Review: The sole album released in 1974 from this almighty group of nine musicians lead by Chicago native Danny Leake continues to turn up in the hands of the most determined collectors for good reason. Formed in the most unlikely of circumstances as a group of American military workers stationed in Germany, the band made one dazzling leap onto the frontline of soul before promptly disbanding and never looking back.
Review: This vibrant 1969 release captures the raw energy of Latin soul and funk, a perfect snapshot of Spanish Harlem's musical melting pot. With tight grooves and infectious percussion, the ensemble delivers tracks that feel alive with cultural and rhythmic vitality. Each arrangement draws from the boogaloo era's creativity, blending soulful melodies with sharp, danceable rhythms. This reissue offers a chance to experience a key moment in New York's Latin music history with its unmistakable blend of genres.
Review: To single out a release in catalogue of the 70s famed 'tax scam' label TSG is a hard ask the level of quality remained both consistently and inexplicably high during its two years of operation. Thus calling 1619 Bad Ass Band's 1976 self-titled album a stand-out release doesn't honour the spirit of the catalogue, and yet, by all accounts, everything about this monolithic funk and soul unit is striking.
Prices on the second-hand market for the original LP and 1978 Graham International reissue have priced out virtually everyone for decades. P-Vive is thrilled to be reissuing the album on vinyl fitted with an iconic Japanese obi strip.
Our Hearts Didn't Go That Way (feat Durand Jones) (3:57)
Long Term Parking (3:05)
So Real (2:54)
Magazine (0:35)
Fight Or Fall (4:21)
Review: Brooklyn-based band 79.5 make music right now, rather than being some long-lost acts from the 80s as you might expect from the cover. The group consists of singer, songwriter and composer Kate Mattison, singer and rapper Lola Adanna, drummer Caito Sanchez, bassist Andrew Raposo and sax player and flautist Izaak Mills. Their self-titled album comes on Razor-N-Tape and captures the sound of New York City perfectly with soul and psychedelic melodies that are hard to match. From 70s underground disco to acid jazz to and sweet pop sounds, they draw on it all for this fine concoction of dancefloor gems, which also serves as a protest at the often all too male dominated world of dance music.
Review: Classic psychedelic rock singer Han Young-ae was a big deal back in the 80s and 90s, then disappeared before returning with a new album in 2014. This album, Vol 2, on C Sharp comes on limited transparent yellow wax with an insert and nine tracks that fuse her theatrical rock singing style with old school 90s rock licks and cold electronic drums on the opener then switch it up entirely for the sentiment soul ballad on track two. There are more soft rock pieces, 80s disco tinged rock, and many other weird and wonderful in between sounds from this cult artist. It shows she has come a long way since starting out with a folk band in the 70s.
Elvira Voca - "Drugo Vrijeme (The Second Time)" (3:46)
Opatijski Suveniri - "Vamos A La Playa" (3:28)
Roman Butina - "I'm Gonna Get Your Love" (3:52)
Review: This limited gatefold edition compilation, curated by Leri Ahel & Zeljko Luketic, brings together 18 rare disco tracks from Yugoslavian artists, pressed on 2 x vinyl. Featuring the likes of KIM Band, Gabi Novak, Arian, Ljupka Dimitrovska, and more, the collection is sourced from original master tapes, ensuring pristine audio quality. Disco, a Trojan horse in Yugoslavia's pop music scene, thrived for an unexpectedly long time. Influenced by American and European disco acts like Boney M and Amanda Lear, Yugoslav producers and record companies like Jugoton and PGP RTB embraced the genre's vibrant energy. The scene fostered a unique blend of genre hybrids, electronic experimentation, and bold themes, with artists creating memorable and innovative disco music. This compilation captures the spirit of that era, shows both chart-toppers like Zdravko Colic and experimental gems. It highlights the creativity and freedom that disco provided, allowing musicians to push boundaries and deliver unforgettable tunes.
Review: Cyrille Aimee has forged a formidable reputation as a jazz singer across the world, developing a tone which draws on her Dominican heritage as well as her guidance from the gypsy tradition in France where she grew up. While she's normally know for her arresting interpretations of standards and traditional classics, on A Fleur De Peau she's developed an album of her own material alongside NYC multi-instrumentalist Jake Sherman. Written in large part in the jungle in Costa Rica where she built her own home, Aimee developed her songs with Sherman's instrumental input resulting in a brilliantly varied and unflinchingly honest, open-hearted album which will make you re-evaluate everything you thought you knew about the finest of contemporary jazz singers.
Don't Burn Down The Bridge ('Cause You Might Wanna Come Back)
Angel Of Mercy
Review: With the Bar-Kays and Isaac Hayes's Movement alternately supplying the funky rhythms and the Memphis Horns contributing the riveting riffs, I'll Play the Blues for You stands out as the definitive Albert King soul-blues fusion album of the Seventies. King, in the words of the late Michael Bloomfield, ''was the only [blues] singer who had clever, modern arrangements that would fit in with the black radio market and with the white market and in no way compromised his style.'' Besides the hit title track, the disc includes the hit ''Breaking Up Somebody's Home
Review: After a run of hit singles on Penrose Records, The Altons are primed to release their debut album, Heartache in Room 14, on Daptone. Adriana Flores and Brian Ponce share lead vocals, creating a romantic depth often missing in today's soul. The album dives into moody ballads and tejano-flavoured duets, with hints of Bond theme psychedelia that give it a cinematic edge. Heartache in Room 14 promises to be more than just another soul record and is rather is a must-have for 2025.
Review: The Altons make their Daptone debut with Heartache in Room 14, pressed here as a limited sky-blue vinyl LP with an MP3 download code. Known for their streak of standout singles on Penrose Records, this release sees Adriana Flores and Brian Ponce sharing lead vocals, adding a heartfelt, almost cinematic quality that cuts through today's soul. Expect moody ballads, tejano-inspired duets and splashes of Bond-esque psychedelia. Heartache in Room 14 isn't just another soul album - it's primed to be 2025's must-have in this exclusive sky-blue pressing.
Review: The forthcoming collaboration between anaiis and Grupo Cosmo presents a captivating fusion of contemporary soul and Brazilian musical traditions. The album features tracks like 'Toda Cor' and 'Voyage,' which blend anaiis's soulful vocals with Grupo Cosmo's rich instrumentation, creating a sound that is both innovative and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. This milky vinyl LP offers listeners a unique auditory experience, highlighting the seamless integration of diverse musical styles.
Review: You have a genuine piece of musical history here. The Anchors may not be remembered by many, but made a significant impact on everyone who does. Black Soul is the third and - to all musicologist knowledge - last record put out by this pioneering South African funk-soul outfit. Straight out of the Johannesburg township of Alexandria at the height of Apartheid, they became known for exceptional musicianship and reinterpreting the classic Memphis, USA sound for their own oppressed community. Part three of that legacy takes things much, much further, though. So, we can definitely still hear those Mid South sounds that represent the very essence of soul, but here the aesthetic becomes something altogether different, Afro and specific to time and place. Homage paid to the genre founders, but drawing on personal circumstances to own things for themselves.
Review: And Is Phi (Andrea Isabelle Phillips) is a multi-disciplinary artist from Norway and the Philippines now based in South East London. Double Pink is a debut album of great quality that draws on a wide sphere of influence, from Joni Mitchell's tender vocals to Frank Zappa's weirdness via 90s r&b and the jazz tinged beatmaking of Madlib's seminal album for Blue Note. it is both late night and languid but immediate and emotive, with a world of colour and texture that is all blurred, smoothed off, packed with emotion and smart riffs, melodies and hooks.
(I Want To Be) Whatever It Takes To Please You (5:52)
Overdose Of Love (2:26)
The Love I Need (2:38)
Didn't I Fool You? (2:49)
You Made A Believer Out Of Me (2:39)
Good 'N Plenty (2:55)
You Ole Boo Boo You (2:54)
Just Lovin' You (2:50)
My Love Is Comin' Down (2:35)
Hound Dog (3:26)
Review: Black Ruby was the superb sophomore long player from the wondrous soul singer Ruby Andrews. It first appeared on the Zodiac label in 1972 and didn't give rise to any big hits but that didn't stop it from becoming a favourite with those who know. This reissue saves you the financial damage of copping an original and sounds superb from the opening lushness of '(I Want To Be) Whatever It Takes To Please You' to the lung-busting vocal expression of 'You Made A Believer Out Of Me' via heart aching blue-eyed sounds of 'My Love Is Comin' Down'.
Review: As it is often best done in soul, contemporary band Annie & The Caldwells are a family affair, channelling the depths of heartache and euphoria through danceable Mississippi-born bombasts. Lead vocalist Annie Caldwell leads the band alongside her husband of 50 years Willie Joe Caldwell, and is backed by children Deborah, Anjessica, Toni, Willie Jr. and Abel. Juggling hard work with harder musical playing, Can't Lose My Soul takes aim at modern day soul greatness, documenting quotidian struggles and everyday joys in song, and centring their concept on their locality of Main Street, West Point, Mississippi, where the family have run various businesses for decades. With a record this rooted in community, who better to rep the Southern soul set than the Caldwells?
Review: Japanese city-pop starlet Anri was a fixture of the late 1970s to early 80s, and renewed interest in her work has sparked something of a reissues incentive. Now her 1984, early-to-mid career album Coool sees a reissue via For Life alongside Bi Ki Ni, and further hammers home her romantic vision in disco. Unlike the aforementioned album, Coool is slightly more electronic and dancey, and meditates more on appreciating nature than romance, with standout track 'Gone With The Sadness' reflecting Anri's experience of getting away from the city and leaving the sadness that comes with urbanity by the door.
Review: In around 2013, artists like Yung Bae pioneered the genre of future funk, which took elements from early Japanese city pop and funk from the 1980s, and turned it into hyper-compressed, dull and nostalgic explosions of sampledelic sound. But in turn, it reinvigorated interest in the particular brand of city pop that had been sampled - and those already in the know about it will know it was already danceable and driving enough. ANRI, the singer hailing from Kanagawa, was a central artist in this early J-pop sound, and unwittingly paved the way for this decades-to-come cultural routing. Funky live horns, dynamic vocal jumps and an optimistic feel cut across her 1982 opus Heaven Beach - a more laid-back and relaxed album compared to her other projects, and only her fourth. Emblematic of the Sino-nostalgia that has taken the vaporwave and future funk community by storm, it was one of her four earliest albums to be released with the timeless Japanese music trademark - the obi-strip.
Review: Japanese popstar Anri continues to hear her entire back catalogue reissued - this time we home back in on Bi Ki Ni, her mid-career (1983) city pop opus, which laser-focuses on the romantic tropes of sunsets, beachside flings, and heartfelt goodbyes over cocktails in flight lounges. The coalescing of jazz, funk and disco meshes neatly as Anri glides tightly over each ultra-slick instrumental, with the aptly named 'Good Bye Boogie Dance' being a particularly neat highlight.
Review: Mikahl Anthony's debut full-length, Muse, offers a profound auditory journey reflecting his expansive influence across the alt-soul and hip-hop realms. Renowned for collaborations with Mick Jenkins, Chance The Rapper, and others, and as a core member of THEMpeople, Anthony presents a richly layered narrative through this album. Muse integrates self-directed visuals with its deeply personal and introspective content. The project explores themes of self-growth and reflection, blending various voices and experiences with Anthony's own lyrical depth. The title, representing 'Ms. Using Sensual Energy' and 'Making Use of Seclusion Every Day', hints at the album's dual focus on intimate self-discovery and isolation as a creative force. Tracks like 'La Flare' and 'MollyAmory' showcase a mix of ethereal melodies and gritty textures, while the closing piece employs reverb-drenched saxophone to evoke emotional complexity. The music, crafted with a cinematic sensibility, engages listeners in a dynamic exploration of personal and communal stories, making Muse a compelling reflection of Anthony's artistic vision and growth.
Review: Mickey Stevenson signed to Venture Records and soon set to work on laying down a great collection of new music. The best of it is now collected together on this spec compilation which focusses on works made between 1967 and 1969. The title comes from his tune of the same name which also happened to the label's first big hit, despite not getting much play on national radio because it has the word 'funky' in the title, and has since been covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame and Jimmy Bee for Kent. The rest of the tunes are just as raw and impressively funky.
Belle The Sleeping Car (Andrew Llyod Webber, Starlight Express original Cast) (3:45)
A Little Pain (4:04)
Supergrass (2:10)
Electric Dreams (4:23)
Burn It Up (feat The Beatmasters - 7 Inch edit) (3:21)
Perfect Sense (feat Roger Waters - part 1) (4:17)
I Believe (3:50)
Well Well Well (feat Steve Howe) (4:06)
Salobrena (5:11)
It's A Beautiful Thing (feat Ocean Colour Scene - radio edit) (3:30)
I'm Only Dreaming (feat Steve Cradock - demo) (3:02)
Satellite (feat Dr Robert) (5:20)
Like An Old Fashioned Waltz (Live, May 2012) (4:09)
The Love Is Gone (feat The mixture) (2:53)
Different Drum (2:53)
When I Was Part Of Your Picture (3:22)
Soul Survivor (3:12)
Review: This P.P. Arnold album celebrates her remarkable seven-decade career and spans multiple genres with timeless music and unforgettable performances. It is a comprehensive collection compiled by Arnold herself with 25 tracks across a double P including iconic singles, album tracks, unreleased recordings, demos, live performances and rare mixes, many of which are only here and now available for the first time. The set also features detailed sleeve notes by author Jude Rogers which offer an ever deeper dive into Arnold's extraordinary legacy.
Belle The Sleeping Car (Andrew Llyod Webber, Starlight Express original Cast) (3:45)
A Little Pain (4:04)
Supergrass (2:10)
Electric Dreams (4:23)
Burn It Up (feat The Beatmasters - 7 Inch edit) (3:21)
Perfect Sense (feat Roger Waters - part 1) (4:17)
I Believe (3:50)
Well Well Well (feat Steve Howe) (4:06)
Salobrena (5:11)
It's A Beautiful Thing (feat Ocean Colour Scene - radio edit) (3:30)
I'm Only Dreaming (feat Steve Cradock - demo) (3:02)
Satellite (feat Dr Robert) (5:20)
Like An Old Fashioned Waltz (Live, May 2012) (4:09)
The Love Is Gone (feat The mixture) (3:05)
Different Drum (2:53)
When I Was Part Of Your Picture (3:22)
Soul Survivor (3:12)
Review: We've checked ourselves thoroughly, and even though PP Arnold's new greatest hits compilation Soul Survivor is indeed the first to reflect on her extensive career - one that has remained consistent since the 1960s - we can assure you we're not suffering from survivorship bias! The life and work of Patricia Ann Cole is duly honoured here on this Demon Music retrospection, requiting the boundless, panacean soul music the American singer has let escape her lungs over the years. Now in her seventh decade of performing and releasing music, Arnold shows no signs of holding back; Soul Survivor first appeared on the scene as a humungous 57-song box set, and it is now condensed down to 25 of the very best selections.
Go Now Wetiko (feat Americo Brito & Mariseya) (5:59)
Roi Salomon (feat Mariseya) (5:24)
Duncan Truffle (3:14)
Review: Niels Nieuborg is Arp Frique, an artist who made a bold and brilliant debut on Rush Hour a few years ago and has never looked back since. His 2018 album Welcome To The Colorful World of Arp Frique showed off his fresh take on disco with a host of collaborators and now he once again lays down the beats while various guests appear on this new EP on Colourful World. Elements of zouk, highlife, Afro-disco and many more worldly rhythms lend these cuts their unique and characterful style. Analog drum machines, kick rhythms and psyched out synths all sit next to great vocals for a kaleidoscopic trip like no other.
Review: Warren Oree is an acoustic bassist, producer and composer who founded The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble in Philadelphia in 1979. The adventurous outfit are eclectic and have a far from predictable sound that combines acoustic sounds with African and Middle Eastern influences, a hint of Afro-Cuban Orientalism, spiritual jazz and avant garden flourishes. This album was recorded in 1980 and has a truly worldwide sound that very much fits in with the sound of the current jazz revival. There is cool jazz on 'Wet Walnuts and Whipped Cream', percussive drenched grooves on the title track and much more besides. A real classic.
Review: Brazilian artist Lucas Arruda, is fast becoming a regarded figure in the Latin scene. 'Ominira' is his latest long player that once again, finds a home on the French label Favorite Recordings. An album full of rich sounding musical textures that cross boundaries and bridge many genres such as Latin, soul, house, jazz and pop. The vibrant summer jams 'The Bravest Heart' and 'Novos Planos' are A-side standouts that will surely excite veteran and new listeners alike, who are into World music. '4:28' and 'The Mountain' start the second side with some catchy instrumentals that give off memorable beachy 70s vibes. ' Projecoes' closes the album with one of the most soulful performances of the album. All and all, you have a wonderful sounding jazzy grooved piece that ups the expectation of what a Latin jazz album can be. Cafe Del Mar approved!
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