Review: Walt Disco are evolving. Lead vocalist Jocelyn Si, drummer Jack Martin, synth player Finlay McCarthy, bassist Charlie Lock, and guitarist Lewis Carmichael challenged norms with their debut album, Unlearning. Their new record, The Warping, reflects shifting identities, blending memory and future, and exploring younger selves and imagined personas. Written across the Atlantic, from Los Angeles to Glasgow, the album builds enhances their cinematic glam with orchestral musicians, creating a sound both organic and sophisticated. The album addresses personal themes with radical honesty, especially exploring gender dysphoria and envy. Despite a hostile world, especially for queer and trans people, Walt Disco remains resilient.
Toxic Tropic (feat Anthony Joseph/La Reyna) (3:18)
Light (4:02)
Di Yo (feat Flavia Coelho) (4:10)
Vanse Carnival (4:39)
La VI A Bel (2:51)
An Lot Soley (feat Ballake Sissoko/Vincent Segal) (4:38)
Soul Tropical (3:43)
Don't U (4:24)
Night In Madinina (3:05)
Kle (feat Ballake Sissoko/Vincent Segal) (4:19)
Review: David Walters's new album Soul Tropical on French label Heavenly Sweetness is perfectly titled. It is a lush collection of soul so tropical you feel as if you're dancing deep in a steamy jungle as the music uplifts and truly nourishes. It draws on his family heritage in the West Indies and finds David once again singing about this famous string of sun-kissed islands across 13 joyful cuts. These are tracks with rich arrangements and plenty of world instruments making a fusion of disco, zouk, Caribbean, Afrobeat and funk that make a lasting impression. An essential album as summer approaches.
Review: This 1979 release showcases a bold, genre-blending approach to r&b and jazz fusion, marked by unpredictability and diverse musical influences. Opening with a Chic-inspired, glossy disco track, the album quickly shifts gears, weaving in elements from Parliament's funky grooves to sophisticated quiet storm vibes and instrumental jazz-funk. The lush, soulful ballads are particularly noteworthy, with one track featuring a caressing, unforgettable vocal performance that became a beloved quiet storm classic. The fusion of styles is impressive, moving seamlessly from upbeat funk to smooth, sensual tracks that remain engaging from start to finish. The overall effort shines with its creativity and range. The album is a testament to the artist's ability to surprise listeners, delivering an eclectic mix of sounds that keep the listener hooked. True to form, the release is a likable and enjoyable listen that stands out for its genre-defying exploration and captivating compositions.
A Real Mother For Ya (Ben Liebrand Oldskool mix - bonus track) (3:20)
Review: Johnny "Guitar" Watson's 1977 funk album, A Real Mother For Ya, solidified his status as a master of the genre. Known for his exceptional guitar skills, Watson's album produced the international hit title track along with standout songs like 'Nothing Left To Be Desired' and 'Lover Jones.' This reissue also includes the 2020 Ben Liebrand Oldskool mix as a bonus track, adding a fresh perspective to Watson's timeless funk sound. Throughout his career, Watson influenced countless artists, including Jimi Hendrix, and earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary blues album. Tragically, Watson passed away while touring Japan in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and groove. A Real Mother For Ya remains a standout example to Watson's musical genius. Available on black vinyl, this reissue ensures that Watson's electrifying sound continues to engage audiences for generations to come.
David Nathan - "Ain't Nothing Like The Love" (unreleased version) (4:03)
Billy Cole Aka Winston Francis - "Smile" (3:41)
Glen Missick & Lovespiration - "Message In Our Music" (2:50)
Sass - "Do It" (3:23)
The Harden Brothers - "Deep Inside Of You" (4:29)
Don Scott - "Love With Me" (2:54)
Jack Sass Band - "Where Is The Love (You Promised Me)" (2:56)
Review: After a series of exceptional singles, SOL Discos fire up the album engine for the very first time with this fantastic exploration of modern soul from the late 70s to early 80s. Curated by label founder Waxist, Message In Our Music features numerous exclusive reissues and unreleased cuts; David Nathan's swooning take on "Ain't Nothing Like The Love", The Harden Brothers' silky smooth "Deep Inside Of You" and the vital up-tempo positivity of Don Scott's "Love With Me" are just a handful of essentials on this immaculate collection. Complete with detailed notes, pictures and quotes from the original artists, SOL Discos have created something genuinely special here.
Sharnell Morton - "You Are My Shining Star" (5:22)
Janice Nicki Harisson - "Magic Of Love" (4:23)
Direct Connec Shun - "He's No Good" (7:43)
James Family - "We've Got It Made" (4:35)
Network & Co - "Spirit Of The Boogie" (4:03)
Marlon Hunter - "Did You Forget My Number" (3:36)
Spice Of Ice - "Star Struck" (5:53)
Executive Suite - "When It Comes To Lovin Me" (3:15)
Review: Some two years after helping launch Favorite Recordings' reissue-focused SOL Discos imprint, label co-founder Waxist returns with a second volume of "Message In Our Music", a compilation focused - like its' predecessor - on little known "modern soul" from the late 1970s and early '80s. It is, of course, packed to the rafters with rare, slept-on gems, the majority of which change hands for silly money online. Highlights include - but are by no means limited to - the gentle gospel-boogie slickness of Sharnell Morton's "You Are My Shining Star", the glistening guitars and sun-kissed vocals of Direct Connec Shun's two-step soul gem "He's No" and the purple-coloured synth-funk hustle of Spice Of Ice's "Star Struck".
Review: Following the massive success of his 2021 debut album Gratidao, French producer Wealstarcks returns with another standout record, this time called Valeu Obrigado.' Once again he skilfully blends house and electro sounds with the vibrant energy of Funk Carioca culture to make for a collection of tracks that are filled with soulful grooves and irresistible dancefloor anthems guaranteed to get any crowds moving. Most notably these sounds showcase Wealstarcks' knack for creating fresh, dynamic grooves that work on modern ears but also maintain a deep connection to authentic Brazilian funk influences. It comes as a limited edition release that will no doubt be a longtime favourite in any collection.
At The Disco (feat Tanyayette Whilloughby - version 3) (8:09)
Can't Fight The Feeling (6:45)
Fire Down Below (version 2) (5:24)
Who Cares? (feat Leroy Burgess - version 3) (8:36)
Loose Joints (version 3) (5:41)
Review: We love an album with a nice specific remit and they don't come much more specific than The Love Magician Archives - Disco - New York City 1978-79. Vol.2. It is the latest project on Past Due to involve Weeks, who signed with the label back in 2019 and since then his work as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer has been showcased for all and proven what a key player he was in the New York disco, boogie funk and house scenes and beyond from the late 1970s to the 1990s. It came on several different labels and as part of various different groups and now comes a second collection of it that is just as good as the first.
Review: For their latest red-hot reissue, the admirable Be With Records takes us back to Paris in 1979 and the sole album by Who's Who - one of the numerous aliases of songwriter, musician and producer Daniel Bangalter, AKA Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk's dad. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? The six tracks showcased on the eponymous set are very in keeping with French disco of the period, with attractive (and then cutting edge) synthesiser sounds being combined with glassy-eyed male and female vocals, infectious "walking" basslines and Cerrone-esque drums. Highlights are plentiful, from the peak-time disco joy of the tropical-tinged "Palace Palace", the Moroder/Patrick Cowley-influenced mid-tempo spaciness of 'Hypno Dance', to the Tata Vega style jauntiness of 'Roll kacky Roll' and the fantastic 'Dancin' Machine'.
Review: WhoMadeWho, consisting of Tomas Hoffding, Tomas Barfod and Jeppe Kjellberg, are constantly developing and refining their sound. Launching their new imprint The Moment, their new self-describedly EP marks a "gateway to new possibilities for music creation and discovery". They embark on this enterprise by way of Kiss & Forget, which begins with a filmic epic song for strings and techno pulse - 'Saturday' - whose two parts set the scene of a romantic diversion in sound, yet ultimately one tempered by loss and entropy. The album moves just as synthpoppy and progressive at points too, from the ensuing 'Love Will Save Me' with, RY X to the rapturous electro-synth stretch that is 'Miracle'.
A Little More Love (Sol Power All-Stars extended dub) (6:22)
Review: Trinidad's Wild Fire was a popular local group that formed in the 70s and disbanded in 1985. They amassed plenty of varied tunes after their name change from the Sparks, a name they had as far back as 1962. They were a house band at clubs like Disco Tracks and Upper Level so knew how to get a party going with their hot mix of Caribbean sounds, disco and funk. This Dance Hits album is a great collection of their more dance-friendly material. Some are slow burners like 'Check It Out' which brings racial issues to the fore and the more sunny funkers like 'The Rebels.'
Review: Time Is The Answer is an undeniable Island Funk-Soul classic from Wildfire that now gets its first ever official reissue on vinyl. It was originally self-released back in 1980 on their own self titled label and now comes on nice heavyweight vinyl, which is just what it deserves. The band was well known in their day as leaders in their field thanks to famous performances all across Trinidad, Tobago, the Caribbean, US Virgin Islands and French Guadeloupe. The dropped four albums in all and plenty of top-selling singles and this one is one of the best - a fine mix of funk, soul and disco with glorious grooves and magical melodies as well as buttery smooth vocals.
Review: Island funk and soul classic Time Is The Answer from the Wildfire band is getting reissued on both clear and black vinyl this month, with this being the super limited transparent version. It is a first-ever reissue for this much sought-after album and it arrives just in time for summer, which is when it sounds best, some 43 years after it was first self-released back in 1980 on their own self-titled label. The band was well known back in the 80s thanks to performances all across Trinidad, Tobago, the Caribbean, US Virgin Islands and French Guadeloupe. This is the best of the four albums they released - a warm and immersive blend of funk, soul and disco. .
Review: Zamrock, anyone? Often stylised as W.I.T.C.H, WITCH were one of the leading musical lights of post-colonial Zambia, a band that rose to prominence during the early-1970s, a particularly fertile period in the East African nation during which hopes for the future were incredibly bright. Independence leading to the blossoming of homespun ideas, culture, art and creativity. The story takes a tragic turn as the decade reached its final years, the economy collapsing and policymakers turning increasingly authoritarian. Like many in the 'scene', WITCH would fade, almost into obscurity, although the psychedelic rock-hued legacy they left survived, and then experienced a resurgence from 2012, when they reformed amid renewed interest. Kuomboka represents the group at the height of their fame, an album that still sounds packed with optimism, despite insidious changes in the air when it landed in 1976.
Review: Based in Jackson, Mississippi, the Wynd Chymes earned a deal with RCA/Victor Records on the strength of their independently released 1981 single, 'Ride' - a killer boogie-soul number that lit up black dancefloors across the United States. Arrival, their debut album, has long been considered a slept on classic - hence this audiophile-friendly Music On Vinyl reissue. It begins with the rather weird new-age ambience of 'Arrival' and ends with the Latin-tinged, Herb Alpert-esque excellence of 'Alakazam'; in between, you'll find an enticing mix of P-funk and boogie-inspired dancefloor workouts, synth-fired slow-dance ballads and energy-packed electrofunk workouts.
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