Review: British multi-hyphenate James Alexander Bright is soon to return with his third album and ahead of that you can get a taste of what to expect in the form of this irresistible electro-boogie banger. 'Straight Line', says Borght, "started out as a wonky homage to 80s & 90s radio" and is "based on the memory of meeting someone you want to stay up all night listening to music with". His voice takes the lead with LinnDrum beats and wispy synths, lithe pads and a slapping bassline. It's sultry, steamy and sure to get temperatures rising. 'Oh My' is a superb jazz-funk workout in a late-night Theo Parrish style.
Review: The relentless Athens Of The North is having a busy month even by its own high standards. February alone has at least three new 45rpms dropping and this might be the best: Homegrown Syndrome were a band that ended up in LA but giggled all round Memphis. Some members had played with an earlier band but they all came good on these previously unleashed tunes that have been found in the attic of Jerry Jones. 'Got The Love' is a chunky funky stepper with swirling synths and disco energy. 'Party Vibes' then takes off once more on hip swig claps, big arching chords and strident drums.
Review: Crystal Winds is best known for a supreme and sophisticated funk and soul album that was released in 1982 on the Cash Ear label. The tunes from it have never reportedly been on 7" before, so the Athens of the North label boss made it his mission to right that wrong. This one offers up some hugely classy soul sounds for more tender DJ sets or lazy Sunday listening sessions. 'So Sad' is awash with golden chords and intimate, spoken word exchanges between lovers, and on the flip 'Maybe What You Do Comes Back On You' slows down even further, sinking you deep into the richness of the arrangement.
Review: Little is known about Friction Band's hyper-rare 45" besides the fact it's a brilliant example of outsider, slightly experimental style of modern soul, it's passed hands for strong triple figures in recent years and it's just been injected with a whole new lease of life by Fryer. "Watchin' You" is a footloose boogie jam with unabashed use of freeform keys while "To The Sky" flips for a softer, more sentimental soul affair that's fringed by just the right amount of dreamy cosmicity. Another precision find by AOTN.
Review: Athens of the North has a famously busy rate of release and so it is no surprise that they keep that up even in the first months of the year. A slew of singles and an album are all dropping at the same time and this is one of them - yet another gold standard reissue, this time of Charles Barnwell's band The Funnybone Express. This 7" is a superb bit of deep funk with hints of modern soul that were huge back in the day and are sure to be so all over again now.
Review: The supply of superlative sounds from Athens Of The North knows no bounds - rarely does a week go by with out the well regarded reissue label coming thorough with yet another obscure, forgotten, overlooked or rare gem that has is immediately fall in love. Falling into those categories again is this 7" 'The Sands of Zanzibar, Pt. 1' from Leonard Grandson. It is a floating groove that will swells the heart and is super hard to find in original form. It is thought to be from 1977 and was recorded in a Hollywood studio. Leonard sounds not unlike Steve Wonder and really hits a sweet spot on this one.
Review: Athens Of The North celebrate the longstanding contributions of host, presenter, writer, personality and occasional singer Bernard "Spider" Harrison. Recorded sometime around 1970, and fetching large triple figures between collectors, the feel good bluesy soul cut "Beautiful Day" first landed on Lulu Records and has barely seen the light of day since... Until now. And it's loaded with a never-before-released drum cut. Don't sleep, though. Only 500 of these have been pressed.
Waiting In The Wings (East Cost Love Affair mix) (3:16)
Waiting In The Wings (2:56)
Review: It's a busy time for Athens of the North - to be fair when isn't it - as the Edinburgh label drops a couple of real gems this month. Marion Javius's 'Waiting In The Wings' originally dropped in 1978 and the head of this label loved the track but for a couple of aspects to it. Years later, he discovered that a friend of the label David Haffner "had been sitting on the multi-track tapes for some time and was cool with us doing a 45." So here we have the original on the B-side, and the slightly tweaked and edited new East Cost Love Affair version on the a-side. It's a great touch-up job if you ask us.
Review: Some boogie collectors go weak at the knees at the mention of Christopher Jay's 'What Do You Want Me To Do', a superb single from 1987 that's long been near impossible to find. This isn't that gem, but something arguably even more exciting: some previously unreleased business from the same obscure, overlooked artist. 'Be My Lady' dates from a similar period and sees Jay sing swooning words to a member of the opposite sex over a sunny and kaleidoscopic blend of rubbery bass, clipped guitars and shiny synthesizers. Flipside 'Come Out Tonight' is rather tasty, too. Slower and even warmer, it sits somewhere between 80s soul and yacht rock.
Review: Given their shared musical heritage - both are members of the extended Firecracker Recordings crew - it's perhaps something of a surprise to find that Face The Facts marks the first serious collaboration between Linkwood and Gav 'Fudge Fingaz' Sutherland AKA Other Lands. It's less surprising that the album is really, really good. Touching on warming synth-boogie, head-nodding downtempo jams, mutant beatdown, Balearic beats, sunset-ready soundscapes and warming analogue deep house, the 13-track set is notable for the pair's extensive use of dusty old drum machines, tactile instrumentation (think smooth Rhodes solos, languid guitar solos and blissed-out synths) and Sutherland's hazy, sometimes seductive singing voice.
Review: Athens of The North delivers once again here with another delightful reissue of a soul classic by Bernetia Miller And The Soul Groovers. An original of this Georgian gem is insanely rare and in fact the Athens boss himself has never actually seen a copy. It was recorded in the studio of Phil Walden's studio in Macon, Georgia and Bernetia herself has said it took many takes and plenty of hard work to get the result they wanted. Backing band The Soul Groovers had their own bus on which they toured plenty and this reissue is from the master tapes owned by Bernetia. 'You Can Tell Me Goodbye' has lo-fi drums and raw horns with a yearning vocal while 'I've Gotta Keep On Lovin' You' is more slow and steady and emotionally moving with a more tender vocal.
Review: As they often tend to do, a whole bunch of Anthems of the North 7"s have landed hit smooth and as ever they are all gold. This one is an Ike Noble 45s that comes pressed up with original-style silver ink overprinted labels. Kicking this one off is a previously unreleased cover of James Brown's classic 'Money Won't Change You'. It has some raw-as-hell horns and driving funk breaks that will light up any club and might even be better than the original. The B-side is a sweet as you like ballad that pairs off male and female vocals and deep soul, expressive horns and bittersweet grooves.
Review: This excellent 7" single from Athens Of The North boasts more desirable deep funk business. This time dusty-fingered digger Euan Fryer has secured the rights to a sought-after seven from Papa Bear & His Cubs, a long-serving combo whose sole "45" has long been a sought-after item amongst serious soul and funk heads. "You're So Fine" may sound like it was recorded in a cement mixer on a cheap portable tape recorder, but musically it's soul bliss - a wonderfully languid, loved-up song blessed with a superb lead vocal and languid instrumentation. "Sweetest Thing On This Side Of Heaven" is, if anything, even more dewy-eyed - a seductive slow jam whose saccharine lyrics are delivered with heartfelt passion.
Let's Get Together For The Wrong We Have Done (2:54)
Whatcha Gonna Do About It (3:54)
You Are The One For Me (3:05)
Oh Baby Why You Want To Make Me Cry (2:55)
You Talk Too Much (3:59)
It's You Girl (4:00)
Review: It's time for another one of Athens of the North's magnificent reissue albums, this time with Arthur Ponder in the spotlight. The Georgia resident started singing in the 1960s, at first replacing Otis Redding in Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppers after Redding left. His first recording came in 1970 after years spent gigging hard and then he carried on well into the 80s making great tunes. It is that decade which is represented here with some solo tunes and some alongside local group Side Show. She are unreleased, some have previously been on 45 pm, all are gold.
Review: Hurrah for a new one from the ever-excellent Athens of the North label. This time the disco and funk maestros look to a hidden gem from the band Premonition. This group was also sometimes billed as Premonitions, but were always on form. This cut is a modern soul dancer that is pretty impossible to find in its original form and kicks off with an A-side that is a well-crafted proto-disco track. Flip it over and you will be rewired with a more sweet and soulful jam that borders on cheesy but strikes a delicate balance and offers exhilarating crescendos. It's a delightful journey worth exploring, particularly for those who appreciate soulful nuances.
Review: Athens Of The North has never been shy in putting out music. The label is always working on a wealth of different projects it seems and this month drops a couple of very tasty - as per usual - 7"s. Rivage was a leading band in the 70s modern soul scene and one long loved by the Athens label head. He put out a first-ever reissue of their Sit-in On It LP last year and now serves up some of the singles from it, namely the flute-led joy of 'Strung Out On Your Love' and 'All My Love For You,' a comforting soul tune with swirling grooves and classic falsetto vocals. Lovely stuff.
Review: It will shock no one that this week along, Edinburgh based label Athens of the North has a wealth of great new music out. This 7" is another one from William Stuckey. The last one came last year but sadly, only after the man himself had passed away. But they follow it up with another gem that comes with the blessing of the man's family. 'Everything That's Good In Life' has never been released before but is as good as his material gets and is sure to become another classic. ON the reverse is an alternate 7" mix of 'Hold Me Close' that cuts deep.
Review: Athens Of The North's faultless run continues with this fresh new 7" from the United Spiritual Singers, about whom we know nothing. It is their one and only release on Discogs and it is from this year, which is remarkable given the authenticity of these super sweet and heart-aching soul sounds. A-side 'Not A Minute Too Late' is a bustling disco number with a funky rhythm section and big, characterful horns powering the groove along. The flip side is a slow, sultry number with plaintive chords and rich backing vocals adding a buttery feel to this real melter.
Review: Ben White - not the same Ben White that plays as a defender for Arsenal - was just 25 when he was brought by Eddy Bongo Brown of the Funk Brothers to the Motor City to play with Marvin Gaye. It was five years after that when he lay down this single - his only one, although it is said there are some lost tapes featuring a full album on them out there somewhere. We hope it is found as this is excellent - 'I Would Have To Be A Fool' is a super smooth soul with nice funky rhythms and a hint of disco energy. 'Just Give Love A Try' is a more slow and lavish groove with choral backing and fancy piano.
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