It was about ten years ago that I really started getting into house music. Initially, I bought the odd CD single, songs I'd heard in the charts. Then one day, I still can't remember how, I came across Disco Kandi 4, "a glittering selection of the sexiest disco house and uplifting US garage".
Unmixed, full length tracks, music I hadn't heard before that was far better than most of the chart hits, all in a nifty-looking package with sexy artwork. It was everything the Ministry of Sound Annuals weren't and I loved it. I soon sought out the first three in the series and caught up with Beach House, Nu Cool and anything else on the Hed Kandi label DJ and promoter Mark Doyle had so lovingly put together.
For my money, the golden age was between 2000 and 2003. After Ministry of Sound bought the label in 2006 it quickly went downhill, with the exclusive little-known tunes replaced by populist chart rubbish and the inimitable artwork by Jason Brooks imitated really badly. Doyle started up the Fierce Angel label which in some ways carried on where the original Hed Kandi left off and all power to him. But while the disco house style of the early noughties has lost its glitterball sparkle in recent years, those original songs, some funky, some pure disco are as fresh as ever.
To celebrate precisely those tunes I've put together a mix of some of my favourites from that era. As I chose them, I obviously think they're all brilliant, but I'd like to highlight a couple of lesser known tracks. 'Do You Love Me' by Mademoiselle is the epitome of 'nu disco' and without a hint of a sample this reprises some classic '70s disco sounds together with some 21st century beats and tasty vocoder business. '69 Overdrive' by Spice is an altogether nastier concoction, with a thumping bass and funky guitar licks.
"Kandilicious"
1. ALAN BRAXE & FRED FALKE - Intro [Original Club Mix]
2. HAKAN - Sugartown
3. MANGE LE FUNK - I Still Want You [Liquid People Vox Mix]
4. JAMIROQUAI - Little L [Bob Sinclar Remix]
5. PHATS & SMALL - Change [Extended Mix]
6. THE SUPERMEN LOVERS - Starlight [Original 12" Version]
7. MADEMOISELLE - Do You Love Me [Original Club Mix]
8. STARS ON 54 - If You Could Read My Mind [Original Club Mix]
9. JAKATTA - American Dream [Joey Negro Club Edit]
10. SPICE - 69 Overdrive [Timo Maas Mix]
11. SIMPSON TUNE - Bring It Down [Da BMR's Club Rework]
