Rdy Vinyl & CDs

Review: It's hard to imagine how different club culture would be without Ron Hardy, the legendary American pioneer who set out the blueprint for how DJs should play. His own edits often formed plenty of the backbone of his sets back in the 70s and for many years the RDY label has been serving up some of his most reliable and go-to records. This 54th installment is a tasteful four-tracker that draws on house, gospel, disco and soul. 'I Have A Dream' kicks off with some raw Chicago jack, 'Dub Love' is a stripped-back sound full of menace and 'Hot Hands' gets busy with textural claps and screwy acid getting ever more wild. 'Acid' shuts down with mid-tempo drums full of rawness.

Review: The legend of Ron Hardy will always live on - the pioneering selector changed the way dance music was played and consumed in clubs. His own edits were the backbone of his often intensely emotional and celebratory sound and this Ray label has long been putting out the best of them. Number 53 in the series kicks off with the cosmic synths and soothing vocal harmonies of 'Atmosphere Strut' before 'Classy Dance Orchestra' gets all elegant and sophisticated in its approach to disco. Captain Dax's 'Dr Beezar' is the last cut and another direct line to the sound of Paradise Garage in the 70s.