New releases this week: Funk

Review: When it comes to new funk, it doesn't get much raunchier or weird than this. Packed with rhythmic rodomontade, DJ Koco Shimokit and Southpaw Chop - both from Japan - bring an adroit right and sinister left hand respectively to the art of vinyl flipping and sampling, staying true to the rule of primary sourcing: "always sample straight from the original wax." Though it's a moot point as to whether sample mileage should be legitimated as a concept in the same sense as food mileage is, we can see and hear the appeal, as this loopy chef-d'œuvre hears its samples chopped and braised to the crispest degree, sating even the most dulled of tastebuds, and letting no indelicacy past the noise gates. Side B offers a special treat for heads too: the demo version of the pair's debut single, 'Funky Soul Brother'.

Review: Toronto's Icons Of Hip Hop follow up their inaugural 7" with a heavy second B-boy drop, pairing a titan of rap over an unmistakable funky 70s soul loop. The A-side delivers a vocal-led version that marries sharp bars with dusty horn chops and a butter-smooth rhythm section, channelling the crate-digging spirit of golden era production with modern flair. Flip it for the 'Touch The Sky' Funky Soul Instrumental Edit, where the sample's full groove comes into focusigritty drums, warm basslines and shimmering soul textures that nod to the track's roots while inviting DJs to get playful. Limited stickered dinked 45, this is essential heat for anyone still chasing that raw, loop-driven magic.

Review: The enduring electronic musical gene sequence that was Virginia-born pianist and keys player Lonnie Liston Smith's spiritual funk-jazz opus, 'Expansions' from 1974, now hears another re-disco-scription by keyboardist Gail Johnson and her unstoppable band, Jazz In Pink. Renowned for her keytar uplifts and relentless live schedule, this is a rare 12" for the modern genius LA live musician. Her rendition of Smith's 'Expansions' both mellows and sharpens the mood in equal measure, providing a renewed euphony come euphoria. 'Glow' backs up the B-side with a sheeny original, with dramatic phrase stops and trademark peak-out pianos from Gail.

Review: This second instalment in the Spring Revisited seriesia collaboration between Acid Jazz and Ace Recordsioffers two expertly handled edits from across the Atlantic rooted in the fertile legacy of 70s New York soul. London's modern disco institution Dave Lee reinvents The Joneses' 'Love Contest' with his trademark finesse, giving the track a full-bodied groove-up without losing its bittersweet heart. The strings soar, the rhythm section locks tight, and Lee's decades-deep knowledge of disco and boogie shines through in every detail. On the flip, New York-based Coleen 'Cosmo' Murphy brings lush new life to Street People's 'I Wanna Get Over'. With sun-drenched keys, crisp hand percussion and subtle delays, she transforms heartache into late-night liberation. Both sides feel like love letters from DJ to danceflooriclassic soul refracted through contemporary ears, pressed on wax that looks and feels like it just time-travelled from 1979.

Review: Brazilian hip-hop star Laiz follows her breakthorugh Ela Partiu album from last year with a multilingual, percussion-heavy tribute to Jorge Ben Jor & Quarteto Em Cy, threading Brazilian hip-hop through Latin groove, Afrobeat and free jazz. Recorded at Nima Studio in Hildesheim with her 20-strong band dubbed the New Love Experience, the album sits between languages and borders, echoing Laiz's own migration from Jundiai to Europe in 2019. Shaped as much by cultural dissonance as it is by Babylonian joy, the record is sung in seven languages, leaning on lyrical mysticism and transitive instrumental interplay, telling particular stories of heritage, upheaval and diasporic unity.

Review: Bobby Lyle's 1977 classic jazz-funk album showcases his well-renowned keyboard mastery with standout tracks like the inventive title cut, 'The Genie,' which is a wild groove-driven journey through multiple shifts. His rendition of 'Night Breeze,' previously recorded by Ronnie Laws, is another highlight and the mystical 'Mother Nile' features deep rhythms while the dreamy mid-tempo roller 'Pisces' soothes. Up-tempo 'Magic Ride' and atmospheric 'You Think Of Her' showcase Bobby's rich vocals and a stellar lineup including Roland Bautista, Babatunde, Victor Feldman, Ernie Watts, and Donnie Beckhelp make this it's a definitive jazz-funk fusion gem.

Review: The third full-length from London nine-piece Soul Grenades distils over a decade of performance into slick, high-impact modern funk. Their sound - sharp brass, syncopated rhythm, deep-pocket bass - owes as much to the horn-driven grooves of the Meters as to the tightly orchestrated grit of early 2000s revivalists. But it's the band's songwriting, honed through years of gigging, that carries the weight here. 'Dopamine' is an instant opener, kinetic and bright, while 'Jealousy' draws from vintage soul drama with horn stabs and raw vocal flair. On 'Star Gazin'' and 'Be Mine', they shift into a softer register without losing rhythmic tension. 'Death At The Disco' ups the stakes, laced with cinematic flair, and 'Suga Mama' punches through with high-speed strut. Elsewhere, the slow-burn closer 'A Better Day' leans into gospel-funk catharsis, building tension in restrained waves. Everything is dialled in - arrangements tight, solos concise, vocal harmonies blended without fuss. While earlier records mapped out the group's energy on stage, this one moves with the confidence of a studio band in full control. As far as raw pleasure goes, they've hit the brief.