Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Over the years, France's Favorite Recordings has been very good at sniffing out lesser-known European gems from the disco and boogie era, mostly for superb and must-check compilations. Recently, they decided to make some of these licensed obscurities available on a series of 12" singles, where a louder, club-heavy cut is preferable to DJs. The latest sees them offer-up two lesser-known Belgian gems produced in the mid 1980s by future new beat don Tony Baron. Jonathan Jr's 'Hanging On To You' is warm, shuffling and synth heavy, with the artist's soulful and jazzy lead vocal sitting alongside squelchy synth-bass, Nile Rodgers style guitars and post-electro beats. Special Occasion's 'Flying To Santa Barbara', meanwhile, sits somewhere between 80s soul, AOR synth-pop and sax-sporting B-movie soundtrack goodness.

Review: This second instalment in the Spring Revisited seriesia collaboration between Acid Jazz and Ace Recordsioffers two expertly handled edits from across the Atlantic rooted in the fertile legacy of 70s New York soul. London's modern disco institution Dave Lee reinvents The Joneses' 'Love Contest' with his trademark finesse, giving the track a full-bodied groove-up without losing its bittersweet heart. The strings soar, the rhythm section locks tight, and Lee's decades-deep knowledge of disco and boogie shines through in every detail. On the flip, New York-based Coleen 'Cosmo' Murphy brings lush new life to Street People's 'I Wanna Get Over'. With sun-drenched keys, crisp hand percussion and subtle delays, she transforms heartache into late-night liberation. Both sides feel like love letters from DJ to danceflooriclassic soul refracted through contemporary ears, pressed on wax that looks and feels like it just time-travelled from 1979.

Review: The University Of California Santa Cruz Chamber Singers is a group from the 70s headed up by Bob Masters that released two cult albums A Birthday Celebration and Voices. Their lush, lavish, soul-enriching sound is a harmonious balm that here on the newly reissued 'Children Of Bahia' gets paired with some Latin-tinged jazz sounds, shuffling samba rhythms, busy Rhodes keys work and plenty of organic percussive layers thanks to Randy Masters and Solar Plexus. 'Torremolinos (Windmills)' is an equally spiritual sound with more prominent flutes and dancing piano chords all energising every fibre of your being.

Review: The shadowy Edit & Dub crew don't talk about their releases, so it can be difficult to ascertain whether the tracks they're showcasing are long-lost originals, or new edits of ridiculously rare records. Either way, the label's latest EP features versions of some seriously hard to find treats, starting with a fine 'extended disco instrumental' of Sanctuary's 'Disconnect', a fine disco-boogie jam from 1980. They then deliver a (we think) previously unreleased 'extended disco' mix of Willie J & Co's killer 1976 disco-funk gem 'Boogie With Your Baby'. On the B-side we're treated to two takes on the mysterious 'Familiar Time and Place' by Uknown Tapes: a 'Chicago Mix' which sounds like late 80s Windy City acid house smothered in spacey deep house chords and intergalactic electronics and the mid-80s techno-tinged 'Detroit Mix'.

Review: Sukuma by Sandy B & LJ Simon is a delightful blend of electronic funk and house music, released with an accompanying remix by Eddie C. On Side-1, the original track exudes a downtempo funk vibe infused with elements of house music, creating an irresistible groove reminiscent of 80s funk. Lead vocals by Sandy B add a dynamic and soulful dimension to the track, enhancing its overall energy and appeal. On Side-2, Eddie C's remix of 'Sukuma' injects fresh energy into the mix with additional dance elements that elevate the funk party to new heights. The remix lively rhythms and a captivating main synth line that transports listeners to a vibrant dancefloor atmosphere. With its infectious beats and charm, 'Sukuma' and its remix offer a unique chance to wow the dancefloor with something different and fun.

Review: This is the first release on Boston funk superstar Saucy Lady's own label Dippin' Records, collecting two nu-disco bits, and a few alternate versions, all with a skippy, retro flair. Produced by Saucy Lady herself, alongside Yuki "U-KEY Kanesaka, the A-sider 'Why' comes as an electronic space disco version of Carly Simon's original. Meanwhile, the flip's 'One More Night' reinterprets the original song by Phil Collins as an uptempo banger, side-by-side with a retake by Daisuke Miyamoto.

Review: A superb 12" slab of rare South London British jazz funk, originally released in the UK in 1984 by Jamaican-born producer Tony Williams, the man behind the seminal Funk Masters' jazz-funk masterpiece, 'Love Money'. Now heard again, 'Keep On Searching For Love' is emblematic of London's 80s dub disco sound, with its every constituent part recorded, arranged and processed to the discotheque-addict's letter. Gated snares and acapella croons abound, with the uplifting vocals of Linda Taylor shining as brilliantly as star at the peak of its supernova. The flipside instrumental, 'Eastern Lady', comes complete with hypnotic bassline, drum machines, synths and stabbing horn lines; both tracks have been lovingly remastered from tape and now come exquisitely repackaged for you to enjoy. Gotta keep on!

Review: Another example of a classic disco track being thrust into the modern age thanks to TikTok, Silk's 'I Can't Stop (Turning You On)' was recently flipped by LF System in 'Afraid to Feel', turning the slow-burning Philly soul bopper into a hyper-speed house banger. For fans of that original sample, being able to hear the sultry vocals of Debrah Henry being manipulated by bpm. The Philadelphia septet hit the nail square on the head with this sensual love make that is so detracted from it's descendant that you're about to have two new favourite songs.

Review: The cultured creative minds of James Simonson and Blair French reunite for this new Realities Remix EP on MotorCity Wine which was, in original form, recorded by Simonson in hotel rooms across Europe and the Americas while touring with soul legend Bettye LaVette. As such it takes in myriad global influences as well as evocative field recordings which get reworked in style. Blair French adds his touch with three remixes, firstly the anthemic 'Realities (Projector Remix),' then the more dance-driven 'Elektronolux Overture (Sunday Remix)' and the lush and downtempo 'Hannah (Remix)' featuring violinist Sonia Lee. Two originals 'Realities' and 'Elektronolux Overture' also appear on vinyl for the first time and sound superb.

Review: South African funk outfit Stimela, named after the Zulu word for locomotive, formed out of the ashes of bandleader Ray Phri's previous band, The Cannibals, and soon became an institution in their homeland. Five albums deep in 1986, they also released the astounding Rewind EP, which now gets faithfully reissued by Mr Bongo for a fresh audience. Every track on here is a winner, from the epic, proggy groove of 'I Love You' to the low slung, synth-rich funky angles of 'Shaka Doo Ba'. You won't regret copping this slab of wax, trust us.

Review: Daniele Prencipe, a former member of Ganymed, the influential Austrian space disco band from the late 70s, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist with a rich discography spanning jazz to pop. Based in Italy, he excels as a musician, singer, and composer, yet remains underrated despite his evident talent. His solo projects and work with Surprise showcase his exceptional abilities. Particularly notable are tracks like 'Wow' and 'Singin' And Steppin'' which are reissued now by Baba and show how he pioneered the use of the Minimoog and Vocoder. These compositions feature intricate arrangements that set them apart. Originally released on a rare 7" by Polydor in 1983, these are standout funk jams.