Review: Many Hands is a fresh label helmed by Jona Jefferies and Kava that here kicks out an eclectic EP with four tracks from various members of its musical family. Dan Aikido opens with '0800 TXT4 Herb,' a smooth fusion piece that builds a laid-back groove, blending fretless bass, jazzy keys and soulful vocals all reminiscent of Rare Silk's 'Storm.' Ernie Ruso's 'Stroke It' offers slow, sensual r&b infused with P-funky wah-wah effects while DJ Nomad's 'African Boy' brings upbeat pop house next to funky organ and a female reggae MC.Jefferies' closer 'A Change Will Come' samples Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with a rave-inspired beat and soulful piano. Cracking stuff.
Review: Following up the first release quickly with Detroit native Paul Alan, who now resides on the sunny west coast. Paul Alan aka DTCHPLNES, delivers the smooth latin driven car cruiser "Provider" and the sun blissed slow skate vibes of "Charlevoix", which also sounds great on 45. The two track 7 inch is wrapped in a treasure map jacket with a compass foil stamp and includes a postcard.
Taylorpo (Warehouse Preservation Society remix) (5:23)
Massive Birth (Mind Fair remix) (5:43)
Review: Coolly stepping out like a white-suited player on a Miami club strip, the high expectations set by any mention of Italian disco pioneer Daniele Baldelli are easily matched by the opener and title number. And things really only get better from there.
'Massive Birth' is an intelligent, freeform outing on a half-time, DJ Rocca's ever-tight drum programming clearly having some influence on the complex percussive patterns. On the flip, Mind Fair have their way with that original, turning it into a more grounded four-four workout if you listen beyond the top layer of rolls and snare crashes. For many, though, this one will be all about the Warehouse Preservation Society remix of 'Taylorpo', which puts Italo right back at the top of the disco agenda, sounding at once space age yet nostalgic, and unquestionably, unstoppably danceable.
Review: DJ Rocca has collaborated with plenty of people before, most notably Dimitri From Paris, fellow Italian producer Leo Almunia and UK chill-out don Chris Coco, but this 12" marks his first EP-length hook-up with Afro-cosmic and cosmic disco pioneer Daniele Baldelli. Unsurprisingly, they've delivered the goods and then some. With its early Warp Records style bleeps, infectious hand percussion, squelchy bass and jammed-out Clavinet licks, 'Rolling Wave' is a future cosmic disco classic. 'Focused Image' is a more chugging and low-slung Afro-cosmic-funk workout with nods to classic house, while 'Marchin' On' adds layers of funk to a throbbing Italo-disco groove. 'Funk Infusion', meanwhile, sees the pair dial up the cosmic disco funkiness to the max. Excellent stuff, as expected!
Brian Bennett & Alan Hawkshaw - "Name Of The Game" (4:25)
Dave Richmond - "Confunktion" (4:38)
Review: Measured Mile is a new 7" label run by regular Ace consultant and confidante Bob Stanley. The plan is to release DJ-friendly 45s that are either very rare or previously unavailable on seven-inch. On this new one come two pieces from esteemed library musicians - the well known pairing of Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett, and Dave Richmond. 'Name Of The Game' is a slow instrumental blues piece with beats ready to be plundered for hip-hop beats that once soundtracked a 1970s aftershave ad, while Richmond's 'Confunktion' is a motivational builder-upper with drums and organs aplenty.
Let's Start To Dance Again (Dimitri From Paris remix extended version) (6:42)
Let's Start To Dance Again (Dimitri From Paris remix Super Disco Blend) (8:12)
Let's Start To Dance Again (7:37)
Let's Start To Dance (part II) (6:41)
Review: Bohannon's biggest dancefloor hit, 'Let's Start II Dance Again', has been remixed umpteen times over the years, with several reworks of the slamming disco-funk classic released in the early-to-mid-1980s. Here it gets another new lease of life as part of Unidisc's 40th anniversary celebrations, with disco remix maestro Dimitri From Paris at the controls. The Frenchman delivers two tasteful, club-ready tweaks: an 'Extended Remix' that wisely utilises all of the familiar elements of Bohannon's original, while subtly beefing up the beats and adding a few drops and breakdowns, and an even longer, more dubbed-out 'Super Disco Blend' revision. Over on the flip there's a chance to enjoy Bohannon's original version and the raw and heavy 'Part 2' mix from 1981 album Alive.
Review: For the latest in their series of "giant 45s" - loud 12" pressings of classic cuts from the Studio One vaults - Soul Jazz has decided to offer-up a fresh pressing of Brentford All Stars' 'Greedy G'. Based on James Brown classic 'Get On The Good Foot', the track was famously sampled by Boogie Down Productions on their iconic cut 'Jack of Spades'. It remains a bona fide party classic, adding a bass-heavy, Hammond-heavy reggae spin to Brown's insatiable funk groove. As it did the last time Soul Jazz issued it back in 1988, it comes backed with the deeper and more laidback 'Granny Scratch Scratch', another classic cut from Studio One's in-house backing band.
James Brown - "Funky Men" (Dimitri From Paris Special version) (6:13)
The JB's - "Just Wanna Make You Dance" (feat Maxxi - Dimitri From Paris Special version) (6:48)
Review: Dimitri From Paris returns with a fresh installment of his celebrated DFP Vaults series, highlighting deep cuts that reinforce his status as a top-tier remixer, DJ, and a true connoisseur of dance music's hidden gems. This release holds particular significance for Dimitri, as it pays homage to the legendary James Brown, a figure whose influence in music is beyond measure. The release features Dimitri's 'Special Version' of 'Funky Men,' a track from James Brown's Soul Syndrome. Originally overlooked by Dimitri in 1981, it now shines with a unique disco beat that he's reimagined using both vintage and modern editing techniques. The track has already proven its power on the dance floor. On the flip side, Dimitri revisits 'Just Wanna Make You Dance' by The J.B.'s, featuring Maxxi. This rare disco track, with its Caribbean flair, gets Dimitri's expert touch, enhancing its dancefloor appeal. DFP Vaults, the sister label to Le-Edits Records, presents this release with meticulous attention to detail, featuring state-of-the-art mastering and vintage-inspired packaging.
Doing Our Own Thing (Dimitri From Paris remix part 1) (5:01)
Doing Our Own Thing (Dimitri From Paris remix part 2) (4:57)
Review: Monsieur Dimitri from Paris works his magic on Casbah 73's organic disco grooves with a remix treatment that surpasses all expectations. Casbah's original track may sound like a band-recorded take with added production sheen, but it's actually a deceptively well-made track recorded by a talented solo artist. Dimitri brings added wompy disco-house heat to the track in two parts, with the first part focusing on the more bangerific elements of the original, and the B (part two) stripping things back to focus on the more minimal, solo dubby parts.
Review: This latest is a reissue of a Congress Productions EP featuring their seminal 'Neptune'. The much-sampled early 80s jazz-funk classic comes in original form next to two unreleased cuts. The first is a rare boogie cut 'Live It Up' that has been extended for more dancefloor heft having first been dropped under the D'aile' alias as a B-side. Then comes 'Kevin's Funk' which is named in reference to Incognito trumpet player Kevin Robinson, who played as part of a Congress-associated line-up for this session.
Review: The soul, funk and disco 7" community is a strong one. Besides garage rock and psychedelic rock, there might not be another genre that is so beloved on the small but mighty 45rpm format. So, it completely makes sense if you are a newer producer releasing music in these genres then definitely know your fan base. Cool Million is a Danish and German duo doing just that. Their track 'Stronger' is the track and the title of their sixth full length album from 2019. The album has gained such strong reviews that they put it now as a single along with the Dub version on the reverse side. 'Stronger' is a positive and upbeat anthem that is sure reign in the innocent bystanders to party. The Dub is a super-cool alternative version that reminds of us classic roller-skating funk track from Midnight Star or Kool & The Gang. Need a party starter? Get this!
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Cruise Music marks its tenth EP by serving up what it says are "secret funky house weapons" and there isn't much wrong with their description. Danny Cruz kicks off with 'Shoulda Been You' which rides on smooth grooves and has gentle synth waves breaking over the beats as heartfelt vocal sounds rise out of the mix. Mark Funk's 'True Lies' brings a classic 90s vocal sample to a non-stop soul beat and the B-side has got Dirty Disco Stars going big and funky and glorious on 'Look Up' then Mirko & Meex Re-touch 'Young Hearts' .
Review: Groove Culture enlist Italy's Da Lukas for a stinging string-disco propeller, 'Doin' Me Wrong', backed up on the B by 'Good Man'. Massive pressure-house feels coincide with the trilling afterglow of disco, as rock-bottom breakdowns prefigure high-as-a-kite apexes, word-painting the A track's lyrical focus on manic depressive push-pull relationships ("you tell me don't do this, you tell me don't do that"). The B-side track is weightier by comparison, deploying waterier wahs and an echo of Motown in its otherwise relentless garagey swing.
Review: Da Lukas's Satisfy Your Soul EP is a four-track full of disco goodness that opens with the title track, a driving, percussive workout with a powerful vocal performance. 'Let Your Body Be Free' continues the party music with a dynamic horn section and disco breakdown. 'Supergood' is a hi-energy dancefloor anthem, with a pumping beat an infectious filtered house sound. The EP closes with 'Music Turns Me On', a slow-burning track that enjoys riding the groove with a generous amount of funk. Da Lukas' tracks are nicely crafted, with a deep understanding of the disco genre. Satisfy Your Soul is a must-have for fans of disco and nu disco alike.
Review: Legofunk's 12" series is back in action with this fantastic two-track EP from Da Lukas and Massimilliano Troiani. Extending outwards from Afrobeat and into sunny house dance-realms, 'Voodoo Bongos' comprises 'Bad Duna' and 'Afro Panda', the first of which exorcises any traces of bad juju with a righteous, shimmying shindig, through hand-drummed ascensions and chanted revelations against solid kicks. The sax line over and above predominates, though at times it blends back into the ensconcing euphony, at which point a retrofusion of white noise fallers and jaunty male verses displace the limelight. 'Afro Panda' moves similarly, unveiling another carnivorous piebald prance.
Boogie Night (feat JZP - Astratto Fool mix) (6:34)
Bank Robber (4:29)
Magic Circle (2:58)
Brazillionaire (2:58)
Brazillionaire (The Mechanical Man remix) (6:45)
Review: Daddario proves he is the daddio with a new electro excursion on the fledgling Ragoo label. Rather than all out cosmic dance floor assaults, this is electro steep in funk and boogie from the off. 'Shift' is a playful one with stiff melodies and lush chords while 'Boogie Night' (feat JZP) is just that. 'Space Lou' has a feel good disco tinge to the hip swinging clasp and jazzy keys and after an Astratto Fool mix that slows 'Boogie Night' down to a soulful slow dance the flipside brings dazzling electro-disco and downbeat analogue grooves that seduce and tease. The Mechanical Man remix of 'Brazillionaire' might just steal the show at the end.
Review: Conceived for maximum floor-lift, Daje Funk is the namesake of both artist and label; here the elusive but fun-loving moniker brings another four whopper disco edit-remixes to vinyl, further charging the collective body with a haul of kitsch spirituals. Three out of four tracks here are "lovely edited" - intentional or not, we can't resisting stealing such brilliant turns of phrase - by longtime Roman disco purveyor Les Inferno, with the support of a cracking cadre made up of fellow producers and engineers Max Pottini, Emiliano Patrick Legato and Dom Scuteri. Stefano Fusco also handles the B1; and though we don't know the original IDs of any of the tracks here, the vibe is consistently spirited, and the artists only carefully betray their access to the original stems (made eventually obvious by faint vocal delays, extra-thwacking kick EQs, etc.).
Review: Boom! Ultra rare outernational funk reissue action by the new Habibi Funk imprint! Dalton were a late '60s soul band formed in Tunis by a group of American music enthusiasts, and their one and only LP under the Dalton name was independently released and super rare until now. "Alech" nears psychedelic territories thanks to its echoing vocals and trippy percussion, whereas "Soul Brother" is more of a classic soul ballad, but filled with the band's own native roots, of course. Be sure to check, this is hot and recommended for the diggers.
Review: An instantly recognisable voice in the funk sphere for over 60 years, you can't talk about Togolese music with mentioning the funkmaster and 'King of Gazo' himself Roger Damawuzan. Containing an unreleased single from his upcoming album 'Seda', this double single is funk so heavy it'll weigh you down. 'Fine Fine' is a slick and fast-paced track of contentment - leave the man alone he said he's fine! - and 'Red Light' is a squeaky clean showcase of what made Damawuzan so popular in Togo with his carefree and charismatic attitude. All you funk lovers out there have got to give this a spin.
What Would You Do (Expansions NYC dub vocal) (7:10)
Review: Get ready for a rush-inducing dose of proper soulful vocal house from the mighty Dames Brown. On this record for Defected, Detroit's foremost trio of Athena Johnson, Lisa Cunningham and Teresa Marbury linked up with the mighty Amp Fiddler and Andres for a rip through house music as real as it gets. The original 12" mix of 'What Would You Do?' is hard to beat for raw, heavy-hitting groove and production, but there are some choice remixes included here for those who have different needs, whether it's the bouncy jazz funk of Two Soul Fusion's version or the smoother sound of Folamour creating a sleek disco house variation for the peak time crowd.
Review: Dallas based singer-songwriter Derek Damian recorded the gloriously life-affirming soul nugget 'Watcha Wanna Do' a decade ago. It has lost none of its charm or magic all these years later as this new pressing attests. The rolling grooves, the effortlessly epic vocals and the serene string all ooze class. On the flip, he gets more romantic with the perfectly tender and intimate 'Never Felt So Good.' It's beefed up by bold baritone vocals, contemporary R&B production and gooey bass. A killer 45 for sure.
Review: Dallas based singer-songwriter Derek Damian recorded the gloriously life-affirming soul nugget 'Watcha Wanna Do' a decade ago. It has lost none of its charm or magic all these years later as this new pressing attests. The rolling grooves, the effortlessly epic vocals and the serene string all ooze class. On the flip, he gets more romantic with the perfectly tender and intimate 'Never Felt So Good.' It's beefed up by bold baritone vocals, contemporary R&B production and gooey bass. A killer 45 for sure.
Review: Giovanni Damico teams up once again with Star Creature for a new 45 packed with fresh boogie bangers. The A-side delivers a funky, psychedelic disco stomper that will effortlessly and quickly transport you to listeners to 1981. It has echoes of Afro sounds from Lagos and the disco energy of NYC's Lower East Side, with catchy chants and breakbeats evoking a hidden Kid Creole track. The B-side is a great take on Italo disco with dusty drum machines, percussion and vintage synths infused with Damico's own guitar and bass work. This is another great chapter in the ongoing story between artist and label.
Review: If you were able to track down an original copy of Dana's soul single, 1977's 'Estate', for sale, it would most likely set you back a few hundred pounds. Helpfully, the excellent Disco Segrata label has tracked down the creators and cut a deal to reissue it. The title track (side A) is a fine example of eccentric, sun-splashed Mediterranean disco of the sort that Italian producers excelled at before the more electronic and synth-pop influenced Italo-disco sound emerged some years later. It does feature some spacey synths, but also organic grooves, infectious lead vocals and some sparkling, suitably summery melodies. 'S'inghelada' takes a similar sonic approach, opting for even heavier bass, liberal use of jazzy and Spanish style guitar solos, and even bolder 'dancing by the beach in Rimini' lead lines.
Review: Dancefloor Stompers was formed in Sardinia in 2009. They are a talented group of musicians who have a big love of mod jazz, black music roots and Italian soundtracks and library music classics from the 50s through to the 80s and all of that influences this new EP, Phuture Soul. Recorded and mixed at Solid Twin Studio between May 2021 and January 2022, it kick off with the title track which pairs rock guitars with funky basslines. 'Catch This Train' has a more playful pop-rock feel with big horns, 'Glass Tears' is a smoother groove and 'Not In My Name' closes on a more downbeat note.
Review: Italian Dandolo makes a bold solo debut, taking us on an adventurous sonic journey from the Adriatic coast to the distant shores of Thailand. The track pulses with the vibrant energy of Italo Disco, blending infectious melodies with rich, tropical rhythms. There's a sense of escapism here, capturing the allure of a sun-soaked escape, while the production stays firmly rooted in the glistening sounds of the 1980s. On the flip side, Cosmo Dance delivers a remix that is pure dancefloor gold. The dub version leans into Eastern-inspired motifs, nodding to the golden age of Italo Disco with its deep basslines and shimmering synths. It's a track designed to move bodies and keep the energy high, elevating the original's already infectious vibe. This release is a fantastic chapter in Dandolo's evolution and showcases Mirella Records' dedication to preserving the essence of classic Italo while bringing fresh energy to the scene.
Review: Dandy was the alias of choice of Italian singer Alessandre Persone, who collaborated with a string of producers to craft Hi-NRG and 'Eurobeat'-powered synth-pop hits between 1987-91. 'For Your Heart' dates from 1989. Rooted in the kind of sing-along, Hi-NRG pop pioneered by Bobby Orlando but developed commercially by Stock, Aitiken and Waterman, the song is a genuine earworm and comes complete with weighty, arpeggio-driven bass, echoing drum fills and classic Italo-disco style stabs. The killer version is the EP leading, extended 'Mix version', though plenty will also reach for the jaunty and heavy instrumental take. The short bonus 'MYOM version' is a DJ tool that cycles through various riffs and echoing vocal snippets.
Review: The second release on the I Travel To You label is another delightful outing with plenty of character. It comes from Norwich-Manchester duo Dangerous Goods who manage to bottle up influences from the worlds of Detroit and jazzy house, disco, funk and more in the opening tune 'Special Love'. It is a bristling tune packed with musicality and old school synth sounds which continued through the stepping bass seances and snappy machine drum sounds of 'Breakout'. Last of all is the more horizontal and dubby sundown workout that is 'Theme.'
Review: Fresh from his superb hook-up with Sauvage World on Roam Recordings - the brilliantly titled electro/nu-disco fusion of Paninari on Acid - Daniel Monaco makes his bow on Bordello a Parigi with a deliciously throbbing chunk of quirky Italo-disco revivalism. 'Tu Sei Piazza' is propelled forwards by a sequenced, arpeggio-style bassline and vintage drum machine beats, but it's what sits on top - tipsy trumpets, spy-funk guitar licks and FM synth lead lines - that makes the track such a vibrant bundle of fun. Arguably even better is the flipside Whodammy interpretation, which brilliantly re-imagines the track as a kaleidoscopic slab of mid-tempo, mid-80s boogie revivalism.
Catch Me When I'm Falling (feat La Donna Wells) (4:04)
In My Mind (3:05)
Review: Derwin Daniels, an accomplished soprano saxophonist and composer, crafted this smooth r&b 45 back in 1989. Featuring the powerhouse vocals of the late La Donna Wells, who delivers a performance on par with Mary J Blige, this gem pre-dates "What's The 411" by three years. The track oozes slick, deep r&b vibes that are soulful enough to fit seamlessly into modern soul and disco sets. On the flip side, Daniels treats listeners to some jazzy brilliance, showcasing his versatility as a musician. An essential find.
Review: The world of dark disco tech is vast and so covers plenty of niches and nuances with artists all over the world adding their voice to the conversation. Spanish label Waste Editions offers up four more to the mix here with another well-assembled VA. Dark Vektor's 'Amb La Mirada Ens Menjarem' begins with some synth sounds that evoke a horror scene over snappy drums and sleazy guitar riffs. Synth Alien's 'Replica Cosmica' gets a little more loose but still comes with evocative vocal samples and a characterful world of synth sounds, some that fart, some that gurgle, some that amuse. Imiafan's 'Stupaj (Keen K RMX)' is another prying, loopy sound brought to life with myriad effects, textures and vocal snippets and Wardum shuts down with 'Wrambling' which has grinding bass and scuttling effects topped with occult vocals.
Review: Mr Bongo restock a brilliant 7" in their signature Brazil 45s series. The nineteenth to grace it, this blue-starred slice of small wax shone a light on Wilson das Neves' brilliant cover of Average White Band's 'Pick Up The Pieces' on the A, as well as a Mr Bongo fave on the B, Som Tres' potent samba-funk overflow 'Tanga'. The former flexes the historic muscles of a mythic Brazilian percussionist and vibesman, lending fidgety soft feels to AWB's already lull-lifting concoction; then 'Tanga' contrasts to this sense of measuredness with pure animal verve, as Tres' calls out to his bandmates commandingly amid whirlwinds of piano and drums.
Review: Impressive original funk largesse from Swiss supergroup Daschenka Project; 'Craving For Love' demonstrates just that, with impeccable recordings by one Luc Montini at One Drop Studios backing up an indelible ensemble cast of musicians, from Dascha Luscher (vocals), Jean-Pierre Von Dach (guitar), Michael Chylewski (bass) and a tripartite brass section comprising Charlotte Lang, Noah Eiermann and Moritz Renner. Where the A-side revels in an ultra-lively energy, 'Spinning Round' on the B plies the record with an equal measure of chillout soul food.
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