2023

La culture des clubs en France aurait été différente sans Micky Milan (de son vrai nom Milan Zdravkovic). Il est l'un des véritables pionniers de ce que l'on appelle aujourd'hui le French Boogie.Tout a commencé alors qu'il était le DJ attitré du très populaire club L'échappatoire, à Clichy sous Bois, en banlieue parisienne. À l'époque, il était en relation avec Champs Disques, le magasin le plus branché situé sur les Champs Élysées, et avait un accès privilégié aux meilleurs maxis américains, faisant de son club le bastion incontesté du disco-funk.Fait significatif, il est l'un des très rares artistes français signés sur le légendaire label américain Salsoul avec le titre "Quand tu danses".Club culture in France would have been different if not for Micky Milan (real name Milan Zdravkovic). He is one of the true trailblazers of what is known today as French Boogie.It all started when he was the in-house DJ of the highly popular club L'échappatoire in the Parisian suburb of Clichy sous Bois. In those days, he was well connected with Champs Disques, back then, the hippest record shop located on the Champs Élysées and had privileged access to the best imported U.S. 12" thus making his club the undisputed stronghold of disco funk.A significant fact is that he is one of the very few French artists signed on the legendary U.S. Salsoul record label with the song "Quand tu danses".Teaming up with funkateer and close friend François Feldman, the track was recorded with Feldman on keyboards along with the Gibson Brothers on percussions, drums & keyboards, a French group, originally hailing from Martinique and Kamil Rustam who later went on to work to the who's who of soul and funk music adding his powerful licks of funky guitar. The influence of Lamont Dozier of "Going back to my roots" fame is that of a tutelary god all over these tracks. The goal behind this EP is to highlight Micky Milan’s multifaceted musical talents, from disco funk to jazz and synth pop. The record contains two tracks never previously released on vinyl, the groovesque “Paris amour” built on guitar riffs carrying the sexy voice of Alexandra and the instrumental version of "Quand tu danses" epitomizing the essence of funk and the power of a sound on par with the American productions of the time. Hail to the pioneer.

Freestyle reissue another 12" of prime UK boogie funk - this time giving a fresh cut and press to Bogaz's "I've Got Love", originally released back in 1983 on Dave Stevens' AGR Records imprint.Bogaz were a short-lived group formed of seasoned musicians and session players Raff Peermamode, Trevor Murrell & Randy Hope-Taylor of Congress, Cargo & Incognito fame. I've Got Love represents one of only two 12"s ever released by the group.

Freestyle serve up a slept-on piece of music history with the first ever reissue of Chartz "Girls World" - a prime 1983 boogie-funk groover from out of Wolverhampton, and the first ever release from a songwriting and production partnership that would go on to hit the pop music big time!

Another brit-funk single excavated by Freestyle Records, Private Funk-Shun's super-rare All That I Wanted Was You / Fantasy 7" originally released in 1986 has been officially licensed, remastered and pressed up in a limited 45 run for all those who can't jive with dropping $$$ on an OG copy!

Chequers' ultra-rare 1983 electro-boogie 45 'Hard Times', backed with the equally stellar 'If You Want My Love', sees it's first ever reissue courtesy of Freestyle Records!

Cologne-based, multi-instrumentalist and creative jazz powerhouse Gianni Brezzo follows on the tail of LP “Tutto Passa,” with a special kind of excursion in “Soundscapes Vol. 1 – Music for Harlequins,” arriving via Berlin’s Jakarta Records March 10th.