All Together Now: The Five Best Artists To Dance To

Chaka Khan

One of the all time funk greats, Chaka Khan has been notching up hits all the way back to the '70s. Commercially, her crowning glory remains 1984's I Feel You, which featured a barn-storming version of the Prince number from which the record took its title. A who's who of funk royalty pitch in on the track, among them Stevie Wonder and Grandmaster Melle Mel, whose rapped 'Ch-ch-ch-chaka-chaka-chaka Khan' intro would become iconic in itself. She followed this with further hits, 'Eye To Eye', 'Through the Fire' and Burt Bacharach co-write 'Stronger Than Before'. Of course, the Chicago native was by then already acclaimed by dint of fronting funkateers Rufus. She would go on to duet with Steve Winwood on his 1986 hit 'Higher Love' and to top the charts when collaborating with Ray Charles and Quincy Jones on a new jack swing revisiting of the Brothers Johnson's 'I'll Be Good To You'.

Underworld

They've been around the block and all the way back again Ð yet Underworld's Karl Hyde and Rick Smith have never lost their momentum or their resolve to create music that strikes a true, meaningful connection with their audience. Early on that meant fist-pumping techno - a phase neatly captured by 'Born Slippy', the much misunderstood smash that, to their vague unease, became a huge hit off the back of Trainspotting (the "lager, lager, lager" refrain at the heart of the tune is a pithy comment, not a call to arms). Make no mistake: Underworld are the business.

Hercules and Love Affair

Disco revival with a smattering of small town angst. Such is the formula that has fuelled Andy Butler's dance-project across the past decade. Last year the group released their fourth album, Omnion, a collaborative affair featuring guest vocalists Sharon Van Etten and The Horrors' Faris Badwan. Butler is an incomparable groove-master, hits such as 'Blind' (with vocals by Anohni) and 'It's Alright' lighting up the floor even as they singe the soul.

New Power Generation

When Prince passed away two years ago, his former musical director Morris Hayes knew what to do - reassemble the Purple One's definitive backing band. Kicking off with a home-town tribute to Prince in Minneapolis late in 2016, the reborn group has gone from strength to strength, with many of the legend's most acclaimed players in the ranks - including Tommy Barbarella (keyboards), Levi Seacer Jr (guitar), Kirk Johnson (Drums), Tony Mosley (guitar, vocals) Ð and rotating cast of superb vocalits, so that no one has to try to 'become' Prince. The setlist is broad and deep, with favourites such as '1999' and 'Raspberry Beret' alongside album cuts that will appeal to the hardcore fans. A must-see.

Groove Armada

There are techno pioneers and there's Groove Armada, the duo of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay whose mega hits include 'I See You Baby' and 'Superstylin'. In addition to their influence on house, techno and electronica, they were instigators behind the still thriving Lovebox festival in London. To mark the 20th anniversary of their 1998 debut, Northern Star, they recently released a new EP, L'esprit d'escalier, on Waze & Odyssey's label W&O Street tracks Said Findlay: "Andy and I recently got together to make some more underground sounding tracks that show the other side of our dance-floor influences, a house music sound we've always stayed close to over the years. Luckily our pals Waze and Odyssey run one of our very favourite UK house labels, and we're very happy to have finally have some music on their label."