Smooth and jazzy American disco and house label UTC was founded in 2010 with a remastered release of Eddie Matos / Disko Method’s album ‘Ghetto Style’. With Chicago-based artist Tim Harper at the helm, UTC has so far grooved out delicious delights from the likes of: Disko Method, Bidou, Enescu, DJ Mishakov, Groove And The Gang, Larry Levan, Heat Exchange and Raymond Alessandrini.
Review: Here we have a truly rare disco-funk gem courtesy of UTC. Teo Macero was a hugely influential American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. Known for his work with Miles Davis in the '50s, and he continued to produce high quality music for decades afterwards, soundtracks in particular. "Sweet Truth" is a furious disco-noodle freakout complete with ADHD bass and flute solos, and was originally found on the soundtrack to obscure '80s movie, Virus.
Review: A reissue here for what was, as far as we can make out, the only ever release from Stereo Fun Inc - and perhaps not surprisingly, because while it didn't come out until 1983, 'Got You Where I Want You Babe' harked back to a slightly earlier disco era, when there were a lot less synthesizers in play and a lot more trans-Atlantic cross-pollination between the disco and Northern Soul scenes. So expect stomping 4/4 beats, soaring strings and a full female soul vocal - though the accompanying Dub, which drops the vocal, tones down the Northern elements and lets the strings do the lifting, is probably the pick for non-specialist floors.
Review: Composer, arranger, pianist and producer Bebu Silvetti is most famous for "Spring Rain", a Salsoul-released chunk of symphonic disco written and released in 1977. He was responsible some other sumptuous, grandly produced disco cuts during the period, including "I Love You", which here gets a digital reissue. The title track from his 1980 album of the same name, it wraps sugary-sweet vocals in typically undulating strings, luscious orchestration and a no-nonsense disco groove. Production-wise, it ticks a lot of disco boxes - think stripped-back instrumental passages, whispered vocal build-ups, a colossal drop, and so on - and should be considered one of the Argentine's most absorbing compositions.
Review: NYC-based UTC Limited, specialists in obscure funk and disco, bring us a split EP featuring two artists. Osamu Shoji (1932-2018) was a Japanese synth pioneer who was perhaps best known for this 1978 re-recording of the entire 'Star Wars' soundtrack, and his '10C Bag' is the kind of lounge-y synth-disco that'll appeal to those who like it on the kitsch-y side. Who The House-Band are/were, on the other hand, we have no idea, but 'Schizzo Trip' is in a similarly camp vein to '10C Bag' - it's just a bit more 'sunny afternoon on the Left Bank' than 'midnight in Shinjuku'.
Review: A reissue here for a sought-after Italo-disco classic from way back in 1983, as UTC Limited serve up two tracks that originally featured on the Orchestra Charles Brissot's one and only long-player 'Running For Fun'. 'Second Galaxis' owes a major debt of inspiration to Space's 'Magic Fly' from a decade earlier, being centred around a very similar-sounding plinky-plonky analogue synth riff (as well as some startlingly acid-like burbles), while 'Serenade To The Sunrise' is a gloriously cheesy affair with synthesized strings taking the lead - were The Love Boat ever to take off into outer space, this is what'd be playing in the ballroom!
Review: Browse New York label UTC Limited's online catalogue, and you'll find a range of disco, soul, funk and boogie reissues, with well-known classics rubbing shoulders with lesser-known gems. Keyboardist Mike Mandel's fusion killer "Jupiter Finger" undoubtedly falls into the latter category. Originally featured on his 1978, Vanguard-released full-length Sky Music, it offers a delicious mixture of Herbie Hancock style jazz-funk synths, sunny disco horns, loose rhythms and some superb Rhodes-playing. In many ways it's an odd track to reissue, but this digital issue is certainly welcome; "Jupiter Finger" is as summery as sunburn, disappointing barbecues and England losing at cricket.
Review: Reynald Deschamps was rather active in the 1990s. During the decade, he released tons of disco-fired dancefloor cuts under a wide variety of aliases. Amongst his most popular projects was Groove & The Gang, which debuted way back in 1994. It's from that year that these two cuts are taken. "In The Mood To Party" is a simmering, smile-inducing and deliciously groovy chunk of mid-'90s New Jersey garage/New York house hybrid, with sampled horns, jaunty organ stabs and "Show Me Love" style riffs rising above gentle beats and a killer bassline. "Back To Disko" is a touch tougher and more robust, with his usual headline-grabbing organs weaving in and out of rubbery synth bass, hard disco-funk guitars and bustling, hip-swinging garage beats.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.