Review: Talented Italian collective Aura Safari features well known Italian house producer Nicolas amongst other fine musicians. They have released a fine album on UK label Church but now head to their homeland's Hell Yeah for a debut EP full of magic. 'Lagos Connect' fuses afro drumming with house beats, lush synth work and glowing melodies to make for something beautifully grown up and musical as well as danceable. After the reprise and dub comes 'Morning Rivers,' a super slinky and seductive jazz-funk number with glowing, golden chords and subtle cosmic rays of light.
Review: Mishell Ivon and Vincent Kwok are back and combining their skills once more with this brilliant bouncy new funk outing on The Sleepers. The first tune on this pocket-rocket of a 7" is 'High', a funky weapon that is high on life and built around well-syncopated drums and a percussive bassline. The icing on the cake is Mishell's vocals which weave in out of the synth stabs and lush keys, all of which are well arranged. Flip it over and you'll get lost in the funk once more with 'In The Dust' with its masterfully rhythmic bassline and more of those buttery Mishell vocals.
Clodagh, Joiisol, OK Asanda & Shadeemus - "Like Glue" (6:19)
Joiisol, OK Asanda & Shadeemus - "Primrose Hill" (5:06)
Review: Brownswood Recordings is back with Future Bubblers 8.0, the eighth volume of their influential annual compilation the highlights fresh talents as part of Gilles Peterson's network with support by Arts Council England and PRS Foundation. This new volume continues to spotlight unsigned talent and grow the audience for experimental music by helping emerging artists build sustainable careers by sharing revenue directly. Past artists include Yazmin Lacey, KinKai, and Lynda Dawn who have gone on to make their own mark and now this new vinyl features six tracks blending r&b, soul, funk, rap and electronic influences into all new sound worlds.
Floyd Vader - "Smoke & Mirrors" (12' version) (8:59)
DJ Solid - "I Like To Kiss" (feat Sarah Lyons - Shukie & Never Warm Chills Remake) (8:52)
Mikekon - "It's Yours" (feat Novakane Omega - Mike Lost In The Rhythm Redub) (6:15)
Guerilla Science - "First Time" (Yes mix) (6:48)
Review: The first vinyl release to grace the freshly-decked halls of the newly minted Lost In The Rhythm label, the EP known by no name other than 'EP' is a promising debut sampler of a new curative effort and community-first initiative, helmed up by Rob Coley aka. RevolutionsLDN. With the express aim of blending the soulful, intestinal feelings of deep and Chicago house with its ancestral roots, the EP achieves a rawly hewn yet neatly knitted sound; one first laid down by Floyd Vader and DJ Solid on the A, the latter of whom especially dazzles with the saw-washed amapiano-ish melancholy of 'I Like To Kiss', whose machinic dunduns serve to taper off our inhibitions to a sunset vanishing point. The pace is lifted on the B-side's choice, Mikekon's 'It's Yours', which indulges a sparse Afro-driven palette, as we're treated to a suggestive, therapeutic monologue from vocalist Novakone Omega: "I'm giving you... *the*... license... to get you some... break you off some... take you some... come get it... it's here... it's waiting..."
Review: A year after dropping his acclaimed album 'Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth' with Flying Dutchman and Acid Jazz Records, Billy unveils a fresh take on a soul classic. Recorded at LA's prestigious Henson Recording Studio, alongside producer Bob Thiele Jr. and a stellar band including Larry Goldings, Pino Paladino, Jeff Parker, James Gadson, and John Philip Shenale, he introduces three new tracks. His rendition of Gil Scott-Heron's 'Lady Day & John Coltrane', debuted on Gilles Peterson's BBC6Music, mesmerising live audiences. This special edition 7" includes a unique edit of 'Home Is Where The Hatred Is', not previously available on vinyl.
Review: For the latest volume in their ongoing Brazil 45s series, Mr Bongo has decided to change tack. The two tracks showcased here are from the golden age of Brazilian boogie. On the A-side you'll find Marcos Valle's "A Paraiba Nao E Chicago", a largely overlooked cut from his 1981 full-length Vontade De Rever Voce. While not as instantly as infectious as some of his better-known singles, it's still superb; a breezy, blue-eyed soul cut full of rising horns and sweet Portuguese vocals. On the B-side, you'll find Don Beto's 1978 disco-funk jam "Nao Quero Mais", a superb track that was seemingly inspired by the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running".
Review: Two premium Latin funk documents on one limited 45, Mr Bongo deliver once again: Marcos Valle needs no introduction to Brazilian music enthusiasts. "Mentira" is a self-cover as Valle takes his 69 classic "Mentira Carioca" and develops the dynamic with a vocal style that's highly reminiscent of Donovan. Flip for Toni Tornado's Black Rio anthem "Me Libertei". Fusing sleazy rock n roll with jazzy Latin soul, madly this is the first time it's ever graced a 45!
Review: 'Pili Pili' by Jasper Van't Hof catapulted the fusion band into the limelight in 1984, with its infectious blend of African rhythms and jazz sensibilities. This 12" EP, featuring the iconic 15-minute original alongside a 2024 Coyote edit, offers a complete tribute to the songs history. Remastered and cut for maximum impact, both versions showcase the band's dynamic energy and innovative approach to fusion music. From the hypnotic groove of the original to the reimagined Coyote edit, each track exudes a timeless appeal that will undoubtedly wow listeners on the dancefloor. This release is a testament to Pili Pili's enduring influence and Van't Hof's pioneering vision in bridging musical cultures.
Review: Cold Busted ventures into downtempo and Balearic territory here with Vanilla offering up a limited but 7" full of hazy and lo-fi beat sketches that make you ache for a sun lounger and a warm day. The gentle beats of 'Pointbreak' are offset by wonky and detuned chords that bring a sense of irreverence and 'Surfin' Summer' then casts you adrift on nice lazy sax motifs. 'Remember' keeps the grooves slow and low and 'Breeze' shuts down with another cathartic and open-skied sonic excursion. A perfect accompaniment to some mental escapism, then.
Jennifer Pastoral (Love Injection Earthly mix) (7:15)
Jennifer Pastoral (Love Injection Celestial mix) (7:11)
Jennifer Pastoral (5:04)
Review: New York City's Jennifer Vanilla - aka. Jennifer Vanilla and Brian Abelson - offered a portal into a colourful world of innovative electronic sound with their 2022 debut album Castle In The Sky, traversing a new wave, post-punk, art pop, and experimental r&b aesthetic. Now Love Injection - the just as wonderful duo of Barbie Bertisch and Paul Raffaele - team up for a booster jab to bolster Vanilla's original shot of liquid amour, also delivered via the medium of 12". Here the original track features in full naked glory on the B-side, while two live-giving remixes from Love Injection - 'Earthly' and 'Celestial' - appear on the A and B respectively. The former takes its time, through djembe and hopeful pad wash, to deliver a blissfully organic take on the original; the latter aims more squarely for the flickering stars, and is more immediate in feel. An overall exquisite, deep, spiritual house release, with an unusually soft and dubbed-out palette, reminiscent of the deeper ends of Y2K broken beat and wild, long-form nocturnal galas a-la Joaquin Claussell.
Review: Austin's Vapor Caves enlist funk heavyweights XL Middleton and E. Live for a powerful remix release that brings plenty of dance floor goodness. On the A-side, XL Middleton, who is rightly dubbed the 'Modern Funk King', delivers a high-energy boogie-blast that elevates the original track to new heights. Flip to the B-side and you will find E. Live crafting a smooth, jazz-infused remix with a relaxed, soulful vibe that's sure to win over any right-thinking dancefloor. Star Creature is on a winning streak at the moment and here delivers yet another essential joint for fans of modern funk.
Review: Vaudou Game returns with a funky Afro Cumbia workout that marks the first single from their fifth album. The French Afro-funk band expands its influence here by blending high-life guitars with Cumbia rhythms and crossing into Afro-Latin sounds, especially elements of Colombian music. 'Raler' features the captivating vocals of Spanish-English singer Clara Serra Lopez and is a mix of fresh funk and traditional rhythms while 'Koliko' pays tribute to West African street food, particularly sweet donuts found in Lome and Cotonou. Delicious.
Review: Yet another 12" rarity from the annals of UK funk & boogie history - this time the 1985 cut 'Sexy Lady' from VeiraKrew. Carribean-born and British-raised pianist Elvis Veira moved to England alongside his pianist and music teacher mother at the age of two, quickly becoming proficient on piano, guitar and bass by his early teens. His love for playing music and singing in choirs propelled him on this musical journey, and his late teens to 20s saw him supporting acts such Heatwave, Wham, Katrina and the Waves and more. In 1983 he started working under the alias VeiraKrew, and a couple of years later in 1985 laid down this 12", backed up with the title track's killer instrumental version and the B-side 'Welcome to a Dream'. It was self-released by Veira, quickly becoming a collector's item with clean copies changing hands for up to 150 a piece. The instrumentals are fresh and filled with life, and 'Welcome to a Dream' is an incredible mid-tempo bopper. Well worthy of a repress, and is sure to be in demand - so don't delay!
Review: Featuring sister funk paired with a beautiful ballad, this release is a true gem for aficionados of 1960s indie soul music. It comes from The Velvet Vettes via Tramp and is a limited pressing so don't sleep. A-side cut 'Give Me A Little Bit Of Time' is a lively one with plenty of Northern soul energy as well as lung busting vocals and great backing harmonies full of soul. Flip it over and you will find the much more slow and sentimental sounds of 'I'd Like To Know' which is a real heart melting crooner.
Review: The Vendetta Suite returns in early 2025 with a stunning pair of singles on Hell Yeah, blending acid acerb, house heat, disco d'oeuvres and a Balearic bliss. Long thought by some to be Belfast's best-kept secret, the Suite has garnered well-deserved traction for his genre-spanning productions, fusing ambient, post-rave, dub and psychedelic. First up, 'The Jam Answer' reinvents acid house with dusty analogue drums, hypnotic 303s, and cosmic cantatas; then the flipper 'Island Hill Microdot' drifts over into dreamy Chicago house and IDM, offering a lusher, tuned bamboo percussive pelagi-scape.
Review: Funk Night Records goes global again here with a new double-sider from Russia's The Vicious Seeds. They offer up two gems with different vibes on this 7". The first is 'Cruel Fist ', a perfect bit of busy and dense instrumental funk for some steamy dance floor business. On the flip is 'Cold Pressed Venom' which is a more slow-moving and psyched-out sound for late night hours. This is often the approach this outfit takes on this label and like all previous times, it works a treat once more here.
Review: Russian outfit The Vicious Seeds are back on their regular home label of Funk Night with yet another of their delightful little 7"s. As always they use each side to offer up slightly different vibes for different settings. First up is the deep-cut instrumental funk of 'Ace Of Haze' with its wah-wah guitars and psyched-out stoner vibes all seducing you into a meditative state of mind. 'Nature Identical Pleasure' then slows it down further with more libidinous vibes, prominent melodies snaking their bay through the dusty drums and grooves that move your soul.
Review: Spasibo Records present a fresh 7" by the Vicious Seeds, hailing from St. Petersburg. With vibraphonist Pavel Chizhik taking centre stage (Chizhik isn't usually a member of the band), 'Village Hassle' makes for a cleverly collaborative rare groove and instrumental reggae-soul release. The titular A-side flaunts Chizhik's vibraphone via the mix alone, fleshing out its low-end elements against a driven instrumental backbeat; 'Monthly Rainfall', meanwhile, goes for all-out slow-jammed soul by way of cross-sticked snares and offbeat chord plucks run through short-release springs.
Haunted By Your Love (Call Sender dub version) (3:17)
Review: Get your lugs around this, the first single from Leo Vidal & The Rayvelles, and you will soon be keen to know more. 'Haunted By Your Love' is a modern take on the West Coast oldies sound from Leo Vidal, a 70s soul singer from rural Virginia who brings his East Coast harmonies to croon about lost love. The Rayvelles is the duo of Fergal McBride and Tuck Nelson and are the creative force behind Echo Ray Studios in London, a space that channels the soul of Motown into contemporary music. Backing vocals are provided by Cassandra Dali and Marietta Smith while the flip has a remix by Call Sender who layers in some inviting dub weight.
Review: Record-collecting Jedis out there will know that this one is a real holy grail that is coveted by name, and now Record Store Day comes good and makes it widely available (well, in limited quantities) to all for a much more affordable price than you would get on second hand sites. This 7" allows you to experience the soulful magic of New York's The Village Choir who infuse Latin, soul, and jazz elements and more into two dancefloor gems that exude timeless elegance. Previously known for fetching over L500 on the secondhand market, this is an officially licensed reissue and what's more, it comes on nice heavyweight wax.
Review: 'Funky Broadway' by The Villagers appeared on the well-received Movements Vol.12 compilation album and was a clear standout amongst standouts. As a response to that it now makes its long-awaited debut release on standalone vinyl. It's a soul-stirring gem that brings classic sounds and heart-melting grooves. On the B-side comes the red hot garage-rock gem 'You're My Baby (Don't You Forget It)' which is originally from 1966, and which coincided with Dyke & The Blazers' original recording of 'Funky Broadway' in the same year. Neat.
Review: Spasibo Records introduces a new 7" vinyl by St. Petersburg outfit the Vicious Seeds, this time on yellow and green wax. In an unconventional move, vibraphonist Pavel Chizhik takes the spotlight and the result is that he truly enhances the band's signature sound. 'Village Hassle' offers a unique blend of rare groove and instrumental reggae-soul - the A-side highlights Chizhik's vibraphone prowess, intertwining it with a dynamic instrumental backbeat. On the flip side, 'Monthly Rainfall' delves into a soulful journey, characterized by cross-sticked snares and offbeat chord plucks which create an atmosphere reminiscent of slow-jammed soul with a contemporary twist.
Vivi Hernadez Y Su Conjunto - "Tocando Macizas" (3:51)
Grupo Caverna - "Caverna" (2:47)
Review: The 7" single Tocando Macizas by Vivi Hernandez Y Su Conjunto is a standout Latin funk gem from 1971. Known for its raw, heavy grooves, this track epitomises the best of Mexican funk, delivering an irresistible energy. Paired with Grupo Caverna's Caverna on the B-side, both tracks pack an intense rhythmic punch, combining sharp instrumentation with infectious beats. This release has gained legendary status among collectors and DJs for its rarity and quality, marking it as essential for Latin funk aficionados.
Vivi Hernadez Y Su Conjunto - "Tocando Macizas" (3:47)
Grupo Caverna - "Caverna" (2:46)
Review: Vivi Hernandez Y Su Conjunto's 'Tocando Macizas' emerges as a coveted collector's item, limited to 100 copies in a bespoke silkscreen sleeve. This 7" release captures the raw essence of 1971 Mexican funk, offering a tantalising glimpse into a pivotal moment in Latin music history. The A-side's infectious rhythm and bold instrumentation are perfectly complemented by Grupo Caverna's 'Caverna' on the flip. This rare pressing stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of vintage Latin funk, promising to be a prized addition to any discerning vinyl enthusiast's collection.
Review: Produced by Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield, released by Just Sunshine Records, over the course of five years, the community-based collective Voices Of East Harlem blessed the world with three albums and a whole string of funky singles, including these two cult tracks. "Wanted Dead Or Alive" is straight up funk with a strong splash of gospel. One of their most popular cuts, it was taken from their 1973 self-titled album. "Can You Feel It" on the B offers much more of a rare groove and funk vibe with keys and some powerful backing vocals. It still sounds as fresh as it did 45 years ago. You feeling it?
Review: Those with knowledge of rare groove should be well aware of The Voices of East Harlem's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive', a 1973 album track from the band's eponymous second album that was reissued in 1988 due to its popularity on London's rare groove scene. Here the superb, string-laden, Leroy Hutson produced classic appears on seven-inch for the first time, courtesy of Dynamite Cuts. This time round it comes backed with another killer jam from the same album: the proto-disco soul swell of 'Little People', which was famously sampled by Young Disciples on their 1991 skit 'Get Yourself Together'. Essential stuff all told.
Review: The Voices Of East Harlem were an ensemble of vocalists who for Just Sunshine Records recorded two albums under the direction of Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield. "Cashing In" is one of their most classic songs, a highly sought after track on original 7" fetches a small fortune on the collectors market. First recorded and released in 1973, it has all the hallmarks of a Leroy Hutson composition and an established audience that crosses the boundaries of northern, crossover and modern soul. The song is coupled here with "Take A Stand', another highly regarded and sought after modern soul room dance floor tracks, never previously released on 7" single until now
Review: Sounds like it came out of Lagos in 1971, actually written and recorded in Lyon in 2015: Voilaaa is the brainchild of Bruno Hovart whose long relationship with Favorite goes way back to his days as Patchworks, Mr President and The Dynamics. Recording on a whole host of vintage machines and calling upon local African singers both cuts have a real authentic sense of realness; "Spies Are Watching Me" drives with big horns and swooning strings which isn't dissimilar to the work of The Movers, while the TY Boys-esque "Le Disco Des Capitales" is a heavier, more concentrated slab of floor-minded disco where the groove takes more of a forefront role. Apparently there's a whole album of this cooking... We can't wait to hear it.
Tu Mens Devant Moi (feat Ramatou Traore - Voilaaa remix) (4:08)
Spies Are Watching Me (feat Sir Jean - Patchworks remix) (7:50)
Review: It's a while since we last heard from Bruno 'Patchworks' Hovart's Afro-disco focused Violaaa project, so this surprise set of remixes of back catalogue tracks is more than welcome. Fittingly, three of the versions come from Hovart himself under different aliases. There's a fine, tropical-tinged, sun-splashed Violaaa revision of 'Tu Mens Divant Moi' that doffs a cap to zouk music, and two deep house-tinged Patchworks versions of classic cuts. The mix of the outfit's underground hit 'Spies Are Watching Me' is a brilliant alternative take on a familiar favourite (it certainly breathes new life into the track), while the samba-house-in-Ghana revision of 'Ben Bene La' is brilliant. Throw in a quality J Kriv deep nu-disco version of 'Ku La Foon' and you have an excellent EP of tasteful, club-ready cuts.
Review: A warm welcome back to Bruno Hovart's Voilaaa project, traditionally a revivalist Afro-disco vehicle best known for 2015 dancefloor smash 'Spies Are Watching Me'. 'Fache', featuring Pat Kalla, explores similar sonic territory, with punchy Afrobeat horns, woozy chords and crunchy clavinet licks rising above a low-slung, hypnotic, dub disco-meets-Afro-boogie groove. It comes accompanied by a fine, effects-laden instrumental dub and a trio of similarly tasty bonus cuts: the warming, early garage-house and deep house influenced 'Trouble Travel' (featuring Jai-Nah), the languid, soulful and Latin-influenced 'Too Young To Die (featuring Olivia)' and the Afro-speckled disco-goes-jazz-funk loveliness of 'Trop Jeune Pour Sa'.
Review: Orlando Voorn is always spoken of as one of the key links between European and Detroit techno. Here though, in collaboration with Han Litz, he sinks into his house sound on open 'What I Love' which is utterly gorgeous with its Roy Ayres flutes, jazzy keys and warm, soulful drums. The Soulfood Mix ups the jazziness and makes the drums more raw, then 'Composers' brings more warming house vibes that are heartfelt and musical. A Downbeat mix reduces the original perfectly for a more cosy, cuddly feel.
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.