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While the mainstream has become more and more insipid, nostalgia of the past has been quite a big thing once again this year. Alas many labels have ducked out of our pages in 2013. Now-Again, Numero Group, Daptone, Luaka Bop, Awesome Tapes From Africa, Light In The Attic and many many others have joined the ranks of labels who have been disappearing from the radar here… Thankfully some concerned few have been organizing the resistance in France, and we've picked a selection of the best reissues we've managed to get our hands (and ears) on this year, sent to us by the mighty Analog Africa, Barely Breaking Even, Mr. Bongo, Soundway, Tiger's Milk, Tramp, Tru Thoughts or Vampisoul labels. Here's Paris DJs' 2013 selection of 16 gems from the past in Afro, Disco, Jazz, Jungle, Latin, Soul & Reggae…


Paris DJs - Best Of 2013 - The Reissues

01. Diablos Del Ritmo: The Columbian Melting Pot 1960-1985: Afrobeat Puya Cumbiamba Terapia Mapale Caribbean Funk
(4LP/2CD, Analog Africa) info | bandcamp | juno
The best of Colombian music influenced by African grooves - we had been awaiting for years for someone to properly tackle this selection/theme and Analog Africa didn't nail it - they killed it.

02. Kenya Special - Selected East African Recordings From The 1970s & '80s
(3LP/2CD, Soundway) info | juno
This time focusing on some East African vibes previously only released on small-run, 45-rpm, seven inch singles. Soundway Records' selection is killer, gathering raw, catchy, funky & wild Benga, Rumba, Afrobeat and Afrofunk you've probably never heard before.

03. Angola Soundtrack 2 - Hypnosis, Distorsions & Other Sonic Innovations 1969-1978
(CD/2LP, Anagog Africa, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
The trademark Analog Africa classy feel with some psychedelic afro-rock vibes, a mostly heavily danceable latin flavour with some joyous carnaval spirit, and typically Angolian melancholic undertones.

04. Peru Maravilloso: Vintage Latin, Tropical & Cumbia
(CD/2LP, Tiger's Milk, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
Treasures from the 1960s/1970s Peru! Cumbia, guaracha and electric chicha, mixed with soul-jazz, Latin-jazz or psychedelic rock influences… majestic work, available on double LP!!

05. John Morales - The M+M Mixes Vol.3 - NYC Underground Disco Anthems & Previously Unreleased Exclusive Disco Mixes
(3CD/2x2LP, BBE Music, 2013) info | juno
Two years in the making, this greatly mastered collection of floorfillers clearly aims for the dancefloor with superb extended re-arrangements by legendary New York disco DJ John Morales.

06. Afrobeat Airways - Return Flight To Ghana 1974-1983
(CD/2LP, Analog Africa, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
Killer mid-70s to early-80s James Brown-influenced afrofunk & afrobeat from Ghana.

07. Saoco 2! - Bomba, Plena & The Roots of Salsa in Puerto Rico 1955-1967
(CD/LP, Vampisoul / 2013) info | juno
One of the great dance music compilations of the summer of 2013. Outstanding oldies from Puerto Rico from 60 years ago, when Puerto Rican combos would gather the ingredients today called Salsa Dura, the diversity of the music making it even more essential than the first volume!

08. The Story Of Jimmy Preacher Ellis-1963-1972
(CD/2LP, Tramp, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
An antohlogy of Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis 1960s soul 45s, ranging from blues, R&B and proto-funk to psychedelic funk and seventies soul, for labels such as Jewel, Space, Kris and Romark.

09. London Posse - Gangster Chronicles: The Definitive Collection
(2CD, Tru Thoughts, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
A piece of hip hop/jungle genius from 1990, with an additional & massive CD including 4 cool, exclusive, previously unheard tracks, and two handfuls of new remixes. 'Definitive' indeed.

10. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Vol.3: The Skeletal Essences Of Voodoo Funk
(CD/2LP, Analog Africa, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
A must-have, once again, gathering 14 tracks of West African cosmic Blues, Jazz, Rumba and Soul. Sit down, relax, enjoy, start toe-tapping, get up and get entranced! Afro-voodoo at its best.

11. BLO - Chapter One
(CD/LP, Mr Bongo) info | juno
A gem of Afro-Rock, blending highlife and psychedelic rock, with a dubby mix of heavy drum and bass for people to relate to something to dance to.

12. Nico Gomez and his Afro Percussion Inc. - Ritual
(CD/LP, Mr Bongo, 2013) info | juno
This album from 1971 falls into the 'classic afro-latin funk' category, and if you don't already own it, now's the chance. Recorded in Belgium by a band of Netherlanders, you'll be surprised by how vintage this latin funk/afro soul/chicano rock masterpiece sounds!!

13. Shake-A-Leg Vol.2 - Club Night Compilation
(CD/LP, Perfect Toy, 2013) info | bandcamp | juno
The two German selectors are music pros with GREAT taste, there's no filler to be found here - only 74mn of pure communicative grooviness!! So, is this compilation recommended? Heavily.

14. Grant Phabao Reggae Reworks Vol.1 - Masters Of Soul
(Digital EP, Paris DJs, 2013) info | bandcamp
The first in a series of free EPs, gathering the best reggae reworks that have been offered on Paris DJs' Virtual Releases podcast, now available in high-quality audio, fully remastered by Grant Phabao.

15. Kev Beadle presents Private Collection - Independent Jazz Sounds From The Seventies & Eighties
(CD, BBE, 2013) info | juno
Hand-picked gems from classic jazz dance independent and privately pressed records - pure timeless music.

16. Peter King - Miliki Sound
(CD/LP, Mr Bongo) info | juno
Let's head off to Nigeria in the mid-70s, and this album from saxophonistt/composer/arranger Peter King. With hard-hitting psychedelic Afrojazz, immersed in Highlife, Funk, Afrobeat and Jazz, this joyous, uplifting and infectiously catchy new reissue is available on heavyweight vinyl. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Original post on Paris DJs