Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.
Mark Brickman & Yam Who? - "Shined On Me" (feat Venessa Jackson) (7:30)
Wayfaring Strangers - "Get Your House In Order" (6:12)
Platinum City - "Holy Spirit" (7:35)
Yam Who? & Brian Lucas - "Yah Mo B There" (6:16)
Review: House music's roots are in the church and this new a celebratory various artist collection pays homage to that. The grooves are laced with soulful vocals, churchy chords and big strings that make for grand architecture and grander feelings of joy. Mark Brickman & Yam Who? open with a vocal gem that cannot help but bring a smile, while Wayfaring Strangers pump it up a little more with some funky disco house before Platinum City get you locked in a nice loose, long legged groove that is resplendent with lush keys and big vocal turns. 'Yah Mo B There' has an irresistible 80s vibe and big sing along choruses that will get hairs standing on end.
Review: Tokyo's Inokasira Rangers have been crafting lo-fi reggae since the 1990s, yet remained a rather hidden gem outside Japan. Their release 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' finally changed that when it dropped initially back in 2023 and sold out in quick time so now gets reissued. The A-side reimagines Frankie Valli's classic with a laid-back reggae twist while the B-side takes on Crystal Waters' '90s dance anthem with surprising charm. Infused with a subtle Shibuya-kei flair, both covers feel fresh yet timeless. The Waters rendition, in particular, sounds like a forgotten folk tune-so natural it's hard to believe it wasn't always this way. A breezy, nostalgic delight from a band overdue for global recognition.
Sade - "Nothing Can Come Between Us" (2001 Tokyo House mix) (7:30)
Sade - "Love Is Found" (House dub) (6:18)
Jill Scott - "Think It Better" (dub Yinja re-edit) (6:36)
The Bongo Jam - "Love Disco Dub" (Yinja re-edit) (6:50)
Review: There will also be space in a real DJ set for a cheeky edit or playful mash up. This latest volume of just that from Yinja covers plenty of ground so is a brilliantly useful 12" to have in your bag for when you want to pump the party. First up, The Bongo Jam's 'Love Disco Dub' becomes a shuffling, vibey and deep cut soulful house sound, then Jill Scott's 'Think It Better' (dub Yinja re-edit) gets a late night make over for smooth sessions. On the flipside are two reworks of classic Sade tackle, and both come with signature r&b vocals and well worked drums.
Review: Correcciones Calypso returns from a generous hiatus with the fourth edition of its acclaimed edit series, replete with four re-edits that veer from the subtle to the downright brazen. Thomass Jackson and INigo Vontier invite the French duo Youkounkoun to open proceedings with an insane early 80s edit full of big drums and exotic touches that's been blowing dancefloors all around the world for the past years - and definitely resides in the brazen category, despite a lot of work having gone into it. Olta Karawame make their debut on the series with a powerful, compact edit full of ballsy keyboard riffing and a military-sized kick drum that is guaranteed to have heads banging . To complete the release label bosses Thomass and INigo deliver edits of their own with their characteristic sound, giving this EP maximum a value for money factor and entertainment from start to finish.
Review: Another week brings another monster new 45 from the incomparable Athens of the North. This time out it is an early 80s bit of irresistible gospel, disco and boogie from Earl Young. 'Take Them In Prayer' is pure gold thanks to its tight and funky rhythm section, the delicate thinking on the keys and the heart aching vocals of earl Young that soar up top. Flip it over and on the reverse of this one and you will find 'Let Him Be Your Everything,' a quiet love song with only melancholic keys for company. It's the complete opposite of the a-side but is just as devastating for different reasons.
Review: Inell Young's What Do You See In Her is often said to be one of the most powerful soul songs to have ever come from the great New Orleans scene. Eddie Bo is of course the great man behind it - as he was so many of these great tunes from this place and this ear - with the voice of Inell adding the spice. Finding an original is hard as, and will also cost you very close to four figures, so snap this one up while you can. Both sides are pure gold.
Review: Disco and house deviant YSE Saint Laur'Ant is back with a dive into groove-laden sounds that have long been his signature, all while blending genres with real finesse. Side-A begins with a gospel-tinged track featuring ESG-style rhythms, raw beats and an addictive bassline. It is followed by 'Special,' where airy vocals over a laid-back groove create a dreamy atmosphere then flip it over and New York Boys delivers a spaced-out pulse with urban grit. The finale, 'Gone Fighting' is a midtempo closer that shines with its infectious Slavic sample wrapping up this EP with a reflective, groovy vibe.
Review: YASMIN's much loved A Scent Of Flowers album has more than stood the test of time which is why it is now being reissued for the first time. It features the 90s r&b classic 'Wanna Dance' which has long been a staple in many mixtapes and dance compilations. This edition also includes a cover of Roy Ayers' ubiquitous 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' which was the second successful single on the album which was first released in 1993. It's back by Soulshock who is known for his work with 2Pac and Monica, and Cutfather, famous for remixing Mark Morrison's 'Return Of The Mack.' Elsewhere on the record are many more killers including covers of 'Best Of My Love' and Ray Charles' 'Let Me Take Over.'
Review: 'Sayonara Ha Syuppatsu No Kotoba' roughly translates as "Goodbye is the Word for Departure" and is a striking blend of Japanese indie and folk music. The album combines rich acoustic melodies with introspective lyrics to make for often poignant and nostalgic atmospheres with Yasuda's emotive voice at the heart of the sounds. The band's intricate instrumentation reveals more with each listen and the record explores themes of departure, self-reflection and the bittersweet nature of transitions. They might sound heavy but the delicate soundscapes also capture both moods of vulnerability and resilience which adds to the tender, affecting nature of the record.
Review: Famously self-taught musician Adrian Younge is at the forefront of modern soul music after starting as a hip-hop producer in 1998. He expanded his skills by learning multiple instruments and took inspiration from classic soul and Italian soundtracks before he self-released his debut album Venice Dawn, a moody, synth-heavy album blending Ennio Morricone's style with contemporary flair. His Something About April album followed years later and is a modern classic that merges psychedelic soul, cinematic instrumentals and hip-hop aesthetics while taking cues from greats of the genre like Wu-Tang Clan.
Review: Adrian Younge's latest in the Something About April series is a stunning analogue opus that blends a 30-piece orchestra with breakbeats, synth work and Brazilian psychedelia. It has reportedly been years in the making and is the culmination of Younge's sonic vision as well as being his most expansive and experimental work to date. Brazilian vocalists, fuzzed-out drums and lush orchestration evoke MPB greats like Verocai and Os Mutantes and hip-hop kings Wu-Tang in equal measure. Tracks like 'Nunca Estranhos' and 'Nossas Sombras' are richly cinematic and deeply soulful standouts. More than a closing chapter, this record cements Younge's legacy as a visionary composer.
The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power (feat Linda Tellis) (2:29)
I Need To Pray (feat Iris Holliday) (3:40)
The Greatest Love Of All (feat Ken Berry) (5:38)
Lord Don't Move That Mountain (feat Goldie Irby) (5:44)
Expressions (feat Kevin Moore & Larry Patterson) (4:17)
When All God's Children Get To Heaven (feat Wanda Thompson) (5:05)
Be Grateful (feat Traci Clay & Dennis Springer) (8:39)
Review: The spirit of the lord is strong in this recording from May 2, 1982 when the Youthsound Choir and Stage Band performed at Portland's Jefferson High School, with the 100 strong choir ranging from elementary through to high school students. It's a lively, rowdy affair, where the drums power through and the brass lifts your mood and catapults it skywards. You'll certainly know some of the songs - there's a great version of 'The Greatest Love' that so much less sentimental than the original, for instance - but the performances are unique, as is the intimate live atmosphere, captured perfectly here on what was originally a community radio and cable access broadcast.
Review: Yuna's self-titled debut album came with three tracks produced by none other than Pharrell Williams. That was a decade ago when she was just 24 years old and one of the hottest properties in the scene. Freshly signed to Fader for the album, it was a great showcase of the young singer's voice across a mix of sounds that took in r&b, soul and pop with a mature edge and moving emotional narrative. It was initially only put out on CD but a decade on that is corrected as Fader drop this vinyl version just in time for Christmas.
Review: Yung Bae is the alias of Dallas Cotton, a Los Angeles-based producer with influences that include disco, r&b and Japanese City Pop. He had already proven his capabilities over the past two years, but his album Bae 3 really shows off his mastery in making A-grade funk. There's the boogie-down vibe of 'Back To The Classics', the neon-lit night moves of 'If You Want It', as well as the low slung mood music of 'All Night' and the upbeat horns-driven dancefloor heater 'Fantasy' being just of the highlights.
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