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The highly acclaimed Disco Discharge is back with 4 more double albums and we’ve already looked at Disco Discharge: Disco Boogie and Disco Discharge: Diggin’ Deeper

In disco terms, European can mean either “European” that even scares the pants off the Cheeky Girls or “European” in that you can’t believe that it isn’t West/East Coast. Now whilst these 21 tracks on 2CDs are more akin to the latter (Space, Giorgio Moroder, Don Ray et al), the Gibson Brothers’ ‘Ooh! What A Life’ will always be tight red silky cut down trouser garments to me.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, this compilation in the Disco Discharge series could arguable be Disco Discharge: Diggin’ Deeper Part II.

Caress’ ‘Love Spell’ in original album version mode is ridiculously heavy before the Italo vocals start up half way in (beautiful mix of stings and funk at the end though) and whilst were on the Italian side of things, the stallion that is Gino Soccio is represented here with ‘Remember’ (I don’t I’m ashamed to say even though I’ve got the 12”; picked up in Albert Road I believe).

Moroders’ track is a bit quirky space boogie but it’s a nice choice of b-side dub action from Sylvia Love’s ‘Instant Love’ as that’s proper synth-action (almost post-punk-pop in attitude).

And then Les Models’ ‘Don’t Ever’ should be on the G.A.Y version? It all goes to show what a broad church you get on an European Connection.

La Bionda ‘Sandstorm’ is a bit of the cheat as it’s a disco ball from North Africa? And if you thought that was long at over 10 minutes, the first CD ends with Tantra’s ‘The Hills Of Katmandu’ at 16+! Don’t be put off by it’s ONJ/Prog Rock hybrid title, this is the real disco-space-funk-boogie-sex kitten-Afro-psych deal (“taken from a pristine master source”).

And all this before we get to Disc 2! Eleven more disco classics including the highlights of `Special Agent Man’ by Gaz Nevada, `You And Me’ by The Funny Twins, the `I Feel Love’ inspired `Droid’ by Hypnosis as well as the rare full length mix of `Walking In The Neon’ by Peter Richard. The international hit `I Love My Radio’ by Taffy is included here in its US Remix form and for the first time on CD is the sexy Spanish `Amour Suave’ by Isamar & Compania. Also included are the cosmic classics `In Spirit’ by Dilemma and `Only Music Survives’ by Alba.

Again, sleeve notes are by Alan Jones (the co-author of Saturday Night Forever: The Story Of Disco) with more details on the Euro scene.

There’s always going to be a European ‘room’ to disco (it’s the disco equivalent of the Tour de France?) and even though I was rather dismissive of the Gibson Brothers earlier, the sub-title to this compilation could easily be, ‘Ooh! What A Life’ - mature stilton: now try not to dance to that. Bring on the Pink Pounders!

P.S. As it’s a European Connection, good luck both KNVB and España on Sunday. night

Reviewed: V/A - Disco Discharge: European Connection (Harmless) Cat. No. HURTCD094 Release date: June 2010
Tracklistings: Disc: 1
1. Carry On Turn Me On - Space
2. From East To West [extended version] - Voyage
3. Love Spell - Caress
4. Ooh What A Life [12” mix] - Gibson Brothers (The)
5. Midnight Madness - Don Ray
6. If You Weren’t Afraid - Giorgio Moroder
7. Instant Dub [12” b-side dub mix] - Sylvia Love
8. Don’t Ever - Les Models
9. Sandstorm - La Bionda
10. Hills Of Katmandu, The - Tantra
Disc 2
1. Special Agent Man - Gaz Nevada
2. You And Me [12” vocal mix] - Funny Twins
3. I Can Hear Your Voice [12” mix] - Hot Cold
4. I Love My Radio (Midnight Radio) [US 12” remix] - Taffy
5. Americano [12” vocal mix] - Vivienne Vee
6. Droid [12” extended mix] - Hypnosis
7. Remember [12” mix] - Gino Soccio
8. Walking In The Neon [12” club mix] - Peter Richard
9. In Spirit [12” techno mix] - Dilemma
10. Only Music Survives - Alba
11. Amour Suave [hardcore 12” remix] - Isamar & Compania

Links:
www.harmlessrecordings.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco
www.ufindus.com Second Hand Records in Portsmouth
YouTube - Paul Octopus predicts Netherlands (Holland) vs Spain …