes of 'Dances Of The Red Planet' (see review HERE), the Star Creature label hit us with some more leftfield 'Nu-Balearica meets Deep Space Jazz Disco' overlooking the bay on Naples.

The Funkin' Machine are a band that formed in 2020 with Andrees Balbucea (vocals/keys), Alessio Pignorio (guitars), Roberto Porzio (bass), Paolo Bianconcini (percussion) and Andrea de Fazio (drums) with their own back catalogues of credits on many a Italian hit including Mystic Jungle (see review HERE) and Pelligrino & Zodyaco (Ed. Sounds like some Italian Bayou drinks mix).

They've joined fellow Italians Giovanni Damico, Modula and Leones who have releases on the label and these two instrumentals, 'Nun Trovo' (got a touch of Shakatak goin' on with those keys) and 'Chiki Chicancan' are typical cheeky uptempo tracks that are hot, steamy and ready to explode from the slopes of Vesuvius.

And not only is Star Creature hot with this release, co-head honcho Tim Zawada's hot all summer long in Chicago as is his latest radio show on OpenLab, currently on #8.

OpenLab:  Star Creature Vibes Radio 08 – Tim Zawada HERE  

BUY LINK:  Nun Trovo Cchiù / Chiki Chicancan (Instrumental Mixes) | The Funkin' Machine | Star Creature Universal Vibrations

Artist: The Funkin' Machine

Title:  Nun Trovo & Chiki Chicancan

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7089

Format: 7" Vinyl  / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mirlaqi - Dances Of The Red Planet (A Vision Of Panorama Remixes & More) (Star Creature)

When you know Chicago's Green Velvet is playing your track, label boss Tim Zawada just couldn't resist getting the team together to remix Geneva's finest, Mirlaqi's 'Dances Of The Red Planet' on this 12 track release! 

Well, take a big breath, as we start with A Vision Of Panorama Club Mix followed by Club In The Radio Edit, Orbit Dub, Mercury Club Mix, Mad Terra Mix, Jupiter Dub, Acapella, A Vision Of Panorama Instrumental Mix and there's even a French space programme variation a la Danses de la Planète Rouge (TZ Extended 12in Edit).

And to keep us on our francaise toes, the 3 'bonus' tracks, 'Neptune 82', 'Suvenire de Saturne' and 'Un Vélo Pour Venus' (Ed. as a warm up for the Tour de France).

You'll recall A Vision Of Panorama did a remix for Igor Jadranin (see review HERE) on Star Creature and the label's head man Tim Zawada gut feelings on 'Dances Of The Red Planet' were spot on with the original release (see review HERE) and he's at it again on the remix 'Nu-Balearica meets Deep Space Jazz Disco' package.

This is already in demand by DJ ears as descerning and diverse as Pittsburg's Dubmission (Kerem Gokmen), Scotland's Simon Harrison (Basic Soul Show) and Ramgate's Jo Wallace (Ramrock Records).  And not only is Star Creature hot with this release, co-head honcho Tim Zawada's latest radio show on OpenLab, currently on #2, is also worth keeping up to date with; see links below. 

OpenLab:  Star Creature Vibes Radio 05 – Tim Zawada HERE

BUY LINK:   https://www.traxsource.com/artist/568939/mirlaqi

Artist: Mirlaqi 

Title:  Dances Of The Red Planet (A Vision Of Panorama Remixes & More) 

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Wally Wonder - City Freaks (Rafael Marfil Remix) (Star Creature)

Star Creature's Mr. Zawada, know a sure fire funker when he hears one and here's a warped synth fuelled disco 7" to proove it.

Fresh from Plastic Bamboo's 'Cinerama EP' (see review HERE), Star Creature return with a couple of tracks The Egpytian Lover could have spawned, particularly the original version side of 'City Freaks'.

And then Rafael 'Electrify' Marfil is a great choice to move the electric boogie up a notch with the remix that's squares the pyramid of Brooklyn (Wonder), Chicago (Star Creature) and Mexico City (Marfil).

Similar in vibe to the forthcominng 80s inspired 'Monsro' 12" by Rob J Madin (see review HERE - coming soon), we have a vinyl groove for the dancefloor this summer.

BUY LINK:  https://starcreature.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Wally Wonder

Title:  City Freaks (Rafael Marfil Remix)

Release date: 25th April, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7082

Format: Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Plastic Bamboo - Cinerama EP (Star Creature)

The mastermind of Star Creature, Tim Zawada, has a knack of attracting to the Chicago based label the best in dance floor friendly tracks and the 'Cinerama EP' is six of the best!

Plastic Bamboo are on an intergalactic world of music space ship with an incredible variety of "fuel" in a Balearic, boogie, disco, funk, house, jazz and even zouk mixture that's in this cosmic rocket.

Camille Bertin (aka Plastic Bamboo) has created an inflight movie that's been ready on the launch pad for a while but you'd never know and as they say, patience is a virtue.

How long?  'Touki Bouki' could have been waiting since Miami Vice went to Chinatown with 'A Scene At the Sea' riding back up, 'Woman In The Dunes' stays on the beach with some jazz-bougie keys to the foreshore a la instrumental Shalamar dub for nearly 6 minutes.   What this woman is doing in the dunes we have no idea but it's a killer of a track.

'Zabriskie Point' is as cinematic synth boogie funk as you can get whilst 'La Salamandre' and 'Bad Boy Bubby' are at more of the space-disco end of this EP and are more likely get noticed first; particuarly 'Bad Boy Bubby' as it's early Human League on Italo-house roller disco speed skates with pan pipes! 

Apparently, Mr. Zawada has said, "I was literally just waiting for the record to come out so I could by it and play it" and you'll feel the same now that is actually out: pre-order now to avoid disappointment.

BUY LINK:  https://starcreature.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Plastic Bamboo

Title:  Cinerama EP

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC1251

Format: Vinyl 12" /  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Knoe1 & Tim Tucker - Girl UR Freaky (Star Creature)

I'm happy to blame Rick James, Shalamar and all other spaced out funk and soul troupers for Knoe1 & Tim Tucker's blast-off track, 'Girl UR Freaky' - and lets throw the old Atomic Dog himself, Mr. George Clinton. 

That's some heritage these guys have found and they've really done an upstanding track that you'll love as the vocal plus more than grateful for the instrumental version to back this one up; especially if you're just got into the label's recent release, Stimulator Jones' 'Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2' (see review HERE) that's more new school than retro but you may well find a connection; especially on 'Cali Red'.

That might be because Knoe1 and Tim Tucker both come from California and Tim has prevously worked with the emperor of synth funk and boogie, the Egyptian Lover; don't even get me thinking about the posibility of a an Egyptian Lover remix - that really would be a freaky gurl.

Nailed the "This is tough groove for tender moments on the dancefloor" brief as it's hard to better this one.

Artist: Knoe1 & Tim Tucker

Title:  Girl UR Freaky

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7073

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp Link HERE

Review: Mirlaqi - Life As A Whole (Star Creature)

Chicago's Green Velvet was a big fan of the Star Creature x Mirlaqi EP, 'Système' that came out 5 years ago so it must be time for a view of life as a whole via four tracks from Geneva's finest.

With 'Origins' and 'Oceans' with respective remixes by Lay-far and Saine, this is a big hits as Timour Nigolian (aka  Mirlaqi) went to Chicago to hang out with Star Creature's Tim Zawada and was inspired to produce these tracks.

At YATM, we're long-time fans of Lay-Far (see review HERE from 2016) and as he never disappoints, his remix of 'Origins' is quite a bit pacey so I prefering the spaced out synth soulful end of the day BRUK boarders on the original.

Saine's 'Ocean' remix gets down on the beach walk and finds some low down synth action whist the original is dominated by clean sparkly jazz-funk keys that's and whispy vocals that's just right for the indoor mainroom.

This is already in demand by DJ ears as descerning and diverse as Pittsburg's Dubmission (Kerem Gokmen), Scotland's Simon Harrison (Basic Soul Show) and Ramgate's Jo Wallace (Ramrock Records).  And not only is Star Creature hot with this release, co-head honcho Tim Zawada's latest radio show on OpenLab, currently on #2, is also worth keeping up to date with; see links below. 

OpenLab:  Star Creature Vibes Radio 02 – Tim Zawada HERE

BUY LINK:   https://www.traxsource.com/artist/568939/mirlaqi

Artist: Mirlaqi 

Title:  Life As A Whole

Release date: 31st January, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Igor Jadranin - Contemporary Outdoors (A Vision Of Panorama & Byron The Aquarius Remixes) (Star Creature)

The landscapers out there will be familiar with the modern concept of bringing the outdoors in, Igor Jadranin's 'Contemporary Outdoors' is all about... dancefloor & party!

The Star Creature label has made a name for itself with sourcing the best in underground electro boogie, disco, soul and funk like Raf Reza's 'Why You Gotta?' (see review HERE), Stimulator Jones' 'Stimulator Tracks' (see review HERE) and now, outta Belgrade, Igor Jadranin!

You wouldn't think the guys at Chicago HQ would have to go so far a-field, but Igor's six tracks are from the 'Heavy In Stereo' leftfield and synth ready for the dancefloor along with 'Massive' and 'Anemoia'.  It's strange that Igor has managed to obtain a raw / vintage sound that's smooth to glide to all at the same time.. 

So who thought it's be a good idea to have remixes by Byron The Aquarius (there's a 'Contemporary Outdoors' Instru mix plus a bonus, 'Midnight') with a 'Contemporary Outdoors' A Vision Of Panorama remix.   

As you might have guessed, A Vision Of Panorama (Ed. Bar?), is synthned out Balearic vibe house fusion but let's go straight to Byron The Aquarius  as this is MASSIVE in the same area as his 'Go Ahead' remix on Brandon Markell Holmes & Toribio hit on Toucan Sounds (see review HERE).  It may be too late for Midnight new year timings but 2025 is going to be fine with this release as this is well up to the standards of Igor's Latin jazz-funk synth monster 'Anemoia' or the Ashley Beedle North Street mix of 'Middle Proves' (love out to Ashley, Jo and all North Street/Ramrock people - see HERE).

You could say, "Another adventurous 12” for Tim Zawada’s Star Creature that blurs the lines between sounds and styles, keeping the Windy City label at the high risk high reward side of your DJ crate" - and you'd be right.

Artist: Igor Jadranin 

Title:  Contemporary Outdoors (A Vision Of Panorama and Byron The Aquarius Remixes) 

Release date: 31st January, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7067

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp BUY LINK 

The Contemporary Outdoors EP | Igor Jadranin | Star Creature Universal Vibrations

Review: Stimulator Jones - Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2 (Star Creature)

"What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time." - well, we are but we're also going to look forward to Vol. 2 of 'Stimulator Tracks' from Stimulator Jones on Star Creature as he's being inspired by the past to find star tracks of the future.

You don't have to go that far back to get Vol. 1 as it was only this summer that we had the four track 12" that squelched it's boogie acid on the dancefloor particularly 'Night Walk' as the acid drops on synth backing vocals in a 80s disco groove that works it's magic every time.

Could Vol. 2 match this or even be better?  Well, I suppose once you've jumped ships from Stones Throw after a couple of albums of beats/jazz/funk/soul of 'Enviroments Striving For Perfection' you're going to have more than one weapon in ya arsenal.  And this is deep in manoevres from backroom to mainroom with 'Cytoplasm' - as your 303s go cyborg crazy in a bubblin' soup.

Talking of mainrooms, what's that classic I can here interupting our backroom get down on 'Fantasies'; this is track on it's own is going to make this 12" fly as it crosses many decades of house - you've got to get up to this one. 

'Hold Plz' is like another Chicago loop soundtrack with a killer bassline whilst the lead track, 'Cali Red' is the most danceable of the lot with disco space synths and sirens warning us that this is a big track.

Mr. Jones' appeared on the emerging talent showcase, Gilles Peterson's 'Brownswood Bubblers' back in 2017 (Ed. that's Vol. 12 that also featured Madison McFerrin and Chip Wickham!) was an indication that we'd see him in the future so it was no surprise that 'Stimulator Tracks Vol. 1' was great; and now I believe Vol. 2 is even better!

Buy Link: Stimulator Jones - The Stimulator Tracks Vol 2

Artist: Stimulator Jones 

Title:  Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2 

Release date: 17th January, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC1258

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp Link HERE The Stimulator Tracks Vol 2 | Stimulator Jones 

Review: Raf Reza - Why You Gotta? / Pineapple Island (Star Creature)

I'm often asked, "Why do you have to keep up with all the new records?" I have to own up, it's new productions like, "Why You Gotta?' and 'Pineapple Island' on Star Creature that make me do it.

 

Available on 7" and digital, Toronto's Raf Reza had his finger on the synth funk that'll give the Commodores' 'Machine Gun' a run for its money in terms of instrumentals as 'Why You Gotta?' takes some proto jazz-funk house to the limits.

On the flip, there's some slow jam groove with some Azymuth / Roy Ayers inspired bass and Balearic shoreline boogie from 'Pineapple Island' - book you flights for now.

And whilst it's always a good idea to get the physical vinyl version there's a digital bonus track 'Space Strut' that sounds like it could go back as far as Sun Palace's 'Raw Movements' from the mid-80s. 

In fact, it turns out that this session was originally recorded in a attic bedroom over 8 years ago so it's even more impressive that Star Creature are around to give it a worldwide release and I'd adivise not to hang about with this one.

Artist: Raf Reza

Title: Why You Gotta? / Pineapple Island (Space Strut)

Release date: 25th October, 2024

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7067

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp