Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Contemporary afro funk wizardry abounds as London-based band Ibibio Sound Machine don a pair of disco, funk and boogie spectacles and study their Nigerian roots with attention to detail. The end result is a truly unique fusion of sounds that range from the 80s synth boogie of "The Talking Fish" to the Fela-level freneticisms of "I'm Running". Other highlights include the slamming pop jitters of "Let's Dance", the crazed synth squiggles and slap bass madness of "The Tortoise" and the alluring juxtaposition of modern drum production, captivating poetry and jazzy dynamics of "Prodigal Son". A highly accomplished debut... This needs your attention.

Review: Famed for their thrilling, dancefloor-friendly fusions of West African funk and disco, American electrofunk and post-punk pop, Ibibio Sound Machine is one of the most exciting and essential bands of recent times. It's for this reason that "Doko Mien", the Eno Williams fronted band's first album for two years, is so hotly anticipated. Happily, we can confirm that it's another stunning set, with Williams and company charging through a set of sizzling songs that wrap kaleidoscopic synths, rubbery bass, fiery horns and off-kilter funk-rock guitars around grooves that variously doff a cap to '80s electro, Italo-disco, jazz-funk, Tony Allen and thrusting, mind-altering mutant disco. In other words, it's another must-have collection of cuts from the London-based band.

Review: Imagination helped soundtrack the 80s with a series of stunning pop hits and club friendly mixes. Neither demure nor modest (they were once ordered to cover up when meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales), their outrageous stage presence masked a surprisingly deep well of songwriting talent and a vastly underrated catalogue of recordings. Indeed their music continues to sound fresh and as this collection proves their success was certainly no illusion.

Review: Three men with experience of playing as part of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, Embassy Sound Productions and Kings Of Convenience come together for this new project, Incarnations, and With All Due Respect is a fantastically smooth, soulful and thoroughly Yacht Rock-esque album. Echoes of Steely Dan, Shuggie Otis and the Doobie Brothers abound, as well as an appreciation of laidback tropicalia, especially on "I Didn't Know". Not cheesy in the slightest, this unlikely project is the real deal and a perfect new find for anyone hooked on classic 70s soul.

Review: In many ways, the longevity of Brit jazz-funk heroes Incognito is astonishing. Now into their 31st year, they continue to record and play live with the same enthusiasm and love for soul that they possessed way back in 1981. Surreal is their fifteenth original full-length and sees Bluey and company continue to push the kind of loose, organic, immaculately produced soul that's become their trademark in recent years. Each of the 14 tracks comes blessed with the sort of warm, sunny and bleary-eyed sound that recalls Earth, Wind & Fire in their pomp - all rubbery jazz-funk basslines, fluid percussion and heartwarming horns - while the vocals are effortlessly soulful. Clearly, they've still got it - something that can't be said for many bands of their generation.

Review: Prolific American soul, disco and funk band Instant Funk - who were once Bunny Sigler's backup band - dropped an impressive five albums between 1976 and 1983 and they are all collected together here on a bumper five CD collection from Robinsongs. Every possible conceivable funk style is taken in here from the slow and sultry to the fiery and harder edged. The musicianship is next level and all of the band's biggest tunes are here from 'I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)' to 'It Ain't Reggae (But It's Funky)' via 'Philly Jump' and many more, all with comprehensive sleeve notes by MOJO's Charles Waring.

Review: The Ipanemas fifth album 'Call Of The Gods' on the Far Out label, is a gorgeous slice of Brazilian vintage magic and clearly invokes the spirit of their 1962 debut 'Os Ipanemas'. Back then they forged their own unique sound by infusing bossa nova with African traditions, jazz instrumentation and the lyrical themes of Samba-Canção [sung samba]. 'Call of the Gods' exquisitely captures their self styled 'afro-bossa' sound of the 1960s, conjuring up that golden age Rio de Janeiro feel. The Ipanemas are a direct link to the old samba roots of the street bars in bohemian Lapa, the 1950s Copacabana jazz joints, and the emerging bossa wave. Wilson and Neco come from the source and made a sound all their own. Crucially, the album is driven throughout by the deep spiritual kick of the Afro-Brazilian religion and music Candomble, whose Gods inspire the title and so much more, as Wilson says 'Brazilian music is religion'. This album swings with grace and pure class, thanks to the rich experience only The Ipanemas can bring.

Review: Recorded at a time when Japan was in the midst of an intense love affair with all things jazz-funk, this long lost album by Cuban band Irakere (which was recorded in Japan in 1980) has been lovingly brought back into stock by the diggers supreme at Far Out Records.
Having formed in Cuba in 1973, Irakere brought their fusion of jazz and Afro-Cuban funk to these recordings, which were put together by Japanese bandleader Chikara Ueda (notable for having been sampled by Phoenix on "If I Ever Feel Better". The recordings certainly bear a distinctive Japanese quality to the production (sounding similar to Sadao Watanabe's 80's output), but Irakere's funk certainly punches through as well. Opener "Cuba Libre" sounds like an out-take from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly sessions complete with some tight Latin percussion, while "Sea Mail" is looser and blessed with some inspired alto-sax solo's.
The calm and sanguine "Que Pasa?" really shows off the clarity and perfection of the recording techniques, with every rim shot and guitar pluck picked up perfectly and clearly - rarely has this style of music been recorded in such a meticulous way. "Gospelanza" is another real highlight, as two separate pianos panned left and right duel with each other before the brass takes over and does the same. It's a magic moment on an album full of unexpected delights - a very worthwhile reissue indeed.

Review: In 1977, American jazz composer, pianist and organist Weldon Irvine helped create the musical Young, Gifted & Broke, which was in part inspired by Aretha Franklin's 1969 anthem 'Young, Gifted & Black' - a song whose lyrics were penned by none other than Weldon. Irvine was naturally responsible for the writing the soundtrack, which was recorded at the time but only released for the first time 12 years ago. It's an exceptional set all told, joining the dots between jazz, Blaxploitation funk, soul and gospel, with inspired instrumentals sitting side by side with songs that showcase the talents of both the lead characters and a talented chorus of backing singers.

Review: Originally released in 1975, "Back To Rhythm" is one of the crowning glories of Akira Ishikawa's glittering career. The Japanese drummer turned his hand to countless wonderful records over his career, but this one was surely one of the best. Mr Bongo seem to think so, and they're giving it a proper reissue treatment. There are funk breaks galore embedded in this joyously upbeat, irresistibly groovy sound, where the horns parp with clarity and the guitar licks cartwheel through airy mixes. Managing to be both fulsome and loud without coming over too heavy, Ishikawa's sprightly take on instrumental funk has never sounded better than on this release.

Review: For the latest volume in their ongoing J Jazz Masterclass series of Japanese jazz reissues, BBE has chosen to offer up a new CD edition of Noriko Miyamoto's 1978 set Push, an album widely considered one of the finest soul-jazz LPs produced in the Land of the Rising Sun. Miyamoto started her career as a professional disco dancer, before being asked to join Isao Suzuki's legendary Soul Family Band. Fittingly, it was Suzuki who produced and arranged Push, combining Miyamoto's wonderful vocals with atmospheric, musically rich backing tracks that variously draw inspiration from deep disco, jazz-funk, crossover soul and fusion. A genuine gem that's more than worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Review: Having previously compiled volume four of the long running ESP DJ Classics series, veteran nu-jazz/broken beat type Enrico Crivallaro returns to curate volume 12. As with previous installments, we're treated to a typically soft-focus and dewy-eyed selection of jazz, soulful slow jams, Latin grooves and sunny smoochers. Predictably, there's plenty for the crate diggers to get excited about, from the fluid jazz-funk of Ronny Lapaine's "Side By Side" and smooth '80s soul of Genobia's "All of My Love", to the sunshine disco-soul of LJ Reynolds' "Travellin" and twinkling piano jazz of Judy Roberts' "Watercolours".