Back in stock: Funk

Review: Cannonball continue to provide an unparalleled service to devotees of the funk underground, this time drawing on a lucky acetate find from an undisclosed record spot in Barcelona. Amongst a stack of forgettable bits and pieces emerged this uncredited acetate, which astute digger Eduardo Domingo was able to decipher as the work of Force, a short-lived holy grail funk act led by Frank Filpetti on drums and songwriting duties. 'Holy Moses' came out in its original version in 1974, but this acetate carried a version with French vocals, which is now lovingly presented on this release, soon to be as rare as the original version if the international funk community has anything to do with it.

Review: Rhino Records, once again, share another classic as part of Rhino Reserves, which re-releases legendary albums on 180-gram premium quality black vinyl. This time, the label offer us a reissue of Eddie Hazel's Dames, Games and Guitar Things (1977), a funk freakout for the ages. After having broken ground as an instrumental player in the ingenious funk and soul supergroup Parliament-Funkadelic, Hazel went on to plant himself in fecund solo soils, delivering standout cuts such as 'California Dreamin'' (featured here on this debut), blending funky blues with a rock edge.

Review: After a sterling run of 7" soul cuts last year, Cannonball get straight back to it with this supremely rare slice from Split Evolution. The Chicago group had some hits in the late 70s and early 80s, but this one slipped through the cracks. Dave Morley from Tesla Groove Records procured a test pressing of this original which had never enjoyed a wider release until now, as sister label Cannonball presses it up for widespread enjoyment. It's a powerful, beautifully rendered slice of soul from the easy-tempo funk of 'Bedroom Eyes' to pitch-perfect B-side 'Let Me Do It', and the ever-devoted soul community will be quick to snap this one up for sure.

Review: Marcos Valle's second album, the 1983 self-titled masterpiece, is one of Brazilian music's many stone cold classics fusing as it does MPB, pop, soul and easy listening with plenty of American influences thanks to the artist's time living in LA. Valle's old brother Paulo Sergio and the legendary Lincoln Olivetti produced the album with a fine cast of guests like Rosana, Serginho Do Trombone, Robson Jorge and Oberdan Magalhaes adding their own vocal and musical flourishes. Standout tunes include Brazilian-boogie cult-classic 'Estrelar' (which was actually co-written by pianist, keyboardist and record producer Leon Ware) while the artwork itself is also well worthy of your attention.

Review: When a new instalment in Mr Bongo's Record Club series lands, it's always worth checking. Featuring selections from different members of the Brighton-based label's dusty-fingered staff, each volume is packed to the rafters with sought-after and little-known gems in a variety of interconnected styes. This fifth edition is naturally packed to the rafters with righteous fare, with the many highlights including (but not limited to) the suspenseful instrumental disco of John Barry Moore's 'Abertura De Os Inocentes', the dubbed-out, jazz-funk-flecked proto-Balearica of Yasuaki Shimizu's 'Karachi', the funky grooves and glassy-eyed soul vocals of Mave & Dave's 'You Are Delicious' and the driving, dub-flecked reggae-disco hedonism of 'Rise Up (Discomix)' by Tyrone Evans. In a word: essential.