April: 6 disco releases you need to hear this month

Sweet Life 'I Get Lifted' (Medlar dub) (West End)

Mel Cheren may no longer be with us, but his disco lovechild West End Records is back with a new series of official edits of some of the genre’s finest tracks. Here, Medlar gives a delicate touch and cut to Sweet Life’s ‘I Get Lifted’, minimising the vox and extending the synth to make for a deep, dark groove of cosmic disco. Just add a dark room and a laser beam for the ultimate atmospheric gymkhana.

8/10

Octo Champ 'Alleluia' (Let’s Go Swimming)

The relatively new label from Hackney’s Henry Fry is picking up some serious momentum with each release it outs out. As its title suggests, ‘Alleluia’ features a touch of gospel sampling, used sparsely and heavily chopped alongisde a raw, lo-fi Afro-rhythm track. There are some definite Detroit influences at play, and a slightly moody vibe with just the right amount momentum to switch up the energy in a set when the atmosphere gets dark.

8/10

Chord Memory Band 'Marco' (Beats Of No Nation)

Right now, the Aussies are proving they know a thing or two amount doing disco differently. The driving force behind Beats Of No Nation is label boss Jad Lee, aka Jad & the Ladyboy, who has been consistently rocking dancefloors everywhere and beyond for the best part of a decade. His recent signings are the Chord Memory Band (aka Michael Medlycott and Dom Bird), who deliver a deadly four-track EP bubbling with vintage synths, playful melodies and drum machines. The dreamlike analogue treat ‘Marco’ has a dusty four-track tape vibe with a warm, chugging bassline and soulful electronica.

9/10

Dedication feat Danielle Moore 'Show Me Love' (Adventures in Paradise)

DJ duo Katie Barber and Michelle Kelly have been at the forefront of London’s Balearic disco scene since day one. The pair now have a new label, Adventures In Paradise, which gets off to the best possible start here. Dedication, a collaboration between Felix Dickinson and Mikey Yamada which was originally birthed in Japan, help them make a strong first impression with ‘Show Me Love’, a strutting, funky and synth-laden number with super-catchy vocals from singer Danielle Moore.

9/10

Alena 'Eye' (Midnight Riot)

Taken from Midnight Riot’s new low-slung, feel-good 16-track compilation ‘Hustlers Invention’, this cover of Madvillain’s 2004 track ‘Eye’ by London boogie queen Alena sounds purer than driven snow. Slightly more upbeat than MF Doom and Madlib’s original version, there’s a detectable throwback vibe to the production here, but there’s also plenty of modern touches in its boogie bass, strings and classic-sounding piano chords. The groove, meanwhile, will be perfect for the turntables at some downtown party.

7/10

Situation feat Andre Espeut 'Put The Rhythm In' (Your Life)

Situation and Andre Espeut are here to ‘Put The Rhythm In Your Life’ with some minimal disco, featuring influences which firmly nod towards the sparse yet creative programming from the step sequencing days of old. With high claps and an analogue bass pulsing throughout, Andre’s shining voice reminds us of a time when vocal classics were still a thing.

7/10

Yam Who? is Mixmag's disco editor, follow him on Twitter