Z Records レコード& CD

Review: AC Soul Symphony is one of Dave Lee's lesser-known pseudonyms, so for it to be the vehicle for an album of such extravagance, of such meticulous detail, is a real treat. Featuring live strings recorded with a 20-piece orchestra, all 15 tracks that span the epic two-hour runtime are expansive and feel as if every note was placed by hand; There's this authenticity to tracks like 'Manhattan Skyline', a CD/Digital only track which dates all the way back to 2020 and its swelling horn crescendos that transport you back to a time when disco had the world on its knees. 'Philly Avengers' is a major standout, with its killer bass grooves and dazzling Korg solo. The last of the city-related trio of singles is album opener 'Windy City Theme', a mid-tempo violin-led vocal groove that pays homage to the metropolis in Illinois. This is the CD version, featuring the full two hour tracklist.

Review: This special 12" features two tracks that will not be on the vinyl version of the forthcoming AC Soul Symphony, Disco opus "Metamorphosis" featuring a 20 piece orchestra alongside a whole host of top live players. That makes it an even more vital pick up because both are pure disco fire. 'I Want To See You Dance' has the title's classic refrain repeated over big Salsoul style string licks, funky basslines and soloing piano. 'The Talented Mr Adams' is a tribute to the legendary disco producer Patrick Adams and is a super sweet swooner with golden live strings and brass backing up a loose-limbed rhythm and vamping pianos that get you in the mood for love. These two tracks act as a fine teaser for what's to come on the much-anticipated album from a contemporary version of acts like MFSB and Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Review: While his immense contribution to UK dancefloors often goes unacknowledged, Colin Curtis continues to delight dancers - and jazz dancers in particular - well over 50 years after making his first appearance behind the decks. More impressively, he continues to dig for new and previously unearthed music, sharing these finds via the ongoing Jazz Dance Fusion series. Volume four - the latest - showcases 26 tracks across two CDs, mixing hot new and recent jazz dance workouts with buried treasure of all kinds. It's naturally heavy on Latin jazz, fusion and percussive jazz-funk, but also touches on samba, salsa and "Latin spoken word". In other words, it's another sublime selection from one of UK dance music culture's true underground heroes.

Review: Soul meets speed garage on this new V/A EP from Z Records, blurring the lines between the genres in just the way we like it. The opening track - Grant Nelson's mix of 'Starlight' by Dave & Omar - is a euphoric, piano-laced uplifter which both sonically and lyrically urges us to reach for the sky. That's followed by the DJ Fudge production 'Everything' by Chocolate Fudge Band, featuring lots of live instrumentation and a Curtis Mayfield style vocal, while over on the flip, 'Looking For You' proves to be a deep and bouncy cut filled with soulful Motown vocal chops and an organ workout worthy of any Sunday service, over a beautifully wonky house framework.

Review: Dimitri From Paris has the kind of masterful touch which makes any one of his remixes buy on sight material. But if you need to know more, on this 12" for Z Records he's taking on the Russian band Leonid & Friends and their cover of 'Street Player' by Chicago. Of course the original was an iconic joint made even more classic by 'that' Bucketheads tune, and you can hear DFP having fun nodding to that iconic bit of 90s chart-topping house in these deadly versions. If you like your disco house fierce and fiery but still delivered with finesse, this record is all you need.

Review: Originally recorded in the late 1970s and using many of the musicians employed by Diana Ross on her track 'The Boss'. 'Can't Put No Price On Love' has long been regarded as North End's 'long lost' single - an inspired disco workout employing that pre-dates the Arthur Baker/Tony Carbone-helmed project's most famous song, Tee Scott/Larry Levan favourite 'Happy Days'. The original multitrack was unfortunately lost, but the track finally appears, 40-odd years after it was recorded. Whether what we're hearing was finished and mixed at the time is uncertain, but the 'Club Mix' is certainly authentic sounding - a genuinely energetic, joyous and effervescent New York disco number with full orchestration, addictive vocals (Jocelyn Brown & Dennis Collins on backing Vox) and a killer groove. Elsewhere across the EP, we get two versions of 'We Can't Live Like This Anymore' - the synth-laden, solo-heavy disco-boogie style original mix (B2) and a superb 'drum break' percussion tool (A2) - and a brilliantly low-slung instrumental dub-disco cover of The Temptations' 'Cloud 9'.

Review: Under The Influence is Z Records' effort to document and preserve lost, forgotten soul-and-funk-feeding-into-house finds. Rahaan, from Chicago, here gets their attention and praise; a DJ and early progenitor of Chicago house, these tracks (unearthed from the vaults) are expensive and weighty forays through italo, disco and new wave, all carefully chosen by the man himself.

Review: This 2023 RSD release on Z Records is a treat for fans of soulful disco and 2-step garage. The A-side features a special 45 version of 'Secret Life Of Us', a catchy and uplifting anthem from The Sunburst Band's fourth album. The B-side showcases a 2-step soul mix of 'Look At The Stars', a smooth and romantic tune from Dave Lee's Produced With Love II album. Both tracks showcase the vocal talents of Maurissa Rose, who adds warmth and emotion to the songs.

Review: The latest in the 'Superfunkanova' series hears Woody Bianchi unearth little-heard-before rarities in the genre, with two rather naive and lo-fi but ultimately delightful songs peeking through the fold. The deep-friend strings of 'Calif Curl Calif Gurl' by the Together Band helms up the A-side, while the inflammable, instrumental soul mass that is 'Firebolts Hustle' by The Firebolts comes hits us like a Flaming Moe on the B.