"Helen Umebuani Nee Nkume was born in 1943 at Nbiabike Amekpu Ohafia. Though herfather was a prominent member of the community, her family moved to the bigger city of Umuahia, capital city of AbiaState, while she was still young. She received her educationthere and while in secondary school she met her future husband, Umebuani Onwuzulike.Their marriage was blessed with three wonderful children.

Helen started her musical career in the early 70s,forming a group known as the YoungTimers.They recorded their first couple of Highlife albums for Tabansi, both of whichbecame hits in the east side of the country. By the late 70s she self-produced andreleased her two best albums: "Young Timers Band" and "Vol.IV", which were pressed invery limited editions and distributed mainly in the area where the group was active,Umuahia and its surroundings.

The music on those albums have a certain progression to them. The "Young Timers Band"LP is mostly still steeped in the highlife mood that distinguishes her earlier work but onetrack, "Umo Imo Special", stands out from the rest. It's a fusion between highlife, jazz andafrobeat and totally dance-floor friendly-what we would call “Countryside Afrobeat”.

"Vol.IV" has a more defined Afro Funk sound but the tracks "Music" and "Onye Ije" areclearly among the most loved of that Countryside Afrobeat genere. (We'd like to note herethat on this last track we decided to maintain its original sound as much as possible. Infact, the production is somehow quite lo-fi, with the music relatively low and in backcompared to the up front vocals, a style that we believe was intended by the group.)

By the early 90's Helen had become born again and started performing on gospel Albums,eventually becoming one of the most successful Nigerian gospel musicians of the 90's.Helen Nkume albums are some of the most elusive produced in Nigeria during the 70s andfinding her family has been as complicated as finding clean copies of heralbums!

We remember the first time we found her orange album. We didn't know what itcontained but something about the cover shouted “pick me up”! We were in a village nearUmahia, had no light nor way to listen to it on our turntable but when a cover speaks toyou that way-you have to trust it. Once we got back to our room we played it and werehappily surprised: the Lp is a bomb!!!

Our minds started mulling over the idea of making something special and we started totalk with all our friends, musicians and artists in the area in order to find some info abouther. For 2 ears though–nothing, apart from discovering that she had passed away inearly 2000. Luckily our good friend Austin from The Combats was able to locate herdaughter and son in Umuhaia and we were finally able to license the music from them.Sadly, not much material was left, only one very, very damaged picture.

We hope you enjoy the result of this project. We did, even though it took us years to find,create and put all its pieces together, and we are delighted to finally be able to launch itand make it available for all the music lovers."

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Repress!

“Natale in tangenziale” (“Christmas on the highway”) – available in all digital stores and in 7” format – marks an extraordinary tribute to the timeless Italo Disco style and captures the charm of an Italian Christmas, almost like in a dystopian “cinepanettone” (the stereotypical Italian, Christmas-themed, comedy movie).

The record is a creation by Maurizio & Dandolo, and represents the debut of Mirella Records, a label founded by Cosimo Mandorino, already known for several projects in the italo and electronic styles on specialized labels such as Best Record, Slow Motion Records, Disco Segreta, Bordello A Parigi.

“Natale in tangenziale” will instantly transport you into an Italian Christmas atmosphere, with captivating synthesizers and engaging rhythms. The voices perfectly capture the warmth and joy of the holidays.

The original song is accompanied by a breathtaking remix curated by Whodamanny.The remixer’s unique touch on the special dub version present on the B side adds further rhythmic elements that make it perfect for the dancefloor.

A 45 rpm single from an alternative 1983, to be enjoyed during the holidays; a gift for music lovers and a celebration of Italianness. You can’t help but dance and sing to the rhythm of music, a characteristic that unites two such fundamental aspects of Italian culture.

Merry Christmas on the highway!

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First bactch sold out on presale - collecting orders for restock!

Soundway’s telescope to forgotten and lesser known musical realms extends to Argentina on a brand new, triple vinyl compilation, Síntesis Moderna: An Alternative Vision Of Argentinian Music 1980-1990.

A digital rewilding of computer and synth powered music, dripping with an impressive variety of influence, from Italo disco, electro-funk, post punk, tango, ambience, jazz-fusion, Afro-folk and techno pop. The record is a cultural document of a musical decade transformed after the lifting of restrictions of English language music post Falklands War, and the end of Argentina’s military dictatorship.

TRACKLIST:

DISC 1
A1. Carlos Cutaia - Operativo
A2. El Signo - Dimensiones Ocultas
(Ric Piccolo Edit)
A3. Ultimate Warriors - Running
Away From You
B1. Abaddon - No Es Computable
B2. Toby - Ain’t That Better (Harari Edit)
B3. The Originals - Vamos A La Playa
B4. Mike Ribas - Secuencia Sin
Consecuencias

DISC 2
C1. Adalberto Cevasco - Reencuentros
N° 2
C2. Los Músicos Del Centro - Esquirlas
C3. Divina Gloria - Mediterranée Club
D1. Mike Ribas - Como Son Los Retratos
(Harari Edit)
D2. Delight - I Wanna Make You Mine
D3. Gaita - Mueve Tu Cuerpo

DISC 3
E1. Donald - A Ver, A Ver
(Ric Piccolo Edit)
E2. Bad Girls - Dance To Dance
E3. Carla Rab - Sexy Films
F1. Los Músicos Del Centro - Aire de
Trópicos
F2. Jorge López Ruiz - De Mamá
Candombe
F3. Jorge Alfano - Fuego

FOR FANS OF: Ritmo Fantasia compilation, Jonny Rock, Balearic Breakfast compilation

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Reissue of this italo disco rarity from 1987. Comes with Flemming Dalum and Hysteric remixes!

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A previously unreleased remix of Gabriels' seminal track ‘Love & Hate In A Different Time’ lands from Greg Wilson and Ché Wilson.

Perfectly encapsulating the Wilson’s revered fusion of nu-disco and 80s electro, the duo gives new life to a somewhat untouchable classic; recontextualizing the lauded original into an authentic, funk-driven builder suited for any dancefloor. A mastery in respectable yet individual remixing.


DJ Feedback:

Demuja - yesss gonna be my next closer!

Mousse T - so well done, love this

Auntie Flo - Excellent!

LTJ Bukem - Love it!

Chris Duckenfield - A subtle & more gently propulsive dancefloor meditation of an instant classic

Chrissy - nice one!

Busy P - original was already perfect. this remix give it another twist and i love it!

Denney - wicked

The Knocks / James Patterson - hard.

Tom / Groove Armada - brilliant rework

Death On The Balcony - love it!

Sam Divine - Dope!

Crazy P - nicely done

Malente - AMAZING

Elliot Adamson - My fave so far of the remixes

Severino / Horse Meat Disco - yeeees

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Repress!

The space grapes strike back with a sizzling hot 7" from Jambonne.

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"Stop the World" is another captivating song released in 1984 by Eyes Records, written by three names who certainly need no introduction. Ivana Spagna, Larry Pignagnoli and Ottavio Bacciocchi. However, their artistic depth and their fundamental contribution to Italo-Disco (and not only) in their respective roles should be remembered: Ivana, an excellent lyricist and singer (also for third parties) who became the great pop star still today considered the most graceful in circulation; Larry, who deserves a handful of Grammy Awards for his countless arrangements (but it is enough to mention "Easy Lady" and "Call Me") and finally the modest and precious Ottavio with his excellent Studio Master 33 from Cremona, among the first to find the right sound of Italo-Disco already in the early 80s.. Their contribution then married perfectly with the artistic direction curated by Salvy Lauria and Giacomo Danesi. It's worth highlighting the approximately 6 minute instrumental track of "Stop The World", it's a dance floor killer. Giuliano Saglia and Silvio Trisolino are right in wanting to re-propose only and exclusively the two original songs which after 40 years have been perfectly remastered by Dom Scuteri. Best Record is right to carry out all the work of this wonderful jewel, after having already reissued Blue Gas, Future State and Lily Ann, the other praiseworthy productions of the reborn Milanese label. Aficionados do well not to miss this other reissue of an Italo Disco classic from the 80s !!!

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Starting his career with appearances on BBC Radio 1 and signing with Elton Johns label as a teenager, Maldwyn Pope's presence in music has been rich and productive from an early age eventually leading to working with people like Cliff Richards, Art Garfunkel and Bonnie Taylor. However, his presence in Italo-Disco has been quite scarce, but completely on point. "Altered State" is a masterpiece amongst enthusiasts and collectors of dancefloor sleaze and downtempo wellness. Heavy rock influence meets Rimini with this one off experiment from the seasoned multi instrumentalist. Original instrumental remix done by none other than Alessandro Novaga, the entity responsible behind one of Ron Hardy's favorite DJ tools (Faces Drums). B-side features an 11 minute excursion into a completely new altered state of dubby delayed trance, for special cosmic holes only. Re-issued with new full artwork.

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One-off electronic disco project of 1984 for the unmistakable sounds of the Yamaha DX7 - especially the notorious "tubular bells" during the verses - introduced at the end of '83, but which didn't catch on in Italo-Disco until the following year. "Dancing Dode" has the strangest spelling ever. Whoever created this truly amazing super theme barely knew English as the word "dode" does not exist in English. This explains why some Italo-Disco songs have obvious grammatical errors even on the original records. The artist or the authors thought that [du:d] would be written "dode" in English, but in reality it's "dude"... which means a meticulous and elegant man, potentially homosexual, in short a gay type, "King /Queen" of disco dancing like in that film with J.T.. The role of disco in the 80s was a ground for negotiating rights throughout history, so most people didn't care too much about choosing and hating someone's sexual orientation, but dancing, listening to music and this song with a beautiful melody is perhaps the rarest Italo-Disco song ever made.

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Pleasure of Love reissue imprint, New Islands, launches with a quiet storm, soulful balearic stunner. Kim Yaffa’s Once Bitten was recorded in LA and released on a 1989 private press 7 Inch, only to be buried in american record bins for decades after. A re-emergence of Yaffa’s music on the internet in the last couple years has reached fever pitch, with collectors thirsting for copies of the record. Now, New Islands has worked directly with the artist to deliver an official reissue, professionally transferred from the mixdown reels, carefully restored, and remastered. The title track is an effortless class-act pop tune, with 80s blue eyed soul/Sade inspired sounds, and unknowingly balearic production that make it timeless (reminiscent of Linda Di Franco, Edie Brickell or 80s Fleetwood Mac). The 12 Inch is rounded out by new mixes from Nick the Record (Record Mission) and Michael David (Classixx)

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Disco Segreta resurrects an extraordinary chapter from the captivating world of late 1970s Italian disco music!

In this installment, we pay homage to Sicilian producer, Franco D’Accardi, hailing from Palermo.

Franco assumed the helm of the small record label ASA (Artisti Siciliani Associati), known for its diverse catalog, which included progressive rock, folk, and a sprinkling of disco. In 1978, Franco’s path crossed with that of American model Adrienne Edwards while in Sicily.

He enlisted her talents to contribute vocals to two tracks, “Mystic Night” and “Disco Dancing,” which were released in 1979 on a 45 RPM record limited to 1500 copies, exclusively distributed in the local area.

While “Disco Dancing” on the B-side offers a fantastic rendition of Stanley Turrentine’s disco classic, “Mystic Night” stands out as an electrifying, enigmatic, and seductive disco masterpiece. It’s a captivating fusion of drums, congas, snares, slap-bass, and mind-bending synthesizer work, where Adrienne’s voice harmonizes with a deep male voice, attempting to entice her.

In short, “Mystic Night” is an utterly unique and indispensable gem in the landscape of underground Italian disco, marking the twilight of the golden disco era.

After extensive efforts, Disco Segreta is reissuing these remarkable Italian disco treasures, fully remastered to meet contemporary standards.

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Oceanvs Orientalis reveals the second single from his forthcoming album on Crosstown Rebels with ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, accompanied by remixes from Mustafa Ismaeel and Nightmares On Wax. A producer, live performer and solo act whose productions merge influences spanning Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian and Arabic sonics and beyond, Safak Oz Kutle, aka Oceanvs Orientalis, has crafted a sound that is entirely his own ever since making his debut back in 2014. Following on from his impressive debut appearance on the imprint with ‘Il Lupo’ alongside Italian talent Tooker, revealing the first single from his forthcoming album, the Istanbul-based talent is back on Crosstown Rebels with another gem taken from the project as he reunites with singer-songwriter Idil Mese for the excellent ‘Heart Pieces’ - with remixes from Crosstown and Rebellion regular Mustafa Ismaael, and legendary house talent and Warp favourite Nightmares On Wax. Slow-blooming and resonant throughout, guided by Mese’s soulful and emotive vocals, vibrant sax melodies and trippy background samples, ‘Heart Pieces’ is a dazzling slice of laid-back, jazz-infused house music full of subtle elements. Remixing the record, Mustafa Ismaeel leans towards late-night hours with a remix drenched in rolling percussion and sweeping leads, while Nightmares On Wax takes the track in two directions - opting for loose drums, hazy tones and chugging grooves across his first take before laying the focus solely on the musical elements with his ‘Club Dub’.

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