Often using the name Joey Negro, Dave Lee has been thrusting both knowledge and mischief into dance music since the 80s; particularly refreshing when the music was in danger of being swallowed by the latest vacuous trend. With his Z imprint now into its third decade, Dave has recently been displaying his incredible record collection via compilations including Soul Of Disco and Locked In The Vinyl Cellar, reinforcing his reputation as one of the world’s leading authorities on disco’s illustrious heritage. The latest two-CD set sees him shift his gaze to UK-produced disco-soul and jazz-funk but, rather than present better-known names like Hi-Tension and Light Of The World, digging deeper to unearth and edit forgotten gems which have even surprised devotees of the genre. Names including Mirage, Hudson People, The Warriors and Breakfast Band all brand their own styles on the shaking butts of obvious influences like Kool and the Gang and E.W.F. with contagious energy and polish. Most interesting are the oddities, Elixia’s ‘Soho Phaze’ testing said studio effect on slap bass groovage while Stikki Stuff strut ‘The Wiggle’. Apart from making a lot of old soul boys very happy, the set gives due props to an often overlooked area of dance music history.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
