Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke won plenty of acclaim with their last outing What Happened To Yesterday?! and now they quickly back it up with a third outing on MotorCity Wine Recordings What Happened To Yesterday? Vol 2 is another blend of heady, dubby sounds with cosmic dance vibes that span serval sub-genres with ease. 'World In My Head' kicks off with lo-fi and low-key depths, and further downtempo tracks like 'Explanation of The Funk' with Dre King's trumpet and DJ Stylus's cuts, and 'Three-Season Crank' with Raja Kassis's guitar further sink you into blissed-out beats. The flip side has dancefloor-friendly jam 'Off The Rails,' then moves into dubby, meditative territory and ends with the gorgeous 'Black Bird Dub' which allows Echo's eclectic production and Meinecke's keyboard mastery to shine.

Review: B. Bravo and Rojai return as Kool Customer with their sophomore album At Your Service, a ten-track offering of modern funk designed for sun-soaked poolside parties. Following their 2018 debut, the duo pushes their funk sound further, evoking the laid-back vibes of LA's rooftop hotel gatherings while blending boogie, g-funk, and club influences. From the opener 'Endless Summer' to the mellow space grooves of 'One Day At A Time', the album maintains an effortlessly cool, future funk energy. Tracks like 'Fly Away' and 'Learned My Lesson' will undoubtedly find their way into DJ sets from LA's MoFunk to San Francisco's Sweater Funk. With roots in NorCal and SoCal, the pair infuses their music with a cross-regional modern funk spectrum. B. Bravo's use of vintage synths like the Minimoog Voyager and Yamaha DX-100 anchors the project in boogie tradition, while songs like 'DX Heaven' and 'West Coast Livin'' showcase inventive twists on g-funk. Kool Customer's At Your Service is the epitome of smooth, effortless funk.

Review: Pink Rhythm was John Rocca's mid-80s solo project and it came after his pioneering work with the band Freeez. The group released three singles between 1984 and 1985 including cult favourites like 'Melodies of Love' and 'India.' Rocca's music has been widely sampled by artists such as Jamie xx, Burial and Todd Terry which has cemented his status as a BritFunk pioneer. His tracks have also featured in TV, film, and high fashion and this album includes six classic Pink Rhythm tracks, four of which haven't been on vinyl since 1985 and beautifully blend vintage 80s drum machines, synths, and saxophones.

Review: The Purple One did a series of special live shows at the Miami Glam Slam Club in 1994 as part of a residency, and as they were recorded for live radio broadcast we can now relive them again with this reissue. The dynamic songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer was in top form in the mid-90s and used this residency to further explore his blend of funk, rock and soul. With electrifying performances of hits and deep cuts, this album highlights his unparalleled musicianship and charismatic stage presence with plenty of classics all included from 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World ' to 'I Believe In You.' A great slice of pop history.

Review: This raw, electrifying performance captures Prince at his peak, showcasing some of his biggest hits with thrilling immediacy. Opener 'Sign of the Times' brims with urgency and sets the tone for a set that spans funk-heavy anthems like 'House Quake' to intimate ballads like 'Slow Love'. The rendition of 'Little Red Corvette' feels like a quick nod before diving into deeper grooves with 'Hot Thing', while the encore, '1999', rounds off the night with jubilant nostalgia. Each track is brought to life with boundless energy, providing fans with a candid first hand glimpse into Prince's live mastery.

Review: Scruscru and Los Protos hook up on the former's ever-reliable label for some more funk-fuelled and sample-heavy madness. This eight-tracker draws on the best of Library, jazz, hip hop and soul and collides elements of all of those together with some raw, and what sounds like, MPC beats, all tapped out with a lovably loose vibe. Some like 'Local Sugar Diggers' look up towards a sunny, cloudless sky, others like 'Dreams Of Sonora' are swaggering broken beat workouts with sensuous sax lines setting a steamy tone. 'Por Do Sol Em Shelekhmet' is another highlight with its aloof, angelic vocal tones.

Review: Quentin Tarantino has been one of the most beloved and well-respected directors over the better part of the last 35 years. His movies have altered culture, changed mindsets, created new ways to make movies all the while, the challenging the status quo by pushing the boundaries of entertainment. Equally memorable is his soundtracks to the projects he presents. This compilation features some of the most cherished and memorable songs that have supported his vision. Included are songs by Johnny Cash, The Coasters, Jay Clark and more. Fans of soundtracks and Quentin Tarantino will equally enjoy this most enjoyable trek down legendary cinema.

Review: Down & Wired 7: A Dose Of Psychedelic Funk & Blue Eyed Soul is a gold mine of rare 60s gems, carefully curated for lovers of soul, psychedelic and garage rock. This compilation, released by Perfect Toy Germany, offers a cost-effective way to enjoy tracks that would otherwise be difficult and expensive to acquire, with original copies often fetching hundreds of dollars. Highlights include The General Store's "Love Is You," a fusion of psychedelic rock and funk that sets the tone for the collection. The Comin Generation follows with the swinging 60s vibe of "Hey Girl," while Function's "Free Style" delivers a funky riff-driven groove. Tracks like The Third Stone's 'Happiness Is Coming' and Whiz Kids' 'Take' continue the journey through the era's diverse sounds. Songs like Dandy King's 'Flowers Peace Love' and Synod's 'Places To Do,' this compilation is perfect for anyone looking to explore the eclectic sounds of 60s rock and soul.

Review: In 1972, musical one-off Stevie Wonder boldly embraced a more experimental and personal style and showcased some innovative use of synths. Backed by his new band Wonderlove, he toured extensively with the Rolling Stones and solidified his status as a trailblazer. This electrifying performance from that year was broadcast on Soul TV WNET 13 in New York City and captures Wonder at his peak and delivering fiery renditions of tracks from his iconic Music of My Mind and Talking Book albums, among others. Presented here with insightful background notes and rare images, this recording is a vivid testament to a pivotal era in Wonder's legendary career.