Emotional Rescue takes another trip into the twisted world of post-punk dubs, electronics and oddities here at the hands of DJ, collector and radio host Gary The Tall. The original comes from German duo and new wave innovators Die Radierer whose pop-reggae jam 'Batman' is irresistibly catchy with its low-slung beats and lazy, sun-kissed melodies. It appeared on 1983's In Hollywood and was recorded at their home studio on a Tascam 4-track cassette recorder. Gary The Tall's remix finds him teaming up with Aaron Coyles under his new alias of Exotic Gardens and the results are loopy and dubbed out to perfection.

TRACK LISTING

Batman
Batman (Gary The Tall V Exotic Gardens Reversion)

Emotional Rescue continues its love affair with Glen Ricks here by reissuing his solo debut release. 'Keep On Dancing' is a cult and hugely coveted cut that fuses disco and reggae in some style. Ricks had a first successful musical career in The Fabulous Flames then moved between Canada and Jamaica and eventually got stuck into music in earnest again in the Caribbean. He wrote this one with writer and producer Chris Stanley and it came out first on 7" in 1981, then on 12" a year later. It has a superbly soulful vocal and a groove full of subtle bump that is sure to bring joy to any dancefloor. Idjut Boys' Dan Tyler also adds his own spin under his NAD alias for a more heavy and dub-laden take.

TRACK LISTING

Keep On Dancing
Keep On Dancing (NAD Discomix)
Keep On Dancing (NAD Discodub)

Anyone who has followed Emotional Rescue knows it has always done a fine job of documenting punk and dub's early years, not least by showcasing the previously unheralded work of Skinbat Scramble. Now they back that up once more with a new compilation that puts together a selection of the band's previously unreleased recordings. It is a superb trip through a number of decades and finds core members Mark Eason and Fergus Crockford distilling slow tempos, experimental sounds, dub, and much more into leftfield rhythms for body and mind.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Submit
2. Submit (Dub)

Side 2
1. North By Northwest
2. North By Dub

Side 3
1. Skidaddle
2. Skidaddle (Daddy)

Side 4
1. Basement Voltaire
2. Pixie Boot (Dub)

The always hard working Emotional Rescue now unveils the electronic disco project Exo Fender, helmed by esteemed New York producer Eric Calvi and featuring the legendary Steve D'Acquisto. The remastered songs 'Big Mood' and 'Music In My Mind' span two new EPs, with updated edited versions by NYC producer Justin Van Der Volgen. Calvi's journey from Paris to New York's music scene in the 1980s when he engineered hits for artists like Cameo and Africa Bambaataa, and laid the groundwork for Exo Fender. Inspired by clubbing friendships, the project's infectious grooves and tongue-in-cheek nature gained club play and collector's acclaim, with Van Der Volgen's remix enhancing their timeless appeal for today's dancefloors.

TRACK LISTING

Big Mood
Big Mood (Justin Van Der Volgen Edit)

This is the second of two releases from Emotional Rescue that looks to the music of Eric Calvi who headed up the collective Exo Fender, a project that brought together a bunch of friends, producers, and studio amigos. This one is a live boogie jam with Brooklyn DJ and producer Steve D'Aquisto. He was a regal at The Loft and a friend of Arthur Russell so all that bears out in the music - a loose-limbed disco groove with languid percussion and big vocals. A Justin Van Der Volgen edit rounds out the 12".

TRACK LISTING

Music In My Mind
Music In My Mind (Justin Van Der Volgen Edit)

Back in 2019, Emotional Rescue began a series where it licensed some all-time favourites, remastered them and pressed them up with new remixes by modern producers. It now draws to a close after many fine instalments with early 80s band The Impossible Dreamers. Their cult 'Spin' arrives here with an epic nine-minute extended reversion that is heavy on the dub and percussion and also an even more dubcentric reprise from regular label artist Dan Tyler of Idjut Boys and Noid fame, her under his NAD guise. There is plenty of raw and raucous rhythm to this 12" that will enliven any dancefloor and round out this series in style.

TRACK LISTING

Spin
Spin (NAD Reversion)
Spin (NAD Riddim Reprise)

South African Warrick Sony is a ground breaking composer who was behind the Kalahari Surfers project which now gets a vital spotlight courtesy of Emotional Rescue. This compilation shows how effortlessly eclectic his sound was - from jive rhythms to jazz, tabla to political speeches and much more in between. A Hindu pacifist who was once conscripted into the South African Defense Force, he founded this group as a way out getting his ides out there, calling on other musicians as and when he needed them. It was the first radical white anti-apartheid pop in South Africa and as this vital collection shows it explored polyrhythms, slow motorik, dub sound collage and even a goofy cover of Nancy Sinatra.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. "Free State Fence"
2. "Crossed Cheques"
3. "Running Out Of Time"
4. "Beat About The Bush"
5. "Ten Dirty Fingers"
6. "Hillbrow 2"

Side 2
1. "Don't Dance"
2. "Beatle Love Song"
3. "I Wonder Why"
4. "Song For Magnus"
5. "Messer Im Kopf"
6. "Telephone"
7. "Perpetual Emotion"

Emotional Rescue's vital Konduko reissue series sadly comes to an end here with a look at the label's final years. In those days it moved away from reggae, disco and boogie towards an enduring electro sound that had a vast and lasting impact on the Miami scene. The biggest tune from that time was when Noel Williams linked with local songwriter Lawrence Dermer aka Der Mer for the track reissued here. 'Fall Out' soon became a hit with its driving electro-funk rhythms. The original sits next to the later Fresh '86" mix as well as a NAD disco mix from Dan Tyler, best known as one of the Idjut Boys. It's an irresistible package of body-popping electro with hooks for days.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: The seemingly endless excavation of King Sporty by Emotional Rescue continues in earnest with "Fall Out" from 1986 nicely bolstered with a remix from Dan Idjuts under his NAD alias.

TRACK LISTING

"Fall Out"
"Fall Out" (Fresh '86)
"Fall Out" (NAD Discomix)

The last of the Konduko series from Emotional Rescue arrives now and quite possibly it is the best of the lot from Noel Williams. His 'Fantasy' saw him work with Larry Dermer aka Der Mer on what is an effective and catchy electro jam that operates at the higher end of the tempo chart with some classic vocoder vocal action to really make it pop. Despite being released originally in 1984 this one still bangs with its emulated TR-808 beats and nagging melodies. The instrumental heightens that and then the Jonny Rock Discomix shuts down with long-form rework that shows why the DJ, editor and all-round amiable bloke is so well regarded.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Just when you thought Emotional Rescue had mined all the King Sporty gold they go an unearth a fresh seam! Jonny Rock's on hand to add to its karat, very nice!

TRACK LISTING

Fantasy
Fantasy (Instrumental)
Fantasy (Jonny Rock Discomix)

Betty & The Code Red is a life and creative partnership between Benin-born Tunde Obazee and his girlfriend Betty. The pair grew up in Nigeria and would play all manner of instruments to entertain people at the local school before staying together as they went on to live in Italy and the US. Obazee performed at colleges and universities despite no formal training and eventually recorded a selection of tunes together including a small album on relatively new bits of gear like the Yamaha RX7. Emotional Rescue has collated some of their best work across two new EPs, this being one of them.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: I didn't need much convincing on this one! Funky world exotica driven by the RX7 and other similar pieces of classic hardware. Oozing soul and good vibes throughout, shut the curtains, get this on the deck and drift off into your own paradise.

TRACK LISTING

Akure
Is Wrong (Apartheid)
Cry Africa
Hard Working

There is always a good backstory to the music that Emotional Rescue releases and this EP is a case in point. It comes from Betty & The Code Red and Betty was the girlfriend of Tunde Obazee, a Nigerian-born artist who used music as a "non-violent tool to express his socio-political opinions on global injustice." The pair would entertain people on campus by playing anything they could get their hands on, informed by the old Edo folk songs they had grown up around. They went on to live in Italy and the US and start a family as well as lay down self-released songs that have become cult classics. A selection of them feature on this, the first of two EPs from the pair.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Second outing for this outfit this week. The story (above) is great isn't it? Love a good story me. Thankfully the music also delivers. Three sultry slices of electronic soul with a cheesy group hug on "Memories" to finish.

TRACK LISTING

Wishful Thinking
Na Wahala
Na My Life Be Dis
Memories

Group Du Jour was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1983 and have had a storied career spanning the decades since. They have always brought together live, ethnic, and electronic sounds with folk and modern pop, later getting ever more experimental. Early albums Forgotten Colors in 1986 and Wonderful Vision in 1988 are groundbreaking affairs, the latter of which gave rise to 'Motion Of Waves', which is something of a cult favourite for deep diggers. It is a rich instrumental groove that layers up synthesiser, flute, guitar and haunting vocals sitting over a brilliantly electric beat. The whole thing was a live one-take recording and is perfectly suited to both sunset and sunup moments of dancing pleasure.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Absolutely beautiful record by one of my favourite reissue labels, I especially love the percussion on this. Emotional Rescue always dig out the best stuff!

TRACK LISTING

"Motion Of Waves"
"Motion Of Waves" (Cassette Mix)
"We Travel Dark Waters"

The Emotional Rescue label has done a superb job of shining a light on the British post punk scene over the last decade or so. It now does so once more in fantastic fashion with a compilation of tunes from Bristol's short lived but much loved Recreational Records. The 10 tunes have been remastered and recut and they all sound as good now as ever. Highlights include X-Certs - 'Untogether' and Electric Guitar's 'Don't Wake The Baby' which sum up the collection perfect with their jangling dub rhythms, heavily treated vocals and oodles of delay all twisting your melon. This releases was included in Bandcamp's Essential Releases 2022.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Brilliant comp shining the spotlight on a lesser known Bristol label: Recreational Records. If you dug that "Spikey Dread" comp from way back in 2013, this one's for you!

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
Scream + Dance - In Rhythm (12" Mix)
Talisman - Wicked Dem (12" Mix)

Side 2
Animal Magic - Get It Right
X-Certs - Untogether
Electric Guitairs - Don't Wake The Baby

Side 3
Talisman - Run Come Girl (12" Mix)
Scream + Dance - Giacometti (Wicked Mix)

Side 4
Ivory Coasters - Mungaka Makossa
Animal Magic - Trash The Blad
Scream + Dance - In Pink & Black

Emotional Rescue turn their attention to Rare Silk and their sublime cult classic "Storm". It's one of those rare tracks with a wonderful otherworldly quality that manages to be smooth and accessible, and somehow not like anything you've ever heard before. It must be somewhere in the mix, between the dreamy harmonized vocals, lush instrumentation and curious sense of space. The original on the A side is a treat enough, but then throw in a mercurial dubbed out version by Arp on the flip and you've got yourself a 10 inch portal to a most delightful dimension.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Much sought after repress of this delightful tune from 1985. A bit new age, a bit balearic, and well jazz-y this could be one of your new favourite Sunday afternoon listens. Looks pretty cool too...

TRACK LISTING

Storm
Storm (Arp Duppy Chip Mix)

King Sporty is something of a chameleonic artists, not that many people know. He started out int he 70s making reggae and soul 7"s, then moved into disco, boogie, hip-hop and electro 12"s during the 80s, and then when house music hit in the 90s he evolved once more. This new drop from Emotional Rescue takes a tune from that late era. 'Computer Music' is four to the floor with electro influences and a lazy break that pull you in deep. Far-sighted chords bring a serene sense of cosmic majesty while a filtered vocal adds space age vibes. A dub is included as well as the Universal Cave Discomix by the Philadelphia DJ and production crew. A retro-future EP indeed

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: King Sporty did an amazing job of traversing disco, hip-hop, house, electro and cosmic camps. "Computer Age" definitely lands in the electro category, but retains all the soul and human touches that would become familiar with this pivotal producer.

TRACK LISTING

Computer Age (Club Mix)
Computer Age (Dub Mix)
Computer Age (Universal Cave Discomix)

As one of the finest and most stylishly eclectic labels out there, you never know where Emotional Rescue will go next. This time out they head into a world of Afro-cosmic, a scene initially pioneered by early and groundbreaking Italian DJ Danielle Baldelli. Boyake's 1990 gem 'Ethno Groove' stands out as a classic of the genre and joins the dots between the early house and techno sounds that were sweeping Italy with new age ideals, Afro drums and chunky tribal percussion next to Balearic synths. It features syncopated analogue beats and live percussion and as well as the original, this 12" features two of the further mixes that came in 1994. All are heady, head-turning and mind-melting pumpers.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: A proper Baldelli-endorsed thumper from a surprisingly later period than the cosmic hayday. This feels like it was pulled straight from those original Cosmic Club mixtapes, but actually came some 7 years later.

TRACK LISTING

Ethno Groove
Ethno Groove (New Age To Bokaye Mix)
Ethno Groove (Double Beat Explosion Mix)
Ethno Groove (Tribal Mix)

Noted reggae vocalist Barry Biggs comes under the Emotional Rescue microscope here with celebrated LA digger Patrick Billard aka DJ Duckcomb remixing one of his cuts. First up is the original version of 'Illusion' which has big pianos over the clean digital dub. The soaring vocal is obscured by plenty of lush effects and melodies. After a version twists and contorts the original, the DJ Duckcomb Discomix slows things down and ups the dazzling disco vibes but keeps the dub dubby bottom end to ensure plenty of dance floor impact. This is a classy one as ever from this label.

TRACK LISTING

Illusion
Illusion (Version)
Illusion (DJ Duckcomb Discomix)

Here comes Emotional Rescue and Konduko's last in their series of Noel Williams/King Sporty reissues, this time looking at later electro productions and the hip-hop/boogie influenced 'Sun Country'. Vocals and co-production come from Williams' long-time partner Betty Wright and as well as a vocal and instrumental mix there's a longform remix by Bay Area disco dub stalwarts, 40 Thieves.

By this point in his career, the godfather of Miami Bass had travelled a long way from his Jamaican roots in reggae and soul, paying homage to the warm climbs of the Sunshine State and laying down a much copied template using the TR-808 drum machine create the electronic emulations of the breakbeat, claps accenting the backbeat and trademark low frequencies shaking the floorboards. The instrumental stretches the arrangement, emphasising the interplay between electronics, bass, vocal samples, scratching and fx, the voice transformed into a percussive element in its own right. The flip sees 40 Thieves flexing their understated understanding of electro funk, making for a rounded, generation-jumping package.

TRACK LISTING

Sun Country
Sun Country (Instrumental)
Sun Country (40 Thieves Disco Mix)

Emotional Rescue looks to the newly rebuilt but still very much culturally separate East and West Germany of the 1980s with this new EP. It's dub reggae through a post-punk and alternative lens by Hanover artists Felix Holter aka Dubvisionist. All these cuts have a very live, improvised feel because father way he worked from rhythms first and jammed endlessly before adding the vocals. They are taken from their 1987 release 10 Tracks Of Reggae & Dub Music which was inspired by the great Adrian Sherwood label On-U Sound label, and you can hear that clearly.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. "Far Away"
2. "Different Language"
3. "Whirl"

Side 2
1. "Natty Vision"
2. "Fear"
3. "No 4"

The second 7" in the Konduko series reissues this mega-rarity, Noel Williams aka King Sporty's own version of Bob Marley's Concrete Jungle. The connection between Marley and Williams was long-standing, both living in the tenements of West Kingston and gaining their musical foundations as part of the Studio One, that would reach fruition when they later co-wrote Buffalo Soldier together.

Clement Dodd's organisation was more than a label, running a sound system, studio, pressing plant and its own distribution. As Deejay on the system and later releasing his debut single on the label, William's learnt his craft, taking this knowledge to Miami and replicating much - expanding the Konduko label to encompass studio, plant and distribution.

First recorded with Lee Perry, Marley's 1971 original was famously rerecorded for The Wailers move to Island Records and their 1973 album, Catch A Fire. Here, a rare Williams' vocal is backed with horns atop a reggae-funk groove. The songs message of struggle is universal and everlasting, even with a touch of Miami swing.

This is backed by Young Girl, a single in its own right, from the same period. A rocksteady, breakbeat shuffle bely the songs roots in late 60s soul, with a powerful counterpoint vocal from wife and partner, Betty Wright. A collector's item itself, together they are essential.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: One of two King Sporty 7"s in this week. Hard to pick a favourite - they're both killer. And so nice to see his pre-disco evolution from Jamaica, to Miami and with more reggae focussed stylings from what would flavour his later discography. The Bob Marley and Lee Perry connection also makes these two 7"s highly desirable.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Concrete Jungle 
Side 2
1. Young Girl

Emotional Rescue presents the 2nd EP (of 4) highlighting the music of International Noise Orchestra. Centered around Ulrich Hornberg and Wolfgang Sperner, aka producers Gemini Brothers, this world "supergroup" released 5 LPs and 2 EPs in just 4 years.

Again showcasing their rhythm, calm and power, a metaphysical, real sensitivity and intellectualism, all wrapped around the groove. Starting with their own instrumental remix of Gimme Move Lovin', this little known 12" B side has long been a play for "heads" and allows the band's Pop Balearic, esoteric meets electronics to shine, layering Fairlight samples over a funky bass 4/4 around some '88 Amnesia pool dive.

Next the anthem, Yeh Naina Yaad Hai, as Asha Bhosle's beautiful vocals from the Manzil Manzil soundtrack, are mixed with drum machines to create a dream Bollywood meeting.

Again side two features 3 songs and starts like EP 1 with Glynnis Thomas (Savage Progress) vocals, now atop a sax laden Synth Pop brain, mind and body dance. Alias, Internationales Gerauschorchester offer wonderful jazz leanings for A Lulu A Bobe Danz, where the "bop" takes a leftfield embrace. To close then, Mr Richard Strange returns, invoking The Driving Force, returning to the idiosyncratic, percussive Earthbeat. Listen!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Gimme More Lovin (instrumental Muezzin Mix)
A2. Yeh Naina Yaad Hai
B1. Sick Of Love
B2. A Lulu A Bobe Danz
B3. Listen To The Earthbeat/The Driving Force

The King & City reissue series continues with Paul Robinson's disco boogie jam Come On Sister. Moving from the Lovers sound of his early productions, his first solo recording was aimed straight at the blues, clubs and pirate stations of South London and beyond - a prolific artist on the rise.

Appearing as a 13 year old protegee drummer in The Simeons, recording for the legendary Freedom Sounds label out of Kingston; to forming the influential Roots / Lovers Rock outfit One Blood; then vocalist in the Nick Straker Band; and through to a 30 year career as "dubplate" producer / singer Barry Boom, Robinson is a man of talents and serious legacy.

This highly sought after debut, part of Neville King and Lee Laing's family of labels, followed releases in One Blood and productions for female Lovers groups Blood Sisters and Charisma. A pure disco boogie party cut, Come On Sister sees the Robinson family hit the Brit funk.

In label style, the flip is given the Discomix treatment, here by up and coming digger, dealer and producer, Bruno (Perfect Lives). Letting the horns, dub bass and drums build in anticipation before the keys and guitar join and it all drops to Robinson's vocals - Come On Sister.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Come On Sister
A2. Come On Sister (instrumental)
B1. Come On Sister (Bruno Discomix)