Summer is finally here! A big number of records are made for the hot season, and we can tell by the amount of biggies we have received during the last few weeks.
As we establish our monthly regular column about the stand-out vinyl releases of the month, we look back on those essential platters from the last 4 weeks. See it as a way to filter down from the 600+ releases we stock every month as we highlight the essentials and the ones that have found their way into the Phonica staff’s record bags and playlists.
UNIT – 2 Sunshine (Kink Remix / Tiger & Woods Remix) [RUNNING BACK]
Remember that KiNK remix of Unit 2’s timeless ‘Sunshine’ we had exclusively at the end of last year? It has been reissued with a Tiger & Woods remix on the flip. Happy Trax, happy days!
HOLY GHOST INC – Walk On Air [ISLE OF JURA]
Originally released in 1990, the Sun & Moon Mix of “Walk On Air” has taken on near mythical status as a benchmark record that brought together strands of Ambient, Deep House, Techno and Trance. The B side sees the original Amphibious Carbine mix joined by two previously unreleased Dubs unearthed from the original DAT tapes.
JAH WOBBLE – The Lago Years LP [EMOTIONAL RESCUE]
Emotional Rescue keep unearthing real gems and this month has been particularly prolific for the London-based imprint. One of our favourites was this collection of Jah Wobble’s songs, cherry picked from the 6 EPs released on his own Lago Records label between 1981 and 1985, capturing some of his best ever music from dub, jazz, spoken word and even some pop sensibilities, all held together by his instantly discernable bass rumble.
JORGE REYES / ANTONIO ZEPEDA – A La Izquierda Del Colibri LP [EMOTIONAL RESCUE]
Another essential find brought back to life by Emotional Rescue is Jorge Reyes’ collaborative album with Antonio Cepeda, an ambient masterpiece that takes you on a journey deep in the mind of one of Mexico’s most important experimental artists.
TOLOUSE LOW TRAX / VARIOUS ARTISTS – Five Years Of Loving Notes LP [ANTINOTE]
Antinote’s 5th birthday cake comes in the form of a double LP with exclusives from Tolouse Low Trax, Geena, Lueke, Domenique Dumont, Inoue Shirabe, Raphael Top-Secret and some other names involved with the label since it’s very beginning. 63 minutes of music that covers a wide spectrum of moods and atmospheres. To another 5!
SPANKY WILSON – Doin’ It LP [SOUL BROTHER RECORDS]
Originally released in 1969, Spanky Wilson’s legendary LP finally gets an official vinyl reissue. With mint copies fetching 3 figures on the ‘cogs, it was about time! From killer Sista funk grooves to mid tempo Soul cuts, this LP has been a sample goldmine for decades, and still one of the greatest examples of late 60’s Soul.
MASSIANDE – Freedom EP [PHONICA WHITE]
Well, it may be a bit cheeky to include our own release here but we really like this EP by Chilean producer Massiande – that’s why we are putting it out isn’t it?! A real deep house excursion by one of the most promising producers from South America. Check the interview we ran with him to get a better perspective of what means to be a House DJ and producer in the South American underground.
TREVOR JACKSON – RGBPM [UTTER]
Utter follows up its acclaimed 10″ debut with RGBPM, Trevor Jackson’s four piece audio-visual work originally commissioned for a live performance at the Optronica Festival in 2007. A decade on from RGBPM’s lone airing, all four parts are now released together for the first time as a special 12″ package, with 4 different inserts designed and signed by Trevor himself, each representing one of the four RGBPM pieces.
LARS BARTKUHN – Elysium EP [NEROLI]
Lars Bartkuhn follows up the well received Massai on Utopia with his second offering on Neroli. ‘Elysium’ is an emotional journey of the highest caliber and the Paradise dub a surefire dancefloor destroyer!
If you dig this, check Lars performing live at Phonica on our Record Store Day 2017 event.
TODD TERJE FEAT. DET GYLNE TRIANGEL – Maskindans (Erol Alkan Remix) [OLSEN RECORDS]
Ahead of his forthcoming album ‘numero twomero’, Todd Terje unleashes a cover of Norwegian minimal wave duo Det Gylne Triangle, turning the 1982 single into a deep discoid adventure. On the flip, Erol Alkan morphs this body moving, brain grooving cover version into a dystopian dancefloor monster that takes us all the way back to hearing Jeans Team in skinny jeans on the darkened dance floor of Trash. Electroclash is back!
