Review: When Danilo 'MCDE' Plessow and Bobby van Putten established their Space Grapes label last year, it was their stated intention to present 'the best in contemporary live dance music'. What they meant, we suspect, was releases like this debut album from van Putten's Another Taste combo - a four-piece whose colourful and sonically authentic sound rooted in boogie, 80s electrofunk and obscure, private press disco. The results are undeniably impressive, sounding something like a long-lost album from 1983 - complete with kaleidoscopic synths, soulful vocals and killer basslines - of the kind that dusty-fingered crate diggers consider a 'holy grail'. Highlights include the Plessow co-produced boogie brilliance of 'Anything You Want' and the funky bassline driven mid-tempo disco-soul of 'Time Is On My Side'.
Review: This Vincent Arthur album is a tribute to his daughter Vivian and was crafted by talented musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and Germany. Once obscure for 30 years, its standout track, 'Travel With The Music' became an anthem after making a high-profile appearance in a Dekmantel set where its euphoric afro-disco sound really made a lasting mark. Online sleuths uncovered its origin which has reignited interest in this hidden gem, which has been remastered by Frank at The Carvery. It revives three key tracks in 'Travel With The Music' which shines with afro, disco, and gospel-like euphoria. 'Afro Disco' brings playful energy while 'Jubilation' closes the night with deep, celebratory vibes.
Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.
Review: Cosmic master and eclectic DJ trendsetter Daniele Baldelli is back with more Cosmic Voodoo in the form of this new series of releases alongside Mattia Dalara. 'Saturn Express' gets underway with a typically diverse set of influences from psych rock guitar to disco drums and cosmic exploration. 'Countless Sigga' is a playful sound with 80s synth seances looked over drums with a hint of Afro charm and fat disco basslines. Last of all is the wonderful 'Silverado Trail' with its hypotonic lead, crunchy and chuggy ALFOS style drums and percolating arps which shine as bright as the sun.
Review: Belpaese Edits hits a 12th release with more mash-up and reworked takes on classics from across the disco, funk and Italo spectrum. 'Ancora Noi' is first here and is a lively jam with raw drums and expressive Italian vocals over tight, funky guitar riffs. 'Profumo Di Mar' keeps up the energy levels with some big horns rising high out of a tight and funky disco groove. These are timeless and charming sounds designed to blow up mature dancefloors.
Review: Fresh off the heels of their fiery 'African Dubplate 12"', Disco Dub 45 returns with another scorching selection of rare and unheard disco gems. Compiled and re-edited by Black Disco Demo Club, this limited-edition release is a treasure trove for disco aficionados and DJs alike. It's a four-track journey through the diverse sounds of disco, with each cut offering a unique flavour and infectious energy. From the soulful vocals and soaring strings of 'Track 1' to the pulsating rhythms and funky basslines of 'Track 3', this compilation is a masterclass in dancefloor ecstasy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to add a piece of disco history to your collection.
Review: Parliament-Funkadelic offshoot project Brides Of Funkenstein was masterminded by George Clinton but fronted by Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva, whom originally served as the two core backing singers for Sly & The Family Stone. Funk Or Walk was their cyber-augmented opening statement as a duo, combining archly histrionic vocals with truncated funk struttage, and crossing into wonky hi-NRG at points. The record’s wonky and experimental bent epitomises the P-funk sound whose name Clinton helped coin, and which is finessed in the myriad usages of ARP String and Hohner Clavinet, best heard on the light-handed claps of ‘Birdie’ or the polyvalent brass-off ‘Amorous’. The weird brides of Parliament did go on to record two further great records, but this is by far their chef-d'oeuvre.
Keni Burke - "Risin' To The Top" (A Mike Maurro mix) (8:50)
Evelyn Champagne King - "I'm In Love" (A Mike Maurro mix) (9:30)
Review: Two legendary boogie anthems of the 80s are getting a fresh spin, with Mike Maurro offering new takes on Keni Burke's 'Risin' to the Top' and Evelyn 'Champagne' King's 'I'm In Love'. Set to drop via RCA on 12" vinyl, these remixes breathe new life into two classics that defined an era. Burke's 'Risin' to the Top', first released in 1982 on his album Changes, remains one of his most enduring tracks. It's a song that has been sampled across genres, from hip-hop to r&b, by the likes of Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. Maurro's remix stays true to the original, adding subtle guitar riffs and an extended rhythm section, while preserving the song's chilled-out vibe. The result is a refined version that respects the sensual groove that made it such a standout. On the flip side, Maurro turns his attention to Evelyn 'Champagne' King's 1981 hit 'I'm In Love'. Originally a high-energy singalong anthem, this remix stays close to the spirit of the track but pushes the production forward. King's uplifting vocals remain the focal point, but with Maurro's touch, the track feels revitalised, with a polished mix that's ready to captivate the dancefloor once again. Both tracks offer a reminder of just how timeless this era of boogie and disco remains, with Maurro's remixes ensuring they sound as fresh today as they did decades ago. Perfect for DJs looking to inject some classic charm into their sets, these re-releases will no doubt reignite the love for these iconic tunes, proving once more that great music never goes out of style.
Review: An intriguing project here from perennial Euro disco legend Cerrone, who joins forces with the Symphony Orchestra of Cannes to reimagine 21 of his best-loved and highly influential dance classics. It would be difficult to overstate the Frenchman's contribution to contemporary dance music, having released and produced scores of timeless records in the halcyon days of continental disco. Tracks like 'Supernature', 'Love in C Minor' and 'Give Me Love' are beyond iconic and still appear regularly in the sets and mixes of today's dance heavyweights. They're all here, presented live in all their magnificent glory by the orchestra of 50-plus musicians, directed by the legendary Randy Kerber. As expected, all of the music sounds glorious, with lavish strings, pristine horn sections, and limber percussion bringing every piece to life magnificently.
Review: A vibrant homage to 80s electrofunk and disco, packed with lush grooves and melodic finesse. Side-1 kicks off with 'Freak', a shimmering track steeped in 80s-inspired electrofunk, blending sleek melodies with a polished, retro vibe. 'Last Days Of Cybotron' follows, maintaining the melodic theme with a funky, futuristic edge that nods to the electro era's pioneering spirit. On Side-2, 'The Chiller Thriller' slows things down with a cool, laid-back electrofunk groove, perfect for low-key moments. 'Radio Station P You' channels early 80s R&B funk and electro in the vein of the Gap Band, delivering a nostalgic yet fresh energy. Wrapping up the release is 'Sassy Strutt', an infectious fusion of funk and house with undeniable dancefloor appeal. This collection masterfully bridges the gap between vintage electrofunk and nu-disco, making it an essential pick.
Review: Conceived for maximum floor-lift, Daje Funk is the namesake of both artist and label; here the elusive but fun-loving moniker brings another four whopper disco edit-remixes to vinyl, further charging the collective body with a haul of kitsch spirituals. Three out of four tracks here are "lovely edited" - intentional or not, we can't resisting stealing such brilliant turns of phrase - by longtime Roman disco purveyor Les Inferno, with the support of a cracking cadre made up of fellow producers and engineers Max Pottini, Emiliano Patrick Legato and Dom Scuteri. Stefano Fusco also handles the B1; and though we don't know the original IDs of any of the tracks here, the vibe is consistently spirited, and the artists only carefully betray their access to the original stems (made eventually obvious by faint vocal delays, extra-thwacking kick EQs, etc.).
Review: When he moved to Germany in the early 1980s, Hudson People's Reg Hudson quickly connected with Johnny Davis - a funk and soul musician who had originally moved to the country in the 1960s while serving in the U.S Army. They recorded a string of tracks and albums together, though only a small number of these recordings were ever released. 'Expand Your Mind', a gorgeous, synth-enhanced, mid-tempo slab of "groove" music (a kind of warmer, more soulful and generally more organic-sounding sub-genre that sat somewhere between boogie and 80s soul), was one of those - though original copies are very hard to come by. This gem sits on side B of this issue, playing second fiddle to the previously unreleased 'Life's a Party' - a slap-bass, piano-solo-sporting slab of rubbery boogie/jazz-funk fusion.
Review: Exotic Illusions marks the debut album of Sydney-based duo D.D. Mirage, delivering a multifaceted blend of global sounds through a distinctly antipodean lens. Drawing from their background in the indie-psyche and punk scenes, Josh Dives and Disky Dee have crafted a record that is as much about atmosphere as it is about movement. From the opening track, 'Exotic Illusions (Feat Hotel)', the duo's signature approach to Balearic, disco, and funk takes shapeiits infectious rhythms paired with tropical melodies evoke the feeling of both familiarity and foreignness. The Neapolitan funk influences are most evident on 'So Hot', where the rhythm section, recorded with the help of Daniel Monaco and Andrea De Fazio, drives the track forward with a punchy, danceable groove. Meanwhile, 'Piranesi' infuses a South American shuffle into boogie, layering it with smooth percussion and fluid synths. The collaboration on 'Antenna (Feat Jofi)' channels '80s drum machine bossa nova with a certain European elegance, while 'Feel It' pulls the listener into a laid-back, sunset-driven groove that gradually shifts into the lighter, more experimental textures of 'Cat's Cradle (Feat Jermango Dreaming)'. On tracks like 'Livin' Upside Down' and 'Night Time (Feat Private Joy)', D.D. Mirage explore an Aussie flavour within the sonic blend. 'Night Time', with Private Joy's smooth street soul vocals, delivers nocturnal warmth, demonstrating the duo's uncanny ability to merge genres and influences into a distinctive whole. The album's diverse set of tracks highlights not just their broad musical influences but also their nuanced ability to make each track an immersive journey.
Review: Mr Bongo present a staunch retro vision of Cuban-born violinist Alfredo De La Fe, one of whose sonographic creams was the debut salsa-and-more fusion album, Alfredo. Based between New York and Colombia, Alfredo worked with many of the greats in Latin music, including Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon and Roberto Roena, as well as disco and soul icons Sylvester and Aquarian Dream. For a debut solo record, Alfredo is a real charm offensive, and a valiant experiment at that, mixing Latin dancefloor crunches with De La Fe's own, unusually additive violin, placed centre stage as he solos. The record - a favourite of legendary New York club The Paradise Garage - tonally shifts past the halfway mark, eschewing the A-side's chroma-jazzy clavier discombobulations for an early four-to-the-floor, daresay proto deep house excursion, 'Hot To Trot'.
Review: Rome's contemporary jazz maestro Stefano De Santis is back with his 'New Beginning' EP on the esteemed Quattro Bambole Music. Across four stunning tracks, Stefano's musicianship shines as he explores jazz-infused broken beat, boogie, deep house and lo-fi hip-hop. Highlights come thick and fast and include the mellow jazz landscapes of 'Roy,' the lush blend of slow-motion house and broken beats on 'Lie#3', the emotive, piano-driven 'Paths' and the 80s boogie vibe of 'Tokyo 80.' UK producer Sean McCabe mastered the EP but also delivers a deep house dub of 'Lie#3.'
Review: Devilish edit duo Duane Harriott and Sean Marquand are Devin Dare and now they return with fresh flips to get the Razr N Tape year going. 'Dancemuzak' transforms a classic NYC disco groove into a hypnotic, driving force while 'Itsdiscotime' masterfully loops rare, mind-blowing source material into a jam for the ages. On the flip side, 'Lookin Good' delivers cheeky uptempo soul perfect for a Theo Parrish set, while '1heater4sasha' slows things down with Clavinet-driven funk. Devin Dare are surely among the best editors in the game.
Review: Arthur Russell's "Kiss Me Again," originally released in 1978, is a defining moment in disco's evolution, marking a pivotal collaboration between Russell and Nicky Siano. The reissue by Week-End Records offers a fresh look at this influential track, remastered from the original tapes and accompanied by insightful liner notes from notable figures like David Byrne and Nicky Siano. This reissue captures the essence of Russell's groundbreaking work. The 12" single showcases the extended mix, reflecting the intricate production process where Russell's vision was brought to life. His unique approach to recordingimelding diverse instruments and unconventional techniquesiresulted in a rich, layered sound that defied traditional recording practices. Siano's input was equally crucial; his first-ever production from scratch was instrumental in shaping the track's iconic status. The band, featuring Wilbur Bascomb, Allan Schwartzberg, and other prominent musicians, infused the project with a dynamic energy, making the track a staple of its era. The new edition highlights Russell's innovative spirit and the collaborative magic that defined his work with Siano. It serves as a testament to the track's enduring appeal and its impact on the disco genre, ensuring that 'Kiss Me Again' remains a cornerstone of its era.
2001 Disco Party (Dave Lee Psychedelic Funk mix) (10:15)
Potion Of Love (Dave Lee Synth Vamp) (6:13)
2001 Disco Party (Dave Lee Strut Your Strat dub) (6:58)
Review: Dave Lee continues to be one of Britain's most accomplished disco dons. An established remixing extraordinaire, proven once more here as he tackles some stunning Disco-Funk heaters. First is the Psychedelic Funk mix of '2001 Disco Party' a hypnotic, sweat inducing slab of frenzied funk-action, did we mention this release brings the funk enough? His Synth Vamp mix of 'Potion Of Love' is a must for hi-energy synth solo aficionados, backed up with glorious strings, pulsating guitar and classic disco diva vocals. Last of all his 'Strut Your Strat Dub' of the opener brings irresistible guitar frets to the party, doubling down on the groove factors for some serious heads down, hands up feet stomping.
Review: Seven years ago, renowned crate digger Greg Belson joined forces with Situation's Paulo Fulci to launch Divine Situation, an edits project dedicated to club-ready extensions and scalpel style rearrangements of gospel-fired dancefloor workouts of old. Here, their first two-tracker - now an in-demand item online - returns to stores, this time pressed to eye-catching yellow vinyl. A-side and title track 'Born Again' is particularly potent - a suitably uplifting and life-affirming chunk of gospel disco pleasure rich in swirling orchestration, twittering clarinet motifs, killer grooves and soulful lead vocals. The original is great but the edit, which extends key instrumental passages before dropping into the vocal, is also superb. Turn to the flip for 'Soul Revival', a heavy, constantly building slab of gospel soul power built around raw grooves and impassioned vocals.
Kool & The Gang - "Give It Up" (DJ Soopasoul edit) (4:02)
Aretha Franklin - "Rock Steady" (DJ Soopasoul edit) (3:30)
Review: Jalapeno jive maestro Soupasoul had another standout year, in 2024 and only heightened his reputation for crafting exceptional edits that bring new life into funk standards and hidden gems. With a sharp focus on the groove-rich breaks, he is back once again with another instalment that will ignite dance floors everywhere. This time his scorching rework of 'Give It Up' spotlights dynamic horn interplay and soulful jazzy choruses and 'Rock Steady' celebrates Aretha's powerful vocals paired with a killer breakbeat. These finely tuned edits honour the originals while adding fresh energy.
Review: All Right Fresh serve speciality brews of West and East Coast nu-funk, soul and hip-hop. Here they welcome DJ Spinna and J Rocc for the very latest edition in their Wrecka Stow Edits series, which hears two further majestic remixes of classic r&b reelers. First up is Spinna's version of Prince's 'Starfish & Coffee' with the renamed 'Maple Syrup Jam', which strains and thins Prince's already prickly granules to provide that extra ophiuroid zing. Then J Rocc follows up with 'Re Purple Music', also a remix of a Prince cut, 'Purple Music', providing ever further filtrated disco-funk panache.
Review: Freestyle Records delivers another UK boogie gem with Eddie Capone's Treatment, reissuing the 1985 white label rarity Only You Know What I Like. Limited to just 300 copies worldwide, this release shines a light on Capone's legacy. A stalwart of the UK's reggae, soul and funk scenes since the 70s, Eddie Capone formed Treatment in the early 80s, blending a rotating cast of talent. The track has become a sought-after deep cut for selectors, continuing Capone's influence across generations of musicians and DJs.
Review: Susana Estrada was not primarily known for her music more so than she was for her various solicitous dramas and stunts, performed in 1970s-80s Spain, during the transition out of the Franco regime. Attracting much attention for her lewdness, Estrada worked as an actress in cafe-theatre cabaret and film, in which time she devised what would become known as "the most daring show in Madrid" mere months after the sexually repressive Francisco Franco's death. Then came a sexology advice column and, finally, a debut vinyl album, following an initial 1980 cassette release full of similar versions. Love & Liberty is a pioneering example of erotic disco, at times straight derivative of several of the best in disco and at others blazing ahead with a seductively original charm and finesse, in partnership with producer Josep Llobell Oliver.
Review: The American female vocal trio First Choice released their rendition of 'Love and Happiness' in 1973. The track is a cover of Al Green's original released just a year earlier in 1972, but First Choice's version was perhaps helped along the way by a peak case of nominative determinism: for us, theirs is the first choice. Featured on their debut album, Armed and Extremely Dangerous, it stood out on the Philly soul girl gang's record as one of the records most propitious to sampling by house and techno musicians, such as Todd Terry and Jungle Brothers. But this time, the legacy of this preceptive soulful-house interplay is honoured by a newly reissued remix by the mysterious but titanic Chicago producer Ron Hardy, whose inclusion on the record is the real star here. Hardy's signature reel-to-reel fuzzes and presence-bled hues effect recollections of a pre-DAW production setup, and the resonances of dub (woodblocks, four-tone hooks, burly basslines) nest the original Al Green vocal nicely.
Review: The Fruit Band hails from Jacksonville and is one of the finest funk practitioners the city has ever produced. The sharp earned amongst you will already know that Athens of the North released a previously unrelated album from the group some years back. That is now resisted and some of the key tunes from it get their own real on a standalone 45 in a handmade folder cover. It is a one-time pressing with the upbeat energy of 'If You Feel It Say Yeah' and the contrasting mellow magic of 'Lost The Love ' on the flip.
Review: After their hair-dropping debut LP Latin Freaks, Funkool Orchestra keep the stovetop hot with a high-energy 7" vinyl, bridging the delta between their first and second albums. A Maledetta Discoteca production, 'Tengo Che Ffa' blends Mediterranean funk, disco, and Neapolitan groove into an allusive proto-P-funk prance, especially if, at least, the B-side's title is to be believed. The latter alternately named 'Dance With Pezz', we hear them pick up the pace with a clav-spiced, conga-crammed number. Take it from us: the record is a clavi-net good.
Review: Funkyjaws is the Belarusian DJ and producer Sergey Abramov, who has been dropping his funky disco heat on the likes of Kolour LTD and Shadeleaf Music before now, as well as his own fledgling self-titled imprint. This one kicks off with 'WME' which has some big horn action and stomping disco drums to liven up any party. 'Snapshot' has a raw vocal and atmospheric energy that is sure to uplift and 'Dancin' then brings some sweet hip-swinging claps. It's a string-laced disco affair to close with the majestic 'You'.
Review: Good luck... except, we're much likelier to be the ones who'll need the good grace of fortune, as opposed to the Melbourne mates' duo GL (which, we think, stands for Good Luck - we could be wrong). First released on the EP cassette 'Love Hexagon' - described as a homemade homage to chart-unfriendly funk and 80s romance dance - this contemporary showstopper of a tune now comes to limited edition 7" vinyl and recalls the pair's slick penchant for sporty major-minor chords and convalescent handclaps, conspiring to achieve a modern take on boogie and synth funk. With buskin socks and track headbands worn aflock, the pair pose in the middle of the basketball court, as 'Take Me Back' and 'When You See' set the soul alight by way of a nostalgic adolescent flambe.
Review: Over the years, Chicago house DJ Mark Grusane has prospected for treasure with such success that he has more or less marked *himself* out as one such treasure. Such high praise, of which there is much online, offers a kind of eternal gilt return. This second edition in Grusane's Tape Edits series stocks a select six of his much-envied "disco tape to tape edits", made in Chicago between 1988-1999. Emphasising the fullest, most maximal quixotisms in disco, all the tracks here brim with seething compressed energy, with the limitation of tape transfer serving to squash and squeeze far more out of the disco genre than the simple, ostensibly humble mylar medium might suggest. Most arresting is 'Mapouka Dance (Non Stop)', an animalistic fire dance and lusty attention grabber, serving whipping snares and whooping crowd jeers; sexy spectatorship by the dance.
Review: Glenn Underground has been living and breathing and shaping Chicago house music for as long as we can remember. His GU Classics label is a place where he drops his own edits of special talks from across the years and many different styles. This latest edition starts with him playing keys on Ingram's starring jazz-funk-disco banger 'Music Has The Power.' After that comes James Brown's 'Take Me Higher' with some club-ready drums extended for modern floors. Last of all is a subtle rework of Meco's super vibey and percussive, chord-laced and swinging 'Cantina Boogie.'
Review: The Brazil45 series has always been pure gold and now come a pair f beauties from Harmony Cats, a vocal quintet-turned-trio from Sao Paulo known for their disco-era hits. Harmony Cats' 'Theme' from 1976 is their most recognised track outside Brazil and is inspired by Rhythm Heritage's Barretta's Theme with its spacey breakbeats, lush vocals and percussive flair, all of which have made it a true crossover classic. On the B-side, 'Seja Como Nos (De Pe No Chao)' delivers an exuberant Brazilian twist on The Jacksons' 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)'- it's a guaranteed floor-filler with radiant disco energy and Harmony Cats' signature vocal style.
Review: Some labels deal only in pristine soul legitness - and Celestial Echo are one such set of aesthetes. A reissues label, Celestial Echo focuses on modern soul and boogie, and is curated by Miche (Michael Davies) and Stu Clark. Following three impressively chosen sonic chrisms, all reissued in 2024 - releases by Glenda McLeod, Brutal Force and Winfield Parker - comes this fourth foray into one of the best-loved and perhaps only publicly known tunes by the obscure boogie singer Lisa Hill: 'I Am On The Real Side'. New York's Qit Records were the original purveyors of this track, though its initial obscurity is so baffling to us that we'd guess some case of derelict nobility was at play here; either that, or there was just this much amazing soul music being made in the big city at the time! Here, Hill proclaims her place on the right side of love, with a lyrical emphasis on the object of her passions proving themself to her before she submits.
Trip To Your Mind (Chris Hill & Robbie Vincent remix) (9:02)
Review: Second time around for Hudson People's most celebrated single, 1979's obscure and suitably hard to find 'Trip To Your Mind'. The track was originally released on a couple of different labels, and mixes from both 12-inches are featured on this reissue. The 'Hit House' version, which we think was mixed by the band's leader and in-house producer, is a superb dancefloor jazz-funk epic rich in disco-funk licks, a driving groove, jammed-out electric piano lines, punchy horns, occasional vocal refrains and duelling rock and jazz style guitar solos. On the flip you'll find the breezier and arguably more club-focused remix by UK jazz-funk legends (and Funk Mafia members) Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent, a version that dubs out the vocals a little, prioritises the percussion and adds some superb sax solos.
Review: Toolroom's Fool's Paradise offshoot has done a good job in offering up fresh, disco-inspired material, but it also acts as an outlet for key crew member Michael Gray's 21st century reworks of classic disco cuts. On this 12", the long-serving Essex producer puts his slant on Inner Life's boogie-era gem 'I Like It Like That', a 1982 Salsoul single fronted by a then young Jocelyn Brown and produced by Leroy Burgess and Patrick Adams associate Stan Lucas. Gray begins with a lightly housed-up - but suitably reverential - full vocal remix, ensuring plenty of space for the studio band's squiggly synths, bold pianos and dextrous bass guitar. Arguably even better is the B-side 'Dub', which alternates between heavy groove sections, extended breakdowns and effects-laden showcases of Inner Life's piano, bass and synths.
Don't You Want My Love (Dimitri From Paris Classic re-edit) (6:17)
Review: During her heyday in the late 1970s and early '80s, disco chanteuse Debbie Jacobs released some killer material (see "High on Your Love" and "Undercover Lover", for starters). "Don't You Want My Love", an energy-packed, orchestral disco smasher originally released in 1979 to promote the singer's debut album, is also up there with the best of her output. Here, the Paul Sabu produced original version gets the reissue treatment by Defected offshoot Glitterbox. Sabu's original club-length version sits astride the A-side, with Dimitri From Paris providing a "classic re-edit" on the flipside. His version sticks fairly close to the original, offering necessary nips and tucks here and there whilst steering clear of contemporary production trickery. Naturally, it's a rock solid rework from a true master of the scalpel rearrangement.
Special Occasion - "Flyin' To Santa Barbara" (6:37)
Review: Over the years, France's Favorite Recordings has been very good at sniffing out lesser-known European gems from the disco and boogie era, mostly for superb and must-check compilations. Recently, they decided to make some of these licensed obscurities available on a series of 12" singles, where a louder, club-heavy cut is preferable to DJs. The latest sees them offer-up two lesser-known Belgian gems produced in the mid 1980s by future new beat don Tony Baron. Jonathan Jr's 'Hanging On To You' is warm, shuffling and synth heavy, with the artist's soulful and jazzy lead vocal sitting alongside squelchy synth-bass, Nile Rodgers style guitars and post-electro beats. Special Occasion's 'Flying To Santa Barbara', meanwhile, sits somewhere between 80s soul, AOR synth-pop and sax-sporting B-movie soundtrack goodness.
Review: Maurice Joshua presents Yvonne Gage's Garden of Eve, bringing back the iconic 1980 Chicago production by Donald "Dee Bee" Burnside. In this 2024 remake, Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ Maurice Joshua delivers a fresh disco-funk twist, injecting new life into the classic with smooth grooves and an infectious rhythm. To complete the package, renowned remixer Moplen steps in with a masterful rework, adding his signature touch and rounding out this release on M-Jay US with style and flair, making it a must-have for dancefloor enthusiasts.
Review: During the late 1970s and early '80s, Miami was a hotbed of percussion-rich disco-funk that blended popular Black American grooves of the day with nods to the drum-heavy rhythms of Afro-Cuban music. Herman Kelly & Life were amongst the outfits at the vanguard of this movement, though unusually they only released one album, 1978's Percussion Explosion! Here it gets a remastered CD reissue. It's naturally best-known for boda-fide disco anthem 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat', but there are plenty of other hot, break-heavy classics on display - not least the low-slung, high-octane brilliance of 'Who's The Funky DJ?', the string-drenched disco-soul sweetness of 'Share Your Love' and the low-down, extra-heavy funk rinse-out that is 'Do The Handbone'.
Review: This delightful 7" features a collaboration between two Star Creature veterans from Northern and Southern California who deliver a raw, uncut boogie track. The wonderful 'Girl Ur Freaky' is both breezy and laidback but irritably dance. The vocal harmonies are heart-melting, the wispy synths bring cosmic cool and the drums and squelchy bass sit together perfectly. The vocal version really is where it's at with this one but if you want it more subtle then the flip-side instrumental is the one for you.
Review: Light Touches Records continues its mission to shine a spotlight on rare gems, forgotten classics, and unknown grooves with their tenth release, helmed by Andrea Passenger. Digging deep into disco, afro, boogie and funk, Passenger delivers four expertly edited tracks. On the A-side, 'Roots' offers a driving disco tune for peak-time moments, while 'Psych Afro Roller' takes things into more adventurous territory. On the flip, 'New Dance' adds boogie flair with quirky synths, and 'Feel The Feeling' wraps it up with a moody, deeper vibeiall edited without overdubs for maximum authenticity.
Review: Equating the art of Italo and Afro-funk editing to the cooking of good spaghetti, Beppe Loda sees to the fourth volume of Neptune's Dispatch edits series, Italian Spaghetti. Going so far as to name and shame Loda's chief edits-cheffing competitors - a low but perhaps necessary blow to strike in today's cutthroat food / music market - we won't repeat said names here. But we will remark on just how thoroughly yet not overeagerly these cosmic grooves have been cooked and salted, with delicious al dente funk farfalle making up the As 1-3, and a sparsely clad, full-on sex-funk climax unfolding over the two Bs. A well-boiled fivesome: In Beppe ci fidiamo!
Review: Bjorn Wagner's all-star tropical disco band, Magic Source, loves a cover version. The outfit's first EP boasted, as a bonus cut, a superb (and colourful) take on Tom Tom Club's 'Genius of Love'. On this belated sequel, they've gone one better by re-inventing A Guy Called Gerald's pioneering UK house classic 'Voodoo Ray' as a driving, all-live tropical disco jam. It's cleverly done, with all the key elements being replicated, sometimes in canny ways (the acid lines now become Clavinet lines, the synth-bass is now bass guitar, and so on). It's a fantastic cover all told and one that is far more than a smile-inducing novelty. Also superb is flip-side 'Interplanetary Bounce', a spacey jazz-funk/disco fusion cut rich in fuzzy horns, vintage synth sounds and shuffling drums.
Golden Flamingo Orchestra - "The Guardian Angel" (4:43)
Carol Grimes - "Uphill Peace Of Mind" (4:33)
Review: The Messin About crew are back once again to show they have made a fine art of arsing about. This 7" offers up two more rarities that have never before made it to vinyl but very much deserve to have done. First up they offer the lush and soulful US disco of Golden Flamingo Orchestra's 'The Guardian Angel' which will warm through any wintery dancefloor. On the flip they change the vibe entirely with Carol Grimes's 'Uphill Peace Of Mind,' which is indeed a grimy UK funk weapon that packs a seriously rhythmic punch.
Review: Private press disco/boogie specialist and all-round font of all record knowledge The Mighty Zaf returns to Moton for the first time since 2016, bringing with him a trio of re-edits made in tribute to the late, great Phil Asher. Check first A-side 'Things Could Be', a gorgeous, life-affirming and effortlessly soulful tweak of a loved-up slab of Philadelphia International style early disco, before admiring the more down-low vibes of 'Connect Here', where incessant male vocal improvisations, cut-glass strings and twinkling instrumental solos catch the ear. To round off an essential EP, the veteran DJ/collector offers up 'Gee Oh Dee', a hands-aloft slab of eyes-closed independent disco dustiness given the lightest of re-touches.
Review: Milord makes his long-awaited return to Periodica here and in doing so trades his signature electro mysticism for boogie funk, disco dubs and a bit of sun-drenched pop. The club mix to kick off with is a hypnotic, ever-evolving journey through psychedelic grooves with energised chants, sleek vocals and futuristic vocoder accents. The dub version brings some Afro-tribal rhythm and bass from techno with lush pianos adding a cosmic atmosphere. The radio mix blends Kraftwerk-inspired touches with bright, sunlit pop and bubbling basslines to lodge deep in your psyche next to some jangly guitar licks. Perfect genre-blurring escapism, then.
Review: Descendant, minor key seduction-funk from Miracle Thomas, whose sucrose and fructose levels are indeed incredibly low. A-sider 'Sugar Free' is a remake of Jarry Barnes and Katreese Barnes' brother-sister duet of the same name, which they made under the name Juicy, in turn a "response record" to Mtume's 1985 hit 'Juicy Fruit'. Miracle's miraculous new version brings the original 1985 number a heck of a long way, effectively conveying the newfound, cold-turkey loneliness felt during the day, presumably post-breakup. The dub on the B is a rare disco-funk-dub version too, perfect for those DJs preferring to segue into the more cosmic outer reaches of things.
Review: Under the Linkwood alias, Nick Moore has released a wealth of fine material since debuting in the late 2000s - including a string of sublime albums and EPs. Last year he popped his re-edit cherry alongside The Mighty Zaf via a two-tracker paying tribute to the late, great Phil Asher. Here he takes the next step, delivering a first solo scalpel missive via the reliable and long-running Moton imprint. On side A, the Edinburgh producer attempts to 'Make It Better' via a razor-and-tape style edit of a slap-bass-sporting, synth-wielding slice of early 80s disco-boogie perfection. We have no idea of the source material, but the lightly extended track is as infectious as it is intriguing. Over on side B, 'No Easy' is a sweet, string-laden slab of mid-tempo disco-soul sweetness, while 'Brekkers' is a squelchy, up-tempo electrofunk workout tailor-made for break-dancers.
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