Contort Yourself!- 3 Disco Comps from Strut

Strut just released a number of collections that feature different approaches to disco, incuding tracks infused with funk, rock, and experimentation.
During the 70s, the Vietnam war ended badly and without much confidence. US citizens were emotionally and financially detached. Economies dropped, along with faith in leadership, as Jimmy Carter came into office in 1976.
In the great Gotham of New York, the fiscal well ran dry. Thugs and pushers filled the streets alongside ’stinkin’ cacaroashes’. The city was economically left on its own but the underground scenes bustled with life as the above ground gnashed teeth at unavoidable circumstance. Collaboration was necessary for survival.
The Noise and No Wave scenes evolved when fading punk and new wave crushed with an always changing art scene. (Read No Wave, written by Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Byron Coley (NY Rocker, Spin, etal) Simultaniously, the bump tchk bump of disco grew louder and louder. It was a Basquiat sketch of film, art and music. Disco was growing and funk, hip hop and its graffiti culture were in the petri dish.
Ze Records was founded in the late 70s by Michael Zilkha & Michael Esteban. Esteban met Zilkha in 1977 in NY.
The label introduced the world to the coconut sounds of Kid Creole and the eclectic funk of Was (Not Was).
It introduced the disco diva Cristina and displayed the label’s graphic design sensibility.
ZE30: Ze Records Story 1979-2009 celebrates the music that made them unique.
Horse Meat Disco is a London-based collective that features DJs James Hillard (ex-Nuphonic) and Jim Stanton (Jockey Slut magazine). They started a weekly residency in Eagle London Vauxhall and collaborated with DJs Filthy Luka (Luke Howard, ex- Queer Nation) and Severino (CODEX). The scene they created was all inclusive and drew old-schoolers to the new. It was a mixing of the sexes and a melting of the minds. HMD personalized their events by transforming their environments. Well known DJs such as Derrick Carter and Dimitri From Paris made sure they stopped through when they were in town. This 70 minute mix is nothing short of pure TNT powder.
Also, check out Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985 featuring these fine cuts:
1 Five Letters- The kee Tha Tha
2 Kasso- Brazilian Dancer (DJ Version)
3 Number One Ensamble- Flor De Coca
4 Kano- Now Baby Now (Kotey edit)
5 Freddy The Flying Dutchman & The Sistina Band- Wojtyla Disco Dance (Parte 1)
6 Firefly- Love (Is Gonna Be On Your Side)
7 DD Sound- Burning Love
8 Revanche- 1979 It’s Dancing Time (Kotey edit)
9 Red Dragon Band- Let Me Be Your Radio (Part 1)
10 Rainbow Team- Dreaming
11 Easy Going- Do It Again
12 Tullio De Piscopo- E Fatto E Sorde! E? (Money Money) (Maxessa Edit)
13 Valentine- Tina Are You Ready (Instrumental)



