Back catalogue: Funk

Review: It would be fair to say that Rahaan's Chicago Club Culture series, which here reaches its second instalment, is something of a passion project, inspired as it is by - in his words - "the golden age of Chicago club culture". Our reading of that is the 1970s and 80s, with all of the tracks on show being versions of cuts big on Windy City dancefloors in that period. The double-pack is heavy on tried-and-tested treats, from the expansive, Clavinet-sporting disco rush of 'Do You Like It' and the delay-laden, percussion-heavy brilliance of 'Columbian Dance' (all chanted vocals, punk-funk sax sounds, heavy electronic bass and layered Latin beats), to the crispy and crunchy, Chic-influenced excellence of 'Jealous For No Reason' and the low-down disco hustle of closing cut 'Can't Shake Your Love'.

Review: No one's edits and disco bombs slap quite like Rahaan's. The US master of all things soulful and funky can tap right into your core with his work and this new EP on Hot Biscuit is the latest example of that. 'Get Up' opens with retro disco favours, funky guitars and lung-busting vocals that bring the heat. 'Zombies' sinks into a nice silky sound with sliding cymbals and hi hats and knotted bass, then 'How' slows it down a bit for a more playful and seductive disco sound with nice horns and squelchy bass. Three real heaters.

Review: Rahaan returns with another scorching collection of disco edits, guaranteed to ignite dancefloors and satisfy even the most discerning disco devotees, featuring four blazing cuts, each one expertly crafted to maximize dancefloor impact. 'Repo Lady' kicks things off with an irresistible groove, its infectious energy and soulful vocals setting the tone for a joyous ride. 'Bodywork' keeps the energy high, its pulsating rhythms and funky bassline urging listeners to move their feet. On the flip, 'Woman Of The Party' delivers a dose of feel-good vibes, its uplifting melodies and soulful vocals creating a euphoric atmosphere. 'Go Dancin'' closes out the EP with a bang, its infectious groove and irresistible energy ensuring that the party continues well into the night. This limited-edition release is a must-have for any serious collector or DJ, a testament to Rahaan's mastery of the disco edit.

Review: Chicago has had a strong re-edit culture since the days when Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles were defining house music culture in the mid 1980s. Rahaan, who has been one of the more storied members of the global re-edit scene for the last two decades, is undisputedly the Windy City's current scalpel-edit king - as his ongoing series of reworks on Hot Biscuit Recordings emphatically proves. Here he adds two more fine revisions to his bulging discography. A-side 'For Dancing & Singing' sees the veteran DJ/producer apply his Midas touch to a vintage 60s funk jam, making most of the sampler-ready breaks and groove, while flip side 'The Galaxy' - our pick of the pair - is a soaring and spacey 70s disco workout piled high with percussion, jaunty piano motifs and suitably intergalactic synth sounds.

Review: Rahaan, one of Chicago's finest exports, delivers another stellar collection of dancefloor-focused edits. This four track EP traverses a spectrum of sounds, from disco to house, showcasing Rahaan's signature blend of infectious grooves and soulful energy. 'Project Funk' sets the tone with its undeniable funk flavour, its driving bassline and infectious horns guaranteed to get bodies moving. 'Shangri La' takes a more ethereal approach, its dreamy melodies and hypnotic rhythms transporting listeners to a blissful paradise. On the flip, 'Tribe Dance' injects a tribal-infused energy, its pulsating rhythms and percussive elements creating a primal atmosphere. 'Deeper' closes out the EP with a deep house excursion, its hypnotic groove and soulful chords inviting listeners to lose themselves in the music. With its impeccable selection and expertly crafted edits, this release is a must-have for any discerning DJ or lover of quality dance music.

Review: On the debut EP 'We Are The Ones/Fire/Forever', Chicago DJ and all-out living legend Rahaan collaborates with an equally talented group of musicians: Marcus J. Austin on lead vocals, Nancy Clayton on backing vocals, Carnell C. Newbill (also known as Spike Rebel) on keyboards and backing vocals, Todd Swope on guitar, and Lou Terry on bass. Together, the outfit known as The Ones create an extended three-track EP of transcendent proportions, drawing on the avaricious world-passion for music and life heard in the joyous chasms between psychedelia, Afrobeat and disco. Bridging these precipices by way of a vast, suspensory dancefloor held together by firmly mixable kick drums serving as rivets, Rahaan produces and mixes a viscerally eye-popping set of devotionals here. From the impassioned beatitudes and thanksgivings of 'We Are The Ones', to the desirous chic-funk drum circle envisaged on 'Fire' and the eternal gospel-rock-tinged disco-soul ablution 'Forever' (a special favourite of ours), this is a holy chrism in record form.