Corsair Records - Reviews

UNITED SOUNDS of EUROPE - YES & NO

"This nifty double-A almost passed under my radar, which would’ve been a shame. ‘Yes’ is the sound of a Roland 303 fucking shit up massively. Not a million miles away from ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ getting fed through Mr. Oizo’s beef grinder, and a brilliant racket all round. ‘No’ is far more sedate, comparatively speaking: hypnotic, melodic electro-tech stripped down to just its pants and socks. Very Berlin, but playful with it. This has got crossover potential like Carmen Miranda’s got fruit."
iDJ

IDC - AKAI ELVIS THE REMIXES

"Remember this? I reviewed it several months ago and told you all to buy it. Well, true to form, I’m telling you to buy the remix pack too. Why? Because the legendary Lo Fidelity Allstars are back with a remix jauntier than a drunken pirate with two wooden legs and it’s well worth a look in. Eschewing their big beat of old, the Lo Fi’s have updated and let fly with a true party romp."
iDJ 4/5

"The big beat champs have been feeling the bassline house stuff lately, and this fucked-up Elvis homage is like a Sinden & Hervé piece on steroids."
DJ Magazine 4/5

"Following hits this year with 'Stomp' and 'Akai Elvis', one-man electro machine IDC takes a back seat here and lets the more recent single get the treatment from Lo-Fidelity Allstars and United Sounds of Europe. The Lo-Fis offer a choppy, wonky collision of breaks and bassline house with growling basslines galore. Then US of E go for the jugular with a slate of KLF-esque rave madness that'll have the kids stomping."
Mixmag Jan 2008

IDC - AKAI ELVIS

"Is this house? Is this breaks? Is this electro? Who gives a rat's arse, it's a filthy feel-good romp that's likely to tickle the soles of anybody's dancing feet. Just like his previous offering 'Stomp', IDC has managed to create an almost rock-like vibe to this five-minute slice of headbanging fun. Bleepy, screechy and more rugged than that builder your mum had a fling with last year, this shouldn't be overlooked. It's time, ladies and gentlemen, to rock!"
iDJ house reviews 4/5

"'Akai Elvis' by IDC is one of the act's strongest and most accessible yet, and the perfect follow-up to 'Stomp'. It's built around ravey synths that echo of the Vicks Vapour Rub mask-wearing Altern 8 and the Prodigy in their youth, mashed with drums phat enough to keep a matching band in sync. You can instantly hear why it's getting the same kind of response LCD Soundsytem's "Losing My Edge" got before it reached saturation levels"
DJ magazine Inside Track

"Big, noisy "washing machine on crack" music, all crashing indie drums and guitar-like distortion"
DJ Magazine electro-house reviews 4/5

CASINO - FLOORSHAKER

ESSENTIAL LEFTFIELD TUNE
"Casino's debut release 'Running On Back To You' took the clubs by storm last year, clocking up 'Single Of The week' all over the place. Well Casino have kept the faith and are back with a stomper, or to use another Northern Soul term 'Floorshaker'. '1.2…1.2.3..' The bag is packed and we're off to a glorious sweaty allnighter, where you can't resist the urge and the buzz in the room, making you feel like you're somewhere a bit special, as you dance til you drop. Casino's 'Floorshaker' has got all the essential ingredients and then some. Straight in the front of the box"
DMC Update 5/5

IDC - STOMP

ELECTRO SINGLE OF THE WEEK
"This really is as noisy as f**k, but that's what the kids want. Like the Prodigy smackin' their bitch up without the vocal hook, in fact it's easier to sing when there's no words to remember!"
DMC Update 5/5

"A battlecry to raise arms and prepare for the future sound of electronica, it similarly drives the crowd into a frenzy in much the same way that Alter Ego's 'Rocker' did"
DJ Magazine

"Coming on strong like the snotty nosed, unruly bastard child of Alter Ego's 'Rocker', IDC has delivered one seriously heavy slice of deviant dancefloor electro. Check it now, or forever walk around with sign saying 'kick me' on your back"
iDJ 5/5

"Think Flat Eric suffering a moment of dark teenage angst. Awesome"
Rough Trade

"IDC lets fly with his stompiest cruncher to date. With maximum bleeps, screeches and distorted guitars, this screams party time!"
International DJ Magazine 4/5

"I'm definitely into this style. The production's great too. It reminds me of 'Put Your Hands Up For Detroit' but dirtier!"
Ed Rush & Optical, iDJ guest reviews 4/5

"Already played plenty by John Kennedy, this bootlegger turned producer turns in his best work yet, a raging guitar dance beast that's gonna be massive"
Pure Groove

"Bass-driven dancefloor assault. These four minutes of filthy bass-driven electro are a good way to sign off the year"
Mixmag

CASINO - REALLY, REALLY LOVE YOU (promo only)

"After the amazing Northern Soul shenanigans of "Running On Back To You", Casino come bounding in on a swinging electro go-go vibe with "Really Really Love You", as machine made 60’s rhythms collide with synth riffs, while a slightly ramshackled but very soulful motley crew chant the title. You can’t fail to have a good time with Casino".
DMC Update 4/5

CASINO - RUNNING ON BACK TO YOU

ESSENTIAL LEFTFIELD TUNE
"The name of the Artist & the title of the song totally give the game away, because Casino’s "Running On Back To You" is dirty & gritty, pill popping, shuffling sliding’n’gliding, back flipping, duck diving Northern Soul for the 21st Century, with bags & bags of energy. You’re definitely gonna need a holdall with a change of clothes after dancing to this. Leather soles only"
DMC Update 5/5

"Considering that modern club culture's roots lie firmly in Northern Soul, it's surprising that no-one has combined the two up until now. A stomping 4/4, serious vocal that could have come from one of the classic Wigan Casino-championed US singers and some cool horns would have made a good pastiche, but this goes further. The production is updated to make a track that would storm out of the middle of a house set. Some extra mixes and Casino might not just have a hit on their hands; it might also start an unlikely revival".
DJ Magazine 4/5

IDC - PAYOLA

"This has by all accounts been kicking around all summer and is only now due for a full release. Doesn't take a genius to see why... a grungy, Moroder-ish romper-stomper. Both sides have a devil-may-care attitude about them which makes perfect, if nutty, sense"
iDJ 'house' section

"First seen as a limited edition earlier in the year, 'Payola' now gets a full release. A thrusting electro-techno cut with a disco edge and a rock riff, it's got something for everyone"
iDJ 'electro' section

"Our favourite protagonists of the illicit beat return with a bona fide release that picks up where last year's 'Scratch' left off. This number rumbles along to a tough groove that's not quite beaks, nor electro, although takes inspiration from each, while the throbbing guitar lines make for added excitement"
DMC Update 4/5

"Make sure you have the bass bins set correctly before you drop this. Trust us if you don't you will be buying a new one. Awesome dirty house....."
htfr.com

"A mad thing!"
Mark Moore

IDC - SCRATCH

"'Scratch'pushes the boundaries of electro-disco"
DJ Magazine

"A number that DFA or a Touch Of Class should be proud to release"
DMC Update 5/5

More...

"Corsair Records are producing superb releases. Debut single, Scratch, by cut-up wizard IDC was one of the highpoints of 2004. Based around a 48 Carat riff, DeBeers couldn't craft anything more complex and dazzling"
Channel 4

Corsair Records hit the mark from day one when DJ Magazine said the first release 'Scratch' "pushes the boundaries of electro-disco" and Update said it was "a number that DFA or a Touch Of Class should be proud to release", giving it an "essential" 5/5 rating.