CHARLES MAURICE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Charles Maurice shows off his digging skills once again with a collection of tunes that does exactly what it says on the tin. He delves into the album oriented rock archives of countries as far and wide as France, the United Kingdom and Venezuela to come up eight rare and hidden gems. The series started back in 2015 and still makes for essential listening now with gems like 'Don't Take It Away' by Westside - a love song about a new relationship, recorded in Minnesota and mastered on Sunset Bld. Sugar Cane's 'What You Do To Me' is another loved up gem with real romance in the chords.

Review: On his fourth exploration of the world of global "Adult Oriented Rock", French crate-digger Charles Maurice focuses on the period between 1977 and '86. That means a greater emphasis on synthesizers, dusty drum machines and the kind of sparkling melodies that would once have drifted from daytime radio at an alarming rate. There's much to enjoy throughout, from the dewy-eyed synth-soul of Arlana's "When You Call My Name" and the breezy boogie of Omega Sunrise's "Too Hip", to the sparse Balearic bliss of Isabelle Mayereau's "Orange Bleue", the flute-laden easy listening hum of Fernando Toussaint, the sax-happy '80s sleaze of Special Occasion's brilliant "Flyin' To Santa Barbara" and the jaunty Latino jazz-funk of "Mellow Out" by Pacific Dreams.

Review: For those intrigued by the distinctively Gallic but authentically American-sounding world of French disco-boogie, Charles Maurice's ongoing compilation series should be essential listening. Here he serves up a third instalment that's every bit as good as its' acclaimed predecessors. Highlights naturally come thick and fast throughout, from the mid-80s dreaminess of Maya's undeniably Balearic "Lait De Coco (Dub)" and the Brenda Taylor-ish bounce of Judy Carter's brilliant "Listen to the Music", to the Leroy Burgess style piano stabs and Patrick Adams-ish disco production of Caramel's "L'Amour Toujours L'Amour". Oh, and the late night radio warmth of NST Cophies' "Segregation", a sweet, undulating workout that will no doubt find favour with Balearic selectors.

Review: Pascal Rioux's Favorite Recordings hasn't put out a dud record since its inception back in 2006 and, along with introducing us to artists like Onra, the imprint is surely one of the most complete sources of disco and nu-disco available on the market. Their most recent series, AOR Global Sounds, have all the makings of future classics, and this is especially true given the fact that all of its tunes have been lost in the depths of time and greedy Discogs sellers. The third chapter in the series features tunes from between 1976 and 1985, carefully curated by Charles Maurice with the aim of showcasing various disco artists from around the world that have been influenced by the inimitable 'Westcoast' boogie sound. Make no mistake, these tunes are all rare-as-hens-teeth, and you're unlikely to find them pressed up on wax anywhere else. Although each tune features a different artist, from Stratus through to Funky Team or even Brazil's Willy Santana, this is very much an LA kinda thang. An essential comp for anyone serious about their boogie joints...

Review: Archivist, historian and dedicated crate digger Maurice continues his exploration of global AOR, a genre whose spotlight is usually hogged by successful US and UK acts. Focusing on the era's peak between 75-83 this second edition finds him striking gold in Australia (Renee Geyer Band's jazz-tickled "Two Sides"), Yugoslavia (Boban Petrovic's disco-licked "Prepad") Hawaii (Greg Yoder's Balearic Cat Stevens strummer "Things Were So Easy") and his native France (Carol Ray Band's yacht-primed boogie "Quelques Mots Gentils) Crisp production, stylistic melting pots and soft of the soul; AOR really was a global language.

Review: French groove connoisseur Charles Maurice digs deep into Brazil's once-thriving boogie and disco movement. All tracks recorded between 1977-84, most of them rarely - if ever - released outside of Brazil, it's a bounty of beautifully produced silky soul curated, arranged and delivered with authenticity. Highlights include the syrupy harmonies and Chic-style guitar and bass foundations of Brenda's "Natureza Viva", Lady Zu's cat-like mic purring on "Valeu A Pena" and the soaking wet synth/slap bass fusion and jazz chords on Rosana's "Alegria No Ar". Sun kissed.