- 2LP
- Recommended
- Back In
Mohinder Kaur Bhamra
Punjabi Disco
Naya Beat
- Cat No.: NAYA-009LP
- 2026-06-07
A series of fascinating reissues of rare groove from South Asia in the 1980s and 1990s continues, The latest release from NAYA BEAT in Los Angeles, California, is a remastered reissue of Mohinder Kaur Bhamra’s “Punjabi Disco”—an Asian electronic dance music album by a UK-based Asian artist, first recorded in the UK in 1982, that was completely unknown even to deep diggers!! Released as a deluxe 2LP set featuring 17 tracks, it includes the original recordings plus remixes by Peaking Lights, Baalti, Mystic Jungle, and others, as well as covers by Piya Malik of Say She She, Turbotito, and Ragz!!! This is amazing.
Track List
Released in 1982—the same year as Charanjit Singh’s acid house album *Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat*, which was all about the TB-303 and TB-808—this album was released by a first-generation UK Asian immigrant singer based in West London, Mohinder Kaur Bhamra—a first-generation UK Asian immigrant who had been active as a Bhangra singer performing at wed ...Read more (Original Japanese text by COMPUMA)dings and harvest festivals in the Punjab region of South India—released this album in 1982, the same year as Charanjit Singh’s acid house masterpiece *Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat*, which was heavily influenced by the TB-303 and TB-808. It was recorded at the studio of Roxy Music bassist Rick Kenton in London, using a Roland SH-1000 synthesizer that her son had just acquired at the time, and a CR-8000 CompuRhythm drum machine played by her younger brother, who was 11 at the time. Recorded at the studio of Roxy Music bassist Rick Kenton in London, the track features electric drum rhythms inspired by the disco sound of the era, a faintly acid-tinged, undulating bassline, psychedelic, siren-like Roland synth melodies, and Punjabi folk melodies—all woven together into a tapestry of bizarre, charming, and captivating rhythm machine-driven Bhangra disco tracks. This 10-track collection is presented on a 2LP set.
In addition to remixes by Peaking Lights (sample 2), Baalti, Mystic Jungle, and Psychemagik (sample 3), as well as the Danger Boys, the collection also includes covers by Piya Malik of Say She She, Turbotito & Ragz, and previously unreleased tracks—a delightful bonus. Furthermore, Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt of London’s The Carberry has handled the analog record cutting for discerning listeners and DJs, and the deluxe gatefold jacket—featuring detailed liner notes by The Guardian’s global music critic, Amar Karia, making for a truly luxurious gatefold sleeve. Please take a look at the tracklist as well. I highly recommend this album. (Original Japanese text by COMPUMA)