FLAUR - Hold On (Incl. Art Of Tones Remix) [Cosmocities Records]

A disco-funk adventure peppered with Balearic pop, as nostalgic as it is animated, Dijon-based outfit FLAUR release their debut EP on Cosmocities Records. Comprising three original tracks that alternate between electrifying grooves and ethereal downtempo, plus three remixes courtesy of Art of Tones, Gaettson and Faze Action, Hold On speaks the language of vivid waves and sun-drenched shores.

At times explosive and contemplative, the duo's vision spans a vast range of influences and styles, merging Californian P-funk with a Supertramp-esque disco twist and hints of alternative pop sheathed in the silky funk à la acclaimed Versailles band, Phoenix. Full of sophisticated Wurlitzer piano chords and ultra-synchronised slap bass, the title track Hold On is an ode to 70s disco pop with its satin textures, solar melody and a swing that promises to tear up the dancefloor. The perfect blend of exuberant disco, vibrant boogie house and supra-sensory cosmic escapism.

Even more exciting, the layered funk of Now takes us into a fragmented whirlwind of liberated pizzicatos, iridescent envelopes and epic vocal flights. Recorded live at Mastoid Studio in Paris, On My Mind swaps the high-speed disco of the first two cuts for an introspective, soulful movement, revolving around Florian's haunting vocals, a piano and riffs bathed in melancholic reverberations. A sound journey into the confines of soulful dream pop and more intimate songwriting.

In the hands of another emerging Dijon artist, Gaettson, On My Mind is transformed into a dancefloor-oriented missile, blending highly volatile corrosive IDM, sharp breaks and nervous vocal samples. Remixing Hold On, southern French producer Art of Tones takes us on a true cosmic journey, further emphasising the funky impact of the original with sun-drenched loops à la Alan Braxe and Fred Falke, and a construction designed for prolonged after-parties by the sea; feet buried in the sand, head in the clouds.

British groove legends Simon and Robin Lee, aka Faze Action, close out the package with an impeccable rework of Now. Slightly accelerated and designed for the club, this remix treats us to a pure moment of danceable ecstasy, replete with sinuous rhythms, dynamic bass and feverish percussion.