Daptone US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The saying goes that no one likes a tattle tale, but any self respecting funk collector would be hard pressed to give up on the chance of owning this latest dinker of the same name from the esteemed Antibalas collective. Composed by crew member Victor Axelrod, "Tattletale" has been a long term fixture of live sets by Antibalas and it's great to see them finally commit it to seven inches of wax. Laid down during the recording sessions for their last Daptone long player, its spread across two parts on this seven and is a sublime slab of Ethiopian funk that sees Antibalas doffing their collective cap to '70s pioneers Mulatu Astatqe, Wallias Band and Mahmoud Ahmed.

Review: The Budos Band are the quintessence of Staten Island Soul. Since the release of the 2005 debut, their exciting new afro-influenced take on the instrumental music has been captivating listeners across the globe. "The Budos Band II" is an amazing release on Daptone.

Review: Frightnrs are considered one of Daptone's best artists but they have put out any new music since 201 after the tragic passing from ALS of the front man, Dan Klein. That wrong is righted here with Always, a new posthumous long player that comes on black wax as well as a coloured version. As fans would expect, it is a raw and soulful offering from the Queens-based reggae outfit that has been built around vocal stems that Klein recorded before his death. It forms a fitting final album from this outfit who also did more than reggae revivalism by adding elements of Motown, doo-wop, Blues and gospel.

Review: The superbly classy Daptone label comes on strong with another perfect formed 7" of retro soul. This time, the label's in house crew Menahan Street Band provide their famously authentic grooves, with big horns, rolling licks and drawn out leads on 'How Did I Get Here?' which on the a-side has vocals from LaRose Jackson. Soaring high and filled with rich soul, it's another timeless tune. On the flip is the instrumental. It's a story telling tune with some cosmic synth work and nice old school tambourines for an old/new fusion that gets you movin'.

Review: Late soul singing sensation Sharon Jones has a collection of her finest coves all pulled together in one essential album here. It's chocked with classics from the off with 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' filled with big soul vibes, Motown production and funky guitar riffs to die for. 'What Have You Done For Me Lately' is a cover of a Janet Jackson tune that actually lead to a legal battle over who write it first and is a more raw and hard hitting tune. 'Rescue Me' is painfully short but super sweet, with a funky and tropical world vibe reimagined beneath big horns and lung busting vocals from Sharon.

Review: Revivalist funk and soul veterans Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings appeared to have drawn the curtain down on their career back in 2011, with the release of the well-timed retrospective Soul Time. Happily, they were just on hiatus, and three years on return with their first album of new material since 2010. For those who enjoy their sweet, soulful, faithful recreation of original '60s and '70s soul, this should be cause for rejoicing. Certainly, Give The People What They Want lives up to its title, delivering a blend of strong songs, heart-aching lyrics, nostalgic production and superb playing.

Review: Daptone recently released a killer collection of archival cover versions by in-house band the Dap-Kings and their sadly departed lead singer Sharon Jones. One of the headline attractions on that set, the band's righteous, call-to-arms soul version of Woody Guthrie's folk anthem 'This Land Is Our Land', is also featured on this must-have reissue of a "45" that first dropped in 2004. It's superb, but even better is A-side 'What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?', a floor-friendly conscious soul/funk crossover written and recorded at the height of the second Gulf War with Iraq. As usual, Jones' impeccable lead vocal is supported brilliantly by the band's fiery instrumentation and Bosco Mann's fuzzy, sixties-style production.

Review: Remarkably, 16 years have passed since Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings first released 'How Long Do I Have To Wait', one of the revivalist soul and funk band's sweetest and most heartfelt songs. Written and produced by Dap-Kings main man Bosco Mann, the song features one of Jones' most evocative and impassioned lead vocals, as well as a pleasingly laidback, loose-limbed groove, jazzy guitars and pitch-perfect horn blasts. As it did back in 2004, this reissue pairs the peerless vocal version with Mann's typically fuzzy, lovingly crafted instrumental take. If you missed out first time round, make sure you grab a copy.

Review: Jalen Ngonda is the latest talent to join the excellent ranks of US label Daptone. Here he serve sup his first music after a life formed in just outside of Washington D.C.. Since age 11 he has been deep into the joys of soul music and now he is a standalone artist with incredible skills. Here hex pores mid-tempo and mellow sounds with their own unique take on his Motown roots. 'Just Like You Used To' has a warm rhythm section that allows Jalen's vocals to soar. Flip it over for 'What a Difference She Made' with its lush strings and plaintive vocal.

Review: 1970's The Olympians came at the height of the Greek ensemble's popularity, and at a point where pop music was making its way into the mainstream through all sorts of subgenres. By that, we mean that this particular album is seeped in a distinctly jazzy kind of vibe, one which makes it both singular in its approach, but also very representative of the era in which it was conceived. Cool, sexy and laid-back, these eleven tracks a truly soulful in every sense of the word but, the interesting thing about them is that their not the usual US kind of sound; you can tell that there is something different in here, something European and a bit more wide-eyed to the choice of sounds and arrangements. Daptone coming through with the quality, as per...

Review: A record about discovery and love from Adam Scones' travels between New York City and Brazil, 'Brookly to Brooklin' is gripping from start to finish, opening with the soulful 'Cold 40's' which showcases Scone's sensational organ skills at their utmost. 'Anadira' is a relaxing tropical slow jam, interlaced with heaven-sent choir vocals. The title track 'Brooklyn to Brooklin' sees the album concept at its full potential, a mix of classic New York jazz sax, courtesy of Neil Sugarman, and Brazilian Bossa Nova rhythms. 'What's Her Name' brings swing into the fray, whilst 'All These Bad Things' is a quintessential lovemaking anthem. On 'Golden State' Jimmy James takes the reigns with some nasty guitar riffs that pierce straight to the soul, sure to be a favourite with many with it's rock and roll attitude.

Review: The man with the Masterplan returns to Daptone after last year's "Casual Encounter". Once again it's a two-sides-two-vibes situation as the 30-year-standing funk veteran flexes his strengths. "Get With The Program" lives up to its name with total boogie badness, falsetto fire and a bassline so juicy Dapton's vaults have been flooded. "Heads Or Tails" flips to reveal Shorts' smoochier palette. Rich, honeyed vocals and a steamy message: everyone's a winner.

Review: Those masters of the modern but classically inclined soul sound that we know as the Daptone label are back again, this time with a fantastic debut album from Thee Sacred Souls. This is a record that was produced by Daptone co-founder Gabriel Roth, and it is brilliantly warm and textured throughout. Mixing up 60s soul with 70s R&B, each performance is majestic with heart-aching vocals and longing rhythms powering it along. Chicano, Philly, Chicago, Memphis and Panama soul all colour the sound while the rawness and realness of the tunes connect deeply on many levels.