Review: February is the month of love and so it is fitting that a new 7" drops from our much loved Washington DC label Peoples Potential Unlimited US. Every bit of lo-fi funk and disco this label deals in comes with a healthy dose of romance and this one from Marshall Titus is another case in point. 'Take A Chance' is full of steamy promise and retro-future 80s synth work over crunchy drums. The vocal is alluring and sensuous and the bassline further pulls you in. On the flip is a more raw and affected alternate version.
Review: T. J. Johnson's 'Pretty Lady' is a glorious sweet spot between disco, boogie and funk that came back at the heyday for that sort of sound back in 1982. It's been dug out of the Switch label vaults which was a UK label run out of Lansdowne Studios. T.J. Johnson was a well-versed guitarist also known as T.J. Bedeau and he is still working the gig circuit today. 'Pretty Lady' is a slick and smooth groover with florid horn stabs and the sort of lush vocals that bring the love. 'Come On Let's Do It (Let's Rock)' is more upbeat and strident but just as warm.
Review: More musical "tricks that never fail to amuse at parties" (as the Party Tricks label describes its output), this time courtesy of Argentinian producer Tobi. Showcasing his deep love of 1980s Italo-disco, Hi-NRG and formative Eurodance/Italodance, Tobi delivers a quartet of cuts that wouldn't sound out of place on Dutch label Bordello a Parigi. Check first 'The D Spell', a vocoder-sporting fusion of fizzing synth sounds, colourful electronic riffs, electro-disco drums and jaunty Hi-NRG bass, before admiring the razor-sharp, late 80s synth-pop-goes-Euro-disco sounds of 'Abradanzabra'. Over on side two, the Random Access Memories era Daft Punk-influenced 'What We Yell' is joined by the kaleidoscopic synth sounds, bustling breakbeats and memorable organ riffs of 'Dias Mejores'.
Review: This release sees David A Tobin exploring the multifaceted nature of love, delivering a soulful house cut that's both uplifting and introspective. 'Fallin' In Love' is a journey through the complex emotions of romance, with warm chords and a driving bassline creating an irresistible groove. Tobin's emotive vocals capture the vulnerability and excitement of falling head over heels, while the track's soulful melodies and uplifting energy create a sense of hopeful optimism. The B-side, 'Turnin' Me On', takes a slightly different approach, with a more playful and seductive vibe. The track's infectious groove and seductive vocals are sure to get bodies moving, while its soulful undertones maintain the overall sense of heartfelt emotion. Together, these two tracks showcase Tobin's versatility as a producer and vocalist, delivering a well-rounded listening experience that will appeal to house heads and soulful music lovers alike.
Review: The magical 'Go Back and Make It Right' by David A Tobin on Sedsoul came back in 2021 and offers a vibrant blend of soul, funk, and disco. This 7" pressing offers up two versions. The vocal comes first and is one of those impossibly feel-good gems with light, funky rhythms, a great interplay between male and female vocals and neat bass topped with strong synths. The dub pairs it back and allows the rhythms to shine but really the vocal is the one that will get the best reactions.
Review: Sedsoul welcome back one of their mainstays, David A Tobin, with a fresh new tune, emblematic of a soul supremo reared in the gospel tradition. Tobin's nominal credits stretch as far back as the early 1990s, when he operated as a house music vocalist working under the stage name Phoenix, but his more recent efforts under his own name have seen him steer in a determined soul direction, post-2010. 'Fallin' In Love' is an amorous cascade and an homage to sea-changes, with the titular "falling in love" coming backed by refrained urges to "turn your life around".
Review: Owhaaou features four cuts taken from the incredibly hard-to-find and obscure Metamorphose album that was released back in 1984 by this legendary Benin soul star. He blends rare Afrofunk with digital soul as evidenced by the recent reissue of Dans le Tchink System. Now this label celebrates his work once more with this futuristic and expansive new record which was recorded on 24 analogue track channels with skilled backing musicians such as Hilaire Penda on bass, Poly Rythmo de Cotonou's Daniel Bentho and more. The title track is a big disco party starter then there are more sombre moods on 'Magnifiec' and a silky edit of 'Zemidjan' before 'Mi Tchinker' gets that booty shaking.
Review: Hitomi Toyama's 'Sweet Soul Music' originally made it to wax last year, when the track appeared as part of a rare Japanese funk compilation curated by the sound's brightest stars, Wamono. Now, though, it gets a proper release on 7", and is backended by the sultry B-side 'Wanna Kiss', which sounds pitched up and chirpy in its shrill alto vocals, which assure us we're held. The A, meanwhile, is as horny (in both senses of the word) as ever, quite obviously singing the praises of "sweet soul music... I love you!"
The Tolbert Family Singers - "Ride The Gospel Train" (feat Brother O C Tolbert) (3:36)
O C Tolbert - "Give It To Glory" (5:46)
Review: With Cordial Recordings, LoveVinyl's Roual Galloway is doing a terrific job in making rare, sought-after tracks available to a wider audience. In truth, you'll struggle to find a more rare and expensive gospel killer than The Tolbert Family Singers' "Ride The Gospel Train", a drum machine driven chunk of gospel-boogie with crunchy funk guitars that's been changing hands for hundreds of pounds online. Andrew Weatherall is a fan and it's easy to see why. Flipside "Give it Glory", a solo cut by Tolbert Family patriarch Brother OC Tolbert, is a sweeter and breezier slab of gospel-soul that has never before been released on vinyl. Two killer cuts for the price of one: nice one, Roual!
Review: In 1980 Tina Weymouth was playing bass for the Talking Heads while her husband Chris Frantz played drums. The couple were vacationing in the Bahamas when they met Monty Brown and Stephen Stanley. Together the four set out to make the kind of music that David Byrne and the Talking Heads stayed clear of: romantic, sunny, dance-able pop music. Their debut single, "Genius Of Love" is that classic early 80s cross between synth-pop and hip-hop, and went right to the top of the dance charts, securing them an identity separate from that of Talking Heads. It found a home in the samples of several hip-hop aficionados and was even nicked by Mariah Carey for her 90s hit, "Heartbreaker".
Jorge Ben - "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" (2:36)
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series gets its rock on with two hairy grooves, both of which have enjoyed the sampler's crafty knives over the years. First up, Tom Ze's "Jimmy Renda-se" rolls with an oily sleazy groove that's peppered by a playful lyrical rhythm that transcends language barriers. Ben's "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" joins the dots between Samba and very light Rock with all the signatures that made Mr Ben the legend he remains to this day with big vocal harmonies and infectious textures of Brazilian percussion.
Bibleway Church Of God In Christ - "Since Jesus Came Into My Life" (3:09)
Eliezer Mass Choir - "Where He Leads Me" (3:01)
Review: If you're looking for an introduction into the world of original 1970s and '80s gospel funk and gospel soul, you can't do better than Tone B Nimble's ongoing Soul is My Salvation series of double A-side "45s". This is the eighth edition in the series and contains two more thoroughly obscure workouts. On the A-side you'll find Bibleway Church of God in Christ's 'Since Jesus Came Into My Life', a fizzing gospel-soul stomper that was first featured on the organisation's 1980 private press LP What Do You Say About Jesus. Over on the flip there's a chance to savour Eliezer Mass Choir's 'Where He Leads Me', a more disco-tinged number that reminded us a little of the Joubert Singers' much-loved 'Stand on the Word'.
Pink Family - "Don't Give Your Life Away" (AI-Tone extended mix) (5:00)
Review: Rain & Shine's "Soul Is My Salvation" project is something of an epic: an eight-part series of "dancefloor friendly gospel songs" curated by veteran Chicagoan DJ Tone B Nimble (real name Anthony Fields). This first part - "Chapter 1" - opens with a sublime, gospel style sing-along cover of Sister Sledge classic "We Are Family" that sounds like it was actually recorded in church. It's brilliant, life-affirming stuff. Over on side B, scalpel fiend Al-Tone offers up an extended version of obscure New Zealand group The Pink Family's 1979 cut "Don't Give Your Life Away" - a warm-hearted - some would say righteous - disco workout that's almost as good as the A-side. We await the next volume in the series with baited breath.
Review: Rich gutsy soul from a man who's regularly described as Brazil's James Brown, "O Journalerio" is a blueprint funk jam. Released in 1971 (on his hyper-rare album BR-3) it's all about the orchestrated swing, bluesy groove and Hammond licks so lavish you need to towel on every listen. Flip for Som Tres... An off-shoot of the Sambalanco Trio, it's the sound of Cesar Camargo Mariano controlling a restrained rolling slice of filmic instrumental funk where horns, keys and drums gather momentum with big band drama. Neither have been released on 45" before, making this all the more special.
Zeca Do Trombone & Roberto Sax - "Coluna Do Meio" (2:58)
Review: Mr Bongo offers up an incredible 86th volume in the Brazil45 series, and this time it's Black Rio funk from two mainstays of the sound, Toni Tornado & Zeca Do Trombone. A-side 'Sou Negro' is from Tornado's 1970 EP on Odeon Records. It's a sought after number that despite lasting only just over two minutes still makes an indelible impression. Zeca Do Trombone & Roberto Sax join forces on the flip for 'Coluna Do Meio,' which is a more smooth, easy going jazz laced tune compared with the raw and direct a-side. This one has an acrobatic vocal and sunny riffs bringing pool-side vibes under clear blue skies.
Review: The Disco Gioconda crew spin narratives as they do grooves, dream-weaving throwback Italo-style records through editable wattles. Trend-chasers begone: Gino Tonico and Tino Arancino together tap into a sound whose immanent quality foregoes any need for PR preservatives, letting each section breathe, twist, and evolve organically as energy builds. 'Vorrei Rubaria' leans into drama without excess, moving through bold shifts in tone and rhythm that hold attention from first bar to last - its dub mix, meanwhile, swirls our medulla, leaving us cochlear blear. It's a record designed for full playthrough, rewarding those who stay with it.
Review: Tooflie's latest offering dives into the allure of French pop's vocal sensuality that weaves intricate production with global influences. The opener, 'CS VG,' anchors the release with its half-step beat that flows through grainy tonal shifts and rhythms, twisting familiar elements into something new and magnetic. Its dreamy, almost spectral feel is offset by sharper, more defined edges, creating an engaging dynamic that keeps the energy fluid yet charged. As the record progresses, 'BLORN' introduces a more laid-back groove, combining minimalist funk with a sense of melancholic soul, perfect for late-night listening. The flipside continues to surprise, with 'KRLE' and 'JUWRK' fusing breakbeat elements with soft digital textures, offering a distinct and refined energy. Tooflie expertly blends the experimental with the accessible, crafting a release that's both bold and sophisticated, ready to ignite the most discerning dancefloors.
Review: Tooflie returns with a fresh global sound exploration from an anonymous team of edit enthusiasts. The fourth instalment in the series features five distinct tracks, each of which offers a deep dive into the vibrant sonic carnival of Brazilian favelas. The A2 track, 'CBACA,' combines raw Baile funk energy with hard house beats and acidic melodies. MWR's 'Man With Refrigerator' blends funky electro with intricate rhythms, perfect for energising the dancefloor. Opening with a minimal breakbeat groove on 'PDNCA,' the release progresses through heavy, raw bass on 'RTK,' and concludes with the haunting arpeggios of 'LAPA.'
Review: Latvia's Tooflie crew is back six or so months after launching their new self-titled label with as second hand-stamped blue vinyl. There is a euro-disc feel to the vocals of 'LKA' which ride of rickety beats and tin-pot percussive clatter. 'KFE' is a spaced-out and proto-house sound with more libidinous female vocals and soft acid lines. 'MAXIM vs TDJ' is another Euro-dance sound with bright 90s chords and slapping high-energy house drums. Last but not least, 'LIND' drops into slinky deep disco house territory with a real sense of funky and purpose. A beguiling EP, no doubt.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
PDNCA (4:18)
CBACA (5:01)
MWR (1:00)
RTK (1:00)
LAPA (1:00)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
Tooflie returns with a fresh global sound exploration from an anonymous team of edit enthusiasts. The fourth instalment in the series features five distinct tracks, each of which offers a deep dive into the vibrant sonic carnival of Brazilian favelas. The A2 track, 'CBACA,' combines raw Baile funk energy with hard house beats and acidic melodies. MWR's 'Man With Refrigerator' blends funky electro with intricate rhythms, perfect for energising the dancefloor. Opening with a minimal breakbeat groove on 'PDNCA,' the release progresses through heavy, raw bass on 'RTK,' and concludes with the haunting arpeggios of 'LAPA.'
Review: Desencanto is carving out its own sound world with its first releases and this one again taps into a loved-up deep house vibe that puts beautiful melodies and serene moods front and centre. 'Pipina' kicks off in the form of an Acqua mix that is downbeat and blissed out. 'Miss U Too' then brings some retro 80s synth work and taught basslines under celestial keys. 'Temptation' has more glassy melodies making for a rather haunting and eerie mood and finally, 'Last Kiss' is a suspenseful ambient soundscape that floats you up amongst the stars with reverential flutes encouraging nostalgic dreams.
Review: Turin's Bunkereeno Kollektiv and ITALIA90 have come together to launch their own new label Anna Records and it debuts with a split EP from Tools 4 Seduction and Lachina. The Argentinian former goes first with the Italo-infused sound of 'Like on VHS' full of dreamy chords and retro-future drums. 'Choruscan' is brighter and happier with cheery chords and a wonky baseline brings the vibes. On the B-side, Lachina who hails from Turin flips the vibe with more strident disco-techno sounds and direct cosmic energy on 'Out Of The Past'. His 'Metallic Rain' then brings flashy synth arps and a speedy intergalactic groove.
Yuji Toriyama & Ken Morimura - "Night Together" (4:47)
Chie Sawa - "Sea Gull" (4:07)
Review: Way back in 1982, Japanese musicians and producers Yuji Toriyama and Ken Morimura joined forces to deliver Aerobics, a soundtrack for exercise classes (really) that joined the dots between boogie, disco and city pop. 'Night Together', a superb electrofunk instrumental rich in picturesque synthesizer melodies, jazz-funk guitar solos (Toriyama was a guitarist by trade), squelchy bass and drum machine beats. It's certainly well worthy of being reissued - as this tidy "45" from Pony Canyon amply demonstrates. Curiously, it's not backed by another gem from that set, but rather another slept-on Japanese classic - 'Sea Gull' from Chie Sawa's 1974 hybrid folk-rock/psychedelic rock album 23 - Twenty Three Years Old. It's decent, but the A-side is the real winner.
Review: Claremont 56 continue to disregard the genre boundaries - preferring instead to give good music the attention it deserves - as their latest looker of a twelve inch presents us the sounds of Torn Sail. Fronted by Smith & Mudd vocalist Huw Costin, Torn Sail go all 60s West Coast rock on us with the gloriously rich sounds of "Birds". From its acoustic beginnings the track gradually unfurls into a delightful groove embellished by soothing vocal harmonies. It's almost a thankless task enlisting anyone to try and remix what sounds like a perfect song, but Claremont 56 obviously chose right in requesting the services of Tiago. In the Portuguese producer's hands "Birds" is transformed into a heavily psychedelic freakout which gently develops into a kraut rock behemoth filled with swathes of heavy organ vibes. Containing several shifts in momentum - including a glorious half speed finish - this is a truly stunning remix which left our jaws occupying the floor!
Review: Pretty much does what it says on the tin this one - a lovely slab of vinyl packed with high-octane, main room club bangers. Torpedo is a master of that form and has proven it repeatedly over the last 30 years. He kicks off here with the steamy, sizzling and low-slung house of 'Red Killer', 'Fascinating' then has a chunky Kerri Chandler style bounce to it and 'Bonkaz' brings warm and silky deep house depths to a classic Dizzie sample. 'Renegade' is the raved-up closer that will get hands thrown skywards.
Review: Venti d'Azzurro Records is on fire right now with a busy schedule of dazzling disco goodness, all with a healthy Italo twist. Milanese scene legend Torrevado now makes a return to the label with their second release in two years. It's another mesmerising new track that has hints of bands like Erasure in the deadpan vocals and lots of Euro-dance quality in the bright, tooting arps. Adding extra heat to the release is Dutch super-producer and remixer Savino Deejay with his own well-crafted and dynamic remix designed squarely for the clubs. Both are beautifully textured sounds that will be catnip for fans of Italo Disco with a modern twist.
Review: Moodena and Sartorial's Tropical Disco is now into its 24th release and they haven't let up on the quality grooves. On the first side you've got Toscana who takes you poolside on the lo-slung deep disco of 'The Girl With The Red Hair', followed by the dusty and hypnotic late night loops of Toby O'Connor's 'Cave Of Gold' featuring a seriously sexy sax solo. Over on the flip, it's all about Neapolitan favourite Frank Virgilio, who serves up some lovely sunset mood music on 'What We Love'.
Review: The Outer Edge reckons that this first release on their label is one of "the rarest and simultaneously best-recorded independently released German new wave singles in history." Bold words, but probably not far wrong. 80s outfit Total wrote it as the first and title single for an album deal they signed. It's a killer cut with hints of 'The Message''s hip-hop rhythm and alluring female vocals over a lush bassline from the Jupiter 8 keyboard and DMX drum machine funk driving it along at such an inviting mid-tempo. The withering cosmic keys add extra spacey goodness and here it comes with a couple of alternative mixes, though the OG is really the one.
Review: It is often said that this tune was one of the catalysts for the coming together of Brit-funk sounds and UK disco styles back in the early eighties. Either way it is a real British classic that landed on the influential dance label Record Shack and came from the unique musical minds of Jeff Weston and Northern Soul, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan casino DJ/Promoter/icon, Ian Levine. Now the hard tp find and much coveted, as well as expensive, original has been officially licensed and remastered with a full colour picture sleeve for this special 12".
Review: Touchdown's 'Ease Your Mind' is one of those mid-80s gems that will seemingly never go out of style. It is a UK street soul sound that came on the iconic, influential and original UK dance music label Record Shack that was run by the great Jeff Weston and legendary and pivotal Northern Soul, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan casino electro and party promoter Ian Levine. It manages to bridge the gap between Northern Soul, street soul and Brit funk and disco of the day with killer funky basslines, cosmic synths and a nice airy vocal to cruise on.
Review: Peru has enjoyed a thriving and exciting music scene since the mid-1960s. Bands such as Los Saicos, Los Shain's, and Los York's, to name just a few, released a number of brilliant records that drove young fans crazy and set an example for many to follow. The end of the decade brought about an evolution in sound and new music, as Peruvian bands kept an eye on the groundbreaking British and US artists. One of them was Traffic Sound, founded in Lima in 1967. Over a very short period of time the band managed to successfully develop their career, and by 1971 their Latin influences had overpowered the psychedelic prog vibe of their previous records. The song became a local hit and several versions were recorded by different Peruvian artists. On the other side of this single we find Black Sugar, a Peruvian band considered to be a pioneer group in Latin America in mixing funk influences with rock and Latin rhythms. In 1976, following their gig at Coliseo Amauta in Lima, opening the night for the legendary Spanish band Barrabas, they started to show a growing interest in disco music, resulting in some line-up changes with members leaving the project due to their lack of interest in the new sound and new ones joining in. Their own take on 'La Camita' was released in 1978, and adds a modern twist to the original song.
Review: Trans-X was Pascal Languirand, but the fantastic vocal from his biggest single, 1986's 'Living on Video,' was performed by Laurie Ann Gill, a Canadian who never got the credit at the time. This reissue will put her in the spotlight and rightly so - this is pure dance effort gold, with hi-nrg disco beats, flashy synth-pop styles and a native retro-future tint that still bangs. It's rather unusual source material for Claptone who normally favours deep and soulful sounds, but he does a fine job of flipping into a big, cheery, chugging, tooting Italo-disco stomper. A dub mix is also included for a more raw vibe.
Review: Transport's Move Your Body is a thrilling rediscovery from a once short-lived Portland outfit, featuring members from Ural Thomas' 1960s band. This eleven-piece disco-funk powerhouse recorded an album's worth of gems in 1978, but they remained buried for over four decades. The steady groove of the A-side captures their original essence, yet it's their dynamic rendition of 'Always There' that steals the showiarguably the finest cover of Ronnie Laws' classic to date.
Review: Colemine continue their 7" singles charge with this new one by Tre D'Ambrocia, a budding contemporary soul singer - to say their future prospects are "promising" would be an understatement. Sullen but no less emotional, A-sider 'Closer' is a nighttime, g-funk-whistling exercise in soul, with D'Ambrocia's vocals seeming to span both soul and r&b as it cuts through the mix like a beckoning finger, urging us to "come closer". The B-side, meanwhile, hears D'Ambrocia cover the Toots And The Maytals original, for an initially dispiriting yet ultimately cleansing new leaf in song form.
Review: Luca Trentini's third release on Blessyou delves deeper into his disco sample-based dancefloor enhancers. This expertly crafted club-oriented toolkit, created by a seasoned DJ, reveals Luca's secret weapons. Side-1 bursts forth at an uptempo energy with driving momentum and acid touches, perfect for peak-time main room sets. 'So High!' slows down just a touch, offering a more playful sampling approach. Side-2 presentes a downtempo chugger with jungle vibes, featuring a chorus of Kookaburra, big cat and other animal noises. A release with something for almost every DJ's arsenal.
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent remix) (4:14)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (Ron Trent dub) (4:09)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem instrumental) (5:06)
Please Don’t Stop The Rain (ASHRR Soundsystem remix) (6:23)
Review: LA-based band ASHRR picked up plenty of new fans with their recent Sunshine Low album and now they're back with the sixth single from it and it comes with some seriously heavyweight names on the remix. Chicago house pioneer Ron Trent does his thing to 'Please Don't Stop The Rain' by going super deep, spine tingling and heady with some lush arps and distant guitar twangs adding a Balearic feel. Dub treatments come from the Prescription boss himself, while ASHRR's alter ego, ASHRR Soundsystem, offer up an instrumental and a remix that lay down dubby house drums and lush chord work. This one keeps the summer vibes going well into winter.
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