Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Anorax Records' motto and hash-taggable suggestion is to #eatsleepcollect, as if we weren't doing so already! This time they deliver on the highly anticipated 'Tighten Up' by Melbourne soul collective The Bamboos. First released in 2006 on Kenny Dope and Keb Darge's Kay-Dee label, this instrumental version of Archie Bell & The Drells' 1968 hit quickly became a favourite in soul and acid jazz circles. Rhythm-made by The Bamboos' leader, Lance Ferguson, this one stands out for its vocal absence, offering a quirky, irresistible take.

Review: Nick Bike has been at it again, crafting high-grade club cuts that always make an impact. These two have already been well road-tested with great effect. 'Party People (Night & Day)' is the first and is a brilliant collision of some funky, soulful disco classics into one new and strident sound with irresistible claps and vocal hooks. On the flip is the scorching 'Every Night (Hold Me Tight)' which is just timeless and super smooth disco-funk with a persuasive charm. Two no-brainers here that will bring next-level fun to any set.

Review: First featured on Body And Soul's ultra-rare 1971 album and now a coveted collector's item, these two standout funk beauties are available on 7" vinyl for the first time. Essential for any self-respecting soul and funk fanatic, this one captures the raw, vintage energy of a bygone era and still cuts through today. The A-side, 'In the Beginning,' serves up deep funk grooves and soulful harmonies reminiscent of Sly Stone's classic sound. On the flip, the band offers a vibrant, funk-infused take on Laura Nyro's 'Stone Soul Picnic' and reimagines the timeless track with bold rhythms and all-new and funky fresh flair.

Review: As you probably know if you're reading this, Jorun Bombay is one of the most consistently on for edit maestros in the game. Here he steps up with a new outing that sticks right at the heart of the dancefloor once more. 'Strictly Dann Stealy' is a clever mash-up of De La Soul's 'Eye Know (Know It All Remix)' featuring the original source vocals over a faithfully recreated instrumental. It channels the signature energy of early 90s hip-hop clubs with a fresh twist you've never heard before. On the flip, 'Whole Grain O's' offers a reimagined instrumental take on 'Oodles of O's' which is packed with reggae chants, added turntablism and signature 'Oh's'. It's a playful, party-ready version that balances just the right amount of nostalgia and brand new style.

Review: The first official reissue of Brooklyn People's rare 1975 soul-funk classic 'Peace and Love / Wreck' arrives courtesy of Selector Series for Record Store Day 2025. Originally released on Cheri Records half a century ago, this sought-after 7" has fetched prices of around L50 on the collector's market. It's one of those true crate-digger gems with its perfect mix of soulful, spiritual deepness and driving, dynamic drum grooves that never quit. 'Wreck' has atmospheric crowd sounds as well as jazzy keys and horns to really take things up a notch.

Review: James "Baby Huey" Ramey's sole album remains a striking reflection of his talent and untimely passing. The Chicago-born soul singer, best known for his work with Baby Huey & the Babysitters, was in the midst of recording his debut when he tragically died from a heart attack in 1970 at just 26. The resulting albumiunfinished at the time of his deathiwas later completed by producer Curtis Mayfield and released posthumously in 1971. A blend of psychedelic soul, funk and rock, the album's standout moments include a sprawling, otherworldly take on Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and the deeply emotive 'Hard Times', which later found its way into the lexicon of hip-hop, sampled by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Ghostface Killah, and Ice Cube. The work's raw energy and emotive performances give it a timeless quality, a feeling of tragic grandeur heightened by Ramey's powerful vocal presence. Tracks like 'Mama Get Yourself Together' and 'One Dragon Two Dragon' are emblematic of the freewheeling creativity of 70s soul, blending jazz-inflected structures with funk grooves that seem to stretch toward an unknown, future-facing horizon. Despite its unfinished nature, it is an album that never feels incomplete, embodying a voice and vision that remains eternal in its influence. From his time performing around Chicago to his collaboration with Mayfield, Baby Huey's legacy continues to reverberate across generations.

Review: Chris Bangs' varied and eclectic musical journey is a key reason he was chosen to curate a compilation for Ace. With a background ranging from space rock with The Mighty Om to DJ residencies across London, Bangs' career spans numerous genres, from jazz, funk, to soul. Bangs' DJ sets and parties - in such time-honoured venues as Special Branch in Brentford, London - were seminal in the evolution of the acid jazz genre alongside Gilles Peterson, where "acid jazz was never meant to be more than a pisstake". His foray into production, such as the proto-acid jazz classic 'Psychedelic Jack' with Peterson on vocals, cemented his legacy, but it's curation highlights such as this that really get our gears going. Hold tight as we scour early acid jazz brilliants from Gunky to Vera Cruz to Brazilian Skies to Jubilation.

Review: Tresor Magnetique is a treasure trove of unreleased tracks by the late great Francis Bebey-an international artist whose visionary work defies time and continues to add standout energy to eclectic DJ sets everywhere. These recordings have been digitised from fragile tapes found by his son and restored at Abbey Road Studios and blend pygmy flutes, drum machines, folk guitars and electronic textures in daring, genre-defying ways. Rather than a retrospective, this feels like an ongoing conversation that keeps Beby's work urgent and vital and prove Bebey wasn't just ahead of his time, he transcended it, from the lo-fi drum track magnificent of 'Quand Le Soleil Est La' to the raw, textured tropical funk of 'Where Are You? I Love You.'

Review: The Blackbyrds, Washington Direct-Current pioneers of jazz-funk from the early 70s, overloaded the jazz circuit with City Life, a hair-frying album renowned for its flowing, fulminous rhythms. Core tracks 'Happy Music' and 'Rock Creek Park' set the stage for a long sampling legacy: the latter was famously sampled by both De La Soul and Nas, on 'Bitties In The BK Lounge' and 'Fried Chicken' respectively. This reissue, cut from the original tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, reupholsters the Blackbyrds' debut worm-catching funk pecks for the world's ears to witness once more.

Review: Don Blackman's 1982 self-titled debut is an underrated jazz-funk gem that fuses soul, funk and jazz-fusion into a sophisticated groove-laden journey that was produced by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen for GRP Records. The album showcases Blackman's keyboard wizardry and soulful vocals across standout tracks like 'Heart's Desire' and 'Holding You Loving You.' With playful cuts like 'Yabba Dabba Doo,' it balances polish with joyful experimentation and though not a commercial hit, its influence has quietly grown and ir has been sampled by hip-hop greats and revered by collectors alike. This reissue reaffirms its status as a cult classic and a crucial slice of 80s funk.

Review: New York outfit The Budos Band return with their first full-length release on Diamond West, the new label founded by band members Tom Brenneck and Jared Tankel. VII was produced by Brenneck and engineered by Simon Guzman and has plenty of their signature taut, groove-driven tracks that blend Afro-soul, doom rock and 70s psychedelia. They were all recorded in California and feature the percussionist Rich Tarrana, who adds his own fresh texture without detracting from the raw, hypnotic MO of the band. As usual, this is music that is equal parts cinematic and visceral and is perfect for nocturnal drives and deep immersion. Now more than two decades in, The Budos Band are still able to surprise and compel.

Review: Released in 1967, Open marked a daring debut for Brian Auger and The Trinity with soulful vocals from Julie Driscoll. The album embodies London's vibrant late-60s scene with jazz, r&b, pop and psychedelia all reflecting the era's genre-crossing spirit. Auger's jazz roots shine on tracks like 'In and Out' and 'Isola Natale' while Driscoll brings emotional depth to covers of Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin hits. This is an always eclectic and adventurous album that combines virtuosic musicianship, surreal humour and heartfelt soul. Now regarded as a cult classic, it had a huge influence on British jazz fusion and progressive scenes.