Reviews
June: 18 albums you need to hear this month
You've got a lot of listening to do
Various 'The Wag' (Harmless Records)
For the two decades following its opening in 1981, The Wag in London’s Soho was the beating heart of the capital’s clubland. But it wouldn’t have been so important without great music, with each night of the week given over to a different genre. Curated by its founder, Chris Sullivan, this four-CD set spans five years from 1982, touching upon the last days of disco, the UK jazz-funk explosion and early hip hop and house. There’s the funkily obvious (James Brown’s ‘The Boss’), stone-cold classics (Atmosfear’s ‘Dancing In Outer Space’) and genuine game changers (Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’). A fitting tribute to a special place.
9/10
