Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Mishell Ivon and Vincent Kwok are back and combining their skills once more with this brilliant bouncy new funk outing on The Sleepers. The first tune on this pocket-rocket of a 7" is 'High', a funky weapon that is high on life and built around well-syncopated drums and a percussive bassline. The icing on the cake is Mishell's vocals which weave in out of the synth stabs and lush keys, all of which are well arranged. Flip it over and you'll get lost in the funk once more with 'In The Dust' with its masterfully rhythmic bassline and more of those buttery Mishell vocals.

Review: Funk Night Records goes global again here with a new double-sider from Russia's The Vicious Seeds. They offer up two gems with different vibes on this 7". The first is 'Cruel Fist ', a perfect bit of busy and dense instrumental funk for some steamy dance floor business. On the flip is 'Cold Pressed Venom' which is a more slow-moving and psyched-out sound for late night hours. This is often the approach this outfit takes on this label and like all previous times, it works a treat once more here.

Review: Russian outfit The Vicious Seeds are back on their regular home label of Funk Night with yet another of their delightful little 7"s. As always they use each side to offer up slightly different vibes for different settings. First up is the deep-cut instrumental funk of 'Ace Of Haze' with its wah-wah guitars and psyched-out stoner vibes all seducing you into a meditative state of mind. 'Nature Identical Pleasure' then slows it down further with more libidinous vibes, prominent melodies snaking their bay through the dusty drums and grooves that move your soul.

Review: With 'breaking' making its debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it seems an apt time to go back to where it all began and showcase some of the music that first made break-dancers move in the early years of hip-hop culture. Soul Jazz Records clearly agrees, hence this two-disc retrospective of early 'breaker' favourites curated by Arthur Baker - a man who's productions and remixes soundtracked many dancefloor battles in the early 80s. It's a suitably strong selection all told, with dusty funk, soul and funk-rock favourites (Johnny Bristol, James Brown, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Spanky Wilson) being joined by disco-funk jams (Herman Kelly and Life), extra-percussive workouts (Manu Dibango, Mongo Santamaria, Candido) and a smattering of key Baker productions (Afrika Bambaata and Soul Sonic Force's 'Planet Rock' and his own infectious 'Breakers Revenge').

Review: Self-proclaimed "quadruple threat" (he is, after all, a DJ, comedian, actor and poet) Craig Charles swings open his colossal Trunk of Funk for a third time. In line with previous dives into the popular BBC 6 Music DJ's music collection, he's served up a selection that moves between the decades, taking in all manner of funky treats (think funk breaks, modern soul, jazz-funk, disco-boogie, classic soul and more). Flick through the clips and you'll find genius-like gospel (the Harlem Gospel Travellers), recent remixes (Smoove reworking the Third Degree, A Skillz putting his stamp on The Niceguys), classics reimagined (the Boogie Back rework of Beggar & Co classic 'Somebody Help Me Out'), modern gems (Dave Lee and Omar) and the odd exclusive (a previously unheard vocal version of The New Mastersounds' 'Watchu Want').

Review: Adding to the fervour around Japanese city pop - the genre is still a clogged but speculative seep for reissuers, who are keen to capitalise on the mainly Tokyo-born genre's still underground, under-recognised reserves of music - comes DJ Nutoya with a fresh and terse ten-tracker compilation: Tokyo Bliss. This breezy selection centres on the all-rounder genre's favourite international foci, boogie and funk: frissonic formulas for sensational home listening. Most tracks here make their debut on vinyl outside of Japan; from Buzz's pristine tremolo'er 'Garasumado', to Keiko Toda's escape-noteworthy 'Fade In' and Yuji Mitsuya's delirious summer disco dirge 'After Five At Caf-Bar', this is an impeccable curation job.

Review: Second time around for Royksopp's superb contribution to the popular, post-club focused LateNightTales mix series, a beloved volume that first hit record stores back in 2013. For the uninitiated, it sees the long-serving Norwegian twosome offer up an attractive blend of synth-heavy Scandolearic shufflers (their own cosmic pop number 'Daddy's Groove'), dubbed-out soul (Rare Bird), swelling synth soundtrack fare (Vangelis), neo-classical (Johann Johannsson), reverb-laden accapella beauty (Prelude), sun-soaked blue-eyed soul (Richard Schneider Junior), nods to the KLF's Chill Out album (Acker Bilk), seductive slow jams (Byrnes & Barnes), vintage Balearica (Andreas Vollenweider, John Martyn) and atmospheric new wave (XTC, This Mortal Coil).

Review: Some 21 years after volume one appeared in stores, PTG's ongoing Masterpiece: The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection series has reached its 36th instalment. Given the series' longevity and the sheer number of tracks already showcased across volumes one to 35, the cuts on display here are genuine rarities, cult classics and sought-after gems. As usual, highlights are plentiful, from the soulful vocals, dreamy chords and rubbery slap-bass of In Touch's 'Why Did You Stop Loving Me' and the boogie-era sunshine shuffle of 'I'm Yours' by Hollywood Tucker, to the big studio swell of Spence's mid-80s jam 'Gonna Party', the 80s soul smoothness of Jimmy Scott's 'Games' and the synth bass-propelled post-boogie brilliance of 'Divided Love' by Haywoode.

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: The Nighttime Lovers series, which deftly showcases the forgotten and overlooked corners of 1980s disco, electrofunk and synth-powered dancefloor soul, reaches its 36th instalment. As you'd expect given the high number of previous volumes, the selections tend towards the defiantly deep, with more familiar artists being represented by lesser-known treats. So, instead of the much-loved 'Love Me Like That', Reel To Reel offers up the glossier, slap-bass propelled 80s soul of 'Don't Keep Me Hanging On', Cashmere contributes the sweet and tactile 'We Need Love' and GQ drops the eyes-closed lead vocals and horn-heavy peak-time hustle of 'Is It Cool'. Other highlights include Phil Upchruch's Marlena Shaw-sporting 'It's Got To Be You', Linda Clifford's superb 'I Want To Get Away With You' and the squelchy synth-disco of 'Decisions' by Anthony Lockett.

Review: This two-disc collection is a brilliant collection of soulful delights, capturing the vibrant spirit of a golden era in music. Featuring a seamless blend of smooth grooves and electrifying dance tracks, it's a joyous celebration of 80s soul, funk and r&b. From silky ballads to funky floorfillers, the compilation offers something for every mood and taste. The energy kicks off with electrifying beats and infectious basslines from artists like Uncle Louie and Carl Carlton, whose dynamic performances set the tone for the journey ahead. Soulful standouts like Lamont Dozier and Valerie Horton-Brown bring heartfelt emotion, while The Chi-Lites and The Jones Girls channel timeless sophistication into their tracks. Hidden gems such as Funk Fusion Band's captivating groove and Spencer Jones' dub mix showcase the innovation and versatility that defined the decade. The seamless interplay of upbeat anthems like Aurra's joyful energy and introspective offerings from Today, Tomorrow, Forever creates a rich, varied listening experience. With its expertly curated tracklist, this compilation is a delightful rediscovery of an era when bold rhythms and heartfelt melodies ruled the airwaves, leaving an enduring legacy.

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.