Review: Canada's famously vibrant funk scene has given rise to many gems over the years and now one of them is getting a reissue on P-Vine complete with an obi-strip. The Sidewinders' much-coveted album, Flatfoot Hustlin' is a real gem that emanates the spirit of deep-rooted funk. Famously it was recorded in the same studio as Professor Lett and Study's Love Serenade which further details about it have long been unknown and mysterious. That has only added to its allure and appeal amongst the rare groove community but of course, the music itself is the real draw. Featured tracks like 'I Like To Dance' and 'Flat Foot Hustli'' cannot fail to ignite dancefloors, while 'Time For Loving' is a more smooth groove and 'Gift to the Sun' gets nice and heavy making this an essential cop for funk aficionados.
Review: Released by Funk Embassy Records, 'Universal Language' is the debut album by Estonian funk outfit Silky Steps, a five-piece band from Tallinn that blends neo-soul, nu-disco and pop-funk. The album is full of catchy hooks, smooth vocals, funky guitars and synths that evoke the likes of Nile Rodgers, Jungle and L'imperatrice. The lyrics are playful and sensual, exploring themes of love, lust and connection. Highlights are the slo-mo opener 'Music' with its infectious vocoder, 'Falling For You', a collaboration with MC Roki that explores deep bass-driven territory and 'Fly, Goodbye', a bittersweet and nostalgic track with sensual neon-lit aesthetics.
Review: Janett Silvera's When I Need You is a remarkable 1977 album that originally came on Federal. It's a vocal-laced and mellow reggae delight that features covers of classics by Patti Austin, Albert Hammond, Bob Marley, and more. The album also includes backing vocals by the legendary Marcia Griffiths. From the opening moments of the super smooth 'Oh If I Should Lose Your Love' to the more upbeat and funk fuelled workout that is 'Dancing To My Own Heartbeart' via the sentimental and super deep soul of 'When I Need You' this is an escapist classic.
Review: Nina Simone has rather been written out of popular music history because of quite how confrontational and proudly Black she was. She was just as far ahead of her times musically too and this legendary album Baltimore shows why. It arrived with no promotion and no lead singles and so it was an utter commercial failure, but the sleuths of the internet have rediscovered it over the 45 years since its release and helped to make it a cult favourite now regarded as one of the best in her oeuvre. It has distinctive reggae production and of course plenty of beautiful vocals from Simone as she tackles songs written by Judy Collins, Hall & Oates, and Randy Newman.
Review: Nina Simone has never enjoyed the credit she deserves because of quite how confrontational and anti-establishment she often was. Never was that more true than with her performances at Montreux Jazz Festival over the years. Many of them are collected here on this new new double album and many of them are rare and never-before-released recordings. She first played the historic event in 1968 and turned out an emotional show while her famous 1976 showing was much more fiery and unpredictable. Tracks like her fearless 'Four Women' and hauntingly beautiful performance of 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' are all included.
Review: Dark Horse Records has put together this limited edition pressing of Nina Simone's seminal debut studio album, Little Girl Blue, in honour of its 65th anniversary. Originally released in February 1959, this special pink vinyl reissue features a 12x12 insert with an introduction by Dhani Harrison and of course the record itself includes many an iconic track. Take your pick from the likes of 'My Baby Just Cares for Me' and 'I Loves You, Porgy' which showcase Simone's early brilliance and hint at her profound influence on music in the decades to come. This collector's item is a tribute to Simone's timeless sound.
Review: Nina Simone's 1964 album stands as a powerful testament to her unwavering support for the Civil Rights movement, marking one of her most personal and impactful releases during her time with Philips Records. The album captures Simone at her most fervent and fearless, channeling her artistry into a profound expression of social consciousness. Unlike some of her other works, where orchestration sometimes overshadowed her voice, this gem benefits from a minimalistic yet vibrant jazz quartet, which perfectly complements her bold vocal delivery. Tracks like 'Old Jim Crow,' 'Pirate Jenny,' 'Go Limp,' and the titular 'Mississippi Goddam' emerge as potent declarations of African-American pride and resistance, making this album a landmark in the intersection of music and activism. Simone also revisits more traditional material with grace, including her timeless rendition of 'I Loves You, Porgy' and the soulful 'Don't Smoke in Bed.' Verve's Acoustic Sounds series honors this historic album with a meticulously crafted vinyl reissue. Mastered from the original analog tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, the album is packaged in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, offering an audiophile experience that preserves the integrity of Simone's revolutionary work.
Review: It is fair to say that this Nina Simone live album really captures the legendary singer at her raw and most powerful best. Recorded during her 1969 European tour, this live recording showcases Simone's incredible ability to blend genres-jazz, blues, folk, and soul-while delivering deeply emotional performances. Songs like 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' and 'Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead)' reflect her lyrical prowess and elsewhere her activism and social consciousness shine through. Her haunting renditions of classics, combined with virtuosic piano playing, make for a magnetic listen that all these years on is a great record of Simone's enduring brilliance, charisma, and her role as a vital cultural and musical innovator.
Review: Sio's latest album is a deeply personal and emotive journey, featuring her impeccable storytelling and soul-stirring lyricism across 11 tracks. Produced in collaboration with Daev Martian, the album reveals a new level of vulnerability from Sio. Standout tracks like 'Twilight' and 'No Lymyt' blend neo-soul with Amapiano and with spoken word interludes adding depth to the sonic experience, Sio's poetic magic shines through. An exploration of life, introspection and legacy.
Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy - "Fire (She Need Water)"
Cougars - "Right On"
Eddie Spencer - "You're So Good To Me Baby"
The Hitch-Hikers - "Mr Fortune" (feat The Mighty Pope)
Noel Ellis - "Memories"
Wayne McGhie - "Here We Go Again"
Review: Working in partnership with Light in the Attic and curated by Grammy-nominated producer, DJ and journalist Kevin Howes this wonderful new collection chronicles a vital musical migration: in late-1960s Toronto, Caribbean immigrants infused the city with ska, rocksteady and reggae and recorded some of the era's toughest tracks. Originators from Studio One, Treasure Isle and Trojan Records all united and broke racial and cultural barriers to build an influential yet under-appreciated Canadian reggae scene that is now showcased with a 20-page booklet with archival images, artist bios and essays on this double vinyl set.
Review: With Introducing Emilia Sisco, Sisco steps into the spotlight backed by Cold Diamond & Mink, spanning ten tracks that hit that rare sweet spot between classic soul vibes and a refined, modern polish. Each song feels meticulously crafted, from the smoky, gospel-inflected swing of 'Say Yes' that opens the album, to the heartfelt sway of 'Don't Let Nobody,' where Sisco's vocals radiate warmth and vulnerability. Cold Diamond & Mink's arrangements anchor Sisco's expressive range, laying down rich, textured backdrops that ebb and flow with her every note. As the album progresses, Sisco's voice weaves through uplifting choruses and more introspective moments with an authenticity that's all her own, cementing her as a powerful new voice in the soul scene and offering listeners a journey that's timeless yet undeniably fresh.
Review: As the '70s dawned and Motown relocated to the West Coast, the era of their honey-toned '60s girl groups came to a resounding halt. The Sisters Love were the antithesis of the traditional Motown group and came to the label from A&M, armed with a lot of funk, sass and attitude.
Paired with some of Motown's finest writers and producers - Hal Davis, Gloria Jones, Pamela Sawyer, Paul Riser and Willie Hutch - they got off to a rousing start with the gritty "Mr. Fix-It Man" and went into high gear for the UK only release "I'm Learning To Trust My Man".
Motown had them playing arenas with The Jackson Five (probably not their smartest move!), issued the odd single and scheduled more but Sisters Love's anticipated breakthrough didn't happen.
In 1980 New York DJ Danny Krivit pressed up an extended eight-minute re-edit of "Give Me Your Love", an old B-side from a 1973 single! That song was somewhat of an underground classic but the Krivit mix brought in a whole new legion of fans amongst the rare groove crowd, both in the US and the UK.
Sisters Love had long been rumored to have recorded a complete album for the Motown subsidiary MoWest. Get On Down Records combed the vaults with Motown's help and the result is the original 10 cut album, plus a bonus cut, "Give Me Your Love."
Review: Sly & The Family Stone's Anthology is about as good as it gets for fans of funk and soul. It is a catchy compilation with infectious hooks as well as plenty of potent and powerful messages and it spans the entirety of thereat bands careers from their earliest mentions to their last great hits of the time. It was first released in 1981 and features such US Billboard chart-topping tunes such as 'Family Affair', 'Everyday People' and 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)'. The limited edition record comes on limited edition and numbered gatefold 180 gram audiophile pink vinyl.
Why (feat Rachel Claudio, Erik Truffaz & Valerie Delgado) (5:06)
Womenarium (feat 2morrows Victory) (4:43)
Magique (4:05)
All The Time (3:40)
Les Fleurs Du Mal (3:15)
Music (feat Oxmo Puccino & Magic Malik) (4:24)
Review: Since emerging on Blue Note almost 10 years ago Sly Johnson's one-man-band loopery, fiery soul and hip-hop sentimentality has gone from strength to strength. Sitting somewhere between Amp Fiddler, D'Angelo and Jamie Lidell, Mic Buddah is a late night trip around the finest soul moments of the last 40 years. "Nasty Girl" smacks of "Controversy"-era Prince, "Wet" is a smouldering, groaning slice of timeless R&B, "Good Morning" is a beautiful gospel construction laded with deep tenor loops while "Womenarium" fuses a Wonder-style jazziness with modern hip-hop. These highlights are just to start with... This is a hugely accomplished album.
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