The one slice of wax that hasn’t left my turntable this week is the stupendous Emperor Machine’ remix of “Little Boots” – a track off the latest and much acclaimed DJ Harvey’s Locussolus album. Delivering a blistering El Topo style disco chugger, the Emperor has left my 1210s in a state of delirium.

Released next week on heavyweight vinyl and featuring impressive remixes from the likes of Lindstrom & Prins Thomas, Andrew Weatherall and the aforementioned Emperor Machine, the International Feel released 12” is well worth getting your mitts on.

Released in 1984, Funk Deluxe self-titled record was one of the last long players album released on the legendary Salsoul imprint. Brainchild of former Brass Construction and Skyy musician Randy Muller, Funk Deluxe’s “This Time” is a timeless excursion into slick 80s boogie and funk.

Carrying shades of Sharon Redd’s “Beat The Street” with its elastic bassline and tough yet slightly shimmery vocals, this little gem should be as highly regarded as the aforementioned Redd classic.

Funk Deluxe – This Time (Original 12 inch Mix)

Best known for his scores to cult Euro crime classics such as “Roma a mano armata” (Rome Armed to the Teeth), “Napoli violenta” (Violent Naples) and the hilariously camp rip-off of The Exorcist,  “Chi Sei?” (Beyond the Door)*, Franco Micalizzi is one of the finest yet slightly overlooked Italian composers of the seventies. If you’re a newcomer to his works, then his score to Gianni Paradisi’s 1979 film Stridulum is the perfect place to start.

Without going on about the film too much (you can read about the utterly bonkers plot here), Micalizzi’s deep euro funk and disco soundtrack seeps through the craziness on screen with effortless aplomb. The undisputable highlight is the stirring epic “Running Away From Jerzy”, which has the right balance of dramatic melodies and some serious funky flute action.

Franco Micalizzi – Running Away From Jerzy

Sunshine glorious sunshine! Hope everyone had a great Easter and soaked up as many  groovy rays as possible. As I’m back from my hols (boo!), let’s keep the “vacation” spirit going with a bit of Bebu Silvetti.

Taken from Mr. Silvetti’s 1976 Salsoul LP, Worlds Without Words, ‘Silvia’s Picture’ is a simple yet sumptuous summer delight. Two and a bit minutes of mellow magic (as well being slightly cinematic), this should be consumed with a large glass of Chablis in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Now go and find yourself a sun lounger and put on some shades, I heard it’s gonna rain tomorrow…

Silvetti – Silvia’s Picture

Described by their label as being one of the finest purveyors of “bunga bunga funk”, Italy’s disco luminaries Phreek Plus One are back with a new album due for release next week. Hurrah!

Phreek Party features tracks off their classic Compost Black Label EPs, including “Bikini”, “Astro Boogie”, “The Model” and a few other corkers.

Anyway, you can have a hear glimpse of the album with today’s track, “Sottocosto”. With some nice ‘n’ heavy synth keys and a deep disco bassline, the track shimmers with a Balearic glow which is just perfect with today’s sunshine and all.

As I mentioned earlier, the LP is out next week, so make sure you try and track it down!

Phreek Plus One Myspace

Compost Black Label

I was devastated to hear about the passing of Loleatta Holloway this morning, who died of a heart failure at the age of 64. As one of the most distinctive voices of disco, Loleatta provided many, including myself, the soundtrack to many wonderful nights, with her voice leaving dance floors shaking and inspired. Best known for the extensively sampled 1980 hit ‘Love Sensation’ and many a Salsoul standard, Holloway’s powerful and unforgettable voice forged a memorable and magical chapter in dance music history.

So here’s to you Loleatta, there’ll never be another like you.

Loleatta Holloway (November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011)

Loleatta Holloway – Catch Me on the Rebound (Walter Gibbons 12″ mix)

Funky Brazilian legend Eumir Deodato has a few jazzified disco classics to his name, from his stupendous nine-minute spaced version of Also Sprach Zarathustra to perennial disco compilation favourites Super Strut and Whistle Bump, his catchy Latin rhythms still resonate today.

“S.O.S Fire In The Sky ” was released in 1984 and was the opening track of Deodato’s album Motion. Upbeat and leaning more towards the HI-NRG way of life (if ya know what I mean), the song was recently included on the fantastic Disco Discharge series further confirming the Man from Rio’s enduring appeal.

Deodato – S.O.S (Fire In The Sky)

Arthur Russell re-works are ten a penny these days, but you can always rely on those quality purveyors of underground house, E.A.R, to provide an early Easter treat with an electric re-boot of the beloved Russell classic ‘This Is How We Walk On The Moon’.

Justin Harris produces a stunning and individual reconstruction which manages to update and harness the tender beauty of the original whilst making dancefloors all over the world swoon in delight.

A 12” release is due in the second week of March and is backed with a stellar Rob Mello No Ear Mix. Make no mistake, this fifth E.A.R release will be in many a DJ boxes for months to come.

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Sorry for the lack of post action this month, my neck has been a right pain in the ne-…oh. Alongside the ice packs and chiropractor appointments, the sweet sounds of Curtis Mayfield’s forgotten disco track  Tell Me, Tell Me have been aiding my recovery rather nicely.

This rather rare track from The Gentle Genius was released in 1979 and was produced by Ron Tyson and Norman Harris. The former Salsoul and MFSB duo provide a soft funk backdrop to Mayfield’s easy and sumptuous vocals, wiping away any neck aches and worries. Ahhh… That’s the stuff.

Curtis Mayfield – Tell Me Tell Me (How Ya Like To Be Loved)

The naughty boys over at the magnificent Feel My Bicep are feelin’ a bit sleazy and have dropped off five of the most filthiest dancefloor tracks.  From dark & menacing warehouse Trax to early morning disco bliss, the Bicep boys have provided the perfect mini- cruising playlist. Make sure you catch the Bicep crew flexing their disco muscle alongside Neville Watson at the Dalston Superstore on Feb 11th (see flyer below!).

Anyway, enough of my yapping, let’s get dirty!

Feel My Bicep

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WIRED – TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUM

This is dark analog 80s sleaze of the first degree, there’s something so wrong about that bassline… surely the theme-tune to an underground Ukrainian fetish-club circa 1986! You could’ve 100 variations of this track and they’d all sound like horrendously vulgar tasteless euro-pop (infact i’m pretty sure I got a batch of said material thrown in free with my first set of decks) but somehow, like many of the italo-esque tracks we post, there’s just that bizarre (and sometimes accidental) quality, that just make them brilliant.  Honestly, I’ve dropped this at 4am a few times and it completely rips the ceiling down!

SKATT BROS. – WALK THE NIGHT

Dark late 70s gay anthem that rocks the show every time it’s dropped.

FRANKIE KNUCKLES & JAMIE PRINCIPAL – BABY WANTS TO RIDE

This track defines SLEAZE. Absolute filth, We were having difficulties tracking this version down, but here she is. This is exactly the kinda’ kipper you could expect from one of the darker themed Optimo nights up in Glasgow.  Frankie Knuckles = pure New York slime. We love.

FINGERS INC. – FEELIN’ SLEAZY

I know quite a few of my friends rate ‘Another Side’ as one of their most influential albums of all time. It haunts of deep late night sleaze and none more than this song. Dark vocals and misleading lyrics make this track so compelling, you know this track comes from experience and there are lots of hidden meanings behind it. If jackin-up smack on the street outside Paradise Garage had a sound this would be it!

MS. SHARON RIDLEY – CHANGES (BOOTLEG RE-EDIT)

There was no official 12″ release but the song found it’s way onto many important dj playlists especially those who embraced the sleazy, morning music genre such as Larry Levan and Lary Sanders.