Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: It's a sizzling seven up for Moiss Music here as they draw together four different artists to offer up one cut each for this new various artists collection. Boogietraxx goes heavy on the filter vibes on 'S N T' which is French touch disco-house of the highest order. Kellit's 'Pryscoks Sockin Socks' is all about sultry sax lines and loose-limbed disco house beats while C Da Afro gets heads up with the streaming sunshine synths of 'Don't Be Quiet.' Groovemasta shut down with the funky Afro-disco stylings of 'Gonna Make U Rock.'

Review: Former Whiskey Barons man Bosq has enjoyed a long working relationship with Nigeria-based, Benin-born guitarist and vocalist Kaleta. We make this the pair's eleventh collaborative single in the last decade and, as with their previous outings, it trumphantly blurs the boundaries between Afro-disco, Afro-beat and Afro-funk. On side A you'll find vocal and instrumental takes on 'Meji Meji, a pleasingly live-sounding affair full of rubbery bass guitar, righteous horns, infectious drums and Kaleta's evocative guitar licks. Over on the flip, they opt for even heavier, life-affirming horn motifs, Afro-disco grooves and more sun-splashed Afro-funk guitars on vocal and instrumental versions of the similarly inspired 'Sonayon'.

Review: Sweat It Out Records kicks off their tasty Sweat Sampler series with their first volume, cutting niftily across four exceptionally sweaty bops, spanning tongue-in-cheek deep tech reworks and downtempo disco delights. First off is the dream team of Cid and Havoc & Lawn, whom together deliver a hilariously effective house version of America's 'A Horse With No Name'; this is shortly followed by Saturday Love, Kon and Furious's 'Come Out', a rejigged nu-disco samosa packed with some rare vocal spices; then there's 'Give It To Me' by Marco Lys and Ben Miller, a bass-driven bouncer unafraid of lasershot winddowns, injunctive vocals and risers; and finally, there's Set Mo's 'Could I Be', the anthem of the bunch, whose buildup and drop is alarming, affecting, cumulatively awe-striking.

Review: The second volume of edits of classic outings on Nu Groove records, assembling modern house heroes such as Dam Swindle, Phil Weeks, and Honey Dijon to re-fix tunes by the legendary Equation and The Burrell Brothers among others. Highlights include Dam Swindle's misty eyed extension of Equation's 'I'll Say A Prayer 4 U'- a perfect rainy day house anthem, and the paranoid phonk of Rhano Burrell's 'When Can I Call You' as remapped by Honey Dijon & Luke Solomon. Surefire party starters all round.

Review: Reel People Music's vinyl sampler series is back with a third offering, this time once again bringing together a fine crew of artists on lovely turquoise vinyl. Up first is a wonderful remix by Opolopo of Adina Howard that brings jazzy keys and heavy deep house drums, then Rocco Rodamaal keeps it deep with a low slung groove topped with diva vocals full of soul. The Reel People vocal mix of Zo! is another heart-swelling and soul-drenched deep house roller with lavish synth work and last of all, Michael Gray closes out with a slinky number defined by funky bass licks and classy vocals.

Review: It seems like Italo, although always popular, is having a particular moment in the spotlight right now. Plenty of it is being reissued, including the classic self titled 1980s album from Kano, the Italy-based ensemble's debut full-length which mixed up synth funk and disco across six vibrant cuts. It very much hinted at the electro and breakdance movements to come in the years after and now the opening track from the album gets a standout and standalone reissue on 12", alongside a new 2022 mix and Purple Disco Machine & Lorenz Rhode remixes.

Review: There are few bigger or more celebrated Italo-disco singles than Kano's 'I'm Ready', which became an anthem on underground U.S dancefloors (as well as in its native Italy) following its release in 1980. Here it gets a new pressing courtesy of re-established original Italo-disco label Full Time Production, with Kano's original mix - a soaring, synth-heavy sing-along driven forwards by waves of arpeggio-style synth sounds and insatiably funky bass - being joined by a trio of 21st century revisions. Mousse T delivers vocal and instrumental takes that cleverly chop-up and loop up key sections to re-imagine the track as a surging funky house number smothered in vintage Italo-disco synth sounds, while FrescoEdits stretches out an extra-percussive disco groove before throwing in choice synth sounds and vocals from Kano's peerless original mix.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Best turn their attention to that sweet mid 80s spot when the petri dish of party music was shaken up between disco, boogie, Italo and the emergent house sound from Chicago. Claudio Simonetti was a titan of the Italian groove, but his monster jam as Kasso, "One More Round", reached the stratosphere when Windy City godfather Frankie Knuckles gave the track his Midas touch. No more justification is needed for this pressing, but don't overlook the flip which finds 80s remix supremo Brett Wilcots taking on "Walkman" and whipping up a boogie frenzy of the highest order.

Review: The new Balearic release from Italian producer Katzuma is a four-track compendium of futuristic slosh, blending the essence of a classic beachside party sound with the pristine synthetics of the 21st Century. Packed with three originals and a fourth, unprecedented remix from fellow pusher Al Kent, it's a release packed with both low-end propulsions and shimmering, pool-refractive strings, providing a nice sonic dialogue of tension and release throughout.

Review: Initially released digitally in the autumn of 2021 to promote his forthcoming (and now recently released) comeback album Reborn, 'Renegade' is as good an advert for Kavinsky's sparkling, synth-heavy trademark sound as you'll find. Featuring soulful, autotune-sporting vocals from Cautious Clay, the song is evocative, uplifting and pleasingly catchy, with just the right balance musically between original 1980s electrofunk sounds and the kind of sci-fi seeped electronic colour associated with Daft Punk's soundtrack to TRON: Legacy. This vinyl version also contains Kavinsky's instrumental mix of the track, which deftly highlights the quality of his composition and production.

Review: It's always a good day when Al Kent is back with new music. This one on Gamm, Welcome To The Dub, finds him dubbing out some lush disco sounds. The title cut is a loopy and jazz-funk-infused number with lovely hi-hats and noodling chords all radiating joy and uplifting energy. 'Dubanova' then takes a more low-slung route with a sleazy guitar riff and nice live drums embellished with smartly overdubbed vocals coated in echo. 'Happiness & Peace' is a quieter affair with echoing hits and a meandering lead that encourages your mind to do the same.

Review: Here comes Emotional Rescue and Konduko's last in their series of Noel Williams/King Sporty reissues, this time looking at later electro productions and the hip-hop/boogie influenced 'Sun Country'. Vocals and co-production come from Williams' long-time partner Betty Wright and as well as a vocal and instrumental mix there's a longform remix by Bay Area disco dub stalwarts, 40 Thieves.
By this point in his career, the godfather of Miami Bass had travelled a long way from his Jamaican roots in reggae and soul, paying homage to the warm climbs of the Sunshine State and laying down a much copied template using the TR-808 drum machine create the electronic emulations of the breakbeat, claps accenting the backbeat and trademark low frequencies shaking the floorboards. The instrumental stretches the arrangement, emphasising the interplay between electronics, bass, vocal samples, scratching and fx, the voice transformed into a percussive element in its own right. The flip sees 40 Thieves flexing their understated understanding of electro funk, making for a rounded, generation-jumping package.

Review: The last of the Konduko series from Emotional Rescue arrives now and quite possibly it is the best of the lot from Noel Williams. His 'Fantasy' saw him work with Larry Dermer aka Der Mer on what is an effective and catchy electro jam that operates at the higher end of the tempo chart with some classic vocoder vocal action to really make it pop. Despite being released originally in 1984 this one still bangs with its emulated TR-808 beats and nagging melodies. The instrumental heightens that and then the Jonny Rock Discomix shuts down with long-form rework that shows why the DJ, editor and all-round amiable bloke is so well regarded.

Review: King Sporty is something of a chameleonic artists, not that many people know. He started out int he 70s making reggae and soul 7"s, then moved into disco, boogie, hip-hop and electro 12"s during the 80s, and then when house music hit in the 90s he evolved once more. This new drop from Emotional Rescue takes a tune from that late era. 'Computer Music' is four to the floor with electro influences and a lazy break that pull you in deep. Far-sighted chords bring a serene sense of cosmic majesty while a filtered vocal adds space age vibes. A dub is included as well as the Universal Cave Discomix by the Philadelphia DJ and production crew. A retro-future EP indeed..

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


During a record digging trip to South Africa a year or two back, Rush Hour co-founder Antal stumbled on an obscure local cover of Klein & MBO's Ron Hardy and Larry Levan favourite, "The MBO Theme". The Warrior version, which was recorded at some point in the early '80s, is a little slower and breezier than Klein and MBO's original, with even finer fretless bass flavours and the track's famous melodies re-played on some particularly spacey synthesizers. Helpfully, the Klein & MBO version is on the A-side, so you can easily compare the two: Warriors' little known cover is definitely our pick of the pair.

Review: Fool's Paradise is the exciting new label from Toolroom Records' Mark Knight. Coming straight from the heart, it's a natural progression from his hugely acclaimed 2021 album release, 'Untold Business', which saw Mark go back to his roots, paying homage to the more funky, soulful, and vocal house from the 1990s from where he came. With a focus on real instrumentation and production, coupled with great songwriting, this new Toolroom sublabel will be a platform for high quality house music designed to stand the test of time. Launching the new label with a mighty bang and delivering the first in our exciting new vinyl sampler series is head honcho Mark Knight, who joins forces with his Australian Toolroom labelmate, Sgt Slick, and British Soul sensation, Beverley Knight, on a dynamite cover of Prince's 1979 classic, 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'. Respectfully transporting the song onto today's dancefloors, Mark & Sgt Slick deliver a classy uplifting soulful house production, loaded with funky guitars, warm pads and sublime key performances. Adding the icing on the cake and putting her own stamp on things, Beverley belts out one of her signature spine-tingling vocals, garnished with lush harmonies and BV's that would indeed make The Purple One proud. Completing the vinyl package is dance music stalwart, Opolopo, and British soul icon, Jaki Graham, whom together bring the dancefloor heat with their new single, 'Fire'. Powered by a potent soulful house groove from Opolopo, loaded with warm piano hooks, emotive synth melodies and a sublime popping bass hook, 'Fire' see's Jaki flaunt her electrifying vocal talents with a show-stopping performance on this irresistibly catchy song.

Review: Electro-disco bordering on future funk from Kokoro Disco San, the Barcelona trio behind the excellent 'Isla Fantasia' released a few years back. On the A-side comes 'The Brightest Light', corralling enchanting female vocals (those of Brigitte Emaga) on a driving, French-house reminiscent accompaniment, amount to a watery poolside bounce. The B-side's 'Mistura Magica', meanwhile, is skewed to be more organic and comes as an impactful but relaxed foray through tropical futurisms and technicolour flute soarings by Irene Reig.

Review: 'Hollywood Swingin' is one of the most recognised Kool & The Gang songs in their amazing catalogue, having soundtracked movies, been sampled in hip-hop as well as used in commercials. So how would someone remix it and make it fresh once again? Easy. In 2005 they added Jamiroquai's unmistakable voice, made a disco and house version of it too, the 'Disco Dust' mix adding new sounds while not losing and ounce of the original's energy. 'The After Party' mix offers a more house version of the classic.

Review: Italian synthpop group Koto dropped their most seminal tune 'Jabdah' in 1986 and it has been a real dance floor classic ever since. Often coming out over the years with plenty of remixes (there have officially been 12 in all over) and versions as part of best of comps and whatever else, here it comes on a dedicated 12" picture disc with one extended version and one for DJs. It was the band's first single that charted and is still the sort of catchy and emotive tune that gets the dancefloor going and locked into its lush synth sounds and beguiling lyrics about space newspapers and waltzes.

Review: Kozmik Funk is also known by aliases such as QUADRANT 77 and Synthman, but when they're donning this cap they tap into organic grooves with a space age slant that are a true gift to interstellar spinners. Following a prior volume of similarly astral jams, they return to NYC Records with a fresh trio of drum-focused rollers that keep the beats front and centre and weave subtle threads of synth around them for a heads-down experience that will delight DJs and dancers alike. Our pick is 'Percussion Invasion', which works wonders with pattering bongos and congas, and tickles the ears with artful flecks of boogie lead lines.

Review: You always know what you are going to get with Running Back - and we mean that in terms of quality rather than any one particular musical style. Gerd Janson's label does what it wants but never fails to set the floor alight. Here it is Krystal Kevlar who brings his own brand of main room house. Like so much stuff right now, 'Endeavour' has a 90s bent with its sweeping chord sequences before 'Americana' takes you on a deeper and more undulating groove. 'Tokyo Flower' is a festival tune for hands-in-the-air moments and 'Excelerator' then sinks down into more trippy techno territory.

Review: The Cult had their fair share of phases from the inception in the early 80s, with Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy forming the nexus of the band through various line-ups. Their self-titled album (known as Black Sheep to the band's devoted fanbase) from 1994 captures them shortly before breaking up for the first time, when Astbury and Duffy were at odds with each other and recording their parts in separate sessions. You wouldn't know to hear this cohesive, clear-sighted slab of early 90s rock, where detectable grooves sneak in amongst the hooky riffs and Astbury's gutsy delivery. It's also one of the most personal albums for the singer, tackling some deeply personal subject matter and making for a unique point in a perennial band in UK rock history.

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.

Review: Payfone's track record to date is exceptional, with the duo delivering some of their most impressive work on Paul 'Mudd' Murphy and Simon Purnell's label, Leng. 'I Feel You', which sees them reunite with vocalist and songwriter Kyd Neirida (who is depicted on the cover and previously featured on 2022 single 'Put Your Face Away'), is another strong offering. Their original mix is impeccable - a slow-motion shuffler in which Neirida's expressive, emotional vocals rise above a rubbery synth bassline, metronomic beats and flashes of effects-laden guitar. Murphy dons his Mudd alias to deliver vocal and instrumental takes that expand the sound further - he is a master of slow-motion Balearic disco after all - with guest musician Michele Chiavarini adding the crowning touch via some gorgeous, life-affirming piano solos.

Review: 'Disco Made Me Do It: Vol 6' is a fresh V/A of disco and nu-disco tracks released by Riot, UK partybringers who specialize in disco edits and remixes - all with an effortless, clean sheen. This comp's got four tracks by different artists: the opener 'Spread Love' comes as an extended gospel mix by Sense Of Sound Singers, laying down an unbridled, heavy-set vibe of hope. Meanwhile, continuers like Jaegerossa's 'It's The Same' and Birdee's mix of Kathy Brown / Jet Boot Black's 'Thief In The Night' are instantly compelling, upping the sultry factor and French house intonations.