MRR (label)
21 June 2010 (released)
13 June 2010
For those who aren’t yet familiar with the name Darkstarr, rest assured it’s not the title of yet another novel in the never-ending Twilight Saga.
It is in fact the name of established DJ combo - Ashley Beedle & Colleen ’Cosmo’ Murphy - who have joined forces to put the soul back into disco and take the alternative club scene by storm.
And their new double disc compilation, They Live By The Night, released this week holds the premise of doing just that.
Beedle, a UK born DJ/producer, first made his name in acid house, before discovering deep disco.
Many will remember his work with The Ballistic Brothers and X-Press 2 with whom he produced classic underground tracks; 'Musik Express’ and 'London Xpress’.
Beedle remains a key figure on the London DJ circuit and now draws on the insights and influences of the critically acclaimed US DJ and record label owner, Cosmo who is renowned for her sessions at the The Loft in New York.
Critics have struggled as much as the duo themselves in categorising the album which features a diverse collection of carefully selected up-tempo tracks from their live sets, for fear of misleading listeners and assigning it the wrong genre.
Imagine a unique blend of balearic beats merged with classic dance floor disco and just a sprinkling of trip-hop, and you’re somewhere close to what you can expect, but with 22 mood enhancing tracks to digest, it really needs to be sampled to be savoured.
Designed with the intention of moving body, mind and soul, the album’s key tracks, 'The Star of A Story’ - Yam Who? and 'City, Country, City’ - Little Big Bee, instantly transport you to a bar or boutique lounge in Down Town, New York, while the retro rhythm and disco beats in 'I'm A Man’ and 'Revolution’ (featuring Southern Soul songstress, Candi Staton) are guaranteed to make even the most retiring of wall flowers, get up and dance.
If you pack one CD for the beach this summer, it has to be this one!
A trip-hop happy compilation, it’s as versatile as it is timeless, and an album you’ll want to return to again and again.
