A cherry-pick of this month’s Indian summer party-starters finds Hell Yeah off on Aura Safari. Jimpster’s alter-ego, Franc Spangler, returns to Delusions Of Grandeur, while Laroye jumps up on Jimpster’s own Freerange. Axner get most excellent overhauls from Al Kent and John Morales, for Disco Freak. Nebraska brings his funk to Friends & Relations. South Street dust off M.A.D. Productions’ UKG classic, Too Late. Rush Hour’s Kamma & Massalo tease with exclusives from their forthcoming compilation, Brighter Days, and, finally, Sounds Familiar shine with their smashing second label sampler. 

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

AURA SAFARI / ISLAND DREAMS / HELL YEAH 

Doing it better, Italian ensemble Aura Safari bring nothing but joy with this full-length collection of balmy coastal cuts. This, their second album, entitled Island Dreams, will sweep you up in its bronzed arms and transport you away to an infinitely better bluer skies. Upping the bliss factor and having you melt into your sun lounger, while you dream of cruising the Amalfi coastline, cuddled with your soul mate. Music flows from Aura Safari with an effortless charm. All are highly experienced musicians who have honed their skills, performing and  soaking up the vibes at prestigious places such as the Umbria Jazz festival and Perugia’s hot spot, Red Zone. Of the twelve tracks on this late summer sensation, highlights include the `80s disco magic of Sur Mon Balconnet and Dancing In The Moonlight – the latter featuring the legendary Zeke Manyika. Wave Riding is a bumpin’, lo slung groover, which will remind folks of a ‘delightful rap’ from the 90s! The Dam- Funk style beats of Disco Mantra, plus the elastic drums and playful synths of Patagonia, drive things home in suave and sun-drenched, Mediterranean style. 

FRANC SPANGLER / FIGHT THE FEELING / DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR 

Not exactly a secret, but It wasn’t always obvious that Franc Spangler is the alter ego of London house hero, Jamie Odell, the artist otherwise known as Jimpster. Here “Franc” returns to Delusions of Grandeur with three disco-flecked, funk-fuelled tunes for dancers to really get down to. Taking us back to a 90s of post-disco, future-funk dancefloors, the opener and title track, Fight the Feeling, will lock you in its rocking, rolling groove. With solo horns and a steel drum section, it also echoes the `80s brit-funk of bands like Hi-Tension. Languid and luxurious, Powerslide, is also a flashback, this time to the `70s, that could have come from an episode of Starsky & Hutch . Boasting Hammond runs and a big, big breakdown, it’ll spice up any floor when it drops. Dance The Funk slows things down. Its sexy Moog bassline sitting subtly beneath some perfectly pitched vocals. Mr. Spangler is back with a funky bang.

LAROYE / FIRST SIGHT / FREERANGE RECORDS

Thomas Laroye can pretty much do no wrong these days. Loved by big guns like Gilles Peterson and Louie Vega, he has fashioned upon a formula that really works. Blending studio wizardry and live instrumentation, and following a exceptional LP on Sweden’s Local Talk earlier on this year, Thomas is now back on Freerange Records. His First Sight E.P. is essentially contains two tracks, and two accompanying dubs. The titular piece is a collaboration with legendary Detroit vocalist and producer, Javonntte, whose voice works a real treat alongside Laroye’s everso fat beats and jazzy chords. Uku Dance is the ultimate DJ tool. Bass heavy, it scatters vocal samples here and here, and adds a layer of moody Rhodes, which gives the track a deep in the night, lights down low, heads down, dancers locked in the groove feel. The pick of the pack, though, for me personally, is the Percussive Dub, which strips things back to their bare bones, and is one of the most ridiculously good rhythmic workouts you’ll have ever heard.

AXNÉR / SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOP / DISCO FREAKS

Disco Freaks Recordings is a partnership between Chris Davies (of Defected Records), and Swedish vocalist, Julia Axnér, and this record, Shout From The Rooftop, pretty much does what it says on the tin! The song is simple but super effective – the lyrics lean but well placed. Inspired by late `70s disco grooves, AXNÉR have collaborated here with Ralph Rolle and Audrey Martells – who were both members of Chic’s original line up – to deliver a distinctly modern twist on the retro groove.  As glossy as it gets, the track is blessed yet with remixes from some of the best in the game. Glasgow’s finest, Million Dollar Disco’s Al Kent, steps in and amps up the disco factor with his Encore. New York City music royalty, Studio 54’s John Morales has created 3 versions – an M+M Club Mix, Main Mix, and an atmospheric Instrumental for those who prefer to leave the sugary vocal aside. The lesser known Kousto then closes the E.P., serving up a more subtle, sunny house take on the original.

NEBRASKA / FUNKBRASKA / FRIENDS & RELATIONS

Nebraska never fails to hit the spot, and yet again he proves just how good he is on this late summer stunner, simply titled Funkbraska. The chap behind Nebrasaka, the London-based producer, Alistair Gibbs, is the real deal. Having been home schooled in all things hip hop, dub, and jazz early doors, he most certainly has got the funk and scars to prove it. He’s put out cool moves on labels like Rush Hour, Mister Saturday Night, Delusions of Grandeur, and his own imprint, Friends & Relations. This new single features two edits, one short, and one long, that unashamedly pay homage to the gods of French Touch, plus Parliament-Funkadelic, and Chic. Ali brings in session musician Dan Hawkins on bass, and Fouks Daniel Leseman aka Junktion on incredible keys, resulting in a master class of tight rhythm and groove. There are producers, and then there is Nebraska. The Don.

KAMMA & MASSALO / BRIGHTER DAYS SAMPLER / RUSH HOUR 

Dutch duo Kamma & Masalo recently dropped a sampler that leads the charge for their album, Brighter Days, released in November. The LP is comprised of some carefully curated cuts, thoughtfully selected by the Amsterdam-based scenesters, to celebrate their party of the same name, which they host twice a year in the city. The collection is also an homage to their former Worldwide FM show. The three tracks offer an insight into K&M’s colourful world of spiritual house, and sunrise workouts, with soaring disco vibrations that spread happiness and joy on all the dance floors they touch. Their radio edit of Discotheque’s 1982 Dutch-Belgian disco classic, For Your Love, has been a highlight in Rush Hour founder, Antal’s sets this last year. The previously unreleased dub of Anyzette’s 1984 tune, Baladoun, is a nice slice of drum machine body music that blurs the boundaries between Italo-disco, Afro-boogie, and proto-house. Peffa’s inclusion, with their track Routine, is an Africanism-inspired immersive journey that blends deep house and Detroit techno. Kamma & Masalo are flying the flag, paving the way for the next generation of top tier producers, and I for one, cannot wait to hear the whole album!

M.A.D PRODUCTIONS FT. CARROLL THOMPSON / TOO  LATE / SOUTH STREET RECORDS

South Street Records has been digging deep, and during a recent rummage discovered this nugget from the `90s in a dusty DAT bin.  Produced by underground hero, Daryl B – whose DJ sets back in the day graced pirate airwaves and underground garage blazes from North to South London – the track is the result of a studio session with MJ Cole. Cole was in the spotlight at the time, after scoring several big hits with vocalist Elizabeth Troy. As a consequence, his record company execs were happy coughing up cash, and suggested bringing in lovers rock legend, Carrol Thompson. All 3 collaborated on Too Late, which was hammered on the underground, but never achieved the wider success it really deserved. Peak-time, warm-up, or warm-down, it’s an unquestionable garage groover. The Underground Dub is 100% guaranteed to do some damage. The reissue also provides a smart snapshot of the `80s UKG explosion, and a glimpse of the roots of the NUKG currently rocking 2023’s most discerning parties. 

FAMILIAR SOUNDS VOLUME 2 / SOUNDS FAMILIAR

I don’t think I’ve come across so much quality on a comp in a while. Stacked to the maximum, Familiar Sounds Volume 2 is the second in a series of three vinyl double albums created and curated by the imprint, Sounds Familiar. The label was born out of the artist agency of the same name, and both at the product of the tireless super hard work of a world-renowned lady named Ornella. The series is set to celebrate the agencies starry roster. Volume 1 featured Dego, Kamma & Masalo, Aleqs Notal, Anu, Kai Alcé, Retromigration and Hugo LX. Volume 2 now embraces contributions from king of keys Kaidi Tatham, the force that is Carista, Gigi Testa, Zopelar, Alex from Tokyo, and UK delight, K15. Joining the musical dots between banging acid house and dreamy piano jazz, highlights include Kaidi’s Misguided Youts – built on a keyboard vamp and infectious horn line, stirring the melting pot of London’s broken beat scene – and Gigi’s shuffling outernational Summer Snow – which illustrates the producer’s passion for global rhythms. Currently Paris-based, Alex’s cosmic club cut, Wa Galaxy, bears the stripped-back influence of his former home, Berlin, while, in stark contrast, K15 brings the brilliant and emotional solo piano ballad, Autumn. Kieran totally shines here – as he always does in my eyes. He’s such a gentle soul, and it’s such a subtle, but powerful, tune- one that will soften even the stoniest of hearts.