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Give It Up Or Turnit a Loose (Edit) by James Brown b/w Web (Edit) by Hampton Hughes / Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (Bonus Breaks) by James Brown| Galaxy Sound Company — Gsc45-044, test pressing | The long-running @galaxy_sound_company imprint has been responsible for some superb re-edits over the years, most of which are pleasingly purist in tone — meaning they are pro rearrangements with no added effects but & needless new beats or cheap trickery like so many out there— making any of their releases cop-on-site. & as you can hear from the test pressing, the 44th in the stellar series delivers yet again.

Side A is a masterclass in breakbeat editing of a b-boy classic sample source. Yes, there are many killer JB edits out in the universe, but when you see that the legendary Black Cash & Theo AKA Thelonious Beats take a turn, you know you gotta cop this mutha on site. Here the edit master bravely returns to one of the main sources of the dawn of hip-hop — JB’s comp “In The Jungle Groove” which was released in 1986 to capitalize on it’s popularity in the genre at the time. The comp is named for a breakdown section that appears in “Give It Up Or Turnit a Loose” which is the workout we have here. JB quiets the band down to handclaps, footstomps & congas played by Johnny Griggs. After he raps a little, JB cues legendary drummer Clyde Stubblefield back in, followed by bassist Bootsy Collins & the rest of the band. JB wasn’t intentionally trying to create a perfect batch of hip-hop samples in the late 60s & early 70s, but he couldn’t have succeeded any better if he had been. This edit may enter well-worn territory but he uniquely delivers an edit that showcases why it inspired so many & still delivers the goods to help you get your party started off right & quickly.

Next up on the flipside we are treated to an edit of “Web” by Hampton Hughes, from his 1974 David Axelrod produced & arranged album “Northern Windows”. Heads will recall it as the core sample for “Off the Record” by Hieroglyphics, from the 1998 LP “3rd Eye Vision”. This jazz-funk burner features a stellar line-up: Piano/keyboards = Hawes Trumpet = Allen DeRienzo, Snooky Young Trombone = George Bohanon Sax/flute = Jackie Kelso, Jay Migliori, William Green Electric Bass = Carol Kaye Drums = Spider Webb

Long time house and disco devotee Dave Lee comes through on Z Records once more with a sampler from this years ZR Essentials collection. It features two of his masterful reworks starting with Jamiroquai's 'Little L'. He flips into a funked up cosmic delight with plenty of the original's synth flourishes melodic hooks and orchestration all present and correct but with added slap bass, replayed rhodes and beefy new drums which make this a surefire dancefloor winner pretty much anywhere. On the flip comes Dave Lee's Disco Fantasy mix of Shelia & B Devotion's 1979 hit 'Spacer' which has a more retro disco sound thanks to the masterful original work of Chic. Additional clav, new string parts and solo-ing keys give 'Spacer' the extended DJ mix it never had at the time of original release.

Samosa Records dips its toes back into the Afrikano waters with Volume 3 of the Afro themed, genre-busting series and features four deadly tracks from some of Samosa’s most trusted lieutenants.

Breaking the ice as the first track of this exceptional EP is Vincent Galgo and ‘African Rebel’. Mr Galgo has clearly read the brief here – giving us a 125bpm marauder that’s a melting pot of unstoppable horns, furious rhythms and an Afro-pop style bass that is the beating heart of the track.

Track 2 is Samosa regular Frank Virgilio who introduces us to his ‘Mistress’. As a straight up jazz-infused, mid-tempo rhythmic chugger, ‘Mistress’ quickly gets down to the important business of racking up the beats and instrumentation. The generous spread of guitar riffs, assertive bass and organ stabs are expertly lifted by the layered and always rolling drums and bongos induce a trance-like state of mind, so be warned!

On the B-Side Samosa newcomer Casper Leo wears his Tribal heart on his sleeve with the enchanting and utterly captivating jangler - ‘Tom Tom’. You can never have too much Kora guitar and ‘Tom Tom’ has lashings of it, with delicious sprinkles of melodic Marimba – perfect for West African sunsets.

Closing the EP off in style is Afro beats grand master, Lego Edit and the filthy-sexy ‘El Safari’. No other producer can take the essence of the Afro beat structure and bend it to their will like Lego Edit can. Like a late night fist-fight in Club Coco Bongo, ‘El Safari’ punches its way out of the doors. A slinky, wily alley cat of a tune that digs deep with its claws and doesn’t let go and another masterpiece from Lego Edit.

Afrikano Vol.3 has done the impossible and set the bar even higher for this wonderfully diverse Samosa series. We want more. We want ‘4’. With this in your record box, you’ll come with a warning.

Ste Hendry [Black Light Disco]

Feeling the summertime vibe over here at Disco Segreta, and we're ecstatic to revive one of the rarest summer-themed Italo disco tunes ever dropped! L.S. Manera, the alias of the studio ensemble helmed by musician Leonardo Del Vita and vocalist Sabrina Anselmi, epitomized the sun-soaked italo grooves of the 1980s. This short-lived group unleashed only a handful of singles between 1985 and 1988. Their debut single, "Sombrero" surfaced in 1985 as a promo-only 12” on the Roman label LGO, in exceedingly limited quantities, garnered relatively little attention. Fast forward nearly four decades, it has become one of the most coveted Italo 12”s, fetching exorbitant sums in collector's circles. “Sombrero” stands out among aficionados of obscure Italo-disco, embodying a distinct vein: that of summer-themed tracks. With its tantalizing blend of airy arpeggios, Juno 60 synth lines and bass, punchy percussions adorned with claps, DX 7 cowbells and a seductive saxophone solo. “Sombrero” has it all to seduce new discerning listeners, also thanks to the infectious alternating vocals in English and Spanish, featuring hilariously sultry hooks such as "Te quiero, Sombrero!" or "I love muchachas!" Disco Segreta fulfils another Italo disco dream by reissuing this absolute gem for a broader audience, presented in a meticulously remastered 12” edition featuring the original vocal and instrumental versions, along with the stellar “Estate Dub” by the Chilean-Swedish maestro of Italo-disco, Claudio Burgos, aka Mr. Fantasy, which we are sure will become an absolute dance classic. Sombrero, te quiero!

Limited repress on blue vinyl, 1000 copies worldwide! A bootleg experiment that got out of hand, Oden & Fatzo’s Radio 1 A-listed single is the accidental hit that everyone is talking about. So how do you go about making an ‘accidental hit’, by accident of course... The track came about when French DJ Fatzo tried to demonstrate the difference between an edit and a remix to his dad, “... I took a song from the band Men I Trust, sped it up and added a drum beat and violin. After playing it to Oden, they loved it, and in turn, added their secret ingredients.” Unlike the name might suggest, Oden & Fatzo consists of three people: The Parisian underground collective are a powerful fusion of the electronic live duo Oden, and house DJ Fatzo. Back in 2020 a bootleg version of ‘Lauren’ was uploaded to the YouTube channel of the electronic label Novaj, kicking off an unforeseeable wave of enthusiasm. That video is now approaching 3 million views. Enthralled listeners begged for a commercial release, a year later Ministry of Sound/B1 cleared the sample and the track started its march across the airwaves and up the charts. With its captivating beat and nostalgic catchiness, ‘Lauren’ makes up for the party nights lost to the pandemic lockdowns, and sees people dancing in their homes and on the streets, as concerts, parties, and live sets are finally making a return. As the trio put it: “This song was all about hope, freedom and a party atmosphere at a time when you couldn't go anywhere. We think it gave everyone who heard it a little bit of an escape, including us.” Meanwhile in the UK, the track has seen early support, not only by names like Franky Wah, Danny Howard, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Jax Jones, Jodie Harsh, Hugel, Bakermat, Cut Snake, Salomé Le Chat, Piem, David Gausa and many more, but also by the incredibly ecstatic party crowds.

Secrets Of Sound sold out their first release in quick fashion and now they return with a second instalment in the Exotic Origins series, designed to take you a million light years away from your current reality and deep into the far depths of space with eight superbly cosmic explorations of ambient and downtempo magic. Italians Do It Better man Johnny Jewel kicks off with some sultry sax-laced sounds, David Lynch's musical partner Dean Hurley crushes on shimmering pads and Pye Corner Audio bring a little intergalactic tension. Elsewhere there are sugary synths from Legowelt, suspensory pads from TM Solver and plenty more to help you escape to another dimension. Add to that the fact it arrives on a random variety of different vinyl colours and comes with a download code, and you've got rather a nice package.

We are very proud to present you the third release on Schatzimusik with the reissue of the much sought after I.B.M. – Computer Love 12″ inch and an unreleased track and a remix. For this release we have teamed up with none other than Dario di Pace & Raffelle Arcella from Naples, better known as Mystic Jungle and Whodamanny. The two have done numerous remixes for very well-known Italo-Disco songs. For this remix, they have delivered a brilliant reinterpretation of Computer Love. Rhythmic, driving, funky and playful, they put Computer Love in a new light. The release is rounded off with the previously unknown track “Metropolis” and the long version of “Computer Love”. A little background info on the original vinyl. Thomas Waver & Rudi Raders the two originators of the group I.B.M. emigrated to Alicante (Spain) in the 80s. They stored the records of Computer Love in the attic of Thomas’ aunt. Unfortunately, she died, and the attic was dissolved along with the records. So, the original vinyl is unfortunately a rarely seen item.

Born out of an impromptu post-pub jam session in Margate, the 5-piece group Pigeon swoops onto the scene with their blistering debut EP Yagana.

As the tracks cross effortlessly between Afro-disco, grunge, no wave and jazz, the cohesive symbiotic relationship of the band members is obvious from the start. The powerful vocals of Guinean singer Falle Nioke are complemented by a wealth of talent from Graham Godfrey on drums, Steve Pringle on keys, Tom Dream on guitar and Josh Ludlow on bass.

Having moved to the UK from West Africa in 2018, Falle Nioke has recently been in the spotlight with EPs heavily supported by indie radio and BBC 6 Music playlisters. On Yagana, he continues to sing in a multitude of languages, but this time shifts towards a more organic musical direction, showcasing his incredible versatility as a vocalist.

This new path can be attributed to the pedigree of the rest of the group – veteran musicians Steve Pringle and Graham Godfrey are key members of Michael Kiwanuka’s band, the latter also performing with Little Simz, Cleo Sol and Sault, among others.

Furthermore, Tom Dream and Josh Ludlow are electronic artists in their own right – with a number of artistic projects in the works, as well as having performed together as ambient duo Soma World. Both used to play in metal and grunge bands in earlier years, an influence which has made its way into Pigeon’s distinctive sound.

The Yagana EP is an emotionally-charged offering, exploring themes of lust, saudade, homesickness, and hope for peace. The title track ‘Yagana’ translates to “it’s been a while”, and though its up-tempo disco rhythm and wild synth solos lend a cheerful disposition, the lyrics describe a melancholic yearning for Africa. Nioke sings in Susu, Wolof and Malinke – as he describes the struggle of being separated from one’s family, as well as hustling to support them financially from afar.

As a teenager, Nioke would train his voice by the great river Rio Nunez in Boké, among the remnants of the slave trade, pathways and crumbling buildings being swallowed up by the forest. While most Western teenagers grew up with traditional pets, Nioke disclosed to his band members that his closest animal friend in West Africa was the pigeon – and so the name of the group was chosen.

Moving through the record, ‘Nothing Grows’ follows on from the Afro-disco opener, bringing down the tempo and intensity. The heavily swung jazz rhythm is driven by the drums, while soft guitar tremolo picking and synth pads produce a delicate atmosphere over which the singer mournfully longs for a lost love.

But having lured the listener into a meditative and pensive state in ‘Nothing Grows’, feathers are suddenly ruffled by the entrance of “It’s You” - a sultry story of burning desire. Channelling grunge and elements of no wave, the song is defined by a rumbling bass that pulses alongside the kick, while an atonal synth riff and fuzzy guitar licks provide the minimal melody. Piercing through it all is the hypnotic spoken word of Nioke, switching between French and English, as he beckons – and at times even demands - a lover to enter his room.

Finally, ‘War (Jam)’ returns the record to its 4x4 disco pace, featuring rapid-fire hats and high-pitched guitar riffs seemingly nodding to Mugithi, a genre often associated with political commentary. This concept is built upon with lyrics sung in Susu, as Nioke condemns wars around the world and their ongoing futility, pleading for people to unite and create a better place. Running just over 7 minutes, ‘War (Jam)’ is an improvised long take which continuously evolves, allowing each musician an opportunity to shine.

Recorded in a single weekend, Pigeon’s Yagana EP is a clear testament to each member’s skilfulness and varied experiences, creating a fully-fledged being that is greater than the sum of its parts. With an opening hand like this, we await with bated breath to see what more the humble Pigeon can bring to the world.

Terra Magica Rec. first 7’’ release „Chiqui Tan“ by the label heads Hektisch Sprengen DJs will be limited to 250 copies. The A-side hits the listener with some 1980s early Electronic-Downtempo-Cumbia-Colombian-Venezuelan-Tablemountain-Dub-Grooves. This reminiscence is leading to an extra full blown up 21st century Bass-Queen alert. And these Hsdj dials hit you into a stripped naked sample of Nigerian-Swedish DJ-dentist-mainstream-star Dr. Alban and his Eurotrash-90s-Pophouse-anthem “No Hash Hash, No Cocaine”. This is for sure no “Ottonormal”-90s-revival thing! On the flip side Hektisch’s haptic wood razzle move covers the classic 1994-Liquid-Deep-Netherlands-Trance-House-Track “Paper Moon” by 51 Days which back then sampled the rare 1972-MPB-Funk-Cover-Version of Carol Kings “Corazón”. Guess what! It drops like a late 1990s-Ed-DMX-London-classic gone Electroboogie-Miamibass-Break with a SH101-baseline and Sprengen’s take on Spanish-90s-Trance-Vocals. Watch out 4 TERRAMs “Asi me gusta” title caps series as well! Trigger warning: That hidden Sequential Circuit Sixtrack loves you like a windy horse on Acid. Loads to experience on this little innocent wax disc!

Samosa Records swings back into action for the summer months with Afrikano Vol. 1 - a scintillating four tracker EP from Various Artists which you will fall in love with on the first listen. On the A-side, the always impressive Vagabundo Club Social kick things off with the enigmatically titled ‘Mr. Mista’ - a hypnotic, (almost calypso inspired) rhythmic explosion of Mibra guitar, whirling organ, horns and a wicked high end laser sweep. This is a pure chugger, folks. At a deceptive 120bpm it will have you dancing til dusk. A2 brings us ‘Sweet Dance’ where C. Da Afro met De Gama: after a brief shuffle beat start (liberally peppered with rhythm guitar and organ stabs), the unusual duo make sure it’s all about the beat and horn breakdowns. Pre-drinks in Lagos, people watching and waiting for the night to start is the order of the day here. Cut this in half and it has ‘summer’ stamped right through it. Gloriously sweet. On the B-Side, Atchoum & Grincheux take centre stage with ‘Demokoussé’. Les Inferno applies the special retouch here, and straight away we’re treated to a gloriously produced trip through breakbeat inspired beats, deep, throaty horns and an outrageously soaring sax. Oh you want more? Well try the addition of the gorgeous spiritual vocals that put the bow nicely on this African sizzler. Finishing the EP on B.2 is Lego Edit and the aptly titled ‘Afromaniaco’. A pulsating, horn inspired shaker, this track grabs you right by the beat bone from the off and won’t let go. Lego Edit’s trademark deft touches and attention to detail is all on display here - sweet sounding African vocals weave in and out of the almost melancholy horn stabs and washboard beats. A soundtrack for one of those incredible sunsets, ‘Afromaniaco’ is the missing piece of this diverse jigsaw. With Afrikano Vol. 1, Samosa Records has found the perfect accompaniment to what is hopefully a long, hot summer. So Samosa, so brilliant.

Samosa Records continue their hot streak with ‘The Difference EP’ - a superb four tracker from a producer who is all about the funk, Gledd. This wonderfully constructed EP kicks off with the first track on the A-side - ‘I Don’t Know’. From the get go, this is a slinky, catchy funky number. The warm, all consuming bass line jogs along, aided by subtle guitar riffs that light up the melody. The chugging train suddenly breaks for an outrageous blues vocal - deep growls and female backing singers take control before the track launches straight into the stratosphere. A guaranteed dance floor bomb. Next up on the A-side is ‘Amapola Sunrise’, a latin infused 125bpm slice of heaven. Gledd knows these rhythms inside out - and this hypnotic ‘love dance’ of a track proves it. You can only imagine the sunrises and sunsets this will provide the soundtrack to. It’s a deep, glorious journey into hedonism - let the lead guitar and sax take you by the hand to the rug-pull breakdown. Gledd at his incomparible best. Meanwhile, over on Side B, De Gama is setting out the party stall early with his ‘Re-Groove’ of Muni. When De Gama masters the grooves in the ‘Re’Groove’ workshop, the flames can be seen for miles. African horns, organ stabs and Mali-inspired guitar riffs combine with the superb vocals. It’s a tribal, ethereal and very spiritual funk dream, which is De Gama’s trademark. Closing off this excellent EP is B.2 - ‘Japan Lips’. In no time, we’re off around the seedy back street bars where gifted but washed up bass players hang out to find work. The bass line is as clean as a whistle as it kicks against the snares and cymbals of the beat, and the melody wraps around you instantly with rhythm guitar, jazz flute and breaks. Another mesmerising piece from a man who knows how to mesmerise. The perfect topper to this thoroughbred release. ‘The Difference EP’ is a welcome Samosa debut for Gledd and is sure to be a hit with lovers of the groove. This has to be in your collection. Ste Hendry [Black Light Disco]

Having studied the complicated art of dreaming on Live At The Robert Johnson earlier this year, DC Salas returns with another remarkable clutch of cosmic excursions. Linking up with long-standing Parisian chic beat connaisseurs Slowciety, it’s time for Salas to show us a little ‘Exquisite Chaos’… Presentation (long version) The clue is in the title; ‘Exquisite Chaos’ is smooth, classy, hi-definition piece of intergalactic drama. Sweeping synths, rocket-fuelled kicks and a bassline that could circumnavigate the universe many times over without needing to refuel, it’s a classic DC Salas trip, the likes of which we’ve soaked up on labels such as Correspondant, Nein, BPitch and beyond. It’s backed up by the poignantly titled ‘Undivided’. A call for unity, it’s rattled with acid and sinewy synth lines all thrusting upwards with the positivity we missed for so long this year.

After unleashing their new 10” label with a ridiculously classy double header from De Gama and Les Inferno back in May Samosa Records is back with another outrageously brilliant release in Sr10-02. This time round they feature the work of yet another incredibly talented Italian producer JazzyFunk. Samosa has become a real melting pot of Italian talent across all of their labels and JazzyFunk has delivered in aces here. As with Sr10-01 it features one track per side and JazzyFunk has provided two tracks of sublime and relentless groove. ‘All Night Love’ has 70’s disco power shining through from every angle from the ever so hooky guitar licks to the laser synths. Add in brass stabs aplenty and some divine vocal harmonies and this is a straight to the centre of the dance-floor anthem. Over on the flip ‘Sexy thing’ is ever so slightly deeper. It’s packed with one of those relentless string laden grooves from which it is simply impossible to escape from. Sax loops glide across the top providing another hook, it’s an impossibly brilliant track. This is a wonderful EP which is destined to fly off the shelves on release.

SR10 is the brand new spin off label from Samosa Records concentrating on 2 choice cuts from some of the finest producers at the label one each side of a 10” vinyl. It also see’s Samosa announce an exciting collaboration with another of the finest labels out there Tropical Disco who will be handling the digital release for this one down the line.
Launching the brand new imprint it’s only fitting for the label bosses De Gama and Les Inferno to lead things out.
First up is De Gama’s Sometimes Sometimes which see’s him creating a much more reflective track than his previous powerful peak-time percussive club jams. Despite its ever so bluesy laid-back sentiments it’s no less a sublime outing. Velvety smooth the lead vocal is definitely one of those once heard never forgotten magical musical moments. It’s a track of simplicity, a smooth bassline, subtle guitar licks and the wonderful vocal performance. It’s an entrancing life affirming track which has all the hallmarks of a track which absolutely must be listened to again and again. And yeah, maybe just one more time!
Over on the flip Les Inferno takes us off towards classic Philly territory with an equally subtle but ever so funky slice of feel-good disco in ‘Yeah C’Mon’. Smooth percussion, an ever so danceable bassline, brilliantly performed yet subtle keys and another absolute monster vocal. And did we forget to mention the disco flute? Yeah Disco flute, does it get any better. We think not?
This is a 10” which is quite simply undeniable. You must have this in your collection right now because you will need to listen to it time and again. Samosa continues its quest to dominate the disco vinyl landscape with yet another ridiculously superb release.
What are you waiting for just order this and thank us later.

Five albums, sixty tracks and still counting. Cool Million are back with a new album!
Ten years ago the euro soul duo Cool Million released their first album 'Going Out Tonight' on UK soul label Expansion Records. The album took the soul crowd by surprise, cause who were these guys that out of the blue, could recreated the soulful sound of the 80's hey day like no other?
The answer to that question is; Rob Hardt and Frank Ryle. One a super musician from Germany with skills you can only dream of. The other a Dj/musicfreak from Denmark with a masterplan – both of them with tons of dedication and passion for thier craft.
Thier passion and ambition have kept them in the came for a decade and they have worked with a long list of artists, some known some not, some forgotten some on their way up! The list include names such as: Jean Carne, Keni Burke, Shirley Jones, Eugene Wilde, Meli'sa Morgan, Rena Scott, Leroy Burgess, Peggi Blu, Yvonne Gage, Marc Evans, Alton McClain, Kenny Thomas, Lisa Stansfield, Tom Moulton, Joey Negro, Dimitri From Paris and John Morales, Glenn Jones, Marc Sadane, Tim Owens, Gavin Christopher, Michael Jeffries.
Cool Million tells that they feel privileged and humble when they look at the list of names they have worked with over the ten years. Futhermore they add; 'Who would have thought that two dudes from northern Europe would be able to create music with people that talented, we hope we could do it, when we started but that we actually done it, is amazing and wonderful'.
Reflecting on the first decade of Cool Million it's fair to say that Rob & Frank are two determined and ambitious gentlemen with extraordinary talent.
So what can Cool Million tell us abouth their new album? 'It's a classic Cool Million album where we work/collaborate with various artists, staying true to our original concept both in terms of genre and how we think a album works best. Having say that we think that our fans will be a little surprised with the fact that this is our slowest album to date. We believe we have more variety than ever and it's a fact that the music on the new album is slowed down in terms of more ballads and mid-tempo songs compared to our other albums'.
'The reason for this development is that we wanted to try something that was a little out of our comfort zone. Also we felt that we wanted to prove that we can do quality slow jams aswell. You could also argue that is's beause we both turned fifty this year.. haha'.

An-2 and Samos have turned the clock back to finish off a couple of sessions they'd recorded together years back. Maxim Samos is our keen friend and sophisticated guitar player from Minsk, Belarus that we know for years. His first appearance on Theomatic was back in 2008 with space-rock tune "Alpha Storm", which received lots of positive feedback and found its way to the Prins Thomas - Live At Robert Johnson compilation. As well as guitars, Maxim can play almost any string instrument and, on one of his erstwhile trips to Istanbul, he dropped by a music store, picked up a Saz and immediately set it alight, blowing away the entire staff. After scoring a big discount, he came out, clutching it in his hands. An-2 commented on Samos' playing on the Saz during one of his first visits to Minsk, and immediately suggested cutting a track together - something that took 10 years, but the wait's been worth it. What we've got is surreal halal-acid-folk-disco affair, perfect for whirling dervishes or dancing the dhikr. The story's continued on the B-side, where we're treated to a tale of trips in a GTI, before finishing with a Nordic saga about cold fronts coming at us from behind the Polar Circle.

It includes an Erol Alkan remix. Slip into your tin foil hat and do the 'Maskindans', it's almost album time. Though he may still be tweaking the space laser to perfect album 'numero twomero' (hey, it's a working title), Terje has still found the time to tease us with a sneak preview of what's to come in the form of this body moving, brain grooving cover version of a Norse synth spectacular from the dystopian dance floors of '82. Inspired by his Dansbar diversions, Todd took to the studio for a little multitrack mania, replaying every part of this doomy dancer with all the Olsen sparkle you could ever wish for. Luring Det Gylne Triangel back into the booth for the first time in 25 years (possibly in his trusty Delorean!), Terje topped off the pops with a newly recorded vocal from the original lyricist, closing the temporal loop and opening the door to dance floor nirvana.

Keita Sano joins forces with fellow Japanese producer Xtal and makes a welcome return to Delusions following last years amazing Love Is Emotion EP.

Those familiar with Keita’s production will know that his sound is a unique blend of raw, crunchy disco beats, touches of acid and a left-field sensibility which creates an intense and captivating atmosphere on the dance floor. A vibe that has seen his tracks become secret weapons for DJ’s as diverse as Ivan Smagghe, Pablo Fierro, DJ Nature, Frank Tope and Hot Toddy.

Kicking off the EP we have a track called Broken, a high energy and uplifting slice of loopy filter disco which hits all the right notes. Things roll along perfectly, building to a crescendo as a full on string break cuts loose, everything dropping away before slamming in with timbale fills joining the party.

Let Us Have Nice Days, The Sun is up next and makes great use of a classic Italo bassline to drive the track along whilst dub delay FX and side chained pads keep the energy bubbling. Bending bass synth notes bring an extra bit of drama without upsetting the flow and rolling 16th note intensity from the bassline. Feel the love!

Closing the release, we have Time Passing which slows the BPM slightly for a chugging slice of string-drenched gorgeousness. Drop this at sunset and watch as this melancholic gem creates a little bit of magic on the dance floor.

Sameheads & Mutant Radio are going a teenie weenie bit further and unifying their ongoing collab in plastic. The kind you play, not the stuff you throw away. Released in Spring, at a party we’re throwing together in Tbilisi, this little beaut is a double sided 7”. The Mutantheads split 7” features some solid sound rep from both projects…. For Sameheads, Andrea & Alexander release their first material together, acting as a kind of trailer to an upcoming album released later this year on R-i-o. The track “Olias” finally gets its press after once being performed live at the fabled Sameheads festival “City of a Thousand Suns”… those were the days eh….. On the Mutant Radio side, fresh talent Tina delivers her debut release, and for that matter, the first ever track Mutant have put onto a piece of vinyl….. The track “Vacation” is the squelchy black sheep counter balance to the silky synth vibe of the other side. Just how they like it. The release will be up for pre-order from next week, and the digital stuff too…. Just the 300 copies available…… So,,, fix up look sharp……

Toronto Vs Boston: Lace up those skates, The Patchouli Brothers face off against Gmgn on the hockey rink of destiny, who's edit will burn hotter and melt the ice, transforming this frozen dance floor into a disco roller rink for the ages? The disco brothers from Canada kick things off with "burnin'", dark and sexy, with textural percussion, sultry vocals, and a straight ahead piano focused groove. After a short flight to Boston, Gmgn comes in on the B-side with the instant classic "A Little Bit". Cutting up 70s funk over a solid disco base and diva vocals that will have you proclaiming "All you need is a little bit of Soul!"

Samosa Records reaches its 30th release in style, and who better to mark the occasion than label boss De Gama with the superb ‘Tropical Gangster’ - a three tracker slice of vinyl heaven that’ll blow you face first into your summer paddling pool.

Opening this super-tropical affair on the A-side is afro beat stomper Karibu Funk’ - and it wastes no time at all in introducing us to its tribal rhythmic awesomeness. The beats, the vocals, the outrageously funky bass and horns are a musical representation of an African sunset. A serious groove.

A2. brings us ‘Lucky Fellow’; a twisting, turning bouncy bass-bomb of a tune with a flute riff that would charm the clothes off you. De Gama is very much in Pied Piper mode here - you’re powerless to resist the sexy overtures of the drums, the haunting synth lead and solid bass line. Sizzling hot.

On the B-side De Gama offers a cool ‘Piña Colada’ after all the heat of the A-side. This Piña Colada, however, offers an oasis of many delights and flavours. What starts as a furious latino drum call breaks to a tropical bassline and hypnotic keys. The vocals are the cherry on the cake of an amazing arrangement of layered sound. Goosebumps.

'Tropical Gangster' is an exceptionally special Samosa release befitting the occasion of reaching the 30 milestone, and another example of the consistently brilliant output from Samosa Records. Expect this one to sell out fast.

Ste Hendry [Black Light Disco]

Following up on their acclaimed debut EP Yagana in 2022, the 5-piece band return with a brand new offering: Backslider. Dressed as if they would be equally comfortable starring in a modern spaghetti western as they are cutting slick silhouettes on a festival stage - are Guinean singer Falle Nioke, Graham Godfrey on drums, Steve Pringle on keys, Tom Dream on guitar and Josh Ludlow on bass.´As Pigeon develop and hone their sound further, Afrodisco remains at the core while jazz and no-wave make way for new elements of electro, rock and synth pop. The introduction of sequencers and drum machines sprinkles a little more structure into the mix, however the recording process still very much embodies the DIY spirit of band members that enjoy jamming together. With previous support from Gilles Peterson, Elton John, Iggy Pop, Bandcamp, NPR, Uncut and many more, the new Pigeon will undoubtedly fly off the shelves.

From Sweden with Italo to Dresden with love. Stockholm's DJ City drops his first release on Dresden's Uncanny Valley with the Cosmicomics EP, a 100% fun record for all the senses, deeply inspired by Italo Calvino's iconic short story collection. The stories have inspired DJ City to a record that aesthetically draws from 80s Italo Disco and 70s science fiction films. In the book, each story is based on a scientific fact about the world and the cosmos whilst using fiction to ask how we understand it. Where Calvino's stories are comical and absurd, DJ City surrenders to the sublime and romantic and moves further into the metaphysical world that Calvino created to come up with three energetic and melodic tracks bursting heavily with fantasy and drama. Deeply rooted in dance music's history, they shine with Hi-NRG-vibes, strict dancefloor commitment and little easter eggs like that Drexciya-reference in Cosmicomics. The cover of the record is a painting from 2020 by Swedish artist Jens Faenge called THE INN. The picture seems to have been broken up into several dimensions, and abstract details make it difficult for the viewer to know exactly what and when the scene is taking place. When shown in Shanghai, the painting was censored by government agents and had to be taken down. A testament to the power of the image. Perhaps it shows our main character, perhaps it shows us the author or the artist. Depending on who listens, who reads and who looks, a multitude of universes open.

Fabrice Lig has melody running through his veins. On his quest to explore his deep love for the bitter-sweet yearning of Motor City techno, his tracks transcend trends. Over his three-decade spanning career he has refined his blend of soul-infused dance music to striking effect. His gift for a catchy hook is unmatched. His new studio album "The Mental Bandwidth" shows his musical range as a producer once again. On the album's twelve tracks, he effortlessly traverses, cosmic house, funkified techno and electronica, combining his trademark quirky melodies with playful songwriting and dance floor focused beats. The album format is giving Lig enough space to explore his musical ideas from different directions while staying true to the overall atmosphere. "The idea for the album was to go back to the fundamentals of the original Detroit sound and to find new ways of expressing that soul in my music - as I've been doing for years", explains Lig. With Ann Saunderson and the former Kraftwerk-member Wolfgang Flur, the album features two heavy-weight collaborations that connect the "The Mental Bandwidth" to Detroit's musical legacy, too. Slikk Tim aka Garry Grittness also has a cameo in the form of a funky bassline on "Healing", the pop-infused Ann Saunderson collaboration. The title of the album is inspired by Lig's lecture of Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir book "Scarcity: Why Having So Little Means So Much" which explores new approaches to reduce poverty. "The authors discovered that the mental bandwidth of poor people is sometimes really low because of short term issues they are facing and are forced to solve", explains Lig. Those issues are reducing the mental bandwidth for long term thinking capacities, which in turn has consequences for the decision making process. An example: before the quality of education of poor kids is increased, the quality of life they have must be increased. This increases the capacities of the kids to learn more than solely better educational programs.

2022 repress

The New World is upon us once again. It has been seven years already, since Markus Gebauer debuted on Riotvan under the guise of his New World moniker. That's quite a while in the realm of those sometimes short-term goings-on of clubculture. Yet, Gebauer kept himself busy meanwhile with his alter ego Interviews, reviving the erstwhile identity now that times are calling for a New World more than ever. And that's both, very generally speaking and particularly regarding his slick and classy approach to Neo-Disco-affairs. Interestingly, the lion's share of this EP had been laid down already five years ago, in an ahead of the curve nature that it couldn't sound more up to date right now in 2020. Take opener "Glances" for example. Suspense-packed arpeggio meets a groove-laden bass, gets kissed by some smooth melodies and far-out pads and evokes an immense open-air-hymn potential. Here's a little advance notice: that tune might not leave your head for the whole rest of the summer. "Enough!" in its seductive nonchalance seems to be cut from the same cloth. Another Indie-Disco sureshot filtered through shades-lenses. But "Enough!" - seriously? The hereby summoned feelgood-vibe will surely leave you wanting more. And more you shall get. "Fade Out" opens up with a rather straight beat-pattern, but again, the synth-arrangements, the melodies and harmonies are pure bliss. And then there is "Poéme", that Frankophile floor-enchantment, shaped out in sophistication and elegance, throwing in some subtle Depeche Mode-references and taking the French leave as one of the strongest clubtracks in this batch. Closing things up is Juan MacLean, giving "Enough!" a makeover that aims for the dancefloor as much as, let's say the hammock, infusing both, an irresistible groove and a laid back, almost Dub-like attitude.

E. Live is back adding his patented "Boogie Shimmer" on the A Side Remix of this interesting Star Creature 2 Sider. The Bay Area Boogie Boss comes with a laid-back groove slapper on the A Side that makes you want to just look up and inhale. Lights down low nice sound system step to this vibe. The B Side kind of a turn, the original gives us a little spacey Italo slap vibe. Newcomer Gillies on the vocals, perfect blend of atmosphere meets pheromones, highly breathable both versions, breathes of fresh air all around. Doubles Recommended.

From the mind of Caserta comes a brand-new imprint. God Hour picks up where Bridge Boots left off putting Caserta right back to work doing what he’s come to be best known for; turning old school joints, usually not meant for the dance floor, into modern day heaters. 'Playa' takes a '70s ballad about the one who got away and makes it a little less heart wrenching and a lot more danceable! The A side features the full vocal surrounded by the driving bass, drums and horns any good disco record should have. With lush Rhodes, strings and synths to warm things up and make you wonder where things went awry even while you’re 2 stepping the night away. For those of you who cant come to grips with the fact that that special someone is gone or just plain hate lyrics then flip-er on over for a classic Caserta Dub.

Set those filters to stun and get the glitterball rotating, because Italy's Giuseppe Scarano is back with some serious glitzy disco gear on his Cardiology label. 'bek Again' boasts a hefty house undercarriage on which the brass, handclaps and funk are transported, a Jackson-esque vocal hook proving to be the cherry on top. 'Remember Da Name' and 'Know About Me' are a little sparser, with a garage beat not a million miles from some of Van Helden or Roger Sanchez's late 90s work, the musical gloriousness squashed down by filters until it's finally allowed to peak and soar. 'New Funk' completes the four track package, a tad slower and funkier with a sublimely wriggling bassline the central factor.

Detroit/Chicago and odd techno/house sounds influenced French producers Marius Cyrilou and Popodi Venturi to come back with a new banging crossover project called Motorbremsen. Marius and Popodi already had many digital and vinyl releases on various labels like People Potential Unlimited records, Omega Supreme Records, Outrun records and on their own labels, La Maison Venturi, Bazaar Records under the names of Spaced Out Krew, The Ceeofunk Band or Westbrook (and many others more). This 5 tracks EP gathers many influences such as Theo Parrish, Moodymann ("So Confused") or Drexciya-n sounds ("Sanctuary"). Some deep and dark bassy house mood concludes this ep ("Human Freaks" , "Riding Over The Darkness"). Besides this, the marvellous voice of Mae Rojas (The Ceeofunk Band) comes with a sensual touch on the track "Tiger Prey (Radio Edit)". This EP gives an instant deep feeling of a happy-to-sad mood, with mysterious and sexy moments. On A1 "So Confused", Don’t be confused, this is music to drive by in the hood with your low-rider. Gangsta boogie house at his climax for fans of Moodymann, Theo Parrish and all the raw house music mood. On A2 "Tiger Prey (Radio Edit)", with the help of Mae Rojas (Cee-O-Funk Band) on the mic, Motorbremsen keep pushing their unique vision of house music : soulful but raw, relaxed but not so slow, catchy but weird at the same time. On A3 "Sanctuary", let’s get on an electro-funk territory here. The guys explore a sound that can be rooted in seminal Arthur Baker’s productions and Drexciya’s mood but this a strong psychedelic feeling that is truly unique. All this comes with the special Motorbremsen’s touch of course. One for the B-Boys on acid... On B1 "Riding Over The Darkness", get in the D’s train for a cruise. Laidback house with a monstrous bass and this almost G-Funk feeling. Hmmmm… delicious ! One for the lovers. On B2 "Humanfreaks", let's get a bit darker. What begins like a bumpy beat get you little by little in real moody trip in a hot warehouse. Detroit techno muscular funk-infused inna 2021 style (by two guys who never listen to a Transmat record of their lives).

As music in the digital age seems to be shifting back to a 60's era emphasis on singles over albums, those who clamor for a full-length installment of music from their favorite artists have found their thirst increasingly unquenched. Enter Leopard DaVinci & Louis 707, who are boldly filling this gap in modern funk music with their LP "Make The Party Great Again." Living through an era of social distancing, event cancellations, and venue closures, making the party thrive as it once did is no small task, but this French synth-funk duo come across as extraordinarily energized to meet the challenge. It feels like every synthesizer sound ever conceived somehow lives within their arsenal, as a colorful blend of analog tones and back-cracking handclaps form the foundation for pure boogie bliss. From the album's inception, "Kinda Get Funky" sets the tone. It's clear that Leopard & Louis respect the original flight plan of the Mothership, though they draw more of their inspiration from subsequent sons of the "P" such as Zapp or 80's era Cameo. They remain uptempo throughout the entirety of the album, and even when they chill the mood slightly on songs like "Girl Oh Girl" & "I Get Up," it's only to spit a little slickness to the ladies before bumping the bpm's right back to where they were before. The album doesn't stray far from the usual topics of conversation in modern funk - Dancing, women, & funk itself. But such deviation isn't needed; if we're going to bring the party back we've got to stick to the script. As always, Sleepers takes the time to package the music as thoroughly as it was created, this time in a full-color jacket on yellow vinyl. Limited to only 300 copies!

Born in Majorca, Marc Melià is a composer/producer, who’s been based in Brussels for over 10 years. First spotted alongside Françoiz Breut, Lonely Drifter Karen or Borja Flames, he released Music for Prophet in 2017. It was issued on Gaspar Claus’s label Les Disques du Festival Permanent, as part of Flavien Berger’s curation.

On that first album, Marc Melià had explored the possibilities of a mythic synth; on Veus, as if sloughing, he applied the process of sound modification to his own voice, until becoming an android. But an android who sings of love and dreams, a sensitive automaton who plays with the tropes of pop music. Through this device, Marc Melià knowingly seeks poetry and beauty within transgenics, in the search of a universe where one can surf though waves of profoundly moving chord patterns, hear voices unconstrained by range limitations, or dance freely, as in zero gravity.

Part of the album has been recorded in Une ferme dans les Vosges, courtesy of Rodolphe Burger. It was recorded with Roméo Poirier, one of the most promising figures of ambient, and the elegant multi-talented Lou Rotzinger. As if progressing in parallel with his own linguistic experience, to add another layer to the sloughing, side A is sung in Catalan, Marc Melià’s mother tongue, and side B in French, his adopted language.

Like an echo to his previous album, Veus opens with an instrumental, “Pulse on a E”, which starts with a sequence created with a single note transposed to its octave, just like “Fata Fou”, the last song on Music for Prophet.

Although the title seems to reference an iconic 80s synth, “dx7” is actually about the seven days of the week. It is a love song, about the temperamental oscillations which make every morning the blank canvas of an unpredictable story. Wednesday, I hate you, Sunday, I love you. With few words and a lot of emotion, a synthetic voice is trying to grow more human each day.

“Dent de Serra” deals with the weight of memory on our relationships, but also with the way we revisit them constantly in order to integrate souvenirs within present relationships. Suddenly, the song stops and enters a new dimension, everything is different, as if what had just happened was now forgotten forever.

Oxytocin (“Oxitocines” in Catalan) is said to be the hormone of love. This song deals in a playful way with the duality between science and faith, between rational and magic, when it comes to sentimental relationships. Love is a universal theme, it is everywhere in the world, and love songs have been written for a very long time. But this particular love song is an ode to an aspect of love that has been less sung about: biology, which makes it possible to feel like you’re floating in space when you fall in love.

“Les étoiles” is a trio with Flavien Berger and Pi Ja Ma. The song is about attraction. What attracts humans to each other, but also the inevitable gravitational attraction. The song is also about accidents, magic moments that take us outside of our daily lives and give us the possibility to imagine a sidereal, infinite love.

“A propos d’une chanson” was born after Marc Melià had dreamed he had written the most beautiful song he’d ever created. When he woke up, he realized that song was actually O Superman by Laurie Anderson.

Aside from these songs, Marc Melià offers a few breaks, instrumental but no less narrative.

“Final d’hivern” conjures these quiet moments between two intense events; sleeping at night between two days; the calm that settles in after a hard winter, right before spring properly starts.

Using a musical language that clearly references Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Romain”, with its theme based on a melancholic chord pattern, could be the soundtrack to a 1970s movie lost in time. Little by little, elements that seem to come from a completely different context find their place, while turning the initial mood into something strange and unexpected.

Finally, “Retorn”, which finishes the album, is a reprise of the theme of “dx7”.

From the chords that make up a song, to the days that make up our lives, existence is but a cycle, and Veus is an exploration of them. Marc Melià keeps on drifting on his personal path, between homage to the past and visions of the future.

After a very short break Daje Funk are back with a super fresh redesign. The label is also fully embracing the move from their previous 10” format to 12” with the obvious bonus that they are now able to cram just that little bit of extra music onto their releases.

Their latest release, the Slam Dunk EP, is their 9th since the label arrived and it’s been a memorable journey so far. Keeping things decidedly funk with a modern dancefloor twist for their latest instalment they have assembled and all-star cast of producers with Dutch edits wizard, Ronny Hammond, England’s Shit Hot Soundsystem and Uptown Funk and Italian producer Coldbeard all taking turns to vie for dancefloor gold.

Together they have turned in one mighty slab of black wax.

The EP opens with Ronny Hammond’s ‘Keep On Groovin’ and it’s a very serious club track. For those of you with long memories and deep collections the original used here was sampled for Screen II’s Hey Mr DJ, a 90’s house classic on Cleveland City and it feels just as essential right now in 2021 as it did in both the 70’s when the original arrived and in the 90’s. Keep On Groovin’ is a proper funk bomb and Ronny has taken it to town with the addition of a powerhouse bassline, ass shakin’ drums and cheeky ear worm vocal samples. Indeed there is no chance that you will be able to sit still when this one drops. Expect it to cause serious dancefloor mischief over the coming summer months.

Shit Hot Soundsystem is up next with ‘Woah’ with label co-boss De Gama adding some extra scalpel action. Another track with classic subject matter, this often sampled track has rarely sounded as good as on this monstrous funky outing. It still sounds as fresh and exciting as the first time you heard those vibrant and vital synths and beautifully layered vocals. ‘Woah’ is both immediate and essential and will be soundtracking parties for years to come.

Over on the flip Uptown Funk’s ‘South Side Boogie’ also has De Gama on edit duty and here things head off downtown 70’s funk style. Brass stabs, wah guitar, and spicy synth licks all combine for a track which has plenty of joyous zest as it combines disco edges with a funk packed groove combing to deliver serious club heat.

Seeing the EP out is Coldbeard and he takes up deeper still with a bubbling groove which captivates from the first notes of the dynamo synth bass before adding in electric guitar licks and a rhythm line to die for. A Funky Situation is a perfect example of how to build a track piece by piece until it becomes utterly essential. Once you have heard that Rhodes and the vocal stabs working together you just know that this one will need to be played religiously.

Four utterly essential tracks which perfectly bridge the gap from the 70’s to 2021. Nine releases deep Daje Funk delivers yet again on its mission to make funk as utterly essential in clubs again nearly 4 decades after it’s glorious genres beginnings.

Samosa Records releases are coming thick and fast in what could be their finest year yet. Lex & Locke are the latest talent to make their Samosa debut with their ‘Pacifica’ EP – a sublime three tracker which is mouth watering from the off. First up is Balandra. From the moment you hear the raw four to the floor drumbeat, you’re under its spell. The infectious bass riff moves the scenery around a little, whilst the subtle bongo attack teases what’s to come. And what’s coming is a funky, rolling cosmic lead synth that has no right to sound that damn sexy, no right at all. The vibe quickly grows into an interstellar journey, aided by an outrageously funky clav jam that gets inside your head. Balandra feels like the soundtrack to an ‘after dark’ undercover stakeout in a 1970s cop thriller. Detectives Lex & Locke are on the case and the evidence is compelling. A unique, 122bpm funk bomb which has the Samosa fingerprints all over it. A2 is Cabo Pulmo – continuing the vibe of Balandra, Lex & Locke lay down some serious grooves in what initially sounds like a live funk band jamming away in the studio without a care in the world. No soon as we get into the beat and the bass, there’s an immediate switch to a swirling, bold cocktail of funk infused with a touch of jazz that belies the 124bpm tempo. The production is expertly tight; layers of synth, electric organ and punchy guitar riffs make this ideal for both the sun terrace and the dance floor. You’re under arrest, and Lex & Locke are reading you your rights! The final track, Nine Palms has a real quirky, almost broken beat feel to it with its high-hat ride pattern and punchy bass drum. A wickedly twisted analogue organ riff is quickly introduced, which is cleverly used as both a rhythm device and the melodic platform that sets up the whole track. Lex & Locke seem to be total masters of a ‘free-style funky synth lead’, and we’re treated to another slice of this particularly tasty pie in ‘Nine Palms’. Whereas Balandra is the late-night stake-out, Nine Palms is the final act where Lex & Locke high five each other following another successful bust. The Pacifica EP has a wonderfully intimate and assured vibe about it and is sure to feature in many a summer soundtrack. This release also proves that Samosa Records aren’t afraid to go off the beaten path occasionally - and when it’s this good we’re more than happy to follow. Grab this amazing cut of wax while you can!

Ste ‘Esteban’ Hendry (Black Light Disco)

Team Schatzi's racking up another batch of tracks, this time for a game of eightball, and we've got one for each pocket on the table. Little bit of classic crackly disco, little bit of freaky funk, little bit of heavy-duty house, all handmade with a whole lotta love in the hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Run the table with these disco diamonds. Just don't sink the eight early, alright? Signs point to Schatzi!

Reliable as ever, the PPF return with a fresh batch of club-ready ammunition from their secret stash. Something a little more than an edit, but still flirting dangerously between acceptable sampling & straight up sonic shop-lifting. Four more certified floor-fillers from the vaults

Samosa Records once again lights the Olympic Groove Torch, this time with a follow up to the hugely successful Italian Disco Machine Vol. 1. The stellar line-up for this gorgeous slice of wax features Samosa label co-owner Les Inferno, Shamako, M.B. Edit and CeZar – all bringing different and unique flavours to this ‘Festival dell'Italo Funk’. A1 is Les Inferno with ‘Boogie Bones’ (which could easily be Les Inferno’s alternative ‘soprannome’). Coming in at 125bpm we’re straight in with this groove. The subtle hints of The Trammps’ ‘Soul Bones’ become clearer as we motor a long from the intro through to the sublime funky bassline. This has Les Inferno’s dabs over it; with his laser-sighted cutter in hand, respect is duly paid to the original (the vocals sound as fresh as the day they were recorded!) - the end product being a perilously funky, disco bath-bomb to soap up any dance floor. The rhythm bone is connected to the boogie bone, and don’t you forget it! A2 is ‘I Like To Love’ - a sultry, sassy, sexual chocolate fountain of a track from Shamako, who hails from the Italian province of Macerata. This track oozes with cool downtempo funk plasma. The languid bassline is like a river current whilst the synth stabs, sensual sax and soaring strings carry you along the banks. The delicious vocal enters at a perfect moment – expertly combining the tight arrangement which swiftly travels into funky guitar territory. If you like your slow groove as sexy as Sophia Loren coated in a champagne glaze, this is going to be your go-to track. A pure delight. B1 Starting proceedings on the B-Side is Samosa favourite M.B. Edit with ‘All Night’. An absolute mid-tempo rump shaker, the pulsating synth bass and filtered organ builds with an outrageous low-end beat that really tess the speakers. Filthy guitar licks combine with a contagious vocal chant of “funk and soul, all night!” to lay the ground for one of the funkiest riffs you’re likely to hear. This, boys and girls is what Samosa is all about. B2 Closing things off on the B-side is CeZar with the trumpet-laden chugger, ‘Dancin’ & Feel Good’. A thigh slappin’, foot tappin’ Rose Royce flavoured boogie monster that connects the bridge from disco to funk, only to blow it up again. The beat grabs you instantly, as does the feisty, thrusting brass ensemble. Within no time at all the track explodes into a full-on Norman Whitfield style funk cloud burst which has you completely under its spell. Don’t resist it. The perfect cherry to top the most delicious Italian Disco cake. A fierce four tracker which delights, bedazzles and enchants in equal measure, Italian Disco Machine Vol. 2 cements Samosa Records’ place as one of the hottest labels out there right now. Grab it while you can!

A little known release on Scott Diaz’s now defunct Connectd records makes its first appearance on vinyl! Anyone that knows Caserta knows his affinity for '90s r&b. For (M) he snags a vocal from one of the most underrated and under appreciated vocalists of that time period. With two mixes featuring the keyboard stylings of the incomparable Yuki 'U-Key' Kanesaka the Dub version gets top billing on the A Side. Smooth keys by the aforementioned Kanesaka with a stripped down arrangement are sure to keep you 2 stepping no matter where your are. On the B Side Caserta uses the same set up but this time with the classic 909 Drum Machine to keep take things to the next level!

After spending some time on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, Fred wrote his 2018 album Long Way Home. Barbarella was one of the songs on the album. It was inspired by a morning set he did at Barbarellas, the infamous outdoor venue in Tisno. The kitsch disco vibes are also a wink to the cult B-movie of the same name. But it was the 7am in Tisno mix, featured on the alternate version of the album No Way Home that made the song popular. While there was no plan to release it as a single, Fred had the idea to contact I:Cube, one of his all-time favourite producers, to see If he would be interested in remixing it. The process took a little while but thanks to confinement, with more available time in the studio, the I:Cube Parisian Sleeze Version was born. Taking only a few elements from the original, he completely rearranged the track into a modern disco classic as only the Cube can do. This is one of those cuts that gets better every time you hear it. On the B-side, Fred’s Slow Down 2021 Version expands on the Balearic vibe at a slower tempo. Sounding a little bit like Sade on acid, with added samples from the 1968 Jane Fonda movie.

Javi Frias has earned a solid reputation as a producer on the international disco scene since he began releasing his edits and reworks back in 2015. However, this year, during confinement, he decided to put editing aside to unleash his creativity and start recording his own productions, playing with synthesizers, electric pianos, syncopated basses and tribal percussion, and the result is this 'Sunset Disco EP'. A collection of songs that take us to a summer sunset on a beach in paradise that represent a huge leap in the career of this artist. The A side begins with 'Give Love', a hedonistic and melancholic disco song, followed by 'Noche Tropical', with Balearic overtones and reminiscences of a Caribbean party. Side B opens with 'Are You Really Fellas?', a funky little number featuring jazzy guitars and smashing bass. 'Dance With Me' brings us back to the field of the emotional and evocative disco. And finally 'Musical Connection', with touches of reggae downtempo perfect to say goodbye to this eternal and warm sunset.

The amazon-naut is Bep Kororoti’s second album, the LP arrives at Modern Obscure Music after his mid-2020 release “Love is the way", an EP in collaboration with African singer Akin that aimed to be one of the hits of the summer when the first restrictions were announced during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Clubs and festivals from half of the planet had to cancel plans for the rest of the year. This second album inspired by the ancient space warrior who brought joy and new knowledge to this little community from the Amazon river is composed of clear ethnic influences, loaded with minimalist rhythms and fragments of film sequences. The LP goes hand in hand with the reinterpretation of the Brazilian Koyapos tribe myth by Marcio Matos, a visual artist in charge of giving face and image to the mesmerizing Portuguese label Principe Discos since its inception

With a little bit of research you'll realize that Ricky 1 actually didn’t come out on Bridge Boots but on thatmanmonkz imprint Shadeleaf back in 2015 and received loved from Matthew Dear and Sam Divine to name a few. A little over 5 years later and Caserta is back with the sequel! Contrary to popular belief Caserta doesn’t usually 'edit' (with the exception of Bb45003 release Diana). But he decided to bust out the ole’ Razor-N-Tape for the 40 year anniversary of this dancefloor classic! While anyone with party rock capabilities can improve on an already classic composition. 'Supa Engineer Caserta' made sure to take his time to take make sure the sonics went for 1981 to 2081. The flip side delivers more of the tried and true Bridge Boots formula people have come to love with a hard hitting deep house joint sure to light up the dance floor once we start to put Roni-19 behind us! Lastly...who the hell is Sheldon??

Three reworks, three classics, three chances to transport your mind, body and soul to somewhere with a little more sizzle and spice.

When you inject church into soulful house in a most subtle and effective way, you get the newest release from Kalim Shabazz in the form of “Joy”. What I like about this track is the fact that it is not overpowering like a lot of spiritual house tunes akin to this one. The vocalist delivers and doesn’t try to compete with the world or themselves. The subtly of Shabazz’s production is perfect and grounds everything as it clocks in at about 126.5 bpm. DJ Kemit’s The Lounge Lizards Remix of “Joy” (126 bpm) adds that ATL sound with a little bit of an extra bounce and groove but doesn’t take away from the feel of of the tune. The remix production fits the vocals just as easily as the original. It is a safe bet for either to be a choice mix for the DJ. Highly recommended!

Italian Duo Souldynamic have been turning the heat up considerably over the last couple of years. Releasing a steady stream of original track, remixes and their well loved disco reworks they have popped up on some of the most respected labels out there from King Street and Tribe to BBE. Consequently their remixes have adorned the releases of some of the most legendary performers from across the electronic scene including Louie Vega and Dennis Ferrer. Their latest release the ‘West Side Of Afrika’ EP see’s them land on the irrepressible Samosa Records. They are having a glorious couple of years with one sell out chart topping release after another so it’s a well made match. Comprising four tracks of afro centric house music it’s a wonderfully warm and inviting release if you love your percussive African disco. Lead track Guinee fuses easy going percussion with an effervescent bassline and a wonderfully expressive vocal. It’s a track which is easy to get lost in, one for those communal loved up dancefloor moments. Faranah is a more laid back affair again leading off with layers of percussion its swirling dual vocals and brass stabs give it tons of feel-good zest. Over on the flip Bamako is the deepest cut on the release. It’s pounding bassline cuts through the speakers, creating immeasurable straight to the dancefloor energy. Wonderfully succinct playing and a ridiculously hooky vocal top matters off perfectly.. Final track Beyla is the perfect way to see the release out. Energetic brass stabs power the track. Couple those with some brilliant looped up percussion and it’s a track which will fit a variety of situations from the more laid back to the peak time. Indeed the percussive break down midway through is worth buying two copies for.

Like a fine wine which matures each year Samosa Records steps into 2020 with a beautifully rounded fuller flavour release in the shape of Funk Purpose Vol. 3. In the same way as its predecessors the label has assembled an impressive team of heavy hitting producers to create an eight track EP which will surely cause serious mischief on dancefloors across the globe. As per Vol. 2 the release will be split into two separate four track 12”s which will be released a week apart.
Introducing the first 12” are Irish producers Get Down Edits. Their track ‘Coming At Ya’ sees a new electronic tinged direction for the label. Still harnessing bags of funk and soul it has a decidedly peak-time edge. This is a track which will perfectly fit for a wide range of rooms from straight up house floors courtesy of the frenetic kick to more adventurous disco floors. A golden start!
Next up and one of a raft of supremely talented Mexican producers who have deservedly broken through recently is Monsieur Van Pratt. His track 'U.F.O.' sounds like a 70’s space odyssey re-imagined for the 2020 dancefloor. Wonderfully laconic, its lazy funk draws you in beautifully.
Souldynamic harnesses a powerful but velvety smooth 70’s diva vocal on ‘Better’. Dripping in soul, its smooth strings add a wonderful warmth. Engaging and fulfilling it’s another peak-time moment.
Closing out the first 12” co-label boss De Gama is on familiar percussive ground. This is a producer who took 2019 by storm and if ‘Groove On’ is anything to go by 2020 had better watch out too. Hypnotic organs, bags of layered percussion and ass shakin’ breakdowns all come together for a track which will be a long-time DJ weapon.
First up on the second 12” is well loved Italian producer Moplen who keeps the percussion going strong with ‘Ain't No Dub About It’. Laser Synths, huge basslines and wonderfully expressive synths all combine with a monster funk guitar for a classic groove. Another 70’s-esque masterpiece as glanced through the sharp focus of the 2020 dancefloor lens.
German duo SoulBrigada are up next. Taking things down a couple of notches BPM wise with ‘Gonna Do’ they have created a lazy engaging groove which will see many a dancefloor off into a heaving mass.
Yet another Mexican Connection who came storming through the ranks in 2019 The Funk District is up next with ‘Anywhere You Like’. It’s got a decidedly Tequila soaked tinge to it. Packed with guitars, flutes and hypnotic vocal loops it’s another beautifully imagined slice of left-field disco.
Finally closing out the EP is Italy's DJ Rocca an artist so prolific in 2019 we were unsure where he managed to sneak a few hours of sleep in. Thankfully he also keeps the quality sky-high and so it is with ‘Da Lion Groove’. This one is a funk fuelled disco groove which is heavy on the brass licks and with enough energy to keep everyone dancing until the sure-fire arrival of Funk Purpose Vol. 4.
With a series this brilliant we can’t wait!

JFR 002 is a Funk the best class, groove and atomic impact bass, horn sections and incredible vocals, a song that makes us faithfully relive the mood of the 70s. On B side takes the Soul direction, in any case another pearl made by Black Fire. Don't miss it.

Occasionally prodigal, but ever-prodigious, Elliot Thomas aka Etbonz weaves an 80-s/early 90's sci-fi cinema sound into a total recall of scattered memories. Childhood play with starcom and Gobots. Soaking in cult classics like Robocop, Predator, and Big Trouble in Little China on VHS. DJing in spacey laser-lit rooms draped with sound-dampening curtains.

New Aussie label, Corella Records, run by producer/DJ Blind Tiger (formerly Captn K) is broadening the repertoire with a second release, a new indie disco 12" single, Forbidden Fruit. Forbidden Fruit - Field of Fruit Mix, is the one to check out. It's an indie dance/nu-disco excursion with driving bass and piano. Reverb slathered vocals from Steve Hensby and dreamy strings make this track an uplifting 8 minute journey. With a touch of early Chicago House in the piano stabs, Georgio Moroder in the rhythm, the drive of Underworld and repetitive elements reminiscent of Field. Forbidden Fruit - Original Mix, is serving up some classic disco with funky synth bass, driving drums and percussion and the full range of vocalist Steve Hensby makes this a great dance floor mover. Forbidden Fruit - Fruit Jam Mix, Blind Tiger delivers party jam vibes. Complete with electro drum machine, party goers and warped electric guitar from Luke Dux. It's a fun, stripped-back remix, that feels like the guys have stumbled on a vintage drum machine and a bunch of instruments at a house party and start cooking up a fruity jam.
A little of something for everyone on this one, check it out.

Tropical Disco plucks out a spellbinding salvo of heaters for Tropical Disco Volume. 7, dished out on suitably heavy wax. Moodeena’s “The Horns” boldly kicks off the record, effortlessly weaving together elements of funk, soul and afro, influenced by a myriad of far-reaching regions. The earworm of a bassline subtly leads the piece, morphing, dipping and then reassembling as the brass resurfaces, creating a tender, palpable sound palette. On the flip “What Da Funk”s playful track title doesn’t reflect its cultivated build, and no doubt lethal functionality on a dancefloor.
Titillating strings are the driving force for Tropical Disco newcomer Sammy Deuce’s input, bringing a burning, high-energy ode to golden-era disco with “Smack My Strings Up”. Hot on the heels of a series of well received releases on labels such as Glasgow Underground, Club Session and Big Love, Sammy deuce offers up a rare guest track on the label that pairs perfectly with a recipe Sartorial and Moodena have refined so successfully.
Sartorial closes the EP with “Little Love”, a carefully plotted symphony and formidable sign off for the release. Hustling a creamy bass and slowly swooning vocal, this audio aphrodisiac will have dancers headed straight to the bedroom…
Tropical Disco’s back-catalogue of quality nu-disco obscurities is building thick and fast, and the latest package is a diamond in a gleaming gold mine.

Poolside began as a recording project in a converted Los Angeles backyard pool house in early 2011, producing sunny tracks of subaquatic indie dance music in this makeshift recording studio. Surfacing first in the form of a YouTube video for the catchy track “Do You Believe?” Poolside were soon gaining local and national attention, with DJs like James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, techno legend Derrick May, and disco don Todd Terje spinning these tracks at events and a growing online following. Throughout 2011 Poolside continued making waves with a sound called “daytime disco” through tracks like their cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” and original tunes. In 2012 Poolside worked on a remix for longtime disco punks The Rapture and held fans over with a new single and video for a song called “Slow Down” as they prepared to release their debut album. That album, Pacific Standard Time, was self-released in July of 2012. After the album’s release, remixes for artists like Matthew Dear, Little Dragon and Fool’s Gold soon followed, as well as rehearsing and touring with a live band and doing DJ sets around the world. As thoughts turned to a second album, Poolside went on ice for a year to regroup, beginning to work in earnest on another album in the Fall of 2016. While still revolving around the sunny, laid-back disco sound of PST, these sessions yielded the additions of up-tempo dance songs and more guitars, and generally more fleshed-out arrangements. Poolside surprise released their second album Heat in 2017. Poolside have over 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and have fans all over the world. They are currently on tour as a live band.

OURRA teams up with ANDRE ESPEUT again to deliver a hot follow up to one of the highest demanded records 2017 "WHERE THERE'S NO LOVE". The combo is proving to be truly stellar as they put a new school twist on Brit funk with a little modern Italo vibe. ANDRE's voice can't be matched. Act fast!

Makin' Moves! Here we present the hot new limited Edition Vinyl EP.

Side A brings you a tantalising remix from Chicago's finest, Mr Glenn Underground! "Let It Go" originally produced by MAQman and Joseph Junior on MM, gets the special treatment where GU gives us his signature CVO mix which is sure to grab the attention of DJ's, dancers and music lovers worldwide!!!

Side B On the flip we present a man of very few words, however expresses an executes the deep soulful sound eloquently. Trinidadian Deep gets busy with championing his signature roots stylee, curated especially for the dance floor sprinkled with a little baby powder!

J Axel and Eva Essa find magical harmony on this new collaboration on the Do It Now Recordings Vinylized label. 'Turned Your Back' is a perfectly heart-melting, life-affirming bit of soul-drenched and intimate deep house with gorgeous vocals and super smooth drums all healing you to your core as the gentle rhythms wash over you time and time again. It's a faultless original but one that is also ripe for remixing and who better than Atjazz who slightly ups the tempo but keeps the deep, wavy rhythmic vibes and adds a little cosmic magic in the synths. A sublime package indeed.

The name “Sally Shapiro” refers to both the Swedish duo, consisting of composer & producer Johan Agebjörn and an anonymous singer, as well as the pseudonym of the singer herself. Both live in Lund, Sweden. Little is known about the person behind Sally Shapiro, whose real name is something else. So far she has been too shy to record a music video or to perform live. When once asked what she does other than singing, she replied: "I dance all nights long on small disco clubs and walk in the moonshine thinking about my love affairs."

Longtime friend of MotorCity Wine and Sydney, Australia based artist Edseven joins MotorCity Wine Recordings for the Burnin Up EP! The release is sexy, sultry, and slinky, blending deep and brukky machine sounds with soulful vocals. The title track “Burnin Up” cranks up the machine-sex-soul vibes with jazzy pads and a brilliant vocal performance from Oliver Night. “Soul Takes Flight” comes up next, with Edseven cranking up the tempo and the broken beats a bit, with another amazing performance from Oliver Night. On the flip the vibes get chilled out a little more with the midtempo groover “If I Let You” featuring Cinta on vocals. Limited picture sleeve 12” pressing manufactured in Detroit, TIP!

Italian DJ and producer Sourires joins the Samosa stable for his debut with an explosive release that will take your breath away!!!

The EP kicks off with the title track, Pampasosa - a furiously groovy number which gets up right in your face from the get-go. Like an unstoppable train, Pampasosa hurtles along at 127bpm with its horns blaring and furnace blazing. De Gama is on the Re-Groove here, expertly applying the bells and whistles to this all powerful locomotive stomper.

A2 brings us ‘Liam’, which sounds like a track very close to Sourires heart. Think of glorious evening sunshine after the rain for this emotionally charged piece of music. The bass has you hypnotised, the strings make you soar and the vocal haunts your dreams. It bares its soul to you and you can’t help but love it for that.

On the B-side, ‘Keep Rolling’ (De Gama Re-Groove) gives no illusions as to what its intentions are. A rolling, bass-driven start builds to filtered vocals and punchy brass - we’re in house territory but it’s so much more than that. A prime-time fist pumper of a tune, this will have dance floors offering their souls to Sourires in exchange for good times.

Finishing off this four tracker is ‘Flavor’ (De Gama Re-Built). At 124bpm, it sneaks past you and taps you on the shoulder. Continuing the house vibe, Sourires brings us a swinging beat accompanied by dreamy vocals and subtle filtered keys. Strings and delicate guitar licks build to a glorious breakdown which reveals itself in full technicolour. Summery, sassy and sexy stuff.

Sourires has deliverdd a modern classic with the Pampasosa EP. This has to be in your record box for the summer - just watch the dance floor go!

First single from Alex Fernet's debut 2023 album entitled, Lucidanotte. Produced at Overdrive Recording Studio with Edoardo "Dodi" Pellizzari Drums by Diego Dal Bon Cp80 by Little Albert Artwork by Riccardo Michelazzo