Release no 31 finds KAT Records on a European tour with 3 reworks based on 80's Belgium, Italy & Germany disco & new wave with man of the moment Moscow producer Phil Gerus (FutureBoogie, Sonar Kollektiv) taking centre stage.
Well, 3 really obscure one's here from KAT with Mr Gerus pulling no punches - 80's Soul, (punk) funk, disco, synth pop & new wave are just some genre's that may well get thrown around here but as ever with KAT, quality prevails. We're going to do a sneaky one here and protect the names of the originals (jus' cause we can!) but suffice to say, these are ace! Agent Yuri is a mid-tempo boogie melter with buckets of soul - A killa groove, silky tinkling piano and a vocal that could sink ships - Pure summer lovin' and then some.
When we mention 'pulls no punches' then Mr Hero is what we mean - Full on, no holds barred 80s Belgian new wave bordering on punk/funk with raging guitars to boot - A real grower and when heard on a decent sound system we won't be held responsible for any outlandish actions that may well prevail.
Be my Lova couldn't be more Italian if it tried apart from the fact that it's actually German ! Italo vibes with super bloody marvellous vocal, synth's all over the show with a chorus more catchy than the common cold.
Kat Records reach the ripe ol' age of 30 with the 3rd instalment of reworks by all round super ace guy Jonny Miller.
Those of you out there of a certain vintage will not need any intro to Half A Minute - A guilty pleasure to some, with nowt to be feeling guilty about. If it's good then it's good is the KAT ethos and Mr Miller fully embraces this and takes this UK Latin stormer up a notch and then some. Matt Bianco, yes you know...
Get out of your lazy bed et all were a house hold name in 80's UK (a Saturday superstore appearance also, well worth a mention we think!) - but we're getting away from the point here...
The point is that Half A Minute is a tune, always has been and always will be with the JM edit bringing out the very best from the original with much added shine and aplomb ! On the flip we have 2 African tinged mid-tempo chuggers that tick the boxes of house, Balearic, soul, disco…well sort of !
Kalimba Tree is a track that sits perfectly between the aforementioned genres and Jonny Miller delivers a rework rather than straight up edit - The beats are incredible, very funky and infectious but laid back at the same time…Tabled with the beautiful fender rhodes and that vocal hook, it's time to head direct to your fave Adriatic festival and order a large one and pop a toast to the genius of Maurice White.
Last up we have Orere-Elejigbo which is mid-tempo afro-Balearic gem and again, a rework rather than your bog standard edit.
4/4 beats, afro vocal hooks, low slung bass line and a mighty arrangement top things off very nicely on this rather fine 3 track-er.
