Back catalogue: All genres

Review: After a bit of time away due in part to the pandemic and other geo-political factors, Dusty Donuts is now back and serving up sugar hip hop treats. This new 7" packs in five fine beats from a mix of artists, namely DJ Robert Smith, Marc Hype, Naughty NMX and Jim Sharp. This is the second in the Weapons of Choice series and it is a mix of classic 90s beats and intoxicating samples. The joints go from deep and laid back to more jazzy and sax laced. 'Scratchdeeznuts 1 & 2' is a cut-up and chopped loop for advanced DJ deployment only.

Review: "Here we go again, yeah!" exclaim Luchito Rodriguez and Nestor Alvarez - Original Gravity's two core mainstays - who team up once again to evoke the undeniable spirit of a 'Boogaloo Party' for the ages. Channelling the sound of the inimitable Latin dance style, but also gradating it so as to be mixable in DJ sets, 'Ain't Nothing But...' delivers compelling call-and-responses and horn-swelling builds. 'Fiesta Bugalu' dubs things out for a reflection on the party just gone, retaining the tempo but relaxing things for extra percussive effect.

Review: A repro of the much in-demand Flames cut first made by the Nairobi Sisters in 1974, 'Promised Land'. Infamously sampled by Q-Tip for 'Whateva Will Be' as well as on a range of earlier 90s boom-bap era productions, it is not at all hard to figure out why it's a coveted record. The Nairobi Sisters were singers Terrie Nairobi and Judy Mowatt, and 'Promised Land' was first recorded with the band The Gaytones, under license to the Gay Feet label. Later cut to Winston Jones' Flames Records, the track and its dub version came to define the Brooklyn reggae scene, owing to the enduring interest it commands today.

Review: US rap royalty Nas's 'Ultra Black' features producer Hit-Boy and was released in mid-summer 2020 as the lead single from his thirteenth album, King's Disease. Lyrically, Nas pays homage to all things Black as he draws on his black heritage and African-American culture while the beats remain deeply laidback with jazzy chords up top. In an interview at the time with NME, the rapper said the song "represents love" although some interpreted the lyrics as a diss towards singer and rapper Doja Cat. This 7" features the vocal version and an instrumental.

Review: 'One Love', here reissued by DRP, is a classic track that first appeared on the NYC rapper Nas' first album Illmatic, as its final track. With an all-encompassingly raucous boom-bap backing whipped up by Mister Mushi and its namesake drawn from the Bob Marley song, the song is composed as a string of letters written by Nas to his incarcerated friends, including fellow rapper Cormega, who went down in the early 90s - musing on personal loyalties and disloyalties.

Review: You can always count on Nautilus to deliver the most sophisticated covers of soul and jazz standards. The Japanese jazz funk outfit have a pristine approach to their craft, but they also know how to edge their own personality into the versions they lay down. So it goes as they approach the monumental 'Move On Up' by Curtis Mayfield, which is no small task. The actual cut on this 7" is the DJ JIN re-edit, which makes the track fit comfortably on a 45 but also makes sure it works for the DJs out there. On the flip 'Beyond The Redemption' has a more uptempo feel thanks to the sharp angles of the drums and the ascendant keys gliding over the dynamic low end.

Review: Prolific Japanese jazzers Nautilus - made up of drummer Toshiyuki Sasaki, keyboardist Daisuke Takeuchi, and bassist Shigeki Umezawa - present their latest 7" release 'A Story About You'. It's an emotive A-and-B-sider of mournful mood, with the A-side cemented by rolling pianos and a central lyric-melody performed by Mariko's talkbox, and B-sider 'Sweet Power Your Embrace' coming as a cover of the 1977 classic by James Mason. Signaling news of a full-length album to come - you'd better fasten your seatbelts.

Review: We are always swooning over the great work done by the Hawaiian label Izipho Soul and as it approaches release number 100 they have pulled off some more magic here. The New Lost Generation is a rather legendary group from Chicago that rebranded with the arrival of the new millennium by adding 'new' to their name. Their sounds remained just as good though with this track, 'Thinkin' Bout Cha.' Taken from their self-titled album back in 2001. After that tender and aching blue-eyed opener, the flip offers 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine' which has a male lead and soft focus melodies.

Review: A defiant rhythmic funk odyssey for those needing a little sonic boost before overcoming life's struggles and challenges, 'We're Gonna Make It' is a neat slice of understanding, optimism and determination. Recorded by New World, an American soul group active throughout the 70s, the song is emblematic of the sunniest facets of soul and funk, backed by a hand-drummed skeleton and falsetto'd vocal refrains. This new release version comes part of the Soul Brother series, reissuing this rarity for the completists out there who aren't remotely fussed about first editions.

Review: Jalen Ngonda shares two 7"-incarnated selections from his debut album Come Around and Love Me. Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing Jalen perform live knows that he is one of the most captivating performers on today's soul scene. His voice, equal parts raw feeling and elegance, exudes confidence and charm - disarming packed rooms of rowdy concert-goers, leaving them silent as they hold fast to every syllable sung. For his studio project, however, Ngonda and his team at Hive Mind Studios in Brooklyn developed skulful blends, heavy arrangements and introspective lyrics with a Motown sophistication, leaving the listener in a blissful wash of wonderment. Ngonda creates a classic approach that is rooted in the sounds of revered pioneers, without falling into imitation; most symptomatic of this is the beautiful cinematic soul echoer 'What Is Left To Do', a song sure to dazzle for years to come.

Review: This is a global single with a great story that starts with an afro-funk groove made by Italian Jah Sazzah. He wanted a vocal for it so turned to Nickodemus who handed his own touches and then sent it Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel. The result is a vibrant Afro tune with vivid melodies. Remixer Poirier is a legend in Latin music circles. The Montreal man has formerly been associated with Ninja Tune and is synonymous with lots of classy remixes and fresh takes on a modern Afro-Caribbean sound. This is another one that reworks the ring into a more bouncy and infectious sound with gorgeous vocals and a clean arrangement that allows the drums and perc to shine.

Review: Night Owls are well known and loved amongst funk fans and dropped a superb album not so long ago. But they don't rest on their laurels and instead come back with more goodness in 7" form here on the F Spot label. 'I Only Have Eyes For You' (feat Chris Dowd & Tippa Lee) is more of their heavy-hitting funk and soul goodness with some uplifting vocal work next to the sound signature rhythms. The back side of this limited edition 45rpm is taken up by the equally fresh 'Live And Let Live', this time featuring Miles Tackett.

Review: Night Owls are coming off the back of their best-selling tune yet and follow-up 'Ain't That Loving You' (feat. Chris Murray) backed with 'Are You Lonely For Me, Baby' (feat. Malik Moore) is likely to be just as hot. It finds the Night Owls stepping up their game as they flip Johnnie Taylor's super sweet Stax classic ballad into a delightful dancehall anthem. On the flip is another version of a 1966 classic with all-new bass and bounce, a tough rhythm and deep vocal delivery from Malik Moore of The Lions and Ocean 11 association.

Review: Golden Lion Sounds is the label attached to the legendary pub in Todmorden that has hosted everyone from Andrew Weatherall and ALFOS to synth wizard Richard Norris. It is he who is behind this latest 7" alongside Rude Audio. 'This Song's For You' (feat Findlay Brown) is fusion of indie, cold wave and synth with dreamy vocals drifting over typically lush chords and silky drums from Norris. It's a perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon in the sun. On the flip, Rude Audio's 'The Grinning' has a more psychedelic sound with loopy synth arps spiraling up to the stars and back again in colourful fashion.

Review: New Mexico musical stalwart, John Wagner, is best known in these parts as the producer of Freddie Chavez's Northern Soul classic, 'They'll Never Know Why'. Throughout his career, John produced various styles of music, flying the flag for the New Mexico sound. His longtime friend and collaborator, the singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist David Nunez, released a couple of albums in the 70s with John on production duties. Prior to these LPs, a batch of unreleased songs were recorded and recently unearthed from John's archives. Izipho Soul is now honoured to play its small part in preserving the musical legacy of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with two of Nunez' songs freshly pressed on a 7" single!

Review: Ahemaa Nwomkro means queens of Nwomkro, an old Ashanti Musial style that was hugely influential in the early formation of genres like the Highlife take on Kumasi, which is the cultural capital of Ghana in the middle of the jungle. Those queens are Victoria Osei and Theresa Owusua and here they team up with young Highlife musicians generation Akule Pepe on guitar. He worked for many years with Highlife legend Alex Konadu and these songs here show just how well pure Nwomkro work with textbook Highlife.