Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: A Skillz and Krafty Kuts are veteran names by now but at one option they were some of the hottest new DJs and producers in the game. They pioneered a breakbeat, cut-up and paste sounds 20 years ago that was high on energy and with plenty of character. Now they look to the roots of the sounds they used to draw from and serve up a new single on Jam City that is all about disco. 'Lit Up' has loose, jumbled drums and funk basslines with some great vocal flourishes up top from Gizelle Smith. A remix on the flip takes things into deeper new soul territory.

Review: There is very little info out there about the Milkcrate Mondays label but we do know that their only other release last year was well hyped and quickly sold out. This second one is likely to follow suit. It comes from Able and is a dusty house cut with an old school feel thanks to the gentle breaks that power it along as a signature smoky soul vocal from Amy Winehouse brings plenty of emotion to a-side cut 'Winehouse Magic'. On the flip is 'Drake Punk' which pairs Daft Punk filter house loops with auto-tuned vocals all sure to bring some fun to the 'floor.

Review: Dave Lee's "AC Soul Symphony" alias has been releasing delectable and sultry disco since 2005 but reached his magnus opus in 2023 with the release of the Metamorphosis LP. Here we find two tracks handpicked from the album and delivered, for the first time, in a 7" format. The single starts much as the album does with the track "Windy City Theme", beautifully scored, recorded, and produced legato strings envelope the track, punctuated with horns and vocals reminiscent of a Love Unlimited Orchestra production. This version of the track has been rearranged, speeding up the pacing of the track and reaching the juicy parts in a really satisfying way. On the flip side we have the title track from the album Metamorphosis, which is the first time the vocal version has been made available on vinyl. A bass laden intro gives ways to glistening pianos and those signature strings (have we mentioned how good the strings are?). A more laid back and seductive track than the A-side, but no less appealing. Again, due to the limitations of the 7" format, 'Metamorphosis' has been expertly rearranged with loving care and attention.

Review: The overdetermination of many sources of inspiration fed the making of this new EP by Asymmetrical (Giovanni Inglese), whose regular top-ups for the label have earned him his very own catalogue number reservation, this one coming as no exception. Said inspirations include: the digit 7, elevated to the status of Jim Carrey's number 23; a sticker glimpsed in a bathroom in a north-west Rome nightclub; and a long gestation of studio sessions, committed to between 2018 and 2020. The result was a slurrying EBM release of the coldest affect, consisting largely of all-consuming licky bass, mussitating monologues ('Estetica Della Notte' tells the tale of assuming nocturnal form while under the domed hoardings of Rome's famous Pantheon) and subtly vampiric overtones ('Porno Incubo').

Review: Hamburg's always had a vibrant music scene - and is in fact home to one of deep house's finest crews in Smallville - but if you like your beats more on a boogie and funky tip then this one is for you. Automart's new 7" on Born To Shine Records features two such electrifying tracks that are going to appeal to anyone who enjoys the work of labels like PPU or Star Creature. Automart's fresh take on classic boogie and modern funk comes with a contemporary twist that's perfect for any setting and is one of many releases this year which promise to make this label vital.

Review: Rhythm's Got Soul is a sonic trip back to the fever-pitched disco era, where Asabi Goodman's powerhouse vocals and Geoff Boardman's dynamic production converge to create an electrifying dancefloor experience. Bursting through the stratosphere with all frequencies blazing, the track treats listeners to pitched horns, filtered drums, and sultry vocals, reinforced by Andrew 'Bigfoot' Leslie's everlasting bass. Momentum builds with Dave VHS's rhythm guitar and vamp keys, accompanied by hectic percussion, culminating in a groove that's both syncopated and loose, thanks to the MPC4000 sample treatment by The Soulicitors. On the flip side, 'Rhythm's Hot' (Afro Instrumental) takes listeners on an Afrocentric trip, with a relentlessly persuasive percussion groove reminiscent of Midnight Marauders chords. Well-timed transitions spread smooth like butter, weaving elements like A Taste Of Honey basslines into an instrumental strut that builds to a disco-fever crescendo. It's a monster cut that keeps the energy high and the dancefloor moving. Asabi Goodman's vocal versatility, effortlessly shifting from sweet and soulful to commanding and powerful, adds depth and emotion to each track, while Geoff Boardman's production shines through, blending samples and live instrumentation into a resonating dynamic disco experience. 'Rhythm's Got Soul' is a standout collaboration that begs to be checked out.

Review: 'Rhythm's Got Soul' is the highly anticipated collab record between singer-songwriter Asabi Goodman and producer/arranger Geoff Boardman aka. Blunted Stylus. A testament to the enduring efficacy the mixture of belter vocals and powerhouse production, 'Rhythm's Got Soul (Lose Control)' and its contrapuntal 'Afro Instrumental' make for raunchy, impudent soul-dance divinations, with booming kicks n' claps, felt-out breaks, and longing harmonies making up their effusive bulk. The B is particularly great, making use of spare components and one-off vocal injunctions to "come and dance with me."

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: Earlier this year, DJ Scientist stumbled upon another early Ghia composition tucked away in the depths of a master tape. It was a treasure too precious to remain unheard. Sadly, the original track couldn't see the light of day due to sound quality and issues with the original vocals. To make matters more disappointing, no instrumental version survived. Thus, the only way to share this catchy boogie funk track with the world was to recreate it from scratch. And so, the Ghia saga unfolds once more, but in this chapter, there's a new and unique twist. 'Out Of Luck' draws its roots from the aforementioned lost track, originally composed by the group in 1985. This time, however, the song has been expertly reworked by Marian Tone, with new vocals by Adriano Prestel. The outcome? Quite possibly one of the smoothest and most refreshing modern funk tunes you'll hear this year.

Review: The latest missive from modern funk maestros The Sleeperz Records is a red seven-inch double header that pairs Canadian neo-boogie queen Maya Killtron (a label regular) with two similarly minded producers. She joins forces with Andrew Napoleon on A-side 'Body Fly', a glossy slab of mid-80s synth-funk/synth-pop fusion rich in squelchy P-funk bass, bright lead lines and colourful chords. Estonia-based Latvian Artis Boris sits in the producer's chair on side two, underpinning a typically expressive and soulful Killtron vocal with sinewy strings, modern boogie grooves and nods aplenty to early 1980s disco. Naturally, the sound is nostalgic, but both cuts sound undeniably fresh.

Review: Although they've been serving up high-grade blends of disco, funk, soul and house for some time, it's only in recent years that many of Micky More and Andy Tee's most potent productions have made it to wax. The two tracks here, which first appeared digitally in the middle of the last decade, are fine examples. 'I'm Another Man' is heavy, raw and impactful, with the pair adding rolling house beats to a horn-heavy deep funk song complete with gravelly male lead vocals. Over on the flip, 'Night Cruiser' is their (successful) attempt to make (and update) a Vincent Montana style, Salsoul disco instrumental with added house chops. Keep an ear out for the Roy Ayers style vibraphone solo that drops midway through.

Review: Micky More & Andy Tee's Groove Culture delivers a fresh spin on jazz-funk classics with a new 7-inch release. The Side-1 features a dj-friendly cover of Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Expansions,' blending disco and house with a funk-driven bassline, soulful vocals, and beautiful keys. On Side-2, it offers a high-energy remake of Light Of The World's 'Time,' featuring Angela Johnson's powerful diva vocals. This track shines with its lively disco vibe, sax intro and dancefloor appeal. Both tracks encapsulate the essence of fun disco and soul and should appeal to a wide range of dance music fans old and young.