REVIEW: Various Artists - Reach Up – Disco Wonderland

Some of the finest disco and funk tracks have been chosen for your ears to get a wiggle on via Andy Smiths latest compilation released by BBE Records. There’s a similar format to the previous compilation that he released on the same label but the theme of direct musical delights doesn’t change.

With a diverse mix of the new and old, the combination is dancefloor heaven. Starting off with Andy’s own track Lost Without You the groove has a similar feel to Chic, with a guitar loop directly out the back pocket of Nile Rogers. New Jersey Connection breeze by next with Love Don’t Come Easy, some sumptuous rare groove vibes explode off the needle whilst a Funkadelic feel dips its toe into the track.

Ted Taylor’s Ghetto Disco has a James Brown horns and strings funk explosion about its midriff meaning anyone wearing flares listening to this beauty of a track will firmly feel the silk move to the groove. Greg Henderson is up next with Dreamin’, with some quirky synthesizer alongside some delectable soul vocal, the mix is shear delightful, the sort of music you would expect to feature on one of the fabulous Blue Note compilations of the 90’s.

Once of the final curveballs on the album is The Armada Orchestra with For The Love Of Money. A classic track sampled on a multitude of tracks throughout the years, but the original still delivers that crucial blow to the soul. A number of other fine cuts feature across this delightful set which is released on vinyl, cd and download. A quite breathless effort from this master researcher of soul.

Reach Up – Disco Wonderland can be purchased from the BBE records website