Italy's Best Records cross the continent to Italy for their latest reissue, laying down a fresh pressing of Dutch boogie classic "Let's Funk Tonight", plucked from their 1981 debut LP "Feather Funk". Introduced via an instantly recognisable, and oft-sampled keyboard riff, thie track soon settles into Bee Gee style vocals, loose percussion and a slick groove-a-thon (feat killer solos!), here extended to almost ten minutes by Peter Frost. This maximal mix down was originally only available on the LP, and now finally gets the heavy 12" cut it deserved. On the flipside, UK disco legends Faze Action step into the arena, slice and dice the original and get creative with the tape delay, delivering the dope dubmix we've always wanted.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The eagle-eared and Chris Duckenfield-obsessed will recognize this hook of the cult classic remix of Roisin Murphy's "You Know Me Better" that was doing the rounds on a naughty 7" many moons ago. Who knew the original sample was from these Dutch boogie maestros?! In the bag in goes...

Masaala is a new label exploring all things South Asian. Launched in 2019, the debut release sees a mix of edits by Mancunian upstarts Adesi and Raheel Khan who take on a side each.

If you like the weird and wonderful, with percussion from foreign lands, vocals in Eastern tongue and a strong explosion of colour and vibrancy, this release is 4 U!

Singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Desmond Coke's supremely rare, privately pressed, lo-fi, synth-soul fusion, "Let's Chase The Sun" is represented here in edited form. Painstakingly remastered from the original tapes, this self taught pianist, drummer and sax player condensed his musical experiences and dreams in to an opus on love and togetherness.

Desmond Coke alias 'Fatfingers' - named by fellow musicians due to improvisation and interpretation skills - began playing keyboards by ear at 15 and went on to a music career playing with the likes of Alton Ellis, Prince Fari, Barrington Levy, Dillinger, Don Cherry and Shara Nelson, as well as a gamut of the On-U Sound label's projects, including Creation Rebel, Dub Syndicate, Singers & Players and Mark Stewart + Maffia.

With an interest in reggae, dub, jazz, soul, meringue, gospel and garage, his sole album was a true fusion to create a brand new sound. Composed, arranged and produced by Coke, he worked with an array of seasoned musicians, including his own sisters Winifred (percussion / vocals) and Paulette Coke (percussion / DX-7 & M1 synthesisers).

Pressed on his own Saterlite Entertainments in 1989, Coke describes the album's purpose, "to get the message across to have focus, ambition, to dream and 'chase the sun'. That relationships are important, 'I need somebody' and naturally the chemistry is 'you and me'. Great relationships are about friendships and that it's ok to 'mesmerise a friend'. The most natural thing is to enjoy each other's company and to 'make a love child'. These good intentions and meanings, where love is the key." Some thirty years later Desmond's thoughts are as resonant today as then - Let's Chase The Sun.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: What is this tropical funk curio I hear you ask?! Well, it's Desmond Coke! - with a name like that you'd surely expect him to bring the party, and like a white horse he elegantly struts across dancefloor, beach, terrace and club; the perfect soundtrack to a debauched night on the tiles in a foreign paradise.

Not content with towering over the Italian giallo scene as a founding member of Goblin, Claudio Simonetti later lent his unparalleled talents to the sphere of Italo disco and early house, through a string of killer productions under the Easy Going, Capricorn and Kasso monikers. This Best Records reissue boasts two killer 1986 House Remixes of classic WBMX Italo-Disco songs by Kasso mixed by the godfather : Frankie Knuckles, plus the house mix by Brett Wilcots of Walkman on the flip. Check the freaky beat, kalimba melody and club vamps of "One More Round" on the A-side for a hit from the very early days of the house scene, then flip it for a deep and percussive variation on Kasso classic "Walkman", including that deranged and delicious bassline!

Christian 'Kon' Taylor's KONTemporary imprint goes from strength to strength! This, the fourth release sees the Boston crate diggin' selector, producer and remixer extraordinaire reworking Alicia Myers' gospel tinged roof-raiser 'I Want To Thank You' to devastating effect!

This killer 1981 rare-groove / disco classic has long been a secret weapon of DJ's who dig that bit deeper, an underground classic for sure. Imagine then, getting your hands on the master tapes, and being allowed to go DEEP on the arrangements and stems and crafting your own special versions of this absolute monster cut? Well, that's what KON's done! On this high quality, top-shelf 12" you get 2 brand new mixes including a heavyweight 'dubapella' version pushing Alicia's gorgeous voice deep into the delay. KONtemporary always bring that heat, and this latest jam is no exception, boasting full sleeve artwork, stellar mastering and a super nice pressing.

Essential business right here!

Big Crown records is proud to present their first foray into the exciting and moving world of boogie-informed synth-pop with a Big Crown super group of sorts, aptly named Synthia. Side A, "Tonight You Might", finds Lady Wray on vocals while production is handled by Leon & Homer. The song starts with drums that could seamlessly mix in with Juicy Fruit or Juicy, whichever is your preferred flavor. As promising as the song starts, Nicole's entrance on vocals guarantees that you've just put the needle on a Certified Banger. Side B, "Dissolve" is an instrumental designed for peak hour dancefloor play. With swinging flutes and sexy sax provided by El Michels himself, and drumming programmed by the best actual drummer in the land, Homer Steinweiss, Dissolve is just a good ol' time from start to finish. Big Crown records has been sitting on a grenade and were ready to set her off baby!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Deee-licious soul musica here from a unique voice and bolstered with some incredible muscianship. Two tracks for rainy days, sunny days, lonesome nights and loved up evenings.

The first of 2 salvos from the wizards of re-editing - Psychemagik.
Part 1 is a selection of far-flung and undiscovered lysergic renderings of some 'well-known' pop & dance classics.
These aren't your common dime a dozen covers either, these are straight killer, bizarro rearrangements that will have you scratching your head in wonder, and hitting the discotheque dance-floor in equal measure. As always, the Psychemagik boys strive to bring you that heat, reworking from only the prime source material sourced from their regular global jaunts and epic record trades in far-flung places. Welcome to the soundtrack to a funky alternative dimension where things seem somewhat familiar, but perhaps a little off.... in the best way! Pure sonic trips all over this one. Dig it! Answers on a postcard please!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Two new volumes of sought out, editted-up rare goodness from Brothers Psych. The Magik is laid bare across the cutting table as the delectable duo ditch the obvious for the unusual, sure to appeal to fans of their Light Sounds Dark series...

EP number 2 from the wizards of re-editing - Psychemagik.
A selection of far-flung and undiscovered lysergic renderings of some 'well-known' pop & dance classics.
These aren't your common dime a dozen covers either, these are straight killer, bizarro rearrangements that will have you scratching your head in wonder, and hitting the discotheque dance-floor in equal measure. As always, the Psychemagik boys strive to bring you that heat, reworking from only the prime source material sourced from their regular global jaunts and epic record trades in far-flung places. Welcome to the soundtrack to a funky alternative dimension where things seem somewhat familiar, but perhaps a little off.... in the best way! Pure sonic trips all over this one. Dig it! Answers on a postcard please!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Two new volumes of sought out, editted-up rare goodness from Brothers Psych. The Magik is laid bare across the cutting table as the delectable duo ditch the obvious for the unusual, sure to appeal to fans of their Light Sounds Dark series...

After revealing Kon’s edit of "Heaven" on their blissful 7” debut, The Vision return to release the original on 12”, along with remixes from Mousse T. and Nightmares on Wax. Opening the A-Side is the original, a fiery, funk-laden track vocally-led by Andreya Triana. It pairs her soulful tones with lush instrumentation (featuring frenetic clavs and heavy b-line) and ratchets up the energy levels as it careers through its arrangement. 90s household house don, Mousse T. is called in and drops an "E-Funk Mix", galvanizing those disco stems with just the right sheen of house glamour. On the flip side are the two mixes from dance legend Nightmares On Wax. Bringing his trademark funk-flavoured grooves into the mix, it finds the prolific producer / DJ in fine style, so much so we get a seriously wiggly house 'dub' to conclude this essential record. Party time!

"Watermelon Woman" on Ninja Tune's Technicolour imprint is Yu Su’s most direct nod to the dancefloor since her 2017 breakout "Infi Love".

The release comes with Yu Su’s own ‘Dub’ version, which stretches out the original track’s momentum and urgency to a more languid pace.

Francis Inferno Orchestra’s ‘Augur Sacrifice Dub’ completes the EP, offering a rhythmic, percussive take on the original.

For fans of Leon Vynehall, Anthony Naples, Hunee, Spring Theory, Nathan Micay,

Artwork by Alan Briand.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Nice percussive shamanic house business here from the multi-talented Yu Su. Perfect for those tribal sessions under the foliage.