Review: Various - Gator Boots Vol 20 (Gator Boots)

Even for JKriv, 2024 was a busy year so it's there's no shame in looking back at one of his many projects that came out late last year.

Yes, JKriv (aka Jason Kriveloff) steps outside of his Razor-N-Tape family (see review of Vol. 4 HERE) to give the a polish up some "Cabo Verde & Ghanaian pearls" with some NYC disco dancefloor.

'Batonga' is particularly powerful in a post-go-go which will sit with either Pedro Ricardo (see review HERE) or even Boddhi Satva & Dino D'Santiago's 'Moda Boddhi' (see review HERE).

However, the one for the party percussion disco is JKriv's rework of 'Valsadeira' in the summer Fania vibe with the bonus of a 'Jkriv Drum Tool'.  And for those that like a up-down shakin' dance (although I can't see it making Ally Pally anytime soon) there's the jazzy-rock sunshine of 'Ofo Kakra Sika Kakra'.

This one reminds me of Osibisa / Cymande influences and Gator Boots has previously released 12s by YATM favourites like Sol Power All-Stars (see review HERE), Inkswel (see review of his latest album HERE), Japan's Dazzle Drums, Soul Clap and many more: all on vinyl!

Definitely a label to follow even if will the idea of Boots made from Gators would be a step to far for this footwork team.

Artist: Various

Title: Gator Boots Vol 20 

Release date: 30th July, 2024

Label: Gator Boots

Catalog Number: GB20

Format: 12" Vinyl

Review: VA - Family Affair Vol. 4 (Razor-N-Tape)

The NYC to the world present that comes via those trendies at Razor-N-Tape (now on Vol. 4) is the compilation that gives the most for the dancefloor that's 'Family Affair'.

If you've been a fan of Razor-N-Tape's yearly round-up of friends and family since Vol. 1 in 2021, the first thing you'll notice about this years' Vol. 4 is they've swopped the black frame album art theme for a snappy pop-art-ish 3x3 tile, which would work great if they created drinks coaster products (Ed. we'll want 10% of future sales).

You'll also notice that the quality of Vol. I's "affair", like heavyweights Dimitri From Paris, DJ Rocca and the then lesser known, Clive From Accounts (who only last week had his Fred Everything remix released on Lazy Days Recordings - see review HERE), is still being used as the formula.

There's two options, a 5-track 12" featuring DJ Rocca's comptemporary in the cosmic disco style, Ilija Rudman ('Discoteka Parmida'), Yasmin ('Real High'), Barcelona's Arnau Obios ('Pagan Mambo', a lively Afrobeat), label co-maestro JKriv's rework of Bessa Simons' 'Sii NaNa' plus one of our 2024 favourites, Vincenzo with 'Love Accurate' (also see the incredible Vincenzo remix of 'Free Born Man' by Sumsuch & Will Brock - see review HERE and his own 'Extrasolar' on Be Adult Music - see review HERE).

The digital 10 track also features future names like the Underground System's "Afro-Punk-Disco" (very NY), Dennis Liber and Yasmin Kademian on Latin-Italo-disco ('Baila Exotica') and Misiu's 'Belsize Funk' (too good to be influence by Belsize Park 80s jazz-funk? And Mike Misiu who was on Family Affair Vol.2 with Philippa who has just has a remix released on Best's Friends - see review HERE) and on Vol. 3, Yuu Udagawa who had her tracks remixed by JKriv and Fred Everyting earlier this year (see review HERE).

So it's clear that those that you don't know on Vol. 4 now will probably go on to get better known within the Family Affair dispora of dance so get it now to get ahead of the game and enjoy this wide ranging festive get together.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Family Affair
Release date: 13th December, 2024
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  12" - 5 track viyl / Digital / Bandcamp

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Review: Yuu Udagawa - Ride It / Set Me Sneakers (Remixes by JKriv & Fred Everything) (Compost Records)

"Going the extra mile" is such an over used phrase these day, it often doesn't cover the first step; Compost Records ain't like that though as Yuu Udagawa's new single, 'Ride It' / 'The Peaceful Dawn' has a trio of remixes by three of our favourites on the know twiddles: JKriv, Fred Everything, Manuel Tur.

You can tell from the cover that this is special as Yuu's jazzy keys feel like an update of Herbie Hancock and Bugge Wesseltoft combined for clubland cool on both tracks

The incredible 'Set Me Sneakers' (think that might be missing a 'free' at the end) as it grooves for nearly eight minutes and the lead track, 'Ride It' with the remixes by JKriv and Fred Everything (fresh from his Lazy Days release of 'Never' with Robert Owens and Osunlade and Waajeed remixes (see review HERE).

'Ride It' certainly has that West Coast freeway about it with sexy dawn whispers that's just disco enough for JKriv (who we know from Detroit's Rocksteady Disco label with main man Peter Croce; but he's just as likely to turn up on Razor 'n' Tape, BBE or Defected) to give it more depth to groove too.

The Fred Everything mix take on the whispers and makes it more mainroom.

So what's this about Manuel Tur? Well, that's part 2 of this set with a track called 'The Peaceful Dawn' as Fred Everything's mate Mr Tur providing 2 remix variations; 'Octamix' and 'Deep Dub' for some big house.  That's not out until the 6th September but 'Ride It' will more than keep you entertained in the meantime.

Highlight of the summer so far!.

Note: Check the JKriv & Manuel Tur remixes on Colour & Pitch Sessions August mix (see below)

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - August 2024

Artist: Yuu Udagawa 

Title: Ride It inc remixes by JKriv & Fred Everything

Release date: 26th July, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 640

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

 Artist: Yuu Udagawa 

Title: The Peaceful Dawn (inc Remix Manuel Tur)

Release date: 6th September, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 641

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp