Back catalogue: Funky/Club House

Review: Things were different back in 2001 and the dance music world was less attuned to the responsibilities it has towards the marginalised communities that birthed the genre back in the 80s. For that reason, it's unlikely any new compilation featuring music by mostly white artists would be called Africanism Allstars these days, but alas that was the case with this collection when it was originally released. Title aside, the music stands up with a chunky house sound and plenty of tribal grooves featuring big names like DJ Gregory, Martin Solveig, Bob Sinclair and Soga amongst others.

Review: 'Latin Freestyle: New York Miami 1983-1992' is a double LP compilation curated by Bob Stanley covering the whole spectrum of Latin Freestyle, a genre that emerged in the early 80s as a fusion of electro, disco, house, and Latin music. Though Freestyle itself was a prominent fixture of the 1980s-90s New York scene particularly, relatively little is known of the genre's popularity in Latino communities at the time. Mitigating the risk of historic erasure, 16 tracks of enduring uniqueness - from the likes of Expose, Stacey Q, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Debbie Deb, Connie, Cover Girls, Pretty Poison, Company B, Will To Power, Alisha, Lil Suzy, and Cynthia - all appear here, recalling genre's massive impact on the community and worlds beyond it.

Review: Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asian Dance And Electronic Music 1988-1994 dives deep into finding rare tracks that showcase an overlooked chapter of South Asian sound. This collection highlights a unique period between 1988 and 1994, when vibrant cultural fusion emerged within diasporic communities in cities like New York and London. Following the success of Volume 1, which celebrated early 80s Balearic and synth pop, this second installment unveils a blend of house, street soul and downtempo gems, many of which have remained hidden until now. Tracks like The Jets Orkhestra's energetic 'X-290' and the soothing tones of Asha Bhosle's West India Company provide a glimpse into this rich sonic landscape. Other highlights include Lady M's enchanting 'Kali Raat' and the mesmerising sound of Mantra's self-titled track. This double LP serves as a vital resource for music enthusiasts, complete with beautiful artwork and in-depth liner notes. Compiled by Naya Beat's founders, Filip Nikolic and Raghav Mani, the release has been expertly cut for vinyl by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt, ensuring a high-quality listening experience for collectors and DJs alike.

Review: A carefully curated selection of tracks that span multiple eras and styles, blending rare, hard-to-find cuts with contemporary classics, with elements of house, techno, trance, and electro and an emphasis on smooth grooves, punchy basslines and infectious melodies. There's an undeniable energy across the sampler, whether it's the driving beats of the club bangers or the deeper, more atmospheric moments that provide the perfect contrast. The mix of old-school influences and modern production techniques ensures that the music holds up on both the dancefloor and in vinyl collections. With standout tracks that cater to fans of both nostalgic sounds and current dance trends, this release will appeal to collectors and DJs alike, offering timeless classics that continue to find a home in today's sets.

Review: Duch label Armada Music takes a pan-global view on this new compilation which focuses on the legacy of house music. Called, smartly, House Legacy, it goes from the deepest of the deep in Joe Smooth's still exquisite house hymn 'Promised Land' to the most catchy vocal sounds in Praise Cat's 'Shined On Me' via the archetypal New York dub house of MK's 'Somebody New.' Alongside other big cuts such as Reese aka Kevin Saunderson's 'Just Want Another Chance' are some lesser-known gems from Olav Basoski, Afro Medusa and Gadjo. A vibrant, melting pot and fine cross-section, then.

Review: This career-spanning compilation features fan favorites like 'Shalala Lala,' 'Up & Down,' and 'Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!' Founded in 1996 by DJ duo Danski and Delmundo, Vengaboys first found success in the Netherlands with singles 'Parada de Tettas' and 'To Brazil!' Their breakthrough single 'Up & Down' propelled them to global fame, especially in the U.S. The follow-up hit 'We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)' solidified their international success, earning gold status for their debut album Greatest Hits! and a nomination for Best Breakthrough of the Year at the 1999 MTV Music & Video Awards. After disbanding in 2001, Vengaboys returned in 2007 with 'Rocket to Uranus,' featuring Perez Hilton, and later released the Xmas Party Album in 2014.

Review: Yung Bae hails from Los Angeles, California and has always brought plenty of that state's sunshine and good time vibes into his effortlessly feel-good music. B4E is an album he dropped back in 2018 following Skyscraper Anonymous, BAE 2, BA3 and Bae: Side B, all in 2016. He has always mixed up future funk, vapourware adjacent sounds, boogie, disco and soul, most often self-releasing his tunes via online platforms. This album now makes its way to vinyl and we couldn't be happier - it is delightfully bright and colourful with irresistible vocals and hooks across ten life-affirming tunes.

Review: ZHU is something of an album specialist. This latest full-length, Grace, represents his fourth overall and is a rather special triple vinyl affair on heavyweight wax. It comes some two and a half years after his last back in December 2021 and arrives once more via Astralwerks. The GRAMMYr-nominated artist has revealed that he recorded most of this one in his hometown of San Francisco at the celebrated Grace Cathedral, which is where it gets its name. He also worked with others at points, including Devault and BabyJake on his first album single 'Revelations'. This one has already performed well and claimed a spot on Rolling Stone's list of "All The Songs You Need To Know This Week" upon release.

Review: ZHU is renowned for his albums, and his latest, Grace, marks his fourth release. This deluxe version of it (the standard version is also available with us) is a triple vinyl edition on heavyweight red-coloured wax with a special booklet. It comes two and a half years after his December 2021 album and the GRAMMYr-nominated artist has revealed that he recorded most of it in his hometown of San Francisco, specifically at the iconic Grace Cathedral, thereby inspiring its title. Collaborations on the album include Devault and BabyJake, with the first single, 'Revelations,' earning a spot on Rolling Stone's "All The Songs You Need To Know This Week."

Review: Freaky, playful synthwork from Sao Paolo's Zopelar on the ever-reliable Tartelet imprint. Over eight immensely juiced, irreverent meditations on synth funk, boogie, deep house, Italo disco and acid, Zope showcases a mastery of foregrounding unconventional musical forces, cheeky and envelope-pushing analogue synth programming and genre-mangling at its very best. Highlights include the heart-in-mouth sway of 'Distraction', which at times sounds like a lovechild of Marcellus Pittman and Genesis-era Larry Heard, the eerie, questing squelch of seductive B-side opener 'Safe In The Dark' and the queasy, euphoric alarmism of lost freestyle hit 'Free Your Spirit (Ritmo II). Very addictive.