Review: Primetime Paris producer Jay Murphy first teamed up with Natalie Nova in 2022 to release 'Boogie Oogie', a rejig of the classic A Taste Of Honey song. Emphasising postmodernity, we hear a timeless club classic liquefied for a fluid psychic economy: Murphy, a Franco-American musician based in Paris, produces, sings and key-plays over this funky opus, attesting his involvement in the funk scene since as far back as the early 1990s. But now Rob Hardt and Young Pulse bring their own versions, spanning slapping, chime-trilling propulsions, and a wildout inductive monologue from an anonymous contributing vocalist: "if you think you're too cool to boogie, boy have I got news for you... I wanna see you shake your derriere..."
Review: Jay Murphy - Franco-American musician, producer and singer based in Paris - and South African singer songwrite Natalie Nova join forces to give a fresh spin to a classic, reinterpreting a well-loved track with their own unique flair. The original mix oozes with jazz-funk vibes, where Murphy's smooth keyboard work and Nova's soulful vocals combine effortlessly, adding new depth and energy to the timeless track. The groove is rich and inviting, pulling you into its rhythmic charm while still honouring the essence of the original. On the remix, Young Pulse brings his signature style, turning the track into a soulful, funky journey with added layers of warmth and groove. His touch injects an extra dose of funk, transforming it into an irresistible dancefloor-ready tune.
Flamenco Sketches (DJ Mitsu The beats remix) (4:25)
Flamenco Sketches (4:44)
Review: The third volume of the Incense Music compilation series, Incense Music For Dining Room, curated by Toru Hashimoto (Suburbia), comes new iterated on a split 7". Carrying over its themes of fragrance and music, 'Flamenco Sketches', named and remixed after Miles Davis' classic jazz bit, brings an exquisite reed diffusion of live-feel beats and scooped-out bliss-sound. With cover art by Jiro Fujita (FJD) and mastering by Calm, a key figure in the Japanese jazz, chill-out, and Balearic scenes, the record promises serenity: DJ Mitsu the Beats ensures a quietly contented DJ's touch. Side B offers another lo-fi cover of 'Flamenco Sketches' by Nobuyuki Nakajima, lowering the pace to an unassuming, dozy, guitar-blessed tread.
Review: This is a second new and standalone 7" that is taken from Incense Music for Bed Room, a new compilation series from Incense Music that was curated by Toru Hashimoto and legendary Japanese downtempo and Balearic master Calm. On the A-side, we delve into Haruka Nakamura's beautiful tribute to Bill Evans' timeless piece 'Soiree'. On the flip, 'Valsa de Euridice' is a rendition of Vinicius de Moraes' classic from Etepalma, the inaugural 2006 album by Nobuyuki Nakajima. Renowned as a composer and pianist, Nakajima presents a captivating interpretation that captures the essence of the original piece. Together, these tracks offer a harmonious blend of homage and reinterpretation.
Review: Last time out, back in 2021, Nassau Track Authority served up a swathe of previously unreleased instrumental mixes of songs recorded by Grace Jones at Compass Point Studios, Nassau. This 12" sees the shadowy collective once more dip into the archives of the legendary Barbados-based studio to recover more synth-laden, dub-wise disco instrumentals. They begin with 'Peanut', a Sly & Robbie-fuelled, vocal-free take on Gwen Guthrie's peerless Larry Levan fave 'Peanut Butter', before wallowing in the susp-enseful, slow motion boogie-dub brilliance of 'Adventures' (a take on an old Will Powers single). Over on side B, 'Seventh' is an infectious, musically detailed instrumental take on another Gwen Guthrie classic (the slap-bass propelled 'Seventh Heaven'), while 'Doctor' is a particularly dub-wise, slow-motion mix of 'Till the Doctor Gets Back' by guitarist, songwriter, longtime Marianne Faithful collaborator and Compass Point All Star, Barry Reynolds.
Review: In 1984, Jamaican-born producer Tony Williams gifted the British jazz-funk scene with two exceptional 12" records, both now rare gems. One of these, Nat King Cool's 'Checking Out,' showcases a fusion of MFSB's 'Mysteries of the World' with quintessential UK Brit-funk vibes. Originally released on the Tai Wan label, this single remains as fresh today as it did in 1984, with its captivating flip-side instrumental. Remastered from tapes, these essential 80s Brit-funk tracks are presented on pristine vinyl, adorned with bespoke repro-labels, and packaged in a groovy Soul Jazz/Funk Masters house bag, which means it looks as good as it sounds.
Review: Spanish producer Kiko Navarro has joined up with veteran Beninois vocalists and musical powerhouse Kaleta and the next level skills of The Ibibio Horns for this vibrant new 12". It's an inspired and Afro-infused groove exploration with funk, disco and acrobat all bottle dup in the beats that traverse Afria from East to West. The Ibibio Horns are on fire of course as they blaze up the sounds with their expressive horns and red hot keys while the vocals from Kaleta add further fuel to the fire. Instrumentals are also provided for more direct to dancefloor business.
Review: On this fresh disco 7", DJ Koco (aka. Shimokita) and DJ Kawasaki have re-edited and cut Nayutah's hit songs 'Keep It Up' and 'Stand Up' into an enduring pair of bright disco edits. Both Nayutah's original tracks really wanted us to keep it supine; Koco and Kawasaki act as commanders of this charge, not shying away from the ostensible stringy glitz of the original song. Kawasaki's edit skews funkier, employing live bass and rhythm guitar and adroit drumming to fit around Nayutah's agile, sisterly vocals, and drawing on his already extensive experience of working alongside Nayutah for her album, also called Keep It Up.
Dance Your Blues Away (The Mighty Zaf edit) (4:32)
Review: Originally released in 1979 as a B-side to The Neville Brother's "Sweet Honey Dipper", "Dance Your Blues Away" saw Ivan go solo for the first time on this sultry modern soul jam. Laced with a plucky bass and just the right smattering of sleaze, it set the foundations for Ivan's extensive solo career. It also provides the perfect groove tools for The Mighty Zaf to work his editor craft and beef up the vibe with subtlety. Keep on dancing!
Review: The Super Disco Edits camp have pulled off something of a coup here, securing the rights to a previously unissued 1987 cut from studio duo New Jersey Connection, whose sole 1981 single, "Love Don't Come Easy", has long been a favourite of boogie DJs. "Red Light Green Light", featuring the breezy vocals of Cynthia Wilson, sounds like a long lost boogie classic: all sugary-sweet backing vocals, rubbery bass guitar, twinkling '80s soul synthesizer melodies and punchy drum machine percussion. The A-side vocal version is accompanied by a tasty instrumental mix, in which the focus switches to the NJ twosome's superb production. File under: "must have".
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier) (4:34)
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier - Poirier remix) (3:47)
Review: This is a global single with a great story that starts with an afro-funk groove made by Italian Jah Sazzah. He wanted a vocal for it so turned to Nickodemus who handed his own touches and then sent it Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel. The result is a vibrant Afro tune with vivid melodies. Remixer Poirier is a legend in Latin music circles. The Montreal man has formerly been associated with Ninja Tune and is synonymous with lots of classy remixes and fresh takes on a modern Afro-Caribbean sound. This is another one that reworks the ring into a more bouncy and infectious sound with gorgeous vocals and a clean arrangement that allows the drums and perc to shine.
Review: Domenico Niki is the man charged with the curation of the Echoes From Disco label and it will all be with a focus on rediscovering and re-editing disco, boogie and jazz from across the world. The inaugural outing features four re-edits that cover a wide array of styles. 'Through That Door' is jazz-funk with twanging guitars and sunny piano keys while 'African Horns' is a deep Afro-funk cut with fluid rhythms soon getting under your skin. 'Copacabana' is a busy, relentless and sax-laced funk banger and 'Follow Me' then slows things down with a more 80s-sounding downtempo soul vibe perfect for early evening sessions.
It's You I Love (So In Love) (long version) (5:42)
It's You I Love (So In Love) (short version) (2:17)
It's You I Love (So In Love) (instrumental) (2:08)
Review: This glorious reissue takes it all the way back to 1983 when Pamela Nivens dropped what has since become a stone-cold and highly sought-after soul and disco classic. If you can find an original copy, you will have to shell out a fair few quid for it so don't sleep on this. It's the only tune attributed to Nivens, but sure is a good one: the production is cutting-edge for the time with smart synth layers into the seductive drums, while the gorgeous vocal is the icing on the cake. You get, long, short and instrumental versions here.
Review: This 7" vinyl marks the inauguration of the new Konbini Klassics label and it features expertly curated city pop and funk gems from Japan's golden era. The A-side offers 1983's 'Do What You Do' which is a relaxed synth-driven track with irresistibly catchy vocals. On the B-side you can enjoy the sounds of Cosmos, the all-female supergroup who deliver their slap-funk classic 'Midnight Shuffle' with its big horns, funky bass and twinkling synth melodies. A perfect 45 rpm gem, this release brings Japan's iconic sounds back to life and then some.
Juan Pablo Torres - "Cacao" (Dan Tyler NAD Bulto version) (7:54)
Juan Pablo Torres Y Algo Nuevo - "Pastel En Descarga" (Dan Tyler NAD) (3:39)
Grupo Los Yoyi - "Paco La Calle" (Nick The Record re-edit) (8:11)
Review: Dan Tyler and Nick The Record's third installment in the Mr Bongo Edits series brings a bold twist to Cuban classics with three tracks that are equal parts cosmic and dancefloor-ready. On the A-side, Tyler extends two Juan Pablo Torres tracks from his reissued 1978 'Algo Nuevo' and 1977's 'Super Son.' First, Tyler reimagines 'Cacao,' a standout track from Torres' LP, giving it room to breathe and intensifying the percussive climax with swirling synths and spacey dub effects. It's a track that thrives on a big system, building tension as it goes, and works wonders in the right environmentijust ask anyone who caught it at La Paloma in Barcelona. Next, Tyler dials into 'Pastel En Descarga,' turning the Latin-funk fusion into a punchy, trippy dub with delay and drama, keeping the track's energy while taking it further into spacey, cosmic territory. On the flip, Nick The Record tackles Grupo Los Yoyi's 1977 'Paco La Calle,' taking a 2009 edit and expanding it into a longer, more hypnotic piece. The percussion pushes and pulls as the psychedelic synths swirl, creating a dynamic and ever-building groove. The 2025 version is elevated with new synth lines courtesy of Tyler, deepening the track's psychedelic richness. A cosmic whirlwind of reworks that bridges the gap between '70s Cuban innovation and modern dancefloor sensibilities.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (4:56)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (4:01)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:14)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:48)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:36)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (4:56)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:31)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:10)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:56)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:27)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:17)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (6:54)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (6:59)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:45)
Review: For the last decade, John Gomez and Nick The Record's freewheeling Tangent parties have proved popular in London, offering dancers the chance to shake their stuff to a wide selection of superb (and normally insanely rare) records over a high quality soundsystem. The pair's first Tangent compilation, which arrives via Mr Bongo, naturally offers a superb reflection of their approach and is packed with must-have cuts. For proof, check the proto-house era dubbed-out boogie of King B's 'Love Is Crazy', the sun-splashed Brazilian gorgeousness of 'Laberinto' by PERIKAS, the spaced-out headiness of Hidrogenese's 'La Carta Era Muy Larga (Dub)', the heavy batacuda business of 'Nira Gongo' by Conjuto Baluartes' and the dub disco-flecked, deep house brilliance of LTA's 'What Comes To Ya'.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala)
Perikas - "Laberinto"
Leo Basel - "Quelle Drole De Vie" (Nick The Record & Dan Tyler re-edit)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It"
King B - "Love Is Crazy"
L'innovateur Djoe Ahmed Et Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek"
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress"
Androo - "Lyriso"
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (dub)
Love Isaacs - "Surprise Surprise" (Joao Gomes & Dan Tyler Are Predictably Delayed rework)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje"
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo"
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental)
Rick Asikpo - "Let’s Get High" (Nick The Record re-edit)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval"
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me"
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?"
Urban Volcana Sounds - "Ame No Uta" (Rain song - extended version)
Review: Those on London's crate-digging underground should be well aware of Tangent, an eclectic, anything-goes party created by esteemed record collectors John Gomez and Nick The Record. With a little help from Mr Bongo, they've curated this compilation featuring some of their favourite selections from the party - the vast majority of which are either obscure, rare or overlooked. It's a predictably impressive selection all told, with the pair bouncing between digital reggae-infused global grooves (Srirajah Soundsystem), mid-80s French jazz-funk-synth-pop fusion (an exclusive edit of Leo Basel), quirky riffs of the Pointer Sisters (Marc Thornhill's 'Automatic'-inspired 'No Way To Control It'), zouk, proto-house-era Balearic brilliance (Androo), squelchy AOR synth-disco (Hidrogenesse), heavy Latin percussion workouts (Conjuto Balurantes), dub (Lee Jackson Band) and much more besides.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (5:03)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (3:59)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:09)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:47)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:39)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (5:05)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:33)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:05)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:51)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:26)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:13)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (7:01)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (7:04)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:47)
Review: To celebrate ten years of one of London's most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo are thrilled to launch this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gomez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent's spirit: a party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties. Spanning live-recorded disco, Brazilian boogie and weighty lovers' rock, this selection of rare sonic meats is a prized procuring, the consistent quality of which you likely won't be able to track down in many other contexts.
Review: Thievery Corporation veteran Eric Hilton is on a roll with his Montserrat House label, operating out of DC and adding new layers to his considerable legacy in downtempo sounds. As was teased by the 'Amor Astral' single from 2023, this new album finds Hilton working closely with long time Thievery collaborator, Argentinian singer Natalia Clavier. Her coolly soulful tone hovers over the buttery funk jams Hilton lays down, where the drums are tight and crisp and the basslines wrap themselves around the groove with snake-like grip, all the better to sink into when you need a little chill-out time from a certified master of the art.
Review: For sensitivity and naturalism in experimental music, Gosha Martynov & Natasha Sinyakova seize the crown with their new album Imena Rek. On their first foray into the physical, the duo expand the spectral ambience and medicated breaks of their earlier work with lithe touches of organic jazz and Cafe Del Mar cool, creating a complex assemblage of dreamy downbeat and emotive electronica that's entirely easy on the ears. The record is an ever-evolving, life-giving slough; we wade through many restorative swamps, each bearing its own sonic, ecosystemic character. The fen's mouth stretches open wide on 'Pozhaluysta', tempting the listener with an open-skied siren song set to skittish drum pats, while things grow hazier from 'Osvobodi Menia' and thereafter; the trip-hop influence is almost entirely naturalised, shedding the genre's usual rough-edged clicks and pops for a preferential sawn-off, willowy sound, that retains its smoothness even in moments of irresolution and tension, as on 'Rany'. And the slow mangrove whirl 'Iskra' really flaunts the pair's talents, with beautifully played pan flutes, and resonant silicate rustles, convoking a new hallowed ground; we wind up mentally clutching at damp mosses, imagining ourselves laid arrest in a sodden but warm bayou, as we're serenaded by two Armenian-American master musicians.
Review: Meiko Nakahara, a celebrated figure in the city pop revival, returns with a reissue of her eighth studio album, originally released in 1988. This captivating collection showcases Nakahara's signature blend of sophisticated pop, jazz influences, and smooth grooves, capturing the essence of the late 80s Japanese music scene. The album features the title track, 'Kagami no Nakano Actress', which served as the opening theme for the popular anime series 'Kimagure Orange Road', as well as the ending theme, 'Dance in the memories'. With its blend of catchy melodies, lush arrangements and Nakahara's expressive vocals make this a real, rediscovered classic.
Review: Even many years after his sad death, the global audience for Nujabes' music continues to grow. To honour the tenth anniversary of his passing, Hydeout Productions asked Haruka Nakamura to create a tribute album and encouraged him to move forward while preserving Nujabes' timeless essence. The project began with the release of the music video and 7" vinyl of 'Reflection Eternal' and now the full album Nujabes PRAY Reflections arrived featuring Nakamura's reinterpretation of Nujabes' melodies through piano and guitar. This is not a traditional cover album, but new music inspired by Nujabes with artwork by Cheryl D. McClure that blends both artists' creative worlds.
The Way We Were/The Way We Were - Version/Love In Motion (12:28)
Track 5 (6:17)
Review: It would be fair to say that The New York Disco Orchestra's 1978 album Reverie - Get Up and Dance is not the most celebrated set around, though it has long been on the radar of many well-funded record collectors. The album was the work of brothers John and Rocco Giamundo and was originally released in miniscule numbers in the US, Belgium and Japan. If you dig high-quality orchestral disco, it's well worth a listen. Particularly impressive is jazzy opener 'Reverie', a solo-packed dancefloor interpretation of a Claude Debussy composition, heavyweight disco-funk workout 'Get Up and Dance' and epic B-side opener 'The Wat We Were', a wonderfully lengthy and over-the-top orchestral disco number that's just the right side of cheesy.
Review: A phenomenal two-track album from 1970 that was - and still is - ground-breaking in its complexity. A full orchestra of drums, led by Klaus Weiss but also featuring the likes of Uno Lindenberg and Keith Forsey, the whole journey is a percussive odyssey peppered with a little post-studio magic. At points intense, at others deep and meditative, there's a reason why this was going for upwards of L200 before the repress.
Jean Adebambo - "Say That You Love Me" (DJ Nick The Record re-edit)
Bill Campbell - "Boogie All Night"
Katunga - "Palo Bonito" (DJ Nick The Record re-edit)
Wild Fire - "Try Making Love"
MC & His Great Googa-Moogas - "Keep Your Shoes On! (Stuck In The Groove)" (DJ Nick The Record concise edit)
MC Roscoe - "Feel The Beat" (instrumental - DJ Nick The Record Minor tweek edit)
Leston Paul - "What A Surprise"
Sugar & Spice - "The Beast"
Santth - "Do You Want Me Baby, Like I Want You"
KL Hamilton - "I'm Trying"
Skye - "Ain't No Need" (DJ Nick The Record part 1 & 2 re-united re-edit)
Betty & Beverly Prudhomme - "Tut Tut Twins" (DJ Nick The Record re-edit)
Shelbra Deane - "You Move Me"
Ronnie Jones - "Video Games"
Charlie Mike Sierra - "On The Moon"
Victor Vick - "Rescue"
State Of Grace - "Touching The Times" (instrumental)
Blackway & Helene - "Music For Us" (instrumental)
Review: Given the infamous depth of Nick The Record's vinyl collection, you'd expect this contribution to Z Records' excellent Under The Influence series to be packed to the rafters with unheralded gems. Predictably, it is, delivering 22 cuts that should be thrillingly new to all but the most dusty-fingered collectors. Picking out highlights from such an excellent and in-depth collection is tough, but try the steel drums-laden celebration of Boogsie's "Can't You See Me", the synth-laden jazz-funk badness of "Keep Your Shoes" by MC and His Great Googa-Moogas, and the fizzing, melody-rich 808 electro of Ronnie Jones "Video Games". If that's not enough there's also a swathe of DJ-friendly re-edits from Nick himself.
Plastic (A Bigger Name) (feat The Illustrious Blacks) (4:06)
Mamaciterranea (feat Captures, Mauro Durante & Huaira) (6:23)
Soul & Science (feat The Real live Show & Indigo Prodigy) (4:01)
The Shadow Thief (feat Alsarah) (4:14)
Knockin (feat The Illustrious Blacks & Bad Colours) (4:17)
Race To Robotics (feat MC Saturn 6 & Internet Provider) (3:22)
No Puedo Parar (feat Troy Simms, Jungle Fire Horns & Barzo) (3:47)
Review: American DJ and producer Nickodemus commands an eclectic and global sound, mixing EDM with organic instrumentation and vocals through a cross-cultural musical lens. Coming to his very own Wonderwheel Recordings, Soul & Science is a befitting name thanks to the seeming fusion of electronically-programmed dance beats and regional organics, but this is also one of those albums that could also potentially shatter the hard border between the two connotations. Vocal contributors and instrumentalists from Sudan (Alsarah), Cameroon (Pat Kalla), the Caribbean (Hector "Tempo" Alomar) and Cuba (Quantic) make for a floor-shakingly diverse and humanist appreciation of the collective dance-spirit.
The Love Feeling (feat Brian J Of The Pimps Of Joytime) (6:11)
2 Sips & Magic (4:02)
Just Move (feat MC Kwasi - Zeb edit) (4:37)
Brookarest (feat Costel & Robert Of The Taraf De Haidouks) (4:28)
Didibina (feat Falu) (3:28)
Gira Do Sol (feat Liliana) (3:52)
Calle Sol (feat Tempo & The Candela Allstars) (2:37)
N'Dini (feat Ismael Kouyate) (4:16)
Review: This is the first pressing of Nickodemus' classic Sun People on translucent yellow vinyl and it comes from Wonderwheel. Originally released in 2009 by Thievery Corporation's Eighteenth Street Lounge label, the album features tracks inspired by Nickodemus' global travels and the people he met on the way. Known for his NYC summer soundtrack with Turntables On The Hudson and 20 years of worldwide tours, Nickodemus crafted songs for sun lovers and optimists here and as such listening toit leaves ou with a warming glow. Collaborators from Guinea, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Romania, India, Turkey, the UK and NYC contribute to this vibrant album and make it a truly cultural affair with hits like 'N'dini,' 'Sun Children,' and 'The Love Feeling' all sounding great.
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