Here's a crate-digger style six-pack around the dirty late-70s/early-80s cosmic funk lane

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Dexter Wansel – “Life on Mars” (1976)

Deep Philly jazz-funk with real celestial atmosphere. It is slightly earlier than your target window, but it absolutely fits the mood and plays like a proper leftfield opener.

 

Crown Heights Affair – “Galaxy of Love” (1978)

Big, driving disco-funk with enough outer-space theme to lock into that crate-digger cosmic lane without going novelty.

 

Fat Larry’s Band – “Space Lady” (1978)

Raw Philly groove and one of the best “space” titles in the whole lane. Great as the point where the set starts getting thicker.

 

Pleasure – “Space Is the Place” (1979)

More synth-forward and rubbery, but still very much in that late-70s funk pocket. Strong bridge from jazz-funk into boogie.

 

Slick – “Space Bass” (1979)

Still one of the key records for this exact vibe: stripped-down, low-end heavy, and made for a DJ set rather than just headphone listening.

 

The RAH Band – “Messages From the Stars” (1983)

A little smoother and more modern than the others, so it works brilliantly as either a late-set lift or a dreamy closer.