Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Funkyjaws Music is back to make your body move with the latest instalment in its ongoing edit series, Let's Dance, this time with a sixth sizzling volume. Monsieur Van Pratt's loose and languid 'Besame' opens up with some gorgeous strings and funky guitar licks then Kiko Navarro brings a rich Afro flavour with the shuffling and percussive rhythms of 'Bosinga'. Bogdan Ra's 'Get On The Floor' is a fresh take on a disco classic with irresistible vocal charm and swooning pads. Last of all, Zaffa demands you 'Shake It' and you surely will as he layers up wet claps, sliding hi-hats and lively drums into a big-hearted party starter.

Review: The eighth instalment in Running Back's playful Hits! series arrives with a globetrotting batch of quirky dancefloor charmers, spanning interstellar disco, Italo throwbacks and Berlin School eccentricity. Kicking things off, Skatman leans into sleazy synth funk and smoky melodrama with 'What I Am Feelin'', a crooning synth-pop number pitched somewhere between space cabaret and Metro Area. Baron Von Traxian Australian prince of peaktime pompibrings glitzy melancholy with 'If I Only Knew', layering ascending Italo arps and soft pads over a chugging disco pulse. Janis Zielinski and Sowhy3 (both Berlin-based) turn in 'In Your Eyes' twiceifirst as a vocal daydream of euro-pop yearning, then as a sleek instrumental. Morphena's 'Venus Underworld' dials up the noir with icy stabs and new wave propulsion, while Zoe Zoe's 'Palikau Dzemperi' signs off with a Tangerine Dream-style glide repurposed for the club. There's no unifying concept, but as with earlier volumes, that's the point: a polychrome snapshot of Running Back's curious, cosmopolitan world.

Review: If you're looking to add a flourish of worldly exotica to your deep house selections then check this one out from Warodjah aka the coming together of Italian duo Andrea Rausa (ak Afreak) and Massimiliano Troiani who both share a love of Afro stylings. On the A-side, the title track celebrates African music and griot storytelling with special guest Zouratie Kone, from a Griot family in Burkina Faso, who crafts dreamy melodies on his self-made Kora set against evolving drum patterns and ethereal piano chords. On the B-side, DJ Fett Burger delivers a sumptuous 14-minute house remix and infuses the original theme with extra groove.

Review: Now released officially, Zackey Force Funk & XL Middleton's 'Hey MF / Phone Home' first came in a cloud of hype amid the decision by MoFunk to release "exactly ONE" copy of the test pressing to whomever proved themself keen enough to own it. We're not surprised that the label might anticipate such fan fervour, since this is a uniquely totalising modern funk gem, manifesting technically as a Johnny Chingas cover but in practice evidencing the relentlessly singular, syncretic combined production style of the LA natives. Chingas' original lyrics are invidious but infectious, a mood coaxed further out by the duo's breathy talkbox usage: "hey motherfucker, who do you think you are? you think you so much better than everybody else... what do you mean I'm a fake DJ?!"

Review: Zaffa Kreations aka Zafra Brothers dropped only two EPs under this alias, one in 1981, and one in 1987. This is a reissue of the former, which for an original copy will cost you a few quid because it has become something of a mini-classic. The EP opens up with 'Will I See You Tonight' (Tony Humphries Special mix) which is a mid-tempo disco stepper with a brilliantly oversized and bulbous bassline, hip-swinging claps and a vocal line delivered with real coolness. The original version appears on the a-side and has more disco energy and a less strident beat for more playful moments.

Review: Jazz-funk twosome Zamie (Jadie Kiggundu AKA Ziggy Funk and pal Jamie McShane) impressed with their recent album, Fortuitous. On this EP, two of the set's most potent cuts have been given the remix treatment with club dancefloors in mind. Incognito main man Bluey handles side A, offering up a smooth, groovy and musically detailed take on 'Smash N Grab' that peppers a slap-bass-propelled groove with spacey synth pads, jammed out Rhodes stabs and all manner of life-affirming electric piano solos. Over on side B, Glaswegian veteran Al Kent takes 'Wildfire' down the disco, turning in a near 11-minute, Tom Moulton style rub rich in punchy synth-horns, snaking sax solos and spacey synth solos aplenty. Colourful, grown-up disco with a jazz-funk flex... more please!

Review: ZAN's latest album is currently 26 in the UK soul chart s it's no wonder the label it came on has pressed up this 12" with a couple of mixes of one of its standout tunes on as well as a new jam. The first is an extended mix of 'Follow My Heart' that has timeless synth soul and lush boogie disco drums with wet claps and cowbells a plenty. Then comes Bangsy's 808 disco mix which is a little more blissed out and low-slung with funky guitar riffs and lovely vocal hooks. Also included is the new cut 'Everlasting' which is a dubbed-out, reverb-drenched street soul stepper with retro keys to melt the heart.

Review: Although the no-nonsense French label Skylax more often deals in classic house music, this latest 12" is a raw disco gem. It is the second in the Uprising series from Zaratustra and it opens with 'Dark Clouds (club mix)' which comes with twisted beats and a reflective hall of melodies that shine bright. 'Amours Electroniques' is an instrumental with retro-future 80s synths and drums taking you back to a different world and then comes Emilio Van Rijsel's remix of 'Dark Clouds' which comes a trance-tinged and hands in the air pumper. The Naranja instrumental remix of 'Amours Electroniques' ends with big waves of Italo-tinged fun.

Review: The young but already well-formed Deep Inspiration Show label continues its dedication to quality deep house with a new EP that comes as part of their international artist series. Zarenzeit from Zurich and Roger Versey from Arkansas open with 'So Smooth', a blend of rich keys, soulful loops and dynamic vocals over a sensual bassline. Melchior Sultana hails from sunny Malta and follows with 'Nothing Like It Seems' which features silky chords and a shuffling rhythm ideal for late-night sets. On the B-side, Jan Kincl from Zagreb delivers 'Sugar,' a fusion of house and cinematic disco with organic drums while Spain's Barce closes with 'Stigma,' a melodic union of deep house and techno.

Review: XXX is back with a steamy 16th EP and it features two original tracks by Anastasia Zems & Radial Gaze on the A-side, with remixes from Chinaski & S.I.R.S. on the B-side. The originals are characterised by dark industrial vibes, sharp kicks, and throbbing yet playful basslines that will persuade any dance floor to get throwing shapes. On the flip side, Chinaski's remix takes an unexpected turn as a trance-like trip that climbs higher and faster with each beat. S.I.R.S. offers a contrasting disco remix with an irresistibly groovy bassline, and just as irresistible is the playful artwork by Gees Voorhees that perfectly captures the eclectic nature of this EP.

Review: Bedford-based trio Zenana never made much of an impact when they were first active in the 1980s but have become the toast of the world's media following the rediscovery of their excellent, Italo and Hi-NRG-influenced 1986 synth-pop single, 'Witches', by crate diggers a couple of years back. Here that fine track, originally produced in terraced house in Cornwall by the brother of bandmember Anita Tedder, gets the reissue treatment on Rush Hour's RSS series - thanks, in no small part, to a new (but authentically 80s sounding) extended remix from long-established Bristol DJ/production duo Bedmo Disco. Their flipside 'Spell of Love' version strips back and stretches out the track, taking cues from NYC proto-house, Martin Rushent dubs and mid-80s Shep Pettibone remixes. It's the 12" dance mix the song never had first time round.

Review: Greg Wilson returns to Running Back, celebrating 40 years since the release of the classic and highly influential Street Sounds UK Electro compilation. The groundbreaking track 'Real Time,' which opened the 1984 album, finally gets a 12" release here. Featuring a Greg Wilson edit, a Gerd Janson bonus beats edit and two 2024 reworks, this limited edition showcases Wilson's continued influence in the electronic music scene, alongside collaborations with his son, Che Wilson, including remixes for Gabriels and Confidence Man.

Review: In his endeavour, Zet Uma's provides us with a fresh spin on classic wave and Italo influences. The four tracks draw the you in with deep, pulsating basslines, while the synths create an atmospheric tension that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking. 'Loveblind' sets the tone, offering a smooth yet intricate groove, while 'New Level, New Devil' amps up the energy with its driving beat. 'Pleasure Above' and 'New Direction' wrap up the EP, each track offering a distinct feel, from moody introspection to high-energy propulsion. This release captures a sense of evolution, with the duo crafting soundscapes that are both rooted in the past and looking toward the future.

Review: 'Zombi' and 'In the Land of the Zombi' are two cult electro disco-funk tracks from 1979 that predate the Italo disco explosion by three years. These tracks, more powerful and electronic than the disco styles of the late '70s, were originally created by talented musician and bandleader Salvatore Ida and were composed by Federico and Massimo Ida, who previously made waves in the Italian progressive rock scene with the acclaimed album Apoteosi. This reissue, featuring the original artwork in an embossed picture sleeve, includes remastered long versions by Massimo Berardi.

Review: This limited gatefold edition compilation, curated by Leri Ahel & Zeljko Luketic, brings together 18 rare disco tracks from Yugoslavian artists, pressed on 2 x vinyl. Featuring the likes of KIM Band, Gabi Novak, Arian, Ljupka Dimitrovska, and more, the collection is sourced from original master tapes, ensuring pristine audio quality. Disco, a Trojan horse in Yugoslavia's pop music scene, thrived for an unexpectedly long time. Influenced by American and European disco acts like Boney M and Amanda Lear, Yugoslav producers and record companies like Jugoton and PGP RTB embraced the genre's vibrant energy. The scene fostered a unique blend of genre hybrids, electronic experimentation, and bold themes, with artists creating memorable and innovative disco music. This compilation captures the spirit of that era, shows both chart-toppers like Zdravko Colic and experimental gems. It highlights the creativity and freedom that disco provided, allowing musicians to push boundaries and deliver unforgettable tunes.

Review: Label affiliates Mytron and Zongamin make a combined return to the ever-on-point Canadian stable Multi Kulti, delivering an extended selection of typically off-kilter, genre-bending sonic mastery. In what appears to be a match made in the leftfield heavens, the duo join forces to explore dance-ish music's outer reaches, blending tribal motifs with 8-bit sampling and all manner of wonkiness. From the blissful bells of Conjunction With Reality to the bass-heavy throb of GHX, there is unsurprisingly plenty to savour here. Opening cut '08932168' blends enchanting lead melodies with rolling polyrhythms and dubbed-out effects before the equatorial percussion of 'Calliope Omniglot' makes way for the wiggy atmospherics of the collection's title track. Highly recommended.

Review: Pellegrino & Zodyaco's skillfully intertwine Neapolitan disco, funk, jazz and world music while channelling a spirit of creative escape of this new album, which is inspired by Henri Laborit's 'Eloge de la fuite'. It explores conscious escapism as a return to authenticity and seeks a "common language" through sound by merging Mediterranean melodies with global rhythms, vintage instruments and ethnic percussion that all bridge past and present. Four years after his last outing, Morphe, Pellegrino is still in top form here with a soulful, genre-blurring portrait of modern Naples that reflects the fact that, in the city, musical traditions meet modern experimentation.

Review: Zan's new album on BDQ Records is a refreshing blend of boogie, jazz, funk and soul. Known for her strong and sultry voice, Zan rose to fame in the 80s as the lead singer of Melbourne's I'm Talking, alongside Kate Ceberano, and her vocals on hits like 'Holy Word' remain iconic in Australian music history. Zan's musical journey includes collaborations with The Models and appearances in music films like Australian Made. Her diverse background, born in London with Sri Lankan heritage, has influenced her soulful style. Having lived in New York and London, Zan's experiences shine through in her music. Her self-titled solo album in the 90s and tours with bands like Mother Earth improved her career internationally. Back in Melbourne, Zan continues to enchant audiences with her live performances. Her new songs are steeped in 80s dance and pop flavours, re-capturing that feelgood factor from the era whilst bringing to it a new unique and contemporary.

Review: The latest record to waft from the Four Flies feeding ground focuses on Paolo Zavallone, an elusive musician and patron of the DIY music label Paloma Records, which only saw five records released. After venturing into the world of music publishing in 1983, Zavallone would either produce licensed-for-film music himself, or consign the task to his peers, chiefly his friend Mauro Malavasi. This record, made up of a quint of nameless, coverless records, captures the highlights of the sottofondi style, i.e. incidental music made largely for early 80s Italian comedy series on TV. Easy listening fusion blends with pots-and-pans avant-gardism ('Cronaca Nera' particularly), proving the remarkably prescient range of an obscure musician.

Review: Ziggy and the extended ZFEX crew return with their most ambitious project yet, a double album that dives deep into the tension between creative instinct and artistic intention. Spanning 15 tracks recorded between Berlin and London, the record sees the collective pushing their signature fusion of jazz, funk, and electronic influences into bold new spaces, with a fresh embrace of disco and highlife grooves. Throughout, vintage synths and off-kilter percussion meet the addition of electric guitar, adding a raw, expressive edge to the band's evolving sound. 'Astras Theme' sets the stage with a swirling, cinematic introduction, while 'Radicalise' brings a frenetic energy, driven by tightly wound rhythms and razor-sharp instrumentation. Elsewhere, 'Shine Your Light' channels a cosmic funk sensibility, balancing the album's introspective moments with sheer dancefloor exuberance. With contributions from a diverse lineup of forward-thinking musicians across Europe, the UK, and Australiaiincluding appearances from Oscar Jerome and Tom Driesslerithis record stands as the most dynamic and exploratory incarnation of ZFEX to date. It's a project that refuses to sit still, capturing the restless spirit of a band constantly evolving yet always deeply rooted in groove.