Search results: Odyssey

Review: Donna Allen's 'Serious' is a stone-cold boogie classic whose acapella subsequently appeared in all manner of dance tracks from the early '90s onwards (most famously Strike's brilliantly OTT house classic 'U Sure Do'). Here 'remix-a-classic' specialists High Fashion get to work dragging the track into 2023, which will no doubt infuriate purists but delight those who have always longed for slightly faster and heavier mixes (the original rolls at around 110 BPM). Label regular Michael Gray steps up first with a tasteful, string-laden disco-house re-make that's actually quite radically different, whilst including enough of Allen's vocal and original version to make it familiar. Wayne Soul Avengerz and Odyssey Inc take a different approach, retaining most of the original instrumentation whilst upping the tempo and beefing up the beats.

Review: As far as funky house power partnerships go, how about Bobby & Steve and Byron Stingily teaming up, with Louie Vega on remix duties? As you might expect, this record is teeming with soulful, gospel-powered vibes, next level musicianship and Stingily's eternally life-affirming voice at the centre of the storm. Louie Vega's "Roots NYC Remix" of "They Can't Understand It" is a sure shot of club ready perfection - a super tight rhythm section, all the coolest parts looped up and a sweet bass groove to lock on to. However Bobby & Steve's original production is an irrepressible burst of joy, all overheating organs and huge chorus lines, massive drum fills and funky clav - it's maximal to the max and bold enough to reach the stars.

Review: The Now series is legendary for any one of us over a certain age. Back during our early childhood years, they were the first and last word of what was hot when it came to popular music of the day. Every few months, a new numbered collection would drop and give you access to all the hits you knew as well as some you didn't. In later years they branched out into specialist genres from funk to soul to dance. This bumper four CD collection brings together the very best 12"s of 1981 and despite the small remit, there is plenty to go at, as the easy-to-love tracklist shows.

Review: There is no end to the amount of music that NOW has served up over its many years in the music business. From its thrice-yearly pop comps to its vast decades-long snapshots, it has always offered up the freshest pop hits in fulsome fashion. This latest collection, NOW That's What I Call 80s Dancefloor: Disco & Electro, is a double vinyl album on purple and pink wax that brings together the best disco and electro of the 80s. All the names you'd expect feature from Malcolm McLaren & The World's Famous Supreme Team to Shannon with Freeze, Chaka Khan and more also adding weight.