The Far
Out Monster Disco Orchestra, Far Out’s 20th anniversary disco project, released
its double LP earlier this year. It features the arrangements of Azymuth’s late
Maestro José Roberto Bertrami and the legendary Arthur Verocai alongside a host
of other Brazilian musical icons. FOMDO09 is the latest in a series of vinyl
only; 12" remixes and edits on Far Out. Previous producers providing their
re-works to the series include Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman, Mark Pritchard,
4hero, Isoul8, LTJ Xperience and many more.
Al Kent
is Glasgow’s answer to Walter Gibbons. With the recent re-popularisation of
disco music and the relative saturation of edit culture, Al Kent once again
demonstrates what re-editing is all about. His use of analogue equipment
mirrors the original intentions of the FOMDO project which was recorded in Rio
using all analogue equipment, including 2” Ampex tape, Neve compressors and an
SSL desk.
On this
12” Al Kent strips the original disco masterpieces down to their bare bones,
letting the splendour of Betrami and Verocai’s arrangements really shine
through. Al Kent’s edit of ‘Disco Supreme’ is a fantastically drawn out
13-minute builder - de-constructing the original and piecing it back together
within the framework of his signature (very) punchy drum sound. Betrami’s
beautiful Rhodes float amongst Verocai’s soaring strings and at one point,
these are the only sounds to be heard (it’s possibly the most beautiful thing
ever!), before the song kicks back in in all its Brazilian disco glory. The
b-side ‘Keep Believing’ is a slightly slower and heavier (yet just as club
focused) groove. Its foundation is Alex Malheiros of Azymuth’s funk bassline
woven tightly with Al Kent’s phased drums. Triumphant disco in the style of Tom
Moulton and Walter Gibbons, ‘Keep Believing', like the a-side, features a full
orchestra and revisits the authenticity and glamorous hedonism of the late 70s
scene.
~ Far Out
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