Welcome back to the Magnetic Magazine 15 Best Disco & Funk Chart! In a world where negativity is king, I am here to spread the light of Disco & Funk, through the music and the mirrorball!
September was packed with so much talent, we are barely going to scrape the surface of the fantastic offerings that are available, but I hope these 15 tracks give you a jumping-off point on your own Disco adventures!
Check Out My Updated Spotify Disco & Funk Playlist
Read Past Disco and Funk Charts Here
lovetempo – The Right Way [lovetempo]
Mattie Safer has truly upped his game with the latest lovetempo single, “The Right Way.” This is shiny Disco, run to the dancefloor to spin under the mirrorball type of stuff! “This one’s a disco burner about searching for a love that feels real, kind, and true”. The sweeping strings and intermittent pews are making me love this track the right way! The lyrics have a soulful quality that will keep you coming back for more!
Baxter Dury – Alpha Dog [Heavenly Recordings]
Baxter Dury is back with his 8th album, Allbarone, and if his spoken-word voice sounds familiar to you, it should, as he sounds very much like his father, Ian Dury. “Alpha Dog” is a distinct departure from the rest of the album, with its Disco influence and shared vocals that sound like they could have come straight off a Tom Tom Club record. It’s a funky little jam indeed!
Kraak & Smaak – Travel Light feat. Ivar [Boogie Angst]
While we wait for Kraak & Smaak‘s upcoming LP, Velvet Seas (October 21st), the exciting teaser track “Travel Light” features the light-as-air vocals of IVAR, imploring us to stay committed to a relationship, knowing where you’ve been, but being flexible enough to travel light and see what opportunities are next. This is a classic Disco-infused track, built of funky bass, glossy strings, horns, and all the things that have made this band special.
Michael Franks – Ladies’ Nite (Monsieur Van Pratt Re Dub) [Rhino Entertainment/Too Slow To Disco]
Too Slow To Disco, as a label, has been ahead of the Poolside trend for many years, by celebrating musicians that would not have been considered Disco during the height of their recording careers, and this is the case with Michael Franks. In a series of reworks of the legendary Jazz artist’s music, Monsieur Van Pratt has taken the track “Ladies’ Nite” and given it a new polish, a glow up if you will. The song has never sounded more ready for yacht life! Check out the rest of the EP here.
Jafunk – Do It For Love feat. Stefan Mahendra [Luckie Star Records]
Disco doesn’t always have to be about a sweaty dancefloor. Jafunk is a master at exploring all sides of the mirrorball, and “Do It For Love” is the perfect example of a slower tempo that allows you and your partner to slow dance. Stefan Mahendra provides the sweet and seductive vocal that can set the tone for some late-night grooves..
Kaleena Zanders with Yung Bae – Time Never Stops [Helix Records]
When Yung Bae sent the music for “Time Never Stops” to Kaleena Zanders, she immediately knew she had to write an incredible lyric to go with it! With the dream team production skills of Yung Bae and Vaughn Oliver, Disco magic was born! As the lyric says, time never stops, but don’t think your next move won’t be your greatest!
Vladimir Cetkar – Ohrid (Dr Packer Radio Remix) [M2MR]
Dr Packer has been teasing “Ohrid” on his socials all summer, so to hear his collaboration with Vladimir Cetkar was finally worth the wait! The song is sung partially in English and partially in Cetkar’s native tongue, giving the listener a reason to pay closer attention to the lyrics. The music takes center stage with Cetkar’s beautiful guitar playing and Dr Packer’s pristine Disco production skills.
Rikky Disco – I Want You Back [Seph Martin Remix) [Stockholm Disco Sounds]
When Rikky Disco dropped “I Want You Back” in June, there was no doubt that a string of great remixes would follow. This September saw the release of the Seph Martin remix, and it takes the slower tempo of the original and adds just enough BPM, Disco pews, strings, and hand claps to bring you straight to the dancefloor! It’s hard to go wrong when you have great source material!
Plaisance – Afterhours [Apparel Music]
French producers Tom Ferrero and Antoine Droin Roussel comprise Plaisance, which, according to their description, is a digital village where they reside to create music. “Afterhours” is the opener on their Coldie EP, a sexy, bumping tribute to the world of the after-hours party. Théo Boero lays down the smooth as silk bassline, and together, this track is a modern funk masterpiece.
Sébastien Tellier – Refresh [Because Music & Horizons]
Sébastien Tellier has lived many musical lives since his first release in 2001. At 50 years old, Tellier is back with “Refresh”, a quirky, synth-driven nu-disco bop that feels like a fresh take on a style that could sound stale if done without care. The track was co-written with his wife Amandine de la Richardière, and a little assistance from SebastiAn and Oscar Holter. “It’s a track about renewal, rebirth, failures, and the ceaseless cycle of starting over“. This next Tellier chapter is worth waiting for!
Monsieur Van Pratt – Stimulation feat. Suki Soul (Disco Mix) [The Disco Express]
Monsieur Van Pratt is on a hot streak in September, this time on The Disco Express label with “Stimulation”, featuring the illustrious vocals of Suki Soul and live instrumentation from BroloRiZo. With all of that talent put together, you had better be ready to hit the dancefloor. This is Disco with a hit of 80s Boogie. Suki beckons you with her repeating ‘ooohs’ and asking, “Don’t you want it?”, and, of course, we do!
Ladies On Mars – Feverball Radio, Where Disco Lives feat D.C. LaRue [Feverball Records]
One part advertisement for Ladies On Mars‘ radio show, and one part cool Disco track, “Feverball Radio, Where Disco Lives” blends the two ideas with the help of D.C. LaRue‘s radio introduction worked into the track as a lyric. This track is the first from LOM’s upcoming LP Welcome To Discoland, out this Friday, October 3rd.
Pool – AllTheKidsAreGettingHigh [Pool]
After a three-year hiatus, Pool has snuck back into our consciousness with “AllTheKidsAreGettingHigh”, a smooth Nu-Disco jam that has hints of Parcels in it, but still sounds uniquely like Pool. The lyrics seem to be about the disconnect of today’s youth in a world that presents negativity, and the escape mentality that comes with that. Either way, it’s a cool breeze for my mind, and I am here for it!
Say She She – Disco Life [drink sum water]
Say She She never had the “Disco Life”, but they are living in that era now! The sweet vocals of Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown blend seamlessly to create an ethereal listening experience. The song doesn’t sound political, but at its core, the message is that the dancefloor is a place where we are all equal, no racism or homophobia allowed. Preach!
Fran Deeper – Sexo (Pete Herbert Remix) [Spa In Disco]
Spa In Disco label head Fran Deeper has a winner with his latest release “Sexo”. Pete Herbert‘s remix takes some of the space-age glam of the original and grounds the track back to a late-night Disco vibe. The synths are still playful and prevalent here, so put this on once the groove is deep at your next party!
Dance music lover, Mid-Century Vintage Shop Owner, Magnetic Magazine Disco & Funk Chart Editor.
