Mutant Disco: A Subtle Discolation of the Norm
Various
(Ze Records)
Reported Saturday, September 13 2003
Courtesy of Jonty_Adderley @ www.skrufff.com
With the early 80s dance scene providing ever more inspiration for today's electro, punk-funk and new disco chancers, it's fitting that seminal discoteria label ZE Records are releasing a compilation, though what's perhaps surprising is how fresh the label's music sounds today.
From the chart friendly smashes of August Darnell (aka Kid Creole) to hyper credible soulsters Was (not was) the new Mutant Disco CD provides a welcome musical history lesson in just how good dance music really was in an era when disco was supposed to be dead.
ZE itself was formed in 1978 by English man-in-New York Michael Zilkha (Z) and Frenchman Michel Esteban, already a pioneer of Paris' punk scene. Applying the punk aesthetic to disco music, the pair hooked up with Velvet Underground guru John Cale then later Island Records' Chris Blackwell, who licensed ZE to a worldwide audience.
Musically, the label was all about selecting quality dance tunes from the underground club scenes of New York and France, whether Paris' Garcons (who provide 4 tracks for this double CD) or the aforementioned Kid Creole. Nowadays, working in Broadway style musicals, Creole (real name August Darnell NOT the same Kid Creole from Grandmaster Flash's Furious Five) played a key role in the label and his two hit singles included here (Annie I'm Not Your Daddy and I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby) strike welcome and familiar chords.
All tracks included are extended full length versions and all are highly listenable, infectious dance floor tunes ranging from the old skool funky disco of Was (not was) and Gichy Dan to the high energy italo-disco style of Material and proto-dub house of Cristina. Release date is September 15 for what's a fine selection of top quality original dance music.
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