Matasuna Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Matasuna Records take us on a trip back to late 60s Panama, offering up two supremely rare tracks which, on their original pressings, would be a costly investment if you were lucky enough to find them. The A-side belongs to Camilo Azuquita and his joyous 'Borombon', a track bristling with exuberant brass and striking piano. On the B-side, Panama Brass lay down 'Con La Mano En La Biblia', a lively affair led by organist Cristobal Munoz Jr and featuring some of the best musicians in Panama at the time.

Review: Atlantic Records has allowed Matasuna Records to dig deep into its archives here and unearth a pair of real funky treats from the Black Heat band. The funk and soul outfit were active in the 1970s and although they were hugely tented never really broke out into the mainstream. For the first time now, two of their best tunes from their debut album are included on this official 7inch. 'Wanaoh' has never actually been on vinyl before and is driven by a killer bassline, with big angling riffs over the top and plenty of lush strings. On the flip is the slightly more stripped back 'Chip's Funk,' with its organ chords and rolling rhythm section.

Review: David Hanke is a man known for his wild and illustrious array of aliases. Through the years, he's appeared under the names Black Soyls, Madball Scientists, Mankoora and Rengades Of Jazz, among many others. Dem Juju Poets is his latest creation and, needless to say, it is perhaps his most accomplished and mature project to date. We don't want to take anything away from his previous productions but there's just something utterly fluid about this latest reincarnation. Matasuna is the new label to launch this new Liberated Thoughts LP, and we're sure this will go down a storm with all the jazz-funk crew, particularly the followers of Giles Peterson's DJ sound. Hanke's approach is playful and diverse, branching out into all sorts of jazzy vibrations that are tied together by funky, off-kilter outernational vibes. Plenty of breaks, bass bumps, and party moves for all sorts of vinyl playaz - oh boy, check those horns on the masterful "People's Republic"!

Review: KC