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 

Review: Coy Haste - Bancha Bounce (Stereo Ferment)

If you know your illicit grooves from your fermented grooves, Coy Haste on the Stereo Ferment label will be a familiar name to you.

Coy Haste (aka Brad Weber who is the tour drummer with Caribou) has made a 3 tracker, 'Bancha Bounce' that's a head combo of contemporary House and Disco influences with 70's and 80's South Asian Psychedelia.

Whether he's plunderd a Numero Group compilation for that Thai infused 'Noi District' or Hong Kong for 'Lamma Nights' (Ed. not very Jackie Chan?) I'm definitely up for some 'Giling Basah' for some baggin' backroom boogie with a big dub potential.

Toronto is a big cultural melting pot and the home of the label and its recommend Fermeted Grooves compilations.

Artist: Coy Haste

Album: Bancha Bounce
Release date: 1st February, 2024
Label : Stereo Ferment
Catalog Number : SF014

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various - Fermented Grooves Vol 3 (Stereo Ferment)

If you can't have an illicit groove, the next best thing is some fermeted grooves as Stereo Ferment's compilation series reaches Vol. 3.  The annual release from the Toronto HQ where head honchos Oreku and Coy Haste have tweaked and jared (is that a word?) these appearently random tracks to a ferment for added dancefloor grooviness.

As we've just had WOMAD(UK), there's no better time to release a worldly funk-disco-dancee compilation with influences from Afrobeat, flamenco, disco, funk and all inbetween in a mere 10 tracks.

Watch out for Hiatt dB (is that the same lot that had a 12" on South London's Rhythm Section Internatonal) who go all Dakari on 'Safari' and not far behind, get into the rainforest beats of Salvador Ricardo's 'Heumbelo' but mind you're head on the 70s disco ball.

And if you've got an ear for this type of thing, you'll be aware of The Patchouli Brothers who've got a reputation for an edit themselves having had releases on Razor'n'tape, Defected, Soundway, G.A.M.M. and the like - 'War And Peace' is a track for our times; pouding beats and disco synths to the front; a fine alternative to Edwin Starr if you ever need one.

Toucan Discos' 'Future' is more positive in message and in more of an eighties synth pop Depeche Mode meets José Feliciano battle whilst Dacou's 'Nach Ke' is very much in the trendy Middle Eastern Batov/Habibi Funk teritory.  There's even a touch of Indo/Arabian nights ('Lament')

This is a real feet mover of a collection, even the "NaNaNa" of 'Little Fly' (Oreku) will have the afternoon rave kids on alert - watch out for the really naughty word that'll have 'em rolling on the floor.

And does Souldade's 'Kekiyah' embody all of the above?

Many thanks to DJ Bob Hill (and his Illicit Grooves) for pointing this one out to us and note that this release is a Bandcamp only download.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Fermented Grooves Vol 3 

Release date: 3rd August, 2023

Label : Stereo Ferment

Catalog Number : SF012

Format:  Digital / ONLY available on Bandcamp