Rain & Shine Vinyl & CDs

Review: Astonishingly, original copies of Energize's 1979 private press single "Piece of Class" have changed hands for over 500 quid online. Helpfully, Rain & Shine have decided to save us all a few bob by slinging out this licensed reissue. The title track is something of a bustling disco-funk gem - a genuinely wonderful fusion of hazy vocals, dueling horn solos, spacey synthesizer flourishes and driving bass guitar. B-side "Star of the Disco" is an even more up-tempo affair, with mazy saxophone solos, rasping horn stabs and starry jazz-funk keys riding a walking bassline and high-octane disco drums.

Review: Gospel lovers are already well hip to the Soul Is My Salvation series, but for those who are not, be sure to check out the previous installments on Rain & Shine. This is a bonus chapter that packs in plenty more heat, dance floor gold and spirit-lifting words and music. These tunes are from the seventies and eighties and this one packs a real punch with a pair of tunes that brim with unbridled gospel energy and lung-busting vocals. Souls A' Fire's 'Bread Of Life' is a pumper with nice funky bass and wah-wah's guitar to spare and Liberated Gospel Choir then take it deep with 'Bon Appetit.'