Octave Lab Japan Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Originally recorded and released in 1993, On The Move was the last studio album James Brown collaborator Bobby Byrd recorded during his lifetime. While it may have been recorded after Byrd's 1970s heyday, musically it offers full-throttle funk - albeit with slicker and more expansive musical arrangements - of the kind that he and Brown used to deliver in their sleep. It's a great set all told, with this (delayed) 30th anniversary edition also including instrumental versions of all eight original tracks. It also boasts a couple of rare non-album tracks recorded at the time: the slow-motion, horns-and-guitar solo laden 'Sunshine' and the effortlessly funky, low-down and addictive 'Don't Throw Your Love in the Garbage Can'.

Review: Following his Original Mr Cool Ruler album being reissued back in summer by Lantern Rec, Octave Lab now gets in on the action by serving up his I Do Love You album from 1972. It's a delightful work of lovers' rock and roots magic that is centered around his impossibly pure and soulful vocals. They convey all manner of emotions from pain to joy over clean dubs and acoustic guitars. The hooks are catchy and their rhythms percussive, with joyous like 'Don't Stop' and more rueful vibes such as 'You're Eyes Are Dreaming' all sounding as good as ever.

Review: Octave Lab issue a new and formidable compilation, diving deep into the back catalogue of the Private Stock label of the 70s - a short-lived, but ultimately unmatched imprint forming part of disco's seventies heyday. Though thay may not be as well-known as some of their contemporaries, we find that it's not breadth of appeal, but gimlet collectability that makes for an interesting and historic discography. From 'I'll See You In My Dreams' by The Pearls, to 'Gotta Find A Way' by Wild Honey and 'Good Bread Alley' by Soul Mate, each cut here is fashioned and hemmed to perfection, channelling a golden mean that verges on the jazzier and city-poppier edges of things. Life's certainly not a party for everyone, but it definitely was for the Private Stock crew.