Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Maledetta Discoteca closes out its year with this special blue vinyl featuring a mix of brilliant Italo disco artists. They all hail from Italy and Argentina and are editing originals that span disco, electro, proto-house and more. Hararis' 'Si No Pagan' is the first under the scalpel and is a funky cut with raw drums. Lance's 'Yo Quiero A Lucy' is a more slowed down and seductive sound with 80s synths, Marta Paradise's 'Calling' (edit) is a direct and sugar synth laced house stomper and Alan Strani's 'Tension Salsable' brings things to a closer with a nice stomping disco grove with mysterious synths and lush percussion.

Review: Some labels deal only in pristine soul legitness - and Celestial Echo are one such set of aesthetes. A reissues label, Celestial Echo focuses on modern soul and boogie, and is curated by Miche (Michael Davies) and Stu Clark. Following three impressively chosen sonic chrisms, all reissued in 2024 - releases by Glenda McLeod, Brutal Force and Winfield Parker - comes this fourth foray into one of the best-loved and perhaps only publicly known tunes by the obscure boogie singer Lisa Hill: 'I Am On The Real Side'. New York's Qit Records were the original purveyors of this track, though its initial obscurity is so baffling to us that we'd guess some case of derelict nobility was at play here; either that, or there was just this much amazing soul music being made in the big city at the time! Here, Hill proclaims her place on the right side of love, with a lyrical emphasis on the object of her passions proving themself to her before she submits.

Review: Second time around for Hudson People's most celebrated single, 1979's obscure and suitably hard to find 'Trip To Your Mind'. The track was originally released on a couple of different labels, and mixes from both 12-inches are featured on this reissue. The 'Hit House' version, which we think was mixed by the band's leader and in-house producer, is a superb dancefloor jazz-funk epic rich in disco-funk licks, a driving groove, jammed-out electric piano lines, punchy horns, occasional vocal refrains and duelling rock and jazz style guitar solos. On the flip you'll find the breezier and arguably more club-focused remix by UK jazz-funk legends (and Funk Mafia members) Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent, a version that dubs out the vocals a little, prioritises the percussion and adds some superb sax solos.

Review: Jazz Peace has been digging in the archives to put together this new and limited 12", 'Happy Tears'. The original 1975 studio sessions captured the essence of Stockholm, Sweden, with tracks from the unreleased album Wildlife. Recorded during a pivotal moment in the mid-70s, this 45 offers up raw, unfiltered material that offers a glimpse into the creative process of the era. The music blends rich instrumentation with experimental flair that delivers a unique sound that's both nostalgic and timeless.