Paraphrasing the Soul Sonic Force and sorting through today`s releases for tunes that could have graced Alfredo Fiorito & Leo Mas’ Amnesia dance-floor…

BCUC / Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix) / On The Corner

Italian dub maestro Gaudi remixes WOMEX award winning Sowetan seven piece Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness aka BCUC. Transforming the track Thonga Lami, from their recent On The Corner album, Millions Of Us, into some bass heavy, percussive punk funk. 

Electric Blue Vision / Other Skies / Higher Love

On Other Skies, singer / songwriter Emilia Harmony joins Jesse “10:40” Fahnestock to pay tribute to blissed-out Balearic epics such as Primal Scream’s Higher Than The Sun and One Dove’s Fallen. The original recalls William Orbit’s classic late `80s productions, while remixes come from Balearic Ultras, Tambores En Benirras, and the studio duo of Sean Johnston and Duncan Gray aka Hardway Bros Meet Monkton Uptown. The latter’s dynamite dub symphony is my favourite. With Béniras Beach bongos, Jah Wobble-esque bass, a little bit of New Order’s melodica, and a sprinkling of spacey Weatherall / Nicolson sound effects, it’s like it’s 1991 all over again.  

Ethereal Beat / Underboard / Thank You

Sound Metaphors have signed up, Underboard, Ethereal Beat’s cheeky Italian cover of Hong Kong Syndikat’s Balearic secret weapon, Samba Olec.* HKS scored a big White Isle smash, back in 1985, with their Nancy Noise favourite, Too Much. In `88, Ethereal Beat went on to version prog / folk rockers Renaissance, with their take on Can You Understand? becoming an underground hit in UK clubs of a “On One Matey” bent.** With its Spanish strum, and sultry saxophone solo, the chugging synth pop production recalls that of another Ibiza classic, Rudy Holzhauer’s remix of Beautiful Ballet’s Energy. Underboard is a tune that I’d have known nothing about if it weren’t for Aficionado’s Moonboots, I’d now consider it essential. The new Sound Metaphors package includes a respectful Anatolian Weapons edit.  

*In 2014, Balearic Mike and Kelvin Andrews comped Samba Olec for their second volume of Down To The Sea And Back.

**Berkshire Balearic crew, Bizarre, bootlegged Ethereal Beat’s Can You Understand in 1990, reviving it for parties such as Flying. I should point out that, by this time, Mark Seven was not involved. 

Ge Ology / Pursuit Of The Journey / Beyond Space & Time

The Baltimore-born, Brooklyn-based producer Ge Ology’s bumping jumping, jaunty, track, Pursuit Of The Journey, is full of romantic strings and dynamic details. Busy in a way that kind of makes it more techno than house. The real key to its charm is its intimate spoken vocal. This has an eavesdropping quality, similar, say, to Vangelis’ Good To See You or Yves Tumor’s Limerence, which generates a warm, good, good vibe. Totally loved-up, it’s music that’ll alter your mood for the better. Originally released, digitally, last year in a collaboration between Tokyo’s Nonative clothing brand and Rainbow Disco Club, it’s been pressed to vinyl by Rush Hour’s Antal, as part of his Beyond Space & Time project.

Good Block / Strong Relax / Emotional Response

Good Block continue to impress. Their post punk dub diamond Naiad is a firm, firm Ban Ban Ton Ton favourite, that sounds better every time I play it. Now they contribute a track to Emotional Response’s All Trades compilation – 4 sides of vinyl which celebrate 10 years of label founder, Stuart “Chuggy” Leath’s NTS radio show. The Good Block boys once again show off their serious `80s synth pop chops by reimagining a 2-minute Ryuichi Sakamoto rarity. Built on a beefy bass synth riff, Strong Relax is chugging, chunky and totally authentic sounding. With keys that playfully blink like White Isle harbour lights, this could have easily featured in KU’s legendary Look De Ibiza promo video. 

Bert Hector / The Phoenix Vs. The Kraken / Kay-Dee

This 7” double-pack seems to be sailing a bit under the radar. There’s very little info about it online. When I first heard it, I assumed it was a reissue – that’s how filthy its funk is. The music is actually the work several members of Brighton-based band, Baby Charles. Friends of DJ Format and The Simonsound, Simon Hill, Alex Kirkwood and Georgina Carroll, are also joined by Dave Rush and Hellenor Kitt. Rush adding sitar to a surf and wah-wah guitar licked piece called The Phoenix. Imagine Eddie Warner’s Devil’s Anvil, plus the above and Hellenor’s flute. On the flip, you don’ll find a cut called The Kraken, which features some fine Funkadelic riffing, and sounds like Led Zep jamming with James Brown. Both tracks come with Kenny Dope Edits, which expertly extend the breaks. 

Mental Cube / So This Is Love / Debut

This classic Future Sound Of London production has been given a repress. In 1991 the Boys Own fanzine charted it, which, I guess, makes it “Balearic”. A totally unique piece of UK house, So This Is Love is simultaneously rough and smooth, with a rave-y break-like beat and sharp keyboard stabs countering its soft, swirling synths, soulful vocal, and loved-up Cinderella sample. A rude soundsystem b-line rocking the whole lot. They also lift a snippet from David Chang’s late `80s Black Havana house comp, the same opening cry used on E-Culture’s seminal Strictly Rhythm side, Tribal Confusion – a collaboration between King Britt and Josh Wink, I think. On the b-side you’ll find a version of sought after rave smash, Q, which also sounds cool when repurposed and spun at 33rpm. 

Manabu Nagayama / Light & Shadow / Rush Hour

Manabu Nagayama’s Light And Shadow dates from 2015, but this is the first time that it’s appeared on vinyl. A quality piece of piano-tastic Japanese deep house, with a galloping live vibe – one of real instruments, real players – it’s the sort of soulful, timeless stuff that Joe Claussell’s Spiritual Life label used to excel in. There’s also an marvellous Masalo remix which updates the track with tech-y / prog-y touches and extra instrumentation, including a big guitar solo. 

Keigo Okazaki / Peace Of Blue / Onda Bubbles

Keigo Okazaki’s Peace Of Blue E.P., on Kyoto label, Onda Bubbles, has probably picked up a fair amount of attention due to the presence of a Khotin remix. However, if I’m honest, it’s the originals on the flip that I’m into. Embody is a bit of wonky, wobbly mid-tempo TB-303 business, kept cool by some mellow jazzy chords. It’s the sort of acid that you might drop while waking, making the coffee. A mild buzz. Orange is electro, masquerading as deep house. Constructed from multiple muted layers, its rhythm is rapid, racing, but reduced to a faint flickering. The sonic shimmering is steamy, and humid, with a sort of techno rainforest vibe. Sampled voices softly wish you “Good morning”, again, making it perfect for sunrise. Dawn in an Ai amazon. 

Woodleigh Research Facility / Yaldabaoth / Electronic Sound

Andrew Weatherall clearly had a sound in his head, because a lot of the Woodleigh Research Facility stuff he produced with Nina Walsh, including this 7, isn’t too far removed from the sides he released with Keith Tenniswood as 2 Lone Swordsmen. Drawing on the electronic end of library music, and the collaged textures of musique concrete, to create robotic rhythms, an off-kilter funk, that’s also deceptively detailed, deep listening. On this 45, part of a package with the latest issue of Electronic Sound, the bass-y growling Yaldabaoth is cinematic, dramatic, like a sinister `70s Sci-Fi TV series theme, while Milky Pond playfully percolates, whizzes and buzzes. Full of busy gears. Steam-punk clockwork cogs turning. The vinyl pressing is super nice.