Rising sun on a secluded beach

French duo Polo & Pan were brought to my attention via the epic soundtrack LP for Eden, where their excellent track Rivolta appears. Then this track pops up which is even more up my street.

The plucky guitars complimented by the ethereal singing and wonky organs underpinned by the sweetest balearic beat. There is something of a tribal feel too as the singing turns to chants. My only negative is that it’s not short!

Let’s hope we hear more from Paul Armand Delille et Alex Pan very soon.

Sunset Hours, Vol. 2 - Marini's on 57

For those who don’t know Marini’s On 57 is a stunning venue in Kuala Lumpur situated on the 57th floor of a skyscraper next to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers that dominate the KL skyline. Sunset Hours is now shaping up to be a great compilation series with the music lovingly chosen by some of the worlds finest selectors. Last year Volume 1 was curated by legendary Ibiza DJ from Jose Padilla from The Cafe Del Mar. This next instalment in the Sunset Hours series is a collaboration between two highly respected veteran DJ / producers, Afterlife and Chris Coco, both known for their eclectic approach to music and strong associations with Ibiza, which is displayed beautifully on this mix.

Les Baxter’s Jungle Flower adds a touch of elegance with the Club Des Belugas Remix freshening it up, originally from their 2009 LP Zoo Zizaro.

You can hear how this influences Mark Barrot below.

Exotic delights

Mark Barrott​ is back in time for more chilled out summer vibes with=his latest instalment of SKETCHES FROM AN ISLAND 3. We seemingly carry on from where Sketches from an Island album leaves off.

The tribal island rhythms bound in on The Mysterious Island Of Dr Nimm, a beatiful track full the ambience of the jungle, pan pipes and clattering jungle drums. It’s like the Exotic Moods of Les Baxter for the twenteens. Brilliant!

Hey Hey!

Another cut from Cocotaxi’s Sucre EP, just as good as the title track. Cielos has amazing percussion, wonky synths and a melody to die for.

Love this shit!

Heartbreaker

Slow, down and funky groove from Thundercat. Stephen Bruner (aka Thundercat) sounds great on this, co-produced by Flying Lotus and features Kamasi Washington on saxophone. Taken from new EP released last month The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam.

Into the Disco Scene!

I certainly will be there, wow, back to the 70’s Chic style, except it’s 2015 and Nile Rodgers is super star again following his escapades with contemporary artists. The Disco legend has the golden Disco touch, sounding like this was on an old Chic LP from ’79.

Paying tribute to the disco era the song makes references to Chic-related songs and artists produced by the group. Subtle samples from Everybody Dance and Goodtimes. Will be playing this all summer long.

My heart is waiting, taken in from the star

Beirut’s first album in four years, No No No, will be out in September.

Zach Condon has us hooked again with another catchy tune that we’ll be playing all summer. Hearing this has caused me to dig out his last few albums again for a spin. Great to have him back and on form.

She’s making me high

The American alternative rock musician Beck is straight back into it with new tune Dreams, released on June 15, 2015. Beck's first release and the lead single from his not-yet-announced upcoming album. The song has an upbeat and funky tune, in contrast to the more muted sound on his last album Morning Phase.

"I was really trying to make something that would be good to play live," said Beck, also confirming that this is a track from his upcoming album.

Driving my heart

My favourite track from Blur’s The Magic Whip is Ghost Ship, it has all the classic trademarks of Blur but for me this sits nicely in with Damon Albarn’s solo material. The laid-back funky groove and the mesmerising melody are intoxicating.

Dreamy tune for a sunny days.

Way-oh, way-ay-oh

Now summer is here and the heatwaves flow in and the week, time for a bit classy sun soaking soul. Earth Wind & Fire's Sun Goddess is a pure classic featuring Ramsey Lewis.

Sun Goddess was a single for jazz musician Ramsey Lewis, written by Jon Lind and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. Released from Lewis's studio album Sun Goddess in 1974.

Sit back and feel the heat.

We’ve reached the grand milestone of 900 blog posts today, whoa!

Six years after the first neoloop post and still going strong, keep listening and we’ll be at 1000 before you know it.

Fuzzed-out psychedelia

The Limiñanas have put out a compilation of singles and are tracks 2009-2014. Making their impressive self-titled debut in 2010, followed by Crystal Anis 2012 and Costa Blanca 2013. Titled as I've got trouble in mind (7' and rare stuff 2009/2014), the lead track is as high quality that we’ve come to expect from The Limiñanas with their take on vintage sounds: Gainsbourg, French new wave, and the Velvet Underground etc. The French duo of Lionel and Marie Limiñana have this wonderful knack of creating retro sounds that sound fresh and exciting, this selection of covers and obscurities is just as vital as their 3 LPs.

French Disco Boogie Sounds

Fresh this month comes a new disco compilation compiled by Charles Maurice, French Disco Boogie Sounds 1975-1984. There are some belters on here, all dating back to disco’s golden era there’s a few rarities and obscure gems.

After the Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds compilation, Favorite Recordings follows-up with the concept, this time focusing on its homeland language. Digging into the mysterious Charles Maurice’s vinyl collection, the label and the DJ extracted 10 amazing hidden dancefloor hits, all produced between 1975 and 1984 within the French music scene.

On one hand, tracks by Overdrive, Marché Noir, Didier Makaga or France-Lise, were mostly composed and produced by underground artists and labels from the French Caribbean and African community, and also filled with the raw spirit and power of this Tropical stamping. On the other hand, tracks by Beckie Bell, Kelly, Le Club, or Bernard Guyvan, were all released by major French labels such as Trëma, Carrere, Disques Vogue, or Pathé Marconi, and created by confirmed independent producers, acting not only in France, but also in Canada and the US.

Despite being called Toulouse, this Female disco trio were from Montreal, Canada. They were made up of studio backing vocalists who decided to team up as a group in 1975. C’est toujours comme ça l’amour originally came out as a single in 1981 and featured on the album Trois Dimensions.

Don't miss out on this magnifiqué selection, buy on iTunes here

Blossoming boom

A funky groove, hypnotic rhythms and bubbly piano loops create deep melodic hypnosis. Odd vocal samples bounce off the off-kilter loops matched with a killer baseline makes this the new feel good hit of the summer.

Tropical dance

Swedish duo Cocotaxi create a unique sound with a plethora of worldly influences. Afro-Mexicana via eastern Europe electro-tropicalia. Taken from a new EP Sucre, named after Sucre, Bolivia the place rather than the french word for Sugar. With Bolivian percussion traditions it’s a joyous sound to behold.

Get into the Groove

Slowly working it’s groove into your head this tune is simple but effective, stand-out single from LoneLady’s Hinterland LP. Influences of ESG abound Groove it Out is all about the hook and the hypnotic cow bell. You have no choice but to groove it out.

O' I know

LA PRIEST (pronounced ‘Lah Pree-st’) is a project from reclusive electronic musician Sam Dust, aka Sam Eastgate, who we last heard fronting Late of the Pier. Having previously used the moniker for a 12" release on Erol Alkan's Phantasy label in 2007.

Oino, Dust's new single, is the first material to surface from the artist since the hiatus of Late Of The Pier and has this infectious electro-reggae vibe that loops around your head. Psychedelic guitars stab through the pulsating rhythms concocting an exciting new sound. love this.

Come with Us

Four years since they released Dring, French duo Nicolas Sfintescu & Ezéchiel Pailhès aka: Nôze release their fifth LP Come with us. Saint slowly builds up from acoustic strums, marching beats to haunting house with a touch of a spaghetti western soundtrack. Better go with them on this one.

Buy it now on iTunes

I don't care about anyone

A late highlight from last year, I love the steel pans in this tune by Doss. Taken from Doss' self-titled debut EP, still getting regular plays a year older. About time we had some new material from Doss then!

Coisa Boa

Nice remix from Javelin of Moreno Veloso Em Todo Lugar Voz Boa, which appears on the Brazilian’s Coisa Boa LP. He is one of the sons of the legendary Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso and his first wife Andréa Gadelha Veloso.

Carrie & Lowell

Widely regarded as his best album to date, Carrie & Lowell is an LP that definitely earns respect with every play. Sufjan Stevens is often a required taste, here he sounds at his most intimate, stripped back to lush arrangements. Should Have Known Better is a beautiful song.