Review: Emotional Rescue closes out another brilliant year with one final hot drop. This sorting 7" Safari by King Sporty was the artist's first ever single back in 1976. It comes after the label has served up plenty of reissues of the man known as Noel Wiliam's tackle but this one might be the best. It's from his album Deep Reggae Roots and is nice tropical excursion with steamy hits, wooden percussive sounds and funky bass over a low-slung groove and chanting vocals. This one is backed with a special disco mix by Lexx that reworks the tune for more lively moments.
Review: After the success of last year's inaugural Disco Reggae compilation from Stix, it's no surprise the long running reggae focused offshoot of Favorite Recordings have returned with a second collection. All the usual Stix suspects are present and correct here with Matcher, 7 Samurai, Mato, and John Milk all contributing to the nine tracks that will nice up any dancehall that's got a sense of humour. Stand out cuts include the 7 Samurai Electro Dub take on Levan classic "Stand On The Word" and the Grandmagneto cover of "Tainted Love". The Mato mix of "Happy" is as chalk or cheese as the original from that fella in the big hat.
Review: Expert reissue label Soundway look to 1980s Trinidad & Tobago for their latest rare gem. Two cuts of "Parang" - a sort of South American folk music originated from Venezuelan and Colombian immigrants and later infused with Caribbean rhythms, disco and soca vibes. As such both tunes are impossibly sunny, uplifting and loose groovers that will work dance floors into a spin at any time of year. Colleen Grant's take on the style is driven by a neat funk baseline coupled with her glorious vocals, while Sandra Hamilton's is more down and dirty with rump wiggling drums.
Review: Following a successful run of disco deviance on top labels such as GAMM, Basic Fingers, Barefoot Beats and Tugboat, Toronto's Patchouli Brothers are up next on the sixth edition of the "Pleasure of Love" edit series. The "Beam Me Up" hosts have a proven track record with the ol' razor and tape, distilling rare and underappreciated cuts and turning them into peak time dancefloor gems. These four cuts on volume six are no exception. Our picks: the joyous and sunkissed "Made In France" (tres bien!), followed by the carnival energy of "Soca Danny" with its powerhouse brass section and the classic Stateside vibe of "Crossed Your Mind" on the flip.
Smack Dab In The Middle (7-Inch edit By Mr K) (5:25)
Review: No one edits a classic like Mr. K, as he has proven time and time again. Now the legendary studio craftsman is back and revisiting Paradise Garage and some of the club's legendary sounds. First up is TW Funkmasters' 'Love Money,' which was conceived by UK radio reggae jock Tony Williams and fuses Dennis Brown's reggae hit 'Money In My Pocket' with early rap influences. The dub version was embraced by New York's dance scene and became iconic at the 'Garage, with many homages coming later such as Larry Levan's Man Friday remake, 'Love Honey, Love Heartache.' On the flip, Janice McClain's 1979 Philly disco classic 'Smack Dab In The Middle' shines as Larry Levan's mix is reworked by Mr. K who turns up the jazzy groove with fresh breaks.
Review: Risco Connection were the perfect reggae-disco crossover act, founded by Studio 1 sticksman Joe Isaacs after he moved to Canada in the late 60s. Searching for a sweet spot between the plush orchestration of disco and the upbeat shuffle of rocksteady, he embarked on a series of covers with a strong cast behind him, taking on the likes of Chic's 'Good Times', 'It's My House' and a version of 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now' which became a staple at David Mancuso's mythical Loft parties. This collection gathers together all the singles - vocals, dubs and all - and comes packaged with an interview with Isaacs and liner notes, restored and remastered and sounding better than ever.
Ti Celeste - "Moin Envie Danser On Belle Biguine" (3:30)
Bienveillance Abymienne - "Ti Jenes An Nou" (4:35)
Guy Conquette Et Son Groupe - "Ping Pong" (4:12)
Tabou N 2 - "Experience" (3:36)
Review: In the summer of 2018, Strut offered up a compilation that mined the extensive back catalogue of Disques Debs International, a Guadeloupe-based label that showcased the finest music to come out of the French-speaking Caribbean between 1950 and 2000. While that set focused on material released between 1960 and '72, this belated sequel showcases cuts featured on Henri Debs' legendary imprint between 1973 and '81. The musical palette is therefore even brighter, breezier and more sun-kissed, offering up cuts that touch on mambo, rumba, Zouk, tropical disco, reggae and the kind of cross-cultural fusions that belie easy categorization. As you'd expect from Strut, the selections are spot on and the re-mastered sound superb. In other words, it's another must-have release from Quinton Scott's imprint.
Review: Emotional Rescue can be relied on to dig up obscure, left of centre dance gems and serve them up to newer, wider audiences. Adu's reggae-pop cut 'Burkina Faso' is a great example, re-purposed for the dancefloor without any of its original flavour lost in the overhaul. A
South Saharan/West African emigre to Brixton, Rauf Adu would go on to fairly sizeable European fame with the Eddy Grant-esque 'Human To Human'. This, however, is his 1982 debut for Copasetic Records, another reggae-pop inspired, ludicrously catchy effort with scorched electric guitar and a Compass Point-style drum/bassline providing rhythmic rocksteadiness. As well as the buffed up original, there's a dub mix, which gives his beautiful guitar plenty of room to breathe, and an appearance from the Isle of Jura Sound System boss Kevin Griffiths , whose remix completes the trio of mixes.
Review: Last year, Freestyle Records reissued 'Tonight's The Night', the 1983 debut from West London outfit Take Three - a collaboration between production trio S.H.E (Steve Sinclair, Peter Hinds and Kevin Ellis) and lover's rock vocal harmony group Alpha (AKA Marlene Richardson and sisters Jackie and Jean Heron). 'Can't Get Enough', another gem from the band's vaults, dates from 1985 and was initially released as their final single. In keeping with the group's roots, it comes in two contrasting mixes: a gorgeously dreamy, glossy and glassy 'Soul Mix' powered forward by squelchy synth-bass, mid-tempo beats and jaunty, jazz-funk style keyboard riffs, and the 'Reggae Mix'. As the title suggests, this radically alters the tempo and groove of the track - it's basically synth-heavy, mid-80s lovers rock - whilst retaining key elements of the A-side soul version.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (4:56)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (4:01)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:14)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:48)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:36)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (4:56)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:31)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:10)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:56)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:27)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:17)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (6:54)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (6:59)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:45)
Review: For the last decade, John Gomez and Nick The Record's freewheeling Tangent parties have proved popular in London, offering dancers the chance to shake their stuff to a wide selection of superb (and normally insanely rare) records over a high quality soundsystem. The pair's first Tangent compilation, which arrives via Mr Bongo, naturally offers a superb reflection of their approach and is packed with must-have cuts. For proof, check the proto-house era dubbed-out boogie of King B's 'Love Is Crazy', the sun-splashed Brazilian gorgeousness of 'Laberinto' by PERIKAS, the spaced-out headiness of Hidrogenese's 'La Carta Era Muy Larga (Dub)', the heavy batacuda business of 'Nira Gongo' by Conjuto Baluartes' and the dub disco-flecked, deep house brilliance of LTA's 'What Comes To Ya'.
Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.
Ed Watson & Brass Circle - "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (5:08)
Devon Russell - "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue" (4:09)
Seventh Extension - "Reasons" (5:41)
Derrick Harriott - "Brown Baby" (4:06)
Ed Watson & Brass Circle - "Let's Groove" (4:20)
Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls - "Don't Let Love Get You Down" (3:42)
Webby Jay - "In The Rain" (3:47)
Glen Adams Affair - "Just A Groove" (3:17)
Review: 'Reggae disco' might not be a very well-known style, but Soul Jazz are hardly intimidated by any sense of obscurity, especially when it comes to a fusion between their two most prized genres. Homing in on reggae disco versions of funk, soul and disco classics, this curt but precious compilation features reggae covers of classics by Michael Jackon, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Candi Staton, with coverers including Risco Connection and the Crashers.
Review: Boston's Cultures Of Soul present some edits here of underrated Belizean artist Bredda "David" Obi whose musical style known as "Kungo Muzik" mixes key flavours from his home with reggae and calypso to rock and funk to formulate a modern tropical style. Years later, DJs and record collectors found his music in basements of record stores in Los Angeles and Brooklyn - some of which are featured here. Sol Power All-Stars will get you stoned into the groove with their acid-inflected rework of "Dancin'", L.A.'s DJ Duckcomb works the original's lo-slung dub influence on "Experience" while the ever reliable Justin Van Der Volgen similarly accentuates the reggae swagger of "Sunshine". A tribute to a legend!
Review: Initially released in South Africa in 1982, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley's sophomore set is now regarded as a boogie-era Highlife classic. Here issued on CD for the very first time via Mr Bongo, the album features the Ghanaian star brilliantly joining the dots between driving disco-funk, jazz-funk, intoxicating slow jams, calypso, dub reggae and his beloved highlife. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, with standouts including heavy percussion jam "Simigwa", the boogie-dub skank of "Adwoa", the down-low grooves of "Walking Down The Street" and the killer disco highlife anthem "It's High Life". Simply essential.
Review: New York's incomparable edit king, and a hugely prolific one at that, Danny Krivit aka Mr K returns with some elongated reworks of a couple of Stevie Wonder's most timeless tunes. First up is his version of 'Master Blaster' which was originally the sound of Stevie paying tribute to Bob Marley. In his hands, it has a big intro and drums ready to rock. Flip it over and you will find 'I Was Made To Love Her' which has big r&b overtones and the sort of breakdowns that really build a vibe in the club. Adding in lashings of signature soul and you have two more steamy and effective tributes from the one and only Mr K.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (5:03)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (3:59)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:09)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:47)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:39)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (5:05)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:33)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:05)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:51)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:26)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:13)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (7:01)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (7:04)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:47)
Review: To celebrate ten years of one of London's most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo are thrilled to launch this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gomez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent's spirit: a party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties. Spanning live-recorded disco, Brazilian boogie and weighty lovers' rock, this selection of rare sonic meats is a prized procuring, the consistent quality of which you likely won't be able to track down in many other contexts.
Review: Sol Power Sound's latest must-check EP takes us back to the discotheques of Trinidad in the late 1970s and early 80s, where the productions of local legend Richard 'Nappy' Myers dominated dancefloors. The label has managed to license two killer - and extremely hard to find - Myers' productions. Side A is all about Nadie La Fond's Myers-produced Caribbean disco delight 'Three Way Situation', with the low-slung, deliciously swing original mix (A2) being joined by an extended and subtly tooled up 'Disco Special' re-edit by Bosq. Turn to the B-side for Myers' own celebrated sing-along 'Let Yourself Go', a synth-splattered, horn-heavy slab of hot-stepping tropical disco joy that's given a spellbinding club makeover by Sol Power All Stars. In a word: essential!
Review: The latest edition to the illustrious Charly catalogue - a re-release of Dillinger's most successful single from 1976, 'Cokane In My Brain' - marks a welcome return of this popular release to record stores. Listening to this release, it's easy to trace the figures the Kingston-born Dillinger has labelled as key inspirations in the sound he brings into existence - namely Dennis Alcapone and Lee "Scratch" Perry, the latter of whom he found himself under the guidance of following his big break in 1974 with the release of his single 'Dub Organizer'. There's a reason this achieved serious playtime - though not necessarily on the radio - worldwide following its release. A key release you certainly won't want missing from your collection.
Byron Walker & Sandra Edwards - "Don't Look Any Further"
Dave Barker - "Curious"
Valerie Harrison - "Fool's Paradise"
Chosen Few - "Don't Keep Me Waiting"
Sylvia Tella - "You Might Need Somebody"
Fallon Jennings - "All Night Long"
Pete Campbell - "Holding Back The Years"
Toyin Adekale - "Smile"
Derrick Cross - "Never Too Much"
Carl Johnson - "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much"
Trevor Walters - "Blood Is Thicker Than Water"
Review: Volume One of For the Love Of You was an instant hit and so it makes sense the irrepressible Athens of the North label has come back with a second volume. Once again this is a collection of soul covers featuring interpretations of Grover Washington Jr., Midnight Star, Meli'sa Morgan and Simply Red and loads more. The music is golden, the soul vibes rich, and the new styles brought to these classics is instantly appealing in a whole new way. As alwayss, this is another superb release from Athens of the North.
Review: Having already introduced us to many of their regular 'pals' - re-editors specialising in Balearic and cosmic oddities - Manchester's Drum Chums crew now wants is to meet their 'percussion pals'. They operate within similar sonic territory if this first multi-artist missive is believed, albeit with more of a penchant for dubbed-out drums. There's plenty to set the oulse racing throughout, from the metronomic dub-chug of Spice Route's incredible 'Gruler Dub' - a fine re-edit debut from the long-serving Bristol selector - and the expertly dubbed-out space disco trip that is DJ Pouffsouffle's 'Totally Manic'. Elsewhere, Manc stalwart Neil Diablo delivers the ultra-slow weird-wave pop of 'Starry Night', while Hysteric's 'Pinball' is a blue-eyed soul treat.
Review: If you like sensuous and slow motion grooves with hints of dub, reggae and disco all packaged up in super bawdy soul then look no further - this new 12" features a pair of singles that were first put out on 7" by Risco Connection's Otis Gayle. Up first is the glorious 'Sexy Eyes' which was a worldwide charting success and Dr Hook now brings new reggae vibes to his cover version, then on the flip is Domenic Troiano's 'We All Need Love', again with a mix of dubby disco and reggae stylings that have been draw out into extended format to make for a more lasting impact on the dancefloor.
Review: Grace Jones' fifth studio album, released on 11 May 1981, this album highlighted a legendary reinvention for the artist, moving her nearer towards the global fame that she's enjoyed for subsequent decades since. A sonic melting pot that blurred the lines between genres while retaining an air of effortless cool, it fuses of reggae's rolling basslines, the tight precision of new wave, the slick production of synth-pop and the ghost of disco's past. What made Nightclubbing particularly special was the way Jones fully embodied the musicinot merely performing songs but inhabiting them with an almost cinematic presence. Her deadpan delivery on 'Walking in the Rain' oozes detached swagger, while on 'Use Me', she turns Bill Withers' plea into an anthem of raw, unfiltered sensuality. The icy menace of 'Demolition Man' feels tailor-made for her, making The Police's later rendition seem comparatively tame. The reimagining of Piazzolla's 'Libertango' as 'I've Seen That Face Before' further demonstrated her ability to transform existing material into something wholly unique, haunting and hypnotic in equal measure. Sly & Robbie's rhythm section, along with Wally Badarou's textural synths, gave Nightclubbing an unmistakable grooveione that would be endlessly referenced by artists in the coming decades. From Massive Attack's trip-hop atmospherics to the sleek funk of LCD Soundsystem, the album's DNA is all over contemporary music.
Jeannette Azzouz & Belles Combo - "So Close To Me" (3:11)
Mython - "Arizona" (5:06)
Homar Jackson - "Sea Trip" (3:13)
Harry Panday - "Love Your Mother & Father" (3:12)
Errol Ince - "Sabrosito As" (4:07)
Mameen 3 - "Tropicamellow" (4:35)
Leoparden - "Borster Kapa" (4:49)
Joe (Tempo) Caesar - "Soca Mosa" (8:28)
Zouratie Kone & The Astral Synth Transmitters - "Suba" (3:18)
Jeremy Alonzi - "Friture 4000" (4:59)
Sexo Y Fantasia - "Mangoface" (4:26)
Mayra Fernandes & Carlo Alexandre Teixeira - "Teko Pora" (5:11)
Review: The latest volume in DJ soFa's renowned Elsewhere series is here to celebrate. Elsewhere CC is the ninth installment and is always a jam packed tribute to summer and groove, curated by the Brussels-based DJ and producer known for his eclectic taste and unique musical style. Elsewhere CC is a full of tropical gems spanning from Trinidad to Brazil, Poland, Dominica, and beyond. The compilation features a diverse mix of tropical-wave, Calypso, multi-rhythmic beats, lo-fi disco jams, and more, all curated by DJ soFa. This collection is perfect for setting the mood on a sunny, secluded beach with a cocktail in hand. It includes rare tracks and some of DJ soFa's own productions and collaborations, featuring hard-to-find tunes from the 70s to today, including Jeannette Azzouz's sought-after Calypso record, 'So Close to Me.' DJ soFa, also known as soFa Elsewhere, is celebrated for his boundary-pushing curation and storytelling through music. "Elsewhere CC continues his mission to expand musical horizons and showcase hidden gems from around the world.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala)
Perikas - "Laberinto"
Leo Basel - "Quelle Drole De Vie" (Nick The Record & Dan Tyler re-edit)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It"
King B - "Love Is Crazy"
L'innovateur Djoe Ahmed Et Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek"
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress"
Androo - "Lyriso"
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (dub)
Love Isaacs - "Surprise Surprise" (Joao Gomes & Dan Tyler Are Predictably Delayed rework)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje"
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo"
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental)
Rick Asikpo - "Let’s Get High" (Nick The Record re-edit)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval"
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me"
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?"
Urban Volcana Sounds - "Ame No Uta" (Rain song - extended version)
Review: Those on London's crate-digging underground should be well aware of Tangent, an eclectic, anything-goes party created by esteemed record collectors John Gomez and Nick The Record. With a little help from Mr Bongo, they've curated this compilation featuring some of their favourite selections from the party - the vast majority of which are either obscure, rare or overlooked. It's a predictably impressive selection all told, with the pair bouncing between digital reggae-infused global grooves (Srirajah Soundsystem), mid-80s French jazz-funk-synth-pop fusion (an exclusive edit of Leo Basel), quirky riffs of the Pointer Sisters (Marc Thornhill's 'Automatic'-inspired 'No Way To Control It'), zouk, proto-house-era Balearic brilliance (Androo), squelchy AOR synth-disco (Hidrogenesse), heavy Latin percussion workouts (Conjuto Balurantes), dub (Lee Jackson Band) and much more besides.
Review: Natsu Summer is a city pop and reggae sensation who is set to go to the next level with the release of her upcoming 2024 album Orange Airmail. She now teases it in fine style with this new limited 7" vinyl that has been produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi of RYUSENKEI. Teh single, '2025' is a vibrant and danceable lovers' rock track featuring amapiano rhythms and hot stepping rhythms that make it a real gem for enlivening any dance floor through a loud sound system. The B-side includes a special cover of a hidden Japanese lovers' rock classic from the '90s which adds a nostalgic touch to this delightful analogue release.
Review: Izumi Kobayashi's Coconuts High is a vibrant testament to her evolution as an artist. Reissued on vinyl, this album showcases Izumi's mastery in blending funk, Latin, and tropical influences into a cohesive and electrifying album. This piece features heavy hitters like Pecker, Freddie Washington, and the legendary Tower of Power horns, along with contributions from The Waters and guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka. Tracks like 'Palm St.' and 'Small Dynamite' pulsate with energy, while 'Lazy Love,' a reggae-infused reinterpretation of 'Crazy Love,' highlights her innovative spirit. Recorded in Los Angeles with a top-notch roster of musicians, Coconuts High encapsulates the essence of summer with its infectious grooves and tropical vibes. Each of the eight tracks is meticulously crafted, reflecting Izumi's growth as both a singer and composer. This reissue invites a new generation of listeners to fall in love with the sun-soaked rhythms and catchy melodies that make Coconuts High a timeless gem in Japanese funk and soul music.
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