Review: Ahead of an oncoming Tbilisi party set to be thrown by the Sameheads crew, their latest 7" appears ahead of time as the latest offering by fellow friends, Andrea & Alexander. With just 300 copies available, this dreamy duo share a juxtaposed space with a more esoteric, gritty B-side, occupied by TINA's 'Vacation', which breaks from the usual Sameheads sound, almost entirely, to indulge a massively wonky inhumation. The A's own 'Olias', by contrast, is light and sixteen-thy, dotting along with detuned Italo saws and descending cadences of relief. Once performed live at the fabled Sameheads festival, City Of A Thousand Suns, the label here celebrate its recorded version for the world to hear on repeat.
Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.
Archie Bell & The Drells - "Where Will You Go When The Party's Over" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:06)
People's Choice - "Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long)" (A Tom Moulton mix) (7:42)
Teddy Pendergrass - "I Don't Love You Anymore" (A Tom Moulton mix) (8:46)
Lou Rawls - "See You When I Git There" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:39)
Review: During the latter stages of the "Philly Soul" era, New York remixer Tom Moulton delivered a string of inspired, DJ friendly reworks for the Philadelphia International label. For proof, check this fine selection of classic Moulton mixes for the storied imprint. Check first his version of Archie Bell and the Drells' "Where Will You Go When The Party's Over", which he brilliantly teases out and increases in intensity over nine spellbinding minutes. The funkier flex of People's Choice's "Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long)" is a sweaty, low-down treat, while the Teddy Pendergrass rework is a soaring disco classic in the Philly Soul style. Best of all, though, is the string-drenched disco celebration that is his mix of Lou Rawls' "See You When I Git There".
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.
Magnolia - "Deep Inside My Soul" (feat Elliot Chapman - John Morales remix) (7:57)
Review: Celebrating its milestone 75th release, The Disco Express delivers an essential collection with four heavyweight remixes by The Reflex, Dr Packer, Hot Toddy, and John Morales. The 75th Release Special highlights the label's finest talent, reimagining original tracks into top-tier nu-disco, electronic and soulful house sounds. This limited edition turquoise blue vinyl, pressed in just 500 copies, is a meticulously crafted gem. Each remix breathes new life into the label's back catalogue. This is disco for 21st-century dancefloors and The Disco Express show no signs of slowing down.
Grab The Moment (instrumental Fonkymoog version) (5:21)
Review: Tracey Hamlin's voice brings a richness and vitality to this collaboration with MasterFonk, riding atop an arrangement that radiates warmth and precision. Layers of rhythmic guitar, bold brass flourishes, and a commanding bassline work together to create a dynamic yet effortless groove. The instrumental cut offers a different perspective, stripping away vocals to highlight the interplay between melody and rhythm. It's a track that bridges the past and present of funk and disco, showcasing both genres' enduring power to move bodies and lift spirits.
The O'Jays - "This Time Baby" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:53)
The Futures - "Party Time Man" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:11)
Jean Carn - "My Love Don't Come Easy" (A Tom Moulton mix) (10:45)
The Jones Girls - "Nights Over Egypt" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:13)
Review: Philadelphia International Records continues to dip into its bulging archives and offer up double-packs containing some of the finest 1970s remixes from remix pioneer Tom Moulton. As you'd expect, there's plenty to get the juices flowing and the heart pounding on this third volume in the series. Record one opens up with Moulton's epic version of the O'Jays' "This Time Baby", a swirling Philly Soul classic that later became a favourite of sample-loving disco-house producers and disco re-editors, and continues with his sugary but floor-friendly version of the Futures' "Party Time Man". Over on record two, Moulton's inspired extension of Jean Carn's seductive "Love Don't Come Easy" is followed by his must-have version of the Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt".
Saturday Night (Dr Packer dubstrumental mix) (6:34)
Review: After they relocated to Miami, Florida, in the early 1970s, Bahamas band T Connection recorded a string of disco and disco-funk anthems for local label T.K. Amongst their most admired and played releases - the peerless and extra-percussion 'At Midnight' excepted - is 'Saturday Night', which here gets the remix treatment courtesy of popular Aussie disco/house fusionist Dr Packer. He provides two peak-time-ready rubs: a jaunty, rolling, full-vocal A-side remix that lightly straightens and tools-up the groove while retaining the horns, strings, guitar and bass from the band's superb original mix, and a flip-side 'Dubstrumental'. Almost entirely free of singing besides some whispered and yelped backing vocals, it allows the original disco instrumentation more room to breathe while rolling out the band's killer groove.
Review: Tavares (which were also sometimes credited as The Tavares Brothers and Chubby and the Turnpikes) is an American funk and soul music group composed of five brothers. Their biggest hit came with 1976's 'Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel,' single on their Sky High! album and a Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It was the band's only gold record and was a Top 5 UK Hit as well as in other countries around Europe. It is a soaring disco anthem with very singable lyrics, as is the flispide. This huge cover of 'More Than A Woman' is a pure floor filling classic that swells the heart and spins the mind.
Review: Temu's debut on Star Creature follows a successful run with sister label Tugboat Editions, which released three sought-after 7"s over the past decade. This Giant 12" EP brings those rare covers to a larger format for more handy DJ deployment. The A-Side includes Temu's vital new take on the classic 'Is It All Over My Face?', plus a body-popping cover of Kraftwerk's 'We Are The Robots,' and a funky version of Herbie Hancock's 'Ready or Not.' The B Side showcases Temu's versatility with a cover of Tears for Fears, a Talkbox groove rendition of the Jones Girls, and a nod to Kano all of which make this is must-have for funk heads.
Review: The little-known but cult 1980 space disco hit 'Inside' has been officially remastered and is reissue there with new edits by Peaking Lights and Korkut Elbay. The track is packed with synths and vocoder from the era and escalates into a wild, propelling jam and was born in a Saarbrucken basement studio, set up by a marketing company owner seeking independence from expensive commercial studios and the result is this rediscovered gem of the space disco era. Korkut Elbay's edit focuses on the vocals and enhances the original for the dancefloor, while Peaking Lights' rework stretches the track by adding keys and trance-inducing melodies.
Review: Taking a break from their usual Italian remit, Best turn their attention to an overlooked pioneer from the annals of German electronic music history. Harry Thumann was based in Munich, and primarily worked as a studio engineer, but his own recorded work was vitally important too. An early adopter of MIDI, and with a propulsive electronic disco sound that was right at the cutting edge of the times, the four "experiments" Best have gathered here represent some of the most potent dancefloor jams he created - full-fat technicolour fever dreams for the fabulous and flamboyant.
Review: Miss You keeps on serving up the reissued aces with a new and beautifully produced German disco sizzler that has, rather unusually, an environmental edge (on those who speak German will be able to fact check that one.) Originally released in 1979 on a Contemporary Christian Music Label by the name of Lord, the original has become a real rarity that will cost you a pretty penny, even in LP format. Now remastered and served up next to a fine extended edit, it's primed and ready to take outdoor sets to the next level with its big swirling strings, motorik kicks and of course that feminine vocal.
Review: Owhaaou features four cuts taken from the incredibly hard-to-find and obscure Metamorphose album that was released back in 1984 by this legendary Benin soul star. He blends rare Afrofunk with digital soul as evidenced by the recent reissue of Dans le Tchink System. Now this label celebrates his work once more with this futuristic and expansive new record which was recorded on 24 analogue track channels with skilled backing musicians such as Hilaire Penda on bass, Poly Rythmo de Cotonou's Daniel Bentho and more. The title track is a big disco party starter then there are more sombre moods on 'Magnifiec' and a silky edit of 'Zemidjan' before 'Mi Tchinker' gets that booty shaking.
Review: Hitomi Toyama's 'Sweet Soul Music' originally made it to wax last year, when the track appeared as part of a rare Japanese funk compilation curated by the sound's brightest stars, Wamono. Now, though, it gets a proper release on 7", and is backended by the sultry B-side 'Wanna Kiss', which sounds pitched up and chirpy in its shrill alto vocals, which assure us we're held. The A, meanwhile, is as horny (in both senses of the word) as ever, quite obviously singing the praises of "sweet soul music... I love you!"
Review: The Disco Gioconda crew spin narratives as they do grooves, dream-weaving throwback Italo-style records through editable wattles. Trend-chasers begone: Gino Tonico and Tino Arancino together tap into a sound whose immanent quality foregoes any need for PR preservatives, letting each section breathe, twist, and evolve organically as energy builds. 'Vorrei Rubaria' leans into drama without excess, moving through bold shifts in tone and rhythm that hold attention from first bar to last - its dub mix, meanwhile, swirls our medulla, leaving us cochlear blear. It's a record designed for full playthrough, rewarding those who stay with it.
Yuji Toriyama & Ken Morimura - "Night Together" (4:47)
Chie Sawa - "Sea Gull" (4:07)
Review: Way back in 1982, Japanese musicians and producers Yuji Toriyama and Ken Morimura joined forces to deliver Aerobics, a soundtrack for exercise classes (really) that joined the dots between boogie, disco and city pop. 'Night Together', a superb electrofunk instrumental rich in picturesque synthesizer melodies, jazz-funk guitar solos (Toriyama was a guitarist by trade), squelchy bass and drum machine beats. It's certainly well worthy of being reissued - as this tidy "45" from Pony Canyon amply demonstrates. Curiously, it's not backed by another gem from that set, but rather another slept-on Japanese classic - 'Sea Gull' from Chie Sawa's 1974 hybrid folk-rock/psychedelic rock album 23 - Twenty Three Years Old. It's decent, but the A-side is the real winner.
Review: The Outer Edge reckons that this first release on their label is one of "the rarest and simultaneously best-recorded independently released German new wave singles in history." Bold words, but probably not far wrong. 80s outfit Total wrote it as the first and title single for an album deal they signed. It's a killer cut with hints of 'The Message''s hip-hop rhythm and alluring female vocals over a lush bassline from the Jupiter 8 keyboard and DMX drum machine funk driving it along at such an inviting mid-tempo. The withering cosmic keys add extra spacey goodness and here it comes with a couple of alternative mixes, though the OG is really the one.
Review: Trans-X was Pascal Languirand, but the fantastic vocal from his biggest single, 1986's 'Living on Video,' was performed by Laurie Ann Gill, a Canadian who never got the credit at the time. This reissue will put her in the spotlight and rightly so - this is pure dance effort gold, with hi-nrg disco beats, flashy synth-pop styles and a native retro-future tint that still bangs. It's rather unusual source material for Claptone who normally favours deep and soulful sounds, but he does a fine job of flipping into a big, cheery, chugging, tooting Italo-disco stomper. A dub mix is also included for a more raw vibe.
David Twice & Fool Sentimental - "Vous Avez Dit Bizarre?" (4:45)
Disco Flegrei - "Hot" (7:45)
Disco Flegrei - "Titanesque" (with Francis Galio & Marco Silva) (5:10)
DJ Moar - "Feelings" (7:11)
HoldTight - "Legend" (3:37)
Yured Jones - "Far Away" (2:28)
Review: Fresh Sounds #000 is a new and unique series, limited and numbered to 150 examples thanks to the efforts of its parent company Ribo Cochlee. For the very first edition of the series, a mockley crew of newcomers come to the fore, be they DJ Moar, Disco Flegrei or Holdtight. Centring on woozy jazzdance and disco with an airily produced bent, the highlights on this one have to be Flegrei's 'Titamesque', which basks in a kind of sexy sophistry procured by the heady combination of live drums and a (we think) muted bass clarinet, and Yured Jones' 'Far Away', which breaks from the genre prescription for a more cinematic breakdown.
Review: The Armed Gang was a Vicenza-based outfit formed in the early '80s, comprised of producer Maurizio 'Sangy' Sangineto with vocalists Joe Bunch, Kenny Claiborne and James Otis White Jr. - who were all stationed at a nearby US military base. Due to difficulties keeping the band members together after their return across the Atlantic, the band broke up after a mere three years. Their sole self-titled LP is a classic disco gem for those that know, featuring some slick expressions in Italo synth-funk crossover. This reissue courtesy of Guerssen imprint Espacial Discos is much needed, given the exorbitant price the original fetches on the secondhand market.
Review: There was one irrepressible Chicago club act that refused to be replaced by any DJ's sound system. Soul septet Maxx Traxx (and Third Rail before them) commanded a scene unto themselves in the early 80s, playing live five-plus nights a week somewhere in the 312. Their two LPs, both recorded in 1982, are a sheer energy-ride almost too explosive to be captured by studio tape. And yet these two stone-cold classics would remain unanswered by a city, as it moved determinedly toward the motorik sound of house. Hop the turnstile and move with this complete document of Chicago's last great club band told in detailed text, newly revealed photos and complete studio recordings painstakingly remastered.
Rim & The Believers - "I'm Not Going To Let You Go" (3:11)
Rim & The Believers - "Peace Of Mind" (3:52)
Review: Having re-released Rim Kwaku's long lost Rim Arrives album, BBE follow it up with more dusty disco treasures from the Ghanaian hit maker's repertoire. From the blistering horns and thundering drum rolls of the near-nine-minute romp "Shine The Ladies" right the way through the looser, more Afrobeat-focussed "Peace Of Mind" by way of the emphatic Stevie Wonder-style showmanship of "I'm A Songwriter" it's a collection that still sparkles with soul 30 years after they were recorded. If you're unaware of Rim's story, you'd be wise to check it; from Quincy Jones endorsements to homelessness in the space of 24 hours, Rim's tales are as serious as his music is funky.
The Salsoul Orchestra - "Ooh I Love It (Love Break)" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic 12" re-edit) (5:24)
Skyy - "First Time Around" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (7:28)
The Jammers - "Be Mine Tonight" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (5:43)
Love Committee - "Just As Long As I Got You" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (6:34)
Review: Dimitri has been very generous with his edits this year, having unleashed some of his finest DJ weapons in the form of the "Brooklyn Edits" EP and this refreshed trilogy of classic Salsoul revisions. They need little introduction as we take off with the iconic harmonies and horns of "Ooh I Love It" land with the incredible soul fusion of Love Committee's oft-covered (never bettered) feels odyssey "Just As Long As I Got You". With trips to New York for silky disco with Skyy and a synth boogie freak-out from The Jammers, it's once again another reminder that no one does edits quite like the man from Paris.
Review: Disco creator T-Groove has received high praise on both the domestic Japanese and international scene. What better motive, then, to trade on his newly gilded name than to pair up with street drummer George Kano for a transformative set of grooves, in the form of 'Let Me Ride', 'Midnight Lady' and ensuing tracks? That's just what T-Groove has done on his latest record here for P-Vine, incorporating a fusion-like style exquisitely crossing between jazz, rock, Latin and quiet storm. A testament to the chemistry shared between T-Groove and Kano - drummer-and-producer-dyad extraordinaires - this is a well-cooked slice of late night urban fusion and groove.
Review: 'Music & Time, 1983-1985' by Take Three brings together the soulful sounds of former South London vocal harmony group Alpha, fronted by sisters Jackie & Jean Heron and Marlene Richardson. This compilation, produced by the trio S.H.E. (Steve Sinclair, Peter Hinds, and Kevin Ellis), showcases their work during the mid-'80s, including both released and previously unreleased tracks. From the infectious groove of 'Tonight's the Night' to the reggae-infused 'Can't Get Enough (Nice Up Reggae Mix)', this collection captures a rich blend of UK soul, funk and dance, spotlighting an era of underground brilliance.
Review: Tantra II, the fourth album by Tantra, showcases the band's electric fusion of disco, funk, and electronic elements. The recording sessions were helmed by producer Celso Valli, and the record was initially unveiled in 1982 to great acclaim. The album takes the form of two extended jams, one on each side, with funk, Italo, Balearic, cosmic and more all influencing the extended dance floor jams. Now it is reissued for the first time ever on vinyl so gets the full treatment with a pressing on nice heavyweight 180g wax and is presented in a limited edition run of just 300 copies.
Review: By now, most should know Gloria Ann Taylor's "Deep Inside of You", a sublime chunk of rare disco-soul that's been reissued several times in recent years. Fewer will be familiar with Taylor's other work in the same period for the similarly obscure Selector Sound label, which is gathered together on this fine compilation. Evocative, tear jerking and largely heavily orchestrated in the "wall of sound" production style of Phil Spector, the heart-aching songs benefit greatly from Taylor's fragile but forthright vocal style. Ironically, the finest single moment - "Deep Inside of You" aside - is also the most sparse and bluesy: the near perfect "Burning Eyes". "Love Is A Hurting Thing" sold out when it first appeared in stores in 2015, so this reissue is bound to be popular. Don't sleep.
Review: Many will know Teaspoon & The Waves' incredible 'Oh Yeh Soweto' - a brilliant Afro-disco riff on Lamont Dozier's 'Going Back To My Roots' that has appeared on countless compilations and re-edit releases over the years - but fewer have heard the rest of the tracks on the South African band's incredible 1977 debut album (in part because original copies are rather hard to find). To those people, we'll say this: check out this Mr Bongo reissue right now! Blending Afro-jazz with jazz-funk, soul, deep funk and disco, every single track is a winner, with highlights including the celebratory 'Friday Night', the dazzling, duelling solos and heavy percussion of 'Saturday Express' and the life-affirming brilliance of 'Got Me Tight'.
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