Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Here's a nod to late 70s disco, funk and boogie featuring some of the best NYC musicians to grace the scene in the past 20 years, and recorded at Soul Fire Studios featuring over two dozen musicians. Members of El Michels Affair, Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Dap- Kings, Antibalas and more are featured on 10th Street's '(Gonna Get) Hot Tonight' which is a classic and timeless disco funk affair featuring an absolutely sublime string section. Over on the flip, the slower and more emotive 'Hot Tonight' (part II) makes for feelgood vibes on the dancefloor later in the night, featuring sensual vocals to boot.

Review: After an absence of a few years, 40 Thieves return to Leng Records with one of their most special releases to date: a hook-up with long-time Patrick Adams collaborator Gary Davis and long serving soulstress Cinammon Jones. What's on offer is a re-make of one of Jones' songs, 'The Gift', whose sweet lyrics celebrate the arrival of a new day. 40 Thieves take, explored first in the A-side 'Disco Mix', sounds like it was designed to be danced to during a San Francisco sunrise - think dub disco delays, hypnotic grooves, bubbly electronics, languid guitar licks and gentle melodies. Over on the flip, they take the track further into 'woozy 6am open air dancing territory' on a superb, stretched out 'Disco Dub' mix, before peppering a killer drum track with spaced-out electronics on the 'Beats' version.

Review: The faultless Big Crown label revisits one of its biggest hits from back in 2016. New York City-based collective 79.5 is made up of seven musicians and singers and their gorgeous 'Terrorize My Heart' 45rpm reached some heart aching disco highs. Now it comes with in two new forms - the disco dub with its seductive drums and bass and airy, soulful vocal, and a remix from hip hop royalty Tall Black Guy. He deconstructs the tune and rebuilds it as a smoky, jazz tinged slow motion hip hop beat. The chords are warm and cuddly, the vocal is more meandering but still acts as the perfect icing on a delicious cake.

Review: The album 1982 stands out as one of the finest moments in A Certain Ratio's story. When you're talking about a band that started half a decade before the year 1982, that's saying something. Following on from the landmark ACR Loco, the outfit's 2023 record is packed with multidimensionality - dipping toes into everything from gritty post punk (a sound from whence they first came) to Afrobeat, all realised with exceptional attention to detail and the highest possible standards. 2023 EP, as the title suggests, builds on the impact of that latest long-from release. Opening on the jazzy late night club workout 'Day By Day', a brand new number, the package then jumps into work from the aforementioned LP, redone by contemporary dons. So that's Werkha on a stepping, garage-hued version of 'SAMO', Emperor Machine emphasising the exotic disco grooves of 'Constant Curve', and Jade Parker offering a highly percussive cosmic take on 'Waiting On A Train'.

Review: A Skillz and Krafty Kuts are veteran names by now but at one option they were some of the hottest new DJs and producers in the game. They pioneered a breakbeat, cut-up and paste sounds 20 years ago that was high on energy and with plenty of character. Now they look to the roots of the sounds they used to draw from and serve up a new single on Jam City that is all about disco. 'Lit Up' has loose, jumbled drums and funk basslines with some great vocal flourishes up top from Gizelle Smith. A remix on the flip takes things into deeper new soul territory.

Review: New label Justracks kicks off with a literally and metaphorically heavyweight new disco 12" on 180g vinyl. As far as we know it's the first release from the mysterious A Thin Man but the beats are fat. 'Doogie Bown' gets you doing just that with a mix of chatty synth funk and hip-swinging disco grooves. 'W(h)ats On' is an old school funk and soul dancefloor heater then class oozes from the breezy and free-flowing grooves of 'Catch The Strings' which pair bustling beats with rich strings. Last of all is the tightly woven disco and persuasive funk of 'Bees'n'Flowers' with cosmic lines and heartfelt female coos. A fine debut.

Review: Originally taking form as Universal Robot Band's dreamy instrumental disco cut "Thyme" in 1977, within a year of its release Patrick Adams invited Marta Acuna to add suitably yearning, hazy vocal. Adding to the silky groove's allure without taking any of its original soul, Marta elevated an already pristine track into a real moment that embodies the deeper, most soulful aspects of late 70s disco. A highly authentic P&P reissue.

Review: Groovin Recordings is kicking off a new series in brilliant style here with three killer disco-boogie tracks. They were all first released between 1979 and 1982 and first up is Arthur Adams with 'You Got The Floor.' It's an uber cool groove with AOR vocals, loose drum funk and sprinkles of disco dust. There is more theatre to the soaring strings of Millie Jackson's 'We Got To Hit It Off' which has rickety drum loops and funky bass riffs. C-Brand's 'Wired For Games' closes won and might be the best of the lot with its coy male vocal, playful guitar twangs and nice raw claps.

Review: Addmoro were a lesser known Los Angeles-based disco outfit active throughout the late 70s and early 80s, and their sound was unique for its ahead-of-its-time weight and phonk, not to mention a difficult-to-match versatility, both traits evidenced by this Kalita reissue of the obscurity 'Rock & Roll Skate' here, first released on their very own Addmoro Records. The titular A-sider and 'Keep On Tryin' were released originally in 1985, with the former coming as a ploddy but groovy hard-hitter - which could've easily predicted the reams of modern-day producers who would the style on for size decades later (but not quite achieve it so well) - and the latter a surprise-taking curveball in a stumbly-funky, disco-electro mood.

Review: Mancunian Kevin Gorman used to make some great minimal techno on his Mikrowave imprint but has since moved on to create some of his best music under the Adesse Versions moniker. With a slew of fine edits and remixes under his belt, he presents us with a killer cover and tribute that's set to be one of the summer's biggest anthems. A tribute to the seminal New Order classic "Blue Monday", Gorman retains the very same Moog bass and ARP strings from the original, over a groovy breakbeat and a vocal reminiscent of Bernard Sumner himself. It was an ambitious feat, but Gorman manages to pull of an impressive rendition here, which also comes accompanied with a handy instrumental version on the flip.

Review: Audiosex and Hanoben stepped out together on Discos Capablanca back in 2018 with the on-point acidities of Phone Sex, and now they're teaming up once again for this killer clutch of edit tackle for the always interesting Duca Bianco label. Rather than the well-mined stocks of disco and funk that usually get dusted down by edit scavenegers, these two have turned to synth pop and German new wave sounds, coming up with four deep cover, deliciously dishevelled pieces which align perfectly with the brand of acidic club music they make themselves. 'Elvira's Katzenfisch' is a prime case in point - a broad, sweeping slice of synthwave which sounds like it might slide off the reel to reel at any moment, while 'Frank's Einsamkeit' swells into a searing 303 burner for the darkest dungeon dancefloors.

Review: Emotional Rescue can be relied on to dig up obscure, left of centre dance gems and serve them up to newer, wider audiences. Adu's reggae-pop cut 'Burkina Faso' is a great example, re-purposed for the dancefloor without any of its original flavour lost in the overhaul. A
South Saharan/West African emigre to Brixton, Rauf Adu would go on to fairly sizeable European fame with the Eddy Grant-esque 'Human To Human'. This, however, is his 1982 debut for Copasetic Records, another reggae-pop inspired, ludicrously catchy effort with scorched electric guitar and a Compass Point-style drum/bassline providing rhythmic rocksteadiness. As well as the buffed up original, there's a dub mix, which gives his beautiful guitar plenty of room to breathe, and an appearance from the Isle of Jura Sound System boss Kevin Griffiths , whose remix completes the trio of mixes.

Review: Cordial have partnered with Afrodisia to reissue their sought-after album, 1980's Elephant Sunrise, in 2018, with an album of previously unreleased recordings to follow. To whet our appetite, they've decided to release the never-before-heard "Malik", a brilliant chunk of jazz-funk fusion that would have got jazz dancers hot under the collar had it appeared when it was originally recorded way back in 1982. On the B-side you'll find the similarly minded "A Fool No Longer", a dancefloor-focused chunk of blue-eyed soul that has previously only been available on obscure 1981 compilation album Rock Aus Der Alten Schule. Brilliant stuff all told.

Review: Still peddling pure and fast jazz-funk disco, and coming straight from the source, Afrodisia are an ingeniously named German band whose stated intent was to transcend colour and creed through the mode of music. The band barely squeezed by with four EPs and an LP to their name; these two new cuts were recorded for a second album, which never saw the light of day. The A cut is the highlight, being the dreamiest and creamiest of the two.

Review: Since appearing on Motor City Drum Ensemble's fine Selektors compilation back in 2016, AHZZ's 1981 gem "New York Moving" has become one of the most in-demand disco-funk rarities around. Here, Opilec founder I-Robots (AKA DJ/producer Gianlucca Pandullo) offers his own "reconstructions". Naturally, he doesn't tamper with the basic groove, instead choosing to rearrange the original, emphasizing different aspects of the killer original version on each mix. So, while the A-side "Reconstruction 1" concentrates on the stomping groove and cascading Moog lines, the flipside "Reconstruction 2" version makes more room for an extended saxophone solo and dubs out the backing track impressively. Were he alive today, Larry Levan would definitely approve.

Review: The revered songstress that is AK is back on Most Excellent Unlimited for another hot and soulful single that comes on the heels of a special 7" release of her seminal 'Say That You Love Me.' This one, 'Beautiful You' is making its vinyl debut here and comes with strong messages of empowerment and affirmation. The lyrics and vocals are uplifting as is the music which comes in the form of a 7" edit by Body & Soul legend Danny Krivit' of GRAMMYr award-winner Hex Hector's Lush remix. It's a perfectly paired back sound with the original on the flip, and both tunes really make their mark. This is a great package that's exclusive to wax.

Review: Since establishing itself in 2012, the Al-Tone Edits series has proved to be an excellent source of obscurist reworks, with label bosses Alvin Delk and Tony Fields guaranteeing material that's effortlessly soulful, and righteously dancefloor-friendly. This sixth edition in the series focuses on the world of gospel, offering a quartet of reworks of praise-worthy soul, funk and disco jams. First up is the trumpet-laden funk-soul skip of "Mad Dash", before "My Soul" provides some choral gospel vocals, spacey synths and deliciously rubbery slap bass. Flip for the killer gospel-disco hustle of "U" - all impassioned vocals, parping horns, hustling bass and sinewy strings, and the intergalactic synthesizer assault that is "Worship".

Review: Edit king Al Tones is back on his own label with two more of his superb studio concoctions. This series has been rolling strong since 2012 and like all of the previous eighth instalments the 12th is a doozy. The a-side 'All The Time' is a trumpet lead bit of high speed metropolitan funk with plenty of jazzy licks and sliding hi hats that seduce you as the grooves unfold. Things take a deeper, slower turnoff the flip for 'Run It.' This one has a more steamy sax line taking charge over chunkier beats and nice rich Rhodes chords. File under classy party starters.

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.

Review: Berlin based label Solenoid is headed up by Erta Ale, aka Italian producer Fabrizio Nocci. His latest release continues the theme of warm, big room house music he's been pushing for some time now, kicking off with the swirling pads and thumping rhythm section of 'Nirvana'. It's got a distinctly early 90s vibe, with plenty of melodic hand holds to dig your fingers into, while 'Panorama' has a swishy, disco-tinted sassiness to take you away in the heat of the night. 'The Cure' kicks off the B side with a springy, techy approach that doesn't hold back on the big synth lines, and then We Amps steps up for a remix of 'Panorama' which keeps things funky without losing that peak time demeanour which persists throughout the record.

Review: Back in 2017, Four Flies Records unearthed and released a previously unheard "Afro-cosmic funk" EP from Italian soundtrack and library music legend Alessandro Alessandroni. Three years on, they've decided to give the 1978 recording the remix treatment. Bolissa and guests Calibra 35 kick things off with a densely percussive, out-of-this-world take on "Afro-Voodoo", before Pad re-imagines "Afro Darkness" as a chugging chunk of beatdown-disco laden with colossal chords, arpeggio bass and intergalactic electronics. Over on side B the "Jolly Mare Lifting" version of "Afro Discoteca" is a veritable leftfield disco stomper notable for its low-slung bass and spacey Moog lines, while Luca's "Quirky Version" of "Afro Darkness" is the kind of hallucinogenic, Marimba-tinged number that you can imagine Daniele Baldelli playing at the Cosmic Club circa 1981.

Review: Stone cold disco classic from Heavenly Star: "Got To Get Your Love" was last spotted on wax through Kenny Dope's superlative Kay-Dee edit series a few years back. Heavenly.

Review: This is a super sought after slice of 1980s disco goodness that was sampled by UK house producer Midland. He used bits of it on his huge, and we mean huge, 2016 summer anthem 'Final Credits' and that only served to send the price of the original up further. You'd be lucky if you can find an original copy of the 7" for under L125 these days. This official reissue has your back though and has been fully remastered with replica artwork in time to celebrates the 40th anniversary of its original release.

Review: Portuguese Munich Machine and edit king Alkalino delivers Wall Of Fame's first solo release with four tasteful reworks. On the A side, the Audaz main man serves up the '70s disco/rock fusion of "What To Do" and the uplifting soul heaven of "Can't Take It No More". On the flip is the funky disco fusion of "Lover Is Back" (channelling the heyday of The Big Apple way back when!) meanwhile "Things Will Come Your Way" offers up some sexy latin/bossa vibes. After a lengthy catalogue of releases available exclusively on Juno Download, we're happy to finally see of this guys efforts on wax!

Review: Donna Allen's 'Serious' is a stone-cold boogie classic whose acapella subsequently appeared in all manner of dance tracks from the early '90s onwards (most famously Strike's brilliantly OTT house classic 'U Sure Do'). Here 'remix-a-classic' specialists High Fashion get to work dragging the track into 2023, which will no doubt infuriate purists but delight those who have always longed for slightly faster and heavier mixes (the original rolls at around 110 BPM). Label regular Michael Gray steps up first with a tasteful, string-laden disco-house re-make that's actually quite radically different, whilst including enough of Allen's vocal and original version to make it familiar. Wayne Soul Avengerz and Odyssey Inc take a different approach, retaining most of the original instrumentation whilst upping the tempo and beefing up the beats.

Review: Miss You's latest missive takes us back to 1979 and the sole single from Italian singer Angela - a previously 7" only affair that made limited impact outside of Italy on its initial release. Lead cut 'Teneremante' is a typically colourful and camp Italian translation of disco, whose over-the-top excellence and bold lead vocal from Angela have an endearing 'easy listening era singer does disco' vibe. Musically, it soars, with the addition of lo-fi but spacey synth sounds (alongside classic disco orchestration) making it sound a bit more eccentric than it actually is. Original flip side 'Angela E Cosi' is a more suspenseful, low-slung affair built around a slower and headier groove, AOR disco instrumentation and another soaring vocal from Angela.

Review: Best Italy continues to do a wonderful job of unearthing much-sought after gems and giving them the re-press they deserve. Lily Ann was a quintessential one hit wonder of Italo disco perfection that surfaced in 1984, and "Going Crazy" captures the mood of early 80s dance music perfectly. Adding value to the release beyond the fresh mastering job and high-end modern pressing, as well as the previously released vocal and instrumental we also get treated to a dub mix of "Going Crazy" to give you even more options for dropping this impeccable slice of Italian dance music history.

Review: Some years back, Permanent Vacation dipped into the back catalogue of decidedly Balearic synth-pop trio Antenna before offering up a swathe of fresh remixes. Now Discomatin have decided to explore the solo discography of lead singer Isabelle Antena, serving up two rare contemporaneous remixes of 1987 singles by Mark Kamins and Marc Moulin respectively. The former's version of "Laying On The Sofa" is superb, with the Danceteria resident layering her fine lead vocals over delay laden electro beats, warm Rhodes chords, glistening guitars and elastic bass guitar. Moulin's body-popping, synth and drum-machine fired revision of "La Tete Contre Les Murs" is arguably even better and undeniably funkier. It goes without saying that both tracks are superb.

Review: In 1996, Dreamscape's Ed Marshall donned a new alias, Aplomb, and delivered the first fruits of his new project to New Age House Records. Only one track was ever released on a limited label promo, "Wondering". World Building's Ari Goldman, who previously put out a compilation of Marshall's work as Dreamscape, is a fan and has decided to rescue it from obscurity via this single-sided 12". The track itself is hard to accurately pigeonhole, combining as it does dense, carnival style drums, female scat vocals, warm bass, dreamy deep house chords and synthesizer flourishes reminiscent of early '80s jazz-funk. Either way, it's a sunny and groovy chunk of obscure house positivity that's well worth a place in your collection.

Review: Back in the late '70s and early '80s, Aquarian Dream's "Phoenix" was something of an anthem on the UK's soul all-dayer scene. While ostensibly a disco record, the band's jazz-funk roots ensured that it was particularly popular with serious dancers, particularly those who headed for the jazz room rather than the main dancefloor. The Norman Connors-produced cut remains something of a must-have for disco DJs who like their grooves to come with a fair dollop of instrumental solos. This timely re-press also includes the even wilder "East 6th Street" - originally included on the 1979 UK re-issue - which features Aquarian Dream band-members trading solos over a killer disco-funk groove.

Review: Stockholm based Ari Bald is up next for Better Listen after inaugurating Honey Butter Records last year with that great release. He keeps on with that deep disco spirit with these four funky and lo-slung jams. On the A side, we have two ergonomic edits in the form of "That Lonely Night" and "Enchantress" respectively which are looped to perfection with some somewhat familiar hooks that gradually build up to that drop! That's where the thumping kick comes charging in and it's sure geared for maximum dancefloor dynamics. On the flip, get ready for the funk explosion that is "Moonshiner" or what could be your First Choice (mind the pun!) in the form of the smooth and sexy late night groove of "Are You Mesmerized?"

Review: San Francisco's Dark Entries label does a good line in reissuing obscure, long forgotten, left-of-centre gems (their excellent collection of Patrick Cowley's little known soundtrack work for gay porn films, School Daze, was arguably one of the compilations of 2013). Here, they've unearthed another overlooked gem - Art Fine's previously rare-as-hen's-teeth dark Italo-disco gem "Dark Silence" (L200-plus for an original 1985 copy, should you be feeling flush). It's pretty much a straight copy of the New Wave-inclined original, with the sparser, looser "Long Version" (in which producer Fabrice Belli gives the synth melodies a little more room to express themselves) joining the dense "Art Fine Version".

Review: San Francisco's Dark Entries label does a good line in reissuing obscure, long-forgotten, left-of-centre gems (their excellent collection of Patrick Cowley's little-known soundtrack work for gay porn films, School Daze, was arguably one of the compilations of 2013). Here, they've unearthed another overlooked gem - Art Fine's previously rare-as-hen's-teeth dark Italo-disco gem 'Dark Silence'. It's pretty much a straight copy of the New Wave-inclined original, with the sparser, looser 'Long Version' joining the dense 'Art Fine Version'.

Review: 
There isn't much info out there about Arts & Craft, who put out only two singles back in the mid-eighties. But they sure are worth owning, as Jus Born know. They serve up this latest reissue with a new edit. Original 'I've Been Searching' is a stunning bit of Philly style disco that has big stings, plenty of glamour and a taught, funky bassline. Next to an instrumental, the one and only Al Kent comes through with an edit that fattens out the bass and raws out the breakdowns for real dance floor destruction.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


It's hard to straddle euphoric and dystopic, but Chilean producer Manuel Ortuzar aka Aural Trace has just about done it. The borders between new wave, electroclash and post-punk are all but shattered on their new EP 'Midnight Thoughts', wherein the artist finds it no great feat to inspire a sense of both tension and wonderment in the listener, through combinations of chuffy clap-whacks, quadruplet bass patterns, and an overall neon-drenched synthy style reminiscent of what might happen if William Friedkin directed a cyberpunk film.

Review: 'Adzagli (Jungle Funk)' and 'A Song For You (Ayawa)' have never before been released on vinyl. Kalita has acquired the rights to do so though so we are now treated to two next-level slices of West African disco from Amsterdam's Kofi Ayivor. They have been taken from his 1981 classic and much sought-after album 'Kofi' and have been cut nice and loud for extra impact. As well as the lively and vibrant, instrument-rich originals, DJ and producer Mendel has cooked up his own remixes of each recording using the original multitrack session tapes. Pure fire.

Review: Italian artist Ricardo Baez brings his EBM influences to a new and dazzling post-disco EP on Bordello A Parigi that mixes up elector, new wave, synth pop and Italo. First up is dark disco dons Curses to remix 'On & On' and do so with rugged synth lines and jacked-up angular drums. The original is only subtly different and a touch smoother then 'Sfida Notturna' takes off on big stomping drums with bright synths and retro-future 80s feels ringing out proudly. 'Dietro L'Orizzonte' closes down with a more Balearic sound for the afters.

Review: Kris Baha had a big year in 2019 with the release of his debut album on CockTail d'Amore and an EP on Pinkman, and now the Australian body music man in Berlin is back with a high-pressure heater for [Emotional] Especial. "Barely Alive" is the kind of sinewy proto-industrial cut that will appeal to fans of Ministry's earlier work, when the synths reigned supreme and there was pop to match the noir. Especial then call on a cast of remixers to interpret the track in different ways, from Timothy J Fairplay amping up the dystopian disco tropes to Das Ding creating a sleek electro-funk twist with the original's gothic undertones intact.

Review: Some high-grade re-edit action here, as dusty-fingered Chicagoan crate diggers Sadar Bahar and Marc Davis join forces with pal (and credited mixer) Rahaan on two fine tweaks of suitably obscure tracks. A-side 'Disco' is a groovy, funky, horn-heavy affair; a sumptuously string-laden, orchestrated blend of righteous gospel-soul, Philadelphia International style proto-disco and grooves reminiscent of those frequently employed on Steely Dan's most up-beat moments. 'Beat Down' meanwhile is a jaunty, percussive and sun-soaked slab of dancefloor-ready Latin jazz that speeds up as it goes along. The jazz dancers will love it!

Review: If you go to the sort of quality dances where you might hear old sound disco then there is a good chance you will have lost your shit to this one at some point the past. It is a disco gospel 12" curated and edited by Chicago pair Sadar Bahar and Marc Davis. First, they up the energy levels on the joyous Fountain Of Life Joy Choir Under The Direction Of Kevin Yancy tune 'I'm So Happy' which is high speed, high spirit and life-affirming goodness. Then they tweak Rev Charles H Nicks Presents The Baptist Assembly Of Free Spirit Mass Choir's 'Optical Illusion' with swirling big band energy and magnificent organ chords.

Review: Kalita Records are proud and honoured to announce the first ever official reissue of the four choice tracks from Randolph Baker's privately pressed sought-after 1982 disco album 'Reaching For The Stars', plus an unreleased instrumental take of 'Party Life' sourced from the original 24-track analogue master tapes.

Originally recorded at Jim Morris and Rick Miller's Tampa-based Morrisound Studios, 'Getting Next To You' features both a mixture of both local Florida talent plus jazz superstar Nat Adderley and bassist John Lamb at their finest. Originally pressed in a limited run of just one-thousand copies, with no distribution and most copies being sold in the local city and on Randolph's own merchandise table at the back of live gigs, original copies have long been sought-after by both collectors and DJs alike, acknowledged as a true grail and masterpiece in the disco scene and deservedly demanding extortionate figures to those lucky enough to find their own.

Here, in collaboration with Randolph, Kalita Records have chosen to re-release the four choice tracks from the album: 'Getting Next To You', 'Jazzman', 'Callin' Me' and 'Party Life'. The former is an in-demand horn and chant-filled disco masterpiece, which, as Randolph explains, concerns unity and "everyone on the same level in other words, everyone just loving life". It is arguably the song that Randolph is most well-known for in the disco and funk scene and perfect for the modern discerning dance floor. 'Jazzman' is an instrumental track with prominent trumpet and saxophone solos working with funky basslines to produce a truly great jazz-funk groove. It was "a tribute to Nat Adderley and Duke Ellington's bass player, John Lamb, for being so generous and saying yes to the project". 'Callin' Me' is a soulful disco number featuring the lead vocals of Laurie Erickson and is "about being on the road and ensuring loved ones that you will always come back home no matter what. It was like a promise to ensure loved ones they didn't have to worry". Lastly, 'Party Life' is a joyous disco track with a strong funk bassline and horns. As Randolph recalls, it "was the joy like after an actor finishes a movie. There was nothing but joy. It's finished; let's celebrate big time. Where everyone in the studio yelled at the top of their lungs - The End!" Here, with access to the 24-track master tapes we have been able to include the original version plus an unreleased instrumental take, allowing us to focus on the infectious bassline and make it even more ready for the modern dance floor.

Accompanied by extensive interview-based liner notes and never-before-seen photos.

Review: Tropical Disco Records rolls out more of their sun kissed goodness on an impressive 21st volume of their self-titled series. As always there is a devious selection of disco dons taking charge of the course cuts, with Dominic Balchin getting the party started with big trumpet stabs and soul train grooves. Da Lukas slows things down and goes for a more deep, swinging cut with his 'Get Disco Vibes' and then scene veteran Moodena's 'Who Got The Keys?' gets more jazzy, with some fantastic keys and funky bass. Toby O'Connor closes out with a steamy and romantic slow jam, and in doing so rounds out an EP packed with the sort of positive vibes we all need right now.

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: Cultures Of Soul have absolutely hit the nail on the head by getting Benjamin Ball on their side, and it's shed a light on one of South Africa's best boogie artists from the 80s. This is the sort of gear that'll make just about any decent collector jump with excitement, not only because of the quality of the music, but also because of its sheer rarity. The wonderfully loose "I Just Keep Dancing" is form Ball's debut LP Paulina, and it really is the sort of tune that'll please just about any sensible crowd. Ball's own vocal flex has enough funk in it to outdo the James Browns out there, and coupled with those snappy drums and raw electro bass makes means that this is the rarest of gems. Soul Clap's remix makes for a nice addition, but it's clear that no man can test the vibes of Benjamin Ball. What a killer!

Review: Banda Male was a collective that formed in a home studio in Salerno, one of the historic districts in the South Italy. It was the initiative of composer and keys man Peppe Maiellano and rapper, DJ and producer Tonico Settanta. The rest of the cast is ever rotating and the music they make is a lively mix of disco, funk and soul with signature Italo melodies. This new single is taken from their June 2021 album UFO Bar and is a low slung number with a steamy vocal and a somewhat sleazy bassline. 'Living Disco Club' (Tonico 70 Reloved) then slows it down further with even more twirling melodies.

Review: The amount of ultra-rare, hard to find, essential Northern Soul classics seems to be infinite. Here comes another reissue that aims to right that wrong with an officially licensed pair of tunes from the Phase One Network that has artwork based on the original promo version. 'Don't You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come' is brimming with soul and immediately swells your heart with its elegant strings, graceful piano chords and swirling sense of groove all lifting you off your feet. 'Try To Leave Me If You Can' is a heartbroken slow song to conjure up memories of all the loves you've lost, or maybe never had.

Review: Get yourself geared up for festival season with some fierce party starters certified with the Glitterbox stamp. Melvo Baptiste leads the charge with 'Sweat', a sizzling disco house stomper with Dames Brown giving the biggest diva energy on her show-stopping vocal. Lovebirds bring unbridled joy on the Philly string swoon and slinky b-line funk of 'Burn It Down', while Art Of Tones & Inaya Day keep it peak time on the sassy strutter 'Give My Love'. Young Pulse & Fleur De Mur complete the set with 'Smooth Sweet Talker', another bright and bold vocal cut par excellence.

Review: John Barera has always brought an extra special musicality to his deep house tunes over the years. This time out he joins forces with Brian Abelson for a six-track excursion that works well beyond the confines of a dancefloor. 'The Prelude' is a gorgeous downbeat cut that sounds like it's been played live with lo-fi drums and funk bass riffs. 'The Arc' is surging and soulful deep techno and 'I Am Free' is a driving cut with jumbled percussion and loose claps under a passionate vocal cry. The magic continues through the electro-tinged breaks of 'Another Night', twisted Balearic bass of 'I Was There' and funky drumming of 'The Return'. Brilliantly varied and tasteful.

Review: Italian label Spittle have launched their new Dependance sub label to champion all things Italo, and they're following up on reissues of Zed's 'Plastic Love' and Trophy's 'Slow Flight' with this gem from fabled Italian DJ and producer Massimo Barsotti. Originally released in 1983 on Alexander Robotnick's Fuzz Dance label, we're absolutely treated to a peak Italo version of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love', which takes the original and runs with it in the best possible way. As well as the original we get the killer 'W.L.L.' version excursion on the flip, which rocks out just as hard.

Review: Big sleazy keys, bare-hipped guitars, sultry drums and twisted faraway vocal textures comprise this debut EP for Cali trio Basil & Rogers. Coming on strong like some long-lost offspring of Chromeo and Fly-Lo, each cut is a fuzzy fusion of 80s funk, modern day studio techniques and 23rd century arrangements. Highlights include the 360 dizziness of hooks and eventual saxophone release of "Saturday Morning", the heavy breath disco stomps of "Flavie & The Wolf" and the dubbier ripples of "Mirror Mirror". Sweaty stuff... Towels not included.