Last month’s vinyl haul included brand new music, a couple of great releases I’d missed in 2019, and some killer reissues.
Let’s dive in.
Sleep D – Rebel Force
I’ve noticed that a lot of my recent favourites are from Australia: artists like Ewan Jansen, Rings Around Saturn and Turner Street Sound; labels like Ken Oath Records. This LP from Sleep D – who contributed Connexion Dub on the excellent Sweet Echoes Vol 1 – was produced in Melbourne but released on Anthony Naples’ NY-based Incensio label toward the end of 2019. It’s on the deep, heady techno and electro tip (but also features a lush house remix from Kuniyuki) and has been getting some plays from Hessle Audio luminaries Ben UFO and Joe.
Current Favourite Track: Twin Turbo
Bella Vista – Mister Wong
Originally released in 1982, this electronic pop oddity has been reissued by Adelaide-based label Isle of Jura. The original with its quirky vocals, synths and guitars is a bit like a French Genius of Love, while there’s also a lovely stripped-back and effects-laden dub version.
Current Favourite Track: Disco Dub (Jura Soundsystem Extended Edit)
Roy Ayers – Searching / One Sweet Love To Remember
Vibes legend Roy Ayers’ 1976 rare groove classic Searching gets a welcome 7″ reissue from UK label Dynamite Cuts. One Sweet Love on the flip – also from the Vibrations LP – sees Roy in more upbeat mode with great swinging, syncopated drums.
Current Favourite Track: Searching
Oscar Weathers – We're Running Out Of Time / Countdown
A stellar slice of reissued eighties electrofunk which I heard while tuned in to 6Music. The original is a much-sought after rarity but fortunately it’s now available once again thanks to Fantasy Love Records. It features a cool vocal accompanied by Funkadelic-style synths, live bass and horns, resulting in something pretty unique.
Current Favourite Track: We're Running Out Of Time
Skinshape – I Didn't Know
A lovely 7″ slab of dubbed out, psychedelic soul from Will Dorey aka Skinshape, whose work I first encountered on the Riddim Box Dub / Soul Groove release on Horus back in 2013. The version of I Didn’t Know I heard first (on Gilles Peterson’s radio show) is the dub, however I’m warming to the vocal too. I’ve also noticed that he’s released a few albums which I plan to check out.
Current Favourite Track: IDK Dub
Benoit B – Caution 9′6″ High
Another excellent release from Edinburgh’s Unthank (sister label of Firecracker) featuring four tracks ranging in style from oddball electronics to more dancefloor-oriented electro.
Current Favourite Track: Coconut Groove
Various – DB12 002
Obscure and limited various artists release from Rimini-based label Duca Bianco, featuring a variety of electronic sounds; some poppier than others. The track Sequence Fiction I bought it for is a 100 BPM chugging John Carpenter-esque instrumental that came to my attention via Joe’s excellent mix for Crack Magazine (appearing at 7:05).
Current Favourite Track: Guillaume De Bois – Sequence Fiction
Joy O – Slipping
I’m really enjoying Joy Orbison’s journey as a producer and loved the 2018 7″ Diamonds under his Sin Falta pseudonym. This occupies a similar glitchy and heady space and showcases some really interesting sounds and ideas while still having enough oomph for DJs and dancefloors of taste.