Review: The Brazil 45s / Mr Bongo outlet is back with its classic moves, coming through with some truly special soul blends out of the Brazilian golden era. Dalila and Neyde Alexandre feature in this latest 7", the former with 1968's "Canto Chorado", a slow-burning bubble of funky exotica - surely impossible to find in its original shade - and the latter with a funky little bomb from 1971 by the name of "Perplexidade" - surely the smoothest, sexiest soul number out this week! Lovely stuff.
Leo Basel - "Quelle Drole De Vie" (Nick The Record & Dan Tyler rework) (7:31)
Love Isaacs - "Surprise Surprise" (Joao Gomes & Dan Tyler Are Predictably Delayed rework) (5:43)
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - "Let's Get High" (Nick The Record re-edit) (12:36)
Review: As Tangent, one of London's cherished underground institutions, marks a decade of unforgettable nights, it does so with a meticulously curated compilation on Mr Bongo. The new release is more than a celebratory gesture; it's a sonic anthology reflecting the essence of a decade spent at the heart of the city's underground scene. Curated by Tangent's own John Gomez and Nick the Record, the compilation presents a blend of rare and dancefloor-ready tracks that have defined their parties over the years. This isn't merely a collection of past hits; it's a celebration of the edits that transformed these tracks into Tangent anthems. Alongside remastered reissues, the CD edition includes three exceptional edits by Nick, John, and Dan Tyler of the Idjut Boys, each crafted with the kind of attention to detail that only years of club experience can bring. Nick's collaboration with Dan Tyler on Leo Basel's 'Quelle Drole De Vie' breathes new life into a 1987 remix, honing in on the standout elements of the original. The result is a vibrant, French boogie-infused track that promises to elevate any dancefloor. John and Dan's rework of Love Isaacs' 'Surprise Surprise' offers a cosmic twist on 80s electro-funk, extending the grooves and adding a highlife touch that enhances the track's dancefloor potential. The compilation's crowning piece is Nick's edit of Rick Asikpo and Afro Fusion's 'Let's Get High'. This 12-minute reimagining takes the energetic climax of the original and expands it into a frenetic, cosmic journey, showcasing synthesised jazz-funk in its most exhilarating form. This release is not just about revisiting old favourites; it's about acknowledging the transformative power of edits and the unique role Tangent has played in shaping London's underground music scene over the past decade.
Review: Latin Fever Vol. 3 offers a vibrant collection of tracks from Luchito & Nestor, as well as solo efforts by Nestor Alvarez (a.k.a. Neil Anderson). Luchito & Nestor's rendition of The Olympics' 'Good Lovin' kicks things off with a blistering Latin boogaloo twist, featuring infectious rhythms and lively brass. The instrumental Part 2 replaces lead vocals with a dynamic flute topline, adding a fresh layer to the classic hit. On the flip side, Nestor Alvarez's 'La Gordita Americana' is an uptempo boogaloo groover led by horns and piano, delivering an energetic and danceable vibe. The collection concludes with 'Ixo's Taxi,' a skeletal xylophone-led funk track that brings a unique, nostalgic charm. Each track on this release has a rich blend of Latin rhythms and boogaloo energy, making this an exciting 7" to hit the dancefloor to.
Review: A stellar mix of DJ-able breakbeat and northern soul from Luchito Rodriguez and Nestor Alvarez, two of our favourite contemporary funk artists active today (as long as we're certain of their identities, that is). This limited 7" contains two versions of the same killer track: 'Soy Un Hombre' reincarnates the triumphant 'achievement' of manhood through carnal brasses and kettle drums, in a quiver-inducing cover version of Spencer Davis Group's classic track 'I'm A Man'.
Review: Original Gravity, Luchito Rodriguez and Nestor Alvarez return with yet two more Latin groove versions of funk and soul classics, emulating two sounds not yet brought together enough. 'Dap Walk' is a shot-by-shot cover of the song of the same name by Ernie And The Top Notes - a slick and slippery interpretation that translates the original AAVE of the song's intro into Spanish. 'El Barrio', meanwhile, opts for 70s crime thriller vibes, instrumentally verging on expressionism via djembe, brass sections and vibraslaps.
Review: "Here we go again, yeah!" exclaim Luchito Rodriguez and Nestor Alvarez - Original Gravity's two core mainstays - who team up once again to evoke the undeniable spirit of a 'Boogaloo Party' for the ages. Channelling the sound of the inimitable Latin dance style, but also gradating it so as to be mixable in DJ sets, 'Ain't Nothing But...' delivers compelling call-and-responses and horn-swelling builds. 'Fiesta Bugalu' dubs things out for a reflection on the party just gone, retaining the tempo but relaxing things for extra percussive effect.
Review: The Original Gravity label is back with more of its fully functional but also exceptionally flair-fulled funk sounds, this time with Luchito and Nestor Alvarez behind 'Tighten Up.' It is another choice reissue that has been dug carefully out of the vaults and comes in seriously limited quantities on 7". Luchito & Nestor kick off with the original version of 'Tighten Up' on the a-side and it's packed with high-tempo breaks and sung-spoken vocals. On the flip is a more fiery and explicitly Latin affair with the warming chords and florid horns of Nestor Alvarez's 'Just Add Vibes.'
Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc - "Lupita" (7:16)
Review: Mr Bongo continue to churn out top-quality re-edits and here they enlist Danny Krivit aka. Mr. K, the New York producer who has longstandingly helped prop up the dance scene there since the early 1960s. Krivit is responsible for perhaps some of the earliest and most significant disco and funk edits on Earth, so we're more than happy to hear these new ones out, in which he lends his ear to two mambi from Latin extraordinaires Sabu Martinez and Nico Gomez. Percussive clanks and boxy slaps abound on this audiophiles' charm.
Review: Spanish producer Kiko Navarro has joined up with veteran Beninois vocalists and musical powerhouse Kaleta and the next level skills of The Ibibio Horns for this vibrant new 12". It's an inspired and Afro-infused groove exploration with funk, disco and acrobat all bottle dup in the beats that traverse Afria from East to West. The Ibibio Horns are on fire of course as they blaze up the sounds with their expressive horns and red hot keys while the vocals from Kaleta add further fuel to the fire. Instrumentals are also provided for more direct to dancefloor business.
Review: Afroterraneo Music founder Kiko Navarro steps up for his label next release, but not before enlisting the help of friends and fellow Balearic and house dons DJ Pippi and Willie Graff. Their classy Tempistica Mistica EP offers up a pair of richly percussive and Afro-Latin tinged house cuts that are primed and ready for deployment on the most cultured dance floors. 'N'Fumbei' is a warming shuffler that echoes the work of Fred P, 'Esanah' is more heavy and percussive with its weighty kicks making a lasting mark. 'N'Fumbeats' closes down with a fat, bouncy rhythm brought to life with loose and organic perc.
Antonis Antonio - "Yiorti" (feat Efthymia Alphas) (5:42)
Balkan Bump - "Cocek Amerika" (4:13)
Lagartijeando - "Cumbia De La Muerte" (4:33)
Review: Last year, Wonderwheel Recordings founder returned to Turntables on the Hudson with The Remix Machine, a vast digital compilation (and eight-track vinyl sampler) featuring some of the countless reworks he's completed since the 1990s. This second 12" expands on that set, serving up six more of the New York-based producer's favourite re-rubs. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from the rolling Cuban house business of his Megablast tweak ('La Isla'), and a low-slung, d&b-influenced Latin breaks take on OVEOUS & QVLN, to a suspenseful slab of psych-funk-goes house (the New Yorker's tweak of 'Yiorti' by Antois Antonio), and even some bouncy, low-tempo Balkan beats (Balkan Bump's 'Codek America'). Hot global fusion business!
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier) (4:34)
Vente Pa Ca (feat Jimena Angel, Jah Sazzah & Poirier - Poirier remix) (3:47)
Review: This is a global single with a great story that starts with an afro-funk groove made by Italian Jah Sazzah. He wanted a vocal for it so turned to Nickodemus who handed his own touches and then sent it Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Jimena Angel. The result is a vibrant Afro tune with vivid melodies. Remixer Poirier is a legend in Latin music circles. The Montreal man has formerly been associated with Ninja Tune and is synonymous with lots of classy remixes and fresh takes on a modern Afro-Caribbean sound. This is another one that reworks the ring into a more bouncy and infectious sound with gorgeous vocals and a clean arrangement that allows the drums and perc to shine.
Review: Domenico Niki is the man charged with the curation of the Echoes From Disco label and it will all be with a focus on rediscovering and re-editing disco, boogie and jazz from across the world. The inaugural outing features four re-edits that cover a wide array of styles. 'Through That Door' is jazz-funk with twanging guitars and sunny piano keys while 'African Horns' is a deep Afro-funk cut with fluid rhythms soon getting under your skin. 'Copacabana' is a busy, relentless and sax-laced funk banger and 'Follow Me' then slows things down with a more 80s-sounding downtempo soul vibe perfect for early evening sessions.
Review: Mr. Bongo credit themselves with taking a selection of the most in-demand and asked-for titles in their Brazil '45s catalogue, lending them all a loving repress in due homage to the music of the nation. This time, they focus their energies on the synergy shared between the late composer and record producer Nonato Buzar and drummer Jose Roberto, both of whose contributions to the MPB canon are unmissable, referent sonic studs. Nonato's 'Cafua' is a powerful eurythmic, its strigiform vocals proving a suitable narcotic to offset to the track's otherwise restless horns and post-bossa-nova drum clacks, which hit like quick patterings against soft cartilage. Roberto's 'Crioula Multicolorida' is a more vintage recording, erstwhile bringing rare "samba rock" grooviness and reflective, call and response lyricisms to a redolent rhythm.
Review: Prolific multi-media artists Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek are long time creative partners but this is their first ever collaborative project. New Future City Radio is a busy 40-minute suite cut into 18 tracks that are all short but hugely potent and play out like a well-sequenced mixtape. Across the playtime they contemplate "community, transformation, and the future through the programmatic format of a pirate radio station for the people." They have worked together since the late 90s so have rare chemistry and prove that and then some here.
Review: New Mexico musical stalwart, John Wagner, is best known in these parts as the producer of Freddie Chavez's Northern Soul classic, 'They'll Never Know Why'. Throughout his career, John produced various styles of music, flying the flag for the New Mexico sound. His longtime friend and collaborator, the singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist David Nunez, released a couple of albums in the 70s with John on production duties. Prior to these LPs, a batch of unreleased songs were recorded and recently unearthed from John's archives. Izipho Soul is now honoured to play its small part in preserving the musical legacy of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with two of Nunez' songs freshly pressed on a 7" single!
Review: Back here by popular demand, Les Disques Bongo Joe presents a fresh 7" release from Amsterdam's Nusantara Beat featuring, for the first time on wax, the infectious digital single 'Mang Becak' alongside a brand new and unreleased track. Marking their third collaboration with the label, the band reimagines two treasures of Indonesian music and merges their traditional rhythms with a modern edge that masterfully bridges the past and present. 'Sifat Manusa' has Indonesian vocals bringing sunny disposition and real soul over funky and jazzy drums. 'Mang Becak' is a funky groove with plenty of guitars that range from psyched out to more playful.
Review: The brilliant Nusantara Beat are back again with more gold on this new 7" via Bongo Joe Records. It comes after the success of this labels lasting project, Djanger/Borondong Garing, with Lamunai Records and again fuses modern-sounding grooves with more traditional Indonesian vibes. In fact, the A-side here is a love song from Indonesia during the 70s so is steamy to say the least with hints of psychedelic-folk and trip-hop. The other track, 'Kota Bandung', echoes the cultural variant of the Sundanese capital city with lush melodies and rich harmonies as well as a catchy beat.
Review: The Nut Jumpers is a collaboration that brings together Helen Shadow, Ricky Lee Brawn (of The Stargazers and The Big 6), and 'Mr. Dynamite' aka Jake Calypso, and it finds them blend their talents into a diverse yet authentic rock'n'roll experience. With Helen's stellar guitar, Ricky Lee's dynamic drums, and Jake's vocals, harmonica, and bass, their sound spans rockabilly, rock'n'roll, blues boppers, and sixties vibes with effortless cool. They fuse these influences seamlessly, occasionally evoking guitar riffs reminiscent of Link Wray in a way that means The Nut Jumpers deliver a rich musical tapestry that resonates with classic authenticity and a contemporary edge.
Review: Victoria Osei and Theresa Owusuaa are Ahemaa Nwomkro, which is a phrase that translates as 'queens of Nwomkro.' Nwomkro is an Ashanti style music that influenced Highlife, a style of music closely linked to Kumasi, Ghana's cultural capital and a city in the middle of the jungle. The pair link up with young highlife talents here and the results are pure, good time sounds that trill with energy, pickle rhythms and earthy percussion as well as some subtle synth work that brings a contemporary edge.
Review: Ahemaa Nwomkro means queens of Nwomkro, an old Ashanti Musial style that was hugely influential in the early formation of genres like the Highlife take on Kumasi, which is the cultural capital of Ghana in the middle of the jungle. Those queens are Victoria Osei and Theresa Owusua and here they team up with young Highlife musicians generation Akule Pepe on guitar. He worked for many years with Highlife legend Alex Konadu and these songs here show just how well pure Nwomkro work with textbook Highlife.
Juan Pablo Torres - "Cacao" (Dan Tyler NAD Bulto version) (7:54)
Juan Pablo Torres Y Algo Nuevo - "Pastel En Descarga" (Dan Tyler NAD) (3:39)
Grupo Los Yoyi - "Paco La Calle" (Nick The Record re-edit) (8:11)
Review: Dan Tyler and Nick The Record's third installment in the Mr Bongo Edits series brings a bold twist to Cuban classics with three tracks that are equal parts cosmic and dancefloor-ready. On the A-side, Tyler extends two Juan Pablo Torres tracks from his reissued 1978 'Algo Nuevo' and 1977's 'Super Son.' First, Tyler reimagines 'Cacao,' a standout track from Torres' LP, giving it room to breathe and intensifying the percussive climax with swirling synths and spacey dub effects. It's a track that thrives on a big system, building tension as it goes, and works wonders in the right environmentijust ask anyone who caught it at La Paloma in Barcelona. Next, Tyler dials into 'Pastel En Descarga,' turning the Latin-funk fusion into a punchy, trippy dub with delay and drama, keeping the track's energy while taking it further into spacey, cosmic territory. On the flip, Nick The Record tackles Grupo Los Yoyi's 1977 'Paco La Calle,' taking a 2009 edit and expanding it into a longer, more hypnotic piece. The percussion pushes and pulls as the psychedelic synths swirl, creating a dynamic and ever-building groove. The 2025 version is elevated with new synth lines courtesy of Tyler, deepening the track's psychedelic richness. A cosmic whirlwind of reworks that bridges the gap between '70s Cuban innovation and modern dancefloor sensibilities.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (4:56)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (4:01)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:14)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:48)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:36)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (4:56)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:31)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:10)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:56)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:27)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:17)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (6:54)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (6:59)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:45)
Review: For the last decade, John Gomez and Nick The Record's freewheeling Tangent parties have proved popular in London, offering dancers the chance to shake their stuff to a wide selection of superb (and normally insanely rare) records over a high quality soundsystem. The pair's first Tangent compilation, which arrives via Mr Bongo, naturally offers a superb reflection of their approach and is packed with must-have cuts. For proof, check the proto-house era dubbed-out boogie of King B's 'Love Is Crazy', the sun-splashed Brazilian gorgeousness of 'Laberinto' by PERIKAS, the spaced-out headiness of Hidrogenese's 'La Carta Era Muy Larga (Dub)', the heavy batacuda business of 'Nira Gongo' by Conjuto Baluartes' and the dub disco-flecked, deep house brilliance of LTA's 'What Comes To Ya'.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala) (5:03)
Perikas - "Laberinto" (3:59)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It" (5:09)
King B - "Love Is Crazy" (6:47)
L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed & Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek" (4:39)
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress" (5:05)
Androo - "Lyriso" (6:30)
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (5:33)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje" (6:05)
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo" (2:51)
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental) (6:26)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval" (6:13)
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me" (7:01)
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?" (7:04)
Urban Volcano Sounds - "Ame No Uta (Rain Song)" (New extended version) (5:47)
Review: To celebrate ten years of one of London's most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo are thrilled to launch this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gomez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent's spirit: a party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties. Spanning live-recorded disco, Brazilian boogie and weighty lovers' rock, this selection of rare sonic meats is a prized procuring, the consistent quality of which you likely won't be able to track down in many other contexts.
Srirajah Sound System - "Si Phan Don Lovers Rock" (feat Molam Inteng Keawbuala)
Perikas - "Laberinto"
Leo Basel - "Quelle Drole De Vie" (Nick The Record & Dan Tyler re-edit)
Mac Thornhill - "No Way To Control It"
King B - "Love Is Crazy"
L'innovateur Djoe Ahmed Et Le Zoukabyle - "Amek Amek"
Champagn' - "Bel Ti Negress"
Androo - "Lyriso"
Hidrogenesse - "La Carta Era Muy Larga" (dub)
Love Isaacs - "Surprise Surprise" (Joao Gomes & Dan Tyler Are Predictably Delayed rework)
Kajou - "Tet Chaje"
Conjunto Baluartes - "Nira Gongo"
Land Shark - "Tie Me Up" (The Nas-T version instrumental)
Rick Asikpo - "Let’s Get High" (Nick The Record re-edit)
Pellegrin El Kady - "Seiva De Carnaval"
Lee Jackson Band - "Call On Me"
LTA (Love The Action) - "What Comes To Ya?"
Urban Volcana Sounds - "Ame No Uta" (Rain song - extended version)
Review: Those on London's crate-digging underground should be well aware of Tangent, an eclectic, anything-goes party created by esteemed record collectors John Gomez and Nick The Record. With a little help from Mr Bongo, they've curated this compilation featuring some of their favourite selections from the party - the vast majority of which are either obscure, rare or overlooked. It's a predictably impressive selection all told, with the pair bouncing between digital reggae-infused global grooves (Srirajah Soundsystem), mid-80s French jazz-funk-synth-pop fusion (an exclusive edit of Leo Basel), quirky riffs of the Pointer Sisters (Marc Thornhill's 'Automatic'-inspired 'No Way To Control It'), zouk, proto-house-era Balearic brilliance (Androo), squelchy AOR synth-disco (Hidrogenesse), heavy Latin percussion workouts (Conjuto Balurantes), dub (Lee Jackson Band) and much more besides.
Review: This is a perfectly obscure record of lush Brazilian jazz that can be either a perfect entry point into this sound or yet another fine piece for the collection of veterans. It is the first ever record of Jaime Alem and Nair De Candia, both of whom sing on it, and has a super cool jazzy feel, with high class and luxurious stings, Latin percussive patterns and a steamy warm atmosphere. Reminiscent of all your favourites but also with a style that is uniquely theirs, this is a cult classic packed with gems like 'A Bica De Chororo' and 'Olhos Para Sao Paulo'.
Review: Acclaimed South African folk singer Vusi Mahlasela joined forces with singer songwriter Norman Zulu as well as the superb Swedish jazz and soul collective Jive Connection for this album back in 2002. It was thought to be a lost recording until it recently showed up and now gets fully revived by Strut. There are strong political links between these countries which no doubt adds weight to this musical link up. It is a great exchange of cultures from parables to laments on child abuse to tunes that fuse reggae, jazz and post-punk with township styles.
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