7/10

There are albums that you play in the background, and then there are albums that practically demand you cancel all plans, call your friends, and live inside them for a while. 'Pool Party', the mammoth 21-track odyssey from Alex Cherney & The Brothers Nylon, is firmly in the latter category, an all-access invitation to a sun-drenched dancefloor that somehow exists everywhere and nowhere at once.

Rather than simply rehashing disco’s past glories, this project builds a kaleidoscopic universe that honours the genre’s roots while catapulting it into technicolour new territory. You can almost taste the humidity and feel the shimmering reflections off the water as the grooves ripple from one track to the next. Each beat feels spontaneous, like an impromptu dance circle forming at sunset, yet meticulously woven into an irresistible flow that only deep musical kinship can achieve.

Recorded on a Tascam 388, 'Pool Party' fuses analogue warmth with a modern pulse so natural it feels alive. The spontaneity is palpable: many instrumentals were captured in one take, infusing the entire record with that elusive “lightning in a bottle” energy. You get the sense that every synth squiggle and bass lick was born out of sheer joy rather than rigid planning.

What really makes the record pop is its endlessly rotating cast of vocalists. From the soulful croon of Jason Joshua to the breezy touch of Eve Dumon, each collaborator feels like another guest arriving at the backyard bash, bringing their own favourite bottle and story to share. It’s a true global jam session, each track a different flavour, but every one glued together by that unstoppable disco heartbeat.

In 'Pool Party', both Alex Cherney and The Brothers Nylon have created an environment, a vibe, and an entire daydream you won’t want to leave. Whether you’re dancing with strangers or vibing solo in your room, this record is a reminder that sometimes, the best moments in life are the ones where we simply let go and move together.