hat is it that makes people dance? From four-on-the-floor disco to Latin polyrhythms, archivist label Strut Records has sought out the finest in rare grooves, bringing influential classics and lesser-known gems back into the public eye from the shadowy obscurity of dusty vinyl. Each release features extensive research and liner notes, serving as much to document the history behind the music as to provide floor-filling dance tracks.

1999 marked the label’s debut, as it burst onto the scene with Club Africa, a collection of driving tracks exposing a universe of Afrobeat that consisted of more than Fela Kuti’s star. Exploring this funky sound quickly became one of the cornerstones of Strut’s catalog, moving from additional compilations to reissues of legendary drummer Tony Allen. The reappearance of Oneness of Juju’s landmark jazz-funk experimentations was nothing less than a revelation to those who heard it.

The disco scene of Carter-era New York provided the source for the Disco Not Disco series, forgoing the obvious anthems of the day for hard-hitting, experimental tracks from the likes of Yoko Ono and Bill Laswell. Casting a shadow on the stereotype of punk-disco antipathy, these albums showcase the unexpected and exciting ways dance music pioneers combined genres in a search for a new sound.

In many ways, that search for a new sound is what best defines the artists on Strut. They share a willingness to blur boundaries and risk a lifetime in used bins. The staff at Strut has brought an academic rigour and an obsessive passion to retrieving these gems from their hiding places.

Label Roster: Tony Allen, Oneness of Juju, Peter King, Orlando Julius; Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band, Grandmaster Flash; Ashley Beedle.

Six Essential Releases:
Oneness of Juju – African Rhythms
Various Artists – Club Africa
Various Artists – Nigeria 70
Peter King – Shango
Various Artists – Disco Not Disco
Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock