Back catalogue: International

Review: Destination Martinique: Sofrito's Island Series gets lively to the sound of Michel Bagoe and the brilliantly named Les Hamsters. The former lays down a sublime carnival soundtrack with relentless drums and a highlife feel to the guitars while the latter develop the street party feel with rippling drums and tightly plucked guitars. Guaranteed to whisk your dance to another world, just like the rest of the Sofrito discography!

Review: From the label who gave us Human Egg, The Joubert Singers and The Real Fake MC comes yet another startlingly refreshing piece of jazz funk. Last Bongo In Paris (AKA old Favorite faces Cleon and Jazzy Pidjay) fire up a soft riff fusion between the horn and percussion sections while the piano confirms the Caribbean flavour you can hear on the refrains. "Samba A L'aeroport" lives up to its name; a samba, naturally, it's played softly with an over cheeriness and a cyclic loop as you'd imagine to hear played for infinity in an airport lounge. But in a 'going on holiday' kinda way and not a 'delayed for nine hours and want to kill people' type of way. Sun kissed and soulful.

Review: Los Charly's Orchestra sorts Juan Laya and Jorge Montiel impressed earlier in the year with "Electropical", a set of sensuous re-imaginings of Latin standards in a synthesizer/drum machine style. This follow-up is equally as impressive. The sensual samba-boogie goodness of "Esta Musica", features the wonderful vocals of Andre Espeut, the delayed-laden Balearic-goes-Amazonian breeze of "Sabana", and the jazz-wise, percussion-rich brilliance of "Semana Santa En Achaguas". Elsewhere, Pete Herbert re-imagines "Sabana", a jaunty, synth-heavy chunk of Balearic nu-disco brilliance while Oyobi delivers a fine broken beat/synth-funk fusion version of "Vuelo Del Condor". Simply essential.

Review: Juan Laya and Jorge Montiel pay homage to the heartland with this beguiling album. A deep trip up and down the amazon, hopping off as and when they see fit, the album sees them paying homage to Latin standards such as "Fruta Fresca" and "Manduco". Rebuilding them electronically with, no doubt, a fair few classic synths in the mix. From disco to blues with just a touch of Latin folk magic, it's yet another unique and vital trip from the Los Charly's Orchestra lads.

Review: Philou Louzolo is a "natural born artist", a "raw talent".
"Zolo Grooves" are 4 afro funk masterpieces, it's a record produced to sound effortlessly musical, sure to do wonders on dancefloors worldwide.
"Zolo Grooves" is to be played uninterruptedly: from the amazing "Konkombe" (with it's wahwah guitar licks, slick and sharp snare patterns, and incredible sax solos) to "Marlena" (an irresistible tribute to the classic jazz singer's widely sampled moment of genius), from "Dem No Dance, Dem No See" (the track most deeply rooted in the afro sound, complete with ukeleles and full brass) to "Decolognize" (the most overtly "house" track). It's visceral, raw, sincere, honest and hard hitting afro house, celebratory musical bliss blessed in the light of what Tony Allen & Fela Kuti, Crissy Essien Igbokwe, Obi Onyioha and other great creators have made before, boldly sending these prophets's messages into the lives of a younger generation.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Torn sleeve, otherwise in excellent working condition***


REPRESS ALERT: From the label: "This EP is a dedication to the Amsterdam based Alkebulan Project. Philou and Villy are both members of this project, the project brings artists from Africa & African Diaspora together. The Alkebulan Project is on a mission to change the perception of Africa an it's citizens. Nigerian artist Villy and his group "Villy & The Xtreme Volumes" are on a mission to educate Africans with their message calling for a revolution in Africa, politically and socially in all aspects. Philou has a combination of Congolese, Nigerian and Sierra Leonean heritage and it is in these roots that he has built his sound. His passion for the continent of his ancestors is fervent and his projects are challenging commonly held preconceptions about Africa. His goal is to challenge negative stereotypes, by making African cultures more approachable through music. Much love for Rudy Asibey for founding The Alkebulan Project and bringing the artists together and many thanks to Marcel Vogel for giving us the opportunity to tell our story through."

Review: The last time Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers dropped some bossa nova-loving heat like this was back in 2011 with the Swingy Boogaloo 7". And following their Mi Watusi album of the same year they return to the Freestyle label with the Latin- flaired and horn-heavy "El Ritmo De Nueva York" and ""Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout The Boogaloo". The former sweats a sultry Spanish vibe with quick piano-playing and an impressive sax section, while the latter is a little more broken beat with an infectious vocal you can sing along too.

Review: Following last year's inaugural compendium, Supalatino let fly with five more superb Latino disco joints include two massive cover versions. Louie Ramirez adds go faster stripes to People's Choice "Do It Anyway You Want", Willy Chirino takes Barry White up an octave or two without losing any of the sensuality. Elsewhere we get cosmic on the synth heavy "The Barrel" and conclude with the awesome harmonies and crooning horns of Dom Un Romao's "Escravos De Jo" which you may recognise in the extensive work of Joe Claussell. Supa stuff, don't sleep on this one.