August: 6 disco releases you need to hear this month

Freeform Five feat Ali Love 'Throwing Stones' (White Label)

Freeform Five hook up with Ali Love for a glorious large slice of summer magic. The UK-based group always know how to deliver the deepness, and the mix is beautifully set up with warm pads and soulful guitar licks that ride over an organic retro beat and a funky bassline. It’s a brilliant backdrop for Ali Love’s intoxicating, engaging vocals, which land with perfection and compel you to listen and dance.

10/10

Gladys Knight & The Pips 'Love Is Always On' (Your Mind Buddha Records)

Forty years later, and we’ve got a nice little Gladys Knight resurgence going on. And ‘Love Is Always On Your Mind’ is pure Gladys gold: if you come across this 12” in the depths of a bargain bin, you’ve hit the jackpot. With Knight’s impassioned vocal, ‘Love Is Always On Your Mind’ has all the ingredients of a Philadelphia International disco anthem. A glorious 10-minute workout with syncopated drums, swirling Rhodes keys, ethereal strings and a chunky horn section, it’s hard to believe this has been sitting in the vaults for so long.

10/10

Stupid Human 'Obey The Chief' (Stupid Human)

Stupid Human was a regular face on the London music scene for many years, releasing quality records for the Balearic disco heads. He recently relocated to Oslo, where he’s been putting those long winter nights to good use. His latest release takes its title from Ebenezer Obey, who supplies the vocals on this beautifully constructed Afro-disco piece. The track rolls along gently over a programmed electronic drum beat, while omnipresent cowbell reminiscent of the Ethio-jazz masterpieces of Hailu Mergia is brought up to date with deep pads and subtle acid shimmers.

7/10

The Showfa 'A Gospel Excursion Vol 1' (Excursion)

Inspired by the current appreciation of gospel disco, The Showfa goes deep into the crates for ‘Excursion Volume 1’, serving up three spiritual gems that will appeal to connoisseurs and beard-strokers old and new. ‘Thankful’ is up there with The Joubert Singers ‘Stand On The Word’ thanks to its combination of infectious blues piano, powerful bassline and an uplifting vocal message. It’s a track that will draw you into its hypnotic groove and resonate with your soul, and will become a secret weapon if dropped at the right time.

8/10

Loz Goddard 'Rule Of Three' EP (Outplay)

It’s nice to hear more from Manchester lad Loz Goddard, whose productions are much more sample-heavy then the straight-up edits we seem to get sent so many of. He embraces that same technique again here, but it also seems like he’s put a touch of filtered disco on the menu for extra shizzle, too. The main chop gently fades in and out of said filter under a steady groove with an analogue hi-hat pattern, nu disco-style synths and looped filtered chords.

7/10

Odyssey 'Inside Out' (Al Kent extended mix) (ISM Records)

If you know your disco from your disc-no then Al Kent needs no introduction – and neither do NY outfit Odyssey and their 1982 classic ‘Inside Out’. Al brings out the heavy percussion on his extended mix, which is designed for the DJs who like to build those immensely long sets. He sets the pace of this 12-minute epic journey with a clever arrangement that gives you over a minute of percussive bliss before the bass groove and vocals drop. The strings and keys are drenched in sublime reverb and are beautifully placed in the mix, adding to the dancefloor bliss until the chorus hits you with a maximum aural punch.

8/10