Review: Frits Wentink - Heartbeat FM EP (Wolf Music)

Here's the new Heartbeat FM, not a radio station but a  four track release to tune-into when you're on the dancefloor.

Following on from Frits' own 'Together EP' (see review HERE) and this previous EP, 'Remember That Feeling', this new 12", 'Heartbeat FM' is not so much a move from the dancefloor as a move back to the dancefloor with more soulful paise.

The lead track 'Rhythm And Blaze' is Mr Wentink's exclusive 'Birthday Present' for the label for it's 15th year so justifiably it's in turn with hands in the air gospel deep house funk.

But the dancefloor doesn't get any less busy with 'Lost In The Moment' which has similar vibe but more 80s in the synths and vocals to fuel your inner Millie Jackson, 'Turbo Passion' ups the bounce of sweat soul aerobics; "ohhh yeah .... like you used to do.

So this is a more than good EP but those of you that enjoy a bit of the dark side in something of the night in your house,  'Nocturnal' is gloriously down low in the organ department and Mama ain't going to help you out.

What with the recent release of 'The Symington Avenue EP' from Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (see review HERE), this is a busy time for Wolf fans but how do we love it.

BUY LINK https://www.phonicarecords.com/product/frits-wentink-heartbeat-fm-wolf-music/200705

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Heartbeat FM 
Release date: 24th January, 2025
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP078
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman - The Symington Avenue EP (Wolf Music Recordings)

You won't be surprised to find out the Toronto Hustle (aka Mark Kufner) and Sean Roman are Canadians and after hearing 'The Symington Avenue EP', they might be visiting Atlanta soon?

You've got to be good to follow the last release by label favourite Frits Wentink and his 'Together EP' (see review HERE) but when it could be as good as, 'Not Now, Not Ever', a post UKG/Gospel deep house boogie, that fits the bill.

On the remix is NYC/Detroit/Atlanta-based Kai Alcé is another 'go-to' name who has remix credits in the hundreds as he follows Theo Parrish and Moodyman to match current taste makers musclecars. Watch out for anything with NDATL (geddit?) on it.

This remix of 'Not Now, Not Ever' with its jazzy keys addition is going to go alongside Kai's best and just to pick a couple at random that we really like, the Jazzanova cover of jazzdance classic 'Saturday Night Special (as original done by he Lyman Woodard Organization), Elbert Phillips & Andre Espeut's 'Sunlight') and, one more, Colombia's Filipe Gordon 'For Martha'.  Kai has also collaborated with Stefan Ringer this year (Stefan having released 'Soulflow' last month) so expect to here much more of this along with toucan sounds, Rocksteady Disco, Razor-N-Tape et al.

To close out the EP we've got the equally good 'Could This Be' with a re-edit.  And if you ask, what's 'An Abacus Re-Edit' like? We'll as Abacus is a Canadian producer, it's like an upbeat disco dub a la Kai Alcé! 

Clearly, you can tell that all involved in 'The Symington Avenue EP' are all fans of the ATL Sh*t (in a good way) as we've got two stunning tracks with two stunning (re)mixes that are coming out at the best time of the year.

Symington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6N 2W2 - is that near a Pool Hall Bar & Club?

Phonica Records

Artist: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman

Title: The Symington Avenue EP
Release date: 22nd November, 2024
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP077
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order at PHONICA RECORDS / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Frits Wentink - Together EP (Wolf Music)

If you're a fan of the label Wolf Music, you know that they are more than together when it comes to the best in disco / boogie / house and so when, Frits Wentink comes on strong, "It's all about you" and getting down.

When you hear 'About You', you'll know exactly why Stu Clark and Matt Neale (they being Wolf Music) were spot on going back to the Frits for their next big release as it's been a while since Wentink went all glitchy with 'Frogs, Toads & Newts'.

Fair to say, that raised eyebrows in 2019 (having been originally produced in 2014!) but you'll find tracks on the 'Together' EP more mainstream, even if 'Idle Dancer' is anything but idle; more of a heavy percussive manic race whilst 'Ambassador' take a more soulful dubby space synth vibe. 

Talking of which, any label that starts with remixes of Atmosfear's classic, 'Dancing In Outer Space' (The Revenge and Greymatter reworks) know their history and dancefloor.  And whilst they been equally adventurous with the Medlar 'Cub Dubs' release (yeah, the Medlar that works with Wah Wah 45s' Dele Sosimi - see review HERE), the simple "steal" of a 80s classic bassline with some soulful vocals and a repetitive "we do", "ha" and "together" with a bit of a sax break has got Frits top of the pile on 'I Want It All'.

If you were lucky enough to hear Frits plays these track at the Paorama Bar in April, you won't be able to contain youself six months on to get this, put your orders in now.

 

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Together EP 
Release date: 17th Octomber, 2024
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP076
Format: Digital / Bandcamp