Review: It's been a few years since New Zealand soul spaceman pecked our decks on the cheek but he's back and he's packing kindred company Zackey Force Funk for a more angular, woozy cosmic funk message than before. "Space Bitch" tells a tale all self-respecting intergalactic pimp can relate to as it lollops along over loose drums, a grumpy bassline and hazy chords. "Stimulant" is a much drowsier, somnambulant affair with its warped electro-at-half-speed tones and eerie whispers and whistles. Barbed, far-out but ultimately beautiful.
Review: Ten Lovers always manage to find a perfect sweet spot between jazz and house on the music it serves up. This new various artists' effort proves the point well: Marcello Cassanelli lunches the trip with groovy and nodding bass synths and airy vocal cries on 'Fantasia.' Zarenzeit then sinks into a bubbly groove with killer drums and sun-worshiping synths before Stefano De Santis drops some excellent broken beast on his squelchy synth workout 'Song For George D.' Future Jazz Ensemble takeoff into the cosmos and Caruso gets romantic on 'Vestimenta'.
Pearl Farano & The High Lights Of Joy - "Who's Your Boss" (2:53)
Zella Jackson - "Days Are Just Like People" (2:19)
Review: Greg Belson is a world leading gospel collector and DJ who had great success with his Divine Disco series. He continued his vital work with Cultures of Soul on the Devin Funk compilations series and now the label are serving up the many highlights on 7". Here we have
Pearl Farano & The High Lights Of Joy with 'Who's Your Boss', a high speed funk gem with in the pocket drum playing and energetic guitar riffs. The real star of course is the coarse vocal that cannot help but light your fires. On the flip, Zella Jackson's vocal soars next to summery flutes and raw, dense rhythm sections.
Review: Two years ago, Early Sounds Recordings co-founder Pellegrino S. Snichelotto dished up a debut mini-album that brilliantly joined the dots between Daniele Baldelli style Afro-cosmic grooves and jazz-funk. This is his first outing since and explores similarly sunny and meandering sonic territory, beginning with the languid guitar solos, jaunty electric piano riffs and Tullio de Piscopo style percussion of "Astri & Riflessi". Smoother and deeper dancefloor jazz-funk flavours are provided by "Zodyaco", "Libra Position" is a dub-driven affair rich in spacey synth solos and heavy bass, and "Genti Del Mediterraneo" is a riotous dancefloor workout rich in crunchy Clavinets, elastic slap bass and wild electric piano solos. It is, then, every bit as essential as its fine predecessor.
Review: It's with a big smiley grin on our faces that we present "Everytime", a killer soul-funk-r&b nugget from the almighty Mr Phil Asher (aka Restless Soul). Together with UK vocalist Zansika they mash things up with a combination of raw break beats and soulful vocals which will appeal to anyone who ever got down to Amerie's "One Thing" or Beyonce's "Crazy In Love". Basically, we got a full-on floor filler that should go down with both r&b/soul heads just as well as the retro funk community. A top Raw Fusion release.
Zeca Do Trombone & Roberto Sax - "Coluna Do Meio" (2:58)
Review: Mr Bongo offers up an incredible 86th volume in the Brazil45 series, and this time it's Black Rio funk from two mainstays of the sound, Toni Tornado & Zeca Do Trombone. A-side 'Sou Negro' is from Tornado's 1970 EP on Odeon Records. It's a sought after number that despite lasting only just over two minutes still makes an indelible impression. Zeca Do Trombone & Roberto Sax join forces on the flip for 'Coluna Do Meio,' which is a more smooth, easy going jazz laced tune compared with the raw and direct a-side. This one has an acrobatic vocal and sunny riffs bringing pool-side vibes under clear blue skies.
Review: Long time compadres spotted together on Mofunk as far back as four years ago with "Press Play", Zackey Force Funk and XL Middleton collide on the LA funk imprint again, this time sharing the 45" a side a piece. ZFF goes for the soothing touches, smooth with just subtle hints at sleaze while XL goes all out George Jetson with an upbeat juicy space bass strut, sprinkled keys and new jack vocals. Two dope label faces, two killer jams, one fly way to kick off 2018 from Mofunk.
Review: Now released officially, Zackey Force Funk & XL Middleton's 'Hey MF / Phone Home' first came in a cloud of hype amid the decision by MoFunk to release "exactly ONE" copy of the test pressing to whomever proved themself keen enough to own it. We're not surprised that the label might anticipate such fan fervour, since this is a uniquely totalising modern funk gem, manifesting technically as a Johnny Chingas cover but in practice evidencing the relentlessly singular, syncretic combined production style of the LA natives. Chingas' original lyrics are invidious but infectious, a mood coaxed further out by the duo's breathy talkbox usage: "hey motherfucker, who do you think you are? you think you so much better than everybody else... what do you mean I'm a fake DJ?!"
Review: Vital Italian library music from the 70s right here. Initially excavated by Strut then issued on a limited 45 last year, this is reissue is back by popular demand and highly recommended. Vital, airy jazz funk charged by the super tight breaks of renowned Italian drummer Tullio De Piscopo, Paolo Zavallone's compositions are lively and full of surprises; "Yellow Fever" is a Hammond powered long summer drive with the top down and no obstacles while "Papillon Rouge" hits with more of a Bob James feel as the keys take on a life of their own, backed up by equally mischievous horns.
Review: This EP is just a preview of the very eclectic dub dancefloor stylings of Zeb. Although he makes every song on his own, he sounds like a full 1970s afrobeat band in 'Revolutionary Dreams,' or a Disco Funk group from Nigeria in the 80s on 'Afro Disco'. Flip over the record & you'll hear some of the more familiar gypsy, dub, funk grooves Zeb is known for from Turntables on the Hudson, IRMA Records & Codek over the years he's been producing. Again, this is just a 4 track teaser for the album which is loaded with some of his best tunes to date!
Review: Stone cold classic from 1977. Zebra's self-released (and only) single has had an interesting trip in the last 15 years. First chanced upon by Ian Wright, then a hot target on the collector's merry-go-round, then a big hit for Jazzman and now, 10 years later, a potential smasher for Jazzman alumni Fryer and his consistently ace AOTN imprint. In case you don't know it, "Simple Song" is a slapping, frenzied funk groove while "I Forgot To Say" plays consummate counterpoint with a blissful honeyed ballad. It's worth jumping on this while you can...
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.