Ledin Me Astray

One of my all-time favorite disco re-edits comes from one of Oslo's finest in Rune Lindbæk. Ever since the release in 2008, his edit of an unfamiliar Tomas Ledin song, re-titled "Ledin Me Astray", has been in regular rotation at home and in my deejay set lists. This funky edit was released as a part of a twelve-inch single, titled But For The Grace Of Cod, by the Lobster Disques label who has released a number of great re-edit records over the past few years. Unfortunately since this release in 2008, the people at the Lobster Disques camp haven't released a follow-up. Regardless, Rune Lindbæk has been releasing quality re-edits and great original productions for over the past decade and this amazing edit represents, in my opinion, some of his best work to date. Enjoy!

Rune Lindbæk - Ledin Me Astray

Best New Releases of 2008

With this being the final day of 2008, I thought I would post my personal "Best of 2008" new releases list. I appreciate every one's input for past couple of weeks on the records you enjoyed most this year. After spending some time thinking about it however, I really started to believe that "Best of..." categories are generally personal to the person or organization that are putting them together. Therefore I thought that instead of doing a survey, like I thought I would do, I decided just to list my personal favorites. Just remember, nobody is right or wrong and I'm sure I've left out some great releases, which fill free to comment on, however like I said, it's just a personal list.

As far as 2008 goes in the world of disco, I generally am very happy with the direction the music is headed. There seams to be this reemergence in the "disco orchestra" or real instrumentation again and a little less electronics. Also, re-edit twelve-inches seem to be extremely popular right now, which I also think is a great thing. It's like a new generation of people re-creating a genre with their "spin" on it.

What I would like to see is a more "multiple group" disco bands like Escort, The Million Dollar Orchestra, Arcade Lover, etc. being put together by some of the genre's best producers (like the old days). And last and not least....more disco parties!

Have a Happy New Year and Enjoy the Music!

Best New Releases of 2008
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Los Charly's Orchestra - Disco Royale 12"
Keep Schtum - Keep Schtum EP 2
Cro Magnon - Great Triangle LP
The Revenge/6th Borough Project - Cadillac/Planets
Lee Douglas - The Douglas Sound EP mp3
The Juan Maclean - Happy House 12"
Greg Wilson - Ruff Edits #1 mp3
Rune Lindbaek - But For The Grace Of Cod 12" mp3
Pat Les Stache - Cabana Disco Vol.01 12" mp3
Downtown Party Network - Days Like These 12"
Maelstrom - Edits EP #2
Loud E - Drums Dutour II 12"
Disco & Co. - Cold Coke (Baldelli & Dionigi Re-edit) 12" mp3
Ray Mang - Bad Boy 12"
Moxie Paul - Yes You Mary 12" mp3
Greg Wilson - DC Le Groove 12"
Rudy's Midnight Machine - The Reception (Digital Release)
D-Classics - Smiling 12" mp3
Phantom Slasher - Blow Me Slow/Woman 12"
The Million Dollar Orchestra - Better Days LP
C.O.M.B.I. - You Got Love Song 12" mp3
Tangoterje - I Want Your Love 12"
Vitesse Nayway (The Idjut Boys) - I'm Not Moving 12"
Alexis Le-Tan & Jess - Space Oddities LP mp3
Le Disco - Tele Music Remixed (Digital Release)
Chaz Jankel - Get Yourself Together 12"
Arcade Lover - Fantasy Lines 12" mp3
Disco Italia - Essential Italo Disco Classics - 1977-1985 LP
Max Essa - Back To The Beach EP
Les Edits Du Golem - A.L-T's Summer Outtings 12"
Pilooski - Volume 9 12"
Faze Action - Spark / Hypnotic 12"

I Love You Dancer

Norwegian native Rune Lindbæk has been releasing some of the most unique disco re-edits for the past few years. His recent Noid Records released LP, Klubb Kebabb, in my opinion, really showcased some of his most interesting and best re-edits to date. If you enjoyed that record as much as I did, then you'll really enjoy these two unreleased Rune Lindbæk edits. First, is Voyage's 1980 disco classic "I Love You Dancer", which originally appeared on the Voyage 3 LP. Second is Raydio's 1979 soul classic "More Than One Way to Love a Woman" from the album, Rock On. These two songs could have definitely made there way onto the Klubb Kebabb record, staying with that "smooth-disco" sound that we've become accustomed to from Lindbæk's works. Two more solid additions to the growing collection of Lindbæk edits'.

Voyage - I Love You Dancer (Rune Lindbæk edit)
Raydio - More Than One Way to Love a Woman (Rune Lindbæk edit)

Klubb Disko

This past month, Norway's Rune Lindbæk released one of the most unique and best album's of the year enititled, Klubb Kebabb. This nine track LP was released off of Idjut Boy's Noid Records, and contains a collection of re-edits from old disco gems to modern radio pop songs. For instance, one of the standout tracks is a re-edited version of Toto's "Africa", which never sounded so good as it does on this album. Even though it's safe to say this record is "all over the place" as far as sound and orginal tracks choosen, their is no doubt that this is one of the best releases of the year, shedding a new light on disco.

Rune Lindbæk - Africa
Rune Lindbæk - Soper Star
Rune Lindbæk - Franz Tranz

It Isn't Rong, If It Doesn't Feel Right

While browsing the different sections of my neighborhood record store, Platinum Records (in Seattle, Wa.), I came across Mudd's 54B 12". What caught my eye wasn't the fact that this record was produced by the talented Paul Murphy, or the fact that the 12" was released last year by Rong Music, which is an amazing label. What made interested in the record initially was that Rune Lindbæk, contributed a remix, and if one thing is certain in this world of uncertainites is what ever Linbaek puts his hands on, it's destined to be a musical gem. After listening to the record, the 12" definately became the find of the evening. Not only does Rune Lindbæk add his cosmic disco touch, but the orginal is just as good, once again proving that both Paul Murphy and Rune Lindbæk are amazing producers, and this is one record that is a must for your collection.

Mudd - 54B
Mudd - 54B (Rune Lindbæk Remix)

If Your Going To Ride...Ride the Night Pony

I recently launched a record label called Beat Freeze Records which consists of two artists, myself - TJ Gorton, and the Future Force, which consists of me and a long time friend and bandmate Noah Clark. The first 12-inch single off of Beat Freeze is Future Force's Night Pony 12". This single includes the orginal version of "Night Pony", which is a cosmic dance gem that is driven by low-end percussion and high energy synths, along with three remixes from some amazing producer’s including Toby Tobias, Rune Lindbæk, and Alex Costa.

The Future Force are already planning to release at least two more records in the coming year in She tasted like a White Russian 12", and Galaxy Lovers/Gunship to Galactica 12".

You can purchase Future Force's Night Pony at these online locations:

Phonica Records
Juno Records
Word and Sound

Here are two songs to get you started:

Future Force - Night Pony (Toby Tobias Remix)
Future Force - Night Pony (Rune Lindbæk Remix)