Review: Africa Seven's A7 Edits offshoot has already proved to be one of the better re-edit series around, primarily because they consistently employ some of the best re-editors in the business, offering them the opportunity to select tracks they want to rework from the parent label's vast catalogue of licensed cuts. This edition - the seventh EP to date - is another action-packed winner. Rising star Alan Dixon delivers a lightly tooled-up, all-action revision of Gyedu Bley Amadou's tropical disco classic 'Highlife', before Barcelona-based John Talabot and Pional re-frame Ekambi Brilliant's 'Afrika Afrika' as a kind of Afro-post-punk/dub disco mash-up. Over on side B, Escapade dances through a bouncy disco-house take on Pasteur Lappe's 'Na Real Sekele Fo Ya', while Jacques Renault expertly rearranges Michael Amara's Afro-disco-funk staple 'New Bell'.
Review: It would be fair to say that Paris Holley is not one of the best-known purveyors of 1980s funk and soul, though the handful of releases he put out in the decade tend to be cherished by serious diggers and DJs. 1984 jam "I Choose You", which is here reissued for the first time since the '80s, is undoubtedly one of his standout moments. Hazy, super-sweet and laidback, the cut sees Holley adding his soulful, high octave tones to a blissful backing track rich in fluid piano lines, sun-kissed guitars and mazy synth lines. Arguably even better is synth-funk B-side "Punkin' Funkin", a fizzing workout that sounds like a more soulful, talkbox-free take on Zapp man Roger Troutman's trademark sound.
Review: French progenitors of the dance Paris Acid City keep the spark of French (disco-) house alive with their latest EP 'PA City Two'. A label / moniker seemingly dedicated to capturing the bustle and excitement of 80s-90s Paris, bottling it in disco-house music form, the likes of 'Falling Planet Earth' are glamorous ear-grabbers, the equivalent of bowling down a high-fashion Boulevard with a wad of cash in hand. Then comes a tribal detour on 'Hupendi Muziki Wangu' before we land touch down g-funky, P-Funky Los Angeles on '212 North 12th'.
Review: Genre-bending artist PawPaw Rod finally unveils his highly anticipated EP, Doobie Mouth. Born in Hawaii and raised in Oklahoma City, the LA-based singer-songwriter Rodney Hulsey fuses rap, 60s soul and funk with hip-hop, sunny melodies and sophisticated lyricism that does a fine job of carrying Motown's legacy into the contemporary musical landscape. This seven tracker explores themes of love and self-growth all while managing to cook up lively and vibrant vibes that are rooted in funk with some interesting subtle detours. From the big open 'When I Get Home' to the catchy hooks of 'Cherry Tree' this is a potent new 12" for sure.
Review: The Perpetual Singers is a collective of gospel singers who hail from Amsterdam. They have linked up with producer Arp Frique for this tasteful new two-tracker via Unknownunknown. The 12" kicks off with 'Father Father' which has some brilliantly jazzy fingers dancing about a Rhodes piano and bringing great feels while a wordless ad-lib brings plenty of soul up top and some retro-future melodies bring a contemporary twist to this most bubbly of soul cuts. 'Elena' on the flip is a more driving grove with dusty drums and big guitar licks adding texture to the bright, shiny chords. It's a passionate sound with a catchy edge.
Fall In Love In Outer Space (Turbotito rework) (5:21)
Fall In Love In Outer Space (Blank & Jones Ride A Sunbeam rework) (5:00)
Fall In Love In Outer Space (Chuggin edits rework) (4:25)
Fall In Love In Outer Space (Those Guys From Athens rework) (4:32)
Fall In Love In Outer Space (Vibes4YourSoul rework) (4:37)
Fall In Love In Outer Space (HOLDTight rework) (5:19)
Review: Prime Time Band's 'Fall In Love In Outer Space' is one of the undoubted highlights of the latest Too Slow To Disco compilation - a quirky, 1985 curiosity that blends AOR, soft rock and spacey, synth-laden disco. Here the track is dragged into the 21st century by a sextet of remixers, most of whom treat the original with due reverence. Turbitto kicks things off by adding layers of tactile electronics and echoing effects to the obscure outfit's sumptuous, soft-touch vocals and instrumentation, before Blank & Jones re-imagine it as a dreamy Balearic disco chugger. The Chuggin' Edits tweak is tactile, groovy and super-slow, while Those Guys From Athens beef up the beats and add a touch of low-slung dub disco haziness. Meanwhile, 'Vibes4YourSoul' drop a warming, Rhodes-heavy interpretation and HOLDTight deliver slo-mo disco-funk vibes aplenty.
Review: From the grave, Prince is serving up a banger just in time for Christmas fun this year in the form of a one-sided 12" on Warner. It found him working with his trusty New Power Generation and features the 'damn near 10 min' mix of the song 'Gett Off' which is sure to fire up any dancefloor. It was originally a single - also served up as a one-sider - to promote Prince's new band with a cover that boldly declared that "Nothing can stop Prince and the New Power Generation" and was only issued on 1500 copies, so this is a great treat for fans to own all these years later.
Review: Mickey De Grand IV and Psychic Mirrors are back with 'Charlene II', an updated live take on their cult classic, originally released via PPU. Fresh off their latest tour, this rendition adds new dimensions, capturing the wild energy and rich textures of their performance. On the flip, 'French Dip' teases what's coming in 2025islick, polished funk dripping with Miami cool, elevated by that unmistakable LA studio gloss. It's a preview of bigger things, but for now, this release solidifies Psychic Mirrors' status as genre-melting pioneers who aren't afraid to keep pushing boundaries.
Review: Having come to the fore with a pair of boogie slammers on the Cosmic Chronic label, Mickey De Grand IV's Psychic Mirrors outfit ascend to parent operation People's Potential Unlimited with the excellent Charlene. Allegedly recorded with the help of a ten piece live band, both the title track and "Midnight Mirrors" are evocative of the sort of modern lo-fi funk that PPU corners the market in these days. Bringing the Miami heat, "Charlene" is a veritable dancefloor bomb, with a rugged boogie bassline the sort of flirtatious element that hips can't say no to. B Side cut "Midnight Mirrors" is more of a late night number with some exquisite synth work. Props to PPU!
Space Talk (2023 mix - mixed By Filip Nikolic & Raghav Mani) (5:30)
Space Talk (Dimitri From Paris Spacer dub) (6:38)
Space Talk (extended mix - mixed By Filip Nikolic & Raghav Mani) (6:41)
Review: Asha Puthli's 'Space Talk' is one of those quintessential diggers delights, hardly a secret weapon any more but widely recognised as a magical slice of misfit cosmic disco from the genre's golden era, fronted by Puthli's ethereal vocal. Now the track gets a remix package courtesy of Naya Beat, and the versions aren't to be trifled with. First up comes the mighty Dimitri From Paris, who ladles the funk on thick, trips out the atmosphere and sends the track even further away from terra firma. Flip the record over for Dimitri's even trippier dub when you really want to juice the dance up. There's also a neat and tidy 2023 mix of the track and the original extended mix, making this an essential purchase for those craving the beauty of the OG version as well as those hungry for a classy-as-hell new twist on a dead cert classic.
Pat Thomas - "Enye Woa" (LeonxLeon Keyed Up mix) (7:20)
Ebo Taylor - "Atwer Abroba" (8:14)
Ebo Taylor - "Atwer Abroba" (Leo Nanjo remix) (5:03)
Review: Comet's "Disco Highlife" re-edit series continues with an EP that draws together original tracks and reworks from two of the Highlife scene's biggest stars: Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas. The latter can be found on side A, with the tipsy, synth-driven highlife-boogie fusion of "Enye Woa". This is in turn re-edited by LeonxLeon, who has not only extended the original track but also added some superb new spacey synth solos. Turn to the flip for Ebo Taylor's richly percussive, Hammond-laden disco-highlife bubbler "Atwer Abroba" and Leo Nanjo's brilliant remix, which re-imagines the track as a rubbery chunk of Highlife-house drenched in dub delays.
The Wonderland Band - "Thrill Me" (Joe T Vannelli Classic mix) (5:51)
The Wonderland Band - "Thrill Me (With Your Super Love)" (8:05)
Pure Energy - "Party On" (Vannelli Bros Classic mix) (7:31)
Pure Energy - "Party On" (8:24)
Review: Use Vinyl looks back to two iconic tracks from the 70s and 80s here for source material for a new remix EP by the Vannelli family. Joe T remixes 'Thrill Me' by The Wonderland Band into the sort of direct and funky house sound that brims with early dance music charm while the Vannelli Bros offer their rework of 'Party On' by Pure Energy which comes with plenty of energy for club contexts. Both tracks are presented as Classic Mix versions and bring plenty of new life to the original hits without forgoing the timeless, catchy and meaningful melodies that define the originals. House music like this is as authentic as it gets.
Prof Jah Pinpin 4tet - "The Final Bird (Le Temps D'une Vie)" (3:18)
Review: There is scant little information out there about Yoanson & Karamie. What we do know is that they were young artists from the French African diaspora who met with Nessim Saroussi and his label Ness Music in the late 80s and were encouraged to record the music presented here. It is their only official EP and it is a brilliant mix of Afro-tropical percussions, disco, electro and vocals that call to mind the likes of Arthur Russell. Philippe de Lacroix-Herpin is the man festered here as Prof Jah Pinpin and he brings some of his signature saxophone brilliance to flipside jaunt 'The Final Bird (Le Temps D'une Vie)'.
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