Review: Emilio Santiago's debut from 1975, the self-titled LP that officially marked the dawn of a new era, is still a classic to this day, and the sort of album that is the reference point to Brazil's long dynasty of rhythmic funk music. Joe Davis' Far Out label is responsible for this timely reissue, coming through with a new photo on the cover artwork - Santiago looking fly, as he always was. In so many words, this album is for anyone looking for either an affordable copy of this classic album, or a Brazilian funk album that brings you the heart and soul of Rio De Janeiro's rich musical heritage. Unmissable.
Review: Satellites' self-titled 2020 debut album won plenty of plaudits, with critics the world over hailing the Tel Aviv-based band's blend of vintage, Turkish style psychedelic folk-rock and dancefloor adjacent grooves indebted to funk, soul and disco. Aylar, the six-piece's belated sequel, continues in this vein, with the band arguably being bolder with their musical choices. For proof, check the cosmic strut of opener 'Tisaldi Mehmet Elmi', a psych-funk transformation of a traditional Turkish folk song, the low-slung grooves and sweet retro-organ melodies of 'Midnight Sweat', the gritty, thrusting and hallucinatory 'Yok Yok' and the future dancefloor anthem that is psychedelic Turkish disco gem 'Zuluf Dokolmus Yuze'.
Review: Tel Aviv funk six piece Satellites are back in orbit, boldly moving the psychedelic folk-meets-groove sound they established on their eponymous debut forward on Lp number two. Drawing from the Turkish psychedelic wave of the 60s and 70s, their first record earned international acclaim, with support from BBC Radio 6 Music and FIP, as well as live sets on Gilles Peterson's Worldwide FM and KEXP. After two years of touring, the band entered the studio with a renewed sense of purpose and a tighter musical bond. The album opener, 'Tisladi Mehmet Emmi,' transforms a traditional Turkuler into a modern psychedelic funk masterpiece, blending saz, synths, basslines, and dramatic drumming, with Rotem's husky vocals narrating timeless themes of lament. 'Midnight Sweat' reveals a sultry side, with a late-night lullaby over a slinky disco-rock groove, while 'Hot Jazz' dives into cinematic territory, showcasing their jazz and funk chops. 'Gizli Ajan' and 'Yok Yok' surprise with genre-bending jams, while 'Ikmiz Bir Fideniz' becomes a cosmic folk-funk rendition. The album closes with a dynamic duo, from the cosmic disco-fuzz of 'Zuluf Dokulmus Yuze' to the dramatic finale of 'Zuluf B (Reprised).' Where their debut set the tone, this release marks their full transformation, confidently stepping out of the shadows of their Anatolian psych heroes to create a modern yet timeless record.
Review: Disco sensation Saucy Lady has been dripping hot disco wax on our ears since 2011, and now a fourth LP's worth of the stuff again leaves us thoroughly steeped in sensation. The new album is again a standout blend of French boogie and electro-soul, taking fellow producers and performers Derrick McKenzie, Yam Who? and Jay Mumford in tow for a slick 40 minutes' worth of aerated flair. Tantalising as ever, the lead track 'What If?' urges us to "just test it out and make it a reality", as if to exploit the daring limit between pruritic fantasy and consummation in reality. Which can you handle?
Review: Along with the likes of Today & Tomorrow and Untitled (God), Sault are giving their five-deep album drops from late 2022 a more ceremonious release now. The music is too deep and rich to vanish into the melee of digital data streams, and each album's distinct qualities benefits from its own space to inhabit. On a mission from God and steeped in a raw, 70s kind of sound which shirks studio slickness in favour of absolute reality, on Earth this British outfit take themselves into realms of spiritual jazz atop their keen instinct for funk. The drums tumble, the chants murmur, and there's just no arguing with the power of the ensemble and their in-the-room vibe.
Review: Today & Tomorrow is yet another superb album from the Sault collective headed up by Dean Josiah Cover AKA Info. Not much else is known about them but there sure is a hell of a lot of music to get stuck into. This album was dropped as one of five last year - alongside 11, AIIR, Earth and Untitled (God)) - all for free and all on the same day. That is a mad thing to do and you might think they can't all be good albums, but they are. This is another lo-fi soul masterpiece from one of the best bands of our time.
Review: In November of last year Sault shocked the world of music with a five-deep drop of outstanding albums which some have reasonably deemed to be Christian deep funk. Initially offering the music out freely as a gift to God and to no doubt land their message that little bit further, now they're releasing these outstanding albums and giving each one some space to breathe. The music is steeped in the tradition of OG funk and soul, captured with a legitimate grit which lands the grooves all the deeper, and we're instantly drawn into the sound world of this spirituals-charged project transmitting from true believers to anyone who feels the funk.
Review: The Sault re-issuses keep on coming and among them comes 'Untitled (God)', intended as the dourest part of this quintuplet offering to God. This 11-track arm draws on gospel and film music more than anything else. In our view, this is the most suspenseful LP of the lot, with synthetic string sections standing in for parts that, were it not the 21st Century, we'd expect to be performed by full orchestras. No affect is lost, though: spiritual spoken-word prayers like 'Guide My Steps' recall the post-ironic vision of Dean Blunt, while everything from acapella meanderings to funk detours to improvisatory 6/4 choruses continue to pepper this long-form wonder of an album.
Review: Habibi Funk co-founder Jannis Stuertz first came across "the Holy Grail of Sudanese funk", Saif Abu Bakr and The Scorpions "Jazz, Jazz, Jazz", while browsing eBay listings a few years back. His interest piqued, he took a trip to Sudan to track down the musicians who had made a ridiculously rare LP that was changing hands for thousands of pounds online. Some four years later, his wish to reissue the set has finally come through. It was originally recorded in Kuwait in 1980 and brilliantly joins the dots between American funk, soul and rhythm and blues, traditional Sudanese vocals and rhythmic arrangements, and even a dash of Congolese soukkous. It's the first full album Habibi Funk has reissued, and with good reason: it's near perfect from start to finish.
Review: Originally planned for release last year to mark the 50th anniversary of the album's creation, Gil Scott-Heron's most renowned full-length returns in stunning, audiophile quality sound. This time round, the album has been stretched across two discs, both of which have been pressed at 45rpm for louder sound. Created by Scott-Heron and musical sparring partner Brian Jackson with the assistance of producer Bob Thiele, Pieces of a Man remains an incredible album, with a string of classic cuts - think 'Home is Where The Hatred Is', 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' and 'Save the Children' - being joined by such lesser-celebrated delights as the fizzing 'Lady Day and John Coltrane', the blissful 'I Think I'll Call It Morning' and 'A Sign of the Ages'.
Review: Gil-Scott Heron was at the peak of his powers when he recorded Free Will as a follow-up to career highlight Pieces Of A Man. Originally released in 1972, it's steeped in the song craft of its predecessor and charged with the polemic that elevated his work to some of the greatest to ever shine a light on the Black American experience. The likes of 'Speed Kills' show just how tender Scott-Heron could be, while 'Did You Hear What They Said?' Ranks as one of the most heartbreaking tracks he ever committed to tape. 'The King Alfred Plan' and 'No Knock' prefigure rap as the legend's impassioned poetry rides on the rawest of percussion tracks. It's, quite simply, a masterpiece.
Review: This seminal collaborative album by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson was released in 1975 but gets a special reissue for Record Store Day 2024. It blends jazz, soul and acute political commentary with Scott-Heron's powerful spoken-word lyrics alongside Jackson's innovative woodwind arrangements. The title track reflects the duo's global perspective and highlights the struggles for freedom and equality that are still so relevant today. The album's fusion of groove, intellect and activism marked a significant moment in Scott-Heron's career. With its poignant social messages and rich instrumentation, this record remains a timeless work of political and musical significance.
Review: The One by Will Sessions is a masterful blend of late 70s progressive funk, soul and boogie, brought to life with the help of Detroit legend Amp Fiddler and the dynamic vocal trio Dames Brown. The album tells a compelling story of love and its challenges in the heart of Detroit, with each track exuding authenticity and groove. The opening track, 'What It Is,' immediately sets the tone with its infectious rhythm, destined to become a dancefloor staple. Amp Fiddler's gritty vocals shine on 'Lost Without You,' perfectly matched by the growling bass and warm groove. 'Belle Isle Drive' offers a laid-back, Sly Stone-esque vibe, while 'Rendezvous' and 'Reminiscin' pure boogie, designed to get you moving. The expansive 'Seven Mile' brings a spacey, relaxed energy, and 'Who Am I' stands out as a soulful gem, with Dames Brown delivering impeccable harmonies. The album closes with the angular and uptempo 'Reconcile,' rounding off a flawless set. The One is an essential listen for fans of boogie and Roy Ayers, showcasing Will Sessions at their creative peak.
Review: Paris band Setenta prepare for liftoff, anticipating the upcoming 20th anniversary as a band with a new, sixth album, themed and performed with solar flair. An odyssey of Latin funk and psychedelic boogaloo, the septet provide us ample opportunity to stargaze here, merging chanting songs and tripletting wonderments with kazooing, percussive, guitar-led asteroid belt explorations. A celebration of twenty years' worth of craft-honing, the metal percussive builds of 'Tambu' and 'Sa Ki Taw' certainly demonstrate this band's rather chill skill.
Review: This is the sole recording of a fleeting guitar sextet from Caracas, Venezuela. Led by Moises "Ajoporro" Daubetire, who later founded the renowned Grupo Mango, it marks his debut in the record market. Released amidst the waning boogaloo craze of the late 60s, the LP initially garnered little attention. Yet, it has since become a coveted collector's item. Its simply arranged tracks exude charm, with standout performances like the lively guaracha 'Ahorita No' and the rhythmic guaguanco 'Rico Guaguanco.' Despite its initial obscurity, this record remains a gem, beckoning listeners to explore its musical treasures.
Review: Dark Entries is pleased to announce a deluxe reissue of Sexual Harrassment's 1983 opus I Need A Freak. Lynn Tolliver, DJ/Program Director at Cleveland's WZAK, adopted the pseudonym David Payton in order to keep his musical endeavors separate from his public persona. Sexual Harrassment (misspelled deliberately) was formed as a concept band, with members selected based on appearance and choreographic skill rather than musical ability. Tolliver's explicit lyrics focused on the central themes of desire and sexual relations. Working at a studio in Akron, he recorded an album of quirky-yet-lurid electro funk, which was released on Heat Records. Tolliver remarks, "I learned as a youngster, sex sells! The things that are rated the worst - violence, horror and sex - are the things people want to see or hear about." I Need a Freak was a surprise hit, selling over 100,000 copies.
Review: Famously, Shadow's Sweet Sweet Dreams album was panned by critics when it first appeared way back in 1984. In the years since, it has attained cult status, with collectors of Trinidadian music particularly enjoying its curious blend of bustling boogie electronics, Soca rhythms, traditional instrumentation and sassy disco-pop style. As this tasty reissue proves, the album has lost none of its lustre over the last 30 years. Put simply, it still sounds ahead of its time, with intergalactic dancefloor workouts such as "Let's Make It Up" (with its "we're gonna have a party" refrain) and "Way Way Out" resonating particularly loudly.
Review: Shango is the name for the Yoruba 'Thunder God' in Nigeria and Ojo Okeji, the leader of the Shango Dance Band was all about injecting military power and warlike energy in his own strain of Nigerian highlife and afrobeat. However, apart from all of Okeji's cult-like stories involving him and his part in the Nigerian army during a time of civil unrest in the late 60's and through to the 70's, and his often troublesome relationship with the great Fela Kuti, the truly special aspect of the Shango Dance Band album is that it was never properly released following its production in 1974. Comb & Razor have done the right thing here and, without them, this magical LP would still be locked away in the never-ending vaults of Nigerian music. This is very personal, incredibly singular African jazz-dance with a raucous psychedelic edge that lifts it high and mighty above the competition. A truly special album - DO NOT MISS IT.
Review: The candidly titled Ananda Shankar And His Music hears its first official reissue via Mr Bongo. Released on His Master's Voice in 1976, the album is a sublime collage of sitar-funk, traditional Indian classical music and psychedelic grooves, from the Indian sitarist, composer and musician. Nephew to India's legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Ananda's musical family and upbringing led to a deep respect and love of the wealth of music that emanated from his birthplace of Almora, North India. However, touring America in his 20s revealed a latent love for psychedelic rock, and this debut LP captures that obsession to a T. The fusion of cyclic, North Indian tala with Americana music is best heard on the likes of 'The Lonely Rider', which envisages the a sonorous Sonoran Desert set against an action-sequenced sitar and guitar strumming. 'Back Home' achieves similar results, with a Western, soul balladic walking bass mixing effortlessly with the sitar's distinctive, tweeting "bendre" - an exotic but compelling combo.
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