Nearly fifty years after it first ignited underground dance floors, D.C. LaRue’s Cathedrals is reborn through refined, contemporary disco remixes.
Few disco records carry the mystique of Cathedrals. First released in the mid-70s, the album cemented D.C. LaRue as one of the era’s most flamboyant and visionary figures, blending orchestral grandeur with club-focused momentum. Now, nearly five decades on, Dafia revisits that legacy with Cathedrals Transformation, inviting three contemporary producers to respectfully reimagine LaRue’s opulent originals for modern dance floors.
Leading the charge is The Reflex, whose revisions of ‘I’ll Still Be Here For You’ and ‘Don’t Want To Lose You’ are masterclasses in balance. He preserves the layered musicianship and theatrical sweep of LaRue’s arrangements while tightening the rhythm section and enhancing the groove for contemporary systems. Strings shimmer, basslines breathe, and the percussion snaps with clarity. It is disco with patience and polish rather than brute-force revisionism.
The centrepiece, ‘Cathedrals’, receives a rework from Unorthodox, an alias adopted here by a well-known nu-disco figure. His remix leans into the spiritual drama of the original, amplifying its choral textures and orchestral swells while reinforcing the low-end for peak-time impact. The result feels reverent yet purposeful, designed for modern selectors who want emotion as much as propulsion.
Closing the package, Dafia boss Mannix delivers a 12-inch disco remix of ‘I’ll Still Be Here For You’ that glows with warmth. Candy-sweet keys, rolling bass and crisp percussion give the track a slightly more playful edge, rounding off the EP with a version that feels tailor-made for sunset sets and hands-in-the-air moments alike.
What makes Cathedrals Transformation compelling is its restraint. The source material remains front and centre. These are not overwrought edits chasing trends, but thoughtful updates that allow LaRue’s songwriting and flamboyant arrangements to speak to a new generation of dancers.
As LaRue himself reflects, the music has survived plagues, decades and shifting club cultures. This release proves why. Great disco is timeless when the craft is this strong.
Cathedrals Transformation lands on Traxsource promo March 6th, with full release March 13th 2026 via Dafia Records. Pre order here.
