Pieces well and truly picked up by a who's who of collectors and selectors, the TD team follow Bobby Snacks' super smash with some seriously synthy slices from good buddies Miserymix. A collaboration born behind the Piccadilly Records' counter, Miserymix is the dark disco alias of Goth Spice (Kohl AF, dressed in black and armed with nonpliments) and Mushy P (a toothy and goofy Talking Drummer). Based a mere 192 away from Senor Snacks in the thriving metropolis of Levenshulme, this pair of disco delinquents share a penchant for pingers, Prosecco and the lesser known corners of Europe's 80's club sound. After a mysterious appearance on one of Duca Bianco's brilliant V/As, Miserymix drop their debut EP on Drum Chums, aiming directly for the dance floor.

The Italo-noir of 'Sexy Cowboys' gets the set off to a sleazy start, its seductive synths and strangled guitars riding throbbing bass and leather-clad percussion right into the darkroom, where the yelping vocal echoes over the creak of a swing. Miserymix push the tempo for the pacey disco pump of 'Proverbial S.O.B.', a peak-time stomper dubbed senseless for the perfect tops-off groove. Subtle kalimba, cut up vocals and orchestral hits find every sweet spot atop the one note bassline, while those airy piano chords steer us straight into the sublime.

Kicking off the flip is the uber-anthemic, endorphin-laced and mid-paced dancefloor destroyer 'E Motion'. Our disco duo spend plenty of time on the foreplay, teasing every ounce of ecstasy out of the nuanced perx, rolling bassline and sparkling synths before unleashing some flawless Francophone vocals on the way to a colossal chorus. Smouldering like a Propaganda club mix, this Europop obscurity has been upgraded into an accidental pill tune of perma-gurn proportions - this one is a road-tested dance floor sure shot.

Indulging the afterglow, Miserymix sign off with the superb synth pop of 'Name Game'. Stomping drum machines play host to an insistent bassline and some slinky keys, while the cucumber cool Euro vocal serves cabaret camp and maximum vamp.

Remember folks, the TD crew (drum)rolls deep... 100% Drum Fun Guaranteed!

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A neon-tinged suite of moody gothic percussion and cavernous reverb tails, paddling arpeggios and moody FM bass stabs. It's the bright glowing bit of a goth-synth-disco, and it's the best part. Full of soul, groove and attitude. #gothsynthdiscovibes

TRACK LISTING

A1 Sexy Cowboys
A2 Proverbial S.O.B.
B1 E Motion
B2 Name Game

Drum Chums is back with the Snack Attack!

For the uninitiated, our Bobby is a man of true culture. Look for a sun-kissed cafe on Stockport's cobbles and you might just find him, sat back in a string vest and shades, coiffing a natural wine and cracking the wisest. Or else deep in the pound bins and car boots of the North West, calmly cutting through the AOR ocean to find the next Yacht Rock gem. And when Snacks snatches the scalpel, he's a wizard, a true star. So dig into this debut delight to find anthemic soft-rock, swooning Balearic, fizzy cosmic and the greatest left-field club track we've ever heard.

Bobby opens his account with the yearning Yacht boogie of 'Picking Up', a timeless tune which sounds a little like a Doobie Brother doing devotionals over a fist pumping rhythm box. Tempo Moderato, trilling sequences, serious synth bass and searing guitar solos are gonna get the hands in the air, believe me. Snacks slows the pace a touch for the shoulder-rolling sway of 'Wipe Y'Hands (XXXtra Chant Version)', a sultry slice of Balearic disco replete with orchestral flourish, tumbling percussion and a spine-tingling serenade perfect for fans of Sarcastic Disco.

Flip the pancake and prepare for genius as Bobby Snacks manipulates a sample like a deep house Dilla, arranging swelling strings, hand percussion and Linn drums into a living, breathing, sacred rhythm, before taking the whole club west into ecstatic uncharted territories. 'Slippy Energy' is the power source of the future. Last, but by no means least, Snacks puffs on the grape vape gets narcotic, slowing sugary synth-disco into a suitably sleazy cruise through the cosmos called 'Shaky Boys'.

100% Drum Fun Guaranteed.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Mr. Snacks is not just an all-round good egg, he's also a master selector and dissector. If you think the A1 is the best thing you've ever heard then wait 'till you've heard the B1... Get your orders in asap because these edits might just change your life (and whoever has Harvey on speed dial should alert him pronto because these nuggets are gonna rock his socks)!

Matt says: A new signing on the Talking Drums roster, Bobby Snacks displays all the dexterity and obscurity we've come to expect from the label as he manipulates four joints into bonafide Balearic master cuts. High tucks and boat shoes not included!

Millie says: The Balearic superstar Bobby Snacks has done it again!! Or in this case his debut which absolutely slaps. Prepare yourselves for the ride of your life with 'Slippy Energy' which I can only describe as the thrill of a dizzying rollercoaster ride. You’ve also been spoiled with cosmic chuggers ‘Wipe Y’Hands’ and ‘Shaky Boys’. But, the pièce de resistance really lies with ‘Picking Up’, this year’s yacht anthem that has people flooding to the dancefloor, it’s like this song has laid dormant within your soul until you hear it, and then everything becomes clear. Consume freely with this one. These snacks are good for you.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Picking Up
A2 Wipe Y'Hands (XXXtra Chant Version)
B1 Slippy Energy
B2 Shaky Boys

Summertime sounds abound on the sixth Drum Chums disc, which comes lovingly dubbed and diced by our friendly Fruit Merchant Hidden Spheres.

Known globally for his free-flowing DJ sets, halcyon house hits and mastery of melody, Tom's been at the top of his game for time now - just check those releases on Rhythm Section and Scissor & Thread - and it's a pleasure to carry his drum sticks for this one. Cracking open his vault of top secret DJ tweaks, Spheres explores sweltering proto-house, tropical disco lilt and deepest waters across three floor-ready cuts.

The Fruit Merchant plucks something ripe from the Kalimba Tree on the A side, starting the party properly with joyous Afro-house jam 'Stolen'. Carnival-friendly drums and a Boyd Jarvis bassline wind up your waist while the call-and-response vocals and exuberant brass send hands and heads skywards before the track transitions into an utterly ecstatic sax-led breakdown. This is magic.

For the B-side, Hidden Spheres treats us to a couple of deep digs from his time in Australia, both originating in the Aboriginal community.
Emerging from the astral vibrations of a didgeri-drone, 'You Better Dance' casually locks into an irresistible 105bpm groove, strolling through the echo-laced dub space as its poetic vocal speaks to your soul. Balearic-paced and cosmic-minded, this one plays perfectly next to those I-Level 12's.

For finale 'Together', Spheres shifts back into proto-house mode, locking a hypnotic piano riff into some militant snare rolls to lay the foundation for the impassioned vocal. Delivering the occasional diversion into more mournful territories, Spheres reminds us why deep house deity DJ Sprinkles always takes his calls.

100% Drum Fun Guaranteed.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: We have the B1 playing on the shop deck as I type this and I'm swooning over it big time! That's not to say that the other two tracks aren't worth your while. As with everything Talking Drums put out, it's a well-rounded 12" of dub-y cosmic delights. Buy on sight!

TRACK LISTING

A. Stolen
B1. You Better Dance
B2. Together