Back catalogue:

Review: Susan Cadogan is an esteemed reggae vocalist who has been since the 1970s. Now she continues her musical journey with this cover single which is taken from her excellent 2020 album Hurt So Good - Storybook Revisited, distributed by Burning Sounds. Side-A features a rendition of the reggae classic by Dawn Penn, while Side-B offers a sweet soul interpretation of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' track. Enhanced with Japanese-inspired artwork on the jacket, this release showcases Cadogan's timeless talent and versatility as it bridges the gap between reggae and soul music across generations.

Review: Carmy Love brings a stylish hint of gospel to the beautiful vocal on this new single on Big A C. 'Rebel' was actually written many years ago yet the lyrics have huge repugnance today. The song has regularly been performed in that time with New Street Adventure but now the live version becomes all the more glorious as a full studio production. On the back is a tune inspired by the fertile soul crossover sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, with funky bass and body brass. These are tunes to warm your heart and uplift you as you leave the bad times behind.

Review: Cash Money Experience are soul dons and if you need proof listen no further than this new 7". Darryl Howard is the vocalist and songwriter of Nu'rons and here he offers up the lead vocals while Emanuel Campbell, who is one of his co-members in Nu'rons, is responsible for the lyrics. On the extended version of 'Outside Looking In' the vocals convey plenty of pain on nice laidback drums and funky riffs. The Full Radio Edit distils things to a shorter play length but is just as effective.

Review: Sam Cooke's iconic civil rights anthem 'A Change Is Gonna Come' was deservingly named one of Rolling Stone's greatest songs of all time and this year it celebrates its 60th anniversary. To honour the milestone is this limited edition 7" white iridescent vinyl featuring the original mono single mixes of that as well as 'Shake'. Recorded in January 1964 and included on Cooke's Ain't That Good News, the single was released posthumously in December 1964 just two weeks after Cooke's death as the B-side to the Top 10 hit 'Shake.' It remains as relevant as ever.

Review: A deep dive into the Fania vaults has uncovered Cafe, a Latin funk and soul classic that was recorded half a century ago. To mark the 50th anniversary of this great album, which was produced by the legendary conguero Ray Barretto and originally released on Vaya Records, it gets this nice heavyweight reissue on Craft. The standout track 'Si Dame Tu Amor' delivers infectious funk grooves reminiscent of Barretto's own work, while 'Identify Yourself' is another one to light up any party. All the tunes have been cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio so sounds superb.

Review: Jerry "J" Johnson's California Flight Project outfit were relatively unknown during the 1980s, and it took a series of self-released CDRs and a 2010 single on People's Potential Unlimited for the Bay Area act to finally hit the big time. This eponymous album on Norway's Preservation Records picks up the story, gathering together a slew of superb West Coast funk and soul gems recorded by the outfit between 1979 and '81. This is the first time most of them have been released on wax, and they're genuinely worth a listen. Check, for example, "Dance On It", where Johnson urges us all to dance over a laidback, synth-laden boogie groove, the rubbery slap bass and sparkling pianos of "Do You Feel My Love" and the proto-San Francisco synth funk of killer album opener "California Flight".

Review: It's now a quarter of a century since Terry Callier released his Timepeace album, which was his first after a 15 year break. The record won the United Nations's Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement and for "contributing to world peace." It features standout tunes like 'People Get Ready' and 'Brotherly Love' composed by Curtis Mayfield, as well as a guest spot from Pharoah Sanders on tenor-saxophone on the title song 'Timepeace' and seven other wondrous tunes that showcase soul, jazz, folk influences. This reissue includes an insert with lyrics and liner-notes by Tom Terrell.

Review: R&b and funk singer, rhythm guitar musician and songwriter Rickey Calloway hailed from Jacksonville, Florida but earned himself a global reputation. His style borrowed from James Brown but brought something new, inspired by his time playing in clubs from a relatively young age. He was active in the 70s and much of his music has been reissue do newer audiences since and now comes his King Of Funk album on Funk Night which, from the title down, pays homage to the aforementioned Brown. It features his most well known tune - the wonderful 'Tell Me' - as well as plenty of other big hitters like there particularly hard hitting 'Shake It Up, Shake It Down.'

Review: Who knew an entertainment career spanning the likes of comic sci-fi series like Red Dwarf and kitsch game shows vis-a-vis Robot Wars could result in a side stint curating soul compilations? Well, it's exactly what happened to Craig Charles, who also happens to have been manning BBC6 Music's soul and funk corner for almost 20 years now, not to mention regularly touring the world as a DJ. This isn't his first 'Trunk of Funk'. The first was overwhelmingly well-received by a "funk hungry public", and now, our national treasure Craigy-boy has ensured said public doesn't starve a second time round. Backboned by Charles' introductory yells to imaginary screaming crowds - "are you ready!?" - we cycle through funk bits both old and new, exclusive and widely-available, from Cha Wa to Luther Ingram to Joel Culpepper. Craig says: "Give your ears and feet enough mellifluous musical fodder to last you until Volume 3 - Awooga!"

Review: A decade after its original release, Chiara Civello's Canzoni album is finally available on vinyl in a deluxe double LP edition with a gatefold sleeve. This record is known for having showcased Civello's talent as an interpreter and it solidified her place on international stages. Fusing Italian musical tradition with genres like Northern soul, bossa nova, blue-eyed soul, jazz and pop, the record was produced by Nicola Conte and recorded in analogue across Bari, New York and Rio de Janeiro. Featuring extraordinary guests like Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, Ana Carolina, Esperanza Spalding and orchestrations by Eumir Deodato, Canzoni remains as rich a listen as ever.

Review: Cold Diamond & Mink return with an instrumental soul album on Timmion Records that features tracks from their collaboration with Jonny Benavidez, 'My Echo, Shadow and Me.' Stripped of vocals, the album highlights their musical craftsmanship through rich, soulful melodies and rhythms from the haunting 'Your Last Song' to the infectious grooves of 'Tell Me That You Love Me.' Each track here draws listeners into a deep, emotive experience as the instrumental collection showcases Cold Diamond & Mink's talent for composing with authenticity and it makes for an introspective journey through the timeless terrain of soulful music.

Review: This reissued gem from Sam Cooke stands as his most intimate, soulful and authentic recording. Captured in February 1963 with a small group of studio veterans, it was a low-key session that spotlights Cooke's transcendent voice in a setting free from the heavy orchestration of his other solo material. The album features spirituals, bluesy ballads and gospel classics, all imbued with the legendary singer's unique interpretations and buttery smooth vocal deliveries. Tracks like 'Lost and Lookin' highlight his breathtaking vocals with minimal accompaniment, while 'Mean Old World' and his reimagined 'Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen' reveal his rare songwriting prowess. This is a treasure that is warm and deeply moving and it remains a pinnacle in Cooke's career.

Review: Smouldering Secrets was released in 1975 by Copeland Davis and his band and it's a great example of his energetic piano performances. The album opens with the melodic 'No Arms Can Ever Hold You' while tracks like 'Perfidy' and 'So in Love' feature lively instrumentals. Highlights include the soulful 'Jet,' where Davis sings, and the mellow 'Morning Spring,' famously sampled by Nujabes. This reissue also includes the vocal version of 'No Arms Can Ever Hold You' which makes its debut release on vinyl. Davis later gained popularity in Japan during the Free Soul and Rare Groove movements which is why this rich record one is being put out by P-Vine.

Review: Courtial With Errol Knowles's Don't You Think It's Time album gets a first ever vinyl reissue here, and gets deluxe treatment. The original was recorded in 1976 in San Francisco's Bay Area and soon became a real collector's classic for its vital soul and jazz funk sounds. To be honest, the cover art alone is worth the entry price here, but the sounds sure are sublime, with wiggy synth lines weaving their way in and out of the funky drumming on 'Don't You Think It's Time,' 'Best Of Friends' offering lush string sounds and silky grooves and 'Love Nevermore' having a bit of a samba shuffle next to the acoustic guitars and golden Rhodes chords.

Review: Following a couple of low-key EPs and mini-albums on tiny independent labels, Cousin Kula's debut full-length has been snapped up by Rhythm Section International. It was a shrewd move by boss man Bradley Zero, because Double Dinners is undeniably lovely. Lusciously executed and pleasingly laidback, it sees the Bristol band effortlessly join the dots between horizontal, soft-focus jazz-rock, shuffling downtempo grooves and dewy-eyed soul. It's a far more warming, comforting and meditative affair that some of their more raucous and upbeat output, something that band puts down to composing it during lockdown, when meditative music was a necessity. Even as society begins to open up, it still feels essential - a sign of the album's timeless class.

Review: Polish producer Latarnik and American vocalist Anthony Mills collide on this new album for Polish label Astigmatic to explore lo-fi hip-hop, soul, dub and experimental electronics. Mills's falsetto vocal brings great Neo-soul warmth to Crack Rock with emotionally charged tones soaring over the production which ranges from sugary and 80s-tinged disco and boogie on 'Crack' to deep, seductive and gooey on 'Passive Lover' which is a more romantic sound. Latarnik's work is often minimal yet immersive which creates space for Mills' voice to shine and is delivered in equal parts spoken word, chant and soulful croon. The hypnotic, slow-burning soundscapes that result are both intimate and confrontational, ready to make you dance but also often just to feel. Unapologetically raw and deeply human, this one lingers long after the final track ends.

Review: Cymande are cult favourites amongst funk and soul lovers. The band members were all part of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora community in London who arrived in the UK from the West Indies in the 60s and blended sounds in captivating, heart-aching new ways across several standout albums. One of them is the Second Time Round from 1973. It was their sophomore effort and was produced entirely by John Schroeder. It's a well-rounded listen as a whole but also includes standout singles like 'Fug' which anyone who has played a Tony Hawk skateboarding game might well recognise.