After being one of the many standouts on the ‘We Are Opilec…! Vol. III’ compilation back in 2016, I-Robots’ ‘Glamouflage’ is now getting a full vinyl release with artwork by Tomozo Kevorkian, who was designer for NYC’s Body & Soul, and remixes by a standout team of producers from Japan to Switzerland to South Africa and the USA. Opening up the EP is a fantastic new Take II version from label boss I-Robots, who added exclusive Chinese vocal samples recorded on the streets of Huang Jiang City many years ago. The track is inspired by Ennio Morricone and Supermax and is a loose and infectious groove with brilliant drums and percussion and an elastic bassline that really gets you moving. It’s a subtle update to the original—also included here as a bonus cut—which itself is a steamy and tropical sounding groove. Swiss electronic pioneer Schaltkreis Wassermann then features on a version of the original that reaches for the cosmos with its rugged bass riffs, tumbling toms and busy, ever evolving groove. It has a big breakdown with exotic synths wandering through the night and oodles of effects and big guitar licks.
The first of the remixes comes from Kuniyuki Takahashi who has been a big supporter of I-Robots since 2000. He is a sound designer from Japan who had a compilation of his works put out by Music From Memory back in February. His version is laden with cosmic synths and chants, grunting and organic drums and is sure to be massive this summer thanks to its open air vibes. Detroit’s underrated but vital Gary Martin is the boss of the Teknotika label and his version featuring Colten Decker playing an unusual sax line shows another side to the Motor City. It’s a curious and mysterious tune that makes for an unsettling atmosphere that keeps you locked throughout as it snakes along.
This is a fulsome package that brims with character and sunshine vibes and is sure to make its way into plenty of influential record bags this summer More

Opilec Music's eclectic remix series rolls on with another essential package, this time tackling a single from label boss I-Robots's Law of Robotics album back in 2008. Adding their own spin to things are Red Axes and Hiroshi Watanabe aka Kaito after the likes of Kuniyuki Takahashi, Djembe Monks, Danny Ocean, Los Hermanos, Gary Martin, Alexander Robotnick, Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi have all stepped up previously.
Isreali duo Red Axes go first, a pair known for mixing up synths and guitars in exciting new ways on labels like Hivern Discs, I'm A Cliche and ESP Institute amongst others. Their excellent version of the track re-works it as a deep and spine tingling house cut. Moody chords lull you into a hypnotic and zoned out groove that is finished with some intoxicating spoken words.
Hiroshi Watanabe aka Kaito is next, an acclaimed Kompakt and Transmat artist who makes succulent techno with ambient atmospheres. His brilliant version here is just that, with cosmic chords and slippery rubber beats carrying you away into the night. Warm and inviting, it elevates you to the next level over its long length, it is a classy bit of techno that also comes as a stripped back instrumental version More

Four Italo disco cuts produced by the powerhouse of Svengile aka Luigi Venegoni. Original copies of Stratosferic Band are changing hands for £125 and no wonder why. “Splashdown” encapsulates perfectly the weird and wonderful imagination of Italo productions – sci-fi synthwork that ventures beyond this dimension. The Ben Norman track on the B1 has a more straight up disco feel to it but those vocals maintain an ethereal italo aura. Completing this special 4 tracker is the obscure “T.C. Radiation”…..that talk box guitar solo will melt any minds it’s put in front of!
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The next project on Opilec Music is a fine EP produced by label boss I-Robots together with the legendary Piatto brothers, Alessandro and Davide, and comes with an unreleased dub as well as a remix by Rekids boss Radio Slave. Davide Piatto is a member of N.O.I.A. who co-produced the original 'Dirty Talk' single and seminal De-Ja-Vu album of legendary proto-house outfit Klein & M.B.O. in 1982 while Donna McGhee exclusively agreed to provide the vocals for the I-Robots remake released by Opilec earlier this year. The new version of this track presented on this great new EP uses exactly the same vintage equipment and as such the 'Unreleased Dub' is six minutes of dubbed out bliss with pixelated chords, soaring synth lines and slick grooves that come laced with arpeggiated disco dazzle. A rugged bassline underpins the whole thing and it is easy to see why this one is already in such hot demand. The Original Acapella, without any beats, is also included for DJs who like to do their own tricks, and then there is the incredible Radio Slave Magnetic Feel Remix already played by Dixon and thus one of the most sought after tunes of Sonar 2015. Radio Slave is a big Italo Disco fan who wanted to remix this classic for Opilec Music and already Felix Da Housecat is playing it, whilst DJ Hell, youANDme and Rocky Jones from D.J. International Chicago all personally requested it.
And no wonder because it is eleven minutes of seriously steaming, slow building and long burning house pleasure with massive rubbery kicks, cleverly filtered vocals and a slowed down bass line from the original that adds serious weight. More

Always hard at work unearthing interesting new projects or forgotten old gems, Opilec Music is now serving up a retrospective compilation of highly esteemed Chicago producer Jordan Field's best work from 1986 - 1991. Field has been active now for some thirty years (on labels like Rush Hour, Headphoniq and Mo Wax) but his best work was arguably done in his first decade or so. Now Opilec boss I-Robots has been given access to a collection of Field's early recordings and has selected, compiled & conceived this project himself. It will be presented as a full-length album but will also arrive in a few select EP parts, with this being the first one. Says Jordan about the project "This album is one of my most important works to date, as it contains recordings captured during a very special moment in my life circa 1986-1991. At this point I had much knowledge about DJ culture and the art form of house music, I was a product of my environment. I was young, but I had already experienced so much in my first 5 years of absorbing it all! While that may not seem like a lot of time, you have to understand House Music was not even a decade old at this point. What's important for me to explain is I had already gone through my baby steps by the time I was recording the trax that are on this album. This is the point where I was at the next level, chapter 2." Up first is the classic jack of 'That's How It Is' with its perfectly analogue synths and drums conjuring a warm, human and organic mood. Acid lines and slapping percussion all interact and ooze Chicago house authenticity. ‘The Answer' is a much rawer and more dishevelled sounding affair with lumpy, rough hewn drums and crisscrossing percussion that screams to be played loud in a warehouse. 'Future Thought's' is alive with the sound of classic Roland cowbells and shuffling drums. It's deep and mystic and sounds as if it's come from somewhere far off in deepest darkest space. Finally, 'Rhythm of Romance' gets a little sleazy with its tight loops, thumping kick drums and mechanical metal hooks. They sound all out of control but are off set by some seriously sombre chords in the latter half. Often imitated but never bettered, this is the true sound of Chicago house music in all its forms from one of its finest sons. More