Search:the soul of disco

2024 of New Interplanetary Melodies begins with a new album and an EP signed by ABYSSY. The historical producer from Bologna who returns to Simona Faraone’s label after a few years since the release of his previous works, Magnetic Archive (NIM001,2016) under his alias Soulomon, and TWO Scorpions EP (NIM002, 2017) under the name ABYSSY, which marked NIM’s adventure in the world of contemporary Italian independent record labels. “Extra Meta" was born from the passion for a certain electronic sound ecosystem of the 70s and 80s, a journey that embraces minimalism of the “Berlin school” and extends to the beating heart of the soul/funk of Detroit techno. A journey into the abyss of emotions and the unknown of the human spirit, as the deep darkness of the ocean intertwines with the unfathomable darkness of space. An invitation to explore new sound boundaries, to let yourself be lulled by waves that repeat without ever repeating themselves and to immerse yourself in the reflective mystery of discovery and of evolution, a dance in darkness and light, and where the abyss of emotion merges with the infinity of imagination: ABYSSY.

BAR Musica is back with a fresh new project and a new look.#

After the incredible release by Francesco Mami with the legendary Fred P on the remix duty - which went very well - label head Bartolomeo teams up with his musical soul mate Jesse Marcell and give birth to DISCOCLUBBERS. With a very introspective minimal re touch by the uk legend Lee Renacle aka 100Hz, this release is a must have for any moment of your set, from warm ups, to pick times to afterparties (our favourite, of course!)
This record is dedicate to friendship.

The 1st 12" from Chicago DJ/Producer JAYCEEINDAMIX'S label, GINZU EDITS. Side A features a sizzlin disco re-edit of "SWEET SUMMERTIME LIVIN" alongside a grimy edit of JANELLE MONAE's "PHENOMENAL." On the flip side are two lush and soulful 4/4 edits of GIL-SCOTT HERON and LALAH HATHAWAY. You might remember the OMAR remix and INCOGNITO remixes he did with us many many years ago.

Round two of Leo Zero's edit archive series sees four more favourites given the LZ treatment.

On the A you'll find a killer housed-up version of an New Wave classic, alongside a tight n' tidy beefed up slo-mo disco remaster and chop of a west coast rock beauty. On the flip, a chunky remake of Brit soul bomb as well as a curveball dubby, wonked out version of an alt rock rhythm that's flipped this one into a deep 5am groover.

Robert and Lyric Hood aka Floorplan return to Classic with two-track release ‘The Curse Breaker / What You Need’, further demonstrating their unique gospel house sound. With their growing catalogue of previous Classic releases gaining extensive club support from tastemakers such as Dan Shake, TSHA, Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler to name a small few, as well as widespread specialist radio support, the appetite for Floorplan’s Classic output is evident. Now the father and daughter duo return with another adventurous vocal sample for their latest release; ‘The Curse Breaker’ combines a religious sermon with expertly produced house, building from a small flame to its euphoric, blazing climax. Next up, ‘What You Need’ displays the duo’s disco influences with a heavy dose of classic 20th century soul.

For their next release, Futuribile looks to the work of Salerno star Carlo Fontana, presenting a set of hard-to-find & unreleased treasures titled ‘La Musica Del Sud.’

Carefully remastered at the West Hill Studio, the collection of tracks — which features contributing arrangements from Tullio De Piscopo — forms a moody pop funk paradise, with jazz horns and soul brass layered together, and amorous vocals crooning, supported by lush harmonizations and greasy gliding bass. Disco beats and exotic drums dance, prismatic pads and soft synths seek the stars, piano and guitar sing a spaced out blues, and amidst the moving grooves and deep swinging jams, moments of beautiful balladry emerge to touch the spirit.

Carlo Fontana's work is further testimony to a courtly and sophisticated musical aesthetic in vogue in Naples (and surrounding areas) between the 70s and 80s which had as its main proponents and protagonists exceptional musicians such as Joe Amoruso, Tony Esposito, Pino Daniele, Elio D'Anna, Enzo Cervo and many others.

Reissue of the highly sought-after 7” from 1979 by Chicago
reggae outfit Gypsy Fari.
Gypsy Fari was a project born in the south side of Chicago
after a chance meeting between St Kitts expat Leroy Webster
and local music grad Kevin Coleman. The pair set out to blur
the boundaries of genre with their unique brand of music,
spearheaded by Webster’s Caribbean roots and fused with
the soul and blues the midwest is famous for.
A striking stand-out of the band’s repertoire comes via their
debut recording, laid down at Curtis Mayfield’s legendary
Curtom Studios. The EP opens with Chi-Town Reggae - a
super-charged blend of reggae and disco, led by Websters
infectious vocal, steeped in soul and powered by a relentless
rhythm section. Hail Jah follows closely, written on the hilltops
of the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica, it’s a deadly roots reggae
missile that pays homage to Websters beginnings.
Once dubbed by a local news outlet “Gypsy Fari are to
Chicago reggae what Muddy Water is to Chicago blues” -
now remastered, repackaged and made available again for
the first time since its initial release

Mood Child label owners Sirus Hood and Manda Moor curate a sonic journey featuring global talent as they proudly present their latest compilation, ‘Various Moods’. A kaleidoscope of experiences, the release showcases six tracks from diverse artists, each contributing their unique vibe to this eclectic musical package.

Hailing from Brazil, Wayne Le’s ‘This is How’ pays homage to the origins of electronic music with a rolling bassline and a vocal tribute to classic Roland machines, the 808 and the 303. The track’s energy crescendos, making it a highly sought-after ID. Spanish duo Fourth Phase brings ‘WTF’ to the compilation, a groovy masterpiece characterized by 909 drums, a massive bassline, and a playful vocal, reminiscent of the 90s. From Curitiba, Brazil, guerrA. presents ‘Storno’, a fast-paced old-school beat that weaves chopped vocals from a rap DJ tool into a groove enriched with analog drums and a powerful bass sound.

A fusion of French and Taiwanese influences, Nathan Alzon’s ‘Flashback’ captures the essence of a new beginning. The track features a vocal saying “take me away”, blending seamlessly with the groovy sound characteristic of Alzon’s productions. Representing Mexico, Gama delivers ‘Tatata’, an explosion of Latin percussive elements blended with a hypnotizing groove. Inspired by his hometown Cancún, Gama experiments with new rhythms and sounds, infusing a significant Latin influence into the track. Marseille’s Malikk, known for his releases on Hot Creations and Hottrax, collaborates with Palermo-based Side B. The duo draws inspiration from '80s disco, funky, soul, and retro movies, crafting ‘How I Feel’ with punchy drums, a heavy bassline, and unique grooves.

'Give Me The Strength To Be Me' is the exclusive single for Lovemonk by Soulnaturals, featuring London singer Chalibrann. This stunning track fuses all the power and beauty of gospel and soul music with exquisite arrangements that take Soulnaturals to spiritual heights, akin to contemporary artists such as Michael Kiwanuka and Sault.

Soulnaturals is the London-based project of songwriter, producer and band leader Tony Cannam, who collaborates with outstanding guest singers and musicians on high-quality soul/R&B music which has received rave reviews from Blues & Soul, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, Jazz FM, Andy Peebles at Smooth FM, Solar Radio, Clash Magazine and London Live TV, among others. Cannam is influenced by the rich heritage of 60s and 70s US soul/funk artists and arrangers such as Norman Whitfield, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones.

Soulnaturals released their debut album, "Love Says Yes!", in 2017 as part of Record Store Day, receiving strong critical acclaim and a nod as contender for album of the year from UK Vibe. Their second album, "Parlo Discoteca", came out in October 2023 on their own label, British Soul Standard.

Hot'n'Spicy' is back for a captivating compilation of hedonistic disco delights.Experience the magic as disco players come together again on this album. Featuring the German groove sensation Delfonic, the iconic House stallion Franck Roger, the very Cosmic Dj Steef , and the Disconimo HOLDTight. Get ready for the musical journey filled with quality slow-disco soul jams, feverish disco beats, and enchanting cosmic grooves. On Side A, a Chicago disco groover « Everything is love » by Delfonic, followed by the slow house cracker « Disco Power » by HOLDTight. OnSide B, « Pinguino Bloumo », a superb piece of disco cooked by Franck Roger, and indulge in the Cosmic journey of « Warp Odyssey »by Dj STEEF. This vinyl release is a must-have for any discerning music lover seeking an exquisite blend ofdisco. Thanks for being with us on this journey. As always, a tasty piece for diggers and late-night DJs...

Zenit is a jazz ensemble from Krems in Lower Austria, founded in 1976 by Hannes Treiber and Willi Langer. Their music was celebrated locally, but to reduce them to their local fame would be a shame: After all, their first two LPs, Stimmungswechsel (Change of Moods) and Früchte (Fruits), quickly gained them a much wider audience of discerning listeners. Arguably, however, Zenit's third and final LP Straight Ahead is the most special of their records. It initially came out in 1986 on the producer's label Spray Records, and is today one of the hardest-to-find Austrian jazz records. Its centrepiece is the infectious slow-motion disco piece 'Waiting,' with vocals by American jazz singer Linda Sharrock. Effortlessly bringing together pop, soul and new age vibes, this is a record that is as unique as it is difficult to date. Does it sound like from the 80s We're not sure. To our minds at least, it could also be from the future.

Next up on DJ Spen’s Quantize Recordings, the main man himself teams up with all time production and remix legend John Morales under the moniker Spencer Morales to deliver a seriously spellbinding set of tracks.

Featuring Phebe Edwards on vocals they have delivered a sublime rendition of Stephanie Mills’ 1979 soul classic, ‘What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin’ on the A side, with a heavenly cover of The Jones Girls’ ‘You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else’ featuring Tasha LaRae on the flip.

When it comes to disco house, it really doesn’t get much better than this. A masterclass of modern production, both crisp and powerful, brimming with instrumentation yet with every element given the space it deserves. What else would you expect when you’ve got DJ Spen and John Morales in the hot seat.

Hailing from the North East of England, Smoove & Turrell have dominated the UK funk & soul scene for over a decade with their unique blend ...

Established in 2016, Little Giant Records is the Brooklyn-born label founded by Anna Cavazos that specializes in the kind of deep house sounds that belong in the dark and sweaty basements of underground clubs. Anna is a DJ, producer, and vocalist who has played out across the globe for over 15 years mixing and blending the deep house sounds of Chicago, New York, and Berlin. . Her discography includes original compositions, remixes, and collaborations with the likes of Satoshi Tomiie and Eli Escobar.

The EP kicks off with the original of ‘Love Interlude’ - melancholic and piano-heavy with an ultra-deep baseline embellished with warm pads and soulful drums. Anna’s soulful vocal floats above the melody creating an emotional and moving interlude. Next up Matthias Vogt delivers a deep-house masterpiece adding extra keys, drum accents, and a well-placed baseline that is weaved neatly into the vocal hook while Vogt delivers the warm, jazz-flecked vibrations he is well known for.

Up next Rick Wade weighs in with some ever so classy house laced with flashes from the Motor City of Detroit. Warm electro piano, glowing synths, and vocal parts contrast with the deep sub baseline. Closing out this EP Rissa Garcia draws heavily on her New York house inspirations. Organ riffs and a funk-inspired bass line lead the charge dropping in and out between vocal harmonies and subtle synth work. Percussive accents bring it all home making this closing cut one dancefloor destroying, peak-time bomb.

'Tema di Susie' is one of the main themes from the soundtrack composed by Alessandro Alessandroni for the 1976 Italian noir Sangue di sbirro, known in English as Blood and Bullets, as well as Knell, Bloody Avenger (the Susie in the original title refers to the female love interest of the film's hero, who is on a mission to seek revenge for the gangland murder of his policeman father).

At once sweet and sentimental, haunting and melancholic, 'Tema di Susie' stands out from the other tracks in the film, which are more action oriented. Like the rest of the score, however, it exemplifies the way in which, during the '70s, Italian film composers created their own version of the sound of American blaxploitation cinema, with its groovy blend of funk, jazz, and soul. It is no coincidence that the film's director, B-movie specialist Alfonso Brescia, specifically requested music in the style of Shaft, the iconic film that defined that sound in 1971.

Though seemingly simple, 'Tema di Susie' is a perfect example of Alessandroni's style – in particular his unique ability to effortlessly blend groove and melody, funk and feeling, into one musical piece. So, we invited different artists with different backgrounds, influences and approaches to bring their individual take on this elegant and now timeless tune.

Neapolitan duo Fratelli Malibu have taken Alessandroni's melodic theme and woven it into a mesmerizing tapestry of rhythmic beats, world percussion and ethereal atmospheres. Drawing inspiration from funk/Afrobeat, synth-pop and Italo-disco, they've conjured a psychedelic-tinged, afro-cosmic groove that's bound to transport you to another dimension.

As the music unfolds, you'll feel like you've stepped into a vibrant, fantasy world. The breaks, outro, and intro are woven with a psychedelic thread that leaves you yearning to return once the final note fades away. And that's not all – they've injected an irresistible pop sensibility into the track with the use of drum machines and synths. The result? A rework that not only amplifies the dreaminess of the original but also seamlessly marries the past with the future.

We love the track so much that we decided to double the fun with a vocal retouch version, courtesy of the Italian funk/soul collective Banda Maje. Their vocalists, Chiara Della Monica and Cristina Cafiero, elegantly infuse cinematic and Balearic vibes into the mix, paying a wonderful homage to Fratelli Malibu's exquisite arrangement.

IZIPHO SOUL are delighted to announce our second 7” release with Nashville smooth soul man Dwayne Scivally.

Prior to his highly respected LPs with French music maestro Thomas G, Dwayne recorded an album in 2016 entitled ‘Stay Until The Morning’. The CD has virtual invisible status, with no sales documented on Discogs. Our top pick is ‘Point of no Return’, this track was played upon it’s original release by a handful of elite DJs - Props therefore go out to Mick O’Donnell, Mark Merry, Colin Curtis, Steve Scotney and Brian Goucher (who ranked this as one of his top tunes of 2016 in U.K. Vibe magazine)

The flip ‘So Good’ - a sensuous mid tempo composition, beautifully complimenting the top side.