Review: Lee Alfred's 1980 disco classic 'Rockin - Poppin Full Tilting' fetches incredibly high prices on second hand vinyl markets, if you can even find one at all. It is one of only a couple singles the artist put out between 1980 and 1981. Here it gets a special one-sided 45rpm pressing with an extended version rolling on for six sumptuous minutes. Underpinined by a tight rhythm section and bubbly bass, the dazzling synth leads are all pixelated and cosmic, the female backing vocals add heat and the main voice of Alfred is all buttery and soulful.
Review: This killer UK boogie 12-inch by Tony Crockett was originally recorded and released in 1982. It has some brilliant raps delivered in an aloof style, with plenty of swagger, and a touch of campness. They sound dated but in a good, nostalgic way, while the music around still sounds fresh with the sleek bass and big flutes, low slung drums and warm chords. On the reverse is /Plane Jane', another cheeky bit of UK boogie that oozes funk and cool. These are fun tracks for sure and come in a full picture cover.
Review: This is a reissue of a rare 1978 single from Whirl (aka West Indies Records Limited) which blends George Clinton's famous Parliament funk with Caribbean flair. The Outfit was one of the Caribbean's funkiest bands and they always showcased the creative potential of "Spouge music", particularly with their explosive cover of Parliament's 'Dr. Funkenstein', which they renamed 'Dr. Spougenstien'. Despite its rarity, the track became a hit in Barbados and was often mistaken for an original song. The B-side features a punchy Cosmic disco version of the Peter Gunn theme.
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.
Review: Sylvester has too many hits to count, but 'Over And Over' has to be up there. Originally released in 1977, the timeless slice of uptempo disco funk was a mighty meeting of minds - any track penned by Ashford & Simpson is set for iconic status, and with Sylvester up front it's even more of a sure thing. Quite simply eternal. Of course, Sylvester's most famous collaborator was Patrick Cowley, whose magic touch is all over the wriggling, brooding synth boogie of 'I Need Somebody To Love Tonight', presented here as a compact 7" edit for a short sharp blast of perfection.
Review: Miles Away Records are proud to introduce their latest single to land on the label: the cosmic soul gem 'Super Star' by Ruth Waters and the State Of Mind Show Band. Ruth 'Silky' Waters was best known for her two disco-infused albums Never Gonna Be The Same and Out In The Open, produced by the late, great John Davis. 'Super Star', however, was released on the tiny independent KMBA Recordings label in the late 1970s, and draws on the twin wells of modern soul and gospel, lending both a touch of cosmic goodness. On the flip, there's 'Super Star Pt.2', which plunges deeper into the cosmic essence of the track by way of both extended guitar and synth solos; both tracks are stupendios in their own rights, making this a hotly versatile release for a far-and-wide DJ demographic.
Soul Iberica Band - "I'm Looking For Jeremy" (3:36)
La Boca - "Laugh (The Longest Laugh In The Disco History)" (5:14)
The Lovelets - "Midemman" (Theme Midem 74) (2:39)
Yamasuki - "Kono Samourai" (2:43)
Ami Stewart - "Rocky Woman" (12" version) (4:40)
Who's Who - "Palace Palace" (12" version) (5:41)
The Great Disco Bouzouki Band - "Greek Girls" (4:16)
Vicky Edimo - "Let Me Love You Tonight" (3:09)
Gibson Brothers - "Come To America" (instrumental Disco version) (3:48)
Black Blood - "AlE (A Mwana)" (2:53)
La Compagnie Creole - "La Nuit Des Requins" (5:16)
Ottawan - "Qui Va Garder Mon Crocodile Cet Ete?" (extended) (3:20)
Rocky & Vandella - "Des Que T'as Dit Disco T'as Tout Dit" (extended) (4:06)
Francois Patrice - "Le Contrat" (3:33)
Daniel Vangarde - "Une Comete Va Rencontrer La Terre" (4:17)
Review: Few people are aware that Daft Punk's fame can at least, in part, be chalked up to the wealth of opportunity inherited by one half of the electronic music pair, Thomas Bangalter, by virtue of his dad being the late great Daniel Vangarde. It's no wonder Vangarde came to be known as 'the secret father' of French disco. A titan of the genre's cosmic and funky strands in France, Vangarde's numerous instrumental recordings saw him eventually rub shoulders with many other great contemporaries such as Petula Clark, Sheila and Joe Dassin. Zagora Records was his home turf; a short-lived record label that housed his only ever album in 1975. This compilation by Because Music hears a depths-plunging of the Zagora Records vaults, unearthing a slew of never-heard-before recordings to the public, and shedding light on his various production credits and monikers.
Review: Hailing from Philadelphia, the Eraserhood Sound label has been fostering a particularly cosmic bend of synths and soul music which is primarily rounded out by their in-house band, Fantasy 15. Following a string of on-point singles, the group now coalesce for a hotly anticipated debut album which delivers on the promise of those early drops. Drop in on 'Ray Gun' and let the thick swathes of brain-tickling synths send you stratospheric - this is hot and heavy boogie colliding with the loftiest prog and coming up trumps. There is a luscious vocal cut featuring Kendra Morris, but primarily this is an instrumental trip to take you very far out indeed.
Review: First released way back in 1997, The Mood Mosaic compilations found good traction not merely for their compiling of many lesser-known dark/Italo disco artists into singular compilations, but also for their use of implicitly sexual imagery on their front covers - a business-minded pairing, to say the least. This reissue harks back to the comp's enduring legacy, with lackadaisical classics including Marta Acuna's 'Dance, Dance, Dance', Touchdown's 'Ease Your Mind' and Black Devil's 'Follow Me' all appearing in quick succession.
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