DJS: MOST CHARTED - DISCO - MOST CHARTED FEBRUARY 2014

Review: The Africa Shakedown label coined one of last year's surprise hits with it's debut release, and the label's second release is likely to prove just as popular. Noema features once more and the Salon Zur Wilden Renate resident has collared contributions from Eddie C, Axel Boman and the Soft Rocks crew. Eddie C is first up with the irresistibly groovy "O Ye" which wouldn't look out of place on a Red Motorbike 45 dinker, whilst Noema conjures up the spirit of Bill Laswell on the dubby, scratchy production "The Shake". Studio Barnhus co-founder Boman is probably the biggest draw here and his rerub of the uncredited "Bayaya" should be familiar to anyone that's caught a DJ set from the fun loving Swede. Soft Rocks bring it home with the heavily delayed jammer "Disco Machine". Strong moves all round here sir.

Review: A long-awaited taste of what to expect from their forthcoming sophomore set Borough 2 Borough, this trio of deep, groove-laden treats from Craig Smith and The Revenge's 6Th Borough Project have been long-awaited. "In Your Arms" has Balearica stamped all over it; concentrated house euphoria with sun-splashed keys and a perfectly executed disco vocal sample, it will melt the heart of everyone in a three mile radius of the club. "U Know U" is just as slow and steady but comes with a more electronic make-up that's almost Italo in its delivery. Gradually developing momentum with classy drama, it's instantly timeless. "Read My Mind" closes this spectacular show with a nagging, hooky tech piece that drives with a sharply edited piano riff, hushed vocals and an ever-morphing rhythm. Beautiful.

Review: Canadian party crew Friendly Monster launch with this trio of left-sided disco business. Osmose's "Lonely Sound Slowly Dying" will score the most instant applause thanks to its Labi Saffire/Eminem sample. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find equal amounts of satisfaction from the far-away twangs and lolloping drums of "Rawdog" and the subverted disco strings, walloping bass gallops and Nile Rodgers style guitar shimmers on "Mandingo In Space". A very friendly release indeed... Grab it while you can!

Review: Limited. Mysterious. Essential. The ever-collectable New York Edits series continues with two more outstanding versions that were created during the city's headiest disco era. Stomping, loopy and fully-focussed on the dancefloor, both sides stand the test of time and remain that way for a long time. "Side A" takes a stomping funk approach while "Side B" takes a more spacious groove with alluring harmonies, strident strings and an awesome bassline. Just like the previous series releases, this is essential... Grab it while you can!

Review: The mysterious nut-gathering disco fiends at Secret Squirrel continue their razor-sharp edit work with two more incredibly funky slices of nu-disco. Side A is a spirited fusion of wah wahs, filters and a tight vocal loop from Ike Strong's "Boogie Land" while Side B is a slower, acid-tickled jam that takes Blair's "Nightlife" and brings it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Both are stunning and are guaranteed to sell out like the previous SS editions.

Review: The original deep house don Rick Wade is back in action with yet more of those soul-rooted tones to tickle your emotions and speak to your inner funk. This time he's been snapped up by 20:20 offshoot Fina who know a thing or two about the genre, and Mr. Wade has responded by pushing his sound further into sumptuous sample-laden territory that wakes up his somnambulant sound into something almost feisty. "Sweet Life" rolls on a heartfelt beatdown with romantic string swells and guitar licks, while "The Chateau" gets into a nasty groove with plenty of live drums and dramatic horn blasts before a more typical Wade style emerges on the steady grooving "Jazz Militia". To cap it all off Mr Beatnick delivers a remix of "Sweet Life' that works some fulsome bass into a sparser construction with dazzling results.

Review: a white Mellotron M 400." So starts Klaus Hoffmann of his 40 years love affair with the Mellotron. Moving from Prog-Rock guitarist to Cosmic Disco warrior in a space of a few years, the birth of Cosmic Hoffmann would lead to a number of classic Kosmiche albums through-out the 1980s. Before this though came Space-Disco. Initially recorded in 1978 after endless late night sessions exploring the new realms of this free form electronic music, the first incarnation was recorded live to tape for a failed film project. An uplifting spaced-out synth journey, it was the later reworked version that would go on to become the lost cult classic. With added disco syncopation taking the track into interstellar spheres, it appeared only as a flipside of Cosmic Hoffmann's first and last single, "Weltraumboogie", in 1982. Unfortunately the release did not make much impression at the time but has become highly sought-after for the more leftfield DJ and music lovers in the years since. Now fully licensed and remastered, the inclusion of the unreleased 1978 Original will be only add to the collectors dream.

Review: Boom! The good ship Golf Channel returns with the first of two essential offerings and a label debut for the killer Africaine 808. The Berlin-based duo Dirk Leyers and Nomad comprise Africaine 808 and those with a regular vinyl habit will know them from last year's DJ Muscle series from WT Records. As their name suggests, the usage of the 808 is key to the Africaine 808 sound, and their output thus far can be comparable with the music of Comeme albeit with a focus on some of Leyer and Nomad's personal favourite African and island funk tracks. The pair debut on Golf Channel with a two-track 12? that features some excellent graf style sleeve art done by Nomad. DO NOT SLEEP

Review: Less of an EP, more of a mini album, there's a rich sense of consistency throughout this vibrant compendium. Authentic, funky and polished to a sexy sheen, nu-disco mainstay Jaz has nailed each and every vibe on this six-tracker. Highlights include the wonderfully sedate groove, sexy synth squiggles and slo-mo Will Powers flavour of "Cranmer's Beat", the frenetic guitar rhythm and emphatic vocal focus of "Took You" and the block-party busting Zapp & Rogers-style funk riff on "I Can't Dance". Dust off those Jaz hands, you're going to need them.

Review: Get Down Edits continues to hold the crown as one of the most prolific editors with two more essential nu-disco funk jams. "Feel The Fire" is a cosmic, spaced out take on The Osmonds' "I,I,I" while "Play With You" turbo charges Carrie Lucas with an uptempo glitter-sprinkled groove with full emphasis on the tight, bright guitar riff. Both, like all his previous editions, rock. Get down tonight!

Review: Proving there is plenty of life left in the disco edit, the Tugboat series returns with a third offering here and unlike previous editions it's not clear who exactly is behind this 12", though given the "made In Chicago" stamp those familiar with the label should have some idea. Proceedings commence with "Do Me Like" which has the sort of satisfying kick that will sound immense on the dancefloor and a nice undulating groove that endlessly teases the source material. The remaining three edits are more traditional in their execution by contrast with "Deep Space" brandishing a particularly earwormy vocal hook.

Review: Australian boogie don Inkswel aligns with the Burek label and a veritable feast of collaborators and remixers - big release! The A Side is dedicated to Inkswel and his capacity to shine alongside other, leading with the Dave Aju featuring title track which is all tape drenched midtempo boogie blessed by the San Francisco producer's distinct vocal and the odd killer horn sample. Melbournite Cazeaux Olso lends his mellow delivery to the heavy analogue fonk of "Mind Yours" whilst Inskwel muse Charli James teams up with Isaac Aesili to add some classic soul to the snapping digital arrangement of "Saturated". Face down Golf Channel's DJ Nature flexes his editing skills on a remix of the title track whilst both Iron Curtis and IG Culture rework "Mind Yours" with the latter's killer take a vintage example of LDN bruk beat.

Review: Smokecloud come correct with this stunning doublet. The A-side is taken care of by Whiskey Disco head honcho Sleazy McQueen. What begins as a frenetic post-funk DFA style jam, "TTOF" suddenly switches into an all-out disco adventure with big strings, brassy vocals and a seriously hedonistic groove. Osmose takes care of the B with much sexier, slower jam. Editing Captain & Tennille's "You Never Done It Like That" with clarity and care, it's the perfect foil to Sleazy's full-flavoured disco joint. Hand-stamped and limited, this needs your attention now!

Review: After a considerable absence, the edit don known simply as Stupid Human returns with a sixth slab of sultry reworked goodness. Quite what the Stupid Human has been doing in the period since the Toni Rock 12" dropped back in May, 2012 is unclear though the three tracks here demonstrate this unnamed individual has lost none of their verve. Lead track "Gang Of Wolves" commences proceedings in a suitably cosmic fashion, with sumptuous disco grooves augmented by the silkiest of vocal turns. On the B Side, "Not Tonight" eases down the tempo scale as Stupid Human reworks some mid '70s heavy funk from SSO whilst "In Slow Motion" feels like a end of the night smoocher played at 33rpm. Great stuff!

Review: Editor's Kutz is back with a killer four-tracker, this time focusing on chillin' disco vibes. Sea viewing with relaxing and nostalgic mood is the basic theme. Starting things off with the Italian funk & afrodisco stallion d.j Roberto Lodola, who's recruited by the label for remixing his own "Marimba Do Mar" track since 1986. "Feeling Of The Sun" is full of original percussion by George Aghedo and a crispy rolling beat, stunning synths, rhodes and wonderful, carefree vocals by Antonia Coda. Next we have Alien Disco Sugar, hailing from Samos, the beautiful and sun-drenched Greek Island. "Sea Delights" is a mid-tempo chillin' rework on a track that we all love by William Pitt. Extra keyboards and bass chords make this rework so live and vivid, as Alien Disco Sugar enjoys his cruising on the Aegean Sea. Flip it for another tip by VinylAddicted, who's so keen on unearthing forgotten gems and reworking them with tenderness. This Balearic rework on a rare track since late 70s hosts some extra percussion by Roberto Lodola, while nice lyrics and a slo-mo beatline, accompanied by the sax and the female vocals will definitely take you by surprise. Leaving the Mediterranean to go north, where Disco Tech, based in Stockholm, closes this EP with an indulging Cool Breeze coming from the Baltic Sea. A careful and elegant retouch on the maxi version of Jeremy Spencer Band's homonymous track. Nothing better than a little bit of Fleetwood Mac to accomplish this 3rd "Editor's Kutz" mission!

Review: You wait ages for the Tugboat Edits label to follow up their pair of long sold out debut releases and two arrive in swift succession! Described as "one of Chicago's most slept on remixers" Cratebug enters the Tugboat fray having previously impressed for dusty fingered outlets like Grimy Edits, Persnickety and most recently his own self titled label. Strictly for the DJs, Cratebug lays down two of his personal dancefloor weapons, one a side, and it's easy to see why the above description follows him around. The glistening, pumping proto-house vibes of the A Side complemented nicely by the erect funk of "Caveman".