New releases last two weeks: Disco/Re-Edits

Review: The first official reissue of Brooklyn People's rare 1975 soul-funk classic 'Peace and Love / Wreck' arrives courtesy of Selector Series for Record Store Day 2025. Originally released on Cheri Records half a century ago, this sought-after 7" has fetched prices of around L50 on the collector's market. It's one of those true crate-digger gems with its perfect mix of soulful, spiritual deepness and driving, dynamic drum grooves that never quit. 'Wreck' has atmospheric crowd sounds as well as jazzy keys and horns to really take things up a notch.

Review: Adeen Records is back with its The Bird series and this time Cad73 is the one at the buttons. First up he flips the age old classic 'Love and Happiness' into a smooth and seductive sound with lush chords and warming melodies. Flip it over and you will find a rework of 'How Can I Forget You' which becomes a Northern Soul great with big hooks and driving rhythms that will get big reactions in the club. Two different but equally effective and cultured cuts.

Review: The Bird series is back once again with a fourth offering and it is label founder Jason Wilkins who takes care of this one under his Camille moniker. It kicks off with a flip of 'Hogin' Machine' that has raw and dusty drums and funky basslines that keep on coming and keep you locked. things slow down n the B-Side with 'Safari in D'. This one becomes a more mellow and laidback sound that offer a different take on an original by L'Eclair. The bass is warm and melodic, the drums loveably lazy and the keys jazzy and pensive. Super stuff for lo-fi lovers.

Review: Phil Mison, long revered for his chill-out sets and Balearic sensibility as a DJ, not to mention over two dozen releases under his belt, returns as Cantoma with a new single that perfectly captures the spirit of sunset listening. 'Light As Before' is a gentle and evocative piece built on Latin percussion, breezy guitar work and a standout horn section that lifts the track into a golden-hour daydream. It's the kind of track that feels tailor-made for a coastal terrace, a glass in hand and nowhere to be but the present. The B-side remix is a tasteful reimagining that dials down the horns and replaces them with soft flutes and delicate acoustic textures. This version leans deeper into the groove with a more introspective yet still melodic mood. It trades some of the exuberance for warmth and depth, making it an ideal complement to the original. Both sides highlight Mison's continued mastery of Balearic downtempo.

Review: In 1969, Duo Ouro Negro travelled to the US and came back changed. By 1972, they channelled said many cross-country encounters with Black Power politics, spiritual jazz and liberation struggles into Blackground: a bold, pan-African statement recorded not in Luanda but Lisbon. The Angolan duo, already global stars in Portuguese-speaking circuits, were heard fusing jazz-funk with messages of decolonisation and Black identity, summed up in Raul Indipwo's cry: "Don't forget your blackground." A decade later, in 1981, the record was reworked with fresh arrangements and additions like the instrumental 'Iemenja' and the percussion-heavy 'Aruandai'. This new edition from Digei De Bairro brings that fiercely rhythmic and politically charged LP back into circulation, a vital slice of Lusophone jazz-funk with global intent.

Review: Launching their new 7" series with a bang, Small Edits enlist the shadowy figure of The Groomer for two deep-digging reworks that balance crate knowledge with pure dancefloor funk. On the A-side, 'S.a.d.e' stretches out into a blissed, slow-burn groove with smoky keys, slinky basslines and a gentle swing conjure a mood that's tender, perfect for warm-up sets or late-night wind downs. Flip it over for 'Commo', a swaggering, shoulder-rolling party starter. Tighter, faster and packed with cheeky rhythmic flair, it leans into peak-time territory with percussive funk licks and chopped vocals that radiate attitude. A low-key but high-quality debuticut loud and made for selectors who know.

Review: MURO Select presents yet another crucial 7" for Fourth Wave Record Factory for anyone whose ears prick up when it comes to Far Eastern soul, city pop and jazz cause this one has two of Hamada Kingo's urban mellow gems. He was a key figure in 80s city pop and AOR and his iconic track 'Dream Is Alive' from the Earthian image album makes its vinyl debut and is full of The flip side features 'Yokaze,' another standout urban mellow tune that captures the smooth, soulful vibe of his work and is perfect for those close listen bar sessions or the gentle moments early in the evening.

Review: Another dug-out dispatch from Tokyo's most diligent soul surgeon. This latest 7" distills veteran editor Loftsoul's flair for unearthing overlooked grooves and flipping them into low-slung, floor-ready burners. Side A stretches a sweet, previously under-the-radar soul cut into a strut-ready salivation, while the flip dips into hazier jazz-funk moorings: crisp drum breaks, warm Rhodes, slow-cooked syncopation. With subtle EQ and caressing lowpass warmth, we hear it's not about maximal intervention; it's about knowing where to put the scalpel. The latest in a long-running series, it's certainly an outlier find for record-bin archaeologists.

Review: The one and only edit king really struck gold with his iconic rework of Marvin Gaye's 'I Want You,' which now celebrates 20 years with its first-ever 7" reissue on Most Excellent Unlimited. Stripping back the original to spotlight Gaye's sensual vocals and minimal conga-driven rhythm, this near-drumless edit is pure magic. On the flip, Mr K delivers a euphoric edit of Billy Paul's Philly disco gem 'Only The Strong Survive' and stretches its soaring vocals and propulsive groove into an extended, floor-lifting finale. Both sides are essential: one intimate and sultry, the other triumphant and explosive, making this another essential 45 rpm from Mr. K.

Review: This fourth volume continues this series' mission of bringing some rare Afro-disco gems up to date for modern dancefloors. New life is brought into lesser-known classics while preserving the vibrant energy of the genre right from the off with Side A offering up the infectious, organic sounds of 'MPDD' while Side B offers 'MKZB' which has a seriously groove-heavy bassline and smartly layered percussion. Both of these are proper secret weapons for DJs and pure bait for dancers.