Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Voodoos & Taboos unveil their anticipated new LPs series with Human Aventura, the debut self-titled album from the promising Corsican producer. An unusual dance release modelling itself on electro and chiptune, but finding itself somewhere in the hidden interstice between them, this is a self-described "libidinous Mediterranean spoken disco" album, giving elements of Telex or Kraftwerk, albeit with a progressive bent best heard on pithy cuts 'Solid State Scouter'. Not one to be missed for those who like it intelligent, fidgety and FMmy.

Review: Anita Baker, quiet storm legend and balladmaker, gets two of her most heartwarming classics remixed by Krewcial, with Texan vocalist Sheelah Monae filling in for Baker's original vox. 'Sweet Love' hears a lounge and club mix respectively, both versions heavy on the most broken housey, piano-centric moods. 'Whatever It Takes', meanwhile, gets a club mix and an intriguing version of the original acoustic, rapidly homing in on disco strings and deep-hit bass licks.

Review: Narco Marco returns to Pace In Stereo for more adventures through yesterday's tomorrow. As ever, the production is incredible, offering two tracks that pack a timeless sound informed by Italo, early electro-pop, cold and synth wave, a twin delight that somehow serves as the ideal home or headphone listen, yet is also dance floor ready and primed for proper parties. Starting on the slowest, tempo wise, 'Bald Tag' doesn't exactly owe a debt to Kraftwerk but certainly offers a place for sounds could have evolved in the back catalogue of the German pioneers. It's a weird and warbling, stepping, highly musical ride. 'Ice Tea', meanwhile, opts to get more of a stomp on, glittering harmonies painting stars in the sky above, vocals swapped out for more melodic depth.

Review: In 1984, Jamaican-born producer Tony Williams gifted the British jazz-funk scene with two exceptional 12" records, both now rare gems. One of these, Nat King Cool's 'Checking Out,' showcases a fusion of MFSB's 'Mysteries of the World' with quintessential UK Brit-funk vibes. Originally released on the Tai Wan label, this single remains as fresh today as it did in 1984, with its captivating flip-side instrumental. Remastered from tapes, these essential 80s Brit-funk tracks are presented on pristine vinyl, adorned with bespoke repro-labels, and packaged in a groovy Soul Jazz/Funk Masters house bag, which means it looks as good as it sounds.

Review: You can always rely on New York's Razor-N-Tape for high quality respectful edits. Cut in Brooklyn, here's another disco killer that is great for dancing - courtesy of JKriv & Aaron Dae out now via their Reserve imprint is Londoner Ali Gibbs aka Nebraska, who tweaks a soulful sample with signature finesse; it's part disco, part house and all vibes on "Usin' Me". Lovebirds then get in on the action to deliver a soulful and bittersweet early Chicago house perspective, the legendary DJ Nature never fails to deliver either and gets properly deep and emotive with his terrific remix. As does Scottish veteran The Revenge on the flip, taking the track into the late night on his stellar effort.

Review: It's another family affair over at New York City's Razor N Tape label. For this edition, they have tapped the ever reliable Israeli indie-dance heroes Red Axes for a euphoric rendition of Nenor's 'Do You Remember' (feat Jenny Penkin) making for proper Balearic vibes, while the one-and-only Boo Williams delivers another ultra-deep house journey in the form of 'Besty Smith'. Over on the flip, we see the return of New Zealand-based producer Frank Booker who hands in the late night mood music of 'Time Won't Tell' followed by Peter Matson with a slinky and neon-lit rework of label chief JKriv's 'Something Else'.

Review: Celso Valli produced, composed and arranged this classic slice of Italo disco which now gets a proper reissue job on Mondo Groove. It comes pressed up to 12" with two different versions. On the A-side is 'Skydiver' (vocal - long version) which is a Mediterranean slow burner with lush chords and loose-limed percussion. The male vocal oozes effortlessly cool as funky guitar riffs add extra bite. Flip it over and you will get 'Skydiver' (instrumental) which pairs things back to the gorgeous arrangement. A real pearler of an Italo disco gem.

Review: You can't beat a good edits label and that's what we seem to have here off the evidence of the first release from NIN Edits out of Italy. Ninja Edits 1 opens with the fused charms of what sounds like sleek, proto-techno synths from Kraftwerk and disco percussion on 'Dance & Music'. 'Get Up & Down' is a deeper cut with some smoky and soulful pads and nice loose percussion that throws it back to the New York disco scene, and the most buttery and seductive of the lot comes last. 'Moon & Night' has a woozy groove and lush strings scoring high next to plenty of rich instrumental funk.

Review: Originally recorded in the late 1970s and using many of the musicians employed by Diana Ross on her track 'The Boss'. 'Can't Put No Price On Love' has long been regarded as North End's 'long lost' single - an inspired disco workout employing that pre-dates the Arthur Baker/Tony Carbone-helmed project's most famous song, Tee Scott/Larry Levan favourite 'Happy Days'. The original multitrack was unfortunately lost, but the track finally appears, 40-odd years after it was recorded. Whether what we're hearing was finished and mixed at the time is uncertain, but the 'Club Mix' is certainly authentic sounding - a genuinely energetic, joyous and effervescent New York disco number with full orchestration, addictive vocals (Jocelyn Brown & Dennis Collins on backing Vox) and a killer groove. Elsewhere across the EP, we get two versions of 'We Can't Live Like This Anymore' - the synth-laden, solo-heavy disco-boogie style original mix (B2) and a superb 'drum break' percussion tool (A2) - and a brilliantly low-slung instrumental dub-disco cover of The Temptations' 'Cloud 9'.

Review: Purple Disco Machine makes the sort of warm, colourful and feel-good sounds that have united festival crowds all over the world since he first broke through. For his latest tune he has worked with UK chart-topper Duke Dumont on a single, 'Something On My Mind' which melts nostalgic disco goodness with fresh and contemporary production. It is jin indie-tinged cut with vintage synths and groove-driven basslines with vocals from rising band Nothing But Thieves, whom Purple Disco Machine remixed not so long ago. This is another crossover hit in the making for disco-revivalists Purple Disco Machine and it comes on a 12" that is limited to 300 copies.

Review: JKriv the gang are back with another bunch of surefire disco jams on New York City's Razor N Tape. Kriveloff teams up again with British DJ Dicky Trisco (aka Barry Reeves) as Sentimental Animals for the late night boogie-down vibe of 'Love Vibration' featuring Nicki B's sultry vocals, with Yuksek taking over next to bring the track into deep funky house territory. Over on the flip, things get seriously slo-mo (and low-slung!) on the disco deviance of 'Loose Rules'.

Review: South African bubblegum soul queen Ntombi enjoys a timely spotlight session as Afrosynth look back over her short-lived career and pick some of the highlights from each album she blessed us with. Leading from the front with the cult classic "Tomorrow" we're treated to highlights such as the proto tropical house harmonies and layers of "I've Got A Friend", the shinier house-focused workout "In My Mind" and a disco dancehall shaker "Mina Ngilijaji". Tomorrow is a day that never comes... Don't sleep.

Review: Nkono Teles was one of the standouts of the Doing It In Lagos compilation by Soundway, which proved a best seller. He is someone who worked on, arranged and or produced music for more than 100 other artists in Nigeria across the 80s, including playing keys with Tony Allen's band. Now he gets the spotlight firmly on himself with a retrospective mini-comp fun of his unique boogie and funky rhythms, cutting edge drum machine sounds and mix of synths and guitars. It's a collection fans of the likes of William Onyeabor and Steve Monite will love.