The Very Polish Cut Out's collective continue their blitz on the edit scene with a third ep, this time by Invent. This time round things head out in a beats heavy Hip Hop cut up direction, 'Sen o Warszawie' is particularly good. I love the diversity of these giveaway EP's and I love that they're turning up loads of fresh, unheard source material.. that's it check em out...
Polish Edits EP # 3 by Invent by The Very Polish Cut-Outs
Right, I been wanting to talk about this record for awhile... Recent Press Play guest Lord Of The Isles has a new track out on Adult Contemporary (brought to you by the same clever clogs behind American Standard). 'Ultravoilet' follows the labels debut release with Beat Broker's 'Pacific Break' (a very fine item with a killer Reverso 68 remix on the flip), and it's a monster of note. But let's rewind for a minute... Loti, as he is known to those with ADD, has been rather busy since his visit to these pages. Most notably his fantastic Tina Turner 'What's Lord Got To Do With It' finally came out on American Standard a little while back. It's one of those tracks that's been up on Soundcloud for some time, certainly over a year. I'd been hammering it for at least that long on mp3, plus with 'With An Angel' on the flip side, the 12" is a welcome and necessary addition to my collection. Loti followed it with an EP of original material called 'Hot Blobs' on his own Little Strong Recordings label, it's a super record with a glimpse into the man's deep archive of sounds. You get the feeling he's pushing less immediately accessible material here, tunes which the many labels he's featured on might not have totally grasped in an A&R styled quick listen. Let it be said I think it's some of his finest work, it would be the Loti record to get (for me anyway) if it weren't for the very classy Adult Contemporary side which hits the stores any minute now.
'Ultraviolet' is one of 2011's top tracks without a doubt. It's a rolling contemporary Space Disco mind bender with a melancholy hook that will ravage your heart and soul. Strong words I know, but when you check the clip below (which also features a slice of the lovely dubbed out remix from the previously mentioned Beat Broker), you'll hear what I'm on about. Ok for now you only get to hear a short clip (thank the rippers for that) but trust me when I say the full track is mighty. I suggest you buy it on sight (did I mention it's on 180 gm vinyl) and play it as often as u can.
Last up, if you're a Loti fan, and you should be, head here, to check out a recent live set (his first) which is splendid indeed...
Lord Of The Isles - Ultraviolet (Original & The Beat Broker Ultra Dub) Samples by Adult Contemporary
I been hammering Michael Bundt's 1979 Krautrock/ Space Disco album 'Neon' just lately. It's a pretty amazing record which seems way ahead of it's time on many levels, but 'Future Street No.7' is particularly prophetic with it's Dam Funk'esque squashed boogie keys, it's Fat Jon Space Hop tones and it's epic slo mo beats. It's a bleak vision with an icey Soul heart. I wonder if the 'No. 7' refers to the number of takes Mr Bundt did to create this meisterwerk...
Michael Bundt - Future Street No.7
Who doesnt know and love BBE Records? They've always backed true diggers and come up with superbly well made compilations. With many years under their belt you'd think they might have run out of steam, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. Upcoming releases suggest they're stepping up their game and digging deeper than ever before. Their latest comp with Mr Peabody Records from Chi Town called 'The Real Sound Of Chicago and Beyond' is a veritable treasure trove of unknown and unheard delights. Mr Peabody Records doesn't really need an introduction, if you're a vinyl hunter/collector and you've been to Chicago, then you've also been to Peabody's (I count myself lucky to have been); the guys behind the store really know a thing or two about rare gems. So for this compilation they've unleashed two full cd's of tracks they've hunted down over the years, plus there are some re-edits included in the selection. For this second collection (the first was released in 2009) they 'decided to provide Dance music from all around the world' instead of music made only in Chicago, they say 'It's also important to us that those non-native Chicagoan artists receive their just dues as well'. Head for the BBE site for more info, sound clips and an easy way to get the release... and check out Mr Peabody's monster edit of Total Eclipse's 'Space Disco Boogie' below, for insanely good Afro'ish Disco Funk... sorry no download, but definitely check it anyway...
Party Dad hails from Charleston, South Carolina, the same town that Disco minister JAZ comes from. I've seen them billed on the same local gigs, so we know they're friends. Like the Cosmic minister, Party Dad is a vinyl lovin' Disco-phile with a taste for underground sounds of the 70's, though, unlike JAZ, he'll also drop newer edits and newer Disco goodies into the mix (here's a recent Juno chart thingy of his current favourites). I know Party Dad through Soundcloud; he keeps a small but enjoyable selection of edits up there and I like em a lot, especially his take on 'Sajak's Revenge' and 'Mellow Blow', go check 'em out. You lucky non hipsters get his clean and easy re-shuffle of Atlanta Rhythm Section's 'So Into You', perfect for that mid tempo AOR Disco set you've been working on. Thanks Party Dad for dropping by...
Atlanta Rhythm Section - So Into You (Party Dad Edit)
Lel Palfrey hails from Edinburgh, he's addicted to vinyl and nurturing a craving for rotary mixers too (apparently 3 is not enough). If you live in the area you've heard him in local Bars and Clubs and you'll have already witnessed his passion for Soul, Funk, Boogie, Disco and House. Lel rides the wave between digger and party dj with a focus on much loved underground classics like Arthur Adams' 'You've got The Floor' and Skye's 'Ain't No Need'. You'll find his mix has a good blend of new bits, old stuff and lesser known gems, mixed up with the dexterity of a well seasoned dj. If you know our Press Play series well, then you'll also know we attempt to mix well known dj's with lesser known selectors, but with a strict eye on quality and scenes we dig. Lel delivers a top class, late night, groovin' basement mix for the heads, you'll be off the couch in no time.
You can catch the man playing a similar vibe - bar the Housey numbers - in a sweaty basement in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival at Ultragroove on Saturday 20th August at Cabaret Voltaire (not much notice I know), alongside Julio Bashmore and Gareth Sommerville, who runs, promotes and plays at the party. Or keep em peeled for upcoming gigs, this man knows his onions... Thanks Lel for dropping by, the rest of you get downloading. Big!!
Press Play #52 - Lel Palfrey's Basement Mix
Track list:
1. DBO - M.U.S.I.C [Audio Parallax Recordings]
2. RD76 - They Don't Tell The Truth (RD76 Edit) [Adult Music Entertainment]
3. War - The World Is A Ghetto (Special Disco Mix) [MCA Records Ltd]
4. King Tim III - Charley Says! (Roller Boogie Baby) [Spring Records]
5. Advance - Take Me To The Top (Instrumental) [X Energy Records]
6. DJ Vincenzini - In Search Of The Necronomicron [Pronto Recordings]
7. Skye - Aint No Need [Ananda Records]
8. Dubbyman - UUUUHHHH! [Ornate Records]
9. RD76 - The Prince Of The Beat (RD76 Edit) [Adult Music Entertainment]
10. Jesse Henderson - I Did It Again [Land Of Hits]
11. Sylvester - Tell Me (Remix) [Megatone Records]
12. Arthur Adams - You Got The Floor [Inculcation]
13. The McCrarys - Love On A Summer Night (Onur Engin Edit) [Disco Deviance]
I hadn't realised that Lotus Land had re-released Cojo's superb Soul Funk bomb 'Play It By Ear' back in 2009, until I looked on discogs for the original. The original 7" is mad money now, but the reissue is cheap as... and the track is pure Soul heaven. Hailing from Boston, Cojo released the single in 1984 (apparently). Instant Funk!
Cojo - Play It By Ear
I recently made friends with Jason Lev, the man behind that superb Canadian label Truth Is Light, actually I bought some killer tunes from him. So I happened to check out his label's website and it's blog (something you should do too - here and here) and I read at the bottom of the current page a quick post which references another post on Francois Kervorkian's blog, where the man talks about a feeling he has about the current state of things musical. Here's what he says...
Amos Leon Thomas Jr is well known in Jazz circles for, amongst other things, singing on 'The Creator Has a Master Plan' for Pharoah Sanders, as well as with any number of high profile artists like Louis Armstrong, Archie Shepp and even Carlos Santana. He's much less known for his self written and co-produced 1975 Jazz Disco track 'Thank You Baby' on Don Records, released under the name Leone not Leon. Thing is I hadn't heard this bomb until a few days ago and then only on a shitty mp3 (which I'm happy to share with you), it seems the 12" is the one to go for, it's longer and deeper than the more readily available 7', though it could cost you up to 100 quid. What a beast!!! I'm curious, has anyone heard this played out before? Maybe Giles? Check it, add it to the want list...
Leone Thomas - Thank You Baby
Keeping up the pace on our, by now, pretty serious collection of Press Play mixes, I'm deeply delighted to bring you a new and 'homegrown' mix from The Main Stem (their second for our series). The Main Stem are about to release their debut album 'Electric Church' through the below mentioned Lipservice. Their first single for the label, 'Contortion Danse' is already out, it has excellent mixes from The Rhythm Odyssey, themselves and Mark E. I love their album, it's very English, it's all cowbell Funk and Disco played by a Country and Western Punk House band, it's The Clash on a Disco holiday in Benidorm, only not cheap or tacky. 'Kountry Klubb' from the record (also in the mix) is the coolest new Disco track since Soiree's 'Zim Zim Zah Zah', well in my addled mind anyway, though you'll find plenty of their left field genius at work across the whole lp (out late August).
So for their 'homegrown' mix The Stem have kept things very close; all the tracks are by them or label buddies Dean Meridith and Andrew Meecham (Chicken Lips, Rhythm Odyssey, The Emperor Machine), others are mixes of their original material, and it includes that heavyweight Emperor mix of Locussolus. Massive love goes out to The Stem for dropping by with this beast...
Press Play #51 - The Main Stem's Homegrown Mix
Track List:
1.The Main Stem - Electric Church (Intro)
2.Bernard Fevre - Dali (Emperor Machine mix)
3.The Main Stem - Kountry Klubb
4.Harvey Presents Locussolus - Little Boots (Emperor Machine's extended mix)
5.The Rhythm Odyssey - Move Groove (Dr Dunks mix)
6.The Main Stem - Yes, Sacrifice! (Mark E's turn the tv off mix)
7.The Rhythm Odyssey - Right On Up For Love (Main Stem version)
8.The Main Stem - No Love (Downtown Party Network mix)
9.The Grand Corporation ft. Jeremy Glen - Wonder and Amazement
Ok it's true, I've said very little about new music just lately. Fact is there have been truck loads of great new sounds out over recent months, one record that has been a constant player through long hours of work over this time, is the excellent 'Galactica' album by Tuscan trio Out Of City on Lipservice. Primarily an electronic Disco Not Disco affair, Out Of City produce a modern blend of spacey Disco, Funk, Electro, Boogie, Rock and even Punk with apparent ease. They've already individually worked with labels like Eskimo, DC Recordings and Smash Hit Music, and they appear here together as a trio for the first time (though you wouldn't say so). It's a concept album of sorts, charting the search for the Key of Salvation in galaxies far away, but it's not proggy or arty in the way concept albums can be; 'Galactica' is synth heavy, ie. lots of glorious Moog mania, it's inventive and often dance floor friendly. If you're a fan of other releases on Lipservice like the superb Rhythm Odyssey record or any of the Chicken Lips goodies, you'll love this.
Long time friends of a.n.o.e. The Main Stem have also just dropped their first single from their debut album on Lipservice too, it's a cracker, but more on that in a minute... In the mean time check out 'Phobos', one of my favourites from Out Of City's classy side...
Out Of City - Phobos
While we're doing AOR Disco business, I need to mention Zambon & Mental from The Very Polish Cut Out's new project and their new label Primitive Copies. Zambon reconfigures Bryan Ferry's 'Slave To Love' into a jacking mid tempo House burner on one side, while Mental turns that awful Foreigner classic 'I Wanna Know What Love Is' into a beachy Space Disco head nodder, complete with acid pulses and stretched out keys on the other. Neither of these little monsters are ordinary edits and the Mental track in particular brings an entirely new vision to a piece of music I never liked in the first place. With only 300 copies floating about and plays from a host of fans like Ali Ooft, Bicep, Rune Lindbaek and Cosmic Boogie to mention only a few, you'll find getting yourself a copy in a few months nigh impossible.. hot!
Mental/Zambon - Primitive Copies 001 by Zambon
Ok before you go accusing me of being a rare record snob, here's one i recently discovered, already in my collection, on a record that's neither expensive, hard to find, rare or even revered. Not being a Kenny Loggins fan has kept me from bothering to check his 'Celebrate Me Home' lp for possible AOR loveliness. Obviously Loggins & Messina is a different story, already all over some good stuff there, but Loggins on his own is potentially too cute and curly. Anyway it turns out there is one, nice hooks, check it...
Kenny Loggins - I've Got The Melody (Deep In My Heart)
