Taking their cue from Antonin Artuad and his studies of ancient Mexico solar culture, Material’s Ciguri is a dark and warped piece of ‘punk-funk’ disco. Released on Red Records in 1981, this special disco mix 12” combines one wicked bassline from one of the stalwarts of the New York ‘Downtown’ scene, Bill Laswell, with the awesome musicianship of Fred Maher and Robert Quine, resulting in another spooky and avant-garde gem from the maverick Laswell.

Material – Ciguri

Blast away the grey skies with this infectious jam from Peter Gordon’s Love of Life Orchestra. Featuring celebrated collaborators Arto Lindsay and David Byrne, today’s SOTD is the opener and title track to Gordon’s 1981 EP.

The Extended Niceties EP famously includes the much lauded tracks ‘Beginning of The Heartache’ and ‘Don’t Don’t’ (big favourites with DFA) but there’s no reason for you to skip through this weirdly fun slice of avant-garde No Wave disco. With plenty of crazy sax to keep you amused and a fantastic boogie-woogie bass line, it will get you grooving and moving throughout the week. Maybe through to the weekend too.

Love of Life Orchestra – Extended Niceties

Released in 1984 on the legendary Sleeping Bag Records, Felix was the brainchild of Arthur Russell and Gallery DJ Nicky Siano. ‘You Can’t Hold Me Down’ was the b-side to their classic tune ‘Tiger Stripes’ (Russell refused to take any recording credit for Felix, due to his immense dislike for the song – the crazy fool, it’s an absolute belter!).

With it’s snappy yet druggy grooves and jagged keyboards, it shows off the incredible talent of Russell and the dance savvy of Siano. A disjointed and soulful downtown disco track, it’s one of the many gems that can be found lurching in Sleeping Bag’s glorious back catalogue.

It’s a ‘bad little kitten’!

Felix – You Cant Hold Me Down (extended version)

Coming out of the early-’80s Britfunk movement, London’s Funkmasters may seem an unlikely source for a New York disco classic. Though this record did not do well in good ol’ Blighty when released. ‘Love Money’ was a firm favourite with Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage.  Levan even used it as the basis for his own project Man Friday with the song ‘Love Honey’ (see what he did there?).

With the right blend of funk and laid back downtown NY grooves, this is bang on the money.

TW Funkmasters Love Money

TW Funkmasters Love Money