New releases last eight weeks: Funky/Club House

Review: German artist Purple Disco Machine is a studio wizard and something of a throwback - he manages to make tunes that are rich in musicality as well as having plenty of focus on the dancefloor. Each one brims with colourful hooks and catchy grooves and this new one 'Beat Of Your Heart' comes with delightfully soulful vocals from singer-songwriter ASDiS. It's got summer anthem written all over it such is the feel-good nature of the whole thing with both a club dub and instrumental also included for different settings. Bring on the sun!

Review: This split artist dance record combines two timeless house anthems, offering a captivating fusion of funky and club house vibes. On side A, Soulsearcher's Feelin' Love' captivates with its high-energy Detroit house sound, while the Soulsearcher club mix exudes a disco-infused charm. Side-B features Urban Blues Project's 'Your Heaven (I Can Feel It)' in two distinct versions. The Micky More & Andy Tee remix evokes classic 90s house with its soaring vocals and infectious groove, while the original version delivers a powerful alternative experience. This record is a nostalgic journey for house music enthusiasts, seamlessly blending soulful melodies and energetic rhythms to create an unforgettable listening experience.

Review: 'Hollywood Swingin' is one of the most recognised Kool & The Gang songs in their amazing catalogue, having soundtracked movies, been sampled in hip-hop as well as used in commercials. So how would someone remix it and make it fresh once again? Easy. In 2005 they added Jamiroquai's unmistakable voice, made a disco and house version of it too, the 'Disco Dust' mix adding new sounds while not losing and ounce of the original's energy. 'The After Party' mix offers a more house version of the classic.

Review: It would be fair to say that post-disco outfit Unlimited Touch's 1980 single "I Hear Music In the Streets" is one of the greatest boogie/electrofunk records of all time. Louie Vega clearly agrees, because late last year he decided to gather together the remaining members of Unlimited Touch and record a fresh 2020 version. The A-side "Touch Mix" is the bomb. It features a more organic-sounding disco-boogie groove than the 1980 original, with delicious guitars, bass and electric piano/organ underpinning seriously good group vocals from the sometime Prelude-signed outfit. Over on the flip, Vega serves up an electric piano solo-laden dub mix, as well as a "Classic Boogie" take that naturally sounds very similar to the band's much-loved original version.

Review: Alton Miller doesn't get spoken about as much as he should - he is a genuine Detroit pioneer who played the city's earliest house parties and decades later he is still turning out authentic and emotive deep house. Here he debuts on Mister Bear Records, a new imprint out of Berlin. First up is 'Am Forplay', a mid-tempo roller with heady chords slowly moving through the scales next to smoky vocal coos. 'For Me' is a more edgy and energetic sound with wispy pads darting about like fireflies over more percussive, tech-leaning drums. Last but not least is our standout - 'Sweet Love' (dub) with its delightful vocal and shuffling, cuddly deep house drums soon hypnotising you.

Review: Machine originally dropped this mini-disco classic back in 1979 as the title cut to their album of that year, and now it's offered up again with a couple of remixes that rework the original. That original is the star of the show still here with the 1979 version still standing out. Next to that are a poising Timmy Regisford mix and acapella reprise as well as a Moplen remix and dub. This studio disco group was first formed by August Darnell who had previously been part of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band and then in the 1980s went on to be part of Kid Creole And The Coconuts.

Review: Donna Allen's 1988 cover of Maze classic - a glossy, synth-sporting, decidedly loved-up 80s soul affair - is perhaps not one of her most celebrated singles, but it's still a genuine gem - and a fine alternative interpretation of a much-loved song. As you'd expect, this remixed edition looks firmly towards 21st century dancefloors, with popular re-editor-turned-remixer Dr Packer upping the tempo and reaching for disco-flecked house beats in a bid for peak-time plays. The Aussie producer's A-side vocal version is tasteful and undeniably club ready, making use of most of the original instrumentation while (we think) re-playing the bassline. That bassline comes to the fore more on the stripped-back (but similarly loved up) B-side 'dubstrumental' mix.

Review: Way back in 1993, when his career was still in its infancy, Chicago great Roy Davis Jr donned an alternative alias, The Believers, and delivered a 12" on Strictly Rhythm: 'Who Dares To Believe In Me?' It was something of a club smash, with Ministry of Sound issuing it in the UK a year later with a swathe of new mixes. This Groovin' Records reissue boasts a trio of mixes from the original U.S 12". On the A-side you'll find the original mix, a warm, spine-tingling slab of piano-rich New York style house topped off by snaking, delay-laden saxophone lines and an inspirational spoken word vocal courtesy of Davis. Over on the reverse, Davis' own 'Just Living High Mix' - a breezier, jazzier and more colourful affair - is followed by Mind Readers' tougher, chunkier and heavier revision, which is in effect a proper dancefloor dub.

Review: Ou la la, here comes DJ Merci with another EP for which we should be thankful because it's a joyful one packed with feel-good house and disco sounds. 'Shake It' gets things underway with warm chords and cosmic synth work over 90s house beats. 'Sound Of One' offers lung-busting diva vocals and great piano work and 'Step Into My Life' then sinks into a more late night and seductive sound with a jazzy melodic overtone and laid-back beats. 'Rosemary' is the closer and one with another organic percussive sound and louche drums for smooth grooving.

Review: The third vinyl release of the year from Blur Records sees three distinguished producers - ColorJaxx, T.Markakis and Manuel Kane - sharing duties, each delivering a track each but with the distinctive, music-centred 'deep house fusion' flavour of the Blur label very much at their heart. ColorJaxx's 'I Know You' kicks off proceedings in upbeat mood, goaded along by a skippy garage beat, some beautiful piano work and arresting male vocals. 'Ain't Like That' by T.Markakis rolls slower and deeper, clouds of warm synth giving it a reassuring, dub feel, while Manuel Kane's 'Funk' boasts a cheery, end-of-evening sparkle with its hypnotic vocal samples and gentle sirens. Quality without pretention whichever way you turn.

Review: Archeo Recordings bring us some more Balearic Italian treasure here with some gold initially recorded in Bologna almost two decades ago. It's a collaboration between friends Bottin and Lucio Dalla that has never before been on vinyl. 'Lunedi Cinema' was an ident that played before Monday night movies on of one of the main Italian TV channels for many years. This electronic version includes the Martedi Mix from 2008, a Minibar Bonus Track and also a mix by pioneering Italian dream house dons Leo Mas & Fabrice with a Bottin dub sealing the deal. It's a superb package of real Italo music history.

Review: Amsterdam's Makez bring their old school unfused house sounds to Adeen Records in collaboration with Balance Alliance on this fresh new 12" which also features a remix from UK mainstay Mr G. 'Do It' brings super smooth chords and a prickly deep house beat that will get any floor going. Then comes 'Close 2 Us' which is even better - lush and lazy chords are draped over pent-up deep house dynamics with gorgeous vocal coos and jazzy keys also bring extra heart and heat to the mix. 'Beat Of Life' is a more busy percussive sound and then comes 'Love You More' as remixed by the don Mr G who brings his signature smokiness and basement house vibes.

Review: French label Wagram is a go-to when it comes to quality compilations that take a broad look at certain sounds and scenes, and this one is an on-going series that focuses on house sounds with an Afro undertone. The grooves are lively and often come with plenty of percussion. The drums hit hard but with funk, the vocals are Afro-centric and plenty of irresistible hits come thick and fast from the jazzy tribal swagger of 'Imbalaye' to the big steel drum party sounds of 'Viet Dao' (Klement Bonelli & Yann DL remix). Another great collection of colourful Afro house sounds.