Boogie Cartel’s Disco Corner #1

Music

This is the bit where we say hello. We're Boogie Cartel, four chaps passionate about music with its roots in the decade between 1976 and 86 – when disco got electric and house was just being born. Dark clubs, late night encounters, neon and sleaze. There was so much musical creativity in that time that we've all picked up unhealthy vinyl habits exploring both the classic and unsung tracks from the era, which gives us enough music to put a party on at The Nest each month for anyone who wants to know.

Boogie Cartel have a monthly residency at The Nest. The next party is on 17th January, check out their Facebook page for more information.

LISTEN

Bobbi Humphrey - Baby Don't You Know

Bobbi Humphrey is known for being one of the best jazz flautists of the fusion era, but she also released this sexual piece on Roy Ayers’ Uno Melodic in 1982. She’s got a voice that’s sweeter than bubblegum, and that bass just goes on and on, popping its head up between the beats like a disco mole. That’s without even talking about those strings.

I left this in the back of a cab on my way to an after party in Holloway. To add insult to injury the place turned out to be a squat full of wronguns. It was rubbish.

Bobbi Humphrey - Baby Don't You Know

Bobbi Humphrey is known for being one of the best jazz flautists of the fusion era, but she also released this sexual piece on Roy Ayers’ Uno Melodic in 1982. She’s got a voice that’s sweeter than bubblegum, and that bass just goes on and on, popping its head up between the beats like a disco mole. That’s without even talking about those strings.

I left this in the back of a cab on my way to an after party in Holloway. To add insult to injury the place turned out to be a squat full of wronguns. It was rubbish.
Affinity - Pick Me Up (Rock Me Non-Stop)

You hear that? That’s the kind of stacked bassline that’ll have your trousers down and bent over before you’ve even asked its name. It’s a force of nature.

Affinity are best known for their boogie classic Don’t Go Away released in 83, but this monster from three years later is pure sex too. Edited by Little Louie Vega on the seriously strapping Pow Wow Records.
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance (Italo-Disco 1983)

A record that sounds as fresh today as when it was released in 83 on Squish Records. The synth, the guitar licks, quality vocoder and a stabbing bassline – it’s a 6 hour neon night flight through space with drums.

The track is a cover of Material’s “Take a Chance” from the 82′ album ‘One Down’ that held qualities of it’s own, although cheesier and less driven. Mr Flagio’s version is pure Italo bliss. The kind of track that’d wear a vest and think nothing of it.
Tracy Weber - Sure Shot

It’s easy to think of the clubs and glamour of New York’s golden era and forget the state of every day life for a lot of people in the city, especially the young street kids making the tunes.

Take Tracy Webber, discoverd as a cleaner in Gamble & Huff’s studios aged 16, Webber recorded this one track before being killed in a botched hit, intended for her brother, 6 months before the track was released. Heavy shit, eh.
Brando - What Now My Love.1983

Another driving synth packed Italo jam. It might be too cheesy for some but that’s just the beauty of Italo.

If a phone number written on the back of a Martini coaster in a Tenerife bar could sing, it’d sound like this. It’s the sound of a thousand white skirts being hitched up for a ride on a moped. Elvis, Shirley Bassey and Ben E King have all had a crack at this, but nobody’s made it sound quite so suave as Brando. We dropped this in Belgium and they went bananas for it.