Groove of ESSR: Funk, Disco, Jazz from Soviet Estonia / 2019

A really ear-opening compilation – one that brings together an insane range of music from Estonia – one of the smaller of the Soviet-era Eastern Bloc nations – and a surprising hotbed of groovy activity! The tunes here are definitely in the funk, disco, and jazz modes promised by the title – but they all often have very unusual approaches to the genres, too – weird ways of coming up with instrumentation, or arranging the rhythms, or laying down the vocals next to some wonderfully jazzy solos – but never in a way that sacrifices the soulful side of the spectrum, as these tunes have plenty of appeal to fans of more familiar West European funk from the time. Vocals are mostly in Estonian – which further makes the tunes sound unique – and titles include "Malestuste Teel" by Eesti Raadio Estraadiorkester, "Rasked Veosed" by Valter Ojakaar, "Keskoo" by Els Himma, "Naed Vaid Oma Silmi" by Tiiu Varik, "Uksi Kuid Vabana" by Marju Kuut, "Mets Neidude Vahel" by Collage, "Marss Eksprompt" by Uno Naissoo, "Leidmine" by Gunnar Graps & Magnetic Band, and "Keskoosamba" by Eesti TV & Raadio Estraadiorkester.