The Ray Camacho Band - Reach Out (1980) [Reissue 2016]

Reach Out (1979) is one of the two albums by the disco outfit The Ray Camacho Band with bandleader Ray Camacho, exploring the field of the funky club dance music happening at that time. PMG reissue Reach Out, an album which offers booty shakers in ever-pulsating grooves. The needle lowers down and hits the vinyl and a beat like flashing lights sets in. Bass guitar, drums and percussions weave a tight web of rhythm patterns that capture your body right away and set you into a state of trance. You recognize Latin influences here and there, which become obvious when the horns blow out lush harmonies and relaxed but hot-blooded melodies hit your ears. And indeed Ray Camacho actually comes from Latin music. He mixes both worlds very well on this record. Reach Out is a massive collection of sheer disco funk hits. You will dance and dance to these perfectly produced and executed songs that stick to your mind for quite a long time after the music has faded. Reach Out is an all-in-all handmade album with burning performances of all instrumentalists, with an emphasis on the extended rhythm section. If you love your funky music slick and steaming, this release is for you.

Brilliant brown-eyed soul from Ray Camacho – an artist who was previously known for more border-styled work with his Teardrops band, but who steps out here with a surprisingly great blend of electric jazz and boogie! The approach is wonderful – a real re-direction of Ray's earlier groove into even more soulful territory – handled with that unique fusion that was happening in just a few of the best Texas spots, like the scene in Austin at the time. The album's equal parts soul and funk, but still has a few Latin roots too – and had this gem come out on Fantasy Records at the time, it would have pushed Ray and group into much headier territory. But we're also happy the set's been undiscovered for so many years (consider it our little secret) – and titles include "Reach Out", "Diggin Deep", "Shake What You Got", "Nobody But You", "Nothing But A Party", and "What A Day".