Juno Recommends Funk / Reissues October 2018

Review: Beats & Breaks strike again. Blossoming into a highly collectable 45 series throughout the year with an exciting balance of heavy hitters and more obscure funk gems, the anonymous editors behind the label have been pulling out some seriously vital break sources and giving them a polish in the drum department throughout the year. This release is all about the heavy hitters as Cerrone's staggering, tripped out proto electro get a wry chunk up and while the clam tight groove on James Brown's "Can I Get Some Help" is given the extension it deserves. These are the breaks.

Review: Sangre Joven were a Peruvian band operating mainly throughout the 70s and, along with plenty of their own original material, the outfit also worked on versions of American funk classics, such as this reinterpretation, from 1975, of Elkin & Nelson's "Samba Samba". "Zamba Zamba" adds more flavor and percussion to the already tropical groove, making it an ansolutely addictive rhythm to own and play out on the dancefloor! The Matasuna imprint have gone above and beyond with this reissue, however, as Voodoocuts gets an edit in - it becomes more dance-centric and beat-heavy compared to the original cut. A quintessentially unmissable funk belter!

Review: In the same vein as the infamous Honest Jon's complications from London, Spain's Rocafort imprint heads into the underbelly of Latin funk from New York City in the years between 1967 and 1978. There is much heavenly music to be found in this tiny corner of time and space, a cultural pocket that surely led to the future proliferation of salsa internationally. Boogaloo is the official terminology given to this particularly nutty variation of funk, and each one of these six tunes is allocated one side of the vinyl each, a tactic which makes all the sense in the world. Tunes by the likes of Mike Guaguenti Y Orquesta, Los Africanos and Brooklyn Sounds are a timeless, essential addition to anyone's record collection. This comes highly recommended.

Review: Big, big repress from the legendary Le Cam imprint right here... it's some heavenly Texan Rare Grooves by Six Feet Under, and we know you'll love this one because it flew out last time it was in. "Hot Foxy Woman" is the charmer on here, a tune capable of melting even the toughest of souls, and that's both for the music and the vocals - pure silk and charm throughout! On the flip, Christian Plicque has his own say on the matter, coming through like Barry White on the ones and twos, and giving Six Feet Under a run for their money with his wonderful version.

Review: Aside from releasing 2 albums for the imprint, Bristol's The Allergies have been a pillar of the Jalapeno label's success over the years, helping the label find its feet amid the ever-growing broken beat scene. The duo return to the catalogue with a classic helping of their very own breakbeat science, first up with the vocal-led charm of "Dance Now", a commercially-minded dancehall anthem that strays into pop and r&b with utter ease. On the flip, Andy Cooper features on the rap-pop hybrid vocals of "Fade Away", a feel-good party tune that is solely focused on getting you to move!

Review: Harlem-raised Gloria Barnes got her big break after a couple of her early recordings became big hits on the UK Northern Soul scene. Her sole album, 1971's Uptown, has long been an in-demand item amongst collectors, regularly fetching four-figure sums when copies do occasionally change hands. Here the album gets reissued for the first time, allowing those without money to burn to enjoy its rich and evocative mix of Northern style dancefloor stompers, heart aching torch songs and downtempo soul shufflers. The quality of Barnes' vocals naturally impresses throughout, but the musical backing - provided at different points by the Hustlers, the Disciples and Ohio Players - is every bit as beguiling.

Review: Taken from their Cruise Control album released summer 2017, Swiss Afrofunk fusionists unleash two of their liveliest cuts onto a limited 45. "Funky Splash" is a rainbow of percussion, doubled up guitar riffs and outer planetary synths while "O Caminho Do Bem" is pure Lalo Schifrin cinematica laced with just the right level of psychedelic elements and dancefloor sweat. Both are quintessential modern funk instrumental. And if you're feeling these, track down the full album. Highly recommended.

Review: Iconic soul from 1968 and Rhode Island wanderer Freddie Scott, famously sampled by Biz Markie, "(You) Got What I Need" is one of those records you know before you even hear it. Freddie's balance of sincerity and swing bring a powerful presence to the big R&B groove where the band and backing vocals are following Scott's lead to the measure. Driven by more of an upbeat northern soul stomp, "Powerful Love" was no fading b-side either. A vital piece of soul history.

Review:  Two cosmic afro adventures from Lazy Robot's Tom Funk and friend Ozan Nid as they make their Afronova debut. "Whatever You Want" is a heady excursion that refuses to keep still. Coming on strong like a Smith & Mudd jam, it suddenly opens up into a near evangelistic breakdown where soaring toplines weave over a broad slow-mo highlight riff. "Keep Stepping" takes us down even deeper Balearic rabbit holes with long synth vapour trails lapping over a sedate percussive Lagosian groove.

Review: German funkateer Bjorn Wagner launched the Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band in 2007 following months spent learning to play steel drums during an extended stay in Trinidad and Tobago. 11 years on, Wagner and his trusty backing band return with album number two, "The Serpent's Mouth". As usual, the set sees them gleefully combine killer grooves - a mix-and-match fusion of funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz-funk - with a hint of humid tropical music and the distinctive melodies of oil barrel steel drums. There are, of course, nods to reggae and calypso (see "Real Hot") and a few eyebrow-raising cover versions, of which their rendition of Jan Hammer's "Crockett's Theme" from "Miami Vice" stands out.

Review: Fresh from covering Cherelle classic "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" on the mighty Omega Supreme, Moniquea Roberson returns to regular home Mofunk with some modern boogie business. Both sides of the seven-inch were produced by regular collaborator XL Middleton, who has once again excelled in delivering backing tracks rich in colourful synthesizers, squeezable P-funk bass and head-nodding mid-'80s drum machine beats. It's clear Roberson is the star attraction, though, first combining strutting raps with memorable chorus vocals on floor-friendly A-side "All The Time", before singing like a celebrated international R&B star on the slower - but no less potent -- flipside "His Lady".

Review: Quintessential Brit funk from 1982; Side On was a one off project from three members of Freeez and Potion, and "Magic" was unfortunately, their only official release. Cited by the likes of Dam Funk as an influence, the raw funk oozing through the mix on both versions was ahead of its time and veering towards more of a proto house sound that kicks dancefloors like a mule. The standard vocal is much more focused on Rick Clarke's strong vocal while the version goes all out with full bass runs and the obligatory saxophone solo. Abracadabra... Reach out and grab this.

Review: From their early jazz roots to their pop picking party time peak via their late 70s dabbles with disco, Kool & The Gang have dominated airwaves and dancefloors en mass for over 50 years, and this is one of most comprehensive collections of their work ever curated. Obviously all the big hits are present and correct but it's the lesser spotted (but still just as floor poking) jams that really make this collection shine; the hip wriggling "Slick Superchick", the swooning mournful chord changes of "Too Hot" and the sleaziest bassline they ever laid down in the form of "Higher Plane" are but three stone cold killing examples. Good times...