Compilation Recommendations April 2016

Review: Larry Levan's influence on the development of dance music in New York during the 1980s cannot be overstated. That much is clear from Genius Of Time, a two-disc collection of the Paradise Garage resident's finest remixes. Heavy on dub delays, spaced-out synthesizers and rolling grooves, it gathers together a swathe of stone-cold classics - killer reworks of Gwen Guthrie, Man Friday, Peech Boys, Loose Joints and Jimmy Ross - with lesser-known, but no less vital, tweaks of cuts from Dee Dee Bridgewater, Esther Williams, Smokey Robinson and Tramaine. While dedicated fans will have many of these already, it serves as the perfect introduction to Levan's distinctive and hugely influential style.

Review: Since launching at the tail end of the noughties, Toshiya Kawasaki's I'm Starting To Feel OK series has become a must-check. Each unmixed version is not only packed with playable gems, but also pleasingly eclectic in outlook. This seventh volume is no exception. Highlights come thick and fast, and include the Balearic electronics, chunky disco grooves and drifting trumpet solos of Eddie C's "Flying Blue", the deep garage revivalism of Nicolai Toma's "Minifloat", the retro-futurist warehouse grooves of Musk's "Mysore", and the loose beats and bold pianos of Johannes Klingebiel's "Piano House". Throw in strong contributions from Lord Of The Isles, Fred P, Prins Thomas and Gold Panda's DJ Jenifa alias, and you've got another must-have collection.

Review: With the possible exception of The Reflex, no other producer can match the multi-track re-edits and remixes delivered by house maestro and long-time disco digger Dave 'Joey Negro' Lee. Having laid down a marker with 2013's Remixed With Love, the veteran producer has decided to emphasize his credentials with this similarly superb follow-up. Over the course of two action-packed discs, Lee skillfully re-arranges 20 disco and boogie favourites, using the inherent swing, funk and energy of his source material to create superb, dancefloor-friendly tweaks. Amongst the well-known cuts - think "Pull Up To The Bumper", "Keep The Fire Burning" and "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" - you'll also find sublimely soulful rearrangements of overlooked cuts from Nicolette Larson, Cheryl Lynn and Norman Connors.

Review: Strut's archival remit remains as international as ever, with their latest compilation squaring the focus on late '70s Hawaii on the delightful Aloha Got Soul: Soul AOR & Disco In Hawai'i 1979-1985. Across the backdrop of societal change on the island (statehood into America in '59 and the Vietnam War) Hawaiian youth found inspiration in the music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and later Earth Wind & Fire leading to a truly vibrant scene by the mid-'70s. It's after this where Strut pick up the story, bringing together a glorious 16 track collection that spans the genres and suggests Hawaii to be a most fertile location for music during this era. Do take some time to check the detailed sleeve notes from Aloha Got Soul's Roger Bong which offer further context for the music!

Review: In recent years, there's been something of a trend for high-end bars, restaurants and hotels putting out their own branded compilations. Antiguan resort Sheer Rocks is the latest to enter the fray. Music On The Rocks Volume 1 features tracks selected by Balearic veterans Pete Gooding and Phil Dockerty, and subsequently boasts a lazy, sun-kissed Mediterranean vibe. After opening with Nick & Samantha's folksy, bossa-influenced cover of Chris Rea's 'On The Beach', the duo effortlessly joins the dots between baggy, loved-up synth-pop (Midnight Mystery Club), stoner rock (Paqua), spine-tingling electronics (Balearic Gabba Sound System's rework of The Ball & The Wall), boogie-influenced deep house (Napoleon), and shimmering nu-disco (Telephones).