Soul Selections: Intergalactic Rhythm Society

Our resident DJs the Intergalactic Rhythm Society have been a mainstay of The Cambridge Club Festival since its inception back in 2017 (who remembers their sunset-singalong of a closing set?!). 

The duo return to our stages for some more glorious Disco, Funk, Soul nostalgia in 2021 – but in the meantime, we got them to pick their favourite records of all time as part of our Soul Selections series...

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Get It Right – Aretha Franklin

A cracking set-starter to get the party going, the instantly-recognisable drum roll and synth chords signal this track’s intentions from the offset. The energy builds quickly, with a high-tempo archetypal Disco beat carrying us through. Aretha’s impeccable vocals and Luther Vandross’s writing combine for a slice of soulful magic. A staple in any I.R.S. performance!

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Lost In Music – Sister Sledge (Dimitri From Paris Remix)

It’s a brilliant record to begin with, but this edit from the French Disco aficionado breathes new life into this Sister Sledge hit – re-combining the original elements into a high-energy, dancefloor-optimised DJ weapon. Written and produced by CHIC (we can’t wait to see them this year), this great reworking of a classic only serves to amplify the Disco duo’s genius.

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You Can Win – Bileo

A feel-good favourite, you can’t beat a bit of bouncy brass like Bileo gives us here. With a proper singalong trumpet melody, backed by an octave-jumping bass part and playful guitars, this tune is a smiling-ear-to-ear sort of vibe. Complete with its wonderfully optimistic and upbeat vocals, it’s a real festival favourite of ours. Grab a beverage and boogie away to this one, a dose of Disco sunshine made all-the-apter in these times. Bring on Summer! 

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Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown

Who doesn’t like this song? What a way to wind down the energy mid-set, fade the levels out, then launch back into that beautiful, soaring first note. We never get tired of listening to Jocelyn Brown’s masterpiece – with its incredible, stripped-back vocals + piano intro (nearly an entire minute!); the way the drums and slap bass kick in with high-hat countdown; the way the staccato synths sprinkle over the top. We could be here all day – total perfection!

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Take Me I’m Yours – Mary Clark

The slowest and most sentimental of our selections, this is one for the lovers. Mary Clark’s 1980 release is relatively unknown and remains rare, but less so now – thanks to the 12 inch receiving a deserved re-issue in 2016, and getting a healthy uptake from Disco & Soul DJs (like us!). It’s a deliciously wistful track, completely flying in the face of reductive notions about Disco being cheesily upbeat, which relies on some beautiful minor harmonies and painfully loving lyrics. A dreamy and underrated piece of Disco gold to be cherished.

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Deputy Of Love (feat. Fonda Rae) – Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band

A rip-roarer of a record – that’s as much orchestral ensemble as it is a Disco song – Don Armando treats us to an extravagant and triumphant 8 full minutes of pure joy in this one. Complete with the unmistakable vocals of Fonda Rae, and briskly-walking piano, bass and brass lines that march us from verse to chorus, this is our victory-lap tune. See how many instruments you can count, it must be into double figures... A Disco delight from the Don.

You can catch the Intergalactic Rhythm Society spinning all things Disco, Funk & Soul at this year’s Cambridge Club Festival.

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