Big Crown US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The latest must-cop record from the good people at Big Crown is a real summer special. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band serve up some seriously soul-enriching grooves, with the impossibly warm and good time vibes that come from steel drums on each and every one. The beats are rooted in funk, with fat bass and expressive horn work bring each one to life. There are sojourns into dub, disco and jazz, and the whole thing bris with so much character and personality that it cannot but put a smile on your face.

Review:  The extraordinary talents of The El Michaels Affair seem to know no bounds. Last time out they served up an album inspired by an imaginary film, and this time on Yeti Season they impress with a whole new bunch of inspirations. Right from the off the album takes us to Turkish-styled funk and an almost Mumbai-esque take on soul, all with the sort of big grooves and lovely horns that often define the band's output. Full of drama, emotion, and worldly influences, this is another stunner from the unstoppable El Michaels Affair.

Review: 'Glorious Game' is the latest addition to the LP pile by hip-hop / soul artist El Michels Affair, wh has teamed up with The Roots' Black Thought here for a comprehensive meditation on the state of the hip-hop scene in the early 2020s. Coming to a variety of formats, this version of the LP is a standard vinyl version; also check out the limited edition 'sky high coloured' version featured on our site.

Review: Lady Wray is one of the brightest talents in the field of neo-soul, and now she's back with her second album. There's something ultimately classic about her sound on this new record, tapping into the deep heritage of US soul as you might expect to hear from Gloria Ann Taylor or Minnie Ripperton, with bombastc songwriting and a gutsy, 70s-indebted production that sounds like honey in your ears. Throw in a tough boom-bap slant on the drums - not least on 'Games People Play' - which should have old-skool hip-hoppers nodding with approval, and you've got a new essential from the ever-strong Big Crown stable

Review: Big Crown have been big gin up the work of Sunny & The Sunliners for a while now with various singles and also an homage compendium Mr Brown Eyed Soul. Now that fine collection is backed up with a second volume that is again packed with gorgeous sounds. They are lo-fi in nature, with dusty drum hatstand shimmering orang chords next to blasts of brass and with soothing vocals all present and correct . Lazy Sundays, love-up dances and plenty in between will all benefit from these glorious tunes.