Review: Colin Curtis - an early purveyor of rare groove and jazzdance whose credo rings far and wide - has been helming his own label of originals for some time now. Presently focusing on the best live-feel broken beat, house and jazz in his orbit, his latest curation, Cengiz and Ishfaq's 'Vibrations', is no break from this general rule. Each artist helming one side respectively, Cengiz' 'Motf' and its remix work a steadily built progression around faint jeers, metallic percs, filterpassed tom fills and space-age risers, the latter of which is much more skeletal than the former; while Ishfaq's 'Wonderjazz' moves impressively somewhere in the lost interregnum between speed garage and techfunk.
Review: French label Boogie Butt gets us moving and grooving once more with a tasty new EP in the form of The Boogievison EP. It features a lead single from Ian Ash & Ella May, 'I Want To Thank You,' which pairs some jazzy chord work with a low-slung and warm house groove. The bass is funky and the vocals are seductive. It comes as an instrumental as well as a more direct and harder-edged Mr Doris & D-Funk remix. On the flip is Jessie Wagner & Fostin meet Ian Ash with 'Try Again,' a lovely soulful house groove with sublime and emotive vocals over another lush bass guitar. All very sweet tunes, these.
Review: 'Fast Freddie the Roller Disco King' is a tune that is as good as its title. It was originally a single by Little Anthony and the Imperials (as The Imperials), featuring none other than Prince on guitar, synth and keyboards. The track's base was recorded by Prince with Pepe Willie and Andre Cymone at Sound Palace Studios in New York with later vocal and instrumental overdubs by The Imperials. The B-side, 'I Just Wanna Be Your Lovin' Man,' is an early version of '10:15,' though Prince's involvement as guitarist on this one remains unclear. Either way, this is a brilliant reissue for disco and funk lovers.
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Smeddles More Ass mix) (6:09)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Smeddles More Ass dub) (5:22)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (vocal) (5:42)
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (acappella) (3:11)
Review: Indeep's 1982 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' is a stone cold classic. It has been remixed several times over the years and never stops attracting new audiences with each passing generation. On this latest reissue we get the 1980s New York-based trio's still hard-to-beat original version as well as the acapella and Smeddles's More Ass mix and More Ass dub. They are subtle reworkings that tweak the original for a little more dancefloor heft but do nothing to distill its still golden charms and catchy hooks.
Review: Last year, the Expansions label kicked off a wonderfully intriguing 10" series featuring classics from soul music's rich canon complemented by contemporary cover versions and so far it's seen Blue Note troupe Quasimode tee off against Johnny Hammond and Bembe Segue challenge Norman Connors. A third edition duly arrives and hints Expansions are really enjoying the creative challenge the concept allows them with the jazz funk classic "Zaius" from Eddie Russ joined by a cover from the celebrated UK funk veterans Incognito. Originally appearing on the 1976 LP See The Light, "Zaius" is a blinding example of why Russ is described a master of the keyboard and it's complemented well by Incognito's B Side cover which appears on vinyl for the first time. Don't sleep!
Review: Pan-African supergroup Ibibio Sound Machine return with Pull The Rope, a tonal shift compared to their earlier full-lengths like Electricity; this one veers more on the side of acid house, highlife and disco, compared to the more histrionic electronics of the eponymous sound machine of that album, as well as Uyai and Doko Mien, heard thus far. As heard on the lead single 'Got To Be Who U Are', we are importuned with the command to be ourselves, as everybody else is already taken; such an injunction is met with a driving, time-of-your-life, weighty acid house production, which comes to neat effect when paired with Eno Williams' passionate soul vocals.
Review: Ice's early work captures a pivotal moment in funk's evolution, weaving together taut grooves and vibrant African-inspired rhythms. Recorded during the band's formative years, the music brims with raw energy and creative ambition. Polished basslines drive the tracks, while percussion bursts with a vitality that speaks to their Parisian influences at the time. Horn stabs and tightly wound guitar lines add layers of complexity, and the occasional vocal inflection injects a sense of urgency. With each listen, the production reveals new texturesismall details that elevate the record beyond its era.
Review: Popularly known to fans as "Ice" - a rare case of hypocorism in colloquial fan band nicknaming - Strut Recordings document a rare record from the vaults of the luminary Lafayette Afro-Rock Band, one that is arguably the closest in their catalogue to the signature sound defining their earlier work. Marked by an especially complex funk rhythmology, this record was pressed contemporaneously with the infamous Soul Makossa and Malik sessions; but compared to their earlier works, Afro Agban pushes deeper into jazz-rock territory. 'Ozan Koukle' has espceially become a known but coveted missing link for turntable taxonomists, who'll thank their lucky stars for the fact that it is now available in full.
Review: Marking its debut on vinyl, Jiro Inagaki's groundbreaking jazz-rock album introduces a bold fusion of new rock elements, featuring Inagaki's vocals alongside Sammy and Yasushi Sawada for the first time. Backed by a stellar lineup including Masahiko Sato, Kimio Mizutani, and Hiro Yanagida, this reissue by Nipponophone underlines Inagaki's status as a maverick in Japanese jazz. Originally released in 1971, the album blends heavy rock grooves with an enigmatic allure, resonating deeply with collectors of rare groove worldwide. Inagaki, renowned for his saxophone work and production skills, has left an indelible mark not only in jazz but also as a sought-after session player for legends like Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra. This reissue reaffirms his legacy, offering a glimpse into his influential jazz-rock era.
I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky (2:53)
Boogie Joe, The Grinder (3:28)
Machine Gun (3:02)
Hair (3:39)
Express (3:36)
Jungle Boogie (3:28)
Living For The City (3:48)
Loose Booty (2:22)
Fire (3:51)
Outa Space (3:32)
Funky Stuff (2:03)
Review: Japan meets funky disco in an explosive fusion led by maestro Jiro Inagaki here on a classic album that gets a worthy reissue. In a particularly inspired year during which he also released Funky Stuff on Nippon Columbia, Inagaki masterfully reinterprets tracks by Quincy Jones, Commodores, Graham Central Station, B.T. Express, Kool and The Gang, Stevie Wonder, Sly and The Family Stone, Ohio Players, Ripple, and Billy Preston on this one. He does so in collaboration with Hiromasa Suzuki, a prominent name in Japanese jazz, and seasoned session musicians who add their own spice. Inagaki brings a fresh, danceable sound here with a broad mix of inspirations from jazz to city pop all shining through.
Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - "That's How I Feel" (3:38)
Soul Media - "Memory Lane" (4:23)
Jiro Inagaki & The All-Stars - "Barock" (3:06)
Jiro Inagaki & Aki & Big Soul Media - "Guru" (6:23)
Soul Media - "Painted Paradise" (6:44)
Jiro Inagaki & His Friends - "Express" (No SE version) (3:34)
Review: Japanese jazzmasuta Jiro Inagaki is graced by a stunning new tribute album via 180g, Legends, which celebrates his 90th birthday in 16-track compilation form. Made up entirely of works made between 1968 and 1980, and selected by DJ and producer Yusuke Ogawa, this is an album made almost entirely of Jiro's best-known instrumentals, not least a formerly unreleased version of the standout 'Express'. The recordings are impeccable, and this is a standard which does not waver over the entire 12-year period this LP spans.
Review: Incognito stands tall as a global funk, jazz, soul and dance phenomenon as well as rightfully being hailed as pioneers of the 'acid jazz' movement. Their track record boasts top ten hits like their rendition of Stevie Wonder's 'Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing' and numerous inspired originals, all of which helped them pick up millions of album sales worldwide. Their album Into You which now comes on blue and red vinyl radiates with vibrant, uplifting creativity, is backed by the expertise of longtime collaborators Mo Hausler and Richard Bull. With 15 dynamic originals including the silky-smooth lead single 'Back on the Beach,' the infectious 'Nothing Makes Me Feel Better,' and the seductive 'Into You,' Incognito sounds at their very best here,
Review: Takeshi Inomata's Drum Method reissue is jazz-rock at its fiercest, transforming a drum instructional into a relentless groove machine. Inomata's legendary, boundary-pushing stick work shines, leading Sound Limited through a heady mix of originals and covers like 'Runaway Child' and 'Smack Water Jack.' The album, filled with dizzying solos and Norio Maeda's standout arrangements, is a masterclass in rhythm and energy, showing Inomata's unstoppable drive to reshape the genre. This reissue is pure, high-octane funk and groove at its finest.
Review: Takeshi Inomata is a pioneering drummer in Japan's jazz scene who launched the band Sound Limited in the late 1960s and set to work blending jazz and rock in a vibrant new direction. Influenced by the brass rock movement, Inomata sought to create music full of energy and free from the constraints of modern jazz. He brought together young, talented musicians to play with vitality and envisioned a large-scale sound. Their debut album, The Sound of Sounds LTD back in 1970, became a classic filled with dynamic performances, including the iconic 'Theme~Mustache,' a track that continues to define the band's legacy.
Review: Japanese jazz drummer Takeshi Inomata is a little-spoken-about figure in the jazz-rock scene; The Japan Jazz All Stars alumn, We 3 trio leader and Rhythm Clinic Center founder has made well over 300 recordings in his career - this being the third in a year-long trilogy enthusiastically and successively released under the Sound Limited name alongside Kimio Mizutani and Shigenori Kamiya - amongst others - largely influenced by European musicians like Donovan and The Beatles. A notable and funny inclusion is 'London Bridge is Falling Down', a quite literal jazz groove cover interpolating the famous nursery rhyme. Opening track 'Something' is a cracking piece of relaxing jazz, nothing eye-popping, just some glossy, well-played, easy listening. 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' is a fast-paced funk cut with striking psychedelic guitars over a frantic flute line - the project showed Inomata's vision for a more approachable and instantly catchy jazz rock that still retained a lot of character and left, evidently, lots of room for experimentation.
Review: Emerging from the vibrant but devilish Bermuda scene of the early 70s, Spacing Out stands as a gleaming instrumental lapis. The entirely self-taught band recombined the raw chi of OG instrumentation with pre-spirited arrangements by The Meters, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and The Isley Brothers. This one cemented the Invaders as a finely polished instrumental ensemble, gilding the slabs for the retro-soul and funk scenes to follow, and which were in turn incubators of hatchlings Daptone and Big Crown. The reissue, a collaboration with the band and their full participation, comes complete with an expansive booklet by Jefferson "Chairman" Mao, offering an in-depth look at the group with rare photos. With expository, reverb-laden percs, ridin' breakdowns and low strung brasses, the record arouses a mood of loose-girdled passion.
Review: 'Liberated Brother' might just refer to Weldon Irvine's liberation from the trappings of fame. While this debut album of this, originally released in 1972, was made around the same time as his come-up with Nina Simone as her bandleader, Irvine was not as impacted by publicity or subject to the same degree of pop culture notoriety. But just because a spark burns brightly, doesn't make it the most effervescent; this first LP charts the multi-instrumentalist's futuristic frolicks through funk-jazz, fusion and soul, all distilled into a romantic 8-tracker of trilling pianos ('Liberated Brother') and moody noir jams ('Gloria'). Hot off the plate with a reissue by Japanese label P-Vine, this is an exclusive obi-strip version not many will get their mitts on; it could still be you, though.
Review: Weldon Irvine was one of the finest American jazz pianist and composers of his generation. He released several classic albums man of which are now being reissued thanks to P-Vine, but not before being fully remastered for the occasion. Weldon and The Kats was one that he put out on his own label Nodlew Records after releasing some albums through RCA and Strata-East. It is perfectly indicative of his style and has his early work 'Mr.P.C' on it, which was recorded in 1968 with Steve Grossman on tenor sax and sometime Miles Davies associate Lenny White on drums. This one has never been reissued before so snap it up before it goes again.
Review: A whole bunch of Weldon Irvine albums are being remastered and reissued at the moment, which will be music to the ears of spiritual jazz fans - literally. The American composer and pianists was one of the big names of his time and reals don labels like RCA and Strata-East as well as his own label. Young Gifted & Broke has never been on vinyl before as the recordings were only discovered in the early 2010s. It was a musical that was released in 1977 and inspired by the Black Civil Rights anthem 'Young, Gifted and Black,' which Weldon had written with Nina Simone. Talents like Marcus Miller joined the recordings which as can now be heard are magnificent to say the least.
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: Uganda: Dawn Of Rock is a great collision of creative talents from Akira Ishikawa and Count Buffaloes who combine to deliver a captivating exploration of rock music's emergence in Uganda. A classic since it was first issued, the album showcases Ishikawa's masterful drumming and Count Buffaloes' dynamic instrumentation. It overflows with infectious rhythms and soulful melodies and each track immerses listeners in the vibrant music scene of Uganda where rock and local African sounds are fused into something new. As such this is a record that offers a perfect glimpse into a pivotal moment in Uganda's musical history.
Tell Me When You Need It Again (part 1 & 2) (4:59)
Climbin' Up The Ladder (part 1 & 2) (6:36)
Voyage To Atlantis (4:25)
Livin' In The Life (4:14)
Go For Your Guns (2:15)
Review: Go For Your Guns by The Isley Brothers was originally released in 1977 and now gets reissued by Music On Vinyl on lovely translucent blue wax in limited quantities. Spanning over eight decades, The Isley Brothers boast one of the most enduring and diverse careers in music history. Originating as a trio in 1954 from Cincinnati, Ohio, the group, comprising O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph, and Ronald Isley, has sold over 18 million records in the U.S. alone. Their 15th album, Go For Your Guns, soared to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Soul chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200. Notably, it features 'Footsteps In The Dark,' sampled by Ice Cube for his hit 'It Was A Good Day,' which itself reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-hop Songs chart.
Review: Broc Recordz's Cosmos Giants album is a celestial creation that stems from a monumental collaboration between Janko Nilovic, JJ Whitefield from Poets of Rhythm, and Igor Zhukovsky of the Soul Surfers. Together, they've sculpted a sonic world where genres meld seamlessly and offer a transformative auditory experience where funk, psyche, and soul all inform a jazz underbelly. The ensuing musical odyssey rather defies easy categorisation that is all about immersion in meticulously crafted tracks. From the laidback vibes of 'Inner Space' to the eerie and celestial melodies of '(Wind From) Mount Everest' this is a high-class record.
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