the drunk

I need to give you a heads up on the new American Standard 12", which is currently available on pre-order; I heard The Drunk's 'Islay Edits' Ep late last year and have been having sleepless nights about it ever since (you know what I'm talking about). The waiting is almost over; this delicious 3 tracker 12" & bonus 7" can be bought directly from the label  here or you could hang on for five minutes and grab it when it hits the stores. One thing is for sure, it's unmissable!

The mysterious Drunk, has been at the top of my hunting list ever since his first release on Freestyle Ltd back in 2003, his track choices are impeccable, more often than not previously unheard (by most of us), and always uncommonly deep. Clearly The Drunk knows a great deal about lesser known Disco gems, in fact I heard he was a specialist in the industry years before Disco found it's way back, but that could just be a rumor. The 'Islay Edits' are possibly the best bunch so far; 'Ardberg' is a really superb Afro tinged, rocking Disco beauty, 'Bowman' is a delicious unearthed, beardy yacht Rock item, 'Lagavulin' takes you on a joyful, midtempo, Cosmic Boogie ride and 'Untitled' (which is on the 7") is pure Rollerskating Disco. You can hear snippets over on Soundcloud or on American Standard's pre-order site. Do me a favour... check this and support it. Oh and keep your eyes peeled for his Press Play mix which is coming up...

paradia

French Keyboardist Roland Bocquet, once a member of Psychedelic Rock band Catharsis, ventured out on his own in the late 70's and produced a number of very appealing albums. I've heard good things about his spacey early 80's long player 'Rose Robot', only I don't own a copy of that and have never actually heard it. His debut album 'Paradia' (1977), however is quiet a beauty; it's an experimental, keyboard heavy (piano, synths etc), superbly arranged, exploration of his fantasy off world paradise. Not everything on the album works, some of the tracks fall into the duller end of the Library Music scene, but there are at least three or four delicious, achingly serene gems to be found. Check out the title track (my favourite) and grab the lp if you come across it while digging...

Roland Bocquet - Paradia

4 wolves on Wolf 4

Wolf Music are getting on with business; following on from their great KRL freebie earlier this month, their first official EP of the year will be hitting stores in two weeks (15th February to be exact). 'Back From The Future' features an all star cast of Cottam, Ilija Rudman, Greymatter and KRL, each handing in a hot new edit not edit. It's difficult not to get excited about these four guys all featuring in one release, the fact that their tracks are top class, seals the deal. Ilija's ' Who's Crying Now' is a schmoov, laid back Disco dreamer with lovely retro synths and a stunning, hook heavy vocal, Cottam hands in a typically muted, sparse and very deep rework of an R'nB item (which I know i know but can't recall at this hour) which has shades of quality T. Parrish about it, and KRL's 'Time' is a superb, late night mover which may cause you to weep with joy, especially after the break. Greymatter's 'Seventh Disco' takes the cake however (well for the minute), with it's explosive cut ups, blinding Techno keys and of course jumping Disco magic... It's not too hard to spot the original being worked over. Check it out below, keep your eyes on your favourite rekid store for it's upcoming release, and also check out their myspace to hear the other three items. Big!

what's the message?

With both Lovefingers & Donnaslut recently closing shop, it seems Blogland is forever changed again. Certainly Bumrocks (also no longer sharing tunes) & Lovefingers were the cornerstones of quality underground music blogs, as well as having gotten there first. I say 'underground' meaning our 'underground', as there must be any number of say 'underground' Metal or death Indie sites around... I simply wouldn't know. These two sites, in particular, had a seemingly endless wealth of forgotten or lesser known gems, they were both seriously educational and greatly entertaining and will probably be much missed. With increasing pressures from record company's and copyright holders, sites like Soundcloud & Spotify providing legal ways of hearing new music, an infinite number of pale photocopy sites, perhaps the impossibility of always having something really excellent to share, or having bigger fish to fry (like running labels and producing their own music), it seems inevitable that these and many others would simply come to an end. I personally bought records because of both of them and discovered many great things in all three mentioned above. Andrew Lovefingers has decided to leave the excellent collection of mixes he's built up over the years, online for awhile yet... I'm optimistic in general, however, and choose to accept that change is good; there are lots of new, quality sites to enjoy, as well as many others who have been around for some years. What's the message?

The Message - Is That The Way

dc reworks 2

Pyramid Disco are back with their second ep of DC La Rue reworks. The A side features a superb refix of his track 'Indiscreet' from The Popular Peoples Front, who it could be said are always on fire. Apparently 'Indiscreet' was a playa on the early US Hip Hop scene, but here you'll find TPPF have worked this into a beautiful Disco delight, a sure fire crowd pleaser without loosing touch with the original's brilliant production. BC expertly handle 'Overture' on the B Side; it's top class 80's, bass heavy Electro flava'd Funk for hip busting moves. You must know BC's incredible 'NY Jump'/'Magnificent Disco' release on Disco Deviance by now (a theme tune whenever I play out), well expect the same quality here, it's dynamite. 'DC Reworks Volume 2' will be in stores soon, it's an essential buy, the way I see it. Check out 'Indescreet' below...

Ambassador's Reception Experiment

It's a strange thing being 'off line' for two weeks, no internet at all... well I don't recommend it, one could go quiet mad. Anyway let's quickly move on then...

Ambassador's Reception celebrate the ever expanding, mixed up, post 'return of Disco', time of the hunter (that's now, in case you thought otherwise) with their new compilation 'Experiment'. It's bloody excellent too; sans agenda, the Reception have sought out 17 lost, mad and perhaps even genius vintage tracks to be committed here, in very limited numbers, to CD (many of the tracks have never made it to this medium before) for this one time only, no represses folks. This 'Experiment' takes in Afro, Disco, Rock, Reggae, Bolly, Fusion and even Ambient, often in weird combination's. This is not strange arty music without pleasure though; as an (un) mix tape, 'Experiment' is an excellent party soundtrack packed with deep head nodders, slept on Disco oddities and grooves of distinction, just not one's anyone will have heard before (a good thing right!). As an 'Experiment' this collection should have the science teacher rushing over to frantically check out what accident caused these silvery, yellow, smoking diamonds to shimmer so. Check out J.T. Connections sun burnt, spandex rock Disco while you hunt down a copy of this essential collection at once...

J.T. Connection - Relationships

Press Play #32: Social Disco Club

You'd have to have been hiding out in a bomb shelter without access to the internet to not have noticed the rise and rise of Social Disco Club over the last few years. 2009 saw Humberto Matias go into overdrive with a bunch of superb tracks and remixes for a range of top labels, he also launched his own called Hands Of Time. From the deep & classic slo mo House of 'The Way You Move' on Bear Funk, to the delirious Disco of 'Sandwich Love' (my favourite from him this year), 'Man of Magic' & 'AcidTown' (a blistering rework of 'Funky Town') on his own label, to his first rate remixes for Tirk, Eskimo Recordings & Strut, Humberto always delivers the very finest in underground club gear. I love that he'll rework something left field, even obscure then put time in refreshing say 'Funky Town'; clearly a man who knows his Disco diggin', Humberto also loves the party.

Press Play #32 is a recording of Humberto's live set at Trintaeum in his home town Porto (Portugal), at the launch of the 'Zevolution' compilation, Strut Records' very fine collection of ZE Records tracks reworked by amongst others The Idjut Boys, Todd Terje, Fat Camp, Greg Wilson, Leo Zero, Richard Sen, Pilooski and of course Social Disco Club. What a night this must have been; it's a fantastic journey through 'pitched down' sounds, House and of course, delicious deep Disco.

Hands Of Time is already an essential stop in, on the Disco high street and SDC's Myspace is a good place to keep up to date on new releases from Humberto, I know of at least one new great item that's out soon. Big thanks go out to Humberto for this magic mix, it's an honour. Now get downloading...

now with track listing:
6th Borough Project - McLovin (Permanent Vacation)
Hot Toddy - I Need Love (Morgan Geist Love Dub) (Eskimo)
Sleazy McQueen - Baby I Just Wanna Love You (Cdr)
Eddie C - Move Me (Cdr)
Situation - Pushin' On (Disco Deviance)
Floating Points - Truly (Eglo)
Rocha - Hands Of Love (International Feel)
Toby Tobias - Macasu (MCDE Loft Party Mix) (Cdr)
Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That (Pop Out & Play's Re-Edit) (Cdr)
Still Going - Untitled Love (Dfa)
The Love Supreme - Sugar (Social Disco Club Remix) (Tirk)
Gary Davis - One Lifetime To Live (Greg Wilson Version) (Tirk)
Johnwaynes - Falling Leaves (Social Disco Club Remix) (Groovement)
Djavan, Deodato & Claudia Acuna - I Had To Be With You (Barna Soudmachine Mix) (Cdr)
Donna Summer - (If It) Hurts Just a Little (Ali's French Edit) (Cdr)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm Corrupt (ZE)
Charanga 76 - No Nos Pararan (TR)
The Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word (Unabombers LoveTouch) (Cdr)
People's Choice - Do It Anyway You Wanna (Keep Schtum Rework) (Keep Schtum)
The Shake Up Connection - Shake Up Theme (Amplified)
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (Masters At Work Re-Edit) (West End)
Teddy Pendergrass - You Can't Hide From Yourself (Ooft Edit) (Cdr)
Lindstrom & Solale - Baby Can't Stop (Idjut Boys Remix) (Smalltown Supersound)
Mighty Mouse - Song For Ellen (Mindless Boogie)
The Third Degree - Mercy (Greg Wilson Edit) (Tirk)
Gichy Dan Beachwood #9 - Cowboys & Gangsters (Social Disco Club Edit) (ZE / Srut)
M - Pop Muzik (Todd Terje Remix) (Echo Beach)
Kasso - Walkman (Delirium)
Social Disco Club - Acidtown (Hands Of Time)

Press Play #32 - Social Disco Club - Live @ Trintaeum

KRL

One way to start the year would be with a Bang! Let's go that route then... KRL and the very fine Wolf Music Recordings (still a wolfling mind, and already with such big teeth) put out some of last years loveliest tracks; the brilliant 'Recession Beats' and 'Remember Donny' on Wolf's first EP and also 'I Wanna Be With You' on that Revenge and Eddie C featuring 'I Wanna See All My Friends At Once' EP (if you don't know 'em by now check here to listen). We managed to get some information out of the mysterious one (read here), though nothing incriminating and certainly no clue as to who KRL might be. Edit headz in general are quiet a mysterious bunch, for obvious reasons, but it only really matters when their tracks hint (or shout) at deeper talents. KRL tracks are pretty special, they're kind of hybrids of Hip Hop, Disco and House more than they are 'edits', and work wonders on dance floors. So it's my absolute pleasure to be able to hand over to you, the first in a series of free edits by the man; this is quality gear for dj's and underground music lovers, it's also being made available in Wav format - double score!

Keep your eyes open for his upcoming EP on Wolf (out in Spring - your Spring that is) and don't even hesitate in grabbing this delicious Disco bomb. Thanks go out to Matt & KRL for this lil burner!


KRL - Say You Will (Eddie Henderson)

high tide

You've come a long way baby! Welcome to the 2010's. I've got some really groovy things lined up for lovers of this site in upcoming months, as well as the usual crate finds, new releases and mixes of distinction. In fact I heard today, for sure, that we'll be getting a mix from one of the edit scene's finest, a man who seems to have all the records we keep hunting for and then some. I've also hooked up with a bunch of exciting labels to keep you plugged into current sounds and there are also a couple of new interviews for your reading and learning pleasure.

Tonight, however, I wanted to give you a heads up on a mix that's been doing the rounds on the net, from Moonboots (he the master of all things deeply Balearic). The mix is called 'Seasons Come, Seasons Go', it's been available for a month or so, but more recently got re-upped at a higher bit rate, cos it's so damn special. You really need it.

One of the tracks on the Moonboots mix is by Batteaux, it's the single 'Tell Her She's Lovely' by the brothers Batteau, which was also sampled by Ghostface Killah on one of his tracks. It is a confusing train of thought which attempts to work out why they weren't better known; their 1973 eponymous album fits with ease next to your best CSN records, with it's shimmering MOR atmosphere, beautifully penned tracks and vocal washes. Check out 'High Tide', one of several seriously fine beauties from this fairly hard to find gem... happy hunting!

Batteaux - High Tide

friends

Well I don't know about you, but that was the year that wasn't (though oddly it was also the year of some great achievements), and I'll be trying to find an appropriate way to give it the boot, tomorrow evening around midnight. Thanks again to all you regulars, you keep this place alive and keep supporting the underground. Here's wishing you all the best for 2010, may your most left field ideas now pay off.

I been blasting this anti drugs, Jazzy, Funk, Latin beauty all afternoon. Family Affair had a number of singles during their short life together, 'I Had a Friend' was a b-side, it got 'spotted' by Florian Keller on one of his 'Creative Musicians' comp's back in '05. Keep your friends close...

Family Affair - I Had a Friend

Lightspeed Recordings

With the vinyl market shrinking (and growing in other obscure places) daily, many labels and artists are obviously sticking to digital only releases. I still struggle with the idea of 'owning' an mp3 or wav, but this year I finally got off of my 'strictly vinyl' in clubs point of view. I'm not at the 'going laptop' stage and am not likely to ever get there either (can check email at home), but playing out good quality wav's off CD seems fine, if not for the ability to tap into the vast (read as infinite) world of digital only releases, edits etc. 

LightSpeed Recordings have in the last year, put out 3 digital releases with tracks from Late Nite Tuff Guy, DJ Agent '86 and more recently Bodie Lee, all of which are worth a look in. Bodie Lee's 'Go Chic Lightening' EP is the one I keep coming back to when looking to drop something that's great fun, a little bit Euro Disco, well cheeky and a guaranteed floor rocker. There are remixes from Faze Action, Rudy's Midnight Machine (my favourite) & Ajello on it, plus the three original's from Bodie. Pulsating, wobbly, hypnotic, tasty Disco party tunes.. check 'em out here (if you havent already) and grab the one they gave us below...


Bodie Lee - Monaco (Dj Agent 86's Disco Bomb Edit)

kumbayero mikz

Where would we be without Soundcloud? We'll for starters we'd be back in that place where blogs were the main internet source for underground sounds. Not so anymore, and in some ways that's a very good thing. Soundcloud gives you direct access to artists and an almost infinite number of mixes, tracks, edits 'n remixes in every genre... much of it can be downloaded too. anyway blah blah Soundcloud... I seem to live on there.

It's via the above mentioned treasure trove that Berliner Johannes Budweg send me his 'Kumbayero Mikz' and it's a very fine thing too. Johannes is a club promoter for 'In Love With', he's worked with some great dj's like Cosmo Vitelli, DJKaos & Prince Language amongst others, he also contributed to the Macaroni Club Berlin blog for a bit, you can also find out about his own productions as Tdaance here. Go grab the mix here.

cycles

Wolfgang Bock's 'Cycles' LP on Telefunken is a sought after Cosmic Space Disco album, it's not that hard to find or even that expensive (well it's not cheap), but it is pretty extraordinary. His tracks build layer upon layer of detailed, trippy electronica. The title track, an epic and beautiful exercise in spirals of sound, is perhaps the deepest of the set and works wonders as a soundtrack to watching the blistering sun move across the sky on a Sunday afternoon or slo motion footage of volcanoes erupting...

Wolfgang Bock - Cycles

a touch of soul

Quiet recently I posted a Chime edit which was done by Adrian Touchsoul; he's one prolific chap, sometimes putting several new edits up on his Soundcloud page a week, all of which are available for download, many of which are seriously fine. He has many followers there and I've even heard a track of his played by Red Rack'em on his radio show recently, not the only dj to be making use of his work then. Below you'll find Adrian's response to a bunch of questions I asked him and a lovely download of my favourite rework of his. The man's got it going on...

EDITS: I got into doing my takes on tracks..edits, reworks etc when really becoming more aware of how you can utilise part of some dusty/forgotten but decent compostitons and stretch elements out to make them work a litlle better on a dancefloor. Especially when you have some great work coming from the likes of The Revenge, 6th Borough Project, Super Value, Mark E to name a few, who's stuff has been a big influence over the last couple of years, especially in what I play...

But as far as influences go...Prince, EWF, Shakatak, Patrice Rushen, Recloose, Ian Dury, Marcus Miller, Chic...so many to mention...

WHY EDIT?: The tracks I may have turned my fingers onto of late are one's that I obviously love. Some may have that vocal element that turns you off from the rest of the groove or maybe there just is'nt enough of that part/breakdown/lick. And in bereft of maybe a decent 12" version, that's when I may give a track rework. Mainly just to see what dancefloor reaction I get when it's played out.

TOUCHSOUL: Myself and DJ cohort Gary Pescod have been playing and putting on our own events for the last 5 or 6 years now. Inviting decent local talent alongside us too. Keeping the floor filled with a good deep house, disco vibe. Also throwing soul, boogie, funk flavours into it. Trying anything decent really, we have a good following and have been branching out with friends in Newcastle too, namely One20 who just welcomed Craig Smith of 6th Borough Project for a corker party. Other than that I keep my blog running which helps us branch the groove out so to speak.

NOW : At the minute, people can catch TOUCHSOUL doing the first Sat night of the month at Joseph's Bar in Sunderland, plus at various events round Norteast England.. and will be hopefully very soon turning my hand at some of my own tracks...

Tom Browne - Charisma (Touchsoul Re-Rub)

trippin' on luna 7

Back in 2004, Licorice Soul Records re-issued a record from 101 Strings called 'Astro Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000' (like me, originally released in 1968). I grabbed the lp mainly out of curiosity and also because Licorice Soul had released a number of pretty great items. For awhile, in the early 90's there were a number of compilations around that would have been filed under 'Space Age Lounge & Cocktail' or something similar, 'Astro Sounds..' would fit well amongst them, though it would be one the finer. These comps fleeting value lay in just how kitsch the tracks might be, unless, like many a disco aficionado, the enjoyment is or was free of irony. But everything was 'Ironic' in the early 90's. Re-listening to it now reveals great grooves and stellar performances. 

101 Strings have made an awful lot of music, a lot of which sounds pretty awful to these ears, though I understand their standards are exacting in a way. The fact that their music was a reflection of the times (1957 - +/-1981), commissioned to sound like contemporary hits, many of the tracks I've heard don't seem to be much more than naf Classical Pop. So 'Astro Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000' is something of an anomaly ? Or perhaps at some point Psyche Space Rock was the sound of now... apparently in '68 it may have been, especially on 'Trippin' on Luna 7'. It's still kitsch mind.

101 Strings - Trippin' On Luna 7

ophis le serpentaire

Vincent Geminiani is probably best known for his track 'Ophis Le Serpentaire', it's the one that comes up most often on play lists and compilations. It is an amazing deep and lush beauty created by this master percussionist and composer for his amazing 1970 album 'Modern Pop Percussion' (the album was also released as 'Musique Pour Un Voyage' a few years later). Jazzland re-released this not too long ago on CD &; 7" for those who really need it.. 'Ophis' remains a timeless wonder...

Vincent Geminiani - Ophis Le Serpentaire

Domu done and dusted pt 3.

As I agreed to sharing only a few, here is the last in the series of edits done by Dominic Stanton, the now ex Domu. I'm very pleased to have had this opportunity to listen in on a bunch of tracks which have clearly played some part in his musical history, both as a dj and as a producer and also to document my love for his sound in these pages. Anyway here's 'Bebop Medley' a Jazztastic Disco workout which I reckon could be great on a big system with a loose, free thinkin' crowd... so that's that then, hope u enjoyed them as much as I...

Press play #31: Cosmic Boogie

31 already ey? Not bad. Liverpool based, Stu Robinson aka Cosmic Boogie drops in with a brilliant Disco mix for the Disco Deviance label and a.n.o.e.'s Press Play series ( "3 underground 'brand not brand's come together in Disco frenzy" the headlines might read). But wait did I say '31', that's about 10 Press Play's a year. Maybe not quiet as many as I'd thought, but then quality doesn't hurry itself, does it?

Stu runs the very classy Cosmic Boogie website/blog, he also dj's under the name, produces under the name, has his own fantastic label also called Cosmic Boogie and just recently put out a set of lovely edits on label of distinction, Disco Deviance.With tracks from Ashley Beedle, Ian Dewhirst, Greg Wilson and himself, Robinson has in a very short time (a year) created a label which is high on the scene's watch list. It's no small feat in these strange times, but like anyone who cares enough, he's working every angle and he does it with his eye always on quality. It's no surprise then that Disco Deviance stepped up and put out 'Feels Good' & "Heads' for their 11th release; 'Heads' is that really excellent rework of 'Slippery People' which had an internet following way before it's much needed vinyl release and 'Feels Good' is that big tent mash up of Electra's 'Feel Good' and Candi Staton's 'You Got The Love', that you been hearing all over for the last six months. The usual good suspects have been all over this release, but just in case you haven't heard em yet, check here. 

Once again I'm well chuffed to be able to bring you this very fine mix and have it added to the ongoing story of Press Play. Stu tells me that he's got a solid bunch of releases lined up for the year ahead, so keep an eye out for those. In the meantime grab this top mix below or on the sidebar...

Press Play #31: Cosmic Boogie - Disco Deviance

Tracklist:
Geraldine Hunt / Heart Heart (Instrumental)
Gaz Nevada / Special Agent Man (Female Version)
Hooked (Neil Scott Edit)
Linkwood / Falling
LCD Soundsystem / 45:33 (Trus’Me Remix)
Eddie C / One With The Stars
Suzy Q / Get On Up And Do It Again
Linda Taylor / You and Me Just Started (Instrumental)
Loose Change / Straight From The Heart
Heads (Cosmic Boogie Edit)
Phantom Slasher / Lasagne For 10
Life / Your All Played Out
Debbie Jacobs / What Goes Up (Cosmic Boogie Edit)
Feels Good (You Got The Love) (Cosmic Boogie Edit)
Solid State / Philly Track
Rythm Makers / Soul On Your Side

Rune Lindbæk Mix (new)

I still have loads of new releases to get through, a few more dusty crate finds, and a handful of some very fine mixes. In fact it's all about the mixes this month, what with a couple of new Press Play's and a new and beautiful Balearic mix series from Pavel Plastikk (yes part one is finally here). But before we get there, I just wanted to give you a heads up on Rune Linbæk's new mix. "Rune Lindbæk Nomaden (Oslo) mix - tribute to the world's best underground disco joint!" for that is it's name, is essential... get it below...
note: the file is now permanently available here.
(since the original feed ran out)

Rune Lindbæk Nomaden (Oslo) mix 
- tribute to the world's best underground disco joint!

Soirée

Soirée's debut album just landed in stores all over, it's one of a few releases I've been holding out to hear for awhile now, mainly because their EP released back in May is one of Bearfunk's '09 highlights. Soirée are Steve Kotey and Max Essa, the two biggest bears at Bearfunk, their collective contributions to the revival and continuation of the broader Disco scene is much much more than merely respectable. I say broader Disco because really their tunes cross through leftfield House, Disco, Balearic, Jazz and Cosmo territories and here on the album you'll find them ever more increasingly mixed up. Max is also singing, his voice features on at least two of my favourite items on the album; the previously released and genius 'Zim Zim Zar Zar (Take Me To The River)' and the equally fantastic 'Synth Inside Her', both are marvelous oddball Euro Disco tracks, both have classic written all over them.

Nothing on 'Soirée' is a pastiche, Steve and Max bring their extensive knowledge about music's past into play with genuine love, not irony, through inspiration, not by copying. 'Pegasus Fly's Over The Red Moon' is beautiful, mellow, a bit Jazzy, a bit dubby. Also on a slo mo trip 'Overgroomed' takes a dubbed out jungle journey with Mick Karn'ish bass moves, cowbells and raw rhythms. 'Seven Sins From Heaven' heads west and finds moisture in the desert. 'More Steam Hercule' further mines Soirée's love of the dub, with Bluesy beardy Rock overtones, spaced out keys and a thick hypnotizing laid back beat. 'Soirée Theme' wraps it all up in uplifting, mid tempo, smooth, Jazz Funk which sounds like it could have come off a Lee Ritenour album - perfect to roll the credits over, credits which include Robin Lee (from Faze Action) on engineering duties and Dave Barbarossa (from Bow Wow Wow) drumming on a few tracks. 'Soirée' is an essential buy.

Soirée - Synth Inside Her

10

Since it's December and the year is almost out, I'm trying to half address the issue of 'great tracks that did not get enough attention in 2009' (see the below post on Atsushi Yano). So... A little while back I mentioned Cuebism had a new track on NY based Junior4 Records, the edit had been previously heard on his Press Play mix and had finally seen the light of day in the form of hot wax! It's an excellent Disco workout called 'Disco 2000' that'll have you sounding like Larry Levan when you drop it, it does not get better than this. But that is not the main reason for this post; Matador (Jr4's label boss) includes two excellent edits of his own on this 'Sub Edits' release; a fazed out take of 'Welcome To The Club' (which goes down a treat on the dance floor) and the curious and instantly classic '10'. '10' is a superb mid tempo 'Jackie Brown' styled Soul Funk bomb. Matador tells me the original is by Paris Holley, found on a rare 7" from 1973 which is produced and arranged by Paris. Matador has done a lovely job with it, plus he's allowed me to hand an mp3 of it over to you. Before you grab that, do me a favour and go check out his 12"s (yes there are two) here and visit the official site too. Keep your eyes on this guy and support him if you feelin' the music. Thanks Matt for the track, keep on keepin' on.

10 (Matador Edit)

do i do

Before I continue with the new stuff (there's quiet a bit to get through), I wanted to do a lil' crate digging post to balance things out...


I first heard this track on a Loud-E mix some years back and it's been on my want list since the moment I found out what it was. Maurice McGee's 'Do I Do' is a delicious proto House/ Italo Disco track with warm pads and cheesy Euro vocals (with xtra vocoder on top), it came out on Full Time Records in 1983. 'Do I Do' was fairly successful for Maurice, but after a further two 12"s he seemed to disappear from the record industry all together (a few obscure you tube videos suggest he's making a come back). The 'Instrumental' B side has some excellent Balearic bits added into the mix, but it could do with an edit as it becomes a bit repetitive. Check out the classic original... Good good Fun!

Maurice McGee - Do I Do

Sgt Lovebody gathers more troops

Sgt Lovebody returns with another two download-able edits on Juno Download; unleashed only days ago, these new cuts are part of a secret and ongoing military maneuver designed to keep the party rocking (or something along those lines). Back in the real world you know this guy, he's responsible for some serious party grooves, grooves you love. If I told you his identity, however, I'd have to decommission you. Check out the Sergeant's cool cut of a Sharon Redd bomb below; I love the original and really dig his upgrade much. Plus if you follow the links you can also check out 'Freewheeling', a brilliant slice of soul soaring Punk Funk'ness that I'll be hammering for sure.

some blogspot changes are messing with my layout, will get it sorted...

New York City Jacks

Redux have recently had their look updated and they continue to release some of the finest club tracks of recent years. NY's Drrrtyhaze are the latest to feature, with an old school Electro jam called 'New York City Jacks'; I've been playing it and the brilliant Popular Peoples Front Remix out a lot lately and can report they work wonders on up for it dancers. The original is mean and clean, does what it says on the tin and revives a tough, warehouse filled, edgy New York of the early 80's. The Popular Peoples Front Remix is something else altogether (allowing you to play both versions in the same set if you like), it's very underground, actually it's pretty hard to describe, so you get a download below, it's a monster. On the flip side is another new track from the Haze; 'Make My Body Hot' is a lovely Funk Disco House Jam with very tasty Herb Alpert'esque trumpets and a chorus of sexy girl vocals, not unlike a Crazy P track with an NY edge. Check the stores for this (start here maybe) and keep supporting Redux. If you're a fan, or dig the sound, you can also grab a top class mix from Drrtyhaze done for Redux, right here.

>Drrtyhaze - New York City Jacks (Popular Peoples Front Remix)

safari room

Somewhere between Altz and Rondenion, you'll find Atsushi Yano, a Japanese producer who favours Afro & Jazz source material over the more Disco friendly stuff produced by the aforementioned references. Similarly, however, he has that minor keys and loop love, Moodyman feel of Rondenion's work along with some of Altz's quirk. There is practically no information to be found about this guy on the internet, except for some mentions of his fantastic 'Polyrhythm' EP on Nang Records (sister label to Tirk), which has been out since August. It seems to me that this release never got as much attention as it perhaps should have; the four tracks are deliciously left field, but they also jack like old school ny house bombs. I suspect you'll find these work well as secret weapons, since more mainstream dj's will have quickly passed over them. Hunt it down and in the meantime check out 'Room Safari' from the EP below... lots coming up this week, so check back..

Atsushi Yano - Room Safari

Domu done and dusted pt2.

I've been pulling Domu vinyl when I see 'em on the shelves just lately, revisiting his tracks since the recent news of his quitting the scene. While there are loads of items he's worked on that I love to bits, a possible list of his best or my favourites would have to include 'The Boss' from his brilliant Discotech EP, his remix of 12th Floor's 'Get Down' on Raw Fusion, 'Worldwide' on Loungin' Recordings, His remix of Simon Grey's 'Galactic Suite' on Papa and his Disco Dub of 'Somethin' Better' from Maddslinky amongst others. This stuff is going to circulate for years probably, inevitably though, some of his material will fall off the radar and be charged with time spend collecting dust, hopefully to be rediscovered later down the line. That said, the nature of crate digging is changing, so I can't say how that will work. So here is another of his recent edit's for listening purposes; a sweet future boogie blowout with gospel overtones, simply called 'Love Vibe'. Anyone know the original? Killer!

ancient astronauts

Quiet recently, I posted a link to a Kool DJ Dust mix which I thought pretty good, but failed to mention that he also has a new single out on FEED Records. 'Ancient Astronauts' is a superb and very authentic sounding Cosmo Space Disco mid tempo groover, without ever bubbling over, this low pitched evolving beauty has crept right into a very short list of current favourites. The EP also contains mixes from the intriguing Name In Lights and Erik Wikstrom (of Jackpot fame) and a second track called 'Human Beings' (all very fine). Sadly I can't give you the track, so it's one of those 'listen only' items (you dont mind these do you?), but if you head on over to the FEED Records site, you'll find their first release (from Wikstrom) is now available for free and there is a bloody excellent mix from Name In Lights called 'Land of Dreams'... check it and check out Dust's very lovely 'Ancient Astronuats' below...