Balaphonic brings rhythms from Cuba and Brazil. Lovetempo gets extended and remixed. Flying Mojitos Brothers drop their debut LP on Ubiquity. Salty Miller gets rescued by Miles Away. Dan The Drum and Stuart Patterson deliver their UK House Sermon. Marcel Vogel and Tim Jules connect with Javonntte. Tom Lily’s Disco Express is full steam ahead. Bruno Belissimo and Euro Nettuno mix mirrorball and Indian influences to magical effect. Frequencies Of Love impress on Not An Animal. 

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

BALAPHONIC / RESOLUTION REVOLUTIONS / NUNORTHERN SOUL 

Balaphonic is a new project from Danny Ward, an accomplished musician, percussionist and producer who’s done it all – from solo work as Moodymanc to drumming for legends like Fila Brazillia and The Pharcyde, plus collaborations with Nightmares on Wax. Here he brings his love of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian rhythms to the fore with an album that blends both the acoustic and electronic into summer-ready sounds. Deeply blissed out, with meditative melodies, authentic Latin vibes and tropical motifs, they’ll transport you to the Southern Hemisphere in an instant.    

LOVETEMPO / BUT I DO REMIXES / RAZOR-N-TAPE

Lovetempo dropped ‘But I Do‘ last summer, but it now finally gets a vinyl pressing, complete with 3 fresh remixes. Gilles Peterson hammered the original acid-jazz banger, and it still swells the heart with its woozy groove and forlorn vocal. Crackazat beefs up the drums and has them skip over a warm b-line. Londoner Daisybelle cranks things up a notch, turning in some bumping deep garage. Brazilian duo From House To Disco then head into the cosmos on a journey whose blissed-out chords are primed and ready to melt hearts.

FLYING MOJITOS BROS / JUST PASSING THROUGH / UBIQUITY RECORDS

Just Passing Through is the first set of original tracks from desert disco maestros The Flying Mojito Bros. These Glastonbury and Pikes favourites shake a distinctive take on nostalgic Americana, reimagining country funk and yacht rock as perfect poolside and sundown party grooves. Accomplished guests like Pearl Charles, Hero Fisher and Joe Stoddart all help bring these tunes alive. From the starry-eyed acid cover of the Steve Miller Band classic, ‘Wild Mountain Honey‘, to the sparkling Arps and `70s guitar licks of “New Mexico ’76‘, it’s a wonderful, musically rich trip.

SALTY MILLER / ALBUM #1 / MILES AWAY RECORDS

Salty Miller’s ‘Album #1‘ is a under the radar beach classic, with a soothing Southern sound influenced by doo-wop, soul, and R&B icon, such as The Drifters and The Tams. Miller started out in a college band, in the `60s, and had a number of chart hits. However, it was in 1980 that he hooked up with an array of session musicians to record this, his only solo album. As breezy as it is brilliant, the 12 tracks are perfect for lazy afternoons, kicking back and soaking up some rays.

BOB THE EGOIST / I’M STILL THE SAME PERSON / WIDE AWAKE RECORDS

Bob The Egoist is Daniel Pardo, a Colombian-born musician and producer based in Barcelona. His debut solo EP, on Felipe Gordon’s Wide Awake Records features rich sampling and skilled chord progressions. Together with this pal Beto, the track ‘Fever‘ pairs erotic, seductive whispers with chunky drums and funky bass, in a style that’s simple but seriously effective. ‘New Beginnings‘ has a lush arrangement that’s alive with inventive synth work, shaken percussion and neo-soul vocals. ‘Ride Club‘ scats its way over a walking jazz bassline and splashy cymbals, with a swing that will have floors in a spin.

DAN THE DRUM & STUART PATTERSON / HOUSE SERMON / F*CLR 

North Londoners Dan the Drum & Stuart Patterson set out to make a house track that paid homage to classic US cuts from days gone by, and boy, have they succeeded. Their ‘UK House Sermon‘ has it all – a standout and smoky soul vocal from London House Choir‘s Carmy Love, feel-good piano and a melodic bass-line. The icing on the cake, though, is Patterson’s shout outs to key parties and players in the UK house’s history. It adds up to a shivers-down-the-spine celebration, with remixes from heavyweights X-Press 2, and Ashley Beedle’s North Street West, making this an irresistible package.

MARCEL VOGEL & TIM JULES / JUST BECAUSE (REMIXES) / LUMBERJACKS IN HELL 

The effortlessly eclectic Marcel Vogel is back with another of his timeless singles, this time with Dutchman Tim Jules. They also enlist the help of Javonntte, a deep house don who connects the past with the present and turns out a magnificently tender vocal that harks back to early Fingers Inc. The drums and bass are also in the classic house mould, and topped with a knotty, funky bass riff. LYMA brings a hint of disco-funk to the first remix, then Stefan Ringer softens the edges for a dreamy late-night love-in. Floyd Vader taps into the spiritual realm with his shuffling broken beat gem.

SUMMER HEATWAVE / THE DISCO EXPRESS

Tom Lilly‘s The Disco Express is departing the station again and you’d be mad not to hop on board. It’s another colourful trip to nu-disco town courtesy of an array of top-tier talents, with La Felix kicking off with a sunny hip-swinger. Maryag provides pumping drums and jazzy horns. A Bosq remix combines dancing keys with effortlessly cool Spanish vocals. The ever-reliable Dr Packer comes through with a classic that echoes the best of Chic. Label regulars Magnolia, Third Attempt and Bustin’ Loose aka Lilly see things out with a trio of delightfully classy and catchy, summer-ready delights.

ROB J MADIN / MONSTRO / MILES AWAY RECORDS

Rob J Madin is next up on Miles Away Records with a terrific collection of tasteful jazz-funk covers, and some cultured originals, all made in his Sheffield attic studio. ‘Bouquet Garni‘ burrows deep into your brain with its ear worm refrain and wiggling bass. Michael Miglio‘s ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’ gets a super slow-motion rework. ‘Cherryade‘ has a glorious 70s sound. Rupa’s ‘Ayee Morshumea’ becomes a funky Latin twister. ‘Callisto Disco‘ is a pumping party starter. ‘Heartacher‘ ends the proceedings with a tender, love struck, cosmic day dream.

EURO NETTUNO & BRUNO BELLISSIMO / BRUNO BOOGIE / POLYAMORE 

Bruno Belissimo and Italian duo Euro Nettuno are about to lodge their mad colourful new jam, ‘Bruno Boogie’, deep in your brain, and there is nothing you can do about it. A colossal collision of disco energy and unique Indian influences, it fuses the spirit of golden era Rimini and Mumbai into what’s sure to become this summer’s biggest anthem. Rush Hour and Bordello A Parigi man Daniel Monaco takes the weird and wonderful pitched-up vocal hook and joyful horns and adds a big, funky breakbeat.

JASPER JAMES / HOUSE IT UP / CHIWAX

Jasper James is back with the sort of highly effective house sounds that have made him such a firm underground favourite. His return to Chiwax begins with the 90s tinged ‘No Metronome‘, which is full of teasing filters and sleazy whispers. ‘House It Up‘ is more playful, with off-grid keys and clipped vocals bringing a wild energy, while ‘Mission 770‘ is a blend of disco percussion and sweeping Balearic chords for zoned out dancing. ‘Do You Play House‘ is harder and more paired back, with a swinging, dubby low-end and a sense of tension, borrowed from techno, that keeps you locked in with your hands up and head down.

FREQUENCIES OF LOVE / NOT AN ANIMAL

Not An Animal introduces Tom Rankin, aka Frequencies Of Love, an artist from the Northeast of England who impresses with his debut EP. A collision of everything from breaks to tech, rave to electro and disco, it starts with the new age rush of ‘Tucan‘, which comes complete with crashing breaks and bird calls. ‘Bpsyde‘ is driving, cosmic, and marbled with acid magic. ‘Pegasus‘ has a throwback 80s disco feel, with retro synths and big strings. Fantastic Man rounds things out with a typically brilliant rework that lights up your soul with its life-affirming melodies and surging drums.