Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Audiosex and Hanoben stepped out together on Discos Capablanca back in 2018 with the on-point acidities of Phone Sex, and now they're teaming up once again for this killer clutch of edit tackle for the always interesting Duca Bianco label. Rather than the well-mined stocks of disco and funk that usually get dusted down by edit scavenegers, these two have turned to synth pop and German new wave sounds, coming up with four deep cover, deliciously dishevelled pieces which align perfectly with the brand of acidic club music they make themselves. 'Elvira's Katzenfisch' is a prime case in point - a broad, sweeping slice of synthwave which sounds like it might slide off the reel to reel at any moment, while 'Frank's Einsamkeit' swells into a searing 303 burner for the darkest dungeon dancefloors.

Review: The decorated Spanish producer and DJ Henry Saiz, who operates under the novel character moniker Hal Incandenza, has been in the scene for 15 years now. He comes to us this time with an EP under MM Discos, a 12" stringing together deep house, nu-disco and techno sensibilities mixed with classic vocal samples. The patchwork of genres is a floor filler, the sub bass sure to get heads rocking on 'Ceremony', the classic house references on 'Incivitas' being too perfect not to groove to. For something more retro futuristic and techno-house, Marvin & Guy punch in another fantastic remix for this record, giving their interpretation of 'Incivitas' a far more theatrical sound, less danceable and more thoughtful.

Review: Savage Garden's Darren Hayes returned from the wilderness in 2022 after a hiatus of almost ten years. During that time, he tried his hand at stand up comedy, kept a social media presence in the form of shared videos featuring him bursting into song, and evidently spent a fair amount of time recharging. After all, you don't make albums with the energy of Homosexual, the comeback piece, if you're running on empty.
Let's Try Being In Love was the first single taken from that, and in many ways the whole package is more about message than music - a guy publicly celebrating his sexuality and marriage after spending a very long time not feeling ready to do so, during a period in which he was a bonafide global pop star. Here said track appears in both 12" extended form and a Louis La Roche mix, both of which are made for chugging dancefloors, filtered tracking synths firing on all cylinders and an overall sense of self.

Review: Earlier this year, London's long-serving Heavy Disco crew re-ignited their re-edit series after seven years away via a fine 12" containing tasty reworks of killer boogie-soul and disco-not-disco cuts from Tavares and the Police. On this similarly essential follow-up, they return to their string-drenched disco roots. A-side 'Disco Amnesia' is simply superb, with the scalpel-wielding cockneys successfully extending a sweet, string-laden disco gem and successfully taking it to soulful new heights. Over on side B, 'Let's Be Free' is a tidy rearrangement of an electric piano solo-heavy disco-meets-jazz-funk jam, while closing cut 'Unconditional Love' is the kind of mid-tempo disco-soul sing-along that's destined to feature as the 'end of night tune' at many a forthcoming party.

Review: Remarkably, almost a decade has passed since the first missive from re-edit crew Heavy Disco (AKA Ashley Beedle, Dave Jarvis and Darren House) landed in stores. Here the London collective returns for the first time in four years with two more tried-and-tested dancefloor rubs. "Run Down World" is particularly delicious, delivering a groovy revision of what sounds like one of the Police's hazier and more groove-based moments (IE there's less reggae influence and more of an AOR disco flex - think great grooves and flanged, spaced-out guitars). On side B it's all about "Times Are Bad", a fine extended revision of Tavares' deep disco/Steely Dan-goes-jazz-funk rub "Bad Times" that seems eerily fitting for the situation the world is in.

Review: Heidy P is a long time associate of the Rocksteady Disco crew and now she treats them to her first ever solo release in the form of Elevate. It is, as you'd expect of her, a house record through and through, but one packed with plenty of her own charm and personality. Opener 'Elevate' is a classy and jazz-tinged, Latin-styled groove that will electrify any floor. Next is the hugely emotive, soulful and gospel drenched 'Help Me Find My Way' with uplifting vocals from Seta. Pontchartrain then steps up to remix 'Help Me Find My Way' into something deeper and Carry Nation close out with a more freaked out sound.

Review: Bordello A Parigi is back with more of their sublime electro jams this time from Heinrich Dressel. The EP kicks off with 'Galatograd', a slow and steady jam with shimmering chords and lazy baselines. 'Eden Olympia' then picks up the pace a little with still skill drums and celestial keys that take you on a jaunt through the cosmos. 'Remoria' brings many layers of lush and futuristic synth work and timeless electro rhythms that are comforting and subtly celebratory and 'Mylos' shuts down this most lovely EP with another classy sound.

Review: Italian singer Elena Ferretti was popular on the Italo and Eurobeat scene between the early '80s, produced by the likes of Giacomo Maiolini, Mauro Farina, Sergio Dall'Ora and Giancarlo Pasquini. One of her best known hits is the song "My World" (as Sophie). Here we have a reissue of Feretti's highly valued Italo classic (to those who know) in the form of "Witch" under the Helen alias - with which she used for half a dozen or so tracks in her career. A typically neon-lit Italo disco anthem of the timeless variety, with additional remixes by Centre Neptune chief Flemming Dalum and mad Aussie Hysteric - both of them giving the track a nice reshape for modern dancefloors.

Review: Proper party music from two of the most trusted names in the game. Paradise Row is a brand new label and production outlet for both long-standing pillars of the modern disco community, and each of these three launch tracks tip nods right back to the roots. From the brazen piano slapping of "Hanging Out" via the shiny guitar, chugging synth bass and dubbed out vocal tactics of "Machine 16" via the early Chicagoisms-meet-Balearic -guitar-twangs of "Aperol Sunset", there's no fronting or pretention here; just lush floor-focused music that is designed to make you smile.

Review: Introducing a special edition 12' maxi EP from Barefoot Beats. This extraordinary release offers four dynamic tracks, each representing the heart and soul of Brazil's vibrant music scene. On the first side, you've got Pete Herbert & Dicky Trisco with 'Fique Louca' with its playful vocal whoops and funky breaks that are guaranteed to heat up any dancefloor. Next up is Salvador's Processman who delivers a rhythm-infused Bahian delight that will work at the open air or club alike, with its mesmersing Arp line and captivating rhythmic chant. Over on the flip, there's the upbeat and lively 'Drive You Crazy' by NYC-based JKriv of Razor N Tape, and finally Joutro Mundo from Rio closes out the EP with a sweet melodic anthem that will have you singing and dancing along.

Review: The legendary Razor-N-Tape keeps up its always busy release schedule here with a debut offering from Hiatt dB. The San Antonio born artist offers up a sizzling six track mini album that joins the dots between the worlds of funk, house, acid, breaks, disco and boogie. It's a steamy affair, too, with 'When The Night Is Right' soon making its mark and luring you to make some sensuous moves. There is loose limbed funk on the title track, spaced out boogie beats on 'First On The Floor' and low slung slow motion house sleaze on 'Take The Low Roads Home' amongst other gems.

Review: Legendary Harlem label Queen Constance brought the world the most raw and authentic disco direct from the source. Years later, collectors and dancers alike still fawn over plenty of its output and now two of its more notorious tracks get on-point edits by contemporary stars Kon and Moplen. With Kon at the buttons, High Voltage's "Rock Spank Freak" is tweaked and coerced, with extended funk breakdowns and heavier bottom ends. Moplen then adds some extra colour and pumps up the trumpet lines to make for an unabashedly glorious disco stomper. This is a 100% legit reissue with fresh remastering, so do not sleep.

Review: Here we have four disco edits aimed straight at the dancefloor, rumoured to come from within the Crazy P camp. On the first edition of Hot Today (get it?), you've got them making a truly hot mess on 'Custard Everywhere' and by hot we mean proper summertime vibes on this low slung number, which is followed on the A-side by the funky disco dub 'The Vibe'. Over on the flip, there's a wonderful cover of a certain Little Stevie classic in the form of 'Love's The Cure'.

Review: There can't be many out there who aren't familiar with Geraldine Hunt's 1980 single 'Can't Fake The Feeling', a genuine disco-boogie anthem whose Chic-style groove, tasty orchestration, gnarled guitars and sing-along vocals are so familiar they're almost iconic. Whether it needs remixing is open for debate, but Carl Cox has at least done a sympathetic job. His full vocal 'remix' adds a little house bounce to the track while retaining most of the original elements, while his 'rework' re-imagines it as a stomping disco-techno slammer of the sort that Dave Angel used to be famous for. Throw in the peerless original mix and a hard-to-find, late-'80s 'dub' mix and you have an excellent package.

Review: This more than handy 7" single brings together two classic disco-era cuts from soul legend Willie Hutch. A-side "Easy Does It", which was originally featured on 1978's In Tune album, features Hutch in full-on Curtis Mayfield mode, singing passionately over a jaunty, jazz-funk influenced backing track laden with swirling strings, choral backing vocals (think Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album) and Dexter Wansel style synthesizer solos. It's undoubtedly one of Hutch's finest moments and deserves to be in any serious soul head's collection. Flip for 1979's "Kelly Green", a sumptuous soul slow jam in which Hutch pines over a lost lover.

Review: Two Arista classics from 79/78 respectively, the cult (not to mention heavily sampled) charms of Pittsburgh soul queen Hyman are presented immaculately right here on this heavyweight vinyl double-A. "You Know How To Love Me", taken from the 79 album of the same name, is a straight up disco stomper that should be recognisable to all with its distinctive horn fill and rousing backing vocals while "Living Inside Your Love" (from her 78 album Somewhere In My Lifetime) is a slinkier, sultry affair with some sizzling scat vocal flare and harmonies that will have you weak at the knees. It's all love.

Review: Mike Maurro is the label manager and remix king behind the legendary Brookside, who specialise in disco/soul reissues hailing from Brooklyn. His fingers in many pies, Maurro here remixes two classics from Philadelphia International Records, the O'Jays' 'I Love Music' and Harold Melvin's 'Wake Up Everbody'. Draggy, sunny and full of that downtempy, boxy re-edit magick.

Review: The Brazilian Hot Sauces is a four-track EP that explores the rich and diverse sounds of Brazil through house music. Parisian Soul opens the EP with 'Livre Ou Nao', a sunny and uplifting track with a catchy vocal sample and a Latin piano melody, followed by Keymono aka House Master Flash with 'Bahia', a deep and funky track with a reggae influence and a saxophone solo. On the B-side, Oscar delivers 'Brazil 2030', a futuristic and minimal track with a robotic voice and a percussive groove, and the EP closes with Keymono's remix of 'Brazil 2030', which adds more drums and synths for a more energetic and dancefloor-oriented version.