New releases today: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Savana Funk and Gaudi's collaborative effort, Raha, encapsulates the vibrant essence of Afro/Cosmic Disco in a limited edition 7" vinyl release. Drawing inspiration from the late 70s Afro-disco movement, the single offers a hypnotic journey through eclectic Krautrock-infused grooves and space-funk textures. On the Side-1, 'Raha' pulses with an infectious Afro-cosmic groove, driven by analog synthesisers and psychedelic guitar riffs. The track, featuring vocals by Italian-Moroccan drummer Youssef, embodies the essence of peace of mind, as reflected in its Arabic title. On the Side-2, 'Orewa' invites listeners to dance amidst a psychedelic-coloured sunset, with funky guitar riffs leading the way into a timeless journey of groove and rhythm. Savana Funk's pedigree as one of Italy's foremost Afro-funk bands shines through, while Gaudi's extensive experience as a music producer adds depth and richness to the production. A vibrant tribute to the Afro-disco movement.

Review: Razor-N-Tape's Family Affair series makes a welcome return here with a third great instalment. This series is something of an annual end-of-year tradition by now (OK, it's arriving a touch late) and this one hits as hard as any with five tracks taken from the full and standout compilation. It is two great remixes of classic RNT material that gets things underway with Ezel offering a dub of Cor.ece and Bruce Leroys sublime deep hose mix of Guinu, then JKriv's 'Better Than Her' is a fat bottomed bit of deep cut electro funk and elsewhere Kim Anh gets raw and cosmic, and Cody Currie's 'Ghost' is broken beat perfection.

Review: Michael Gray brings his famously soulful sound to this new release on Sultra and it very much taps into a timeless vibe and old school disco feel. The grooves are nice and loose, the percussion is organic and fresh and the vocals, which re-sing a real classic, solar to the heavens next to mid tempo beats. After the A-side extended mix featuring Kimberly Brown & The Sultra Gospel Singers comes 'Never Let You Down' (feat Anthony Poteat & LaMay - extended mix). This one is a little deeper, quicker and funky, but is no less impassioned with its live vocals and lush synth work all bringing the good time vibes.

Review: Some 29 years after it first hit record stores, Nick Holder's sought-after Fruit Loops EP returns in remastered and reissued form. The long-serving Canadian was already four years into his career - and many 12" singles deep - when he delivered the four-tracker, which offers a funky and seductive take on deep house rich in disco and boogie samples. Check first the Chic-sampling disco house roll of 'Dance, Dance, Dance', before moving into the more complex (but not less attractive) 'Keep On Running'. 'The Message Is Love' does a brilliant job in turning choice loops and samples from MFSB's 'Love Is A Message' into heady house gold, while 'Clap Your Hands' makes merry with the stomping brilliance of Hamilton Bohannon's most famous tune ('Let's Start The Dance').

Review: Sunshine Sound's Birthday Medley, edited by Francois K, is a vibrant disco and nu-disco fusion that encapsulates the essence of celebratory energy. Side-1 kicks off with the exciting, 'Birthday Medley,' a dynamic blend of disco house and funk elements. Francois K's edit infuses the track with a pulsating rhythm and infectious groove, guaranteed to get listeners on their feet and moving to the beat. On Side-2, 'X Medley' continues the energetic vibe, with Francois K's studio know how adding depth and richness to the cosmic disco atmosphere. The track maintains a lively tempo throughout, accentuated by funky basslines, catchy melodies, and shimmering synths. Overall, Sunshine Sound's Birthday Medley is gem 12" for disco enthusiasts, offering a seamless mix of retro nostalgia and contemporary dancefloor vibes. Kevorkian is a legend of dance music for over 40 years now. If there is anyone's name you can trust, it's his.

Review: Dave Lee's "AC Soul Symphony" alias has been releasing delectable and sultry disco since 2005 but reached his magnus opus in 2023 with the release of the Metamorphosis LP. Here we find two tracks handpicked from the album and delivered, for the first time, in a 7" format. The single starts much as the album does with the track "Windy City Theme", beautifully scored, recorded, and produced legato strings envelope the track, punctuated with horns and vocals reminiscent of a Love Unlimited Orchestra production. This version of the track has been rearranged, speeding up the pacing of the track and reaching the juicy parts in a really satisfying way. On the flip side we have the title track from the album Metamorphosis, which is the first time the vocal version has been made available on vinyl. A bass laden intro gives ways to glistening pianos and those signature strings (have we mentioned how good the strings are?). A more laid back and seductive track than the A-side, but no less appealing. Again, due to the limitations of the 7" format, 'Metamorphosis' has been expertly rearranged with loving care and attention.

Review: Cool Million's Tonight featuring the legendary Glenn Jones is a catchy fusion of 80s soul and funk with modern flair. Jones's soulful vocals effortlessly glide over smooth lyrics, perfectly complementing the infectious groove laid down by Cool Million and the track exudes a nostalgic vibe while still feeling fresh and contemporary, showcasing the duo's adeptness at blending retro influences with modern production. 'Tonight' has a timeless appeal of soul and funk, making it a entertaining listen for fans of both classic and contemporary music alike.

Review: Cool Million featuring Kenny Thomas on vocals is a refreshing return to the soulful sounds of yesteryear. With Without Your Love, the duo, Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle, once again showcase their talent for crafting infectious grooves that harken back to a more musically satisfying era. Thomas's soulful delivery shines on this track, serving as the perfect complement to the funky rhythm and melody. The song exudes a timeless quality, reminiscent of classic soul and R&B from the 80s, with its boogie-inspired feel and soulful synths reminiscent of artists like Paul Laurence and Kashif. Originally released in 2012, this track now get's its own 7" for DJs and collectors to highlight the standout track.

Review: Dabeull, the current scene's utmost favourite 'danceable funk' purveyor, is back with bang in the form of an all-analog production, full-length LP. Analog Love enlists the help of a string of vocalists and production affiliates - including Holybrune, Dezzy Hollow, Reva DeVito, Rude Jude, and Jordan Lee - to amount to a glitzing, golden, effulgent nighttime set of funk intuits. From the lead single 'Body Heat' to the closing confabulations of 'Fabulous Kisses', every piece here is a latent hit, dripping in neon liquid and well-rounded, sawn-off textures, the latter of which was notably achieved by using the mixing console historically used for Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' at the mixing stage.

Review: Dabeull follows up a string of recent EPs with yet another to renew his credibility as a leading electro-funk producer-entrepreneur. Owing to his own preference for making music entirely on analog gear, his latest LP Analog Love flaunts this love and then some, laying down nine wet, delectable dancefloor dynamos and enlisting the likes of Rude Jude, Reva DeVito, Ferdi and Holybrune on vocal duties to back it up. Heralding an upcoming 100% live version of the album to come, we know Dabeull means it when he says 100% analogue: we don't take those words lightly round here.

Review: The 2013 album, Ain't Nothing But A Groove, followed in the footsteps of its predecessor back when it as first released. It found the cult favourite LTJ delve into the rich world of disco and 70s groove with his unique touch. Mixing contemporary sounds with the timeless vibe that had become his trademark, LTJ explored this musical landscape like no other and brought forth a fusion of old and new that captivated listeners then and will surely do so again now as it gets a reissue on double vinyl via IRMA.