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: ***B-STOCK: Missing original outer sleeve but otherwise in perfect working condition***


Mikal Asher, a scion of Jamaica's Morgan family dynasty, reunites with Chocolate Star Records here and does so with a collaboration with disco legend Gary Davis. Asher, akin to his brother Denroy Morgan, upholds the family's legacy of righteousness through music. Known as the Binghiman, he crafts captivating tunes with profound lyrics and has recorded in Ghana's Hustle Hard Studios and collaborated with industry pioneers in Kingston and Brooklyn, setting new standards in musical excellence along the way. Here, 'Wicked Ah Fi' transforms into a modern dub stepper, while 'Black Woman' offers a soulful, laid-back dedication to Davis' wife, Sonjia. This 7" also comes with innovative remixes from California-based DJ and producer Knoe1.

Review: If you had to make a list of the top 10 Paradise Garage classics, Taana Gardner's pitched-down, Larry Levan-mixed "Heartbeat" would come somewhere near the top of the list. Here the slow disco classic gets the re-edit treatment courtesy of Japanese DJ/producer Diguma (aka MURO ) on a tidy 7" single. First up on side A is the "Club Edit", a multi-track revision (we think) that cannily layers Gardner's vocals and the key synth parts over the original version's killer groove. The flipside "Party Edit" strips back the vocal to just a few key phrases, focusing instead on showcasing various instrument solos buried in Levan's epic original mix.Very limited and likely Juno is one of the few stores outside of Japan to stock this 45

Review: Gene Gene is a Dutch six-piece which got together to craft some nice laidback vibes and smooth tunes that bend organic sounds, rich song craft and the right amount of improv'. They are real masters in the lvdi arena who have finely tuned their craft around Amsterdam and that shows here. The a-side is a lush one with 'Loud N' Stuff' having nice leggy beats, rolling drums and wooden hits and languid chord work, 'Pada Pada' then just deep with nice loose drum line and jumbled toms as well as some fine vocal work.

Review: The Demon Singles Club series continues to offer-up classic disco and boogie cuts on 7" singles. For the series' latest release, they've once again mined the vaults of the iconic SAM Records imprint, emerging with the 1980 debut single from Glen Adams Affair. A-side 'Just A Groove' is a genuine boogie-era disco classic - a Clavinet heavy, B-boy and B-girl friendly workout rich in rubbery disco bass, sustained piano motifs, crunchy drums and a typically celebratory lead vocal, whose lyrics extol the joys of a 'groove to make you move'. Over on the flip side you'll find original B-side 'We've Got To Make It', a pleasingly up-tempo, flash-fried disco-funk floor filler that makes great use of heady slap bass and spacey synths.

Review: Contemporary classical seems to be having a bit of a moment in the sun right now a it breaks out of its traditional confines and makes a mark on the wider world. Bartellow, who is one third of the Tambien project and also goes by the name Beni Brachtel in the classical scene, is back on ESP Institute with a second full length. Noosphere brings together parts of some of his theatrical scores for WUT, Odipus and Antigone and Der Zauberberg amongst others. It takes in cues from Baroque and Impressionism with plenty of sweeping drama and moments of intense emotionality across four sides of sound.

Review: Betty Griffin's 'Free Spirit' gets served up as two new remixed versions in honour of the 10 Year Anniversary of Greg Belson's noteworthy radio show, Divine Chord Gospel Show on Dub Lab. Greg himself joins up with Paulo Fulci as Divine Situation to add their own special fire to the already hot originals. Their first Downlow rework rides on some psyched-out guitar lines with the chunky, percussive rhythms riding rough below. Then, on the flip, the Maceo's dub is more smooth, streamlined and cosmic with its widescreen synth lines.

Review: Guest serves up some precious gems mined from a wall of vinyl which have been cut, polished and mounted for maximum love. On the A side we have the good ol' fashioned funk of "Black Fist" in the tradition of the godfather himself, while over on the B side there's more vintage groove on offer in the form of the sensual slo-mo disco of "Jozephina" - which is as lo-slung as we like it. Respectful edits for the discerning DJ on offer here.

Review: Publicity-shy re-editor Guest has been responsible for some fine re-edits on the Cuts imprint, including this two-track drop of 'mini edits'. What's on offer is summery, sun-splashed and light-touch, edit wise, with the shadowy producer merely rearranging the two cuts to emphasise certain sections and omit others. The results are impressive, particularly A-side 'Breezy Lady', a slap bass-propelled, spiritually enriching rework of an old Japanese jazz-funk gem smothered in luscious orchestration and loose-limbed drumming. On 'Central Timing', Guest turns their attention to a superb slab of electro-not-electro (think Alan Parsons Project mixed with Cat Stevens' 'Was Dog A Doughnut') from 1982, turning the track into a cosmic, break-sporting dancefloor classic-in-waiting.

Review: .Guest is a mysterious producer who delivers two stunning edits of rare and obscure tracks on this 7' vinyl. On the A-side cut 'Always Dancin' he transforms a disco gem into a groovy and funky dancefloor anthem with a catchy chorus and a smooth bassline. On the B-side, he takes a spiritual jazz tune and adds some cosmic synths and percussion on 'Krishna' to create a hypnotic and psychedelic trip. This record is a must-have for lovers of eclectic and adventurous disco music.

Review: Blending reggae, disco, soul, funk and roots - comes the reissue of the highly sought-after 7" from 1979 by Gypsy Fari, the first known reggae outfit from Chicago, born in the south side of the city after a chance meeting between St Kitts expat Leroy Webster and local music graduate Kevin Coleman. The pair set out to blur the boundaries of genre with their unique brand of music, spearheaded by Webster's Caribbean roots and fused with the soul and blues of the midwest.On the A-side, 'Chi-Town Reggae' springs out the gate with fast-paced disco-reggae, powered by a relentless rhythm section and Webster's infectious vocal melody. On the flip, 'Hail Jah' is a swaggering, deep roots reggae cut that pays homage to Webster's heritage - which he wrote on the hilltops of the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica.

Review: Mikal Asher hails from the legendary reggae group Morgan Heritage and he was behind plenty of top musical moments. His vocal work here comes on top of original off stems from disco don Gary Davis, but served up with all-new fire in the form of two mixes by DJ and producer Knoe1 and Warehouse Preservation Society. Knoe1 goes first and flips the OG into boogie-laced funky stepper with squelchy bass and lush melodies. Warehouse Preservation Society then go for a more heavy, percussive and dubbed-out house cut that has tropical sound effects and humid grooves to make you move. All this comes on a mega limited 7" that is sure to vanish in quick time.

Review: Savana Funk and Gaudi's collaborative effort, Raha, encapsulates the vibrant essence of Afro/Cosmic Disco in a limited edition 7" vinyl release. Drawing inspiration from the late 70s Afro-disco movement, the single offers a hypnotic journey through eclectic Krautrock-infused grooves and space-funk textures. On the Side-1, 'Raha' pulses with an infectious Afro-cosmic groove, driven by analog synthesisers and psychedelic guitar riffs. The track, featuring vocals by Italian-Moroccan drummer Youssef, embodies the essence of peace of mind, as reflected in its Arabic title. On the Side-2, 'Orewa' invites listeners to dance amidst a psychedelic-coloured sunset, with funky guitar riffs leading the way into a timeless journey of groove and rhythm. Savana Funk's pedigree as one of Italy's foremost Afro-funk bands shines through, while Gaudi's extensive experience as a music producer adds depth and richness to the production. A vibrant tribute to the Afro-disco movement.