We Praise You

One of the recent records that I have picked up, was the new single Praise, from Art of Tones. This is the third amazing record of a series of releases off of 2020 Vision from this, for some reason "unanimous producer". On the B side of the record, French producer, Llorca, handles the remix and really takes "Praise" to the level where the song title seems fitting. This record is definately getting alot of hype and can be considered an early nominee for best single of the year. I'm not going to say it is the best single, I'm just saying it's well due the nomination.

Art of Tones - Praise (Llorca Remix)

It Feels Good on the Lips

One of my favorite releases of last year was Reverso 68's Tokyo Disco 12" off of Eskimo Recordings. Reverso 68, which features Pete Herbert and Phil Mison, are one of those production duo's that when they release a 12-inch it's always amazing. However the biggest problem I have with them is that they don't release more singles. They are definately one of the least "talked about", however talented songwriters out there in the disco house scene. Good news came for those that feel the same way I do when Eskimo recently released the follow-up single to Tokyo Disco with a new 12" entitled Especial. This single includes two solid tracks including the title track "Especial" and my personal favorite "Take Me Back To Yours" which can definately take a dance party into some late night love making. You can only anticipate with what Reverso 68 will come up with next.

Reverso 68 - Take Me Back To Yours

Night Vision

One of the most anticipated albums of 2007 has to be the new 2020 Vision released LP, Night Vision from Belgium's Spirit Catcher. Therefore you can only imagine how excited I was when I got my hands on a promo copy of the album. At first glance I noticed that this album is more like a compilation of Spirit Catcher's greatest work combined with some fresh new material, including classics like "Space Crash", "Voodoo Knight", "Roller Coaster", and "Sweet Deal", along with new tracks "Night Vision", "Motown Spring", and "Harmonize". The standout track in my opinion is the cosmic driven "Hidden Memories", which is a seven minute galactic journey that can definately keep the star voyager moving. Overall, I think that this is one of the best release's so far this year, as you get many classic Spirit Catcher cuts, while getting a taste of the future. I believe this LP is going to be released in March, however if you can't wait that long, I would reccommend buying the self-titled single, I know I did.

Spirit Catcher - Hidden Memories
Spirit Catcher - Night Vision

I Need A Freak

One of the groups that I haven't featured on this blog that I absolutely love is Rotterdam's Freak Electrique. Freak Electrique, AKA Erik Müller has been releasing amazing records on I-F’s cult label(one of my favorites) Viewlexx since 2003. Müller brings a deep, spacious, neo-Italo disco composition to the front of a galactic soundtrack. It's like mixing Alden Tyrell and Lindstrom together, you get the much needed italo-plus-the space journey. Two of my favorite records by Freak Electrique have to be Symphony Electrique 12-inch which features a short and long version of the titled track, and Cloud Surfer/Fright Jazz 12-inch, both released in 2005. Phonica Records described "Cloud Surfer" as a stunning up-tempo disco track which sounds like Giorgio Moroder on a hallucinogenic trip. I can get into that.

Freak Electrique - Cloud Surfer
Freak Electrique - Symphony Electrique (short version)

Everybody Tango

Tangoterje, is a re-edit project by the one and only Todd Terje. Terje doesn't take your typical "dancefloor" songs and add a bass drum and a clap track. His re-edits tend to sound completely different than his solo work that he releases on Full Pupp. He tends to choose very modern, almost "cheese-y" songs and adds his Scandinavian flavour. For example, Tangoterje has release re-edits of artists like Paul Simon, Chaka Khan, Titanic, The Turtles, Curtis Mayfield, Kraftwerk, and YES! Michael Jackson. At first I didn't know if I was going to like these new edits, and through one listen of most of them, I was completely hooked. I find myself scrambling to find all the Tangoterje 12-inches. He is one of the first producers in my mind that has taken all the best qualities of some of these(not all) "cheese-y" cuts and made them gold. Give it a listen and you will probably be hooked too.

Tangoterje - I Can't Help it (Michael Jackson Cover)
Tangoterje - Get It On (Prelude Cover)
Tangoterje - Macumba (Titanic Cover)

Nights Of The Elephant

In 2005, Prins Thomas released one of my favorite "re-edit" records entitled Diskomiks EP. This amazing release came out on Rong Music and has since been re-released on a couple of occassions. The A side consists of re-edited version of Matsubara's "S.O.S. (Society of Soul)", along with his original cut of "Tempest Trio". The B side of the record is just as good with Prins' take on Amon Düül II's "Da Guadeloop", which he re-titled "Guade Loop". This Nu Disco record concludes with the re-edit of Kikrokos' "Jungle DJ", re-titled "Nights Of The Elephant". If your like me and your unfamiliar with the orginals, don't be discouranged or turned off by this project, this is definately Prins Thomas at his finest.

Prins Thomas - Sos
Prins Thomas - Nights Of The Elephant

It Isn't Rong, If It Doesn't Feel Right

While browsing the different sections of my neighborhood record store, Platinum Records (in Seattle, Wa.), I came across Mudd's 54B 12". What caught my eye wasn't the fact that this record was produced by the talented Paul Murphy, or the fact that the 12" was released last year by Rong Music, which is an amazing label. What made interested in the record initially was that Rune Lindbæk, contributed a remix, and if one thing is certain in this world of uncertainites is what ever Linbaek puts his hands on, it's destined to be a musical gem. After listening to the record, the 12" definately became the find of the evening. Not only does Rune Lindbæk add his cosmic disco touch, but the orginal is just as good, once again proving that both Paul Murphy and Rune Lindbæk are amazing producers, and this is one record that is a must for your collection.

Mudd - 54B
Mudd - 54B (Rune Lindbæk Remix)

Full Kosmetisk

One of my favorite records from last year was Magnus International's Kosmetisk 12". This amazing disco house record was released off of Prins Thomas 's Full Pupp label, which is by far becoming one of my favorites among it's genre. Magnus International, which consists of Magnus Sheehan also helped co-write and produce 2005's Hjul Meg Ut 12" with Blackbelt Andersen and Kalle Risan Sandaas, under the aliase Kalle, Magnus & Daniel. This release is my personal favorite so far of both Magnus Sheehan and my favorite Full Pupp release since Prins Thomas's Goettsching 12". I'm sure alot of you would disagree with that observation, however, you will agree that Kosmetisk is an amazing record.


Magnus International - Kosmetisk

Escorting Tracey

Tracey Thorn has traditionally made a name for herself in the electronic-indie duo Everything But The Girl. The huge success of 1994's "Missing", brought Tracey thorn and Ben Watt to the music mainstream. Everything But The Girl went on to release many albums and singles, including the critically aclaimed Temperamental LP in 1999 and Like The Deserts Miss The Rain in 2002. In 2006, Tracey appeared on Tiefschwarz's Damage single which saw remixes by M.A.N.D.Y and The Buick Project to name a few. In 2007, Tracey Thorn is releasing a new 12-inch single It's All True, which was co=produced by Darshan Jesrani of Metro Area and Ewan Pearson. It will also include remixes by Martin Buttrich, Escort, and Kris Menace. This song blew me away as soon as I heard it, and is definately one of my early favorites for single of 2007. Here is the tasty Escort remix for you to chew on.


Tracey Thorn - It's All True (Escort Remix)