Back catalogue: Funky/Club House

Review: Aside from Coldcut's incredible 'Journeys By DJ' mix, we can think of few mix albums that have been quite as celebrated as Soulwax's 2002 outing as 2ManyDJs, 'As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part 2'. While of its time in terms of some of the track selections - it was the era of fuzzy electro-house and electroclash - the album's genius lies in its' breathlessly brilliant eclecticism and the no-holds-barred, party-starting insanity that marked out the Belgian duo's DJ sets at the time. Out of print for many years but now back in stores in limited quantities to mark its 20th birthday, the mix remains a peerless advert for creative DJing, with the Dewaele brothers giddily mashing together acapellas, tracks, grooves and song snippets in a breathlessly brilliant, endlessly entertaining way. If you missed it first time around, you need this edition in your life.

Review: Until he quit the music industry in the mid-1990s, Shep Pettibone was the most in-demand remixer on the planet - a position he'd held since the late 1970s. This four-disc compilation does a great job of showcasing some of his greatest remixes, all of which are presented in full-length form. There's naturally plenty of versions of big pop singles of the '80s - see the epic 'Mastermix' of Pet Shop Boys' 'West End Girls', as well as rubs of Duran Duran, New Order, Whitney Houston and Belinda Carlisle - as well as a sprint through his celebrated disco and boogie reworks (see disc four). In addition, you'll find versions of some lesser-celebrated gems from the freestyle-era, including heavyweight revisions of Sinammon, Alisha, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and The Flirts.

Review: After launching the Dance Masters series with a much-needed trawl through the remixography of the great Shep Pettibone, Arthur Baker has now turned his attention to his own sprawling catalogue of productions and remixes. Stretched over four discs in order to present full-length, DJ-friendly mixes, the collection does a great job in showcasing Baker's immense achievements in the 1980s and 90s. Naturally, his most celebrated productions and remixes are present - see his versions of Fleetwood Mac's 'Big Love', which became Balearic anthems, Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Force's genuinely game-changing 'Planet Rock', Freez's 'I.O.U', Rockers Revenge's 'Walking on Sunshine' and New Order's 'Confusion' - alongside a swathe of forgotten, overlooked and harder to find revisions.

Review: Italian house didn't need the glitz of Ibiza or the muscle of Chicago and Detroit. It carved out its own spaceismoky, dreamlike, and effortlessly cool. This collection captures the full spectrum of that golden era, from the hypnotic tribal rhythms of Progetto Tribale's 'The Sweep' to the shimmering, euphoric synths of Onirico's 'Echo'. There's the deep, rolling pulse of Don Carlos' 'Boy', the jazz-infused elegance of Lady Bird's 'Jazzy Doll (Odyssey Dub)', and the raw energy of Green Baize's 'Synthetic Rhythm'. Elsewhere, 'Titanic' by Mato Grosso offers an atmospheric voyage, while 'The True Underground Sound of Rome' delivers deep, sophisticated grooves. These weren't just club tracks; they were portals to another world. Whether it was the funky shuffle of Alex Neri's 'The Wizard', the soulful pianos of Carol Bailey's 'Understand Me (Free Your Mind)', or the after-hours pulse of MCJ's 'Sexitivity', this was music made by studio obsessives who understood that house wasn't just a soundiit was a feeling. Underground, inventive, and deeply emotional, this collection is a snapshot of an era where the Italian touch brought warmth, sensuality and an undeniable groove to dancefloors worldwide.

Review: Self-proclaimed "quadruple threat" (he is, after all, a DJ, comedian, actor and poet) Craig Charles swings open his colossal Trunk of Funk for a third time. In line with previous dives into the popular BBC 6 Music DJ's music collection, he's served up a selection that moves between the decades, taking in all manner of funky treats (think funk breaks, modern soul, jazz-funk, disco-boogie, classic soul and more). Flick through the clips and you'll find genius-like gospel (the Harlem Gospel Travellers), recent remixes (Smoove reworking the Third Degree, A Skillz putting his stamp on The Niceguys), classics reimagined (the Boogie Back rework of Beggar & Co classic 'Somebody Help Me Out'), modern gems (Dave Lee and Omar) and the odd exclusive (a previously unheard vocal version of The New Mastersounds' 'Watchu Want').

Review: Bristolian turntablist and crate digger Andy Smith has long been renowned for the depth of his funk, soul and hip-hop selections, though it's only in recent years that we've discovered the quality and diversity of his disco collection. He continues to flex those credentials on the third instalment in his Reach Up - Disco Wonderland series. While there's plenty of obscurity on show, as you'd expect, Smith has chosen to include contemporary nu-disco cuts and fresh re-edits alongside vintage picks. So, while we cuts from The Sunshine Band, the disco-highlife of Orlando Julius and some late 70s electro-disco courtesy of French outfit Quartz, we're also treated to fresher tracks and edits from BB Soul, Birdee and Nick Reach Up, Yam Who and Full Intention. Throw in a killer DJ mix of the same material by Skratch Bastid and you have a genuinely essential collection.

Review: If you're looking for a bumper collection of chart bothering and ever-popular 80s disco then look no further than this. Blanco Y Negro has assembled no fewer than three whole CDs worth of the stuff and managed to include every sub-genre imaginable. Pop disco, hi-nrg, Italo disco, 80s house, nu-disco and plenty in between are all covered with aplomb. There are stone-cold classics like The Human League's 'Don't You Want Me', Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel's 'White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)' and The Human League's 'Don't You Want Me' as well as a few equally fun but slightly less ubiquitous jams.

Review: Honey Dijon is exactly the sort of artist you want to hear from in the DJ-Kicks series. And she more than comes through with tracks by Blackjoy, Art of Tones, Shaboom, Kiko Navarro, and a brand-new cut from Dijon herself. Known as a fashion icon, activist, Grammy winner, and DJ, Dijon has achieved success on many fronts but always brings with her a sense of authenticity and a through line to the roots of house in Chicago. The 19-track mix marks her first commercially available compilation and showcases her deep knowledge of house music as she blends forgotten classics, dollar-bin finds, and modern tracks, including one of her own.

Review: Since launching five years ago, Groove Culture has established itself as an essential outlet for groovy, musically rich club cuts that frequently blur the boundaries between disco, deep house, soulful house, jazz-funk and nu-boogie. It's this hybrid, party-hearty sound that founders Micky More and Andy Tee slickly showcase across this two-disc, fifth anniversary mix. It's funky, hip-shaking fare from start to finish, with some of the many highlights including the pair's sax-sporting remix of Jestofunk's 'Say It Again', the rousing horns and Dave Lee style disco/house fusion grooves of their Angela Johnson collaboration 'Time', the string-drenched disco-house swell of Serge Funk's 'Can't Get Enough' and the Idris Muhammad-sampling joy of 'Subway' by Right To Life.

Review: Waze & Oddysey's W&O Streetracks imprint pulls together the likes of Eliphino, Ejeca, Citizen and XXXY for its first (unmixed) compilation released this Winter, W&O Streettracks Vol 1. Having clocked up eight releases on Street Tracks, it's the ideal time to throw down a milestone and document the sound of the label in one package and W&O Street Tracks does so with panache. The result of Waze & Oddyssey's plunge into their address book is a 12 track compilation that neatly reflects modern house music. Ejeca, Citizen and W&O themselves sit alongside newcomers like Mediman and Sage Caswell while the emergent talents of New Jack City and Eliphino make for a nicely profiled piece of work

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: Ministry of Sound's latest double CD delivers a vibrant collection of this year's biggest dance anthems alongside fresh tracks from emerging talent. Featuring chart-topping hits from Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Oliver Heldens, the compilation is packed with infectious melodies and powerhouse collaborations. With contributions from the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Clean Bandit, Becky Hill and Rudimental, it offers an exciting mix of vocal-driven hits and deep, danceable beats. On the second CD, you'll find bangers from Dom Dolla, Gorgon City, TSHA and Eats Everything, as well as remixes from Solomun and Pete Tong. The perfect soundtrack to dance through the year's most unforgettable moments.

Review: The Now series is legendary for any one of us over a certain age. Back during our early childhood years, they were the first and last word of what was hot when it came to popular music of the day. Every few months, a new numbered collection would drop and give you access to all the hits you knew as well as some you didn't. In later years they branched out into specialist genres from funk to soul to dance. This bumper four CD collection brings together the very best 12"s of 1981 and despite the small remit, there is plenty to go at, as the easy-to-love tracklist shows.

Review: The ZYX label always deals in timeless disco sounds from across the ages whether commercial or underground. It has done for years and now it assembles some of what it calls its finest Italo Disco Dub Versions across an unmixed double CD compilation. All of these are instrumentals and things kick off with the glistening 80s chords of Paul Paul's 'Good Version' then take in delights such as Felli's hot-stepping 'Diamond In The Night', Raggio Di Luna's chugging and steamy slow motion work out 'Comanchero' and Duke Lake's soul-drenched 'Dance Tonight' (Do It Yourself Verison). A great collection.

Review: This meticulously curated five CD collection captures the dazzling spectrum of dance music that thrived on queer club floors between 1980 and 1989. With 53 tracks spanning multiple dance genres, the set celebrates an era of bold experimentation and unbridled creativity. Eartha Kitt's magnetic 'Where Is My Man' and Donna Summer's electrifying 'Love Is in Control' set the tone for a journey through anthems and underground gems alike. Tracks like Sylvester's euphoric 'I Need You' and Gwen Guthrie's 'Peanut Butter' evoke the soulful exuberance that defined the dancefloor, while Divine's 'Native Love' and Bobby O"'s 'I'm So Hot for You' bring unabashed camp and energy. On the Europop side, Desireless' dreamy 'Voyage Voyage' and Modern Talking's sleek 'Brother Louie' deliver shimmering melodies, while New Order's 'Sub-Culture' and Siouxsie and the Banshees' 'Peek-A-Boo' infuse a post-punk edge. House and acid influences shine in Electribe 101's hypnotic 'Talking with Myself' and Wee Papa Girl Rappers' 'Heat It Up'. Grace Jones' avant-garde 'Love on Top of Love' and Malcolm McLaren's 'Deep in Vogue' epitomise boundary-pushing brilliance. This collection is a vivid celebration of a transformative decade, reflecting the resilience and creativity of a community that danced through joy, pain, and boundless innovation.

Review: A nostalgia-packed journey through one of pop music's most exciting years, featuring an impressive lineup of extended and remixed tracks from the decade's biggest stars. This four disc collection brings together a mix of chart-topping anthems, cult classics and dancefloor staples, each in its extended 12" glory. Things start with Wham!'s infectious 'Freedom' (long mix) and keeps the energy high with Culture Club's politically charged 'The War Song' (Ultimate dance mix). New Order's 'Thieves Like Us' and Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder's 'Together In Electric Dreams' add a synth-laden sheen, while Eurythmics' haunting 'Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)' is a bold statement piece. As the tracklist moves on, iconic tracks like Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Relax' (New York mix) and Duran Duran's 'The Reflex' (dance mix) capture the decade's indulgent soundscape. Meanwhile, softer gems like Talk Talk's 'It's My Life' (extended mix) and Echo & The Bunnymen's 'Silver (Tidal Wave)' provide balance. Closing with Paul McCartney's heartfelt 'No More Lonely Nights' (extended) and the ever-catchy 'Somebody's Watching Me' by Rockwell, this compilation offers a comprehensive snapshot of 1984's pop brilliance. Having these extended versions together in one set is more than a greatest hits package - it's like having all the maxi singles together like an experienced DJ ready to rock a party.