Collection: Disco/Funk/Soul

Metallic Print Sleeve Johnny Sais Quoi releases his debut release on Music From Memory - a 7-track LP entitled ‘Love On Ice.’ Channelling the spirit of Italo-pop and New Wave, ‘Love On Ice’ was crafted in the whirlwind of spontaneity and energy that changing circumstances often bring. Born from transition and exploring themes of leaving, arriving, coming together, and breaking up, ‘Love On Ice’ serves as an outlet to process, escape, and celebrate the challenges of a new life. Johnny crafts exquisite dancefloor-focused pop—familiar yet unique, imbued with his own touch, a distinctive sensibility, and a knack for infectious hooks. The opener, ‘No Guilty Pleasures,’ sets the tone immediately as Johnny works his magic with a palette of synths, drum machines, picked guitar, and processed vocals. The title track, ‘Love On Ice,’ delivers a classic Italo-infused dancefloor bomb, featuring a driving synth bass line overlaid by hypnotic arpeggios. There is much here for the dancer, but ‘Love On Ice’ also ventures beyond the dance floor; the closing tracks ‘Ref 23’ and ‘Let's Find A Home’ are prime examples, both showcasing Johnny’s depth and range with their melancholic, mellow atmosphere.

New compilation by Coco María on her own new founded imprint Club Coco. Comes with a 4 page folded insert. There are albums that aren’t just listened to—they’re lived in. Club Coco – New Dimensions in Latin Music is one of them. This compilation, curated by Coco María, marks the first release on her own label and serves as a sonic portrait of what Latin music can become when it’s guided by intuition rather than labels. Eleven tracks open the windows and cross continents as effortlessly as changing a song. Here, Neapolitan synthesizers coexist with digital cumbias, voices whisper from within the groove, and rhythms invite movement—without urgency or pretense. This selection isn’t defined by a genre but by a feeling: that of someone dancing with an open heart and keen ears. Each track is a postcard from a corner of the world, and also a love letter to rhythm and the emotions it stirs. From Bogotá to Naples, passing through Lima, Amsterdam, and New York, this compilation offers a journey where past and future brush against each other in the present moment. Club Coco doesn’t aim to define a sonic truth, but to invite listeners to discover new ways of hearing and feeling. The party has already started. Come on in.

Emerging from the depths of private-press obscurity, The People’s People Present The Spirit of David is a remarkable testament to the ambition and discipline of its creators. This singular album, originally recorded in 1974 and released in 1976, marks the first original work by tenor saxophonist Jeff Jones, who also arranged, wrote, and conceptualised the project.

Lontra is the new project from Brazilian born, Colombian based producer, and musician, Guille Katorzi. The inspiration and influences for this particular project were drawn from diverse sources, including disco, house, Nigerian boogie & afrobeat. The instrumentals were and produced in Bogotá with Guille laying down the guitar & bass parts which the songs were built upon. After sending the demos to vocalist Sir Jean (Voilaaa/Sir Jean & NMB Afrobeat Experience), with an invitation to collaborate, he was thrilled to receive a warm response to the songs from Sir Jean and so travelled to France in 2023 to record vocals in the singers' home town of Lyon. Returning to Bogotá, a selection of top brass musicians contributed their blazing horns to the project. Opening up the EP, "Money, Money" serves up a lively disco beat with percussive Afrobeat highlights, funky guitar licks & Afrobeat inspired horn parts, backed by an irresistibly groovy bassline, setting the scene for Sir Jean's lyrical warning "money cannot buy your soul". Dropping some of the Afrobeat accents and staying closer to the centre line, "Life Is Movement" is a dancefloor focused track where Katorzi's guitar hook pairs with a restless bassline over which Sir Jean's vocal delivery shines. The flipside begins with a sensuous overture on "Mysterious". A loose Afro-beat & guitar syncopation provides an inviting space for the horn section's refrains and solos. The arrangement allows plenty of room for the listener to become intoxicated by the groove, before Sir Jean opens his heart with the emotive ode to someone we learn of only as..."Mysterious". Closing out proceedings is a more driving club track. The Lyon & The Hunter... where Sir Jean sings a warning wrapped in metaphors while Lontra throws down a club focused punch that deftly dances between funk, house and afro flavours while the scorching horns set the lot aflame. The culmination of different inspirations and intonations imbues the project with a vivacity and richness in colour that reflects the multi-cultural assembly of players. Canopy is delighted to welcome the talent of Lontra to the family and are happy to say that this is the first in a number of exciting projects that this artist is serving up

Daniel Monaco Band is an international group led by Italian bassist Daniele Labbate. Blending jazz, funk, house and disco with live energy, their debut EP ‘Get Naked and Fly’ captures years of collaboration and experimentation. The result is a warm, analog-driven sound crafted by seasoned session musicians who’ve toured the world and are now channeling their creativity into original music as a group. Lead track ‘Love Ago’ delivers modern disco with the authenticity of the golden era, ‘Mimouna’ has a psychedelic edge, with the WHODAMMANY remix taking the original into a more electronic direction. ‘The Devil Left Dancing’ takes a subtly off centre path, nodding to Brazilian influences, while the title track ‘Get Naked and Fly’ is raw and instinctive blending live instrumentation with electronic sensibilities. The project is a testament to what happens when musicians trust each other enough to explore freely without chasing perfection. A live band speaking house, funk and jazz with one voice — analogue, soulful, and free. Personnel : Percussion by Yannick Van Ter Beek, Drums by Robin van Rijn, Sax by Alessandro Russo, Guitar by Simone Cesarini and Bass by Daniele Labbate.

The original 12" versions officially reissued for the first time, licensed directly from Greg Henderson, remastered and cut at 45 rpm. A standout choice on any playlist, Master Force’s 1979 release ‘Hey Girl’ c/w ‘Don’t Fight The Feeling’ has become a staple classic across generations tuned into the soul-funk-disco sounds of late 70’s New York and all its makings. Originally released on both 12” and 7”, both singles had different mixes and are equally sought-after.

Reissued officially on 12" for the first time, another New York boogie sure shot licensed directly from Greg Henderson, remastered and cut at 45 RPM. Sung by Rome Jefferies and backed by vocal trio Lorali (led by Isabelle Coles of Kleeer), ‘Good Love’ was produced and arranged by maestro Greg Henderson and independently released on his Rain Records imprint in 1983. Wind the clocks forward to the present, and the track is revered as an underground classic from Mr “H”, who'd spent the 70s performing with Soul, Funk, and R&B bands on the New York live circuit, and leading groups like Master Force. To paraphrase Greg Wilson that "Boogie was, in essence, the direct continuation of Disco in its purest form", Henderson’s handful of releases on Rain combined the old with the new in that same way, connecting the dots between the Disco Funk era with the undiluted and independent underground NY dance scene of the early 80s.

Following on from the 2023 reissue of Shiva featuring Leon Ware and Jo Ann Harris, Isle of Jura revisits 1983’s 20 Minute Workout LP once more with the Aerobic EP. This time, four more tracks are unearthed from the original album sessions, all produced by Andy Muson, a seasoned session bassist whose credits include work with Yoko Ono, James Taylor, and Ringo Starr. Originally brought in to play bass, Muson stepped into the producer role at the suggestion of composer Ira Newborn (best known for scoring Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Blues Brothers), who helmed the rest of the Shiva recordings. IOJ label boss Jura Soundsystem is back on the controls, having previously reworked Never Gonna Give You Up into a limited one-sided 'Special Version' as part of the original reissue campaign. This new 12” sees him return to the Shiva project once more, delivering four extended versions that tease out the key elements and pull back on the occasional over the top disco indulgence from the originals. The result is an EP of refined early 80s Disco that acts as a fitting addendum to the original 12”s.

Guts unearthed this afro-caribbean gem "Vini Ouais" by Djingo Typical Band for his Straight from the Decks compilation. Inspired, Art of Tones created an unofficial remix—a heartfelt tribute to this French Guiana treasure. It quickly lit up dance floors, shared among DJs like GUTS, Antal, Radio Meuh... and many more... Here comes the official release, the remix is set to become a dancefloor banger.

Originally released in 2003, Marcos Valle’s Contrasts combined early noughties production techniques with his trademark Brazilian songwriting brilliance. The album quickly became one of Valle’s most in-demand, with tracks like the triumphant “Parabéns” (which was sampled by Childish Gambino, covered by Tom Misch and remixed by Misa Negra) and bossa beach classic “Agua de Coco”, both becoming firm fan favourites. Produced by Roc Hunter, and executive produced by Joe Davis, with musicians including Robertinho Silva (percussion), Alex Malheiros (bass), and Marcos’ wife Patricia Alvi (vocals), Contrasts encapsulated Valle’s ever evolving musical vision, bringing together samba, baião, bossa pop, broken beat, house, trip-hop and more, on one era-defining record. After 22 years, Contrasts is finally set for a double LP vinyl and CD reissue, with the original mix of “Valeu” and “My Nightingale” making it onto the vinyl edition for the first time.

Fellow long time in the disco trench dweller his graciousness Dimitri of Paris kindly offered us employment on a remix for him as his friend Malik, after doing said job we asked if we could impose a tariff of releasing our unused mixes, because he’s a super nice guy he complied with our art of the deal for art….Welcome to another EDM banger from BTD.

Mr Bongo proudly presents Ritmo Italiano ‘Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo’ a captivating compilation of percussive-driven, Italian gems curated by Sardinian multi-instrumentalist, percussionist and producer, Gabriele Poso. A journey into the heart of Italian musical history, it celebrates Italy’s rich rhythmic traditions, showcasing a selection of genre-traversing, Italian treasures from the ‘60s to the early ‘90s. Honouring the timeless rhythms of Italian percussion masters, alongside a brand-new exclusive composition by Gabriele, ‘Ritmo Italiano’ shines a light on the universal, primal language of the drum. A connection sparked from an early age; percussion has always deeply resonated with Gabriele. It led to years of studying percussion traditions across Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, crafting his own songwriting skills in the process. An acclaimed producer and compiler, his releases on Yoruba Records, BBE and Soundway Records have garnered global support. Yet a growing need to rediscover the essence of his country’s cultural heritage laid the foundations for this new compilation. In Gabriele’s own words, “Italy has always been a crossroads of civilizations, with influences from the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe converging over centuries. Ports like Naples, Genoa, and Venice played a crucial role as gateways for musical exchange, a melting pot of sounds and cultures brought by sailors, merchants and travellers. These influences blended with Italy’s own folk and religious traditions, creating Italy’s unique and emotionally resonant rhythms.” Across the 12 absorbing tracks, there’s jazz influences, Italian library music aesthetics and experimental beats mixing with Afro-Cuban and Mediterranean rhythms. It’s a broad selection anchored by the drums. The synth-heavy, ‘80s jazz funk flavours of Gegè Munari's ‘Police Man’, sit side-by-side with the samba-infused ‘Napulitano D' 'O Brasil’ by Don Marino Barreto Jr. Tribal, earthly energy radiates from Naco’s ‘Volando Con Milton’, with Tullio De Piscopo serving up cosmic disco brilliance, and blistering jazz funk mastery coming courtesy of Agostino Marangolo. Taking the name of the compilation, a new original track by Gabriele, ‘Ritmo Italiano’, blends traditional rhythms with contemporary energy, Afro-Latin influences with Italian jazz essence. Recorded live in one take, it captures a raw, unfiltered vibe. “Each track tells a story, connecting the past with the present, and highlighting the deep-rooted traditions that shape Italy’s rhythms. The collection also offers a glimpse into the diversity of Italian music with a variety of styles from the organic, earthy beats to the more experimental and modern takes on traditional rhythms. It’s a reflection of how these rhythms have not only shaped Italian culture but also influenced global music.”

The French hearty eaters of Jéroboam return! See The Light is an infectious boogie song with heady top lines, while In The Spirit is an uptempo disco jazz jam. For the B-side, label founders Danilo & Bobby spliced together an extra long dub mix of See The Light, maximizing the momentum & ready for the dancefloor...

The late great Ron Hardy had as much influence on DJing and club culture as anyone before or since. It's not just what he played, but how he played it that set the standard from his legendary residency at the Music Box - not least the fact that he often had the highs squealing out of his system because they were the frequencies that had most impact on him while he was high on heroin. His productions all reflect his approach in the booth, and this latest collection of classics is back with rising disco, rawness, low-slung funk and high-speed, feel-good disco bliss.

Format Notes: 25th Anniversary vinyl reissue, 140g double vinyl, remastered audio with restored artwork and fresh liners.