Axis Of Love 12”

Emotional Rescue finally gets around to reissuing some House music with the start of a 3 x 12 series from Miami’s Dancefloor Records. Covering House and Freestyle, this is music as worthy as any other explored to date.

Founded by British ex-pat Jeffery Collins in 1983, Dancefloor Records was the culmination of a music industry journeyman’s long career from swinging sixties London to bohemian seventies NYC before relocating to the sunnier climbs of Miami.

Taking in the City’s unique mix of American, Latin and Caribbean sounds, Dancefloors early success came via a long association with reggae turned disco star King Sporty. While his legacy will be looked at in future, this series concentrates on Dancefloor’s shift to the growing club sounds emanating from Chicago and NYC.

First is the little is known Eighth Ray. As often the case, a project by a group of musician friends who went on to release under various pseudonyms. From the opening spoken word intro of Axis Of Love, the spaced-out 4/4 and spiritual, pulsing arps, this could be mistaken for the then in-vogue ‘Italian House’. With Rimini in its sights, the vocals are the journey, underpinned by simple, up’n’back bass and Mateo and Matos style keys, pure 6am sunrise.

Backed with the deeper 8th Ray, the EP eschews the bumpin’ House then coming from NYC and looks to the sound system vibes out across the Atlantic. Deep House before the term had grabbed hold, been twisted and contorted and donned head-to-toe in black. Simply, real House music.