Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Ralph White's early ventures into disco are finally gathered in one place with the first official anthology of his 1978 recordings at Sydney's Albert Studios. Better known at the time as a session player and producer in the city's studio scene, White was tapped by M7 to craft four disco pieces aimed at an emerging dance market. Over just two days in the studio and a small group of local players - including a young Tommy Emmanuel - he recorded four standout cuts, together which remain some of the most refined Oceanian disco ever put to tape. Though the original 12"s saw limited success domestically, M7's distribution push into markets like Canada, India and Argentina helped cultivate a quiet cult following. Now remastered and housed in a deluxe spot-UV sleeve with inserts featuring new liner notes and White's biography, this reissue shines overdue light on a forgotten chapter in Australian dance music.

Review: Use Vinyl looks back to two iconic tracks from the 70s and 80s here for source material for a new remix EP by the Vannelli family. Joe T remixes 'Thrill Me' by The Wonderland Band into the sort of direct and funky house sound that brims with early dance music charm while the Vannelli Bros offer their rework of 'Party On' by Pure Energy which comes with plenty of energy for club contexts. Both tracks are presented as Classic Mix versions and bring plenty of new life to the original hits without forgoing the timeless, catchy and meaningful melodies that define the originals. House music like this is as authentic as it gets.

Review: For their latest red-hot reissue, the admirable Be With Records takes us back to Paris in 1979 and the sole album by Who's Who - one of the numerous aliases of songwriter, musician and producer Daniel Bangalter, AKA Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk's dad. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right? The six tracks showcased on the eponymous set are very in keeping with French disco of the period, with attractive (and then cutting edge) synthesiser sounds being combined with glassy-eyed male and female vocals, infectious "walking" basslines and Cerrone-esque drums. Highlights are plentiful, from the peak-time disco joy of the tropical-tinged "Palace Palace", the Moroder/Patrick Cowley-influenced mid-tempo spaciness of 'Hypno Dance', to the Tata Vega style jauntiness of 'Roll kacky Roll' and the fantastic 'Dancin' Machine'.