Review: Various Artists - Fermented Grooves Volume 4 (Stereo Ferment)

Stereo Ferment's 'Fermented Grooves' compilation series is now on Volume 4 and is now also available in debut double vinyl pressing!

Following on from Volume 3 from a couple of years ago (see review HERE), the latest is another chunk of worldly funk-disco-dancee compilation with influences from Afrobeat, flamenco, disco, funk and all inbetween in a mere 9 tracks.

And it doesn't take long before you get excited that this is on DJ friendly vinyl kicking off with Josh Ludlow's 'Vikram' for some yogic disco: you may recall Ludlow from his big hit 'Bumper Thumper' (with a Medlar Remix) from earlier this year and he's still hot and sweaty.

In keeping with the health and fitness theme, Kraftwerk goes 'Y.O.G.A.' with Oreku who you'll recall went "NaNaNa" of 'Little Fly' from Vol. 3.  And since then, The Patchouli Brothers have shown us what they can do on JKriv Razor-N-Tape's edit 12" (see review HERE) and they're at it again with 'Sidi_93'  (Ed. is that some sort of road cycling shoe?) that's big on the Indo-piano house bang (that's how they roll).

In fact, there's quite a bit of an Indo-vibe with Anish Kumar's 'Unity Drum' before you get to 'Deli Gönül Neylersin' by FOC with it's mod-psych-funk organ.

Joint label boss (with Oreku), Coy Haste (he of 'Bancha Bounce' (see review HERE) who goes all Gwen Stefani macarena (and more) bouncing but I'd prefer the Turkish-space-funk of 'White Lights In Summer' by Dialtone or the big room of 'Shamim' (by the inappropriatly named Moving Still).

These guys love to experiment and have a smile on their face at the same time and this is another joyous release.

Many thanks to DJ Bob Hill and his Illicit Grooves crew for pointing this one out to us.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Fermented Grooves Vol 4

Release date: 3rd April, 2025

Label : Stereo Ferment

Catalog Number : SF017

Format:  2xLP Vinyl / Digital / ONLY available on Bandcamp