É Soul Cultura captain, originator of Manchester’s legendary Electric Chair and definitive people’s champion, Luke Una taps into a lifetime’s worth of musical discovery for the second volume in our Mr Bongo Edits series. A cosmic coming together that sees two of Luke’s secret weapons, re-edited and re-contextualised by the man himself to provide optimal dancefloor euphoria.

A stalwart of the underground for nearly 40 years, Luke has become an appointed leader of the late night disenfranchised, with an unquestionable ability to pick records that make minds tick. Not least through his two É Soul Cultura compilations released on Mr Bongo over the past two years.

A taste that traverses genres as much as it does emotions and decades, who better to give an insight into the tracks he has chosen to edit, than the man himself. “I've been an avid collector of afro-beat house, techno and underground black heart disco since before the basement soul days of Electric Chair 30 years ago. Both these bombs were very much holy grail finds, plucked from the last four decades of digging in random crates of dusty vinyl all over the world.”

First up, Thandi Zulu & The Young Five’s interpretation of Pure Energy’s early ‘80s disco power play – ‘Love Game’. With a distinctive South African synth bass and killer keys combo, Luke explains the original has this “bonkers alchemy of heavy machine soul, uptempo rawness and a majestic disco evangelism”, making it ripe for a re-edit.

On the B side, Lionel Pillay’s Jazz dancer ‘Plum’. “The original was a relentless 18-minute raw jam”, Luke states, “which despite its late ‘70s South African origin kinda reminded me of a 1986 Chicago piano House record”.

“These edits strip the tracks back and rebuild them, giving them more sonic weight with that looped up drum jacking militancy from the days of Chicago, combined with a boosted sense of transcendental, psychedelic, cosmic disco. They have always had such an explosive reaction on so many dancefloors including the heavier electronic club, so it felt only right to reshare them”.

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Originally released in 1986 ‘Power’ was the work of Philly producer Derrick Graves and vocalist Terrance T. The machine lead production on ‘Power’ was part of an emerging wave of post disco producers embracing a dub aesthetic that proved to be the precursor to the emergence of house music. The vocal harmonies from Terrance were influenced by Cameo and Prince and combined with the powerful production results in a dancefloor bomb in the Larry Levan style, stripped back and dubby with a strong song at its core. This level of musicality and production was no fluke, Derrick was a seasoned session musician who worked extensively with the likes of Sister Sledge, Dexter Wansel & Donny Hathaway. Derrick had a clear understanding of emerging studio trends “Music production was evolving into a new phase where home studios were developing and it was becoming more possible for real recordings to be made! From there, I eventually enhanced my production skills by learning how to compose using sequencers, computer software (DAWs), and midi instrument implementation in the 80's and 90's. I went from a 4-track to eventually a 24-Track 2" tape machine setup!”.

The fully remastered 12” includes the essential Instrumental mix.

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Az aka Lodger is back on Stamp with this great double-header of edits - it's a soul/funk classic on the A side with an excellent new interpretation of an early UK house hit on the flip.

VERY Limited copies.

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Balearia records brings up a particular sound yet again with another stunning selection of balearic deep eclectic gems. Includes a classic Jovonn remix, an incantations and ecstatic trip to the heavens that will leave dancefloors in raptures…

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Repress!
The Gallery launch is upon us, and what Art Masterpieces they are!

Causing shock waves across Trafalgar Square at the recent People’s Vote March this ludicrously large, galactic gem finally sees the light of day on 12”, backed with a rapturous disco roof raiser.

The crescendo to a protest and a track that many have been scouring the internet for ever since, ‘Baby Baby Please’ couples a huge ‘70s vocal with a perfectly accompanied stomping ‘80s arp-laden beat to create a record that will light the fire of revolution in even the most indifferent of souls.

Flip it over for a cosmic-tinged, disco powerhouse in the form of ‘True Destiny’. Think glitz, glam and downright unadulterated ecstasy, channelled from disco’s glory days to the modern dancefloor at the drop of a needle.

Like the track, support the movement - donations will be made to the cause.

Early support from… one or two of the best DJs in the world as no other **** has it.

Buy now... be the 3rd person to play it...


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“Why Can’t We Live Together” is a song written and recorded by Timmy Thomas in 1972. A chart hit in the following year, it was included on the album Why Can’t We Live Together. It was one of the first major hits to feature the use of a rhythm machine! From his organ! Very apt for our times, this song simply gives a heartfelt antiwar message. The track has been re-recorded by the likes of Sade, MC Hammer, Santana and Steve Winwood over the years but it’s the original that has the magic of it’s creator!

Ben Liebrand ups the bpm’s for his mix. He creates a percussive jam that pumps with pure emotion. Absolute club class.

Included on this release is Ben’s (now admittedly taking ownership after 43 years) 1981 Bootleg which chugs with soul and funk goodness.

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Emotional Rescue is at it again with another fully licensed and remastered offering, this time bringing to wax Mataya's Golddigger with a previously digital-only 'tape Mix.' Zimbabwe-born and later London-based Mataya "Clifford" Chewaluza was a core part of the vibrant West London music scene, using his songwriting, production and multi-instrumentalist skills on albums for RCA and Virgin. He also dropped a few 12"s and this one was released in 1988. It's a cult curio with crashing 80s production, disco-tinged grooves and plenty of subtle African rhythm which includes a standout dub mix from Jura Soundsystem.

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Repress Alert!
Emotional Rescue and HMV Record Shop (Japan) end their DISCO REGGAE LOVERS 7" series with reggae legend Sugar Minott and this utterly unique UK soul-boogie rarity, I Remember Mama.

Reggae star, vocalist, producer and sound system operator, Kingston JA born Minott released over 50 albums and hundreds of singles for the likes of Studio One, Wackies, Suffering Heights and his own Black Roots label.

His distinctive soulful voice pioneered the Dancehall style and following his UK hit "Hard Time Pressure" he moved to London in 1980, adopting the rising Lovers Rock sound. On a visit to Wackies' offices in Soho he met Steve Parr, who had recently opened a studio next door.

Keyboard player for the likes of Desmond Dekker and Geno Washington, Parr moved into composition, mixing, sound engineering and production, before setting up the Sound Design Studio in Dean Street.

Principally a studio, the meeting with Minott hatched the idea to create a label to showcase their capabilities. Produced by Parr, he played all the instruments except the distinctive sax by friend Andy MacDonald.

With Minott's heartfelt lyrics, this marriage created a one-off, a ground-breaking synthesised 4/4 rhythm track with funk groove and soulful vocals. Released on 7" and 12", the versions noticeably differ and is the perfect closing to the DISCO REGGAE LOVERS series.

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Straight Outta Belpaese, MORE disco – exotica – balearic- Italo-funk for the demanding digger!!!

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