December: 7 disco releases you need to hear this month

Danny Boy 'Discomix' (Eskimo)

Psychemajik’s new triple-disc collection ‘Ritual Chants’ finds them travelling even deeper into their inspired world of record digging: covering nearly every desirable genre with mind-enhancing dancefloor moments, it’s packed with forgotten treasures. Disco’s obsession with the past ensures that Danny Boy’s ultra-rare electro-boogie jam ‘Discomix’ is brought back to life on 2016’s standout compilation.

10/10

Rahaan feat Saucy Lady 'Emotions' (Street Muzik)

Chicago legend Rahaan is back with a major dancefloor bumper. Once again, he’s teaming up with the prolific Saucy Lady, who’s in delightful vocal form on ‘Emotions’. A stripped-down groove, its mix of live boogie bass, jazzy keys, some retro chord changes and raw drum breaks are reminiscent of days gone by. The ‘authentic disco’ tag is often an overused expression, but this collaboration is certainly the real deal – and it’s going from strength to strength.

8/10

Willie Bobo 'Always There' (Kon remix) (Columbia)

An official remix by the ultra-hot dial controller Kon brings new heat to ‘Always There’ by Willie Bobo. Under guidance from the late Bobo’s family, Kon tightens up the drums, extends the breaks and uses alternative trumpet solos from the original version. A staple from the dancefloor scenes of New York and London, it’s never sounded as modern and fresh as it does here.

8/10

Oribata 'Batuki' (Tiff‘s Joints)

The first release on Tiff’s Joints is ‘Batuki’, an edit from Sao Paolo’s Oribata (aka DJ Tahira and Fernando TRZ). It’s a deep and tribal percussive affair with Afrocentric vocal chants that pull you into the rhythm before introducing a proto-house bassline and some accompanying 80s FM-style synth stabs. There’s a nice mix of old and new in this Brazilian boogie number; just our cup of tea.

8/10

Mushrooms Project 'Dirty Bolas' (Leng)

‘Dirty Bolas’ is a dirty, chugging disco score from Giorgio Giri and Marco Lentano’s latest Mushrooms Project release ‘Rivea Corymbosa’. Chunky drums are laid over a disco-funk bassline reminiscent of a heavy Curtis cut, with a fuzzy psych-rock guitar providing the main groove. This one isn’t for the main room, but will be right up there for the Balearic disco heads.

7/10

Marcel Lune 'Soul Music' (Local Talk)

Marcel Lune once again proves that this decade’s disco sound is more influenced by Afro than any other previously with his inclusion of a simple yet melodic tribal vox on ‘Soul Music’. The main groove of the track is supported by a loopy jazz piano riff, before the introduction of a driving synth line provides even more momentum and clarity.

8/10

Dolette McDonald 'Shaking My Damn Head' (Midnight Riot)

FSQ’s ‘Shaking my Head’ has a new wave/New York disco edge to its edgy and unique sound, which is less than surprising once you realise that guest voalist Dolette McDonald was a touring singer with both Sting and Talking Heads. As such, this collaborative outfit wouldn’t have seemed out of place as a warm-up act for Blondie during their ‘Rapture’ period; ah, if only they’d all somehow been able to work together back then.

10/10