8 reissue labels you need to know about

Also not strictly a re-issue label, there isn’t much introduction needed for this peerless imprint that has been supplying popular reissue compilations since the mid-90s. Making a name by having top DJs compile, releases like the Spectrum series which covered disco, funk, jazz and latin throughout the early 2000s as well as the sprawling anthologies for legendary artists such as Masters At Work, Roy Ayers and Dimitri from Paris, is what gave the label such a strong authority.

But it hasn’t been restricted to former glory, showing off it’s still got the goods with this years '20 Years of Henry Street Music' collection and Volcov’s …From the Archive, a mix of overlooked and unreleased tunes that has been a staple of BBE’s back catalogue.

Essential listen: Tronco Traxx ‘Walk 4 Me’

Pretty self-explanatory in why this label deals in reissues, its whole aesthetic was a tribute to David Mancuso’s legendary Loft parties during disco’s heyday.

Loft Classics’ announced themselves on the scene in 1995 with a rash of mini-compilations of tracks that were staples of Mancuso’s parties despite the DJ being adamantly opposed to the series’ use of the Loft name and logo. They went on to press 15 records that year before stopping completely, perhaps due to the unofficial nature of their operation. They did release volumes 16 and 17 in 2007 before switching to CD-only anthologies but in a case of everything coming full circle, the original Loft Classics volumes are still repressed today, proof their back catalogue is still worth mining.

Essential listening: Deodato ‘Whistle Bump’

Expect to find funk, Northern Soul, free jazz, gospel, boogie, afro-funk, calypso disco, soca and Latin boogaloo when going through Cultures Of Soul’s back catalogue. Specialists of compilations from international artists, the imprint has been up and running since 2010 and in that time put the spotlight on scenes ranging from Bollywood disco to Nigerian funk rock and also managed a smatter of quality 7"s as well featuring a number of unreleased gems.

Essential listening: Don Laka ‘I Wanna Be Myself’

The youngest label on this list, Flash Forward only started releasing this year but have already proven its aptitude for it with a stream of quality early 90s Italian house reissues. Relying on love for electro, EBM, italo and new wave, the label has worked hard to uncover cult hits from the early wave of house music and firmly believe in looking to the past to develop the future of dance music.

Beginning with Onirico’s sought-after 'Stolen Moments' EP and going on to reclaim underground efforts from Omniverse and Delicious Inc, Flash Forward’s identity as the upstart archaeologists of 90s house discovery could be upgraded to legendary status.

Essential listening: Onirico ‘Stolen Moments’