Category Archives: Let’s Dance!

Switched On – Italo Brutalo – Second Horizon (Bungalo Disco)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

“Congratulations, listener. You are about to step into an alternate electronic universe.”

So runs the press release to the German producer and synth lover Italo Brutalo‘s second album, setting out his stall for entertainment.

Vintage analogue instruments are the order of the day, for Brutalo – real name Vincent Fries – has amassed quite the collection, putting them to use on a new instrumental album.

What’s the music like?

A lot of fun. Brutalo’s music is packed with incident and riffs, sometimes sounding like a soundtrack to a retro film, and always delivering on the entertainment.

On occasion the pastiche elements bring reminders of past groups, as in the way Memory Sync draws from Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling, but this all happens in a really good and creative way. Some of Brutalo’s creations are inspired, with Chasing Shadows a brilliant kind of TV / club mash-up, with euphoric block synth chords to lift the spirits. Free To Move has a very funky undercarriage, conjuring good memories of Cybotron, while Human Code is a more serious but equally satisfying driving groove. Not all the tracks are fast, and Brutalo shows he can do an effective slow disco jam in the form of I Am A Creator.

Does it all work?

Yes, providing you don’t mind a bit of retro gazing. This is music that will slot effortlessly into the party.

Is it recommended?

It is. Second Horizon wears its heart on its sleeve, creating a host of feelgood movements that sound great when turned up loud.

For fans of… Todd Terje, Lindstrøm, Blancmange, Daft Punk

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,562 – Thursday 13 June 2025

Let’s Dance – Various Artists: Horse Meat Disco presents Disco & Boogie from Brazil Vol. 1 (Mr Bongo)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Back in 2003, James Hillard, Severino Panzetta, Jim Stanton and Luke Howard began a weekly residency in Eagle London – the birth of Horse Meat Disco, which has gone on to become a much loved feature of the capital city’s nightlife. In the same year, Howard made his first visit to Brazil – which is where the roots of this compilation can be found.

He learned to dance samba, parading at the Rio carnival three times, and gathered a great deal of disco and boogie music – the fundamentals of this compilation. In the making for nine years, Mr Bongo’s collection finally sees the light of day after multiple licensing delays, giving us a chance to enjoy the fruits of Howard’s labours.

What’s the music like?

Horse Meat Disco Brazil was worth the wait! There are some beauties here, make no mistake, and the icing on the cake is the continuous mix provided with the digital package.

There are many highlights. To name just a few, Jorge Ben’s effervescent Rio Babilônia, Coisa Quente’s Edmundo (In The Mood), an absolute beauty doffing its hat in the direction of Glenn Miller, or the stylish funk of Os Carbonos’ Pássaro Selvagem. Luiza Maura’s Sorriso Vemelho is a joyful open air number, while Suspira, by Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, has an easy and very danceable groove, a kind of Earth, Wind & Fire cousin. Closing out the collection are the breezy singalong Queima Como Fogo, by Waldirene, and Carlos Bivar’s Elo, a kind of Portuguese yacht rock.

Does it all work?

It certainly does, especially when the sun is shining! What a shame that licensing negotiations and delays so often affect the release of these compilations, but we are grateful to have the enjoyment Luke Howard brings us here. The fact it is volume one is also a good sign.

Is it recommended?

Enthusiastically. A summer companion to bring a great deal of sunshine and musical happiness.

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,550 – Saturday 31 May 2025

Let’s Dance – Alexander Flood: Artifactual Rhythm (Atjazz Record Company)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Following the singles Life Is A Rhythm and Can’t Get Enough, Alexander Flood delivers a new album to build on their promise. The idea behind Artifactual Rhythm is that it should “present a re-interpretation of club and DJ music through the lens of a live band with a jazz edge”, bringing a more human element to proceedings.

It was recorded live in Naarm / Melbourne, with a band including Erica Tucceri (flute), Finn Rees (keyboards) and Dylan Paul (bass), as well as guest vocals from Cazeaux O.S.L.O, Kara Manasala and New York’s Vivian Sessoms.

What’s the music like?

Summery! This is a set of consistently good songs, on a really winsome, summery house vibe with piano high in the mix. Flood definitely knows what works, and hits the spot on many occasions – with a good bounce to the beat and a plethora of sunshine vocals.

The breezy improvisations are led by flute and dreamy keyboard, with the live feel paying dividends on the likes of Artifact, where a bit of jazz (but not too much!) lifts the spirits beautifully.

Life Is A Rhythm is a classy deeper number, with a strong guest spot from Cazeaux O.S.L.O. Vivian Sessoms is terrific on Can’t Get Enough, but topping the lot is Vibraçâo, a samba fest strewn with broken beats and packed with feelgood vibes.

Does it all work?

It does – no pretence, this is an album that delivers on its promises!

Is it recommended?

Most definitely – an album for holiday season that should be high on the packing list!

For fans of… Masters At Work, Joey Negro, Shapeshifters, Incognito

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,542 – Friday 23 May 2025

Let’s Dance – Fred Everything: Love, Care, Kindness & Dubs (Lazy Days Recordings)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Fred Everything returns to last year’s Love, Care, Kindness & Hope, presenting a set of alternative versions, instrumentals, dubs, reprises and a couple of unreleased tracks, Broken Flute Thing and A Long Time Coming.

He does so mostly under his own steam, or with a couple of carefully chosen remixers – blending what is to all intents and purposes a new, stripped back album.

What’s the music like?

This isn’t your average remix cash-in – quite the opposite, as Fred Everything has curated a classy and well thought out collection that moves really nicely between house, dub, breezy beatless instrumentals and a few tougher house moments.

On the clubbier side sits the excellent Atjazz Galaxy Aart remix of Asolee, and Evening Ghost (Live at Mutek), which has a sharp edge. Moonrise (Dub) has a hint of the ‘80s club in its reworking.

These are complemented with some really lovely hot weather moments. The Lazy Dub version of Breathe hits the sweet spot straight away, with some beautiful string arrangements, while the sultry Alternate Version of Never, with typically winsome vocals from Robert Owens, benefits from Finn Peters’ saxophone artistry. A Long Dub Coming is a beauty, the pick of the two versions of the track here – Sapele’s vocals complemented by rich instrumentation. Meanwhile Soul Love proves a hot and humid beauty in beatless instrumental form, while Broken Flute Thing works a treat with a nagging piano motif.

Does it all work?

It does – and as such proves an ideal complement to the original album.

Is it recommended?

It certainly is. Quality house music on the deeper side for the summer, which you’re encouraged to acquire without delay…along with the original album if you don’t have it already!

For fans of… Miguel Migs, Osunlade, Atjazz, Andy Caldwell

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,474 – Saturday 15 March 2025

Jingle All The Way – new music for BBC Radio 2

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by Ben Hogwood

It has been a big week on UK radio.

If you’ve been near any social media platform in this country, you’ll have surely worked out why, as BBC Radio 2 is undergoing an overhaul on its daytime schedule. You will probably have been blasted by the massed choirs heralding the arrival of Scott Mills on breakfast…but I would argue that the real star of the show so far has been Trevor Nelson.

On the evidence of the shows I’ve heard so far, his transition from late evenings to afternoons has been a seamless one – helped by bringing the ’5 Seconds To Name’ feature quiz with him and bolstering it with the superb ‘Old School Run’.

Yet there is another factor to his early success – his new jingle. Trevor has been fortunate with jingles – he had a couple of crackers on the Rhythm Nation show – but this one, co-written and sung by Zoe Birkett, is a proper ‘diva moment’. Listen to the jingle and watch its recording here:

@mrs.zoe.birkett

📻ITS OUT !!! Waghhhhh!! 📻 Buzzing to have recorded the vocal jingle for Dj Trevor Nelson @DjSpoonyofficial new radio show on @BBC Radio 2 I had so much fun with the writer in the studio, I was given a brief 2 days before recording but when I got into the booth the writer let me go loose vocally to pop my own spin on it , they were all so supportive and loved what I gave , and I can’t wait to tune in tonight to hear Spoonys jingle as hearing them LIVE on radio is there first time I’ve heard them ! Did anyone hear it ? ☺️ #singer #radio #bbcradio2 #fy

♬ original sound – Zoe Birkett

From personal experience, writing such a short piece of music is anything but easy. The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins, no less, started out in music writing adverts for IKEA and Yahoo. He and his contemporaries deserve so much more credit than they get, for everyone recognises the old start-up for Microsoft Windows, the double, slightly stuttered chord that brings the start of another Netflix show, or even the cosmic flash with which ITVX is introduced.

Trevor’s jingle has a lot going on. Birkett – who finished fourth in the original Pop Idol competition – has gone for broke with a killer vocal, her convictions backed up by some spicy harmonies and a production suggesting big room funk from the 1980s, with an especially big cadence that brings the likes of Parliament to mind.

Birkett hasn’t stopped there either, delivering a similarly classy jingle for DJ Spoony’s Good Groove show. Proof that the art of the jingle is alive and kicking – those writers and performers deserve a good deal of credit!