Best Record Italy

The latest dig from Best Record Italy's eternal mission to release the finest Roman musical manna features noted jazz man Pino Presti taking on Manu Dibango's eternal party jam "Soul Makossa". Presti's interpretation uses oodles of gleaming 80s synths in place of the original traditional instrumentation, but fear not as the iconic brass section remains a real-world force, and sounds mighty fresh with it. Following up that cover is a sumptuous version of "Ain't No Sunshine" which is aimed square at the heartstrings of the most Balearic cruisers. "I Call Your Name / Come Back To Me" gets even smoother, the vocals capturing Mediterranean getaway romance to perfection.

Once more scouring the annals of disco history for the hottest jams, Best look beyond Italy and snap up this much-vaunted slice of American funk from 1982. While second hand prices can get out of control, it's not hard to hear why this glittering prize from Jagg would be so coveted - it's got everything. Jazz-leaning slap bass, mean synthesizer chops and soaring vocals - "Take Time" is prime to set the party off, and no longer is it the preserve of wealthy collectors. Originally a single-sided affair, Best have done the right thing and filled the B-side up with an extended version to let that groove roll on even longer.

Best Record Italy take the time machine all the way back to 1979 to revisit the wonderful Italo-Disco delights of Adolf Stern, whose "More... I Like It" represents the strangest end of the genre as it was taking shape. With heavily processed vocals injecting some serious strangeness into the chirpy disco backdrop, it's the kind of track to turn heads without a doubt. "Twenty Seven" on the B-side is equally magical in its capturing of the era, with the more obvious surface elements underpinned by a truly intoxicating line in synth arpeggios. Once again Best comes up trumps refreshing the history of Italian music of all shapes and sizes.

While clearly talented on the mic, Phillip Wright was much more successful as a producer and songwriter (chiefly for his sister Betty Wright) than he was a solo artist. His sole single from 1976 first enjoyed fresh exposure 10 years ago on Kenny Dope's edit label Kay-Dee but has now returned complete with an instrumental version and a never-before-released extended version. Whichever one you drop, reactions are guaranteed: straight up horn led funk with just a sprinkling of post production disco magic, fans of Cymande or Average White Band will be all over this.

Taken from his debut album, released in 1976, Italian composer legend Presti's rawest funk roots are explored and celebrated to great effect right here. "Funky Bump" lives up to its name beautifully with very neat organ stabs and a relentless groove that's not dissimilar to Grace Jones' "Pull Up To The Bumper". Looking for a much dreamier, dewy eyed jam? Flip for the lavish whirls and swirls of "C. So Buenos Aires"... It couldn't be more 1976 (or Italian) if it tried.