Juno Recommends Funky House August 2020

Review: KON and Ben Westbeech AKA The Vision's second collaborative single with Andreya Triana, "Mountains", made us go weak at the knees when it was released earlier in the year. Here, the gospel-tinged fusion of disco, deep house and jazz-funk is re-presented in freshly remixed form. Perhaps the most authentic and summery revision comes from Joey Negro, who delivers a stunning, live-style disco version that simply soars, with Triana's fine vocal rising above simmering strings and infectious grooves. The Patchouli Brothers also delve into disco pastures on their similarly impressive, synths-and-piano-laden house revision, while Paul Woolford brilliantly reimagines it as a sparkling slab of rave-ready piano house. Get ready for the rush!

Review: Although we've become accustomed to Groovin' digging into the crates for inspiration, few would have expected their latest release to be a reissue of one of Peven Everett's most slept-on soulful house gems. "Feelin' Who You Are" first appeared in 2008 on the flip of a double A-side single, before being given a pressing of its own with fresh reworks. This edition includes versions from both releases, beginning with the near 16-minute "Original Drum Cartell Full Length Mix" - an epic journey through musically rich, live-sounding dancefloor grooves topped up with an impeccable Peverett lead vocal. We're also treated to the warmer, tighter "Original Mix" and two Shelter mixes by Adam Rios and Timmy Regisford: a rolling, ultra-positive vocal take and a squelchy, bassline-driven dub full of intricate instrumental flourishes.

Review: While many of Disclosure's EPs have tended to focus on festival-ready and radio-friendly numbers, "Ecstasy" has both eyes firmly on club dancefloors. Proof arrives via the surging title track, a filter-sporting bumper that offers distinctive nods towards late '90s "French Touch" house and Basement Jazz's superior early work, and the gleefully Afro-disco-flavoured Echo Roosevelt collaboration that follows, stomping summer anthem "Tondo". Elsewhere, they cannily turn Boz Scraggs' blue-eyed soul classic "Lowdown" into a loose-limbed, rubbery house workout on "Expressing What Matters", serve up some chant-along Afro-house hedonism ("Etran") and keep fans of their usual bass-heavy big room flavours happy via wonky closer "Get Close".

Review: Italian duo Souldynamic have been releasing a steady stream of work on respected labels from King Street and Tribe to BBE, with support from industry heavyweights like Louie Vega and Dennis Ferrer. Their latest release the 'West Side of Afrika' EP see's them land on Samosa Records, comprising of four tracks of Afro-centric house. From the spiritual life music of opening track "Guinee" to the uplifting sunshine vibe of "Faranah" with its uplifting group vocal harmonies, while closing cut "Beyla" is an evocative deep house number with the most killer bassline you will hear on a record this year. Terrific work by these Neapolitan scene veterans!

Review: Essential repress! Tomas Bangalter's stone cold classic Roule 12" Trax On Da Rocks makes a return. The five tracks on offer - "On Da Rocks", "Roule Boule", "What To Do", "Outrun" and "Ventura" - have acquired legendary status, standing as sublime examples of the rough, raw end of the filter-soaked French house sound. Some 17 years since they were first released, these tracks have lost none of their madcap brilliance; if this isn't already a cherished part of your record collection, here's your chance.