Jazz charts

Review: The Artless Cuckoo label has done a fine job of showcasing the work of lesser-known German outfit Ghia his year by releasing an album of rediscovered 1980s recordings as well as a special 7". Now Thank You has put together this 12" package with three different versions of 'Don't Leave Me Alone.' The original dropped in 1987 and was an instant euro-pop classic. An OG copy on wax is tough to find these days so often fetches three figures. Soon as you hear the tune though you know why - it's effortlessly catchy with mounting tension and super creative vocals.

Review: Earlier this year, French disco and jazz-funk combo Chatobaron joined forces with fellow Parisian Dimitri From Paris for the rather good 'I Like (The Music That You Play)'. While that was a wholehearted disco workout, this speedy sequel sees the band (and their high-profile collaborator) explore their West Coast jazz-funk influences via an inspired workout full to bursting with killer instrumental solos, dusty grooves, memorable motifs and a genuinely killer, cowbell-sporting percussion brerak. This time round, there are no Dimitri From Paris remixes; instead, dubbed-out disco favourites the Idjut Boys are on hand to smother the track in tape echo and dub delay. The result is a typically spaced-out, low-slung affair that naturally makes the most of the band's killer bassline and layered percussion sounds.

Review: Artless Cuckoo has coaxed a second release out of Ghia here and it's another stunning following the highlight collectable and sold out first offering. This one delves into Ghia's past and presents a super limited 7" with two unreleased recordings from 1985: At The Hilton. The group was made up of Lutz Boberg and Frank Simon and they later joined with singer Lisa Ohm and these tunes are taken from an old archive of tapes. They are brilliantly delicate and unassuming, with lo-fi drum machines, wispy chords and deep celestial pads all taking you on a gentle cosmic jazz trip.

Review: Some superb musical archaeology here, as The Artless Cuckoo presents an album of rediscovered 1980s recordings from obscure German outfit Ghia, including a smattering that the trio made whilst living in Spain between 1986 and '88. Some of the tracks were reportedly recorded using a porta-studio style four-track, but you'd never be able to tell thanks to the fine mastering job. Musically, it's an undeniable sun-soaked affair that brilliantly blurs the boundaries between horizontal electrofunk, instrumental Balearic synthpop, Mediterranean jazz-funk, Afro-cosmic and more energetic, dancefloor-focused flavours. It's the sort of thing that Nu Genea would rightfully be praised for releasing, except it was recorded 'back in the day' rather than earlier this year. Terrific stuff!

Review: There's always something to catch the ear in the tradition of disco and funk from Naples, and so it goes with this diggers' delight by Stani Labonia. Originally released on It/RCA in 1978, it's an album with a quirk in its lavish arrangements, which were put together by the likes of Pino Daniele and many other respected figures from the history of Neaopolitan music. It's Labonia who gives the album its unique, wild energy though, while Jenny Sorrenti brings some wonderful vocal additions to 'E Jennifer Non Sa'. If you're into the world of European soul oddities from yesteryear, you're going to love this reissue on La Matta.