Netherlands

The 80s Italo disco /proto-house classic ‘MBO Theme’ by the mighty Klein & MBO, repressed! Comes with a heavy South African version on the flip. Huge Tip! “The MBO Theme” (1983) has been a dance floor favorite since decades, created by Mario Boncaldo and Tony Carrasco - the legendary Italian/US duo Klein & MBO. The track got support in NYC and Chicago by greats as Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy.The rare version on the flip is created by a South-African band called Warrior. Rush Hour explain how they came across the track: “We bumped into this version on a South African record digging trip. It took us a few months to realize the scarcity of this version. Ian Osrin, a well respected engineer in South-Africa who was involved in many 80ties and 90ties Bubblegum, Kwaito and South African disco records, explained us about music distribution in South Africa during apartheid. Because the country was culturally banned at the time, a lot of releases weren’t imported or exported. Even when a track was huge, like “The Klein & MBO Theme”. So South African musicians would create their own versions which were sold locally.We got in contact with Tony Carrasco from Klein & MBO. He also hadn’t heard Warrior’s version before, but he liked it as much as we do!”

40 years after its first release, Cameroun born artists Zogo reissues for the first time his EP 'Africa' on Banquise. This release includes new versions by Dan Shake (Mahogani Music), Folamour (FHUO Records) and Tvfrom86 (In The Box Records).

South African disco release. The title track ‘Dance’, written by Belgian composer Frank Degrijse, was released by Night Force and became a hit throughout Europe in 1980.In South Africa the song was released with permission at a slower tempo (the original 45rpm was ‘officially’ slowed down to 33rpm). Added to this are four tracks by Music Team’s in-house production team the Tom Cats - including dub reworkings of recent Afrosynth releases ‘Burnin Beat’ and ‘Searchin’, here released as ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Search For Love’ respectively. Synth-heavy oddities ‘You Are My Fire’ and ‘Shake Shake’ make up the rest of the tracklist.

Jovonn returns to his Body N'Deep label to release the album 'Timeless', his first since 'Blaque House' released on Code Red back in 2009. With releases on such labels as Clone, Apollonia and Dogmatik the last few years, Jovonn set up his Body N'Deep label in 2017 to release tracks from himself and other like-minded producers. The album focusses on the deeper side of house and Jovonn's trademark New Jersey house sound, with contributions by Patrick Mangan (violin) on 'Hesperia Soul' and Cassioware on 'Turnin Me Out'.

An All Star team for edits of Jovonn classics! Ian Pooley, DJ Deep and Mike Huckaby revisit 3 of Goldtone Records finest for Clone Royal Oak.

The Young Marco-helmed label is serving up a limited edition sampler boasting two seriously sought-after cuts. Neither appeared on any of the previous “Welcome To Paradise” compilations !On side A you’ll find “Ray-Rracing Sauna” by Franco F, AKA Interactive Test label co-founder Franco Faisini. The track – a typically tactile, melodious and huggable affair rich in bounding Italo-house drums, life-affirming piano solos and evocative ambient chords – was initially tucked away on the B-side of the producer’s sole solo 12”, 1991’s “Simulation Lab”. Here, it is deservedly placed centre stage for the very first time.Over on the flip, there’s a chance to savour the alternate “Ambient Mix” of Marika Lenny’s in-demand 1990 Italo-house anthem “Beat Summer”. Typical of many Italian “Ambient House” tracks of the period – think driving drums wrapped in breezy, celebratory and sun-kissed instrumentation more often found in period “chill-out” records – it’s a gloriously rushing fusion of rolling organ riffs, Nu Groove style synth solos and chords capable of awakening even the stoniest of hearts.