Karma Chief US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Long-faced Boston blues trio GA-20 deliver a swampy, bluesy take on Dolly Parton's classic, 'Jolene'. While the original Parton number's lyrics dealt in the instantly-memorable theme of a queen bee stealing the singer's beloved - "just because you can" - the original song could nonetheless be accused of obscuring the melancholic feel of the lyrics, by lending them an uptempo dance backing. GA-20 might be credited with fixing that problem here, stripping things back to a lilting blues plod, convincingly reworked into a vintage, boxy, sepia-toned context.

Review: Seth Applebaum's NTC outfit Ghost Walk Orchestra originally released 'Brownout' on the Night Walker tape in 2016, distilling their hazy, psych-leaning funk sound into a perfect two-minute groove that shows off the band at their best. Now Karma Chief have pulled the track out of cassette obscurity and given it a pressing as a 7", backed up by 'Boneyard Baile' released the same year as a digi-only drop. If you love a moody funk jam played with finesse by a crack team, this record is a must.

Review: Well on from his startling 2021 debut 'The Celestial Suite', Los Angeles' neo soul production maestro Pale Jay has since gone on to proffer many a 7" record, of which 'In Your Corner' is the latest treat to feast your ears. Both shorn ahead of time from his latest LP, Bewilderment, 'In Your Corner' and 'Bewilderment' are pensive retro soul falsettoers, both of which feature Jay's own, longing vocals, and evince a mood of being caught in between two difficult paths in life. The A uplifts with its surrounded Hammonds and righteous get-through-it lyrics, concerning self-discovery amid self-judgment. The B-side, by contrast, tells the story of the disintegration of a family, and skews more lo-fi, vintage hip-hop.

Review: Pale Jay's latest LP Bewilderment spawns two more treasure here on this new and essential 7" from Karma Chief Records. Up first is an Afro-beat tinged cut, 'In Your Corner' with a subtly uplifting rhythm although listen deeper and you'll get locked in to the lyrics which detail an internal struggle for self-acceptance. On the flip is the album title cut which showcase Jay's signature sounds - silky falsetto over soulful harmonies and dusty hip-hop beats. This one also tell a story, this time about the breakdown of a family and the journey into self that ensues.