Press Play#35 - Situation

Currently no.4 on the Juno Disco top sellers chart (as well as in other categories), Situation's latest double sider, their 3rd for their own label, is really excellent stuff; 'Ganster Love', in particular, is an expertly delivered Disco House, soon to be classic. Apparently Situation gave Greg Wilson a CD of their edits at The Big Chill festival back in 2008 which lead to their first release on Disco Deviance. Since then these Stroud based producers have released a handful of really solid 12"s, which have been played out by any number of big name dj's (and loads of us lesser known one's too). Someone recently wrote on DJhistory that the key to their consistently high quality releases, may be related to the abundance of second hand record stores in Stroud. I'm sure it helps tracking down the bits that go into their work, that and their knack for tapping into what makes really great music

So how about an exclusive Press Play mix from the Stroud massive? I'm not even going to get into the business of describing the mix, it's by Situation, that should be reason enough to get downloading. Running this blog rocks!!

Press Play#35 - Situation - Press Play

lost edit - twilight

I was thinking, a.n.o.e. will be four years old soonish; around the time I got started, the whole edits phenomenon began to pick up momentum. Now it's probably fair to say there are just too many about; having choice is always a good thing, but wading through the onslaught of new releases every month is quiet difficult. It goes without saying though, that the cream always rises to the top. In those almost four years, I've featured a number of superb edits which have never been released, some of which i go back to repeatedly. So amongst all the other threads that get mixed up and lost here every night, I plan to highlight some of those, lest they be forgotten.

Anyone remember Jitterbugs very deep and ever so slightly techy edit of Maze's 'Twilight'?  It's damn fine!

Maze - Twilight (Jitterbug's Lost Edit) 

the users

Fairly recent Press Play guest Cosmic Boogie, is releasing his labels fourth set of edits in a minute or two; the two classy tracks featured have both been reworked by Stu Robinson, who is all things Cosmic Boogie. He's done good too, having cut War's 'Youngblood' into a high quality extended Funk workout made for shimmying and shuffling from deep inside your soul. 'Youngblood' is primo War re-tweaked with respect, no House lift here, just authentic groove. 'The Users' is killing me softly with it's deep Soul Disco laser Funk grooves; I don't know the original, but no matter, the track is an instant classic and is about to get hammered by dj's with soul. Keep em peeled, check the clip below and enlist...

bombs away

Your Disco Needs You drop two new Sgt Lovebody edits on Junodownload today (Monday); the Disco party bomb 'Crystal Skies' and a very Idjut Boys styled, beats heavy, Disco Funk slice of goodness called 'Tumbledown'. The Sergeant tells me 'Crystal Skies' gets the dance floor in a frenzy and I for one believe him, I'm play listing 'Tumbledown', however, 'cos it's a weapon you need. Sure fire underground bomb alert!

ultralight

Back in May of last year, Thisisnotanexit put out the brilliant 'Ultralight' EP by Parallels. I can't help thinking Madonna could have been this good, if only she'd not lost the plot immediately after 'Lucky Star'. The three glorious tracks included are more 'Italians Do It Better' than they are spawn of Ciccone however, since this Canadian duo channel a whole host of 80's New Wave ghosts, Italo Disco ghouls and Pop phantoms. The title track has been the soundtrack of my late summer since it re-appeared on the labels recent 'Manifesto #1' cd (see this post); blasting it in the car with the windows down may be a sad 40 yr old guy's way of trying to regain his youth, but I tell you it works. I can almost smell the glitter in my hair gel.

I get the feeling this release has been overlooked a little though, I don't remember seeing it in a lot of charts or on play lists, but then this would not be the first time a good record was out of time. And these are strange times; while the kids play Xbox Idols Avatar, it's up to us to regenerate a future not based on bank loans and set dressed living, but by going back to the start, we can at least reinvigorate our Disco, Punk & original Pop ideals. Parallels may not be political in that slightly overstated sense, but they are the kind of fun that gets you in trouble. See the video for 'Ultralight' here and grab the freebie thanks to TINAE. Ice cold heat!

Parallels - Ultralight

paulara baleara pt1.

I've promised countless times that I'd put this excellent mix by Pavel Plastikk up, but there was an artwork issue; Pavel felt the original version I did was too Cosmic and not Balearic enough, well that'll teach him to mess with the designer. Seriously though, I agreed, but couldn't find the time to get it sorted. So finally, here it is. 'Paulara Baleara Pt1' is a very fine, chilled out ride; exactly the sort of thing required for those of you with incoming summer weather and upcoming days on the beach. 

By now you already know Pavel, he's from the Ukraine, he runs the, now well famous, Low parties, he's an eclectic dj but seems to have found a real and unique voice with Balearic beats. His press play mix 'Adriatica' racked up about 1500 downloads, before divshare wangled my counters. Pavel says 'Paulara Baleara pt1' is one of his best mixes yet, so best get on it. We're not going to run a play list for now, so you'll just have to take my word that it's fine and mellow. Also feel free to post your spots in the comments section. This mix is the first in a series of three, enjoy it...

now with tracklist...
01 Björn J:son Lindh - Dyninger
02 Steinar Haugerud - Traditional Lullaby
03 Shelby Gaines - Aquaworld
04 Brian Eno & David Byrne - Mountain Of Needles
05 Arthur Russell - A Little Lost
06 Fläsk Kvartetten - Over The Rainbow
07 A Mountain Of One - Our Eyes
08 Kenneth Bager - The Day After Yesterday (Part Five)
09 Santana - Love Theme From Spartacus
10 Messalina - Big Brown Eyes
11 John Martyn - The Man In The Station
12 Micah - Revelation
13 City Reverb - Ghetto Glamour (Time & Space Machine remix)
14 Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55
15 ARP - From A Balcony Overlooking The Sea

Pavel Plastikk - Paulara Baleara pt 1.

velocet vogue

For some time now, I have wanted to bang on about a few Deep House classics I used to play out a lot, not your average kind of tracks obviously, but tracks which are still great now. They're also not likely to have been huge hits, we're talking about lesser known goodies and maybe a few hidden gems. So here's the first of an occasional new line in yacking on about old tunes...

I first heard Campag Velocet's 'Out On The Plynth (NYDX Mix)' on Simon Lee's brilliant 'Through The Skies' mix for X:Treme Records (1998), back when DJ mixed cd's were still essential buys. With it's cool Voguing bump, lush keys, that superb 'space and time' Brit rap, this was a permanent go to theme track for the deep crowd. 'Out On The Plynth' was the b-side to their first single 'Drencrom' and though they've done some great things since, Campag went in an entirely different direction soon after. I've seen copies occasionally for sale on Discogs and they're always very very cheap. Pure Deep House Disco for starters...

Campag Velocet - Out On The Plynth (NYDX Mix) 

albatros

Here's another one of those not so hard to find, but quiet pricey records that's definitely worth hunting down if you're into oddball pop from the past. Italian band Albatros's eponymous 1975 album for CBS is for the most part pretty cheesy euro Island Disco, except the production is full of weird and interesting details. The beardy 'My Private Collection' parts one and two are just begging for an update and would be perfect for a Mindless Boogie release. Elsewhere the Latin holiday vibe on 'Ha-Ri-Ah' would fit nicely into any quality eclectic set. The track 'Africa', a Balearic soundtrack oddity, comes with an overripe monologue about escaping to  the dark continent... drop this around the beach fire, just after smoking...

Albatros - Africa

replant

Sometime back I mentioned Jakarta based Voyagers Of Icarie, and insisted you use their myspace link to check them out. Their track 'Purple Bamboo' has been on heavy rotation ever since, it's a modern psyche folk beauty which is available through the very interesting space.rec. One of Icarie's members is also behind Svarghi, a freeform collabaration vehicle who have a new ep coming out shortly, again on space.rec. This two tracker is impossible to categorize, it's a modern tapestry of electronica and psychedelic folk with finely woven antique synths, lush vocals, intricate percussion and a sound thick with ghosts from the past. I reckon heavyweight beards like Prins Thomas and Harvey should be pushing these guys, their Indo/Balearic beats are ideal for the Scando/LA scenes (excuse the massive leaps across the globe there). You get to download 'Replant' off the ep, but check out their myspace to hear 'Ominous' (also on the release) and other enchanting gems by these very talented guys. Available on Junodownload sometime in May... Rated!!!

Svarghi - Replant

Belgian Fever

Greg Wilson's latest set of Ruff Edits (#4) is in stores this week, he's reworked Crystal Grass' classic 'Crystal World' for the A side. I've had a couple of CG's marvelous tracks up on here, including this monster operatic Disco Funk bomb. Greg's done a superb job, turning the track (previously a 7" and album cut) into a stomping extended version. This is pretty cool in itself but the B Side, a teasing rework of Chakachas' 'Jungle Fever' renamed here as 'Belgian Fever', is going to get years of play too. Previously also only available as a 7" and album cut, 'Jungle Fever' sounds like a proto version of their hit 'Stories', but since i know nothing at all about Chakachas, it's possible a lot of their tracks sound very similar. You can always trust a Wilson edit, they're excellently remastered and tweaked for extra pleasure...

twister alert

Sleazybeats 003 is on it's way (drops the first week of May); if the mid tempo/ slo mo Disco House scene had a big room, that is where you'd hear any of the three feel good items on their upcoming 'Tornado Never Dies' ep. Melbourne based producer Tornado Wallace really brings the heat with three, expert, unstoppable, hook laden, deep 'n shimmering floor fillers. Just listen to the title track below and get in line. For fans of The Revenge, Wolf and now Tornado Wallace...IN STORES NOW!

universal appeal

Diggers label Peoples Potential Unlimited, really blow my mind with their rare Funk 'n Disco find's, nearly every one of their 7" singles, LP's and 12"s from the last few years has been a must have. The guy who runs it, is really careful in tracking down the original artists, paying the right people and remastering these quality finds, so you get a real product, with real depth and character, which is to say nothing of the incredible music. Occasionally they also commission a new edit or two. I've talked about them up on a.n.o.e. before and am back to remind you about their basically unmissable catalogue, but also to say their 2009 compilation (their first), 'Family Affair' is truly superb, as it gathers a bunch of those 7"s on CD, probably for the first time ever. The CD includes tracks from Minority Band, T.M.S., Crunch, Ballplayers, Midnight Express, Caprice, Saavy, Initials, George Smallwood, Satellite Band and many others. One of my favourite tracks of all time (yeah how many are there are of those?) which is 'Danger Zone' by Midnight Express gets on, along with a bag full of really beautiful antique gems. Check out the stellar, lazer Funk oddity 'Universal Language' from Ballplayers, while you head on over to their online store and get investing in these limited run sparklers.

Ballplayers - Universal Language

Vallefaret

Marius Vaareid has a new release out on Full Pupp called 'Vallefaret', it's a superb Cosmo Balearo affair, well... all his stuff is beautiful I reckon. The 12" also features a sublime mix from Blackbelt Andersen (with additional remix production by Prins Thomas) which manages to weld Marius' original and a deep 'n distorted, Morodoresque, thumper into one bass bin rattling, head trip; being a fan of Andersen's helps, but then again this may be the best thing he's done so far. As the remix moves on, it feels as if it's coming apart, threatening to damage your brain as it comes unglued. I love the combination of Marius' lush, synthy, Utopian, dream and Blackbelt's plowing Disco truck. There is another original from Marius on the 12" which is excellent and a digital only extra track available also, with a mix from Jarle Braathen, who pushes the tropical heat up high. Keep 'em peeled for the upcoming album from Marius, who is currently in the studio with the Prins. Excellent gear this...

 

Special Note: Marius has very kindly allowed me to put up his version of the track, a lovely exclusive for ya. His original is a beautiful, optimistic and uplifting synth dream scape, it's Nordic heaven... thankyou Marius!

Marius Vaareid - Vallefaret

shine your light

Back in 2006, Jurassic 5 released their fourth album 'Feedback'. Though Cut Chemist had left the group, they continued to push their sample heavy brand of 'old skool' at a time when Hip Hop had long since drowned in the oil slick of a pimped out SUV. The album wasn't received well, partly because of Chemist's departure, but mostly because the album brought nothing new to their audience. When you look at a list of the original tracks the '5' sampled for the record however, things definitely get more exciting, as is often the case with hip hop albums. Three Dog Night, Curtis Mayfield, Boney M, The Art Of Noise, The Dap Kings and Al Green all get ransacked for Jurassic's pleasure. The fantastic Boogie/ Funk track 'Shine Your Light' by The Graingers also came up reconstituted on 'Feedback', it's a classic which isn't hard to find and not all that expensive, it is, however, one you need.

The Graingers - Shine Your Light

eden

Cosmic & Psyche diggers will know that French band Eden's 1979 album 'Aura' on Oxygene is pretty hard to find; it does come up on e-bay occasionally for fairly reasonable prices, plus you might get lucky in the right dusty crate. It's an interesting synth & Hammond heavy album, but do you really need it? I'd say if heavy, churchy, space Fusion was your thing, or if you're a total synth geek, then definitely. Though it has some cheesy elements, the excellent production on 'Parures D'automne', the second track, is cleaner and lighter than most of the album, it's a languid Cosmic ride with a tinge of classical Pop, or something like that. Late nite Cosmic surf anyone?

Eden - Parures D'automne

Press Play #34 - Beatfanatic

Press Play returns with a superb mix from Stockholm's finest, Ture Sjöberg aka Beatfanatic. It probably goes without saying that I'm really delighted to have this Discotastic journey from Ture on board, I've long been a fan and own a shelf's worth of his records.

Back in 2003 & 4, Beatfanatic 12"s, under various guises, began appearing on Raw Fusion and G.A.M.M.; excellent 12"s which revived and refreshed everything from Brazilian Jazz monsters to Disco bombs. Later Ture set up his own labels Dicey & Soundscape Records to handle his various projects. His sound is particular and unique to him; whether he's tackling dusty Cosmic grooves, Afro heat, House or Disco, he always has a way of making it his own. In 2008, for example, amidst a number of remakes and reworks of the classic 'Let It Happen', Ture came out tops with a creamy deep house refix (on G.A.M.M.) which blew the competition away, I still get people asking me what the tune is when i play it out. Anyway Beatfanatic's discography is pretty deep and contains a number of un-hyped gems; try and find the free 12" which came with his second album, for example. 

Moving on... grab the mix, it's got a whole bunch of Disco delights in it and the last track in particular is keeping me up at night. There is no track list, so spot 'em if u know 'em. Lastly, big thanks to Ture for dropping in.

press play #34 - beatfanatic - boogieupyours 

7 days off at The Real World

I've been wanting to mention that the links to other sites (ie 'keepin' connected') on the sidebar, are constantly being updated, I've removed most of the dead links (though I'm sure there are a few i haven't spotted yet) and I've added quiet a few new ones. One of my current favourite links is the The Real World one; a great site of bits 'n mixes with an excellent design, run by Flukey, The Yew Tree & Sircharles; you'll find by clicking the arrow (>) on the top right of the page, that they're hosting a new mix of mine called '7 days off' (yeah baby sitting amongst Greg Wilson, Christophe and others). Check it out, I'll be sending them the track list shortly, and make sure you get on the other mixes on the site, you will not be disappointed.