Calling yourself "underground" probably means you're not in the slightest. This is why the new Underground Disco compilation on Ministry of Sound has, at first glance, a fraudulent aura. But a careful listen of the two CD mix dissipates any doubts you might have had about its credibility. The reason is largely down to British DJ and producer Toby Tobias being at the helm. You could reproach him a few concessions, like the mandatory inclusion of Nicolas Jaar ("Time for Us") as the CD1 introductory cut, or the obvious choices of some remixes (like the defining Tensnake rerub of Azari & III's "Reckless with Your Love" or the overplayed Frankie Knuckles version of Hercules & Love Affair's "Blind"—the latter of which isn't that underground anymore anyway), but these are minor flaws.
He's in inspired form here, throughout, with Storm Queen's unrepentant "Look Right Through," I:Cube's playful "Falling" and Still Going's galloping "Spaghetti Circus" making for a festive first disc. The second CD might be a bit more lax in terms of mixing (the opening Dam-Funk/Aeroplane/Social Disco Club sequence is especially sloppy), and the combination of Space Dimension Controller's acid jazz-lite number "Transatlantic Landing Bay" with Gala Drop's pretty bland "Drop" makes for an overall dull first half. Mario Basanov's lighthearted "Caribbean Girl" offers a welcomed restart midway through, though, and we then get treated to gems such as Caribou's luminous "Odessa" (which works stunningly well in such a context) and Ray Mang's DFA-endorsed "Look Into My Eyes."
Calling yourself "futuristic" is just as suspicious as calling yourself "underground." But the team behind the brand have established themselves in the past two years as a relevant player with the organization of events all across Europe. This fourth edition, subtitled Neon Nights, is probably the best one so far. Compiled by Sean Brosnan, it isn't afraid to opt for obscure cuts such as Hannulerauri's "Zombie Tropicana" (who?) or Pete Herbert's remix of Bonar Bradberry's "Siula Grande" (what?!) and put them next to Jacques Renault's beaming remix of Midnight Magic's "Beam Me Up." As the pumping Wild Geese remix of Hot Chip's "Hand Me Down Your Love" kicks in, Brosnan brings his selection into more upbeat territory as the compilation ends with The Revenge (his house-ish "Just Be Good to Me" excursion) and Soul Clap's soulful take on Kaine and Kathy Diamond's "Love Saves the Day."
It might have been considered a passing trend and nothing more by some, but it is remarkable to see how the whole nü-disco scene has established itself as a viable alternative to the old-school disco revival epitomized by the Horse Meat Disco bunch and the deep house inclination privileged by the likes of Mule Musiq. You could even say that by taking things down a notch or two, nü-disco has even paved the way for the current interest in all things slow such as the aforementioned Jaar. The names may be unfortunate, but Underground Disco and Future Disco have overall got it right.
Buy Various Artists - Underground Disco / Future Disco Volume 4: Neon Nights at
  
Tracklist: Various Artists - Underground Disco / Future Disco Volume 4: Neon Nights
Underground Disco
CD1:
 01. Nicolas Jaar - Time for Us
02. New Mjondalen Disco Swingers - Eurodans
03. Tinpong - New Religion (Marcus Marr Mix)
04. Toby Tobias - Macasu (MCDE Remix)
05. Alphabet City - Turn Me Up
06. Storm Queen - Look Right Through (Vox)
07. I:Cube - Falling
08. Robbie Williams - Last Days Of Disco (Still Going Dub)
09. IKE - Diskadenz
10. Still Going - Spaghetti Circus
11. Cobblestone Jazz - Traffic Jam
12. Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) (Tensnake Remix)
13. DJ Ringardos - Was Better In 88
14. Hercules & Love Affair - Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
15. Onra Feat. Reggie B - High Hopes
CD2:
01. Dam-Funk - 10 West
02. Aeroplane - We Can't Fly
03. Social Disco Club - By The Way You Move (Greg Wilson Mix)
04. Toby Tobias - The Feeling
05. Space Dimension Controller - Transatlantic Landing Bay
06. Gala Drop - Drop
07. Mario Basanov - Caribbean Girl
08. Das Volt - Fantasy
09. Visti And Meyland - Stars (Time And Space Mix)
10. Caribou - Odessa
11. MAVIS Feat. Candi Staton - Revolution (Darkstarr Remix)
12. I:Cube - Vacuum Jackers (Maurice Fulton Mix)
13. DJ Nature - Destiny Reprise
14. Ray Mang - Look Into My Eyes
15. Sombrero Galaxy - Journey To The Centre Of The Sun
Future Disco Volume 4: Neon Nights
CD1:
1.Escort - Cocaine Blues(Greg Wilson remix)
2. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Jacques Renault remix)
3. Stefano E Bene - Why Your Love (feat Hard Ton - Katzbatz remix)
4. Holy Ghost! - I Will Come Back (Classixx Acapulco Nights version)
5. 2020 Soundsystem - Ocean (Ray Mang mix)
6. Bad Rabbits - She's Bad (Gadi Mizarhi & Soul Clap remix)
7. Hannulerauri - Zombie Tropicana
8. Bonar Bradberry - Siula Grande (Pete Herbert remix)
9. Storm Queen - Look Right Through (vox)
10. Hot Chip - Hand Me Down Your Love (Wild Geese remix)
11. Tape To Tape - Pure & Easy
12. Mario Basanov - Up
13. The Revenge - Just Be Good To Mario
14. Filippson & Ulysses - Escape From New York
15. Kaine - Love Saves The Day (feat Kathy Diamond - Soul Clap remix)
16. The C90's - Shine a Light (Flight Facilities remix)
CD2:
1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Jacques Renault remix)
2. Stefano E Bene - Why Your Love (feat Hard Ton - Katbatz remix)
3. 2020 Soundsystem - Ocean (Ray Mang remix)
4. Bad Rabbits - She's Bad (Gadi Mizarhi & Soul Clap remix)
5. Bonar Bradberry - Siula Grande (Pete Herbert remix)
6. Tape To Tape - Pure & Easy
7. Mario Basanov - Up
08. Filippson & Ulysses - Escape From New York
9. Kaine - Love Saves The Day (feat Kathy Diamond - Soul Clap remix)
10. The C90's - Shine a Light (Flight Facilities remix)
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