Grass Green Recordings sends another Kiwi-branded transmission of funky four-on-the-floor disco, this time courtesy of Auckland-based producer Shallow Taxi Club. A bit of an enigma, Shallow Taxi Club has absorbed inspiration from years of vintage house music and disco history and locked himself in the studio, never to be seen again. The only evidence of his existence are random sound files send forth to the Grass Green offices, some recent examples contained on this release. With a little help from DJ duo Monkey Boots (who the great Greg Wilson recently referred to as one of his favorite acts of last year) the Nights Turn Brighter EP has been assembled, featuring four meaty cuts ready to (strobe)light up global dance floors.
“Flashback” - Sometimes one needs to sack the subtle and mainline a shot of pure four-to-the-floor adrenaline. Sometimes one needs an anthem. Well, hello “Flashback.” Not so much embracing the ‘90s garage resurgence as bending it over a table and knocking it up, Shallow Taxi Club goes for the jugular. It’s got dynamic drums and a tripped-out arpeggio before a monster ’Haven’t-I-Heard-This-Before’ piano line and rousing vocals signal dance floor delirium. Monster.
“Mark My Words (Monkey Boots Mix)” - Hey, hey they’re the Monkeys, but there’s no monkeying about. The Boots boys hit the spot straight up on their first remix commission with an edgy, epic take on the original. Built on a rock-solid groove, this is the sound of very late night deep disco tomfoolery. Gone is the original vocal and the guitar solo, replaced - at first - with fluttering synth chords and an automated, arpeggiated analogue line. Then a breakdown, a breath or two, and . filtered mayhem. The guitar loop is augmented by the return of the arpeggios and nagging, stabbing chords. A new vocal lifts things even further before a twinkling organ motif, trippy effects, and spacy chords send everyone home happy.
“Mark My Words (Disco Edit)” - One for the swaggers. An infectious guitar groove gets the full Shallow Taxi Club treatment. Some serious additional production spins this track on its head and boots it onto the floor. The pared-back yet ever-building intro doesn’t really suggest what’s coming. Then there’s a sudden, neat drum fill and we’re off. Beefed-up beats and a rolling bass lay the foundation while Rhodes stabs and synth washes add texture and drive before tripped-out brass and a twisted synth line seal the deal. Plus there’s an epic guitar solo and a f*-you vocal. It’s got everything. Like a 2 AM cab ride round the maddest clubland in history.
“Melody Of Creed (Monkey Boots Remix)” - Warm like a good hug, the Monkey Boots mix of “Melody of Creed” is proper smile tackle. Lush pads, smooth washes, and skittering bongos are layered over an old-school bass line before a dreamy, uplifting vocal leaves one feeling, well, a little better about the world. Smooth analog synth stabs lift things further before tricky vocal FX and a dubby acid line leaves everyone snug as a club in a dub.
The track ”Melody Of Creed (Monkey Boots Remix)” is available exclusively from Juno Download as part of the full EP package.
James Curd (Greenskeepers) - “Nice EP!”
Tensnake - “Very nice disco cuts … my favorite is ‘Mark My Words.’”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Beautiful.”
Giom - “The Monkey Boots mix of ‘Mark My Words’ is cool.”
Diz (Vizual, Classic) - “Sexy disco!”
Mousse T. - “Dope!”
Erik Rug - “I’m really digging ‘Flashback’ and ‘Mark My Words’ … cool stuff!”
Vincent Kwok - “I’m really feeling ‘Melody Of Creed.’”
Hippie Torrales - “Great disco feel.”
Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) - “Perfect for the minute, a fresh summer feel. I like this.”
Nick Holder - “I’m digging ‘Flashback.’”
Robbie Hardkiss - “I’m digging the sweet, spacey, soft disco vibe of ‘Melody of Creed.’”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Super funky disco romp … I like the laid back vibe on the Monkey Boots remix. Great mood created.”
Sarah Favouritizm - “Yeah … really cool!”
Tony D’Onghia (Radio Koper-Capodistria) - “I really dig the Monkey Boots remixes … the sound of summer 2013!”
Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.