Five tracks vol. 5

I'll always have a tiny bit of regret that I gave this blog such a dogshit name. And it was especially stupid when all I was posting was DIRTY ELECTRO HOUSE BANGERS. But you can't be that mad at someone who was a little baby. What I can do is share some actual nice disco music to make amends. 

Norman Connors - Once I've Been There



It bursts out of the gates at full pelt with horns blaring and strings stringing, winding up a wild crescendo before dropping into one of the slickest mid-tempo disco grooves I know, filled with big band hits and ultra-funky, cruising verses. I just adore this record so much, and it hits so hard on a big system.



First Choice - Double Cross (Larry Levan Remix)



If I could have heard one record at the Paradise Garage, it may well be this one. Other versions of it don't work nearly as well - Larry arranged this mix to perfection, from the dramatic acapella > strings intro to the questionably chirpy early chorus/verses then launching into the real meat of the song, the phenomenally funky slap bass-driven dance floor nuke section. The first couple of minutes are a bit of a whirlwind and never hint at the gooey goodness at the centre.


Jaymz Bedford - Happy Music



It's sinfully repetitive, but I guess that's what dance music typically does, and I could listen to this squishy bass magic for eternity. This is the kind of tune you can imagine inspiring the birth of Popular People's Unlimited (is that label still a valid reference point?) and despite being recorded in 1981 it sounds absurdly fresh. Heavy chugging electronic funk with a happy message.


Alex Rodriguez - El Mercardo



You just don't hear enough '70s Latin American jazz-funk fusion that features thundering timpanis. Pretty cowardly, really. This stunning nugget by Venezuelan guitarist Alex Rodriguez (who only has one solo album to his name, sadface) manages to hang onto plenty of South American sauciness while still being an all-out, high-octane shredfest. Must have been a bonkers session to sit in on.


Poncho C. Saint Fingers - When I Come Knocking



I think I may have already given a nod to Andy Hart's ripper RA podcast recently, and either way there's more to come. I fell in love with this track instantly with its wobbling bassline and silky smooth boogie vibe. Another sad one-off, Poncho C. Saint Fingers (sick name) seemingly only released the one 7-inch in 1980. Why do that :(

Thank you for indulging me. 

Paradise Recovered

Ladies and gentledudes, you have only one homework assignment this week: set aside a good five hour chunk of time and experience this absolutely incredible relic from Paradise Garage's second birthday party, 1979, which was aired for the first time ever on Saturday. Following an hour or so of brilliant interviews and scene-setting, you've got around 4 hours of one of the most sensational things ever put to tape. Starting off with mind blowing live performances from Sylvester and Dan Hartman, it documents a spectacular night at the mythical Garage with disco music's equivalent of Jesus, Larry Levan, spinning for over three hours on the best quality recording I've heard from the era.

This is pure disco education. The music is spectacular and the message is timeless. It's so exciting that something like this should surface some 30-odd years later and still be completely relevant and thrilling - there are so many moments that made me shiver with pleasure. It looks like the broadcast will only be available to stream for another 5 days, after that I might just pop up an mp3 rip of it if that's kosher. In any case, get stuck in and get inspired. Invite some friends round, play it loud have a good time!

BBC Legends of the Dance Floor: A Piece Of Paradise - Paradise Garage's 2nd Birthday Party

Have a lovely weekend everybody - I'm heading up to spin a couple of records at Splendour early on Friday if anyone else is hitting it up. Got some nice new records to post up next week too. Much love!

Under Cover

I'd like to say it's been a slow music week but that's not at all true - some ridiculous(ly good) looking releases have popped up, I just haven't got around to listening to anything. Been a bit crook, been a bit lazy etc. and still feeling a bit drained. Anyway I'll just post a few things that I've been thinking about sharing for a while. Such as this magnificent Leo Zero production on The Popular People's Front's LOVE EP. Super funky and soulful with a few little Leo quirks. A total feel-good gospel party jam. I have no idea who actually represents The PPF in the live field, but catch him/her/them/it/who? this Saturday at La Campana in Sydney. More deets. WOOP.

The Popular People's Front - Church Love

Yaa, can't go wrong with another classic Levan remix. Bow bow biw bidow. Bidow-dow-dow dadow. Dabadab-daya dabadab-daya *clap clap*. Sing it now!

Jimmy Ross - First True Love Affair (Larry Levan Mix)

This is more on the new side. I really love what old mate Prins Thomas has done with this Jacob Korn track which is originally, although playful, a bit aggressive. He's turned whatever darkness was lurking about into warm summer light with his trademark loose-and-legit drumming, some lovely cheerful guitars and jolly whistling synths. Not to say the original is at all bad - no, it's great! - but this really does an all out mood transformation. Nothing particularly exciting or bold happens at any stage in the 13 minute cruise, save for a classic Prins amateur (and cute) drum solo for the last few minutes, but it's just beautiful banana lounge music to soak up some rays to. Ultra pleasant!

Jacob Korn - I Like The Sun (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) [buy]

I've been meaning to post this for quite a while but can never decide what I want to say about it. Is it a fantastic nostalgic gem? Or perhaps it's been a bit overhyped and it's more bland than people are letting on. Anyway it's the first in the Tribute series of special edit records by some unnamed producers *cough Autodisco DJs*. After all this time I'm not sure I feel like having an opinion on it. My record is really warped so it's unlikely to get played anyway.

Happy Mondays - We Love Mondays [buy]

Bring more sun plz. And less wind. See you Saturday, friends!

Prodigious Disco

Have been listening to Harvey's famed '98 Essential Mix plenty in these last sunny weeks, and every time remember how much I fucking adore this song. It really is classic beyond classic. I think I slightly prefer Larry's remix to the original 12" mix, since it's a bit better structured for the club and it seems a hair beefier. It's just one of those songs where every element is memorable and the whole thing comes together perfectly. Pretty much as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned.

Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up (Larry Levan Remix)

This is an absolutely colossal beast of a track upped and slightly edited by Rolfski on his excellent Deep Disco Soundcloud group. 14-odd minutes of epic spacey psychedelic disco jam. The original is the work of supreme producer/writer Celso Valli, perhaps best known for his groundbreaking releases as Azoto. This Patrick Cowley remix is just insanely big, a total sweat-factory. Thank you Rolfski!

Tantra - The Hills of Katmandu (Patrick Cowley Remix)

YES YES YES In Flagranti's latest Sounds Superb re-edits record is out on Juno Download. This one is a bit more of a party edition than some of its predecessors. The first track, Leach Power, is the most fun of the three - saturated in that signature IF sort-of-humourous/ironic merry holiday vibe. Sorta sounds like The Clash turned 80s flamboyant synth rock. I think I read somewhere the 12" is out on the 18th (this Friday) but you can get it digitally as of yesterday. Not that it wasn't predictable, but it's another expert release.

Servo - Leach Power [buy]

This is an awesome little disco nibble released as a 7" on the minuscule NYC Sound Record/Japanese Import Record imprint, somehow affiliated with/stemming from Loft Records. From what I can gather, Yoshi Nakamura aka King Onkyo is some hip collector from Tokyo who has clearly delved into some deep crates. The A-side here just pops in from nowhere with some cute funky disco, agogos and cowbells blazing, funky bassline strutting. The B is great too! This is pretty limited so snag a copy while you can. More goodies from Loft on the way.

King Onkyo - Untitled [buy]

Got a bunch more brilliant tunes to let loose this week (hopefully) so get excited!

Compiling

Have been listening to some great compilations this past week which are bobbing my yacht big time. At last got my hands on some of the old Dirty cds which I've been after for ages and they're magnificent. Dirty Space Disco especially, and the first track Atlantis is a good indication of why. The track is utterly sublime, like an underwater disco in space. If such a place exists. Larry Levan's remix off the first Dirty Diamonds album is saturated in hip jumpy energy - it's heaps of fun! If you can find a copy of either of these fab compact discs definitely snatch them up.

John Forde - Atlantis

Grace Jones - Pull Up The Bumper (Larry Levan Garage Mix)

Morgan Geist's collection of "obscure electronic funk and disco", Unclassics, is a pretty solid piece of plastic as well. This track by Discotheque is one of the more conventional sounding tracks - I could have posted something more interesting but I'm a sucker for the disco claps. All the music is from 1978 - 85 so none of it is really in what you might call a 'safe zone', but that's half the fun. Yeah, check this one out too.

Discotheque - Disco Special

After Dark, a comp put out by Italians Do It Better, is another I've been getting into which is more on the laid back airy side. This Glass Candy track especially works for me.. The glammy dramatic strings, the irritating whiny girl vocals, the funky rolling bassline.

Glass Candy - Miss Broadway

I was going to post something from the upcoming Full Pupp greatest hits album but in the end couldn't really justify it with any of the tracks. I find the label is really hit and miss, and most of the good stuff is from Prins Thomas anyway. His other artists really aren't making particularly groundbreaking music... So for the sake of filling this gap, cop this gem instead. Beautiful epic disco by French band Martin Circus.

Martin Circus - Disco Circus

The end.