Juno Classics

Review: Warehouse Find! Released in 68, resurfaced in 05 and back with a very polite, well-polished edit, Spanky Wilson's cover of "Sunshine Of Your Love" is one of the best funk cover versions ever pressed to wax. It is quite criminal it never enjoyed the exposure it deserved back in the day. As for Peggy Lee covering Otis Reading; do we need to spell out how good it is? The drums on the edit are especially well executed. Vinyl was invented for releases like this!

Review: 25 years deep and still sounding as timeless and genre-defining as ever, Trax revisit their 2002 package with this highly limited reissue. Complete with the essential emotive Martin Luther King-adorned sermon, Chuck D's house-proud Jack narrative and Robert Owens deep yearning croons, this is the ultimate collection of versions that rise above the millions of copies and bootlegs and blatant rip-offs this track has endured over the years. An essential addition to all collections.

Review: US newbie Gregory Porter was man of the year as far as nu-soul and funk goes and championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson,Patrick Forge & Nik Weston to name but a few. This record had an incredible amount of attention around it even before its release and to be honest, it ain't no surprise! It's just a future classic, end of discussion - it takes Detroit's fine soul and funk heritage onto a new level, showing us that classics are still very much in the making. Porter's own voice is majestic and prophetic as he talks about "Motor City burnin'" and who then goes on to deliver his powerful and emotional words. There's even a slightly "housier" remix by Opolopo, giving us the chance to also enjoy this mighty record at the centre of late-night set...this is certified Theo Parrish material right here!

Review: Given that Todd Terje's first original material in some five years resulted in one of last year's highlights with the Running Back released Ragysh, it's natural he would want to leave some space before following up. The first of a series of EPs crafted from using one bit of vintage gear in particular, It's The Arps sees Terje dabble with the intricacies of the Arp 2600 analogue synthesizer as well as pay homage to his favourite Monty Python sketch. This is just as nerdy as you'd expect from a man who recently launched a website with the specific intention of exploring the obsessive studio nature of his contemporaries. The aforementioned "Inspector Norse" is an obvious highlight here, slowly unfurling gorgeous layers of playful synthesis that grapple the simplistic drums with flirtatious delight. Naturally for someone who spends most weekends of the year in a nightclub, Terje demonstrates a real prowess for building up the track, teasing your senses once before unleashing the mid point monstrous moment. It makes for another signature track from Terje which is likely to engender a rapturous reception for many years to come. Alongside it, "Myggsommer" provides a brief, twee interlude into oddball sci fi soundscapes which again prove to highlight the Arp 2600's capacity for inventive and idiosyncratic sounds. From here Terje unveils a two part skywards saunter through "Swing Star" showcasing a more dextrous manipulation of the Arp 2600's melodies across the markedly more rhythmic upbeat first part and expansive luxurious cosmic subsequent endeavour. Whilst "Inspector Norse" is guaranteed to be the one track from this release you will hear in the international discotheques, the remainder of It's The Arps serves as a excellent reminder of Terje's ever growing talent as a producer.

Review: ** Running Back Repress for the Terje Fans **Terje Olsen doesn't release many records, but when he does they tend to be pretty special. This surprise EP for Running Back is his only his fifth original single in seven years, but it's arguably his best yet. "Ragysh" is devilishly simple, a naggingly hypnotic house/ electronic disco head-nodder that builds to a gasping climax of chic, intergalactic melodies. It's partnered by "Bonysh", a dubwise beats track that ekes maximum thrills from little more than ever-changing percussion. B-side "Snooze For Love" - available in dancefloor and downtempo versions - continues the stargazing theme, offering up an uber-Balearic mix of bleep melodies, dozy chords and sleepwalking percussion.

Review: It's almost five years since the immense Hyph Mngo announced the talents of Joy Orbison to the world and a lot has changed in this time - not least the musical direction of Scuba's Hotflush label. One of several early Hotflush releases that have been granted a timely repress, the first thing that hits you listening back to "Hyph Mngo" is 'did it ever get revealed how to pronounce it?' We jest, actually it's amazing how powerful a production it still is, and arguably one of the tracks that helped bring about the shift from traditional dubstep to what many now refer to as UK BASS. B Side "Wet Look" can still cause a bit of dancefloor commotion too, you know! A must for those that never got this 12" first time round.