Collection: Disco/Funk/Soul

Four decades on and Azymuth has reached legendary status amongst fans worldwide and across the music industry thanks to the trio's pioneering blend of traditional Brazilian jazz and proto funk fusion from the early 70's right through to the present day. In 1979 the band's first Milestone Records release, 'Light As A Feather' quickly became one of the best-selling LPs of the year. Featuring the worldwide disco/fusion hit single 'Jazz Carnival' and going on to sell more than half a million copies internationally, the album stayed in the UK Top 20 for eight straight weeks. An incredibly well thought out album both in pace, song selection and musicality, 'Light As A Feather' marked a maturing of the band as they began to rightfully utilise the studio as an instrument itself, embracing numerous mixing and recording techniques not yet common for the time as well as pioneering the use of the Big Muff and Dolby System to great effect. The end result is an album that endures to this day as a samba/jazz-funk masterpiece. Now Far Out presents this seminal recording re-mastered from the original 16-track tapes, which were given to Joe Davis by Azymuth, lovingly reproduced on heavy weight vinyl. This definitive edition of Azymuth's breakthrough LP is a must-have for connoisseurs and an invaluable introduction to the Azymuth sound for the uninitiated.

Past Due Records is thrilled to announce the release of Midnight Blue's "One Wish - South Carolina 1975-83," a compilation showcasing the legendary funk and modern soul band from Columbia. This limited edition double LP compilation is an exclusive collection highlighting the band's peak during the mid-1980s American boogie funk era. Formed in 1975, Midnight Blue blended the talents of local musicians Myron Alford, Robert Hoefer, Jr., Ronnie Amiker, and many others. Despite their underground status, their music left a lasting impact, performing alongside legends like Midnight Star and Prince. The compilation includes their debut single "Feel It and Groove Together," their powerful rendition of "I Who Have Nothing," and unreleased tracks recorded with Cameo's Larry Blackmon. Fan favorites such as "All Because of You" and "Coolin' Out" will also be featured. This double LP comes with a full story and many never-before-seen pictures of the band, making it a must-have for any fan of eighties funk, courtesy of Past Due Records.

Colpo Grosso third volume is a powerful and sensual edits wax that you need it!

Presenting the second single from D.D. Mirage, a double header aimed squarely at the dancefloor featuring guest musicians Daniel Monaco and Nu Genea's Andrea De Fazio. A side 'Feel it' is a glittering cosmic disco jam with a hint of hedonism and an air of psychedelia. Capturing the euphoric exuberance of the dance floor, it draws influence from boogie legends such as 400 Blows, Patrick Cooley, Quando Quango and the Idjut Boys. The 12" Instrumental Mix takes inspiration from the Paradise Garage and Larry Levan, stripping back the musical elements to their core resulting in a Dubby and powerful DJ orientated mix. B side 'So Hot' is a wonky mid-tempo heater, fusing trippy, sun-stroke delieria with infectious disco grooves. D.D. Mirage collaborated with some of Italy's finest groove merchants on this track, with Daniel Monaco (Rush Hour/Periodica Records) featuring on bass and Andrea De Fazio (Nu Genea/Parbleu) on drums. The track was influenced heavily by 80s Italo and Nigerian Disco. Label head Jura Soundsystem provides a Dubby extended take on the B2. Instruments: JX-3P, Farfisa, Roland D-50, Jupiter, JV-1080, Korg Poly61, Juno-60, Guitar, Bass, Drums and various percussion. A 140 gram pressing in 3mm spine kraftboard sleeve with labels and sticker designed by Bradley Pinkerton.

Misto Kay is a rising artist/producer from Amsterdam aiming to combine jazz elements and electronics into a sonic listening pleasure. His first appearances were on the Super-Sonic Jazz compilation and on Mo Wrights' 'things2proof' EP with a feature and a remix. Being a multi-instrumentalist, with a focus on jazz piano, you will find playful and melodic elements join forces with surprising rhythms in his music. His broad musical interest is clearly expressed in his productions, given that they can vary heavily in mood, tempo, and genre. House, broken beat are at the core of this debut solo release, but soulful hip-hop grooves are present as well.

The Other Sound of Music is Edition Hawara’s first compilation of forgotten Austrian treasures from the 1980s. Plucked from dusty basements, flea markets and bespoke stores across the small Alpine country, it features eight quirky and charming pieces that afford a glimpse into largely unknown but surprisingly rich musical subcultures. The lovingly curated selection brings to light early soul, boogie and proto-house productions, as well as some of the most balearic tracks that have ever been made in a landlocked country. Finally giving this music the stage it deserves, The Other Sound of Music is the definitive guide to the outer limits of the Austrian underground.

Equating the art of Italo and Afro-funk editing to the cooking of good spaghetti, Beppe Loda sees to the fourth volume of Neptune's Dispatch edits series, Italian Spaghetti. Going so far as to name and shame Loda's chief edits-cheffing competitors - a low but perhaps necessary blow to strike in today's cutthroat food / music market - we won't repeat said names here. But we will remark on just how thoroughly yet not overeagerly these cosmic grooves have been cooked and salted, with delicious al dente funk farfalle making up the As 1-3, and a sparsely clad, full-on sex-funk climax unfolding over the two Bs. A well-boiled fivesome: In Beppe ci fidiamo!

GROOVIN RECORDINGS STARTS THIS NEW SERIES FEATURING THREE KILLER DISCO-BOOGIE TRACKS ORIGINALLY RELEASED FROM 1979 AND 1982. ESSENTIAL TUNES !

Eternal Love's 'L'Amore E' EP pulses with a fresh blend of nostalgic and modern electronic elements. The duo expertly reimagines their Italian heritage, layering synths, driving percussion, and airy vocals to create a vibrant, immersive soundscape. Featuring collaborations with Marquis, Marianne Mirage, and Dea Barandana, the EP explores themes of love, passion and joy, all infused with infectious rhythms. Each track offers a unique take on these emotions, making L'Amore E a versatile release that's bound to ignite dancefloors and capture listeners' hearts alike.

Some labels deal only in pristine soul legitness - and Celestial Echo are one such set of aesthetes. A reissues label, Celestial Echo focuses on modern soul and boogie, and is curated by Miche (Michael Davies) and Stu Clark. Following three impressively chosen sonic chrisms, all reissued in 2024 - releases by Glenda McLeod, Brutal Force and Winfield Parker - comes this fourth foray into one of the best-loved and perhaps only publicly known tunes by the obscure boogie singer Lisa Hill: 'I Am On The Real Side'. New York's Qit Records were the original purveyors of this track, though its initial obscurity is so baffling to us that we'd guess some case of derelict nobility was at play here; either that, or there was just this much amazing soul music being made in the big city at the time! Here, Hill proclaims her place on the right side of love, with a lyrical emphasis on the object of her passions proving themself to her before she submits.

After over 40 years and with great pride we bring to light in the formidable Maxi 45 single format another great little gem hidden in the vast panorama of Italian disco. Author, painter, poet and all-round musician, Luciano Angeleri collaborated on the project with enthusiasm and exceptional enthusiasm. With his inimitable humor he gave us many laughs and beautiful reflections on an unparalleled golden age. Thank you so much Luciano! The Pink Colored Vinyl in Limited Edition, in addition to the two hits “Un’ Estate di Sesso” and “Donna”, offers two modern versions on the B-Side: Lance with a jaunty Re-Edit and our Marta Paradise with a real King -Work with a retro futuristic flavour. May the Italian Summer be with you…

Suburbs of Milan, 80s, Milano da Bere. An astronaut, a paparazzi, a dirty cop and a private investigator sip Punt and Mes and discuss the latest Versace show. “Star Italiana” wants to represent the Italian imagination of the 80s, an era lived at the top, full of charm, hedonism and contradiction. An indelible period stuck between social revolution and technological transformation, lunar journeys, cold war and electronic batteries 808. Thanks to the the songs on this album, the authors deal with themes such as passion (“Marlboro Light”), politics (“Polizei”), culture (“Shooting Star”) and social affairs (“Paparazzi”), all seasoned by a healthy dose of irony personified by the characters photographed on the front cover. It’s music characterized by lively rhythms, pulsating synthesizers, pounding melodies, morning-after drums, all shaping the characteristic sound of the era: ITALO DISCO.

MÚSICA PARA BOLICHE takes us to Argentina. Along the journey, we will discover that Maradona is not the only thing we have in common with our cousins across the ocean. Let’s dive into the 1980s Buenos Aires scene, a time straddling dictatorship and disco music, in search of dusty gems forgot-ten even in their homeland. The EP contains four tracks spanning Italo, electro, and proto-house, carefully selected by Jack Bulgaro, restored, and edited by DJs from Italy and Argentina.

BPlan & Fab_o's sixth release on their label delivers serious flavor with a four-track EP also featuring Raregems. On the A-side there are two dancefloor killers from BPlan & Fab_o, showing off a strong African rhythm and a groovy number with disco horns - all the elements to light a dancefloor on fire. On the flip side, Raregems contribute two slow and sexy tracks from their archive, offering rare gems indeed. With each track bringing its own unique flavour, this EP is a fantastic addition to the series.

Rome's contemporary jazz maestro Stefano De Santis is back with his 'New Beginning' EP on the esteemed Quattro Bambole Music. Across four stunning tracks, Stefano's musicianship shines as he explores jazz-infused broken beat, boogie, deep house and lo-fi hip-hop. Highlights come thick and fast and include the mellow jazz landscapes of 'Roy,' the lush blend of slow-motion house and broken beats on 'Lie#3', the emotive, piano-driven 'Paths' and the 80s boogie vibe of 'Tokyo 80.' UK producer Sean McCabe mastered the EP but also delivers a deep house dub of 'Lie#3.'