12"

Brazilian Shakedown is back! The second release in this series brings you a collection of outstanding mixes by Rio de Janeiro's own Carrot Green. On the A Side you'll find 'Ponto Gira', which already is an underground anthem in Brazil. The traditional chanting, combined with CG's super groovy production will certainly also smash the European dance floors this summer. Good vibes galore! Straight after there's 'Movimento'. In this tune Carrot Green transforms roots music from the North-East of Brazil into an intense dance track, which mesmerizes with its passionate vocals and violin played in peculiar unison. The B Side takes off with a heavy nu-disco remix of 'Mariama'. The acidic bassline, calling vocals and wide synth-chords will make you feel like flying over the Brazilian seashore. The final destination of this journey leads you to the bass heavy 'Capoeira', where the classic Berimbau and hypnotic call-and-response vocals get dirty over a stomping groove. Badaross, who lives in the Streets of Sao Paulo created the cover-artwork for this release.

Limited Edition 12" released in conjuction with the forthcoming compilation, Tropical Disco Hustle Volume Two - COS 13-LP.

For those with a passion for the mid-80s sound of New York, the sporadic releases from Mark Seven's Parkway operation have always been essential listening. Taking influence from freestyle, the proto-house dubs of Paul Simpson, early garage, and '80s soul, the project's releases to date have been like a delicious blast from the past. "The Feeling" doffs a cap to all of these styles, with his usually authentic production (stuttering drum machine drums, reverb-laden vocals, killer tape edits etc) being joined by the kind of saucer-eyed melodies associated with early Balearic house. The alternative versions are good too, with the dub style "Can't Stop This Feeling", in particular, standing out.

More killer stuff from Gay Marvine: a lost michael cut, obscure depeche mode, his own original music for his take on see line woman, and first choice's 1974 the player turned into a house jam but still using the 70s drums.

BHE 8 continues the devastation from Gay Marvine: totally transformed donna summer, a prince disco edit that removes all the vocals, his liaisons avant apres mars master edit, and iggy bowie eno sister midnight.

Following the runaway success of their re-release of James Mason's cult classic "I Want Your Love" a few years back, Rush Hour asked the legendary disco-soul producer whether he had any unreleased material in the archives. After rooting around, he unearthed enough material to fill an album, Recollection Echo, which hits stores later in the year. Before that, Rush Hour present two previously unheard gems; the breezy, soulful disco brilliance of "The Rhythm of Life" (which, brilliantly, features Bernard Purdie on drums, and Fonda Rae on backing vocals), and "Up Jump", a brilliantly strange - and thrilling - combination of pitched-down electro beats, vocoders and spiraling soul vocals. That album should be pretty sensational; until it's released, these two tracks will more than suffice.

Not content with providing us with the tune of summer 14 - the Mood Hut released "Something (On My Mind)" - Jack Jutson has only gone and done it again on his Future Times debut. "Thirstin" is every bit as likeable as its' esteemed predecessor, delivering a subtly sun-kissed blend of loose, delay-laden deep house percussion, rich Rhodes chords and yearning vocals. Truly, it's magical - the kind of warm, evocative fare that will still be getting rotations decades from now. Flipside "Atmosphere", an instrumental cut built around jazzy drums, live disco bass and brilliant eyes-closed piano solos, is almost as good. Clearly, the Pender Street Steppers man is one serious talent.

Two steaming Afro Funk rollers from Togo .. TIP!Hailing from the capital city, the Togo All Stars display a vigorous rhythm section and three sturdy voices deeply rooted within the afropop traditions stemming from the independence era, be it high-life, afrobeat, funk, reggae or even gospel music.A passionate man with a cause, Serge Amiano has been living in Lomé for a few years now. Thanks to his musical vision, he’s the mastermind behind Togo All Stars’ meeting of two generations. He confronts younger musicians playing in the shadows with older voices long thought to be tarnished under elusive limelight. Tireless talent scout and energy catalyst, Amiano paved the way for the Togo All Stars to happen; in the same manner he did it for Fanga, a celebrated French afrobeat collective in the last decade. Korbo, Fanga’s singer is featured on the Togo All Stars’ first album to be released this spring, under Kindred spirits record label. Nested behind its sea front lined with tentative palm trees, Lomé is an unsung Atlantic Africa city. The city mixes the energy of a restless youth with displays of genuine emotions that were once the soundtrack of the country’s independence, from April 27th 1960 to this day.Set in a country where cultural preservation is almost pointless, Serge Amiano had the idea to bring together rough voices from the past with the supreme rhythms of young lions dedicated to any kind of repertoire they lay their hands on. A true electric shock between generations, the Togo All Stars combine dignified and vintage singers with youthful musicians, exuberant rhythm section, liquid guitars and devastating horns.Genuine Togolese afro funk pioneer, charming Napo de mi Amor brings his solid vocal experience to the front of the orchestra. Aguey Cudjoe is Amiano’s true discovery. He stumbled upon this veteran singer doing high-life numbers in one of Lomé’s rare clubs. He became effortlessly one of the All Stars main voices, also adding sweet percussive touches in the distance.Experienced and mature, Dama Damawuzan learnt his trade within As du Bénin, the great and main Togolese orchestra from the 1970’s. He confronts his vocal prowesses to his own percussions but also to young drummer Gbetoglo Efoevi’s fierce groove. On this album, each of the All Stars’ eight musicians joins in for vocal harmonies. Legendary Otodi Studio was reopened for the sole recording of this first Togo All Stars album, giving exquisite analog warmth to the songs.Unappreciated for the time being, these gathered stars from Togo set bridges between the past, the present and the future of an always moving afro music. Fresh and raw energy combined with vintage singers, the Togo All Stars’s music embodies a true international musical elegance, looming large over the Atlantic and giving Togo its first big band since the 1970’s.