Felix Da Housecat

Chicago-based DJ Felix Da Housecat takes a journey back to disco with his new release, navigating through sonic textures from that bygone era. Hearing it, you notice that Felix carefully researched the genre when it was at its highest point (circa 1979) and now acknowledges how it influenced today’s dance music scene in more ways than most would like to admit. In “Like Something for Porno,” one of the disc’s most memorable moments, vocalist Vanessa “Cleo” sings like Debbie Harry during Blondie’s New Wave/disco phase (remember “Heart of Glass?”). The synth-rich “Sweetfrosti” recalls the silliness of early disco songs, with almost nonsensical lyrics and orgasmic female “uhs” throughout. “Blacktro Man” reminds the listener of long-gone blaxploitation flicks as if preparing for “It’s Been a Long Time,” whose guitar riffs go directly into Bad Company territory. “Pretty Girls Don’t Dance” begins with a techno-inflected beat that leads into “Tweak,” a tune with more contemporary beats and tracks, very little music, and sparse lyrics. But that foray into modern times doesn’t last, as we are thrust back in time again on “NightTripperz.”