Back catalogue: Disco/Reediciones

Review: It would be fair to say that post-disco outfit Unlimited Touch's 1980 single "I Hear Music In the Streets" is one of the greatest boogie/electrofunk records of all time. Louie Vega clearly agrees, because late last year he decided to gather together the remaining members of Unlimited Touch and record a fresh 2020 version. The A-side "Touch Mix" is the bomb. It features a more organic-sounding disco-boogie groove than the 1980 original, with delicious guitars, bass and electric piano/organ underpinning seriously good group vocals from the sometime Prelude-signed outfit. Over on the flip, Vega serves up an electric piano solo-laden dub mix, as well as a "Classic Boogie" take that naturally sounds very similar to the band's much-loved original version.

Review: United Disco Organisation have been tapped up by the ATA label for its first voyage into the world of disco. The band is made up of producer and bassist Neil Innes and guitarist and singer Chris Dawkins and here they head off to the cosmos with a classically inclined sound that comes with lashings of Philly soul influences. 'Send The Rain' opens things up and features a fine flute lead from label-mate Tony Burkill. Dawkins's vocals then take the lead over a nice woody, organic groove and an instrumental is also featured. 'Funky Thing' is a glossy, vibes-heavy tune with big melodies and chunky drum funk.

Review: In 2002, New York producer Ursula 1000 released his groundbreaking, genre-busting album Kinda' Kinky, meshing groovy retro sampladelic licks with modern breaks and beats. For its 20th anniversary this year, Ursula revisits the 60's swinging London mod shaking title track with his own 2022 redux. UK breakbeat master A.Skillz remixes the flipside into a relentless, giggling funky disco monster! The cover design is by world renowned space-age bachelor pad artist Shag.

Review: Black Devil Disco Club returns to action on LoEB with "Ride Again", a collection of mixes from his "In Dub" album. First up is the Prins Thomas mix of "On Just Foot", a chugging Italo disco groover led by a rolling arpeggiated b-line, quirky analogue stabs, vocoder vocal hits and wicked conga-laden beats. Proper floor-pleasing Italo workout. Next we have the Unit 4 mix of "An Other Skin", more b-line driving space disco with dark sounds and huge synth lines. Last but not least is the Black Mustang mix of "Constantly No Respect", a hard-hitting percussive jam exploring the darker side of the Italo universe.

Review: The UB's bring their particular brand of funk to this steamy and fiery new 7" on the Fraternity label. It finds them in edit mode and first up reworking 'Stone Fox Chase'. It has some country-style harmonica built into the raw beats and plenty of psyched-out guitar lines that bring Americana vibes to the percolating rhythms. On the flip is their edit of 'Delirium' which is a totally different proposition - smooth funk grooves with busy chords and icy hi-hats. It's one that looks to the stars and crushes there on a feelgood vibe you hope never ends.

Review: Whatever you think of the Unlimited Love series - and a few record collectors have grumbled online about it - you can't argue with the quality of the rare cuts they offer up. Volume 26 in the series is, of course, another must-have. First up is New Love Ltd & Interstate 95's positive and punchy disco-soul number "So Much To Talk About", quickly followed by another superbly soulful late 1970s dancefloor number, "That Friday Pay (Part One)" by Sonny Jenkins And The New York Potpourri Strings. The rare hits keep coming on the flip, where Sugar & Spice's boogie-era disco-funk number "The Beast (Instrumental)" comes accompanied by the low-slung brilliance of World Quake Band's "On The One", a 1980 B-side from a record that regularly changes hands for L140 a pop.

Review: St Petersberg's Dobro label is noted not just for the quality and playability of its funky house and disco re-edits, but also for its value for money. This, their seventh release, is another great example, with no less than six floorfillers included on one 12", each bringing their own individual mood to the table. 'Flowers Festival' from Sun Rhythms has throbbing organs and fruity keys, topped off by a gorgeous Russian vocal. DJ Merci's 'Timetable' goes for chunky rave pianos and Fairlight stabs, lending it an 80s Italo-disco feel, before Ground Plane Aerial's 'Transition SP' closes the side with slap bass and stripped down house vibe that echoes some of Roule Records' more accessible moments. Side two VIGI's 'I Am You', is the most memorable of the whole package, with its idiosyncratic female vocal weaving a magical spell around the listener, before we finish off with a double whammy of Monny Me's swirling stringfest 'The Name Of The Game' and the parping horns and strutting groove of Ugly Frankie's 'Free Alcohol Shit', the latter including a bewitching and unexpected piano solo. Great work all round.

Review: 2 classic mixes from the master Tom Moulton. 2 classic & timeless tracks from the disco age

Review: Philly's Universal Cave has spent the best part of the last decade putting out some seriously hot edits and mixes. For the first time, they now link up with Pleasure of Love for a joint release of dazzling reworks. All four of these are absolute heaters from a variety of different backgrounds. First up is a dusty and lo-fi port house jam with big synth energy, while 'My Kind Of Girl' slows it down to a tropical reggae style house beat and 'The Jungle' brings some steamy and sun-kissed, trumpet lead carnival vibes and finally 'Angst' is awash with big Italo chords and shimmering drums. These are expert re-rubs from the vaults of Universal Cave.

Review: New label U - Bend debuted back in September with a tidy Balearic 12" and promised that it would "bridge the gap between acid cougars and the namaste death cult." It is the eponymous production team that takes charge of this 12" again and again the vibe is Balearic. 'Rip It Off' starts off with some syrupy and sugary rhythms that are laid back and funky in their own way. Steamy vocals and acidic liens drive to take things higher and on the flip 'How's Your Father' brings some more laid back cool, this time with acoustic guitar strums and cosmic pads.

Review: Undo & Casiowaves return to Melodize with the 'Casiobass' EP, backed with a remix from drummer and first-time producer for the label, Nhar. After last year's 'Predict The Future', this trio of Spanish dance-purveyors lay down a grand total of five originals, from the sonically mechanistic opening of 'Casiobass' - derived from Casiowaves' artist-nominal namesake - to Nhar's much starrier and cosmically-inclined remix of 'Waves To Come'. There's something in here for most ravers, so don't miss it!