Back in stock: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: The soul, funk and disco 7" community is a strong one. Besides garage rock and psychedelic rock, there might not be another genre that is so beloved on the small but mighty 45rpm format. So, it completely makes sense if you are a newer producer releasing music in these genres then definitely know your fan base. Cool Million is a Danish and German duo doing just that. Their track 'Stronger' is the track and the title of their sixth full length album from 2019. The album has gained such strong reviews that they put it now as a single along with the Dub version on the reverse side. 'Stronger' is a positive and upbeat anthem that is sure reign in the innocent bystanders to party. The Dub is a super-cool alternative version that reminds of us classic roller-skating funk track from Midnight Star or Kool & The Gang. Need a party starter? Get this!

Review: Danish-German production duo Cool Million (Frank Ryle, Robert 'Rob' Hardt) are specialists in nu-disco and neo-boogie. Until late, they've flaunted this expertise via their renditions of old funk standouts, be that from the likes of Donald Byrd or James Brown. Here, however, the pair team up with Tomas Thordarson for a front-and-centre G-funker of the squeeziest quality, 'My Life', whose lyrics match its form via mentions of 'cutting like a knife' rhymed, of course, with 'paradise'. The instrumental dub is just as glassy and arid, its standout element being the huge, zesty, quivering chords marking out the phrase transitions.

Review: Best Records has got some superb reissues dropping right now, just in time for summer, and Mike Francis's brilliantly Balearic soul cut from 1982 is next up. This effortlessly heartwarming vocal track was produced by Paul and Peter Micioni and emerged from the Italo Disco scene in Italy on the heels of a former big hit with the Metropole group. However, on this project, he worked under a new stage name but didn't lose any of his creative edge. 'Love Has Found You' is impossibly laidback and lovely with its carefree melodies and 'Nighttime Lady' is a mid-tempo slow burner with funky low ends and a nice playful vocal full of love.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


REPRESS ALERT!: Best Italy turn their impeccable reissue powers towards a surefire burner from 1984 given the stamp of approval by the likes of David Mancuso, Larry Levan and Ron Hardy back in the day. "Come Back Lover" was actually mixed down by another legendary DJ - Tony Humphries - and it shows. Even the original mix plays out with an extended, floor-focused flow that captures the creative energy at work at this epochal time for DJ culture. As ever with Best reissues, there's a plethora of alternative and dub mixes to suit any spinner's specific requirements, with the groove front and centre every time.

Review: Ritual Release, the California-based imprint established by Woolfy vs Projections, have long kept tight-lipped about the identities of synth boogie revivalists Guruku. We have no idea (we suspect it's them, but could be wrong), but we do know that the act's latest EP is superb. There are two original tracks on offer, both featuring vocalist Rojai: the Dam Funk-meets-Dayton brilliance of 'Mesmerized' and the dreamier, sunnier, 80s synth-soul-inspired excellence of 'What It Takes'. Both come accompanied by tasty remixes. Giovanni Damico re-imagines 'Mesmerized' as a thickset electrofunk-goes-jazz-funk workout, while Daniel T stretches out and lightly dubs out the same song in a nu-disco style. Rayko and Woolfy vs Projections join forces on a dubby and club-friendly nu-disco revision of 'What It Takes', before we treated to a dancefloor dubs style 'Bonus Beats' mix.

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: Divine Who thrillingly announce their latest collaborative 7" release made with legendary gospel artist Lady Lois Snead, longtime fixture of the sixties US gospel-disco circuit and notably a member of the Dorothy Norwoods. Reworked, revamped and tweaked with love, Snead's gliding croons are revitalized for a new audience, be that on the pulsing cheat-buster 'I Found Out' or the more lolloping, stringy fable in song, 'Until We Learn', all against a fresh, modern instrumental production backdrop.

Review: The Too Slow To Disco compilation series and subsequent label is one of the best to emerge in recent years if you ask us. The latest in its cultured Edits series finds a brace of new hot takes from Dave Mathmos. First, he offers a Contemporary Soul remix of 'Your Love' and it is the sort of heart-warning sound that brings impossible fee good energy to a park. On the flip he offers an interpretation of 'You Abandoned Me' that has a fleshy and gurgling bassline topped with aching soul vocal hooks and lush, late-night piano chords. Gorgeous stuff.

Review: CMT hits its tenth release and serves up a super sweet 7" featuring a fascinating fusion of sounds from Ryusenkei. The A-side here, 'Spring Rain' is a mix of jazz funk, city pop, disco and plenty more, with lush instrumentals and her own delicate vocals sung in Japanese, though she appears to sing the title in English. On the flip is 'Tokyo Sniper' which is a more slow and sentiment soul sound with neat keys and riffs, lush arps and plenty of rich pianos that frame the vocals - which pair off Ryusenkei with a male response - perfectly.