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

Annie & The Caldwells / Wrong (Nicky Siano Remix) / Luaka Bop

The Caldwells are a family band from Mississippi, consisting of Annie, her husband, sons, daughters and god daughter. They have an album, called Can’t Lose My Soul, ready for Luaka Bop, that they recorded in their local church. Sinkane stepped up as producer for the sessions, but the single, Wrong (You Dropped A Bomb), has been re-shaped by legendary New York DJ Nicky Siano. It’s disco-not-disco dynamite. Annie’s huge Nona Hendryx-esque vocal accompanied by slapped bass and rolling piano. The groove, a collision of Bill Laswell’s Material, Was (Not Was) and Siano’s classic Arthur Russell collaboration, Tigerstripes. The organ is funky and the breakdown a nod to Larry Levan and his Peech Boys. 

Basic Black / Don’t Make Me Fall In Love / Running Back

Timmy Regisford remixes new jack swing, transforming this 1990 Motown track into programmed percussion packed house. Computerised congas, cowbell and incessant high hats creating a soulful garage groove. The famous Shelter resident setting the original impassioned lead and smooth group harmonies to a big b-liine, string synths and raw, funky organ vamps. Building and peaking, adding bionic brass and faux flute as he goes. The remix was never officially issued, and this new Running Back 12 was apparently cut from Tony Humphries’ personal DAT. 

Daniel Dimbas / Carnaval Soca (Antal Edit) / Rush Hour

This 12 contains 2 terrific edits of Daniel Dimbas tracks, originally  released on Guadeloupe-based label, Debs in 1985. The single itself first saw the light of day back in 2019, but it’s recently received a repress. The vinyl partners Palm Trax’s take on the mid-tempo mover, La Musique, with Antal’s serious shake of the breakneck singalong party-starter, Carnaval Soca. A piece of pop zouk, a la La Compagnie Créole, and just the right side of Boney M, this dance-floor dervish features group chants, hand claps, slapped bass, and a tight rhythm guitar riff, topped off with a variety of synth solos and carnival whistles. Massed brass bringing the main melodic element. 

Gratts / New Horizons / Be Strong Be Free

Gratts’ latest single, New Horizons, is an homage to house music’s past. Pairing a TB-303 with some great jazz piano, the latter care of Adelaide “techno veteran” Antony Coppens. As the groove gets going gospel congregation hand claps compete with Coppens’ cascading and rolling keys. Gratts pitches his own vocals down, kinda demonic a la Chicago’s Sleezy D, and his son, Leo, counters, in contrast, with a questioning child’s innocence. 

Impossible Dreamers  / Spin / Emotional Rescue

This was reputedly a Danny Rampling “spin” back in the Second Summer Of Love. Well, that’s what I heard, and that’s why it went on my “wants list”. It took me years to track down an original copy. A crazy, clattering, ramshackle hoedown, it packs a party full of percussion (was that a washboard?) and chants, rolling piano and snake charmer reed. When, after a false fade, it all crashes back in, it fair takes dancing folks’ heads off. 

The Emotional Rescue reissue has a big bonus in the shape of a couple of dubs from The Idjut Boys’ Dan Tyler. The first subtly tames the track a tad. The beat is still a joyful barrage, but it doesn’t bounce around quite as barmily, so it’s perhaps easier to dance to – without the assistance of E – and certainly easier to mix in and out of. The second, a shorter, more radical Riddim Reprise, is all dive-bombing bass, ricochet delays and shredded sounds from the bashed pots and pans spinning in all directions, and ultimately out into space. 

Kléo / Acid Coolada / Call 4 Rhythm 

This mysterious Netherlands-based artist, with Dekmantel connections, releases a second 12 on their Call 4 Rhythm label. The title track, Acid Coolada, is another authentic homage to late `80s Chicago house. In this case, say something by Hot Hands Hula, with a little nod to classic Detroit techno as well. While a TB-303 throws a conniption fit throughout, this is hijacked by an incredible, “conventional” keyboard solo. A bit like the vamp from Carl Bean’s I Was Born This Way, this runs for about 6 of the tune’s 8 minutes. Constituting a very classy combination, everything synchs at the blow of a party whistle. 

Medlar / Luv Interlude / Delusions Of Grandeur 

Yet more Second Summer Of Love-referencing sounds can be found on Medlar’s forthcoming album, Islands. The teaser track, Luv Interlude, struts its stuff like a TB-303-tickled take on Clivilles & Cole’s Seduction. The songs vocals – spoken and sung by New York artist, Kim Anh, like a sexy, lewd nursery rhyme – come accompanied by the odd string stab and plenty of acid spikes.