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

Asa Tate / Andromeda / Rhythm Section International

Rhythm Section International have 4 new tracks from Asa Tate. “Traffic” mixes dub techno textures with a dark, sorta mid-90s New York garage swing. “Andromeda”, a Sound Factory-esque shot of acid soaked robo-disco, manages to be more prog-y, more trance-y, yet still, in part, pay homage to Marshall Jefferson and Ten City. “Echotex”, however, is the standout. Its “Freaks Mix”, is another TB-303 workout. Constructed around a classic Chicago B-line and cowbell, with wildlife calls, and jungle shouts. Its snares rattling like a more polished Ramjac, and its synths kinda Kevin Saunderson. Its breakdowns a heat haze of spirit lifting swells. A “Deep Dub” strips things back, retaining the thump and the kick, but singling out a pretty chiming melody, while introducing birdsong, swooning, synthetic strings and echoed, tribal voices. Transforming the track into something more chilled. Its BPMs shifting, but bringing with it a sense of the serene. 

Coyote / Blue Bird / Is It Balearic?

On “Blue Bird” Coyote set a motivational monologue to bongos, congas and ethereal, synthetic sighs. The speech starts out explaining the importance of being kind to yourself, but expands that into being kind to others. The idea that love can only come from within. Polcari’s remix takes the track in a pumping, dub house direction. Giving it a big kick and infinitely echoed chords. Having it chug, chunkily beneath gently tumbling marimba-like chimes. That’s countered by “Ode To Penguin”, a tribute to The Penguin Cafe Orchestra’s folk-flavoured chamber music. A rippling river of Steve Reich-ian chimes, interwoven loops and patterns that mimic Steve Nye’s cuatro picking, mixing Americana with classical minimalism. 

Dicky Continental / Hostile Environment / Ramrock Red

This one really belongs with the “dubs”. However, at the moment I always seem to be playing catch up with releases, lagging behind, and since I like this so much I wanted to get a few words / thoughts out there asap. Dicky Continental is Richard Thair, of Red Snapper, Number, plus The Aloof and Sabres Of Paradise live bands. His “Hostile Environment” is a modern grounation ritual, built around nyabinghi conga and djembe rattle. To quote the press one-sheet, part The Abyssinians, part The Last Poets. Ringing, clanging rhythm guitar and big bursts of Jah Wobble-esque bass further shaking the ceremony. Poet / performer Tia Zakura, though, leads the proceedings, in a suitably anti-authoritarian / Babylon burning tone. Her beat / street poetry posing the question, “What’s the difference between existing and living?” Something she was shocked into asking after being stunned into apathy and stagnation by toxic social media saturation. Zakura’s powerful, positive plea for personal expression and creativity hitting like acid jazz’s revenge, and the boundary blurring bits that used to come out on lamented London label Dorado. 

Dicky’s dub adds crashing, crushing weight to the drums, in a dark, dread mid -90s Sabres Of Paradise / “Haunted Dancehall” or Tim Simenon / Bomb The Bass fashion. There are trip hop-tastic touches of turntablism, and King Tubby’s inspired high pass filtering and phasing. 

Dynamix / Bang Bang / Archeo Recordings

“Bang Bang” was the debut release from French producer Louis “Elements” Corte. Issued on EMI in 1990, it’s pop-flavoured house, packed with stuttered samples. Part Crazy Eddie, part M/A/R/R/S, and centred around a cute native language rap. An instrumental mix subjects the vocals to trippy effects. Archeo Recordings have now picked up this rarity and recruited Italian house legend, Marcoradi, for the remixes. The first of these reworks polishes the pump, and adds a delirious drama of “scream-up” keys, drum rolls and acid effervescence. The pièce de résistance, however, is a blistering, blissed-out electric guitar solo. His “Ambient” version is a little misleading, since it does, step by step, bring in the kick and the bass, but it is, nonetheless, a euphoric epic, defined by washes of atmospheric synth, echoed axe licks and peaking, gated vocals. The TB-303 is still there, but its tempered by calming piano cascades. The end result rivalling Marcoradi’s classic “Red Zone” mixes from back in the day. 

PROA / Incondicional / Test Pressing Tracks

The debut release from Barcelona-based duo Paul Roca and Orion Agassi aka PROA, “Incondicional” is a cool cut that clearly pays homage / tribute to early Chicago house. A shot / jot of gentle jack, steamy, sexy and understated, it rides a bubbling acid B-line and an old school programmed conga pattern. Moody, seductive, intertwining synths, emitting horny, hypnotic drones, defining the track melodically. Vocalist Sandy Nuni’s wordless sighs eventually giving way to a burst of proper song. A declaration of love and loyalty. Like a modern, Mediterranean re-imagining of Master C & J’s jams with Liz Torres. Apiento & Tepper’s “Club Dub” then toughens the kick, makes the movement more robotic. Stuttering the percussion, adding a little dubwise rattle and clipped rave riffs. The pair’s clever use of breakdowns building a deft dance floor dynamic. 

Puerto Montt City Orchestra / Red Guitar / Higher Love Recordings

Puerto Montt City Orchestra’s new reading of David Sylvian’s 1984 hit, “Red Guitar”, reimagines the former Japan frontman’s foray into jazz fusion as mid-tempo, blue-skied Mediterranean pop. Something akin to the much loved “Balearic Beat” sides of Mike Francis or Linda Di Franco. A sexy Spanish stroll driven by electric and acoustic guitars and ethereal vocals, countered by a deep baritone protagonist. Strutting its stuff, slowly, to a sun stroked skank. A dub takes the track in the direction of Movement 98’s classic “Joy & Heartbreak”, while a remix from Coyote goes even deeper with the roots rock influences, reverb and delay.

Serious A / Diagonal Wave / Star Creature Universal Vibrations

The press one-sheet from Star Creature Universal Vibrations suggests that Serious A’s “Diagonal Wave” is an archival release. Rescuing 2 tracks physically, 3 digitally, from the beginning of the veteran Parisian DJ / producer’s career. The tunes are all defined by warm, woozy tones. Grainy, granular textures whose melodies spin slightly wonky, off centre, and provide a great contrast to the otherwise highly polished productions. These sounds, apparently sourced from vintage video games, to my ears at least, nod toward old school Chicago house obscurities, like G-Strings’ “The Land Of Dreams” and “Motivation”, and lend Serious A’s numbers a really interesting, unique, “leftfield” flavour / vibe. 

Vocals are limited to snatches and snippets. Beats are loose. Banging, but gently. Giving you the option to move or meditate. “Sogno Blu”, in places, is a tad more tastefully twisted and warped. Its bass belching, snares rattling. Choppy keys cutting softly reprised rave shapes. Serious A squeezing in a little acid, before dropping to a final fade of seabirds and surf. 

The downloadable bonus, “Spinto Veloce”, is still chill, but in keeping with its title feels a bit more urgent. Its racing programmed percussion tempered by synthetic strings and treated sonic swirls. Slick, smooth and groovy, but also serene, the details are definitely Detroit-y and the results resoundingly deep. 

Shadow Child / Falle Acid / Food Music

More vintage Chicago-influenced rude, ruff, raw strobe-lit banging comes from this cracking collaboration between Shadow Child and Falle Nioke. The drums and the TB-303 do the bulk of the work, but Nioke’s chants, shouts, and live sounding ab libbing add an authentic, irresistible Second Summer of Love rave energy that will help hype any crowd. 

Shadow Child’s DNA EP, while demonstrating the producer’s range – from breakbeat-driven pop to Looking Good-like drum&bass – also includes another Ban Ban Ton Ton recommendation, in the shape of “Song For Sophia”. A bumping bit of bleep techno, whose ambient synth swells tip their hat toward 808 State’s “Pacific State”.