Review: Trip Tease & Alain Vice - Sex Having Disco (inc. Prins Thomas Remix) (Astrolead Recordings)

It wasn't that long ago I was saying hat it's it hard to follow in the footsteps of Prins Thomas and Trip Tease adn Alain Vice, must agree ad they got 'the Prins' himself to fluff up a remix on their new EP, 'Sex Having Disco'.

So Third Attempt reminded us of the power of 'Inspector Norse' (see review HERE) and  we've had lots of Neapolitan synth-funk recent (including Jiri Jiri - see reveiw HERE) is it time to prove we are all connected as Prins Thomas, gets down and dirty with his remix of Trip Tease & Alain Vice's phuture 'bouncy house' of a track called 'Millano 2098' which is his trademark 'Diskomiks' quality.

But if you're going to have a 'Sex Having Disco' you'll need some protection as nu-disco legend Ilya Santana's label based in the Canary Islands reach out to Mexico's Trip Tease and Alain Vice (aka Carlos Saleme).

So the title might be a bit risqué, you can ride 'Acapulco Wave', land on the 'Palcon Funch' (Ed. did you see what they did there?). 'The Finest' and the original mix of 'Milano 2098' are all clean dancefloor party melange of "Italo, disco, synth wave, cosmic diso and beach rock" - 'Palcon Funch' is especially hot as it harks to a period when Santana was making his name on the Bear Funk and Nang Records.

The vocals on 'The Finest' and 'Milano 2098' give the tracks more of an original 70s disco feel so this EP is a lot more than just Prins Thomas' remix!

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

Artist: Trip Tease & Alain Vice

Title: Sex Having Disco (inc Prins Thomas Remix) 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: Astrolead Recordings

Cat. No: -

Format: digital / Bandcamp

Review: Will Druid - Flair EP (Soul Potential)

Soul Potential's debut release as SLPT001 is Will Druid's 'Flair' and this 4-track EP certainly does have a flair for the dancefloor.

It's a hectic time in Leeds these days, the footie club is back in the Premier Division, it's got a new record label based in the city and the first release is out by local legend Will Druid, founder of queer-centric club night Drip and Alto Radio host.

The A-side, 'Vicinity' and 'Flair' are billed as modern house with heavy basslines - tick, sparkling synths - tick and diva vocals - tick albeit a bit low in the mix.

I must admit I prefer the B-side tracks, 'Weewoo' and 'Amanita' that are definitely full of percussion, goove and fun; what was once trademark 'skippy speed garage, pumping house'.

Druid (aka Will Addison) was born in Middlebrough but has made a name for himself in Leeds (much like my distant connection with both cities who works at Nation of Shopkeepers, LS2 3AG) and if you are nearby, there's a launch party with Will, Ana Daya and James Frances at Holding Patterns and it's free!

LAUNCH PARTY: Soul Potential: Flair EP Launch with Will Druid, Ana Daya, James Frances at Holding Patterns, Leeds

BUY LINK: 12" Flair EP - elasticStage

Artist: Will Druid

Title:  Flair EP

Release date: 3rd September, 2025

Label: Soul Potential

Cat. No: SLPT001

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: JILO - Mirage's Colours (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul introduce us to JILO who, take a big breath,  is an engineer, artist, DJ, sometime festival curator and occasional academic with a PhD in computer music to his name - and he can see 'Mirage's Colours'!

NuNorthern Soul have been so hot on the releases recently with Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE), Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE) and head honcho Phat Phil on a 10 hour (count em 'TEN' hour' DJ session at the World Famous Pikes Ibiza: no wonder there's mirage's in the air. 

First off, you got to say that these four tracks are perfectly crafted in all ways. The opener is 'Sunset Embrace' and from the cicadas to the gentle tinkles of the seashore (with basslines, percussion and keys to match).  From an evening stroll to a 'Shadow's Tango' we get our dancing sandals/flip-flops/other beach footwear is available on before totally letting go with tubular bells-funk off on 'Blue Velvet', without sight or sound of David Lynch or Lana Del Ray! 

'Aurora' synth chills us out to finish this EP and it'sjust what you need matter if you've got a ten hour DJ set to play at 'the' most iconic venue at Santa Eularia on the white isle (Ed. all your big DJ heads have played there like DJ Harvey, Weatherall, David Morales etc) or if you're just looking at the dreamy artwork of the cover!

BUY LINK: Mirage's Colours | Jilo + Listening Party - September 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM PDT

Artist: JILO

Title: Mirage's Colours

Release date: 5th September, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: George Koutalieris - Seasons (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul continue to find extraordinary artists  as they introduce us to George Koutalieris' 'Seasons' for Greek Gods...  and normal folks too!

Gentle Balearics that have been tempered by the Aegean seas as Mr Koutalieris looks down from the Acropolis; well somewhere in his home city of Athens anyway.

The four tracks are a mix of ambient synth Italo lounge groove that'll fit in to any elongated Pikes session that matches the titles, 'Wildflowers', 'Seasons', 'CLYC' and 'Pangaeon Gold'.

This has elements of a very chilled out Paul Hillery's 'Children Of The Sun' series of compilations (see review HERE), a warm glow of Sun Palace's 'Raw Movements' and some Holy Mountain roots (see HERE) without showing any of those roots: save for the guitarists' love of "electronic daydreams".

This is Koutalieris' debut EP release on the label after releasing an album, 'Stop, Look, Listen' back in 2020 and then popping up on some compilations.

This all fits in nicely in a busy tme for NuNorthern Soul as they've also released JILO's 'Mirage's Colours' (see review HERE) which also follows the equally essential Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE) and Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE).

A man (and label) for all seasons you might say?

BUY LINK: Seasons | George Koutalieris / Stop, Look, Listen | George Koutalieris

Artist: George Koutalieris

Title: Seasons

Release date: 15th August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl (Right Tempo)

You had me at "Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music"! What's just as impressive is the line-up on these 10 tracks; can you believe I:Cube and I:Cube with a Daft Punk remix, the massive Masters At Work on a Flute rework (illiminating Janet Jackson, in name only), Frankie Knuckles and more!

Of course, I don't eat caviar but this album signifies everything that a jar of Beluga is: exclusive, smooth and expensive (in terms of quality): the Masters At Work flute rework will save the dancefloor time and time again as it's a monster track.

Never heard of Jo Boyer's 'Isabelle & The Rain'?  No worries, here's the Da Funkie & Cosmic Girl Caviar Jazz Edit!  Sounding very cultured Latin influenced Italo-jazz with massive Fender Rhodes keys all over it.

And whilst you're being thankful for what you've got, this compilation gives more like Josma's 'Voices In Los Angeles (Disco '70)' and more jazz keys of Cricco Castelli, 'Life Is Changin' Again' as a club mix and original.

We know Right Tempo from their recent 12"s, Attilio Zanchi's 'Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) (see review HERE) and the Yellowtail/Mark Murphy 'Seasons In My Mind' Remixes (see review HERE) but this is next level for the clubs.

Even looking backwards to look forward, a Clepto mix of Frankie Knuckles' 'Bac N Day'; you can't afford to miss this one.

BUY LINK:   https://www.juno.co.uk

Artist: Various Artists - compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl 

Title: Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music 
Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Right Tempo 

Catalog Number : RT 1001 PRO

Format :Gatefold 2xLP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sim Fossil - Tidal Figures (Dream Chimney)

Sim Fossil's 'Tidal Figures is like the musical equivalent of Antony Gormley's series of beach figures going of a Balearic paddle.

More of a 'companion' set to Dream Chinmey's previous release, Sorcerer's 'Sunlight Hits' (see review HERE) as it grooves in downtempo synth funk and the moon's gavitational pull.

Sam Fossil in based in Paris and not of Dorest's Jurassic Coast as you might imagine as this is very Balearic beach vibe that'll equally West Coast San Francisco: this is especially true of the Max Essa (Is It Balearic? Recordings, Hell Yeah, Bear Funk and many more) on the remix of 'Echo Marina'. 

Project Sandro (a collaborative Rollmottle and Tony Watson) remix ‘Null Meridian’ into more of a space disco that's got the multi-genre beat vision of the trip-hop end of Chicago's lynyn (see review coming HERE soon).

The original tracks are lots more ambient/downtempo with a slow pace that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a left bank but definely live up to the 'Dream Chimney' name.  The:  label themselves say, "half-speed Harold Faltermeyer adrift in an underwater voyage", it'd say throw a bit of Steve Hillage/System 7 in there and you've got it; put 'Nyrosine' and 'Backcurrent' in ya ruck sacks.

BUY LINK: Music | Dream Chimney

Artist:  Sim Fossil 

Title:  Tidal Figures 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Dream Chimney 

Catalog Number :TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Roy Ayers - Delfonic Reworked #1 (BBE Music)

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Limited to 500 black vinyl 12"s so if you're reading this on any other day than Friday, 29th August - you're too late!

The best news is you can get these reworks/edits by Berliner's Delfonic on download and Roy would be so happy that this is only Vol. 1.

From the BBE vaults, there's 'Green and Gold', 'What's The T', 'On What A Lonely Feelng' and the fantastic 'Sugar'.

Delfonic also features on the remix list of 'Keep On Remixes #2' by Louis Baker (check out 'Keep On Remixes #1' - see review HERE) so he's definitely going to be a name we're going to hear much more of.

Jazz Funk royalty. 

Artist: Roy Ayers

Title: Delfonic Reworked #1

Release date: 29th August, 2025

Label :  BBE Music

Catalog Number: BBE 

Format: 12" vinyl (Limited Edition) /Digital / Bandcamp   

Review: Farolinho & Kiko Navarro - Alaroye Yokode feat. Hannah Nedas & Ivan St. Ives (Afroterraneo Music)

Nigeria, Colombia, Brazil and Cuba have all made there way into 'Alaroye Yokode' for the latest release on Kiko Navarro's latest release on Afroterraneo Music.

It's been a while since we've heard from Kiko Navarro/Afroterraneo, since 'Nana Del Caballo Grande' to be precise (see review HERE) which is unusual for the "ever busy Kiko", but patience is a virtue as they say.  Definitely in this case as the privous Spanish flamenco of 'Nana Del Caballo Grande' (Lullaby of the Big Horse) has given way to big percussion, big horns and a big sing-a-long.

There's no surprise if you know Farolinho is Alex Farrell, he of founder/guitar of London Afrobeat Collectice (they of 'My Way' with Kiko Navarro remixes - see review HERE) and their collective love of world beats, whether Afro-beatT or Latin or both, have put it all together to give give it some spiritual house magic.

To assist with Nannah Nedas' "chanting to the gods around a ceremony of drums and dance" is Andy Watts (trumpet) and Pat Kenny (trombone) which was recorded prior to Navarro adding Ivan St. Ives on lead vocals and Benji Habichuela on congas.

It's a full house and whilst a dub version would be cool, this is what your dancefloor needs.

Artist: Farolinho & Kiko Navarro feat. Hannah Nedas & Ivan St. Ives
Title: Alaroye Yokode
Release Date : 29th August, 2025
Catalog Number : AFTNE075
Label : Afroterraneo Music
Format: Digital

Review: Rob Redford - Primitive Electronic Rhythms (Boogie Cafe Records)

Rob Redford don't need any 'Sundance Kid' help when it comes to 'Primitive Electronic Rhythms' as all 4-tracks on the new release are all his own work.

Those with good memories will recall that Boogie Cafe Records released the Kerrier Collective EP 'Morning Sun' just after Colour & Pitch released their 'Life Wants To Live' that included a Coflo remix (see review HERE and you won't want to miss Coflo's 'Who The Frequency' EP coming out on Freerange Records next month). 

This rather contrived introduction is intended to set out that the Boogie Cafe crew have been spotting great stuff for over 10 years now and have included Sean McCabe, Lay-Far, Goshawk and many more. so no huge surprise then that Redford's quartet of 'The 14th Chapter', 'Beyond X', 'Saki's Dance' and 'UDAB' and the perfect Chicago housing project for the dancefloor.

This is Rob's third release on the label and whilst it might sound odd that you can "join the dots" between Larry Heard and Floating Points from Maidstone but the last release included a remix from DJ/Producer Demarkus Lewis (he of 'Love Still Lives EP' - see review HERE).

This is "deep house for late-night dancers", particularly 'Saki's Dance' but this is all great.

Artist: Rob Redford

Title: Primitive Electronic Rhythms

Release date: 29th August, 2025

Label:  Boogie Cafe Records

Catalog Number: BC051D

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bustin' Loose - Château d'Amour EP (The Disco Express)

The disco train is on a European tour to France with the latest release as Bustin' Loose gets in the 'Château d'Amour'.

After La Felix's 'Bassline Jump' EP of a coule of weeks ago (review review HERE) who knew that label head honcho Bustin' Loose had some HOT français disco house action with 'Château d'Amour'? 

The idea was for a release, "that channels the glamour of 70s nightlife, the soul of disco, and the bite of modern electronic music. A conceptual journey through funk-laced grooves, nu-disco anthems, and leftfield club burners, this four-track project showcases the kaleidoscopic sound of one of dance music’s most dynamic talents."  

And you're not going to win an argument that says this doesn't hit the steam in the firebox: James Brown? '20 Buck Funk' featuriing Relaye is an anthem!  'Lower South Shuffle' which is a bit downtempo soul cool with jazzy keys.  The opener 'We Are One' are made for the disco together with the title track as "Château d'Amour, the place to be, Château d'Amour, just you and me".

For more on Bustin' Loose, check our interview with Tom Lilly of last year HERE.

BUY LINK: https://bustinloose.bandcamp.com/album/ch-teau-damour

Artist: Bustin' Loose 

Title: Château d'Amour EP
Release date: 29th August, 2025
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS97
Format:  Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp