Review: The Peoples Potential Unlimited quest to unearth the Atlantic boogie that time forgot continues unabated - this time reviving a1983 gem from Detroit's The X Man. Wrapped in an excellently presented sleeve, the somewhat mysterious X-Man supposedly had what should have been a fruitful musical career cut short by a 30 year stint in a Motor City psychiatric hospital. This was no obstacle for PPU however, who were granted the master tapes to press up "That Body" and "Fired Up" at 45rpm on a nice fat twelve! There's an undeniable funk swagger to "That Body" which sounds like Jimmy Edgar if he was a child of the 70s - in a word, killer. The B Side proto hip-hop bump of "Fire It Up" proves to be just as infectious, driven by some loose limbed synth flourishes.
Review: Daxwood Records, led by Doyle Wood, unearths another gem from its rich archives with the release of XXCEPTION TO THE RULEia female duo featuring Vanessia Mathis and Daniela Curry. IZIPHO SOUL proudly presents two previously unreleased tracks from 1982, now available on 7" vinyl for the first time. The A-side, 'The Sweeter the Juice', is an infectious dancer driven by a funky, 'squelchy' bassline and powerful, soaring vocals. It's a groove that feels timeless, ready to ignite any soul night in 2024. On the flip, 'Angel in Disguise' offers a supreme ballad of the era, with Vanessia's emotive voice taking centre stage. The late Eldridge McMillan's piano solo is subtle yet packed with feeling, adding an extra layer of depth to the track. This release is a must for soul collectors, showcasing Daxwood's legacy and IZIPHO SOUL's dedication to preserving these rare musical moments.
Review: Now released officially, Zackey Force Funk & XL Middleton's 'Hey MF / Phone Home' first came in a cloud of hype amid the decision by MoFunk to release "exactly ONE" copy of the test pressing to whomever proved themself keen enough to own it. We're not surprised that the label might anticipate such fan fervour, since this is a uniquely totalising modern funk gem, manifesting technically as a Johnny Chingas cover but in practice evidencing the relentlessly singular, syncretic combined production style of the LA natives. Chingas' original lyrics are invidious but infectious, a mood coaxed further out by the duo's breathy talkbox usage: "hey motherfucker, who do you think you are? you think you so much better than everybody else... what do you mean I'm a fake DJ?!"
Love When It Comes Down To It (feat Z-Man & Moniquea)
Dena City Council (feat Blkwest, Pasadena Sean Fka S-Dee, & Gr8 Dane)
Kinda Faded
Under The Sun (Enois Scroggins feat XL Middleton & Dynamite D)
Another Summer
I'm Just Sayin (Blkwest feat XL Middleton)
Shotgun (feat Rev & Bo-Rocc Of The Doveshack)
Too Grown 4 That (The Touch Funk feat XL Middleton & Espe)
Why Don't They Get It (feat Pasadena Sean Fka S-Dee)
Review: A compilation of tracks from past albums, collaborations and formerly unreleased cuts by XL Middleton, G-funk-master extraordinaire from LA. Compiled specifically for XL's recent Japan tour, this release comprises the bulk of remaining copies, which, we can vouch, flew largely off the shelves, and fast. The sole focus on G-funk, albeit in his own signature style, has proven so far effective for XL; his production style tends towards the unmistakably steezy and squeezy, and it also borders on West Coast crunk and DJ Mustard-esque ratchet at points. XL entertains wonky 808s and smooth 2-stepped blears, effectively conveying the mood of "layered back", best enshrined in the happily system-conscious track 'Unemployment'.
Like We Used To Do (feat I, Ced & Moniquea) (4:33)
Review: If you think you know a cooler cat and more brilliant boogie producer than XL Middleton right now then you're lying. His Tap Water very much set that reparation in motion when it arrived back in 2016 right when modern funk was making a comeback thank to Dam Funk et al. It's a hard to find original that still stands up and now it has been followed up by a second volume of brilliantly squelch analogue funk, dazzling boogie baselines, lush sci-fi chords and retro future fills, vocals and hooks.
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