Disco/Nu-Disco charts

Review: Mixed by Japanese producer and DJ Muro, who has a background in hip-hop, this connoisseur is never short on deep cuts and takes us on a journey through soulful, vintage AOR sonics from his home country. Whilst no two tracks are by the same artist, there's a cohesion to the tracklist thanks to Muro's ear in pulling out things that sit so well together. Asakawa Mak's 1988 cut 'American Night' is a smooth nod to sophisti pop greats Prefab Sprout; whilst Seri Ishikawa's elegant and lush number, 'Eternal 1/2', highlights how innovative she was in forging new sounds back in 1985. These two cuts are just the tip of the iceberg, yet this compilation is an ideal entry point to some of the finest Japanese music of the late 20th century. You can bank on Muro delivering the goods.

Review: You can never have enough disco in your life, can you? That's the premise that Music on Vinyl taps into here with a bumper collection of classics across a pair of heavyweight magenta and translucent yellow vinyl. Plenty of the jams included here are stone-cold anthems such as Rose Royce's seductive 'Car Wash', Chic's truly legendary 'Le Freak' with its iconic bassline, and The Gap Band's languorous 'Oops, Upside Your Head.' There are also some interesting inclusions such as Diana Ross's string laced 'The Boss' and undeniable dance floor fillers such as James Brown's still sexy 'Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine.'

Review: Rusty Egan Presents Blitzed! offers a vivid sonic journey back to London's Blitz Club circa 1980, capturing the essence of the New Romantic movement with meticulous detail. As the resident DJ at the epicenter of this cultural phenomenon, Rusty Egan curated a soundtrack that defined an era and shaped the future of British pop music. This compilation meticulously captures the eclectic mix of influences that fueled the Blitz Club's electric atmosphere. From Bowie and Roxy Music to Kraftwerk and European electronic pioneers, Egan's sets seamlessly blended diverse musical styles, creating a sonic tapestry that transcended genres. The tracks on Blitzed! reflect the club's diverse clientele, from fashion designers to art school kids, post boys to pop stars in the making. The compilation's contemporary photography by Sheila Rock, Peter Ashworth, and Terry Smith, along with insightful sleeve notes by Alexis Petridis and Rusty Egan himself, provide a comprehensive look into the era and its cultural impact. Blitzed! not only celebrates the music of the time but also serves as a historical document of a revolutionary moment in British pop culture. It's a must-have for anyone interested in the New Romantic movement and the influential role of clubs like The Blitz in shaping music history.

Review: Arther Baker's Dance Masters series continues, as the spotlight turns to another remix legend: one of the originators of the form, John Luongo. Regarded as one of the most influential DJs and mixers of his day, Luongo's many credits include remixes of Jackie Moore's 'This Time Baby', 'Vertigo / Relight My Fire' by Dan Hartman and Patti Labelle's 'Music Is My Way Of Life'. Luongo also went on to establish a production career in his own right, and his legacy is more than cemented here on this retrospective comp from Demon. This box set compiles his most striking tracks in a sixc LP compilation, as well as: a 16-page booklet; an in-depth essay from Alexis Petridis; a foreword by Arthur Baker and a rare photo album from Luongo's personal collection.

Review: The arrival of the Acapellas Anonymous series in the mid/late '80s was a massive gamechanger, giving immediate access to DJs and producers to hundreds of vocal samples that would have taken a fortune (and a lifetime) to collect. Edit king Mr K has rebuilt, remastered, and carefully portioned them onto a five disc set of 7-inch singles, "including all the classic vocal bits that became iconic samples," and more than a few new additions to bring things up to date. You'll know more than a few of these on first listen, others you may have never even realised were samples, but no-one will underestimate the power of a great vocal sample dropping in the right way in the right mix. An absolute essential.

Review: Hardened music nerds may roll their eyes at the thought of the Now That's What I Call Music series turning its attention to disco, but this quintuple LP compilation does provides a great starting point for those dipping their toes into the sound for the first time or looking to grow their disco collection. A few needless pop hits aside, the set contains a wealth of sing-along party favourites ('Car Wash' by Rose Royce, Diana Ross's 'Upside Down', Lipps Inc's throbbing 'Funky Town' etc.) and genuine disco anthems that still get regular airings on club dancefloors today (Thelma Houston's 'Don't Leave Me This Way', Candi Staton's 'Nights On Broadway', Cheryl Lynn's 'Got To Be Real' and Sylvester's 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' included).

Review: NOW Presents...12" 80s: Part One - 1980-1982 is perfect for fans of the era and collectors who like the best bang for the buck in a great package. This stunning 5xLP box set features 44 iconic 12", extended, and remixed versions of classic tracks from the early 80s, each pressed on a different vibrant transparent vinyl: red, yellow, green, blue and purple. Kicking off with Blondie's infectious 'Call Me', the collection encapsulates the essence of 1980-1982 with tracks that defined dancefloors, including Grace Jones' sultry 'Love Is The Drug' and Loleatta Holloway's 'Love Sensation'. The set also showcases beloved hits from artists like Olivia Newton-John, Earth, Wind & Fire and The Specials, alongside synth-pop staples from Soft Cell and Duran Duran. Each side of vinyl brings warmth and depth to these timeless tracks, the packaging is elegant, ideal for both display and enjoyment and with its limited edition status and a wealth of classic tracks, this box set is a serious celebration of 80s music. Getting these extended versions separate on vinyl would be quite a task to take on, but thankfully, NOW has done the hard work for us.

Review: NOW Presents... The 80s delivers a vibrant celebration of one of pop music's most iconic decades, beautifully packaged in a five album boxset. Featuring 78 massive hits, including 40 chart-toppers, this collection spans ten sides of vinyl, each pressed in a different colour and containing pop classics like The Police's 'Every Breath You Take' and Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), number ones from Dead Or Alive and Soft Cell to dancefloor staples like Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' and Chaka Khan's 'I Feel For You.' The infectious 'Ghostbusters' theme song adds a playful touch and as the set continues, legends like Billy Joel, Dolly Parton and Paul Simon shine, alongside reggae and ska flavours from UB40 and The Specials. LP3 highlights the synth-driven pop of the era with New Order's 'Blue Monday' and Pet Shop Boys' 'Heart', while the final records feature timeless anthems from Bruce Springsteen, Tears For Fears and Frankie Goes To Hollywood, concluding with Band Aid's inspirational 'Do They Know It's Christmas.' NOW Presents... The 80s encapsulates the spirit and diversity of an unforgettable musical era.

Review: Light in the Attic Record's Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996 is a landmark collection chronicling Ukraine's rich musical history, from the Soviet era to the years after the USSR's collapse. The compilation spans rare folk, rock, jazz, and electronic tracks, with music often dissenting subtly from Soviet norms. Curated by producers Matt Sullivan, David Mas, and others, it reflects five years of dedication, culminating in a significant shiftipolitics surrounding the Russian invasion led the team to focus solely on Ukrainian music. Guiding the album is Kyiv-based filmmaker and DJ Vitalii "Bard" Bardetskyi, whose liner notes provide deep insights into each track. Songs include Kobza's 1971 instrumental waltz Bunny, blending traditional Ukrainian folk with rock and jazz, and Vodohrai's Caribbean-influenced Remembrance from the late 70s. The compilation also captures Ukraine's underground scene in the 80s and 90s, when artists experimented with electronic music and post-punk. Other Highlights include Vadym Khrapachov's synth-heavy score ;Dance', Cukor Bila Smert's 1995 experimental track 'Cool, Shining', and the jungle/drum-n-bass rhythms of Marble Sleeves' 'Lion' from 1996. This collection honors Ukraine's vibrant sonic heritage, documenting the resilience and creativity of its artists during times of immense upheaval. Have a look at the attention to detail on the packaging. A true history lesson.

Review: Live At the Opera House captures Sylvester's legendary 1979 concert at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in full, previously available only in heavily edited excerpts. This release features 13 unedited songs and a recording of the mid-concert ceremony where Sylvester received the key to San Francisco, offering over two hours of music. The album package includes newly discovered photographs and liner notes by Joshua Gamson, author of "The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The Music, The Seventies in San Francisco." Sylvester, the undisputed queen of disco, delivers a performance that is both a musical triumph and a cultural milestone. With over 20 top 10 dance hits throughout his career, Sylvester's legend continues to shine brightly with his vast catalog. This live album is an beacon to his enduring influence and the vibrant energy of his music, making it an essential piece for any disco aficionado.

Review: Disco E Cultura Volume 2 by Portuguese label Mad About Records is a fantastic collection and retrospect into the vibrant dance music landscape of Brazil during the 70s and 80s. Curated by Joaquim Paulo, this compilation delves deep into the soul, funk, disco, boogie, and jazz-funk sounds that defined the era. Featuring a diverse selection of tracks, the album offers a kaleidoscope of colorful, floor-friendly jams adorned with punchy horn lines, classy vocals, and irresistible grooves. Standout highlights include Lafayette's infectious 'Sol De Varao,' Franco's Barrio-funk groove, and Aloisio's jazz-funk gem 'Tema R,' which impresses with its hot-stepping breakbeats and strong synth solos. The second side of the compilation continues the more amazing music with tracks like 'Deixa Rodar' by Hanna, 'Manifesto' by Marilia Barbosa, and 'Fogo Sobre Terra' by Coral Som Livre, each contributing to the rich heritage of Brazilian dance music.

Review: If you ever need to demonstrate the queer foundations of dance music, just reach for this authoritative compilation - case closed. Demon Music Group have gathered together a mighty 24 tracks of seminal hi-nrg, synth-pop, proto house, Eurobeat and more besides to paint a picture of the vibrant culture which set the tone for house and techno to come. There are some monster hits in this four-vinyl set including Whitney Houston's 'Love Will Save The Day', Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Relax' and Dead or Alive's 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)', all presented in their finest extended mix forms. There's also more than enough deep cuts to satisfy the more seasoned diggers out there and the artwork is on point, making this a fitting tribute to the 80s gay nightlife which incubated a new kind of dance music.

Review: Fierce, fabulous and more than a little fancy, Box Of Sin takes an exhaustive look at 80s gay nightlife as the driver for the evolution of dance music. Spread over five CDs, we're taken on a sweat-slicked thrill ride through hi-nrg, disco, proto house and synth-pop taking in seminal classics and deep cuts alike. There are plenty of perennial favourites contained within, from The Pointer Sisters' 'Jump (For My Love)' and Soft Cell's 'Memorabilia' through to S'Express' massive chart dance banger 'Theme From S'Express', and you can be sure the compilers have taken care to source the real deal 12" mixes that bring out the best in a track. With plenty of lesser known surprises and a frankly head-spinning amount of knockout tracks, this is an essential document of the outsized impact queer club culture had on electronic music in the 80s and early 90s.

Review: Few electronic music producers can claim to have made quite as big an impact as Arthur Baker. During the 1980s the New Yorker was involved in creating (or mixing) a string of ground-breaking electro, freestyle and proto-house records, before becoming one of the most in-demand remixers on the planet. This vast box set, which includes six weighty slabs of vinyl and an informative insert, celebrates his legacy, offering up a mixture of pioneering productions (Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Force's 'Planet Rock', 'Walking On Sunshine' by Rockers Revenge, 'Confusion' by New Order), dancefloor anthems (Freez's 'I.O.U', his enormous rework of Fleetwood Mac's 'Big Love') and a string of essential but lesser-celebrated revisions - all presented in full-length, DJ-friendly form. In a word: essential.

Review: First released in 2022, Rheinzand's Atlantis Atlantis updated the Belgian disco-house collective's sound for the utmost present, laying down a thickly layered collection of uncanny dark disco via post punk across thirteen tracks. Now two years on from the original release, Netherlands producer Pete Blaker has teamed up with the band to rework the album tracks; however, in the words of the label and Blaker themselves, this is by no means your bog-standard 'remix' album! Unlike most, this one hears Blaker go the extra mile, sonically refurbishing the tracks with entirely new instrumental layers and vocal takes, personally commissioning the band to do so himself. Formatively emerging after being asked to do just one remix for the band in 2021, this is a rare case of divine inspiration striking in an unexpectedly extended fashion - not to be missed.

Review: For the last ten years Japan's reissue market has blossomed into one of the most fruitful for western listeners eager to explore very rare Japanese releases and artists from the 70s and 80s specifically. In no other genres has this been most displayed then in the new age, ambient, folk and synth realms. Alfa/Yen Records 1980-1987: Techno Pop & Other Electronic Adventures In Tokyo follows this fantastic era of passing on to a new generation. This compilation features many luminary figures in the Japanese scene with an extra emphasis of it honing in on Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members. After the popularity of similar compilations in the past five years, this looks to be one of the most successful reissues of Japanese electronic music in 2024!

Review: Vick Lavender presents a captivating journey through soulful house music with 'The Time Traveler'. This double LP is a testament to Lavender's deep understanding of the genre, seamlessly blending classic influences with a contemporary edge. From the infectious grooves of '4-11' and 'A Space Love Affair' to the hypnotic rhythms of 'Acid Outpost' and 'Archive 80', the album is a masterclass in soulful house production. Lavender's collaborations with Ammawhat and Angel-A add further depth and dimension, while tracks like 'Misty' and '1981' showcase his ability to craft emotive and atmospheric soundscapes. The extended mixes on Side 3 and 4 provide extended journeys into Lavender's sonic world, highlighting his skills as a DJ and remixer. This is a must-have for any house music enthusiast, a timeless collection that will transport you to the dancefloor and beyond.

Review: Sharon Redd was at the heart of the Prelude sound at a time when they were on top of the world and dropping endless amounts of electronic disco heat. Her own standout hits include 'Beat The Street' which features here and lends its name to a collection of her many other still fresh tunes. Darryl Payne's production was behind some of these and this reissue comes on gatefold translucent blue and pink swirl vinyl with a special megamix mash-up of the highlights as the final tune.

Review: While it's a cliche to describe Balearic-minded releases as being "sun-soaked" and "sunset-ready", they're both descriptors that accurately reflect the gorgeously warm, melodious and laidback sound of Japanese outfit Coastlines. Their second self-titled album is every bit as inspired as its predecessor and offers a range of tracks built around layered, intricate instrumentation, gently shuffling rhythms and vivid daydreams about beachside walks in sunnier climes. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the Andreas Vollenweider-inspired slo-mo Latin shuffle of 'Tenderly', the blazed deep jazz-funk of 'Alicia', the piano-laden early morning wonder of 'Night Cruise' and the squelchy future boogie of 'Sky Island'. In a word: sumptuous!

Review: Kyoto Jazz Massive returns with a new era of sound. It has been 20 years since Eclipse and 19 years since Spirit of the Sun but now their highly anticipated second album, Message From A New Dawn, is finally here. This record marks an evolution of the line-up into a full band and blend of techno, jazz, house, boogie, soul, broken beats, fusion, Afrobeat, and more as Kyoto Jazz Massive presents their vision of the ultimate crossover electric jazz fusion, and featuring none other than the legendary Roy Ayers. It all adds up to a fresh take on their iconic sound, crafted to push boundaries and inspire the future of jazz.

Review: Tatsuro Yamashita's It's a Poppin' Time is one of the many albums of his that are being reissued right now as part of a campaign focussing don his work for RCA. It arrives on nice heavy 180g vinyl and is the first of two live albums he put out. This one came in 1978 and an expanded remaster came in 2002. At the time he was an already established Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer who had very much helped to define the early city-pop sound that has endured to this day. He dropped a wealth of studio albums from the seventies onwards and as this one shows had more than enough skill to carry that magic over to the live arena.

Review: If you at first mistakenly read the title of the new Pye Corner Audio box set as "Where Things Are Now: No Tomorrow", you're not alone - Martin Jenkins' effortless blend of retro-nostalgia and forward-facing production is a keen match for reflexive cynicisms like this. His use of sizzling vintage audio-tropes could only have been achieved in the 21st Century and helps foster a reinstated optimism. The name of the full series is actually Where Things Are Hollow; and while two volumes have been released already, a third original one now comes added here, on top of a full remix roundoff featuring Alessandro Cortini, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and John Talabot, producing this rather banging four-volume set.

Review: Since debuting at the tail end of the 1990s, Frank Timm's Sound Stream project has provided us with some of the most memorable and impactful disco-house loop jams around. It's been five years since Timm's last outing under the alias though, making this expansive triple-pack of club cuts a genuinely notable release. Typically, it's a special collection of cuts too, with highlights including the sun-splashed gorgeousness of title track 'Disco Fantasy', the stripped-back drum machine jam 'Who Ist Die Eins', the suspenseful, tease-and-release brilliance of 'Give Me A C', the deep disco-house hypnotism of 'Off The Rack', the funky bassline-driven headiness of 'Just Stop It' and the string-drenched excitement of 'Pussycat Pool'.

Review: Breaking from his directorial duties, American cinema auteur Eli Roth (Borderlands, Knock Knock, Green Inferno) stops by the CAM Sugar sound studio for a rare double 7" LP, pinching listeners by the ear and dragging them along a forbidden trail along the gothic, red-lit path that is Italian soundtrack legendariness. Drawing his selections here from a wealth of Italian B-movie expertise, not to mention ownership in his own collection, the contemporary horrorist has chosen 20 delicious but still downright saucy disco, bossa nova and psych tunes here, centring on the Italian Sexy Comedy softcore era of 1969-81.