Luke Una is back with another 'Presents É Soul Cultura' compilation with Volume 3 and your still getting your money's worth outta Mr Bongo with 15 tracks of fun on the dancefloor.
I can't believe it's been nearly two years since Vol. 2 of this series landed (see reviw HERE) whilst the first Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura came out in 2022! We know that he's still busy as a DJ with his never ending quest to fill his record bag with special records including the likes of his Mr Bongo Edits (see review HERE).
Even then, perpare yourself for the awesome and ever relevant 'Spread Love' by Harris & Orr; originally released in the mid-70s, the message of peace and love could have been as big as any Gil Scott-Heron/Brian Jackson jazz-funk-disco mega-hit. Even then, it's been re-issued and included on some serious labels in Europe and Japan over the passed 30 years, but it's time is now!
And talking of serious and Japan, if your Higgins/Peden types (see HERE), Toshiyki Honda rides the fusion of fire on 'Burnin' Waves' after some soulful disco string orchestral synth on 'Trying To Get By'. And that's one of 3 'physical only' tracks - that's vinyl to you and me - as Terry And Deep South are joined by a 'Super Club Remix' of Janette Renee's 'What's On Your Mind' and 'Dancin' People' by Stars(!)
And perhaps these three tracks (but not exclusively) do indicate an 'É Soul Cultura' mindset of over-looked gems (hence OG silly expensive) that are celebral dancefloor. As taken from the press release, Luke says, "For me, the dancefloor was never about a one-dimensional, thudding, 130 BPM beat only. It's a much more dynamic, broader vision than that. I cut my teeth in an era where a 100 BPM record had as much impact, excitement, and energy as a 134 BPM dancefloor jazz funk or techno record”, Luke mentions. É Soul Cultura Volume 3 is the perfect embodiment of that notion"
Well, apart from Luke's recommendation he's also prepared to share with us some of his big favourites and one take is going to get lots of attention: like a 8-minute DJ Harvey psych-out remix of a DJ Food track, 'Peace' - it's not ya standard "peace man", more Prince/Carlos Santana and Herbie go on a trip and forget the drummer!
Luke made his name at Manchester's Electic Chair and has gone on to DJ his eclectic sets around the world and is at least as well known as DJs Harvey, Peterson, Scruff and the much missed Weatherall.
And talking eclectic, this album lives up to this with one of our favourites from last year, Vital Disorders' post-punk 'Zombie' (previously on Wah Wah 45s backed by a version by youngsters' Kotoa - see review HERE: NB. this year Fela Kuti has become the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award) and then from 1987 some off kilter electro, 'Flight 505' by Alphonsus Idigo (handy for any Egyptian Lover business on the mix) and some "post-minimalist" jazz-funk fusion from mid-80s, Man Jumping's 'In The Jungle' (originally on Bill Nelson's label!)
And we know that Luke likes to trip into all the continents so he'll be able to find tracks like
Grupo Serenata's 'Sodade, Tem Pena D'Mim' from Cape Verde (Ed. and if you're planning a trip and there's mention of 'Shigella', it's not a new dance; it's very bad stuff).
If you come to this compilation thinking you know what Una is all about and you've heard it all before, I bet even you will find something on here to amuse and delight you plus, I think it's fair to say that the same is about all 3 volumes of 'Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura' - you don't need any more of a recommendation so buy it on sight / site - or pre-order as say these days.
BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://bfan.link/luke-una-presents-e-soul-cultura-vol-3
Artist: Various Artists
Title: Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.3
Release date: 20th March, 2026
Label : Mr Bongo
Catalog Number : MRB328
Format : 2 x LP (black and yellow in gatefold sleeve and OBI strip) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
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