Category: Disco

Dare Myself – Saison & Amy Douglas

We are now deep into Autumn in the UK, but if any track is going to transport you back to sunnier climes then it will be Dare Myself. In fact, it might just transport you back further – it has a really uncomplicated energy that feels ready-made for MTV Dance circa 2007. Pretty infectious. Enjoy.

This track was released in May on Future Disco. I came across it on the excellent Future Disco Radio. They release weekly mixes with guest artists and label boss Sean Brosnan (no, not Pierce’s son).

RADIO

Enlightenment is now – Gambian Disco Express & 12tree

It might feel like Summer is coming to end. But maybe it doesn’t have to. Maybe Summer was really all the friends you made along the way. Here’s one more friend to make before it’s too late. Sisters and brothers, enlightenment is now.

It’s a groovy stomper if ever I’ve heard one. The track is a collaboration between Robin Twelftree, The Gambia and Bongo Koi. It was recorded at the culmination of a drive in a Mercedes from London to Gunjur, on the banks of the River Gambia. The vocals belong to none other than Joseph N’Gole, a mystic. How about that.

The vinyl release also has a delightful less edited version, which is well worth picking up if that tickles your fancy. You can hear a snippet and pick that up here.

Shout out to Ben Gomori’s Turned On podcast for the tip.

RIP Danielle Moore (Crazy P)

“Oh I’m missing you for all the sun you shine. There’s a colour missing from the rainbow. Given time we will be dancing once again. I’ll be listening to hear your calling”

I wonder if you’ll be with me on this: I’ve been listening to and loving Crazy P for a long while; they’ve given me a lot of amazing moments, most memorably seeing them at Great Suffolk Street Warehouse, Metropolis and Printworks. But I’ve never really taken the time to find out about who they are. And it is only today, with the sudden, tragic death of lead singer and all-round badass front-woman Danielle Moore at the young age of 52 that I’ve read more about her and the group.

There are much better places to read about her life (including here). But I’ll just say that she is a massive loss, and she will be missed for her music, her individuality and her presence. There aren’t many electronic groups or producers out there that infuse the level of emotion they do in their music, while maintaining a powerful groove.

Here are my top 6 tracks, but it could easily have been a longer list. Mark my works, each of them have the power to give you goosebumps. RIP Danielle.

Nothing beats Heartbreaker. An all-time classic with an instantly recognisable and beautifully elongated intro.

Like a Fool has another classic and beautifully shimmery intro and just gets better and better with the vocals.

The build to the second drop in Cruel Mistress is from another planet.

This one is really built around Danielle’s vocals.

Open For Service really gets going 3 minutes in – a kitsch disco-infused set-opener.

Finally, from 2022, Medlar’s Remix of The Witness.

Meri Sun – Midnight Runners

Okay, this is about as obscure as it gets – credit to Ben Gomori for the find.

Midnight Runners are, in their own words, ‘Indonesia based Bandung bred DJs, producers, record label owner, graphic designer & music enthusiasts’. Meri Sun is on the compilation Bhangra Selection Cuts No. 2, the follow up to the wildly popular (maybe) Bhrangra Selection Cuts.

Anyway, what you need to know is that it fuses strong 80s disco camp with East Asian vibes and ends up with something tasty af.

Poolside.fm

Escapism is the name of the game today dear readers. And Poolside.fm does it just about better than anyone. Just the sexiest, most tanned collection of tracks and videos from a more colourful time.

So grab a towel, slap on the suncream and come poolside to enjoy what sounds like a collection of records collated by an 80s Floridian porn star. The sunniest spot on the internet.

https://poolside.fm/

Róisín Machine – Róisín Murphy

The inimitable Irish songstress Róisín Murphy back with her first album for 4 years.

The whole release has a really fun, chuggy, funky feel with heavy disco influences. As always, her vocals range from the sultry to the melodramatic in a way that only she can pull off.

There are some great tracks on the album (Simulation, We Got Together and Murphy’s Law are my picks) – but what really stands out is the quality of the package. The mixing has been given so much attention and love. Each track flows into the next in a natural, but original and exciting way. Maybe it is a bit of nerdy thing to call out, but it all comes together to create a very cool 54 minute experience that’ll give you a good lift.

Sidenote, she released this on her own label which is called Mickey Murphy’s Daughter. That has to be one of the best label names going.

New Shit Has Come to Light – Lovebirds

A cheeky little 3-tracker from Lovebirds. If I had to sum it up in three words I would say: happy dancefloor grooves.

But I don’t have to sum it up in three words. I have as many as I want. It’s my blog. Here are some more words.

It kicks off with Glove, a pleasing little house number with the kind of bassline that sort of went out of fashion in 2012, kicking in around 3 minutes in. Next we have Da Sixty – smooth where Glove is funk, but still with the time to incorporate a little Hugh Masakela sample. I don’t hate it. Finally, the stand-out track is Disco Train – as you would expect from the title it lifts heavily from Kiki Gyan’s song of the same name, but gives it a little bassy re-rub.

Not an EP that is ever going to blow your mind, but its nice, its tidy and it’ll give you some nice toe-tapping moments.

Bonus track: I’ve had to go to Youtube to find a full-length version of this beauty from 2011. Lovebirds’ all time #1 smasher, Want You in My Soul.