Review: Talented Italian collective Aura Safari features well known Italian house producer Nicolas amongst other fine musicians. They have released a fine album on UK label Church but now head to their homeland's Hell Yeah for a debut EP full of magic. 'Lagos Connect' fuses afro drumming with house beats, lush synth work and glowing melodies to make for something beautifully grown up and musical as well as danceable. After the reprise and dub comes 'Morning Rivers,' a super slinky and seductive jazz-funk number with glowing, golden chords and subtle cosmic rays of light.
Review: Be Strong Be Free debuts a new series here, Mellow Magic Worldwide, which will offer up a series of DJ weapons that have been produced by "worldwide studio buds." The first one opens with some superb tackle from Gold Suite whose brilliant 'Crush' is a slow-burning 80s jam and emotive rollercoaster that has made a real impact during road testing experiments. On the flipside is the mysterious Mancunian Visions Of Eden who debuts on vinyl with a lush deep house jam 'When It Has Past that has a subtle Balearic charm. Lastly comes Murrin who heads up the Puca Sounds label and co-runs Berlin party Fandango. His 'Maybe Tonight' is a late-night cosmic delight.
Review: Mishell Ivon and Vincent Kwok are back and combining their skills once more with this brilliant bouncy new funk outing on The Sleepers. The first tune on this pocket-rocket of a 7" is 'High', a funky weapon that is high on life and built around well-syncopated drums and a percussive bassline. The icing on the cake is Mishell's vocals which weave in out of the synth stabs and lush keys, all of which are well arranged. Flip it over and you'll get lost in the funk once more with 'In The Dust' with its masterfully rhythmic bassline and more of those buttery Mishell vocals.
Smokey Robinson's Hands (feat Planet Asia - Theory Hazit remix) (4:10)
Rainy Nights (feat Roc Marciano - Theory Hazit remix) (4:10)
Review: Libretto recently unveiled his sixth album, Rusty Bladez, with Seattle icon Vitamin D handling production and lending verses of his own. From the cover featuring his inmate ID, the album delves into Libretto's reflections on his time in the Federal Penitentiary system and finds him vividly recounting his experiences pre and post-incarceration. Vitamin D's masterful production strikes a balance between sombre tones and infectious grooves, and now two of the best cuts from the 17-track full length are pressed up here onto a crucial 7" that provide a cinematic journey crafted by two West Coast veterans.
Review: 'Girassol' has long been one of the hardest-to-find gems in Brazilian great Marcos Valle's vast catalogue of sun-drenched musical treats. It was initially recorded and released as a promo-only seven-inch, with copies being handed out to customers of a Brazilian supermarket chain. This, then, marks the track's first ever commercial release. In its' original form (side A), 'Girassol' is a lusciously short, soft-focus affair - a two-minute chunk of laidback, jazz-funk influenced South American boogie bliss with the kind of high production values that you'd expect from Valle during his successful post-disco period. As with the original 7", it comes backed with the slightly more elaborate 'Playback' instrumental mix, where gentle, eyes-closed saxophone solos come to the fore.
Review: For the latest volume in their ongoing Brazil 45s series, Mr Bongo has decided to change tack. The two tracks showcased here are from the golden age of Brazilian boogie. On the A-side you'll find Marcos Valle's "A Paraiba Nao E Chicago", a largely overlooked cut from his 1981 full-length Vontade De Rever Voce. While not as instantly as infectious as some of his better-known singles, it's still superb; a breezy, blue-eyed soul cut full of rising horns and sweet Portuguese vocals. On the B-side, you'll find Don Beto's 1978 disco-funk jam "Nao Quero Mais", a superb track that was seemingly inspired by the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running".
Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti - "Aleluia" (3:52)
Review: Two silky sides of Brazilian disco soul on Mr Bongo's perennial Brazil 45s series. First up, long-haired lothario samba fusionista Marcos teams up with Leon Ware for a pristine polished piece of early 80s disco funk. Golden harmonies, staccato vocals and a super juicy bassline; it's not hard to see why it was his best selling single. Flip for the equally smooth "Alleluia" from Brazilian boogie gospelist; this one is all about the percussion heavy breakdown. Proper sunshine block party business.
Review: Two premium Latin funk documents on one limited 45, Mr Bongo deliver once again: Marcos Valle needs no introduction to Brazilian music enthusiasts. "Mentira" is a self-cover as Valle takes his 69 classic "Mentira Carioca" and develops the dynamic with a vocal style that's highly reminiscent of Donovan. Flip for Toni Tornado's Black Rio anthem "Me Libertei". Fusing sleazy rock n roll with jazzy Latin soul, madly this is the first time it's ever graced a 45!
Review: Something in the Eastern European house and dance music proclivity has always struck us as enduringly authentic, perhaps due to its interest in folk music fusions; the label Sad Fun have surely played a key part in doling out this impression. Now they offer their latest addition to the fantasy with a label-described "true Estonian lowkey gem" in the form of duo Ajukaja & Edith Karlson, aka. Vana, whose combined efforts frankly, dustily and ironically toy with the pop music cliches native to their homeland. A-and-B-siders 'Vimme Ratsu' and 'Kuu Maa' are said to rework an '80s Estonian coastal folk-pop favourite and perform a "pseudo-reggae" pastiche respectively. Both have that effortless murmured charm on the vocals, recalling a nostalgic time of European make-do, A10-mic-from-the-junk-store, bottle episodic, rickety recorded goodness.
Review: Fans of UK street soul from the mid-80s you need this one in your life as Heels & Souls Recordings returns with its eighth reissue and unveils some treasures by Elaine Vassell and 3rd Zone. In 1993, amidst the rise of house music, UK soul thrived, accompanied by its DIY street soul sibling as perfectly exemplified here by 'Never Give Up' which boasts a raw, breakbeat-driven groove, blending soulful house, hip-hop, and r&b, while 3rd Zone's 'You Stole My Heart' from 1991, later featured on their 1993 EP No Real Reason, offers a tender yet tough underground vibe. Both tracks showcase the era's spirit, proving that creativity trumps big budgets. Each side includes an alternate version for added depth and diversity.
Review: The Vee Gees began as 'The African Americans', but their name was later changed to 'The Versatile Gents' aka. The Vee Gees following a spate of creative differences over their original name. 'Talkin' was born from the breaksy sweet soul sound of the early '70s, which touched on the wall of emotive sound that pigeonholed the sound of rare groove. The song is devotional and improvisatory, spiffingly showing off Robert Evans' pitch-perfect dialogue with the thing upstairs.
Review: Floating Point and co's Melodies International label makes its first outing of 2022, and what a fine one it is too. It is a much needed reissue of two massive soul and disco gems by singer Al Johnson and Tom Fauntleroy, backed by a cover of the same tune by New York singer Tat Vega who had been active since the 60s and was big in musicals as well as singing to Berry Gordy's Motown. Her vision, a duet with George Curtis Camero, was actually released on her fourth solo album but now comes in handy 7" format for DJs.
Review: The Versatiles were a Jamaican reggae group whose expression hardly matched the stereotype of a musician working in the style nowadays; they wore matching white suits and bow-ties, and worked in a more jubilant, clean-cut style than what we're used to. 'Lulu Bell' is a rare and much-sought-after original from the band, released in 1969 and not released on a single reissue since. The B-side on this reissue from Harlem Shuffle, 'Long Long Time', is similarly rare, and it lyrically urges generational communities to come together in song and dance.
Review: It's time to take a trip back to the legendary 1980 production era of Sly & Robbie's Taxi label. By 1980-81, Taxi's stripped-down, heavyweight drum and bass sound ruled the dubplate scene at Channel 1 and while tracks like 'Heart Made of Stone' and 'Black Uhuru's' saw official releases, others like 'Warrior' and 'Rocks and Mountains' remained elusive and only surfaced decades later. 'Don't You Cry' by The Viceroys is one such raw, haunting roots track from that time with a thunderous drum and bass version also cinder. Straight from the dub room at 29 Maxfield Avenue, this long-lost gem is another special delivery.
Review: Record-collecting Jedis out there will know that this one is a real holy grail that is coveted by name, and now Record Store Day comes good and makes it widely available (well, in limited quantities) to all for a much more affordable price than you would get on second hand sites. This 7" allows you to experience the soulful magic of New York's The Village Choir who infuse Latin, soul, and jazz elements and more into two dancefloor gems that exude timeless elegance. Previously known for fetching over L500 on the secondhand market, this is an officially licensed reissue and what's more, it comes on nice heavyweight wax.
Review: 'Funky Broadway' by The Villagers appeared on the well-received Movements Vol.12 compilation album and was a clear standout amongst standouts. As a response to that it now makes its long-awaited debut release on standalone vinyl. It's a soul-stirring gem that brings classic sounds and heart-melting grooves. On the B-side comes the red hot garage-rock gem 'You're My Baby (Don't You Forget It)' which is originally from 1966, and which coincided with Dyke & The Blazers' original recording of 'Funky Broadway' in the same year. Neat.
Review: Emotional Rescue looks to the newly rebuilt but still very much culturally separate East and West Germany of the 1980s with this new EP. It's dub reggae through a post-punk and alternative lens by Hanover artists Felix Holter aka Dubvisionist. All these cuts have a very live, improvised feel because father way he worked from rhythms first and jammed endlessly before adding the vocals. They are taken from their 1987 release 10 Tracks Of Reggae & Dub Music which was inspired by the great Adrian Sherwood label On-U Sound label, and you can hear that clearly.
Review: Those with knowledge of rare groove should be well aware of The Voices of East Harlem's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive', a 1973 album track from the band's eponymous second album that was reissued in 1988 due to its popularity on London's rare groove scene. Here the superb, string-laden, Leroy Hutson produced classic appears on seven-inch for the first time, courtesy of Dynamite Cuts. This time round it comes backed with another killer jam from the same album: the proto-disco soul swell of 'Little People', which was famously sampled by Young Disciples on their 1991 skit 'Get Yourself Together'. Essential stuff all told.
Review: The community-based collective Voices Of East Harlem blessed the world with three albums and a whole string of funky singles back in the day. They were produced by the dream team pairing of Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield and came on Just Sunshine Records over the course of five years. Many cult tracks were born and two of them get reissued here on this new and limited edition 7" for Dynamite Cuts. 'Can You feel It' is deep cut funk with steamy vocals and Part 2 is a little more spaced out and cosmic with tumbling drums and freeform synths. Superb stuff.
Review: Sounds like it came out of Lagos in 1971, actually written and recorded in Lyon in 2015: Voilaaa is the brainchild of Bruno Hovart whose long relationship with Favorite goes way back to his days as Patchworks, Mr President and The Dynamics. Recording on a whole host of vintage machines and calling upon local African singers both cuts have a real authentic sense of realness; "Spies Are Watching Me" drives with big horns and swooning strings which isn't dissimilar to the work of The Movers, while the TY Boys-esque "Le Disco Des Capitales" is a heavier, more concentrated slab of floor-minded disco where the groove takes more of a forefront role. Apparently there's a whole album of this cooking... We can't wait to hear it.
Americo Brito & Djarama - "Rapaz Novo E Malandro" (7:32)
Cabo Verde Show - "Terra Longe" (3:30)
Elisio Vieira - "Tchon Di Somada" (4:20)
Vlu - "Rua D'Lisboa" (5:45)
Galaxia 2000 - "Coracao Dum Criola" (3:55)
Mendes & Mendes - "Mitamiyo" (5:24)
Danny Carvalho - "Roncanbai" (4:37)
Mendes & Mendes - "Walkman" (4:50)
Jose Casimiro - "La Mamai Ta Bem" (5:01)
Elisio Vieira - "Bem Di Fora" (5:35)
Zeca & Zeze Di Nha Reinalda - "Mocinhos" (4:24)
Review: Rotterdam is one of the many big port cities around the world that welcomed a high number of Cape Verdean immigrants. In the 1970s, Americo Brito was one of them and he soon got involved with the local music scene and found an ever larger community of likeminded talents. He took to the stage with his band and made for a buzzy little scene that found them tour with their own sound system. Here he works with Rotterdam local Arp Frique to serve up Cape Verdean music old and new with plenty of traditional Funana and Coladeira sounds next to jams influenced by wave, disco and funk, jazz, reggae and Latin pop.
Hjalmar Larusson & Jonbjorn Gislason - "Jomsvikingarimur - Yta Eigi Feldi Ror." (1:15)
Julianna Barwick - "Forever" (5:30)
Koreless - "Last Remnants" (4:22)
Odesza - "How Did I Get Here" (instrumental) (2:00)
Anois - "A Noise" (4:10)
Samaris - "Gooa Tungl" (4:08)
Olafur Arnalds - "RGB" (4:36)
Rival Consoles - "Pre" (5:14)
Jai Paul - "Jasmine" (demo) (4:11)
Four Tet - "Lion" (Jamie Xx remix) (6:52)
James Blake - "Our Love Comes Back" (3:39)
Spooky Black - "Pull" (4:13)
Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld - "And Still They Move" (2:55)
Olafur Arnalds - "Say My Name" (feat Arnor Dan) (5:38)
Kiasmos - "Orgoned" (5:57)
Olafur Arnalds - "Kinesthesia" (1:44)
Hjaltalin - "Ethereal" (6:32)
David Tennant - "Undone" (3:51)
Review: Icelandic classical, experimental and soundtrack composer Olafur Arnalds steps away from the loops and Broadchurch OSTs to conjure yet another sublime LNT saga. Carefully balancing between contemporary odysseys ("Jomsvikingarimur"), dense futuristic electronic weaves ("Last Remnants"), fuzzy 22nd century pop ("A Noise") sludgy cosmic funk ("Jasmine") and introspective soul ("Our Love Comes Back"), Olafur blows wave after woozy wave of soft sonic conjurations in a way that's broad, detailed and cleverly considered. Good night.
Dennis Coffey And The Detroit Guitar Band - "Scorpio"
The Jimmy Castor Bunch - "It's Just Begun"
B.T. Express - "Energy Level"
James Brown - "Get On The Good Foot"
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock"
Manu Dibango - "Soul Makossa"
Esther Williams - "Last Night Changed It All"
The Mohawks - "The Champ"
Herman Kelly & Life - "Dance To The Drummer's Beat"
Spanky Wilson - "Sunshine Of Your Love"
James Brown - "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose"
Candido - "Soulwanco"
Arthur Baker - "Breaker's Revenge"
Manu Dibango - "The Panther"
Abaco Dream - "Life And Death In G & A"
The Jackson 5 - "Dancing Machine"
Mongo Santamaria - "Cloud Nine"
Edwin Starr - "I Just Wanna Do My Thing"
Badder Than Evil - "Hot Wheels"
Johnny Bristol - "Lusty Lady"
Review: With 'breaking' making its debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it seems an apt time to go back to where it all began and showcase some of the music that first made break-dancers move in the early years of hip-hop culture. Soul Jazz Records clearly agrees, hence this two-disc retrospective of early 'breaker' favourites curated by Arthur Baker - a man who's productions and remixes soundtracked many dancefloor battles in the early 80s. It's a suitably strong selection all told, with dusty funk, soul and funk-rock favourites (Johnny Bristol, James Brown, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Spanky Wilson) being joined by disco-funk jams (Herman Kelly and Life), extra-percussive workouts (Manu Dibango, Mongo Santamaria, Candido) and a smattering of key Baker productions (Afrika Bambaata and Soul Sonic Force's 'Planet Rock' and his own infectious 'Breakers Revenge').
Bendik Giske - "Fantas For Saxophone & Voice" (7:16)
Kali Malone - "Fantas For Two Organs" (10:23)
Walter Zanetti - "Fantas For Electric Guitar" (7:30)
Jay Mitta - "Singeli Fantas" (12:11)
Baseck - "Fantas Hardcore" (4:46)
Carlo Maria - "Fantas Resynthesized For 808 & 202" (7:32)
Kara-Lis Coverdale - "Fantas Morbida" (7:53)
Review: Caterina Barbieri is an Italian modular goddess. Her 2019 album Ecstatic Computation was opened up by the majestic 'Fantas' and now it gets a whole new lease of life with this bumper package of variations. Each artist was personally chosen by Caterina and told to do whatever they wanted with the source material. The results are beguiling from the off with Evelyn Saylor, Lyra Pramuk, Annie Garlid & Stine Janvin going for a loopy, multi-layered vocal version that is constantly ascending to heaven. There is more calm from Kali Malon who keeps it strictly ambient and Carlo Maria approximates peak time melodic techno but from a much more artistic rather than narcotic point of view.
Review: The traditonal way to start a review of any Micko Westmoreland release - and with as is to point out that he's best known for playing Jack Fairey in the mock glam documentary Velvet Goldmine, but with a second strong album in his new, flanked -by-legends incarnation and some highly memorable video promos featuring a succession of alternativ ecomedy greats, that could well be changing. Expect spiky English podst-punk songwriting a la XTC or even Pulp, with recent singles 'Autosexual' and 'What's In A Name' (which includes guest vocals from Kevin Eldon numbering among the highligths.
Benedict Cumberbatch - "Flat Of Angels" (part 3 - exclusive Spoken Word piece)
Review: Given his impeccable downtempo credentials, you'd expect Bonobo's Late Night Tales mix to be one of the finer installments in the series (and that's saying something). Predictably, it is. Sweet, sensual and atmospheric, with plenty of unlikely gems and forgotten classics for the heads to enjoy, it surprises and impresses with each successive track. This vinyl edition features 17 of the tracks unmixed (naturally) and lifts out many highlights. His own cover of Donovan's "Get Thy Bearings" is particularly revelatory - string drenched, hazy, atmospheric and, of course, immaculately produced - but there are many other gems. Check Darondo's classic heart breaker "Didn't I," the smoky reggae-soul of Nina Simone's "Baltimore", and the enveloping intimacy of Shlohmo's "Places". Do seek out Benny Cumberbatch's spoken word turn at the end too! (mp3 download code for the full release included).
Review: The first installment of Late Night Tales' After Dark was that rarest of things: a DJ mix that retained a smoky sense of early morning, home listening atmosphere while retaining an open-minded focus on the dancefloor. This follow-up - once again compiled and mixed by Bill Brewster - offers more of the same. Musically it's pleasingly varied, moving from the string-drenched downtempo beauty of Typesun's "Last One Home", to the heady Balearic rock of General Lee, via Justus Kohnke, the soulful post-bruk smoothness of As One, and the sprightly analogue electronics of Emperor Machine's remix of Paqua's "Late Train". There's also a bunch of previously unreleased tunes to enjoy, including killer contributions from the Mang Dynasty (AKA Ray Mang), The Gino Fontaine (Chicken Lips man Andrew Meecham) and - most surprising of all - The Grid and Robert Fripp.
Soul Messin Allstars - "Soul A Go Go" (feat Josh Teskey) (3:35)
Amp Fiddler - "Superfly" (feat Dame Brown - Sam Redmores’ Exclusive ‘Trunk Of Funk’ edit) (4:15)
Roy Ayers - "Boogie Down" (6:01)
Laneous - "Hold My Hand" (3:46)
Miriam Makeba - "Pata Pata" (2:59)
Oneness Of Juju - "African Rhythms" (Exclusive ‘Trunk Of Funk’ edit) (3:52)
PP Arnold - "Medicated Goo" (3:43)
The Fantastics - "Take A Shot" (feat Sulene Fleming) (3:40)
Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel - "Give Me The Night" (feat Xantone Blacq) (4:18)
Out Of The Ordinary - "The Republic Of Persevere" (feat Mike Keat & The Bevvy Sisters) (3:29)
Patrice Rushen - "Forget Me Nots" (7" single version) (4:00)
The James Taylor Quartet - "People Get Ready" (feat Natalie Williams & Noel McKoy) (4:40)
Monophonics - "Hangin’ On" (3:34)
Nick Waterhouse - "The Old Place" (3:22)
Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions - "Victory!" (4:17)
Magnus Carlson - "Beggin’" (2:50)
Alex Opal - "Telling You Lies" (feat Jam Jam) (3:32)
Badge & Talkalot - "Help Me" (feat Ian Whitelaw) (4:00)
Beatchild & The Slakedeliqs - "The Only Difference" (4:15)
Honeyfeet - "Clap Hands" (4:39)
Review: Red Dwarf star turned soap actor and longtime BBC Radio 6 Music funk master Craig Charles has put together a first volume of classics for your delectation. On a double vinyl collection that spans 20 tracks he traverse every conceivable style from the earliest days of the genre right up to today. The cuts remain pleasingly underground and carefully dug out rather than veering into obvious filler territory and there are up-tempo cuts with more deep and pained offerings. It also includes two 'Trunk Of Funk Edits' that are 100% exclusive to this compilation and not available anywhere else.
Ferry Ultra - "Why Did You Do It" (feat Ashley Slater - The Reflex Revision - edit) (4:26)
The Traffic - "Beat It" (4:41)
Lettuce - "Checker Wrecker" (feat Big Tony & Jungle Boogie) (5:52)
Joel Culpepper - "WAR" (4:16)
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - "Hole In One" (4:37)
PM Warson - "(Don't) Hold Me Down" (3:11)
Review: Who knew an entertainment career spanning the likes of comic sci-fi series like Red Dwarf and kitsch game shows vis-a-vis Robot Wars could result in a side stint curating soul compilations? Well, it's exactly what happened to Craig Charles, who also happens to have been manning BBC6 Music's soul and funk corner for almost 20 years now, not to mention regularly touring the world as a DJ. This isn't his first 'Trunk of Funk'. The first was overwhelmingly well-received by a "funk hungry public", and now, our national treasure Craigy-boy has ensured said public doesn't starve a second time round. Backboned by Charles' introductory yells to imaginary screaming crowds - "are you ready!?" - we cycle through funk bits both old and new, exclusive and widely-available, from Cha Wa to Luther Ingram to Joel Culpepper. Craig says: "Give your ears and feet enough mellifluous musical fodder to last you until Volume 3 - Awooga!"
Take Three - "Tonite's The Night (All Right)" (7:22)
Brandon - "Suzy Hijack" (6:37)
Henning - "Arrival/Departure" (4:22)
Dam Funk - "Believer" (7:51)
Moon Moon B - "Oof"
Nicci Gable - "Close To Who?"
Randell & Schippers - "Love Jam"
Verticle Lines - "Theme From Beach Boy"
Brandon - "Suzy Hijack"
Take Three - "Tonite’s The Night (All Right)"
Index - "Starlight"
Uncle Jams Army - "Dial-A-Freak"
Gemini - "Log In"
Nexus - "Stand Up" (instrumental)
Reggie B - "Poison Candy"
L33 - "Keepin It Tight"
Gaussian Curve - "Broken Clouds"
Tony Palkovic - "True To Yourself"
Henning - "Arrival/Departure"
Nite-Funk - "Can U Read Me?"
Dam Funk - "Believer"
True Design - "I Wanna Break"
Crystal Winds - "Funk Ain’t Easy"
Review: Dam Funk has been foundational in crystallising Stones Throw's undisputed leadership in the nu-school funk and boogie scene, and he's up there with the great J Dilla in our books. Naturally, he's been asked to mix up the latest series of DJ Kicks and, ladies and gentlemen, it's a real masterclass - one of those comps you can safely leave on and let it do its thing on you. The mood is personified by a fine blend of electronics and tougher, funkier rhythms by artists such as Index, Moon B, and Dam himself. There are also a few rare cuts by Chicago house legend Gemini that fit in perfectly, and a whole heap of wavy, Cali-inspired electronic funk. Badass.
Gustav Brom Orchestra - "Calling Up The Rain" (5:32)
Frederic Rabold Crew - "Ride On" (3:28)
Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - "Samba De Haps" (3:56)
Larry Rose Band - "The Sand" (5:25)
Review: The concept behind this new collection on BBE is a simple but effective one: sommelier Frederic Beneix has picked out a selection of wines, and beat maker DJ Cam has dug deep to serve up some rare but fitting musical accompaniments that were produced in the same year. Wine4Melomanes, therefore, is a unique collection of sounds from all over Europe that connects the complexity and sensuality of a tipple with the rhythm and melody of a song. Most are lush and sophisticated jazz cuts that sound good whether you're drinking or not. Delicious.
Haruo Chikada & Vibra-Tones - "Sofa Bed Blues" (3:36)
Mitsuko Horie - "Chigasaki Memory" (3:49)
Review: The recent Tokyo Dreaming compilation on Wewantsounds was a huge success so the label does the right thing and follows it up with another collection of sounds from the Far East. This one again looks into the fascinatingly niche city pop sound with expert digger DJ Notoya at the wheels. He delves into the Nippon Columbia catalogue and turns out all manner of breezy and laidback gems from Hiroshi Sato, Hitomi "Penny" Tohyama, Midori Hara and more. In many cases, these tunes are making it tot vinyl for the first time. What's more, the audio has been newly remastered in Tokyo for this reissue making sure it sounds as good as possible.
Akira Yasuda & Beat Folk - "Yumura No Obaba" (3:04)
Pinky Chicks - "Tosetsu Donpan Bushi" (3:16)
Review: On the first instalment in the Wamono A to Z compilation series, released in September 2020, dusty-fingered diggers DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite.jp and Chintam focused on Japanese jazz-funk and rare groove gems recorded and released between 1968 and '80. For this speedy sequel, they've narrowed their focus further in order to showcase little-known Japanese funk slammers pressed to wax between 1970 and '77. As you'd expect, there's tons of absolute bangers amongst the 10 tracks on show, with highlights including the Blaxploitation movie soundtrack vibes of Mieko Hirota's 'Theme of Doberman Cop', the fuzzy, Hammond-sporting psych-funk of Fujio Tokita's quirky 'Watashi No Beatles', and the energetic, proto disco-funk of Hatsumi Shibata's 'Singer Lady'.
Hitomi Tohyama - "Sweet Soul Music (Kiss Of Life)" (3:50)
Review: For the latest edition of their essential Wamano A to Z compilation series - the third to date - DJ Yoshiwza Dynamite JP and Chintam have decided to focus on "Japanese light mellow funk, disco and boogie" tracks recorded between 1978 and '88. Like its' predecessors, the eight-track set is heavy on obscurities and little-known cuts, as well as bona fide killer cuts. There's much to savour throughout, from the intergalactic, slap-bass propelled boogie brilliance of Jadoes' 'Friday Night (Extended Mix)' and the laidback funk bliss of Yumi Sato's 'Ame', to the smooth jazz-funk lusciousness of Hitomi Tohyama's 'Rainy Driver' and the Latin-infused, Teena Marie style electrofunk brilliance of Mizuki Koyami's 'Kare Niwa Kanawanai'.
Review: After his hugely well received lovers' rock compilations for this label, Sam Don digs deep into the rich world of UK sweet soul on this - typically - excellent new compilation from the wondrous ashes of the North. He comes up with plenty of mega hard to find and expensive musical treasures that have all been painstakingly researched and tracked down. It was a short lived but fertile scene in the underground back in the 90s and if you didn't; know that already you will after one listen through of this - the sounds are highly danceable with silky, low-lit melodies and steamy and seductive vocals for loved up late night dancing.
Review: Eroya is a Lagos-based collective bridging generations of musicians who trace Nigerian music from the 1940s to today's Naija grooves. Their sound weaves so called styles such as palm-wine, agidigbo, juju, highlife, Afro-funk and Afrobeat traditions. Key members include Sina Ayinde Bakare, son of juju pioneer Ayinde Bakare, juju legend Fatai Rolling Dollar, Afro-funk saxophonist Prince Eji Oyewole and Afrobeat pianist Duro Ikujenyo of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80. Highlights on this album include Alaba Pedro's soulful 'Ekaete', Tejebaby's hypnotic 'Africa', and Oyewole's flute-led 'Experience'. With its bubbling jazz textures and deep rhythmic energy, Eroya is a perfect tribute to Nigeria's enduring musical contributions.
Fela Soul - "A Rollerskating Jam Named Saturdays" (3:37)
A Common Wonder - "The Sixth Wonder" (5:13)
The O Jayz - "Ain't No Jigga" (3:46)
Nina Simone & Lauryn Hill - "Ex-Factor" (5:06)
Otis & The Outkasts - "Shutterbugg" (feat Cutty) (4:34)
BB & The Underground Kingz - "Get It" (feat Ying Yang Twins) (2:49)
Yasiin Gaye - "Got To Give It Up On Saturdays" (4:44)
Fela Soul - "More Than U Know" (6:13)
Review: Amerigo Gazaway is something of a master of the mash-up and has been turning out his carefully considered collisions of popular beats for some time. Now he digs into his archives to unearth - what he sees as the best and most sought-after gems for Soul Mates B Sides Remixes & Rarities Vol 1 & 2. This superb double album features choice cuts from very hard-to-find if not entirely out-of-print vinyl as well as some firm favourites and a couple of formerly digital-only tracks that now make their way exclusively to wax for the first time.
Review: B-sides, Remixes, Rarities: Volume 3 & 4 is the second double LP in Amerigo's Soul Mates series and this one showcases 15 more superb tracks from his extensive catalogue. This compilation includes exciting mash-ups like Kendrick Lamar vs. Marvin Gaye, Dr. Dre vs. Curtis Mayfield, and Black Star vs. Aretha Franklin, among others. Each track highlights a masterful blending of iconic artists to create a unique listening experience that celebrates the intersections of hip-hop and soul and brings plenty of good times.
The New Mastersounds - "Give Me A Minute" (LP- part 1)
Renegades Of Jazz - "Magic Touch" (feat Alexia Coley)
The King Rooster - "Smudgin'"
Diazpora - "Raw Meat"
Sir Ali Bengali - "ABX"
Diazpora - "Song 2" (feat Nora Kinga Becker)
Mothergroove - "Bastard"
Wake&Bake! - "Soul Woman"
The Inmates - "Bread & Water"
The New Mastersounds - "Give Me A Minute" (part 2)
Wake&Bake! - "PartyStarter" (7") (2:56)
Wake&Bake! - "Soul Woman" (3:04)
Review: The wonderful Our Label Records Vol. 1 celebrated two decades of rare funk 45s from the imprint's storied history and it now gets reissued for avid collectors and DJs who missed out first time around. Founded in 2005 by brothers Tom and Gu in London, the label soon got international acclaim by distributing tracks worldwide and establishing a niche for uptempo funk and soulful grooves. The compilation features hits like The New Mastersounds' 'Give Me A Minute Pt. 1 & Pt. 2' and Diazpora's 'Song 2'. With contributions from Mothergroove, Sir Ali Bengali, and Renegades Of Jazz, plus an exclusive track by The King Rooster, this release is vital to all proper funk heads.
Review: Heavenly Sweetness has always dealt in music for the soul that is drawn from the worlds of funk, soul and jazz. This new collection of such tunes is another testament to that with a heavily international and world bent. Oodles of Latin, hip hop and Afro vibes pervade the tunes by Guts aka Fabrice Franck Henri alongside a whole host of collaborators. He's a super prolific talent who has put out some ten albums in just over a decade and Estrellas is one of his best. It comes on six sides of delicious wax and takes you on a trip to sunny climates from Cuba to Brazil.
Review: Since launching two years ago, Tony Higgins and Mike Peden's J-Jazz series has become an indispensable guide to Japan's modern jazz scene. The third volume continues in a similar vein to its predecessors, gathering together sought-after, overlooked and little-known cuts from across the jazz spectrum (think spiritual, modal, fusion, post-bop and Latin), all of which were recorded by Japanese artists in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. The standard of music is, somewhat predictably, breathtakingly high throughout, with highlights including the weighty post-modal bop of Koshuke Mine's 'Morning Tide', the sun-kissed Brazil-inspired brilliance of Hideo Shiraki's 'Groovy Samba', and a string of funk-fuelled, dancefloor-friendly workouts from Hiroshi Murakami & Dancing Sphynx, Shigeharu Muka and the Ryojiro Furusawa Quartet.
Roger Ekman - "Motivationen Maste Vara Stor" (2:39)
Heaven & Earth - "Feel The Spirit" (4:44)
Review: Masterful curator Paul Hillery returns with another essential instalment in this wonderful BBE series. Volume 3 continues his tradition of unearthing rare, high-quality tracks so it is a perfect companion to his Children of the Sun trilogy. This one spans funky folk, jazzy AOR, lo-fi dub and DIY folktronica and includes numerous gems like Sheila Chandra's ethereal vocals and Tim Green's euphoric grooves, a playful vibe from Gil De Ray on 'Something About Nothing' and plenty more besides. With extensive sleeve notes, this is a deep sonic journey that also cements the man behind it as an expert archivist.
Review: Peace and football: not only the best compilation album title of 2006 (and possibly every year since) but also an immaculate collection of Brazilian folk, funk, disco and soul by Sonar Kollektiv champs Jazzanova. Ten years on and the SK dons are back with a second edition of Paz E Futbol, compiled with just as much care as an homage to football's spiritual home as that debut record. To adopt the football parlance, the band's digging duties score goal after goal after goal; the smoky Simoneisms of Ary Lobo, the heavenly vibraphonics of Skymark, the slippery time signature and almost cosmic bossa of Lucas Santana, the raw jazz soul of Nathan Haines, the list goes on. Peace out.
Review: Who doesn't love a good compilation? And a good compilation is exactly what we have here, as put together by the golf standard digger that is JD Twitch. Ever since he first head out to the land of the rising sun to DJ he has been bewitched by it. Sub-titled 'A Beginners Guide to Japan In The '80s' this assemblage of ambient, cosmic and electronic sounds is beautifully escapist, taking you right out the Far East in an instant with its curious melodies and gentle ear worms. There is a purity and beauty to the music that is utterly cleansing with all of Japan's most legendary names included.
Dollar Brand & Abdullah Ibrahim - "Zimbabwe" (5:28)
Prince Lasha - "Kwadwo Safari" (feat Herbie Hancock) (7:37)
Mal Waldron - "What It Is" (feat Clifford Jordan & Dannie Richmond) (17:58)
Cecil McBee - "First Song In The Day" (feat Chico Freeman) (17:16)
Rabih Abou-Khalil - "Lamentation" (9:02)
John Stubblefield - "Mwe Malad O" (4:17)
Nana Simopoulos - "Pulcie's Dance" (12:58)
Bobby Hutcherson - "The Creators" (18:22)
Marc Levin - "Brothers In War" (11:09)
Jon Hendricks - "No More" (3:32)
Marvin Hannibal Peterson - "Mother's Land" (feat George Adam) (5:10)
Review: Enja Records was founded in Munich in the early 70s by jazz devotees Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber. Given a co-sign by the always on-point BBE and IF Music founder Jean-Claude, the label is now enjoying a retrospective compilation which seeks to celebrate the best of their golden years. Featuring performances by John Stubblefield, Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Don Cherry, Cecil McBee and Pharoah Sanders collaborator Marvin Hannibal Peterson to name but a few, this collection provides a great jumping-off point for Enja's rich and diverse back catalogue. It may only be an introduction to a vast pool of music, but it's curated with authority by a dedicated head, so you know you're getting a shortcut to the best the label has to offer.
Emanative & Liz Elensky - "Fall In To Me" (alternate version) (4:39)
Atilla Engin Group - "Turkish Showbiz" (5:08)
Tenderlonious - "Dennison Point" (4:17)
Sylvain Kassap - "Adelie (For Lady D)" (3:55)
Ola Szmidt - "We Are Not Invisible" (4:03)
Greetje Bijma Kwintet - "Big Kalimba" (6:48)
Sarathy Korwar - "At The Speed Of Light" (3:50)
Review: IF Music's name is legendary amongst those in the know and now Jean Claude celebrates that with another superb compilation on BBE. Across this beautiful gatefold vinyl release, there are nine next level jazz tunes from the likes of Emanative & Liz Elensky, Sylvain Kassap, Greetje Bijma Kwintet and Atilla Engin Group. This is the ninth release in the 'You Need This' series and the music on it ranges from 1980 to the present day. It all adds up to a wonderfully coherent release that takes you through four decades of stylish jazz.
Review: When KMRU accessed the Royal Museum of Central Africa's sound archive, it inspired his last album Temporary Stored which engages with colonial sound archives. Temporary Stored II extends that superb concept by inviting artists like Aho Ssan, Lamin Fofana, Nyokabi Kari?ki, and Jessica Ekomane to critically explore these recordings of African traditions. The album reimagines these historical sounds as seeds for future sonic explorations that confront the colonial past while addressing contemporary political, economic, and ecological issues. It emphasises the importance of listening back to these archives to reclaim lost traditions and challenge existing knowledge systems rooted in anti-blackness.
Aint About Me - "Watching Tarot Card XVI Come To Life" (3:03)
Dreamcastmoe & Shungu - "Don't Let Me Down" (1:16)
Iman Houssein - "Their Eyes" (3:22)
Qur’an Shaheed - "Thrive" (6:29)
Makaya McCraven - "Crash Course" (4:24)
CoS - "Ayy Thank Full" (3:08)
Trian Kayhatu - "OK Dan" (3:17)
Regal86 - "Parado En La Esquina" (3:46)
Abrahamblue - "Joanna" (3:45)
DJ Spinn - "Synthshot" (3:18)
Igor Jadranin - "NUB" (1:57)
Shlundee - "Acid 2 Acid" (6:16)
LB Aka Labat - "Ca Chauffe Tonton" (5:20)
Elisa Bee - "A Sun That Never Goes Down" (5:28)
Pippin - "Ro" (2:27)
Review: Compilation maestros BBE are back with another gem, this time from Belgian DJ and tastemaker Lefto. His The Beauty is Inside is a 19-track gem from across the musical spectrum with sounds from all over the world. It shines a light and shows respect to everything from Ethiopian singer Alemayehu Eshete to South African singer and actress Patience Africa via Spanish composer Pedro Ruy-Blas. All these original tracks are from up-and-coming artists who Lefto feel deserve a bigger platform. It makes for a fascinating listen and serves up plenty of red hot talents.
Review: The iconic Late Night Tales series scored a real doozy when they managed to lock in Don Letts for for his instalment. The British film director, DJ and musician is a vital part of the UK's musical fabric from his days making videos for The Clash and Elvis Costello to his work with the Big Audio Dynamite band he co-founded. All that history is distilled into this sublime selection of sounds across four vital sounds fo wax. There's reggae, dub, ska, a cover of Joy Division, head twisting goodness from Gentleman's Dub Club and plenty of exclusives. It's an essential listen, basically.
Review: On the latest volume in the Late Night Tales series, Don Letts has dug deep into his crates to present a selection of some of his favourite dubbed-out reggae cover versions, alongside dub style remixes of more contemporary covers. It's a simple concept, brilliantly executed, with Letts offering up some exclusive, dubplate style remixes amongst the classic cuts and recent gems. Highlights include, but are in no way limited to, the full vocal dub of Capitol 1212's take on Joy Dvision's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Mad Professor's insanely weighty 2021 dub of John Holt classic 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine', Blackbox Recorder's oddball reggae-soul version of 'Uptown Top Rankin' and Easy Stars All Stars' deliciously mystical interpretation of The Beatles' 'Within You Without You'.
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