December 6, 2019
Duro
To celebrate Duro's fourth anniversary, the popular Mexican label serves up a superb various artist EP, with three more volumes to follow. In the four years since Duro launched, the label has been at the forefront of a refreshing new sound that mixes up house, techno, indie and disco. It has won plaudits from respected DJs such as Andrew Weatherall, Marvin & Guy, Perel and Jennifer Cardini, who clearly admire the dance floor weaponry the label deals in, and this new project continues that theme. Opener Kubebe hails from France and is part of the Volcan La Péte band. His offering, 'Lagomar' is a loose disco groove underpinned by a bassline straight out of eighties Chicago. Lithuania's Roe Deers is next, coming off the back of killer releases on Sinchi Collective, Tom Tom Disco and Throne Of Blood. 'Florida' has tropical percussion and synths that remind of the US state, but with stiff synth stabs, retro drum fills and a fun sax line all making it extra colourful. Wolfstream is one of Russia's most vital artists right now thanks to music on Rotten City Files and Mange Moi. His terrific tumbling drums and congas make 'Ritual Of Nothing' a chunky tribal beat run through with vocal sounds that build the pressure and will flip out the floor. Vienna and Istanbul duo Hanzo & Yaman are founders of Belly Dance Services and they offer 'Supergeil' with busted kick drums, flailing percussive sounds and cosmic chords that make for some superbly dark disco. Fabio Me Llaman Soltero is a talent from the rich Guatemala scene who has made a mark on Disque Discos and Tráfico Music. Here he cooks up some brain frying acid, stark drum work and rigid grooves that demand you dance while a popping bassline adds a retro electro feel. This is a fantastic five track offering that marks this worthy milestone in fine fashion.