THE ALLERGIES Vinilo y CD

Review: Jalapeno remains one of the hottest and most spicy labels out there for hip hop lovers, and now it is The Allergies who bring the heat on a new and limited edition 7". They kick this one off with 'Stanky Funk' which features Bootie Brown and brings some old school cool, plenty of retro organ chords and noodling basslines that will tie the dance floor in knots. 'Never Gonna Let Go' then ups the ante with even more raw and hard hitting breaks next to big vocals and driving brass.

Review: Clear the way when you see them coming through! Three albums deep since 2016, Jalapeno's in-house funk machine The Allergies wheel up with more brand new material. "Every Trick In The Book" shakes and slides with a wry psychedelic groove, a familiar vocal, big horns and lavish dollops of the feel-good flare the Bristol duo have made their signature. Need something spicier? Flip over for "Nuff Respect" where long-standing MC partner in vibes Andy Cooper steps up to cover one of the all time OGs: Big Daddy Kane. Back up and bow.

Review: UK beatmakers The Allergies are absolute Jalapeno mainstays who always serve up suitably sizzling and funky sounds. Following on form their last album Promised Land here back in September 2021, two of the singles from it now get pressed up to 7". The a-side is an extended version of 'Going To The Party' (feat Lyrics Born) with big drum breaks, live vocals and an atmospheric back and forth with super sized horns. 'Utility Man' (feat Andy Cooper) is a deeper, smoother cut with some mega slick vocal rhythms and lovely double bass sounds to get you bumping.

Review: Is there a more hard-working pair of party-starters than the Allergies' Rackabeat and DJ Moneyshot? The Bristol-based duo have been prolific over the last few years, yet the quality of their work seemingly hasn't suffered. Promised Land, their fifth album, is another invigorating, thrill-a-minute ride through hip-hop/funk/soul/rock/breakbeat fusion, where almost every cut is ripe for dancefloor plays. Highlights include the bluesy breakbeat bustle of 'Working On Me', the scratch-happy, Fatboy Slim-esque fun of 'Jumping Off', growling Dynamite MC hook-up 'Lean On You' (which reminded us a little of Plantlife), soul stomper 'Love Somebody' and 'Are You Ready', where Ugly Duckling's Andy Cooper and singer Marietta Smith both make their mark.

Review: Jalapeno Records is one of UK's funkiest dance labels and is has been for ages. Bristol beatmakers The Allergies are just as funky and always serve up a massive dose of sunshine on their Latin flecked sounds. The opener here is 'Move On Baby' and is one of the best tunes the pair have ever laid down. Its packed with great samples, a high speed 60s spy theme rhythm and vintage rhythm 'n' blues vocals over energetic drum breaks. It is a textbook offering form this duo with all the big hooks and horns you need to carry you to the next level. B-side banger 'Are You Ready' is a stomping soul sessions with huge vocal work from Miss Marietta Smith.

Review: Times may change and life may evolve, but the Allergies will always be unashamed party-starters whose records are both pleasingly heavy and instantly accessible. By now, you shouldn't need further proof og their skills in this department, but if you do, the Bristol combo's latest "45" is a lesson is dancefloor-igniting goodness. 'Lean on You' is a live and funk-fuelled as you'd expect, with distinctive flash-fried funk-rock guitar riffs, bustling, interestingly slung breakbeats and a fine lead vocal from Dynamite MC. Over on the flip, 'Working on Me' is a more bluesy, cut-and-paste funk breaks number that's guaranteed to get feet moving out on the dancefloor.