Paraphrasing the Soul Sonic Force and sorting through today`s releases for tunes that could have graced Alfie & Leo’s Amnesia dance-floor…

Discotecas 005

Discotecas have pressed up four fresh edits, two of which are distinctly ’80s flavoured. All be it pitched and beefed-up. Jellied Feels repurposes a “cult vocal clip”* over a squelchy, rubbery electro-boogie groove. Like plugged in P-funk, it rides a bulbous ball of electronic and slapped bass. Love Action sounds like it might have been built on a Billie Jean sample, and also flirts with the vibe of Janet Jackson’s R&B Junkie. Sliced and diced by some razor sharp rhythm guitar, it’s a sexy early Prince-esque strut. Early Riser supplies some wild wah-wah-ed dub disco, which through spacey sound effects slowly evolves into a mini-epic. Adding percussion breakdowns, dramatic orchestral strings and mad Moog-y solos. It’ll go rather nicely with Brian-Not-Brian and Piers Harrison’s recent live mix of Ghost Assembly. Shoulda Known has fiercely filtered and EQ-ed vocals zooming in and out like persistent ghosts of yesterday’s dance. The body-moving B-line possessed by spectres set on further wreaking disco’s revenge. Leading ravers and revellers through serrated synths and crazy hypnotic cowbell sections.

*I’m calling it that because I can’t currently place the sample and it’s really bugging me – someone please, in the comments, put me out of my misery : ) 

Gambia Disco Express / Enlightenment Is Now / Hot Piroski

Gambia Disco Express is a collaboration between Robin Twelvetree and Bongo Koi that has its roots in a road trip that they took together from London across Gambia. The observant among you may recognise Twelvetree’s name, since he’s a respected, “veteran” engineer / producer, whose CV lists credits such as Payfone, Jose Padilla, Moloko, Pete Herbert, and Cantoma. He was also one half of Bubble Club. GDE’s debut single, Enlightenment Is Now, makes use of recordings that the duo made on that journey, not least the rich baritone vocals of mystic Reverend Joseph N’Gole, who acts as a Master Of Ceremonies, leading the dance and imparting cryptic words of wisdom while preaching emancipation and equality. A peak-time party starter, this is a brilliant blast of Afro-disco, totally authentic and packed with musicality. Bright brass, barmy synths, and group chants, all bumping and jumping, joyful and exuberant. A shot of pure escapist sunshine, the cut combines congas with snatches of acid-psyche-rock guitar. Twelvetree also turns in a pumping more tech-noid treatment. Looping up the live elements and adding a peppering of syn-drum pops. Upping the ante on the  bionic boogie with plenty of filtering and dropouts. Bouncing like Faze Action covering Hugh Masekela’s Don’t Go Lose It Baby.

Lono Ritmo / Luz De Luna / Is It Balearic?

Is It Balearic? have a 12 from the mysterious Lono Ritmo ready to go. The record containing four mixes of the song, Luz De Luna. In its original form, this sets Spanish guitar and a fine female flamenco vocal to a soft shuffling beat. Gypsy hand claps accompanying its catchy chorus. Pablo’s Groove focuses only on the drum circle percussion. The real prizes though are DJ Pippi and Willie Graff’s remixes. The pair sympathetically speeding things up. Transforming the track from a groovy bass-lined sunset rumba into warm, sensual twilight house. A cool musical Mediterranean breeze. Despite the increased tempo the vocal somehow feels even more impassioned, intoxicating. The duo also share a deeper Dubstramental where the plaintive 5-string picking is allowed to shine, step forward and take centre stage.

Totem 001 / Totem Projects

Totem Projects is a new musical venture from long-term creative collaborators Justin Deighton and Leo “Zero” Elstob. Their latest E.P. contains four terrific tracks, but Ku Thunder is the standout for me. A pumping, pounding piece of mutant jack, it manages to mix EBM – think Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 – with Italian “paradise” house. Dark electronic disco dovetailing with loon birds and rave anthem piano. All the while the B-line becoming more acidic. Paying homage, perhaps, to harder White Isle trance-dance classics, such as Cutmaster G’s more techno take on Sueno Latino.