Disco

Brazilian funky

New records that we sell in the <a href="http://www.mrbongo.com">shop and on the website</a>. Updated weekly.

Mr Bongo Weekly Selections

A selection of my heavy-rotation picks as well as  selections from my current DJ mixes.

Data Fone Home—A Jacques Renault Playlist

Modjo Band

Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

Download/Vinyl/Stream: https://toy-tonics.lnk.to/Synesthesia

A new Toy Tonics EP. It’s the second by Venezuelan house DJ and producer Gee Lane. Including amazing remixes by NYC mainstay musclecars!

Gee Lane’s debut EP Metamorphosis (with remixes by Demi Riquísimo and Divorce From New York Remix & PIEK ) came out last October. 
But as Virginie (her real name) is a steady name of the Toy Tonics crew now and plays almost every weekend at one of the worldwide Toy Tonics Jams, it makes sense to put out a follow up fast.

Gee Lane originally from Caracas, now living in Barcelona, is a passionate DJ and vinyl digger with an extraordinary positive energy and attitude. A DJ diva in a positive way. A unique personality with a very strong style (in music but also as a person) and very elaborated ability to read and play with the dancers. Like the first EP, this one has also been recorded in Barcelona and Berlin with a little help from Robin Braum from Athlete Whippet. The music reflects well on her roots and passion for everything that came out of New York’s dance culture. You can hear influences from the 80ies promo disco scenes as well as the 90ies Body & Soul/ Francois Kervorkian / Joe Claussell universe. In fact, Gee Lane after being raised in Caracas and musically educated by her father from a very early age (a composer and musician), moved to New York at a very young age in the late 90ies, where she fell in love with the HOUSE scene. And especially everything that happened at the famous and influential 'Body & Soul' club. 

This culture increased her curiosity to become a DJ (and vinyl digger herself) who is not just interested in house music but wants to explore other genres such as funk, Hip-Hop, jazz and Latin sounds and include these vibes into her DJ sets. As vinyl collector (and long-time record shop employee) since then, she is known for her musical eclecticism, which leads her to mix everything she wants...

Released: 11.03.24

Monkeys

Gee Lane - Monkeys

Aerials live, dials tuned, Transmission Towers broadcasting. On either side of the river Mersey, transcendental communications are traded back and forth. Two late-night revellers, one firing messages filled with music, the other returning them laced with lyrics. The result, a dopamine hit of oddball machine soul, melded with a highlife, Afrofuturist touch. Wonky and murky yet deeply emotional, Transmission One, is a debut album that also marks the first release on Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura label, encompassing expertly the off-kilter atmosphere the label sets to orbit. 

A synthesised landscape with a Northern charm, Transmission Towers marry the musical worlds of two artists that last collaborated over a decade ago. 10 years have passed, lives have been led, but a gravitational pull has placed Mark Kyriacou and Eleanor Mante back in each other’s spheres on opposite sides of the city of Liverpool. Energised with a newfound desire to strip it all back to the sounds that influenced their formative years in the late ‘80s and ‘90s - astral travelling, intoxicated on Motor City techno, Black Dog IDM and mystical Sun Ra. 
 
Mark half Irish, half Greek Cypriot, Eleanor half Nigerian, half Ghanian, the music contained within is an alchemy of those roots and the pivotal acts that buried deep into their minds. A cosmic contrast, part machine-made, part distinctly human. Take the opener ‘UP’, an ESG-channelling, sci-fi punk beatdown or the polychromatic hyperspace anthem ‘Roller Skater 23’. 
 
Transportive throughout, you ride the solar waves, pace and emotion ebbing and flowing. Tracks like ‘Go Slow Heart’ and ‘Cosmic Trigger’ step to a slower beat but hit with a punch. The former, a slo-mo blast of celestial tenderness, the latter an otherworldly, chugged-out lunar excursion, micro-dosing on whacked-out Wah Wah and Eleanor’s ethereal vocals. Beaming love letters to space and back, ‘Sparse’ marries the organic with the artificial, pianos and percussion circling around synth pads and broadcasting bleeps.
 
Elsewhere, vibrations move faster. ‘Mega’ strikes, fusing sonic tribalism with psychedelic swirls, as ‘Everything’ sweeps you up in its extra-terrestrial new wave grip. Synth stabs and basslines fizzing from every angle.  
 
Demos of Transmission Towers music surfaced on Luke Una’s radar, making him stop in his tracks. Something magical was emerging, perfectly aligned with the E Soul guardian’s tastes. Guidance followed, quickly turning into conversations about Transmission One becoming the first release on Luke’s own label. 
 
Escapist and futurist yet grounded and relatable. Transmission One is synthesis meets sentiment with a deep, spine-tingling soul at its core.

Transmission Towers - Up

Born at the end of the 80s in Bastia, Corsica, François Dagregorio alias "Valerj" comes from a generation in which long formats occupy a special place in the discographies of electronic music artists. It was with this in mind that the production of "Le début du beau", Valerj's debut album, began: an almost fantastical desire to show something more intimate, to tell a story, perhaps his own story.
A child of dance music, dj since the age of 16, in the space of just three ep's Valerj's productions have already toured the world, appearing in the sets of major players on the dark disco / indie dance scene such as Jennifer Cardini, Curses, Perel and Modular Project. Always keen to collaborate and exchange ideas, since 2022 he has
also crossed paths with renowned artists such as Damon Jee, Roe Deers, Amarcord and Joe Lewandowski on remixes.
Despite his obvious affinity with the dark disco scene, which is still very active today, the artist has chosen a completely different path for this "debut album", reconnecting with influences that are much more house, ambient and electro.
Metro Area, Dj Koze, Boards of Canada, Nina Kraviz, Anthony Rother, Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Jimmy Edgar - the list of heroes could go on and on, but that's not the point. Avoiding the trap of the "dancefloor compilation", offering music that can be
heard everywhere but heard nowhere before, that is the "ambitious ambition" of this eight-track collection: music that "speaks", that speaks of love, that speaks of the night, music that dances, that dances as well as lives.
In today's fast-paced world, "Le début du beau" is an attempt to give us time, by offering us a signposted route, a 47-minute guided loop that asks questions - universal questions about our ability to get back on our feet, our ability to remain hopeful, questions about our ability to give love, to give love and to receive it.
"Le début du beau" is an object, an object to be listened to in its entirety, an object to be revisited several times to better understand it, to better apprehend it, a nostalgic object that pays tribute to those records that sometimes change our lives
through their singularity, their ability to resonate with a moment, an era in our lives.

PREMIERE : Valerj - Le Début Du Beau (Feat. Thomas Marfisi)

http://www.mrbongo.com/product/tudo-ben-jorge-ben-covered-cd-1149

A collection of covers of master Brazilian musician and writer Jorge Ben. With such classics under his belt as Mas Que Nada, covered by the likes of Sergio Mendes, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Al Jarreau, and the song Taj Mahal which was the source of Rod Stewart’s Do You Think I’m Sexy?, Ben is a huge force in Brazilian popular music.

Often described as the James Brown of Brazilian music due to his prolific output, he is the most sampled Brazilian artist ever with people from the Black Eyed Peas to DJ Marky lifting elements off his tracks. His song catalogue has also been covered by some of the finest bands in Brazil.

This selection represents a more dance-floor orientated outing including mega rarities for the collecting fiends like Cosa Nostra by Os Mutreteiros Grilados and tracks that even Ben himself never got around to singing like Rei Do Maracatu's Cyro Aguiar.
Available on CD, LP, 7" and digital download.


Os Originais Do Samba - Falador Passa Mal

Out now on on Early Morning: https://lnk.to/nntBXY

Sébastien Léger - Gaufrette

Yagga Yao

Yagga Yao (Original Demo Version)

Yagga Yao (Emperor Machine Extended Version)

Good friends and Record Mission co-captains, Dan Tyler (one half of the Idjut Boys) and Nick The Record, take the reins for the third volume of the Mr Bongo Edits 12" series. With previous editions coming courtesy of Danny Krivit and Luke Una, Dan and Nick set their sights on a hand-picked selection of iconic ‘70s Cuban recordings for this three-track cosmic whirlwind. Across the A side, Dan picks out two Juan Pablo Torres tracks, with Nick taking on Grupo Los Yoyi on the B. Tweaking, extending and reworking the recordings with a dose of extra magic they remould the tracks to fit the sounds and structure of today’s dancefloors. 

Having formed the Idjut Boys in the early ‘90s, Dan and Conrad McDonnell have crafted a dubbed-out, disco-tinged style that permeates their countless productions, remixes and DJ sets. Speaking of the two tracks Dan has chosen to rework for this EP he mentions, “Having been caught under an avalanche of good music from Mr Bongo, I took it upon myself to extend and add effects to a couple of the fantastic tracks from the Juan Pablo Torres LPs they recently re-issued. Just for disco jockey and barn dance use.”

First, Dan looks to Cuban maestro Juan Pablo Torres’ 1978 album 'Algo Nuevo', taking one of the standout tracks ‘Cacao’ and giving it more space to breathe. Teasing out the scatting vocal line and percussive climax that nods to George Kranz's ’83 electronic disco anthem 'Din Daa Daa', whilst adding more cosmic tripped-out synths and space echoed dubs, Dan builds the tension to fine effect. This track sounds immense on a big club system and the swirling synths felt like they were lifting the ceiling off when we played it at the amazing La Paloma ballroom in Barcelona. 

Dan then turns his attention to Torres’ 1977 'Super Son' album, giving the psych-Latin-funk track 'Pastel En Descarga' a dub makeover. Rich in delay and drama, whilst maintaining and extending the breakers funk intro, he juices it up into a punchy, no-nonsense, cosmic-funk delight. 

On the B side, Tangent co-founder, long-standing Life Force resident and seasoned rework master, Nick The Record, revisits an edit that he originally constructed in 2009. Clocking in at over double the length of the original cut, Nick’s edit of Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 cut 'Paco La Calle', is made with dancers firmly in mind. This secret weapon builds and simmers, with the drums and percussion pushing and pulling before the psychedelic synth lines return in a sweltering fashion. In this new 2025 version, Dan is drafted in to work some brilliant new synth lines into the mix.


Juan Pablo Torres - Cacao (Dan Tyler NAD Bulto Versión)

Grupo Los Yoyi - Paco La Calle (Nick The Record Re-Edit)

Putting a fresh spin on two tracks from New Regency Orchestra’s standout debut album, Momoko Gill and Samtheman, step up to the plate on remix duties. Two exciting and innovative names rising out of London’s next generation of artists they’ve reimagined NRO’s Afro-Cuban jazz vibrancy in their own personal and distinctive way. Blurring the lines between remix and new production, Momoko turns ‘Para Los Papines’ into a meditative, transportive, percussive cut laced with her ethereal vocals, as Sam flips ‘Sambaroco’ into an Afro house styled groover with Caique and P Wavey on the mic.

London-based drummer/producer/songwriter and vocalist, Momoko Gill, provides the first of the remixes. With an explorative ear and a rejection for imitation, her unique style has seen her collaborating with artists including Matthew Herbert, Coby Sey, Tirzah and Alabaster DePlume. Nourished by elements of NRO’s take on David Amram’s ‘Para Los Papines’, Momoko’s clever sampling of the bass, percussion and horns melds this track into a new dimension. Drawing from a Buddhist myth, her lyrics and intimate voice provide a celestial, mythological touch to the remix.

Talking on the remix Momoko says: “I wanted to make something that feels more like a recontextualization of the original and a continuation of the conversation. Unlike the original which sounds looser and starts with the more jazzy orchestration, NRO’s version kicks straight into the vamp and has a more linear structure, where the orchestrated bits serve as a release of tension as well as a destination. I enhanced that by making a new line through sampling the double bass which, in retrospect, sounds almost like a line you’d hear in grime and used vocal sampling to drive the groove.”

Next up, Samtheman, co-founder of the label/collective Brighter Days Family, takes on ‘Sambaroco’. Sam’s genre-bending productions are both inspired by, and experimenting with, sounds from around the globe. Reworking the groove into an Afro house rhythm, Sam invites two emerging young artists with ties to Brighter Days Family, Caique and P Wavey, to take to the mic and add a new, vocal-led flavour to the remix. 

Sam mentions, “Together in the studio, we listened to the original version by Tito Puente, Caique came up with a phrase inspired by the name of the tune. “Ela me faz samba roco, Ela me faz samba loco…” Then the rest of the vocal parts started flowing. Continuing to use the name of the original for inspiration, P Wavey begins his verse with, “Sambaroco-ni, now everybody just follow me…” In my mind, the original is a salsa song that is about carnival, or a salsa interpretation of carnival, in particular Brazilian carnival hence the title of the song.”

More than just reworks, these tracks are conversations, between continents, cultures, and genres, through the forward-thinking lens of two of London’s rising stars.


New Regency Orchestra - Para Los Papines (Momoko Gill Remix)

Proudly presenting Maravilhosamente Bem the powerful, female-centred third album by Brazilian singer, songwriter, actress, and creative director, Julia Mestre.
Alongside being a member of the Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian supergroup, Bala Desejo, Julia has been steadily building a solo career where her unique vision and alluring soft, sultry voice take centre stage. Drawing inspiration from ‘80s ballads, MPB, pop and disco productions, each song on this third album finds Julia creatively exploring different characters and tones.

A love-song-driven LP at its core, Maravilhosamente Bem holds a playful mirror up to blissful days gone by, artfully reimagined with Julia’s own modern twist. An album filled with love and nostalgia, it pays homage to her love of classic female disco divas such as Donna Summer, Sade, Alcione, Lady Zu, and the Brazilian rock queens Rita Lee and Marina Lima. Of that latter pairing, the late iconic Brazilian vocalist and musician Rita Lee (Os Mutantes) is referenced in the music video for the first single, ‘Sou Fera’, blessing Julia with a magical guitar. Marina Lima then provides guest vocals on the album’s closing track, ‘Marinou, Limou’, with her name transformed into a mantra by Julia.

Channelling a lo-fi ‘80s ballad aesthetic, Julia navigates a multitude of themes across the nine sublime tracks. From the sexy, whispered performances on vintage horror movie-inspired tunes ‘Vampira’ and ‘Pra Lua’, to the delicate, fragile love lullabies of ‘Sentimento Blues’ and ‘Cariñito’, and the seductive disco diva embodiment on dance tracks ‘Veneno de Serente’ and title track ‘Maravilhosamente Bem’. Another hidden highlight is the palette-cleansing mini-suite, ‘Interlúdio dos Amantes’. A luscious strings instrumental piece that lends to the beautiful Sade-esque ‘Seu Romance’.

Produced by Julia and longtime collaborators Gabriel Quirino, Gabriel Quinto, and João Moreira, Maravilhosamente Bem sees Julia embarking on a new era of her musical career. This sensational third album is a captivating showcase of the creative vision and versatility of one of Brazil’s finest stars. Released on Mr. Bongo (ROW) and Altafonte (Brazil/Portugal).


Julia Mestre - Pra Lua

Kicking off a new edit series on É Soul Cultura, head honcho Luke Una hands over the keys to three secret weapon edits of transcendental dancefloor tackle. Having spent a lifetime getting his hands dirty digging in crates, Luke’s collection of off-the-beaten-track gems is second to none. For this three-track É Soul edit release, Luke delivers a one-way ticket to the outer reaches of the universe soaking up sounds from Trinidad, the UK and Cameroon along the way. Strap in for a triple threat of signature Luke Una edits reworking Ella Andall, Slick Mission and Manu Dibango for the modern dancefloor.

Up first, Luke twists and tweaks the Caribbean radiance of Ella Andall ‘My Spirit Is Music’, enriching this high-energy heater. Speaking about the track he said, “It’s a remarkable, ‘90s, swerve ball, machine soul, afrobeat groove from Trinidad. Incredibly rare, but most importantly it’s a wonderful fusion of drum machine and this almost carnival-like feel to this afrobeat rhythm that just turns it into the outer cosmos.”

Following that, Luke gets suitably cosmic on the dub dials with his 5am Shabeen Proto House Edit of Slick Mission ‘Times Up’. Produced by Jerry Pike of Atmosfear / Elite Records fame, Luke recounts, “This is a very much missed slice of UK house pressure which has its foot firmly in a proto-house feel. Very DIY, rough and raw – it’s an absolute gem. This is one that has definitely escaped most eyes.”

Last but not least, it’s a stop in Cameroon shining a light on the legendary Manu Dibango and his cover of ‘Jingo’ featuring King Sunny Adé. “Their version of ‘Jingo’ takes the original classic into a whole new level of outer space, afro brilliance. It’s such a beautiful cover and really turns the track into something else. The musicianship and vibes just scream out. Oddly no one really seems to know it.”

Three certified winners from Luke’s underground arsenal, reworked, refined and ready to be deployed on any dancefloor when the feeling hits.