Back in stock: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: This latest reissue from Awesome Tapes From Africa is the whole reason for founder Brian Shimkovitz starting the blog and the label that grew out of it. Some 13 years ago, Shimkovitz stumbled across a cassette copy of Obaa Sima whilst travelling Ghana and his love for Ata Kak's music lead to the foundation of the Awesome Tapes From Africa blog and the commencement of a long running effort to track down the Ghanaian musician. Some four years after ATFA became a label, Shimkovitz finally tracked down the musician, real name Yaw Atta-Owusu, and was granted permission to reissue Obaa Sima, using the second hand tape purchased in Ghana as the source. The seven tracks on this LP are a winning tinny combination of highlife, rap, pop, and more with "Daa Nyinaa" sounding like a cover version of William De Vaughn's "Be Thankful For What You've Got".

Review: Produced and sleeked out at Opal Studios in NYC, back in 1975, Buari's self-titled LP has been a cornerstone of international highlife music since it was first released. The original is now an arduous item to find at a decent price, so we thanks the Be With label for having repackaged an essential Afro LP that is a must have for anyone into anything outside a constant beat drum. "Karam Bani" opens with a forceful helping of funk, percussive to to the max, and this same hypnotic groove formula is present across the entirety of the A-side, making this a sampler's dream come true. On the flip, "Iro Le Pa" is the stand-out tune for us, a rhythm that makes Theo Parrish's Ugly Edits seems kinda tame! Recommended.

Review: This sizzling new 7" from Super Disco Edits serves up Dayton's 'Sky's The Limit' which is a red hot slice of previously unissued 1982 soul.Hall of fun famers Dayton were a well established and popular group with a lush sound that was couched in soul but with funky grooves, boogie basslines and hints of disco shimmer and shine. This gorgeous single has all that and more including a big, buttery vocal. It is an epic, guaranteed floor filler which on the flip side has 'Sky's The Limit (long version)' for extra devastation.

Review: Ron Hardy's legacy lives on though stories of his legendary DJ sets but also his seemingly endless catalogue of edits and reworks of the tunes he played in his heyday. Here we have another such exhibit in which he flips some classic disco. The original version of 'No Way Back' is riddled with picked guitar licks and dreamy keys while a funky low end moves on this disco-rock gem as brass bursts out for added oomph. Hardy ups the pace, twists it beyond this realm and adds big drum breaks that are Prue bit for dancers. It's a classic in its own right that gets regular plays by more bold and eclectic DJs.

Review: Kommuna marks its tenth year of activity with this new dancefloor-focused record from various artists whose music "reflects the glimmer of hope that music provides during these dystopian times." Fabricio's 'Collateral Effect' opens with a strident nu-disco sound and retro-future chords that get you moving. Charleze's 'Rage Power' is another chunky disco stomper with some nice cosmic melody and Wooka's 'Tirty Dalk' hits harder with mechanical beats and churning bass. Mooglee's 'Things I Love' brings a more dreamy synth sound but still club-ready beats.

Review: Family outfit Ingram first burst through in the late 1970s as a funk and disco vocal outfit, but it's arguably their 1980s work that's retained its allure. While they made numerous classic cuts in this period, little has lasted the test of time quite like far-sighted 1983 single 'DJ's Delight'. Light on their usual group vocals, the original mix features various subtle alterations of the same melodic motif clustering around a killer bassline and boogie style machine drums. It's a stone-cold boogie classic all told. This reissue pairs the Ingrams' original take with a tooled-up, subtly housed-up remix from Mark Knight and Michael Gray. We still prefer the original mix, but it's tastefully done and offers a decent update for those who prefer slicker beats and more low-end weight.

Review: Alex "Landy" Hill was the producer for and founding member of the 80s r&b and disco group Timex Social Club. This gem is the result of a deep dive into his archives and is an unreleased 1990s Bay Area demo project. The collection features nine original tracks created in collaboration with vocalist Jordana and songwriter John Pruitt all written and recorded in Hill's modest apartment studio. As you would expect of him, the tunes capture the raw, soulful energy of the era's underground r&b and funk scene with a nice lo-fi edge and plenty of analogue sounds from the time. Long tucked away on ageing cassette tapes, the recordings have now been carefully restored by PPU to offer a great look at Hill's post-Timex era.

Review: The good folk at Mr Bongo are reissuing Herman Kelly's seminal 1978 album that birthed the iconic breakbeat classic 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat.' This Miami-based disco-funk project headed up by the drummer and producer features Latin, funk and percussive grooves that have gone on to influence generations of hip-hop and dance music producers. It is thought to have been sampled over 125 times by legends like DJ Shadow, N.W.A. and Run-D.M.C. after initially gaining fame via Ultimate Breaks & Beats in 1986. This reissue presents the sought-after 4:12 Alston Records version and it is as infectious and irresistible as ever.

Review: Minimal Wave presents an exquisite 7" EP release by Martin Lloyd entitled "L'Amant Electronique". Martin is mainly known for his Oppenheimer Analysis (Minimal Wave) and Analysis (Survival Records) projects, yet through the years he recorded over two dozen tracks on his own, most of which never saw the light of day. The four selected tracks were recorded between 1980 and 1984 in his own "Feedback Studios" in Battersea , London. Martin Lloyd delivers vocals via the vocoder and carefully layers synth melodies which range from upbeat and danceable, to what could be the soundtrack to a 1981 post-apocalyptic science fiction film. The record is pressed on white vinyl with a heavy black jacket (spot gloss) and is limited to 999 hand-numbered copies.

Review: Following their acclaimed debut album Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, NYC duo Musclecars aka Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems are back with a double pack of alternate versions and remixes featuring house legends Louie Vega and Maurice Fulton. Vega reworks 'Tonight' with orchestral flair and festival-ready dub versions including the NV South Jersey Mix and his Bronx Dub. Maurice Fulton's remix of 'Hello?' blends his signature live bass and punchy percussion to add a whimsical touch to the introspective original. The pack also includes stripped-down versions of 'Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)' and 'Water' plus a full side of Musclecars' 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars.'

Review: Amsterdam legends Rush Hour look to the other side of the earth for some irresistible summer sounds here. Precious Bloom is an Indonesian group that offer up a delightful two tracker with the opening track 'Flashlight' inspired by Euro disco coupled with a hint of the city pop sounds of their homeland. It's awash with great arps and quick, funky disco drumming and sparing vocals. The 'Mojo' jam on the B-side "explores a rhyme of witchery" over fat-bottomed drums, tropical percussion and wavy bass undertones, all topped off with bright and breezy xylophone style melodies. Scorching to say the least.

Review: You can always count on Z Records to bring a deep-digging, dedicated approach to anything they put out, and that goes double for their flawless Under The Influence series. The 10th volume in the series sees them inviting the incredible Chicago-born DJ Rahaan to select some seriously headsy cuts from his collection, carefully cleaned up, de-clicked and remastered for the best listening experience. Given the nature of the series, don't expect the usual suspects, and instead savour the discovery of some of Rahaan's most treasured cuts, presented here on a double LP comp brimming with discoid magic.

Review: The Roz Ryan studio real reissue series hits a third and final instalment here. This one is another superb piece of previously unissued 2 step soul that will pirouette its way into your heart. It was discovered in 1980 and produced by the mighty Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey. First up is 'Love Changes' which was also covered by O.C Smith and is a slow and sultry number with buttery but poignant lyrics. Flip it over for the more upbeat, driving and dancefloor ready number that is 'Funky Way To Treat Me' with a production that heightens all the lush disco elements.

Review: St Paul's Catholic Church in Louisiana was hosting a summer youth program in 1970 and 1971 and it was there that Tunnie Smith was spotted by Father George Artist, who saw potential in his great singing abilities. Smith was introduced to local musicians and bands as a result and was soon playing the local circuit. He landed a record label 18 months later and his first single came in 1973. Success followed as did an album that never actually got roasted. It was then in 1983 that he laid down the slow-burning mid-tempo soul numbers which feature in this 7" for the first time.

Review: Closer is the second album by disco producer and singer Gino Soccio, originally released in 1981 on Atlantic Records and RFC Records. The album features six tracks of catchy and groovy disco music, with influences from funk, soul and pop. The album includes the hit single 'Try It Out', as well as 'Street Talk', a smooth and soulful track with its guitar riff and a saxophone solo. This is one of those truly classic disco albums and showcases the legendary Canadian producer's talent and style.

Review: Following a fine mini-album on Los Angeles' Casablanca Sunset Records four years ago, "indie-dance" trio Supertaste have kept up a steady stream of singles and one-off cuts, mostly via their own self-titled imprint. Supernova, officially their debut album, marks the Brooklyn combo's first appearance on vinyl. The sounds they showcase are warm, positive sounding and groovy, recalling the work of fellow New York outfits Holy Ghost, Escort and Midnight Magic - albeit with their own synthesiser-embracing twist. It guarantees great listening throughout, with our picks including 'Protostar', the more bluesy indie disco flex of 'Supernova', the dub disco-flecked joy of 'Play To Lose' and the deliciously slow, dreamy and spacey 'Right Place/Right Time'.

Review: Tavares (which were also sometimes credited as The Tavares Brothers and Chubby and the Turnpikes) is an American funk and soul music group composed of five brothers. Their biggest hit came with 1976's 'Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel,' single on their Sky High! album and a Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It was the band's only gold record and was a Top 5 UK Hit as well as in other countries around Europe. It is a soaring disco anthem with very singable lyrics, as is the flispide. This huge cover of 'More Than A Woman' is a pure floor filling classic that swells the heart and spins the mind.

Review: Latvia's Tooflie crew is back six or so months after launching their new self-titled label with as second hand-stamped blue vinyl. There is a euro-disc feel to the vocals of 'LKA' which ride of rickety beats and tin-pot percussive clatter. 'KFE' is a spaced-out and proto-house sound with more libidinous female vocals and soft acid lines. 'MAXIM vs TDJ' is another Euro-dance sound with bright 90s chords and slapping high-energy house drums. Last but not least, 'LIND' drops into slinky deep disco house territory with a real sense of funky and purpose. A beguiling EP, no doubt.

Review: UK based production team Weekend Sun is made up of Phil Smith and Chris Tarn. Here their loose and inviting 'Hoochie Coo Strut' tune gets presented on a limited edition 12" with a pair of killer mixes. The original is all deep cut, slow motion disco grooves, spangly guitar riffs and big horns. It is a cacophony of sound that gets dialled right back by Al Kent. His take is a low slung groover with jazzy chords given plenty fo room to breath and neat little riffs filing in the spaces beyond. Andy Smith Reach Up Disco Wonderland remix is a big one for full floors.