Back in stock: All genres

Review: Spanish musician Bass Lee comes through with a dynamic rockers-style instrumental on his latest 7" release, 'Enlightenment.' The single has a killer groove and smooth dub vibes and comes from Lee's upcoming album, which, on this evidence, is going to be a vital pick up when it drops. The single was recorded and mixed by Roberto Sanchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio and he does a fine job of fusing deep, roots-inspired rhythms with rich melodic elements that cut through nicely. The band's stellar lineup includes Sanchez on drums, percussion and piano, with Lee providing bass and lead strings, while additional contributions come from Reuben Telford on strings and clavinet, and Saioa Jorrin on alto sax.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Brazilian electronics are back in vogue, and Tony Bizzaro might have just snaffled up said new wave's crown. All the way from 1976 comes 'Que Se Faz Da Vida', a strutting, suave, emotionally cool EP of only the most DJ-able and collected soul-funk. This reissue is, bizarrely, Bizarro's first ever.

Review: P-Vine Japan does great work once more here by bringing back into print some hugely sought-after sounds from the blues and r&b world. The first release in their new series revives Larry Davis' 1969 Kent Records single, which was originally written by Sherwood Fleming. The A-side, 'For 5 Long Years' delivers a gritty mid-tempo funk-blues groove while the B-side, 'I've Been Hurt So Many Times' (a classic subject for a blues tune) channels Willie Cobbs' signature sound. These will be familiar to anyone who has danced at a Northern Soul event and cannot be slept on.

Review: Kelly Finnigan, based in San Francisco, continues his rich legacy of soul with a fresh collaboration alongside fellow genre legend Renaldo Domino. The pair's new 45, kicks off with 'Keep Me In Mind,' is a track originally laid down in 1967 by Buffalo's Samson & Delilah, but Finnigan brings a modern, soul-soaked touch to the tune, locking in with tight rhythms and vibrant horns, all while channeling the essence of classic male soul duos like Sam & Dave. On the flip side, 'Let Me Count The Reasons,' pulled from Finnigan's recent A Lover Was Born, dials down the tempo into a more tender, romantic groove. Written with long-time collaborator Max Ramey, it beautifully weaves influences from Detroit to Philadelphia soul. This 45 is yet another nod to Finnigan's knack for crafting timeless soul, making it a must-have for DJs and lovers of classic, heartfelt music. With every release, Finnigan proves why he remains at the forefront of modern soul.

Review: Good luck... except, we're much likelier to be the ones who'll need the good grace of fortune, as opposed to the Melbourne mates' duo GL (which, we think, stands for Good Luck - we could be wrong). First released on the EP cassette 'Love Hexagon' - described as a homemade homage to chart-unfriendly funk and 80s romance dance - this contemporary showstopper of a tune now comes to limited edition 7" vinyl and recalls the pair's slick penchant for sporty major-minor chords and convalescent handclaps, conspiring to achieve a modern take on boogie and synth funk. With buskin socks and track headbands worn aflock, the pair pose in the middle of the basketball court, as 'Take Me Back' and 'When You See' set the soul alight by way of a nostalgic adolescent flambe.

Review: We finally get treated to this superb 7" from Grupo Majezza on Discos Mas which was due for release late last year. It features one of the band's more fiery dance floor tunes in 'La Chica Pikosita' which is all shuffling rhythms and lush string instrumentals with playful chords, percussion and vocals. It is backed with the just as hot and bhangra-tinged 'Cumbia de los Puchikas' on the reverse. These two glorious cumbia tunes are ripe for DJs and dancers alike and have never before been on wax.

Review: Mariko Ide delivers a creative rendition of DeBarge's classic 'I Like It' with her 'Lovers Reggae Mix' on this 7" single. Known for her emotional and transparent voice, Ide transforms the original into a delightful blend of Lovers rock and bossa nova, creating a fresh and breezy vibe that feels both nostalgic and innovative. The 'Lovers Reggae Mix' offers a laid-back, summery groove, while Side-2 retains the essence of the original track with a gentle, soulful twist. Taken from the Cafe Music compilation album, this single is a creative, unique, and brilliantly fun cover that showcases Ide's ability to reimagine familiar tunes in a way that's both respectful and refreshingly original.

Review: Laid Blak, the Bristol-based collective known for their genre-blending reggae sound, are back with a limited-edition release that's bound to excite fans. This strictly limited Trans Red 7" vinyl features the iconic track 'Red' from their debut album Red & Blak. Originally released in 2012, 'Red' has become a festival anthem, celebrated for its infectious chorus, "My eyes are red, I been burning!" Laid Blak's evolution from a studio project led by DJ Bunjy and MC Joe Peng into a powerful live act is well-documented. Their sound is a vibrant mix of dancehall, roots, ska, and hip-hop, with hints of jungle, bhangra and soul. The first side of this release introduces a fresh jungle remix by DJ Bunjy and DJ Kickback's side project, X-AMNT, offering a new take on the fan-favorite track. With more remixes on the horizon, this limited 7" is not just a collector's item but a celebration of Laid Blak's enduring influence in the reggae and jungle scenes.

Review: Wow! Of all the melancholic modern disco we've come across this year, this has to be the best so far, though we're surprised its popularity hasn't metastasised in size since its original Rysque Records release back in 2013. Ben Johnson and Tim Tucker make up Love Cryme, and their works combine a localist Sacramento slapper sound and a hissing, reel-to-reel feel. Compared to their Star Creature debut which brought measured but still potent titrations of purple sizzurping G-funk, 'Get It On' goes for a more minimally classic disco-soul cruise, with a sloppily gated snare and two-tone tearjerker preluding a neurotic but decadent vocal line from Tucker, as libidinous synths swell out uncontrollably from below.

Review: Please welcome new LA Afrofunk troupe Mestizo Beat. Previously known as Soulfire Collective, this debut 45 marks a clear line in the sand and an exciting future. Sweaty, energetic, tightly woven instrumentals we kick off with "Featherbed Lane", a boogie-based jam with spiralling sax leads and a guitar solo so hot you could cook a banquet on it. "Handcuffed To The Shovel", meanwhile, gets to work with a rawness, persistence and infectious rhythmic motion. We know you're going to dig this!

Review: There is no rest for the good people at Super Disco Edits - they ended 2021 in fine fashion and kick off 2022 on just as strong a footing. This time out they serve up a superb slice of soul originally recorded in 1971 by The Michicgans, who crafted it in the Don Davis studios and had it engineered by the late great Ed Wolfdrum. 'Look At My Back Wheels' has drums to die for - they're dumpy and well defined yet loose, with unique vocals up top with a raw blue eyed funk. Flip it over and you will find the slower, more romantic soul sounds of 'It's All Coming Back to Me.'

Review: Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah is the venerated producer beyond this new toast from Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer Mikey General. The pair came together during the pandemic and found plenty of common musical ground as they throw it back to the early 1980s analog rub-a-dub style. The backing track has been used in years gone by but Mikey adds his own spin to it here. He has been a mainstay in the scene since the 1980s and has fans in New York, London and Jamaica. On the flip of this one is an instrumental and dub mix, 'Prattle,' which features keysman Earl Maxton on clavinet.

Review: Holy grail alert! This gem from the 80s boogie scene is an ultra-rare 1983 release on Starville Records that is now finally reissued after decades of scarcity. Long coveted by collectors and often fetching €800-€1000 a pop, the standout track of the two is 'I Wanna Thank You'. It's a bona-fide boogie-funk gem with silky vocals, rich synths and an irresistible mid-tempo groove. Flip it over for 'Lover's Holiday,' a soulful, harmony-laced slow jam that showcases Starville's signature sophistication with aching vocals and a sense of yearning that stays with you for a long time. This is a limited press, so don't hang about.

Review: Will there ever be a time when the refrain of "Too Much War" won't be true? We can but hope. In the meantime, we can enjoy this impassioned anthem from 1978, recorded by George Hunter and Melvin Trusty as The Ovations. It's a meaningful cry to stop the war with a serious message but an easy to love rhythm and smooth groove that stays with you long after it has stopped playing. The version is tweaked with more noodling bass and spaced out effects for extra heady appeal. Of all this outfit's numerous singles, this one is the most perfect and prescient.

Review: If there's an indie band we needed back right now, surely it's Pulp. For many, the name invokes memories of Britpop fever, but to the trained ear Jarvis Cocker and his crew could not have been further removed from the brash, ballsy movement that dominated charts in the mid-late-1990s. Prior to their catapulting into the common conscious with 'Common People' and the albums Different Class and This Is Hardcore, the Sheffield outfit had been rejected and largely ignored by the masses. The irony being they probably represented the average British experience more than any other outfit they would temporarily be lumped in with as the Oases and Blurs of our world exploded. A long time coming, the return references an infamous Stone Roses gig in 1990 and aptly focuses on disappointment and the perils of nostalgia with typically leftfield, theatrical crooning. Member berries be warned, they see you and we do too.

Review: A curious artefact of Northern Soul history, this limited one-sided 7" by Eddie Regan was pressed by Anchor UK with two conflicting release dates, though 1978 is believed to be correct. Dropped during the peak of the Northern Soul explosion in the UK, 'Playing Hide & Seek' delivers a potent dose of heartfelt vocals and dancefloor-ready soul. Its raw, urgent energy and emotive delivery have made it a cult favourite, with two Northern Soul classics featured back-to-back on some issues. Do not sleep, because this will fly.

Review: This is a Jimmy Ruffin cover of The Temptations' 'He Who Picks a Rose ' written by Earl Smiley, Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield. It's a rare 7" single from a soul legend whose unmistakable voice defines a deep, emotive cut drenched in heartache and rich Motown-style production. 'He Who Picks a Rose' delivers classic themes of love and vulnerability with dramatic string arrangements and Ruffin's aching vocal performance front and centre. Originally recorded during his golden Motown years but released here by S Sound, this reissue shows the raw emotional power Ruffin brought to every performance.

Review: Junior Scaife delivers two ensouled sides, produced and co-written by Penrose mainstay Anthony Masino. One of the most gifted vocalists in the soulscape of today, Scaife infuses every note with a shrill sprechgesang, a longing, heaving intonation heard between the runs. 'Nobody Gets My Love' is an ode to tensions of love and pride, wielding the late-60s Hestor and Wylie Detroit sound as a listless instrument for impudence. On the B, 'Too Much Too Soon', offers a slow-burning ballad laced with wah guitar and a comparatively elegance, marking a standout for the lowrider soul crowd.

Review: Four Flies present the first ever 45rpm to be taken from Giuliano Sorgini's masterpiece album Zoo Folle. The library and soundtrack specialist cooked up some irresistibly groovy and funky sounds on the record and two of the best are picked here for serious DJ deployment only. 'Mad Town' opens up with some killer and funky drum breaks with a slick flute line adding extra pizzazz up top. It's a psyched out number for big dance floor moments an on the flip, 'Ultima Caccia' is a more Afro-tinged and tribal number with blissed out drums from Giuliano and some mad funky percussion by session player Enzo Restuccia.

Review: On 'Good Weed And Red Wine', Seattle funk and soul group True Loves let on as to their favourite substantive combo. It's a potent pairing indeed. Their first release since 2021's album Sunday Afternoon finds the band revitalised and funky as ever, with leading saxophonist Skerik providing pleated heat, embossing his signature brass instrument over a Morricone-ish funk maunder. The legendary Nigel Hall joins on keys, impressing both whites and blacks with warm-bodied but firm fingertip hammerings. Mature, at peak, and munchy, without either a hint of paranoia or gone-offness, this unlikely fusion of vint and splint sure doesn't turn up skint!