Review: The Winston Brothers return with two fresh cuts on their latest 7" single, marking their first release since 2022's Drift. On the A-side, 'Straight Shooter' lives up to its name, a raw funk jam that could kickstart a b-boy battle. Funky guitar riffs, punchy horns, and tight drum breaks propel the track forward, its energy intense and unfiltered, thanks to an all-analogue recording on a Fostex 8-track. On the flip, 'Island Travel' takes a more laid-back turn. It's a hypnotic Afrobeat number, with dreamy flute work from Kimo Eiserbeck, blending ethno-funk with spiritual jazz vibes. It's cinematic, atmospheric, and offers a perfect contrast to the edgier A-side.
Review: The Winston Brothers make a triumphant return with two new tracks, this time pressed on striking blue vinyl, following the success of their 2022 debut Drift. The A-side, 'Straight Shooter,' is a full-throttle funk workout, packed with gritty guitar licks, sharp horns, and head-nodding drum breaks. With a raw edge and plenty of analogue warmth from the Fostex 8-track recording, it's a b-boy anthem in waiting. On the B-side, 'Island Travel' shifts gears into a more laid-back groove. A smooth afrobeat-inspired journey, it blends spiritual jazz and ethno-funk, with Kimo Eiserbeck's serene flute solo gliding over the hypnotic rhythms. Perfectly balancing the A-side's intensity, this one's for the heads looking to kick back and vibe out.
Review: Jazz Room Records is back with another high class reissue of an album that is considered to be a grail by those who know. The story goes that back in the late 70s in the Seattle area of the Pacific North West, Danny Ward & Reality were an oft called upon funky jazz collective for anyone throwing college or hardcore funk parties. Rather than just serving up covers of the day's big hits they offered proper musical trips though more considered fair from artists like George Benson. This album catches them at their best on one such mid-week gig in the summer of 1977.
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