Super selections and wonderful words by our favourite four-to-the-floor expert, The Insider.

79.5 / CLUB LEVEL / RAZOR-N-TAPE

I’m a little late to the party to sing this record’s praises but it genuinely deserves to be highlighted. Brooklyn band 79.5 debut on Razor-N-Tape, ahead of their eponymous album due to arrive in time for summer. Founded by singer / songwriter, Kate Mattison, over a decade ago, with seasoned rapper Lola Adanna, bringing more vocals, long-time collaborator, and sax player, Izaak Mills, plus Andrew Raposo and Caito Sanchez, completing the current line-up. Named after a fantasy radio station, their 2016 hit, Terrorize My Heart, found its way into many a discerning disco DJ’s record bag. New single, Club Level, could be described as candied pop, but it’s so much deeper than that. It’s subtle and elegant, with plenty of `80s nostalgia. The already perfect arrangement gets a rerub from fellow New Yorker Eli Escobar. Out as a 7” special, it’s one of those records that’s a bloody good little find.

MARINA TRENCH / THE REMIXES / SWEET STATE

Marina Trench conitunes to drop some impressive moves on her imprint, Sweet State. The Imperméable en été E.P. came out just the other side of Christmas and is now followed by a set of remixes that pack a real punch. Gerd Janson grabs hold of Ose. The track was created by Marina in collaboration with fellow Parisian Hugo LX. Janson brings in a whole new bassline that bounces around Marina’s sultry vocal. Man-of-the-moment Earl Jeffers treats listeners to a deeper house groove. One that sits at a vibrant and colourful intersection between UK house and afrobeat. Closing out is another name to watch on the French house circuit, Tatyana Jane, who radically renders Hirondelle completely unrecognizable from the original. If this doesn’t slap you in the face and say sit up and listen to me, I don’t what will.

JKRIV EDITS / MOTON RECORDS INC

Dave Jarvis and Diesel are at the helm of London’s longest-running re-edit imprint. Moton Records. Launched back in ‘96, with edits from the luminaries like the Idjut Boys and Harvey, this label has been instrumental in shaping the leftfield disco and Balearic re-edit scene that we know today. Still out of jail after forty-seven releases, they continue to seek and cleverly tweak rare gems that you never knew you wanted in your collection, oh but you do! On Moton 48 the pair enlist the expertise of Razor-N-Tape’s JKriv. The Brooklyn producer creates four top shelf cuts that fit perfectly into the collectable Moton Records Inc universe. Digging way down into the depths, there’s a flavour for every dancefloor. 

SOUL CLAP RECORDS / 11 YEARS ANNIVERSARY COMPILATION

Soul Clap Records is a full-on family affair that`s been making soulful, colourful, funk-infused, quality house music for way over a decade. Founded by Eli Goldstein & Charles  Levine in Boston, this 11-year Anniversary Compilation is a celebration for the label  – a little delayed due to the global lurgy. Hence the odd number. Ready to roll in ‘23 with a host of heavy remixes of some previously released cuts, the line-up here reads like a who’s who in funk and soul. With appearances from the mighty Funkadelic and the legendary Sly Stone, Underground System, Nona Hendryx, FSQ, Fonda Rae, Lonely C, Kendra Foster, Life On Planets, The Fitness Pony, John Camp, and Greg Paulus, the reworks come courtesy of XL Middleton, Balearic Breakfast’s Colleen’ Cosmo’ Murphy, Zopelar, Afriqua 2, Michael The Lion, and Liam Mockridge. This album is packed and stacked.

TURBOJAZZ / WHATEVERISM / LAST FORVER RECORDS

Tommy ‘Turbojazz’ Garofalo tore out of the Milan scene with this multi-genre long player that marks 20 years in the game for the talented Italian. It’s sure to be a contender for end of years lists come December. Featuring a host of talent, like Los Angeles MC Dave Giles II, (fresh from guesting on recent records by Honey Dijon and Beyonce), UK house don Sean McCabe – who delivers the hot, In Love Again, with Detroit, Mahogani Music, vocalist Nikki O. There are vocals from Sara Vanderwert – who Turbojazz met while she was busking in Puglia – and Arya. Both of them reach for the roof and touch the soul. The album glides gracefully through house, hip house, and jazz. If there is one record you buy this month, make it this one. You will not be a disappointed.

THE COSMOLOGIST/ COSMOLOGY VOL.5 / UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Under The Influence Records releases a fifth mission by the elusive Cosmologist. Gazing up at stars, considering the universe, its infinite distance and dynamic, is where you will find our spaced-out protagonist. Cosmology Vol. 5 brings us cleverly conspired, risqué edits of hidden gems and cult records. If spiky `80s new wave pop is your thing then rocket straight to the A side. It’s a piece of punky, funky, dubby goodness that Danny Rampling, back in the day, used to smash at Shoom. Radically changing galactic direction, the B side runs the risk of pissing off purists but comes up with a killer new cosmic twist on a much-loved afrobeat classic.