Review: A vibrant homage to 80s electrofunk and disco, packed with lush grooves and melodic finesse. Side-1 kicks off with 'Freak', a shimmering track steeped in 80s-inspired electrofunk, blending sleek melodies with a polished, retro vibe. 'Last Days Of Cybotron' follows, maintaining the melodic theme with a funky, futuristic edge that nods to the electro era's pioneering spirit. On Side-2, 'The Chiller Thriller' slows things down with a cool, laid-back electrofunk groove, perfect for low-key moments. 'Radio Station P You' channels early 80s R&B funk and electro in the vein of the Gap Band, delivering a nostalgic yet fresh energy. Wrapping up the release is 'Sassy Strutt', an infectious fusion of funk and house with undeniable dancefloor appeal. This collection masterfully bridges the gap between vintage electrofunk and nu-disco, making it an essential pick.
Review: Danny Krivit's officially sanctioned re-edits of Earth Wind & Fire's "Brazilian Rhyme" and "Runnin" have been sought-after since they first appeared on a Japan-only 12" back in 2004. In fact, such is demand that even later bootleg pressings now go for silly money online. As this reissue proves, though, they're arguably amongst Krivit's strongest scalpel works. Certainly, his three-minute revision of the always too short "Brazilian Rhyme" teases it out to just the right length, in the process delivering a sweltering, sing-along summer anthem. The flipside revision of the equally as summery "Runnin" is every bit as good, with Krivit making merry with the original's life-affirming scat vocals and killer piano solos.
Review: Big new jazzdance from Colin Curtis' new Earthsouls project, debuting for the UK's funk-soul-jazz outfit of the same name. Made up of Curtis in collaboration with Born74, ONJ and Mark Paul Norton, the Earthsouls permit an impressive range on an out-of-body leash, keeping us grounded whilst also laying down some essence, some gist, some spirit. From the opening jam of 'Cause & Effect', across which a deterministic drum daubing from Born74 takes centre stage and shines, to the mid-moment wonky-boxy disco charmer 'Desire For Hire' and the closing funk something-or-other that is 'Across The Tracks', this is a legitimately wicked new EP, one which should probably be suppressed for its propagation of such potent sonic alchemies - that is, if we lived in a more sensible world.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Canadian go-slow master Eddie C is back with more of his sumptuous and sensuous grooves on the magnificent Funkyjaws Music. This new 12" kicks off with the emotionally intense and gospel-laced vocal sounds of 'Jesus Calling' with a passionate pastor lighting up the airways. 'Show Me The Way' is a more paired down sound this time with a raw soul edge and nice dusty drums, then 'Superior Disco' brings some lavish string stabs and funky basslines to some killer instrumental grooves. 'Loud Minority' closes out with some lovely jazzy organ work over more low-slung and dusty disco beats.
Review: Freestyle Records has got a brilliant and rather rare bit of boogie here in the form of Eddie Capone's 'I Wont Give You Up.' This is the first officially licensed reissue of this 1985 gem by the reggae, funk and soul mainstay of that decade. He played with various noted outfits such as Chairmen of the Board, Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come and Edwin Starr and was also in the short-lived band Casablanca. He founded the Treatment band in the early 1980s and played with a rotating cast of musicians. The tunes included on this 7" are some of them with Diane Jones providing vocals on the A-side, which is the standout gem.
Review: Freestyle Records delivers another UK boogie gem with Eddie Capone's Treatment, reissuing the 1985 white label rarity Only You Know What I Like. Limited to just 300 copies worldwide, this release shines a light on Capone's legacy. A stalwart of the UK's reggae, soul and funk scenes since the 70s, Eddie Capone formed Treatment in the early 80s, blending a rotating cast of talent. The track has become a sought-after deep cut for selectors, continuing Capone's influence across generations of musicians and DJs.
Review: Denie Corbett, Marva Hicks, Susan Beaubian, Sylvia Striplin and Vivian Prince are Eighites Ladies, a vocal ensemble best known for their hit 'Turned On To You'. An iconic rare groove gem from the 80s, it has since been sampled any number of times by giants like A Tribe Called Quest. An edited version has been put out before on an Expansion 7" but an extended version has alway been sought after. Well, here it is along with 'Give Me Your Love', a solo tune from Sylvia. 'Sing Me' also makes the cut to ensure this soul gem is an essential pick up.
Review: Africa Seven's A7 Edits offshoot has already proved to be one of the better re-edit series around, primarily because they consistently employ some of the best re-editors in the business, offering them the opportunity to select tracks they want to rework from the parent label's vast catalogue of licensed cuts. This edition - the seventh EP to date - is another action-packed winner. Rising star Alan Dixon delivers a lightly tooled-up, all-action revision of Gyedu Bley Amadou's tropical disco classic 'Highlife', before Barcelona-based John Talabot and Pional re-frame Ekambi Brilliant's 'Afrika Afrika' as a kind of Afro-post-punk/dub disco mash-up. Over on side B, Escapade dances through a bouncy disco-house take on Pasteur Lappe's 'Na Real Sekele Fo Ya', while Jacques Renault expertly rearranges Michael Amara's Afro-disco-funk staple 'New Bell'.
Review: Andy Meecham's forthcoming ninth album as the Emperor Machine, Island Boogie, is a genuine treat - a wonderfully colourful and effects-laden trip into what the former Bizarre Inc and Chicken Lips man calls 'electronic cosmic disco-boogie'. To get us all in the Mood, Leng have served up this EP of dubs and remixes. In the latter category you'll find a superb, piano solo-laden proto-house rework of 'Devoilez-Vous' by fellow Stafford act T Kutt, and a typically warm, languid Balearic disco interpretation of 'Island Boogie' by Leng co-founder Mudd. Meecham delivers two wonderfully skeletal, wayward and trippy instrumental dubs, lightly transforming 'Devoilez-Vous' and 'La Cassette' in turn. In a word: essential.
Review: ** PPU REPRESS ** Following the killer Moon B album II, the peerless Peoples Potential Unlimited wind back the clock to bring us some unreleased late '80s material from Evans Pyramid. The alias of Boston musician Andre Evans, the disco and boogie project was the subject of an extensive retrospective a few years ago, but PPU have managed to uncover these two further gems regardless. "Where Love Lives" is the killer cut here, an "accelerated funk anthem" whose vintage synth bass sounds particularly relevant in today's retro-obsessed musical climate. On the B-side is "I Want Your Body", from Evans' side project Royale, a more classic disco number that still hits all the right notes.
Review: 'Everything You're About to Hear Is True' is a home for the now well-documented breed of 'unknown artist' seeking an outlet to release their disco edits and this second instalment by yet another mysterious figure hears a blitzing blend of electronic and acoustic parts, marrying tropes such as sports-game chants, reverb-drenched balearic boogie and funk across four tracks.
Review: French label Boogie Butt gets us moving and grooving once more with a tasty new EP in the form of The Boogievison EP. It features a lead single from Ian Ash & Ella May, 'I Want To Thank You,' which pairs some jazzy chord work with a low-slung and warm house groove. The bass is funky and the vocals are seductive. It comes as an instrumental as well as a more direct and harder-edged Mr Doris & D-Funk remix. On the flip is Jessie Wagner & Fostin meet Ian Ash with 'Try Again,' a lovely soulful house groove with sublime and emotive vocals over another lush bass guitar. All very sweet tunes, these.
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