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
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
supported by 11 fans who also own “Disco Illusion”
Like so many others, this came like a bolt out of the blue and, even though it's well before payday, I had to have this astonishing album on vinyl to prove it exists. The feel of the tunes makes me feel like the Impressions do, Curtis Mayfield, the big spaces and instinctive horns and stuff drifting in and out. Great grooves and I can see lots of ghosts nodding along to this with big smiles on their faces. At last! Anthony Cottrell
Moodymann creates innovative soul funky music with deep 70s inspiration. The vocals are simply outstanding. A step back in time, 50 years ago! Superb. jef37
Orgone, from Los Angeles, recruits Cyril Neville, Kelly Finnigan, Pimps of Joytime for an ebuillent soul funk outing. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 30, 2020