ROCKET ROCK / MOON MAIDEN by LUV YOU MADLY ORCHESTRA

Originally released in 1978, Luv You Madly Orchestra's 12" taken from their first (and only) LP features the prodigious mixing talents of the iconic Disco alchemist Walter Gibbons whose deconstructive style has left an indelible mark on contemporary dance music right up to the present day. Elements of dub and experimentation had always been ingredients in Gibbons' formula when it came to DJ-ing, mixing and re-mixing records throughout his career and "Rocket Rock / Moon Maiden" is evidence of this.Side A is a laid back disco groove, starting out with bare, stripped back drums and easing us in with an almost lazy bassline and shuffling percussion, there's so much space in the track and all the elements sound super clean and upfront and then a jazzy organ drops in accompanied by weird phased string sections and funked out guitars and horns Side B is the real gem here. "Moon Maiden" is equally as sparse and otherworldly. It's essentially a cover version of Duke Ellingtons lullaby-esque song of the same name. Gibbons really steps up the mix with almost nine minutes of frantic, trippy disco eccentricity with soaring strings, odd analogue synth frequencies and spooky vocals flowing in and out. The track build and builds being driven along by wooden blocks, cowbells and that insistent bass-line. This is the first non-promo version of this 12" to be released