Collection: Disco/Funk/Soul

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.

Kyoko Koizumi, aka Kyon Kyon or Kyon?, was one of the most popular and best selling pop idols through the 80s & 90s and on this album, thanks to the vision of Haruo Chikada as a producer, an unlikely combination of her vocals with the burgeoning sonics of house music takes place to great effect. What must have seemed like a cultural anomaly to contemporary audiences, particularly so early into the canon of house music (this record saw the light of day in 1989), we can now retrospectively recognise that not only does this album succeed as a snapshot of the musical zeitgeist of the time - it also predicted the unification of house & dance music with commercial pop sensibilities that has remained in the culture in the decades since. However, what is happening sonically on this record goes beyond anything disposable or vapid that might come to mind when one thinks of Pop forays into house music - we are served up menacing acid lines, hip-house rhythms and even some digi-dub excursions.

Mr. Tophat & Art Alfie return with a bang! Fresh off a short hiatus, the duo drops a box of fierce, grooving house cuts packed with signature Karlovak energy--raw, rhythmic, and irresistibly funky. Classic vibes with a fresh twist. The boys are back, and they mean business.

Fresh out of the oven! Joe Claussell slices and dices the original disco version into a floor filling monster. Originally released in 1980 on Norman Connors often forgotten 10th Album ‘Take It To The Limit’ on Arista, the single of the same name is a classic Philly Disco Soul joint featuring the commanding vocals of Adaritha and the production prowess of Connors himself.Claussell bleeds dry what was already there, extending it in a chaotic peak time disco jam, the kind you have surely hear him manipulate into madness on the Body & SOUL dance floor. Pressed on virgin vinyl and house in a white die-cut sleeve with Arista Promo sticker.

The new Ripen series was inspired by the live, percussive & soulful dance releases from Salsoul records and a curiosity of what Roy Ayers would sound like with a 303 in the band. All the sounds including string quartet, horns, choir, percussion, flute spoken word, drums and synths were recorded in Sampology’s studio on the south side of Brisbane, Australia. The 12” EP includes four songs + extra DJ tool creating a lush and live environment, bringing his previous nature themes further onto the dancefloor. ‘Spirits Ripened’ featuring NMMWL is a spoken word and string arrangement, a pause between kick drums and congas on the remainder of the release. The second 12” volume of Ripen series set to release in the second half of 2025.

Eko, or Eko Roosevelt, is a Cameroonian composer, pianist & vocalist. He was born in Kribi in 1946, the son of a local Tribal Chief. Eko developed his love for music at church, later pursuing his growing passionwith music studies abroad, first in Dakar and then in Paris. After concluding his studies in France he went on to a recording career and between 1975 - 1982 released a number of full-length LPs, 7" singles and albums on cassette, before returning to Kribi to take over the role of Tribal Chief from his father, a role he holds to this day. While the name "Eko" may not be immediately familiar to all, his music will be well known to many, from the DJs to the dancers, the heads to the home listeners. Evergreen classics like “Kilimandjaro My Home”, have remained a mainstay in the record bags & USB crates of disco jocks since its release in the late 70s, while numerous of his other crossover Afro-disco gems have been bootlegged, edited and remixed by a seemingly endless number of both greater & lesser-known producers who have all paid tribute to his work. Eko Roosevelt’s position in the ranks of Cameroon’s great musicians cannot be overstated. As a composer, songwriter, pianist and singer he has influenced generations of musicians both in Cameroon and France and further abroad, while he has written & arranged for many of the Cameroonian musical community. Here Canopy, with the benediction of Eko himself, officially reissues two of his works that have not been rereleased since their first outings. Stylistically the two songs straddle the line between Afro-disco, funk and pop, with a slightly Balearic, almost AOR sensibility. “Phone Me Tonight” is taken from a 7” record that has barely resurfaced since it was self-released in 1981 on the “Eko Music’ imprint. The song is an uplifting opus that demonstrates Eko’s deftness for creating catchy songs that succeed in their songwriting prowess and melody crafting, both on and off the dance floor. It is a stripped back composition that employs the key elements to great effect. The groovy bass line is underpinned by a tight Afro-disco beat as Eko’s unmistakeable voice draws us in and with a masterful use of repetition and hooks, creates a song that feels familiar from the outset, while being brand new to almost all listeners. As the song develops, the synth lines lift the song higher and higher, culminating in a euphoric transcendence perfect for elevating the mood of any dancefloor. “Take Me As I am Now”, is sourced from Eko’s first album, “Nalandi” which originally came out in 1975 on Dragon Phenix. Here we have another fine example of Eko’s ability to hone compositions that blend thelines between pop song writing and more loopy dance floor orientated structures. The vocal hook repeats throughout the song, with only minor variations, making the song feel comfortingly familiar from its early bars. An instantly appealing bass line sets the stage for the sleek guitars and taut horn arrangements. The end result is a feel-good balance of melody and groove that makes for a timeless feel with a positive message!"

La Rat steps up to the center circle with a collection of funk and soul-soaked loops and bars, soundtracks for a late night drive through a rainy city. The La Rat aesthetic weaves wider than a drunken cyclist on a busy gracht, delivering ripostes to the status quo across eight tracks, with nods to psych and blues, jazz and latin. The resulting beat collages then laid the foundations for a flurry of outer-limits raps, beamed in from the mind of a cut ‘n’ paste lyricist. The collaborative duo take inspiration from such varying sources as Georgia O’Keeffe, MC Hellshit and DJ Carhouse, Pauline Oliveros, and Rammellzee, and end up reclaiming a slice of hip-hop’s supercharged universe for themselves.

Afrosynth Records is proud to release J.E. Movement's groundbreaking ‘Ma Dea Luv’, out in mid-2025 on vinyl and digital platforms. Toward the end of the 1980s South Africa's recording industry was booming. Searching for a sound that could cross over to all in the country's segregated society while also eyeing international success, a new duo emerged that quickly rendered its 'bubblegum' predecessors obsolete. Drawing on international trends and crafting lyrics for local ears, J.E. MOVEMENT — a duo made up of James Nyingwa and Elliot Faku — exploded onto the local scene with their debut album, 'Ma Dea Luv'. The future had arrived. A talented bassist and composer, Nyingwa was at the time employed as an in-house producer at TRS Studios in Plein Street in downtown Johannesburg, run by two Greek immigrants, George Vardas and Chris Ghelakis. Together they formed a close bond as friends and musical partners at what would become CSR Records, recording original hits with acts like the NEW AGE KIDS and SIDNEY, while also cashing in on cover versions as BLACK BOX. The six tracks on J.E. Movement’s 1988 debut give firm nods to UK Street Soul, New Jack Swing and Stock Aitken Waterman's 'Hit Factory' sound and infuse them with an African rhythmic flair and homegrown lyrical sentiment. Though not expressly political, the title track was received by many as a play on words referencing then-jailed and banned Nelson Mandela (coming after the similarly styled 'I'm Winning My Dear Love' by Yvonne Chaka Chaka in 1986 and 'We Miss You Manelow' by Chicco in 1987), giving it an added potency for those in the know. 'Jack I'm Sorry' was an underground hit in the townships, while 'Marco', 'Friends', 'Funkytown' and the eponymous closer are similarly bass and drum-driven, with hiphop-styled vocals.

The italian disco-funk band "Le Dune" come back with a new version of the single "Sugar", released last summer, and remixed by Fimiani, FrescoEdits, Sparkling Attitude, Costariva. "Le Dune" is a project led by Francesco Fisotti featuring the singer Done and various musicians from Apulia Music written and produced by Francesco Fisotti Lyrics and vocals by Davide Leucci

Razor-N-Tape goes big for their first ever edits VA on their legendary white label series! Timed to drop at their Detroit Movement weekend event, this spicy 12 Inch includes contributions from four of the artists on the bill: Glenn Underground, Rahaan, The Patchouli Brothers and JKriv. Classic RNT style, all killer no filler disco heat on this one!

A classic returns. Mystery, one of The RAH Band’s most beloved albums, celebrates its 40th anniversary with this long-awaited reissue - the album's first time on vinyl since its original 1985 release. The RAH Band, the brainchild of producer and arranger Richard Anthony Hewson, has been synthesizing jazz, funk, and electronic pop into out-of-this-world tracks since the late 1970s. Mystery marked an important moment in Richard's career, following on from The Crunch & Beyond (1978), RAH (1980), and Going Up (1983). With this album, Hewson took his pop songwriting and commercial success to new heights while never compromising his unique and unbound production style. At the heart of the album are eight perfectly crafted pop songs, each standing strong on its own, with no filler in sight. The lead single, Are You Satisfied?, set the tone for the album’s jazz-funk evolution, but it was Clouds Across The Moon, with its futuristic narrative of love and longing across the cosmos, that became a chart-topping phenomenon, reaching #6 in the UK. The track’s space-age storytelling cemented its place in pop history, with many still recalling that 1985 Top of the Pops performance as the moment they fell in love with The RAH Band - if you know, you know. From the dreamy synth-jazz of Float, a club and radio favourite to this day, to the smooth saxophone solo on Out On The Edge, recently featured on Steven Julien (aka Funkineven)'s DJ Kicks mix, Mystery remains an essential album four decades later - a testament to the genius of one of the most quietly influential songwriter-producer-arrangers of our time.

Lovely EP of warm contemporary soul, produced by Meftah ! "In a world where it is easier than ever to say something, it is actually the hardest time to be heard. We are constantly bombarded by so much information and/or distractions that people can hardly be blamed for not tuning in. The box has been constructed to be safe, so why step outside it? The vibe shift is undeniable but everyone is free to choose which frequency to tap into. Music can be nourishment for the soul if you have the right ingredients. Even then you need the right chefs to cook it properly to be served. Meftah and Ideeyah have taken their time to create something that feels complete. Something intentional. Meditative. Another piece in the great chain of the African Diaspora. Where else but Detroit could something like this come from? A complete concept that is unabashedly of the present but still honors the past. This is Soul music. Crafted with love for community, for heritage, for fulfillment. There was a method to the madness, a reason for the gradual formation of artistic merit that is presented to you now. This music contains a universal message if you can open your eyes and mind to it. Less talking, more doing. Go out there and be somebody again. Reclaim your light under the sun. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. For Funk is it’s own reward, if you want it to be. - Turtle Bugg"