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Physical Therapy for Exotic Dance with this first volume of shamanic workout material made between 2014 and 2017. These are deliriously entrancing and exquisitely produced tracks, expertly engineered to keep the floor moving.

GIOVANNI DAMICO has found a fitting home at Chicago-based STAR CREATURE. His modern take on dance floor disco blurs the lines between classic boogie funk, Afro boogie & Italo disco. His 4th release takes us on a long journey across 3 more of Earth’s continents. There are tracks for every style here.

Dance music veteran Richard Sen has a 30 year history of DJing and production. The respected global DJ has produced and remixed many well-known artists including Bryan Ferry, John Grant and LCD Soundsystem.

From the late 90's to the early 2010's Sen was one half of the dance music duos, Padded Cell and Bronx Dogs. This is the first release on his own label which aims to explore the beauty of the night - dark and light, combining influences from black American dance music and European electronic music.

This world-travelling, MPC-busting, Gold Panda-collaborating maverick's first appearance on record was with 2018's WinWin San, a sparkly, razor sharp dance diamond which was received as one of the highlights of Studio Barnhus Volym 1, the Stockholm label's mammoth compilation released in August last year.

A self-confessed "travelling bedroom producer", Sofia started the process of writing her debut solo outing with a journey into the Amazon jungle. Stops were also made in front of a dusty Juno 106 in her Berlin bedroom and a Tokyo flea-market. We're a bit fuzzy on the details but we're pretty sure this record is full of the kind of raw energy and runaway imagination only a really strong debut.

It’s a family affair on the second Growing Bin 7”, as Peter & Patrick Jahn enjoy some father and son boogie with a smooth split release. A sunblushed moocher served two ways, this disc is designed for horizontal dancing…
Rooting around the cupboards in his family home outside Nuremberg, Patrick Jahn unearthed a dusty box of cassettes, saved for posterity but eventually forgotten. Somewhere between ‘True Blue’ and ‘Brothers In Arms’ was a faded C60 full of unreleased demos by his father Peter, recorded in the mid to late 80s. Back then Jahn Sr owned a pub club called Schrank (Cupboard to the Anglophones), with an upstairs office he used as a music studio. In amongst naïve synthesiser experiments and carefree noodling was a Balearic boogie bomb, all strolling synth bass, clipped funk guitar and seaside melancholy – like Brenda Ray on a Wim Wenders soundtrack.
Too impressed to keep it a secret, Patrick played the cut to Carsten “Erobique” Meyer, when he was over there jamming, and Hamburg’s premier funk freak suggested this might be of interest to his likeminded hometown freak Basso. Instantly in love, the Growing Bin boss suggested Patrick provide his own version for the flipside, and so it was, reborn with percussive sway, moonlit keys and beefy bass tones for the next generation. Here’s to the Jahn family, father and son but brothers in calms…
Patrick Ryder

The summer sun is high in the sky. A cocktail in hand. The soundtrack? Chiara. Steeped in Latin rhythms, produced with the golden touch of Francesco de Bellis (Francisco), this two-tracker is set to a serious groove. Beats chatter and mingle in the evening heat of “Rec”. Bass smoothness and brassy blasts are sweetened by Chiara’s vocals before dramatic strings flash like lightning, igniting this already energy-packed encounter. “Studio Line” continues that theatrical touch. Bold keys, echoing the cinematic grandeur of Italy, are supported by dynamic drum patterns as a vocal sample circles. Styles spin and spiral, the track twirling between genre tags refusing to be pigeonholed. Elements of East and West glide and pirouette hand in hand across this stunning 7”, Chiara offering the perfect soundtrack to dance from dusk to dawn.

It would be fair to say that Leng co-founder Paul “Mudd” Murphy is a born collaborator. Since first donning the Mudd alias at the dawn of the century, Murphy has released numerous collaborative albums and singles with regular collaborators Ben Smith (as Smith & Mudd) and Kevin Pollard (Mudd & Pollard), as well as playing a key role in “super-groups” Paqua and Bison. “Susta”, which marks his first single on Leng since 2009, sees Murphy add some new names to his growing list of collaborators. It was made in cahoots with singer/songwriter David Harks, a regular Satin Jackets collaborator who also appeared on Jack Cutter’s superb “Serpent Strut” cut on Murphy’s Claremont 56 label.

“Susta” is a bubbly, evocative and ear-pleasing chunk of mid-tempo nu-disco pop featuring lead vocals from Jaanika Leino AKA JaneLy – a former X-Factor Finland contestant whose sultry and evocative voice simply soars above Murphy and Harks’ sparkling, life-affirming instrumentation. Rich in twinkling synth solos, rich Clavinet lines, chugging arpeggio lines and eyes-closed piano, “Susta” is a strong song that will squat inside your head and stay there for days.

Our advice is to welcome it in – it’s as joyous and life-affirming a track as Leng has ever released. It’s accompanied by a predictably strong remix by British electronic music veteran Andrew Meecham (Bizarre Inc, Chicken Lips etc.), who dons the now familiar Emperor Machine alias to deliver a dub for the ages. Combining his own analogue and modular electronics with snippets of Leino’s vocal and some of the warmest instrumentation from Murphy and Harks’ original mix (think Clavinet and Rhodes for starters), Meecham offers up an epic slice of electronic dub disco that bubbles away for ten mesmerizing minutes. It’s a superb interpretation of a high quality cut.

Disk 2/5

We were first introduced to Marumo’s ‘Modish’ album via DJ Okapi's amazing resource the ‘Afrosynth’ blog, which archives South African bubblegum/disco from the 80s & early 90s. Aside from this blog, this music would otherwise remained unknown outside of South Africa, apart from the most hardcore of digger and record collector.
‘Modish’ was originally released on Spades Record in 1982 and was recorded by producer West Nkosi, who was a member of supergroup ‘Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens’. He worked with the big hitters in South African music such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Teaspoon & The Waves, Patience Africa and many more. Marumo were made up of a group of musicians from the Athlone School for the blind in Bellville, close to Cape Town. The band members, John Mothopeng, Munich Sibiya, Simon Falatsi and Marks Mbuthuma, had previously played in the groups Batsumi, All Rounders and The Orations and came together to record this versatile album. It covers a wide number of genres from Sotho soul, Mbaqanga, disco-funk, gospel & spacey-synth slow jams.
Flash forward 30 or so years later and lost dead-stock copies of the album start to appear and Marumo’s music begins to be heard across the world in the DJ sets of Motor City Drum Ensemble, Invisible City Editions, Floating Points, DJ Okapi and others.
We included the afro-disco-funk beauty of 'Khomo Tsaka Deile Kae?’ on our Mr Bongo Record Club Volume Three compilation, but felt ‘Modish’ needed to be available and heard in it’s entirety. We hope you enjoy!

The Star Beams album is a bit of an enigma. When we first came across their epic dance-floor monster 'Disco Stomp’ it was on a Disco Calypso compilation, so we assumed it originated from the Caribbean. Years later we worked out how wrong we were and that this nugget was actually from South Africa and taken off an ultra scarce album on JAS Pride records from 1976. The next problem was tracking down an original copy and we don’t think we’ve ever seen our Bongo team member Gary Johnson as happy as the day he turned up clutching a copy under his arm. 'Play Disco Specials' was produced by Ray Nkwe who also worked with Mankunku Quartet and The Soul Jazzmen, with all writing credits on the album going to Ray, the recording credited to engineer Robin Ritchie and the artwork to Carol Knowles. Other than this, the personnel of the record remains a mystery, but sometimes a bit of mystery is a good thing. Aside from the disco-jazz-funk of 'Disco Stomp’, which has found it’s way into the DJ sets of Theo Parrish, 'Play Disco Specials’ will appeal to fans of The Star Beams South African contemporaries The Drive, Batsumi and Pacific Express.

Samosa Records continues it’s unstoppable runaway juggernaut of a year with the double EP 'Funk Purpose Vol. 2'. Featuring two slabs of HQ black wax with 4 tracks on each 12'' (Vol. 2/1 & Vol 2/2) which will come out 2 weeks apart.
Pulling out all the stops they have brought together a who’s who of the cream of the disco editor roll of honour.
Step up (in alphabetical order) Al Kent, Fingerman, Hotmood, Moodena & Sartorial, Pete Le Freq, Raw Slavs, Sleazy McQueen and Swifft Edits.

Kicking things off in dramatic fashion on Part 1 is Million Dollar Disco boss 'Al Kent' with a glorious slice of string laden vocal heaven in ‘Where’. Cue classic brass stabs, sultry strings, filters in all the right places and some nifty drum rolls. These all set he scene perfectly for a power house of a female vocal. Opening tracks rarely kick things off with such class.

Following Al is Russian outfit 'Raw Slavs' who jump straight into action with a groove fuelled soulful jam ‘Born in R’. Like the first track it's powered by a wonderful string section. This one is a summer jam through and through. Expect to hear it across all the best summer's boat parties.

Also on a serious hot streak this year Tropical Disco Records 'Moodena & Sartorial' are first up on the flip side with the joyful smile inducing ‘Got The Feeling’. Keys, stings, soulful vocals they are all here. A dance-floor certainty!

Closing out Part 1 is Mexican producer and Discoweey head honcho 'Hotmood' who steps into Jazzier territory. Ace keys, sweeping brass, brilliant drums. Deep but still party, a mercilessly cool track.

Italian disco label Samosa Records have been doing a roaring trade of late, and with this new pack from Greece's C. Da Afro the trend looks very much set to continue. Brazilian flavours meet jazz-funk and straight up disco licks across these four infectious cuts.

Samosa’s unstoppable year continues with a brilliant three tracker from Italy’s Lego Edit, an artist with an insatiable digging habit and an ear for golden dancefloor rhythms from across the globe. He has previously produced everything from Jazz to Soul to Disco and some sublime Afro edits.

It’s with this last hat on that Lego Edit jumps on board with Samosa for a powerful new release. The Afro Soul EP see’s two sublime afro cuts backed up with a monster of a re-groove from label boss De Gama.

Indeed it is with De Gama’s interpretation of ‘Funky Zulu’ that the EP kicks off. Straight from its Zulu chant intro it’s a track we know means business working promptly into heavy percussive laden beats and jazzy stabs. Packed full of energetic horns ‘Zulu Groove’ is a track which transcends boundaries to quickly establish itself as an undeniable dancefloor powerhouse.

Moving on ‘Black Jungle’ combines those afro overtones with a monster of a funk bassline. Its swirling chants, heavy drums and filtered tropes pull the listener into a kaleidoscopic and intoxicating dancing frenzy. The looped up vocal combines perfectly with the frenetic bass notes and guitar stabs to see this one develop into a hypnotic dancefloor smash.

Final track on the release is Lego Edit’s original of ‘Funky Zulu’, it has all the elements that De Gama pulled out front and centre but with a slightly more laidback and funkier feel which sees the horns take centre stage. It’s a track which will draw the dancers out and kick proceedings off perfectly.

Another sure-fire smash for Samosa.

Support from Chris Coco, Lego Edit, 80's Child, Kevin Cutts, Luca Moplen, Nico De Ceglia, De Gama, Chuggin Edits, Get Down Edits (Darren Daz Dalton), Bruno Bolla, Jaegerossa, Dimitri from Paris, Sloth Boogie, De Gama, Jacques Renault, Hotmood, Fingermann, DJ Supermarkt (Too Slow To Disco), Dj Severino (Horse Meat Disco), Doctorsoul, and DJ Rocca

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 on 10th & 20th of February.

Introducing the first 12” are Irish producers Get Down Edits. Their track ‘Comin' 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.

As this tumultuous year nears its end, Public Release welcomes back Canadian artist Khotin for a final slice of sonic aspirations. His debut release on Public Release “Aloe Drink” was deemed an underground classic, and this follow-up extends the story which began in 2018. Things kick off with the title track “Dream Mentor”, an ecstatic and rushed sense of hope sparkles in trademark Khotin fashion, while “Service Provider” follows with a grittier, heavier atmospheric groove. Squelches of a friendly 303 converse with human chatter, all tied down with crispy drums and an omnipresent bass line. On the flip, we begin to close out with “Digital Field Trip”; a low-fi / hi-fi kaleidoscope of pads and determined percussion, while “Moon Over The Country Club” serves as a brilliant tough love outro. Raw and sturdy with an undeniable groove, yet introspective, dreamy and hopeful. In our minds (and ears), the perfect way to ride towards a better year.