Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Athens Of The North will always be one of our favourite labels no matter what they're serving up. The Edinburgh-based deep diggers this time look to Race 'N Rhythm, which was once upon a time a 12-member jazz group based in Oakland. Jazz-master Rudolph Peters managed the multi-racial band and though they were admired on the vocal live circuit they only ever released one single before later doing an album. 'Space Saver' was recorded in California in 1982 and is a sultry and romantic soul sound with leads and coy rhythms. 'Candybar Superstar' on the backside is a pure fire dancefloor heater with high-energy claps, horns and vocals.

Review: All AOTN releases are special and have been curated, researched and excavated from the past with total care, attention and respect. This one, however, is a whole new level. Apparently originals have regularly changed hands for over $6000 and its taken 10 years for AOTN boss Fryer to located and procure a clean copy of the 300 pressings made way back in 77. "Gangster Boy" is a subtle slice of soul that gradually develops with sentiment and gusto as the backing vocals deliver harmony after harmony. Flip for a heavier deep funk affair where the instrumentation is much fuller and rawer but the BVs are just as big. A really interesting release in every possible direction. AOTN keep on delivering.

Review: Athens Of The North represent one of Australia's finest soul exponents Renee Geyer. "Be There In The Morning" comes in two forms... The 1977 version will be recognised from her most successful album of the time Moving Along. An upbeat fusion of soul and funk with mild disco nuances, it comes with confident orchestration and an instantly infectious, ultimately emphatic chorus. The real coup here, however, is the softer, dreamier earlier version that's so rare it never left the confines of her native country. It's digging like this that makes the young-but-hugely-potential rare music label Athens Of The North a very exciting prospect for record collectors.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


Athens Of The North represent one of Australia's finest soul exponents Renee Geyer. "Be There In The Morning" comes in two forms... The 1977 version will be recognised from her most successful album of the time Moving Along. An upbeat fusion of soul and funk with mild disco nuances, it comes with confident orchestration and an instantly infectious, ultimately emphatic chorus. The real coup here, however, is the softer, dreamier earlier version that's so rare it never left the confines of her native country. It's digging like this that makes the young-but-hugely-potential rare music label Athens Of The North a very exciting prospect for record collectors.

Review: Following BBE's release the Chicago troupe's Devil Made Me Do It earlier this year, Athens Of The North ensure the criminally over-looked/under-paid band continue to remain in the spotlight with an entire album of unreleased material. Recently excavated from a Chicago warehouse, complete with masters, the songs were written and recorded in the mid '70s not long before the band eventually split. If you know their material, you'll already know how funky the band are. If not, dig deep at the soonest opportunity. From the toxic-levels of cosmic funk on "Boogie" to the dreamier, space ballad "Dark Moon", this is the sound of a super-tight, incredibly talented funk band who really should have been up there with Cymande or Average White Band.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record ever so slightly warped with creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Floridian modern soul band Rivage recorded just one single and a sole album during their early '80s heyday, and both are apparently amongst Athens of the North boss Euan Fryer's favourite records of all time. It makes sense then that he has decided to reissue their album, "Sittin' On It" - an ultra-rare affair from 1981 that is here presented for the first time with an alternative photo cover (apparently the band hated the original cover). There's plenty to get the juices flowing across the eight tracks, with our highlights including "Sha Na Na", a punchy call for "soul for the people" blessed with brilliant horn arrangements, the Clavinet-sporting disco-funk cheeriness of "I Need Your Love", the deliciously celebratory title track and sweet, flute-laden closer "Strung Out On Your Love".

Review: Floridian modern soul band Rivage recorded just one single and a sole album during their early '80s heyday, and both are apparently amongst Athens of the North boss Euan Fryer's favourite records of all time. It makes sense then that he has decided to reissue their album, "Sittin' On It" - an ultra-rare affair from 1981 that is here presented for the first time with an alternative photo cover (apparently the band hated the original cover). There's plenty to get the juices flowing across the eight tracks, with our highlights including "Sha Na Na", a punchy call for "soul for the people" blessed with brilliant horn arrangements, the Clavinet-sporting disco-funk cheeriness of "I Need Your Love", the deliciously celebratory title track and sweet, flute-laden closer "Strung Out On Your Love".