Massimo Voci is the consummate DJ with over 35 years experience behind the decks, whether performing at clubs around the world or hosting his long running Adventures In A Disco show on Italy’s Radio Capital. You can hear that experience in his sets where he’ll work in everything from afro to house, funk to tropical rhythms, jazz to electronica and you’ll definitely hear it in his productions, precision engineered club tools designed with one goal in mind, getting bodies onto the dancefloor and keeping them there all night long.
Top of the Chops then is Massimo’s latest EP, 4 tracks that nod to the most well worn parts of his record collection whilst still sounding fresh for today. Whether taking inspiration from the infectious energy of 90s house music, the deep synth sounds of the 1980s or the kind of hip shaking percussion and rhythms found on classic 70s disco, Massimo has a knack for pulling these elements together into a coherent whole.
Kicking things off with the EP’s title track, Massimo quickly lays out his stall here. Minimal yet still funky, Top of the Chops combines a bubbling baseline, with frenetic percussion and chopped chants to simple yet undeniably deadly effect. Dropping the tempo ever so slightly French Jam is up next and as you’d expect from the title it’s full of the kind of synths and rubbery bass you’d have looked for on a Falke or Braxe production from the mid 90s, though we’d argue with just a hint of Speed Garage in the mix too.
Música Electrónica is up next and here Massimo really hits his stride. With its nods to the raw house sounds of Lil Louis or Paperclip People, the Italo Disco of his native country, and even a bit of Latin Freestyle for good measure, Musica Electronica is the kind of track every DJ needs in their back pocket, ready to pull out as and when needed.
Rounding things off then is Everybody In The Club Crying, and again Massimo takes inspiration from the French Touch sounds. Built around a sample from Libyan singer Ahmed Fakroun 1977 single 'Nisyan', Voci make's the original's funky bass line the foundation for a track that would sit neatly alongside classic tracks by Cassius or Etienne de Crecy, just add your own filters and phasers and watch the club go off.