Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Those interested in Japanese cartoons should know Space Adventure Cobra. First broadcast in 1982, it is now considered one of the country's finest animated TV series. This triple-vinyl box set celebrates Kentano Haneda and Yuji Ono's music from the series, combining compositions featured on the show with unheard extended versions and tracks that never made the cut first time round. Musically, it's a mix of Japanese disco, sax-sporting lounge jazz, jazz-funk, neo-classical movements and eccentric interludes, all doused in layers of cosmic dust and stargazing colour. The release also comes packaged with a 12-page booklet telling the story of the series and the making of the appealing, endlessly entertaining soundtrack.

Review: Fuzzy Haskins was an original member of Parliament-Funkadelic, and you can hear his voice plastered all over some of the most vital recordings from the early era of Geogre Clinton's P funk phenomenon. Unfortunately Haskins quit the group in 1977, but he managed to leave his mark in this most vital of funk mythologies. His debut album is a cult classic with all the hallmarks of P funk at its best, with Bootsy on bass, Bernie on keys to name but a few. It's a glorious burst of brilliance for any funk freak to get hyped about - just listen to 'Which Way Do I Disco' and get it on.

Review: Soul Jazz are releasing this new album that mixes deep percussive African rhythms and Afro- Jazz with elements of hip-hop and electronica recorded in Los Angeles, California. Produced by West Coast left-field hip-hop/electronic/jazz artist Carlos Nino aka Ammon Contact, the album features Adam Rudolph, Hamid Drake and Brahim Fribgane as well as special guest and deep jazz legend Yusef Lateef. Adam Rudolph and Hamid Drake have between them played and recorded with Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Jah Wobble, Don Cherry and many more. With previous releases on Soul Jazz Records (Beautiful) and Scott Heren's (Prefuse 73) Eastern Developments label, Hu Vibrational's deep spiritual music draws on the links between Africa, Jazz music and avant-garde hip-hop. Adam Rudolph co-founded the Mandingo Griot Society and has been working together for over recent years as musical partner to the great Yusef Lateef. He also runs the Go: Organic Orchestra, a 22 piece percussion group. Carlos Nino (aka Ammon Contact) has had releases on Ninja Tune, Soul Jazz Records, Eastern Development and Plug Research. As well as being an integral part of Hu Vibrational he has also produced Dwight Trible and The Life Force Trio, Build An Ark and the Go: Organic Orchestra.