Disco Illusion, by Stephen Encinas

Disco Illusion

by Stephen Encinas

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1.	Disco Illusion 06:44	lyrics	buy track
DISCO ILLUSION Disco time Smoky lights are dimmed and flashing You and I In a trance hugging and kissing In a maze Strobing lights losing direction Blinded by Your sweet loving and affection It's Friday night, Disco ecstasy All wrong is right, A hazy illusion Five-day week With each day full of frustration Struggling for A life tube remuneration Up at five Full night's rest and still you're tired Must work hard Cause if you don't you would be fired It's Friday night, just let me be All wrong is right, A hazy illusion Shirley Do And Shubby Dum were going steady But it seems For discos they weren't yet ready Shubby drank And was caught in an illusion Angry Do Broke all communication It's Friday night, you can lose your key All wrong is right, A hazy illusion
2.	Lypso Illusion 04:44	info	buy track

about

In the space of a week this month I interviewed Gilles Peterson and Joey Negro. Both times Stephen Encinas' "Disco Illusion" came up. Both times it was agreed that the record is absolutely amazing. That grizzled disco nerds such as Peterson and Negro are stamping their approval on it probably tells you all you need to know.

But stopping there would be a shame: "Disco Illusion" has a remarkable story behind it. The single was recorded in 1979 in Trinidad & Tobago by a group of local musicians, and released on the obscure Kalinda label. It was a rare blend of R&B vocals and weighty West Indian bass backed with a cosmic instrumental vamp that lifts the track into the stratosphere midway through. There was only one problem: the record failed to get distribution so no one ever heard it. Until last year, that is, when someone found a box full of copies in a Trinidadian warehouse. The folks at Invisible City Editions then reissued the record and here we are today.

The B-side, "Lypsco Illusion," is equally impressive, combining synthesizer warbles, incessant beats and a face-melting steel pan solo. (It's not often you get to say that.) You would have thought a record of this quality would have surfaced earlier considering the sheer number of DJs actively digging for this kind of stuff. But the story seems to add up. Disco Illusion was the only record Stephen Encinas ever made. Bar a vocal appearance on Michael Boothman's equally brilliant version of "What You Won't Do For Love," this was the lot. That's indeed regrettable, as it's one of the very best reissues in recent years.

credits

released May 16, 2014

Side A: Disco Illusion

Backing Vocals – Andy, Judy, Kenrick, Wendy
Bass – Angus Nunes
Drums, Percussion – Michael 'Toby' Tobas
Guitar – Andy Alexander
Keyboards – Stephen Encinas
Lead Vocals – Stephen Encinas, Wendy Eligon
Producer – Stephen Encinas
Synthesizer – Kenrick John

Side B: Lypso Illusion

Arranged By – Kenrick John, Stephen Encinas
Bass – Angus Nunes
Drums, Percussion – Michael 'Toby' Tobas
Keyboards, Vocals – Stephen Encinas
Producer – Stephen Encinas
Recorder – Kenrick John
Steel Drums [Pans] – Anise Hadeed

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