Welcome to NEOLOOP


Step in to the Neoloop, have a look and listen!

You'll find a cornucopia of tasty tunes to bounce off your eardrums. I update with new tunes, art and photography every week, depending on what I'm doing and listening to at the time, old and new. I'm based in London UK but I love to travel and discover new music along the way and share my musical journey on neoloop.

Please support the artists and buy their music. If you are or represent an artist being featured on here and want me to remove something, email me.

Happy listening!

Neo

Email: neo@neoloop.com
  Heavy Rotation
  Category Cloud
  Albums of the year
Aug 12th, 2014 00:06am

Keep on riding on

Hot Natured’s massive 2012 club anthem returns with 4 remixes of the classic floor filler Benediction in a new EP.

Now, I still love the original, but the pick of the remixes for me is the Lxury Remix which surfaced earlier this year, it totally deconstructs the original, chucks most of it away and reassembles what’s left to create a completely different track, and it’s genius. 

Looping one line of the lyrics - Keep on riding on - it dispenses with the rest of the vocal, doesn’t even include the Benediction chorus, but it does’t need it and the melody loops that he’s added to replace the old classic strings are fresh and euphoric, barely recognisable from the original and it’s just superb.

Lxury, aka Andy Smith from Croydon, has since released his Playground EP to much excitement and also a banging new remix of Jungle’s Time. There’s no stopping the London producer.

Hot Nature’s LP - Different Sides of the Sun, the album that features Benediction is still getting a regular airing two years later. The other Benediction remixes on the EP are from GRADES, Nic Fanciulli and No Artificial Colours.


Aug 10th, 2014 17:13pm

Akaliko 

Transatlantic trio Paqua introduced themselves with the release of Dinosaur Zappa in 2012, a hazy, low-slung psychedelic rock work-out; a year later, the trio followed it up with Late Train, a dub-soaked Balearic rock groover. 

In June this year they unleashed their debut LP, Akaliko [a Buddhist word meaning timeless] It's an apt description for an album that’s full to the brim with sun-kissed beauty, hazy guitars and bongo beats. We Are What We Are is stellar tune from an LP that grows in wealth with continued plays. 

The trio are formed with UK DJ/producer Paul Murphy (AKA Mudd, famed for his beautiful balearic compositions), longtime collaborator Alex Searle, and Quinn Luke from New York's Phenomenal Handclap Band. Highly Recommended.

Buy on iTunes - click here

Aug 10th, 2014 16:38pm

Calling you

A nice big dollop of dub here, Ray Mang gives Paqua’s original the echo-chamber treatment, keeping the nice bongo beats and dubbing out the vocals to a minimum, speeded up slightly and adding a heavier bass. There is also a Ray Mang mix at 8 minutes that keeps the full vocal too.

The remixes EP consists of two tracks taken from the critically acclaimed Akaliko album and includes 3 versions of Late Train - Idjut Boy’s Late Brain Version and a vocal and instrumental version by Emperor Machine.

Categories: Chill, Dub
Aug 10th, 2014 14:51pm

Obscure Disco

Late Night Tales Presents After Dark: Nightshift

Nightshift is cult DJ connoisseur Bill Brewster's second outing in Late Night Tales' After Dark series following on seamlessly from the dubby grooves of the first After Dark compilation. Bill picks out another fine selection of Slo-tempo disco funk, slowly brewed to form another top class musical journey of discovery. Old and rare tracks rub shoulders with new and exclusive previously unreleased tracks. The Grid & Robert Fripp A Cabala Sky is one of five exclusive tracks to feature throughout this emphatic collection, a superb deep and dubby disco chugger that oozes a groovy baseline.

Bonafide dance-floor-fillers from Mugwump and Hubbabubbaklubb ensure the After Dark off-shoot series stays true to the quality output of that we expect from the LateNightTales series. Highly and Totally Recommended.

Aug 10th, 2014 14:05pm

And I never took another mushroom again

Mushrooms Project (DJ duo - Giorgio Giri and Marco Lentano) have put out two EPs this year with two tracks on each to make up a 4 part suite. Psilocybe Odyssey Pt. I, II, III, IV is a cosmic journey through deep house, disco, funk, balearic soul and dub.

This intergalactic opus goes deep and druggy with slo-tempo 110pbm grooves that float around your head, hallucinating rhythms transcend into the dark corners of your mind. With each track at around fifteen minutes long, its’ a truly mesmerising and immersive experience.

Like this? Try: Andrew Weatherall - Masterpiece. The Asphodells, Blade Runner Soundtrack, Soft Rocks, Fuck Buttons

Categories: Disco, Dub, Psychedelic
Aug 10th, 2014 13:25pm

Cause I'm drowning for ya

Today is pouring with rain non-stop, it’s days like today you can successfully listen to miserable music and feel all reflective about life. Banks has been generally setting the world alight with her particular brand of bewitching beats and siren-like voice since last years Fall Over and London EPs. Drowning from her debut LP Goddess (September 2014) sees her in a reflective mood after a breakup, her man claimed that he loved her but it was all lies and now he’s going to get some bad karma.

Like this? Try: The XX, Lana Del Rey, Poliça, Lykke Li, London Grammar

Categories: Alternative, Pop
Aug 9th, 2014 19:33pm

Get over it

Getting plenty of well deserved hype, Royal Blood sound like all my old favourite rock bands, you can hear Kyuss and Fu Manchu in there. Because they are a duo, the heavy blues influence will keep them getting compared to The Black Keys, but I think they are pretty far apart from that and make their own sound. Good to hear they resided from Brighton too.

Rock 'n' Roll!

I like the illustrations on their sleeves too...

Categories: Alternative, Blues, Rock
Aug 3rd, 2014 19:11pm

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Yes, a little late watching this movie, but it was the soundtrack that first caught my ear and prompted me to watch it. The first track that I heard was Daylight Express to Lutz - Alexandre Desplat, the melody evokes those classic soundtracks to Jean-Pierre Jeunet movies like Delicatessen, Amélie and The City of Lost Children. Like those films The Grand Budapest Hotel soundtrack carries an overarching melody that takes on the many moods of the film. On Daylight Express to Lutz it’s at it most jolly and significant. Following his work on previous Wes Anderson pictures (Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox), The Grand Budapest Hotel is largely scored by the prolific Alexandre Desplat. 

Desplat is probably better known for his soundtracks for mainstream films such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Twilight Saga, Kings Speech, Godzilla etc. But if you dig a little deeper into his discography you find it’s brimming with delightful obscurities - Coco avant Chanel, Girl With a Pearl Earring, Argo and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium all have those quirky little gems peppered throughout.

The film follows the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous Hungarian hotel between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

After seeing the film to which a soundtrack accompanies it’s always an entirely different experience knowing what visuals the soundtrack is portraying. Mr. Moustafa is another highlight, and sounds great even if you haven’t seen the character himself in action. Desplat also drops in a couple of old pieces by Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra & Vitaly Gnutov to magnificent effect. The Society of the Crossed Keys is a rousing drum piece, while Canto At Gabelmeister's Peak revisits the Daylight Express to Lutz melody again with added choir arrangements. Cleared of All Charges is just beautiful, followed by The Mystical Union it rounds off a unique soundtrack before the closing credits featuring Kamarinskaya and Traditional Arrangement: "Moonshine”.

The film and it’s soundtrack is highly recommended.

Aug 2nd, 2014 17:43pm

Beach Diggin' again

Guts and Mambo are back with the second insulation of Beach Diggin’ - Vol.2 carries on where Vol.1 left off with an eclectic array of hard-to-find rarities and guilty pleasures. This track kicks off the proceedings with a funky pop loop and Mavis John’s sultry voice. Try stopping your foot tapping to this one!

Dancehall vibes on Hey Mister by Althea Forrest & Togetherness, Folky bossa soul on Amor a Tres by Celeste, funk and disco continues from Lee Alfred and the Hamilton Brothers respectively. Soulful jazz in the shape of Fou De Toi by Bajy & Electrical Haitian Orchestra. Sonya Spence brings it back to a laid back disco vibe before we go off in a reggae tangent with East of Handsworth by Linton Haugton. Moody Leftfield-pop from Letta Mbulu then slides into tropical percussionists The Lain Langley Group on Amazon Trail, this flows nicely into Osmar Milito’s organ led calypso sound, we then mellow right out with Kalalou, a jazz instrumental by Mushi & Lakansyel. Finishing off with Marsha Wilson’s Love Is Gonna Get You.

I’ve not heard any of these tracks before, so it’s a credit to Guts for digging’ deep and unearthing this great collections of gems. See you at the beach.

Buy it on iTunes now, you need it.

Aug 2nd, 2014 17:13pm

Sketches from an Island

Soaking up the sunshine vibe and catching up with all the summer music after spending time out traveling and listening to new music. Mark Barrott’s new LP combines his previous two EP’s and newer tracks to create Sketches From An Island.

Yes the island is of course Ibiza and this is the ultimate Dreamy Balearic delight. A journey of cascading rhythms that evokes the sunshine and long days messing around on the beach. Formentera Headspace Blues (Pt's. 1 & 2) is Barrott’s epic ambient journey into utopia. Deep Water wonders into an eastern vibe while Back to the Sea is a short interlude into Sacred Islands, a piano piece that feels like you’ve been transformed to a forgotten place in paradise.

Bliss.

Check it out here on iTunes

Aug 2nd, 2014 16:44pm

Tropicallia

L’Adulte was the first single from Sébastien Tellier’s L'Aventura, his sixth LP, and stands out as a the lead track, I love the way Tellier mixes the playful chorus with the straight from heart seriousness of the verses.

A gentle bossa beat underpins Telliers signature melodies and Gainsbourg-esque croon. Tellier goes bossa nova, what more could you wish for?

The man himself says: "Brazilian music is perfect as it’s full of mysterious chords and strange melodies, but also light & sunny. I feel my previous albums were just tests to reach this point."


Categories: Easy Listening, French, Pop
Aug 2nd, 2014 16:25pm

L'Aventura

Ma Calypso is taken from Sébastien Tellier’s new LP L'Aventura. It’s always good to get a new Tellier LP before the summers out. Tellier is a seasonal performer in his own unique genre of French kitsch pop, a Eurovision candidate in 2008 with the Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo produced Divine - he has gone on to create  4 albums of consistently high quality music. Sexuality, My God is Blue, Confection and L'Aventura are all albums worth investing in.

The new album, L'Aventura, release on 14 July 2014. Tellier has said that the album is inspired by Brazil, Ma Calypso certainly sets the tone for the LP.

Categories: French, Pop
Aug 2nd, 2014 16:08pm

You Better Get Ready

George Evelyn, AKA Nightmares On Wax showcases a broad 25 year career in music with the double LP N.O.W. Is the Time, full of bonafide classics split into two discs - Nightmares By Day and Nightmares By Night containing 28 of the best-known Nightmares On Wax tunes. The Deep Down Edition adds further material of rare and unreleased tracks including this Ashley Beedle rework of Now Is The Time.

A solid collection for established NOW fans and new comers alike. My favourite album will always be the Carboot Soul, every tracks a winner.

Check it out on iTunes here

Categories: Dub, Electronic, Remix
Aug 2nd, 2014 15:23pm

Perfect Grammar

A perfect a comping tune to the track below, Tensnake works his grooving magic to London Grammar's Hey Now.

Another example of a band that makes music which begs for a dance make-over. Tensnake is having an excellent year all round. bring in on.


Categories: Electronic, Remix
Aug 2nd, 2014 15:12pm

Wicked!

It’s been a while since I featured a track from Lykke Li on here, I always think Lykke Li makes great songs that beg for a dance remix, and Joris Voorn doesn’t disappoint with this serging make-over. Likkie has never sounded so good, euphoric melodies pulsate over a brooding baseline. No rest for the wicked indeed.

Aug 2nd, 2014 15:06pm

Go Back again

Fela Kuti’s old drummer Tony Allen has made another tune with Blur’s Damon Albarn. Following the Damon Albarn-fronted supergroup the Good, The Bad, & The Queen.  Allen is releasing a solo LP, Film Of Life, and this is the first single, Go Back has indeed gone back to the prolific partnering with Albarn. Great Tune!

Aug 2nd, 2014 15:00pm

The Air Between Words

Good to hear Martyn’s quality control is well in check on new LP The Air Between Words. Three years after his last album – Ghost People – Martyn joins the Ninja Tune family to present his third long player. Universally respected for his ever-evolving, but inimitable sound, the Dutch-born, Washington DC-based producer brings an entirely new sonic direction with The Air Between Words. This is an exploration of the essence of all of Martyn’s music: a rugged four-to-the-floor groove, intelligently sculpted and artfully composed.

Martyn joins forces with Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet for Glassbeadgames, a powerhouse of a track that finds the perfect amalgamation of both producers’ fortés. Heavy kicks, UKG-esque percussion and swirling subs dictate the groove, whilst the melodic progressions are simultaneously melancholic and anthemic, and further enhanced by a Hebden trademark thumb piano motif.

Check out the LP here on iTunes

Categories: Electronic
Aug 2nd, 2014 14:51pm

Still Hunting

An old track from 2011, Soft Rocks eclectic LP The Curse Of Soft Rocks is an album I consistently come back to for a fix of downtempo left-field originality. We Hunt Buffalo Now is one of the many highlight of the record co-written and performed by Jorge Socarras he sounds more than a little bit David Byrnes. There is also a good remix of this tune by Andrew Weatherall.

And has a great cover design by Mario Hugo.

Categories: Leftfield
Aug 2nd, 2014 14:29pm

This is the life for me

This is a lovely chilled out bossa nova version of the old 1981 original by British dance music group Freeez, it was released on the debut album of the same name. Giles Petterson’s latest venture into Brazillian music has brought together an amazing group of artists, collectively called Sonzeira he’s produced a full album entitled Brasil Bam Bam Bam. Brazilian vocalist Emanuelle Araújo takes a laid back approach to the track, dripping with a sunshine groove, perfect for lazy sunny days.

Check the rest of the LP here on iTunes.

Categories: Easy Listening, Soul, World
Aug 2nd, 2014 14:13pm

Sunset in Paradise

Watching the sun go down in a baking hot climate with the most amazing views is how I see this piece of music. After a lot of traveling lately this tune was my end of the day song that I put on to watch the sun set with a chilled glass of wine.

Although called Lovers in Paris, it better suited to the rolling hill’s of the southern French country side than the capital. Jacob Gurevitsch’s guitar playing together with the accordion is very reminiscent of the 1986 film soundtrack Jean de Florette by Jean-Claude Petit. Just beautiful.