Back catalogue: Funk

Review: This classic Japanese funk tune has long been adored by erudite boogie, 80s funk and soul fans in Japan but also more internationally, and for the first time here it is now available as a 7" single. Produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu, the release includes one track each from the Jadoes albums It's Friday from 1986 and Free Drink in 1987, both of which are considered iconic in the Japanese boogie canon. 'Summer Lady' is full of glossy 80s drums and sparking melodies that bring unbridled joy and 'Friday Night' is a little more paired back but the stepping drums and male-female vocal interaction is a thing of beauty.

Review: Born and raised in Chicago, Durty Truth Records founder Darryn Jones delivers a couple of corkers for North-East England re-edit imprint Hot Biscuit Recordings. A-side 'In The Bush' is a thrillingly heavyweight jam - an Afro-funk meets Afro-disco version of a track made famous by US disco and boogie outfits, which Jones has expertly extended and rearranged in all the right places. B-side 'In The Know', meanwhile, is a take on a more classic-sounding slab of Afro-disco that boasts a superb "walking bassline", extended electric piano solos, sultry strings and a fine male lead vocal.

Review: Dutch label Universo Positivo returns with label head Jospeh Salvador and house legend Orlando Voorn. Salvador has been active since the 1990s and has worked under various aliases and labels, while Voorn is known for connecting Detroit techno with European styles, and together they find a perfect sweet spot between deep and soulful house. The filter-funk energy of 'Slap My Funk' kicks off, then there's the boogie-fried and low slung house of 'Every Man Loves', jazzy melodies and big breaks of 'Break It Down' and strident, steamy disco-house stomper 'So Well.'

Review: The Jackson 5 were a legendary American pop band consisting of famous musical brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. Managed by their father, Joe Jackson, the group achieved great success in the 1970s and were much loved amongst younger audiences. They had plenty of chart hits and several of them went on to have great solo careers, of course. Their eighth studio album, G.I.T.: Get It Together was released on September 12, 1973, under the Motown label and now gets reissued on limited red vinyl with an insert.

Review: Originally released in 1993, this special edition enhances The James Taylor Quartet's legacy with remastered tracks and bonus material. Known for its infectious grooves, soulful melodies and catchy Hammond organ riffs, it captures the energy of London's 90s jazz scene and then some. Featuring standout tracks like 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' the album seamlessly blends jazz, funk and soul and this reissue reaffirms its timeless appeal by introducing new generations to its dynamic sound while offering nostalgia for longtime fans. A cornerstone of modern jazz-funk brilliance.

Review: There's more to US funk god Rick James than just 'Super Freak' and this sprawling retrospective proves it. Across four sides, the Buffalo-born musician's full-spectrum funk is on glorious display i from the righteous bounce of 'You & I' and weed-soaked romance of 'Mary Jane', to the hard-grinding grooves of 'Ghetto Life' and 'Give It To Me Baby'. The hits are all here, but so are deeper cuts like 'She Blew My Mind (69 Times)', 'Cold Blooded' and 'Can't Stop', showing off James's twisted humour, whip-smart arrangements and genre-bending instincts. Highlights like 'Glow', 'Dance Wit Me - Part 1' and the Temptations-featuring 'Standing On The Top' cement his reputation as a psychedelic soul innovator who consistently defied convention. Even the closing Busta Rhymes flip of 'In The Ghetto' feels earned i a nod to his lasting influence on rap and r&b. This isn't just a greatest hits i it's a flex, a time capsule and a reminder that Rick James could outplay, outsing and outfreak almost anyone.

Review: Cosmic disco and spaced out Brit funk and pop fusion outfit Jamiroquai celebrates 20 years of their landmark Dynamite with a new limited edition reissue of what was their sixth studio album. Originally released in 2005, the album fused their signature funk, disco and electronic flair into smash radio hits like 'Feels Just Like It Should,' 'Seven Days in Sunny June' and '(Don't) Give Hate a Chance.' This anniversary edition comes pressed on exclusive coloured vinyl and also included is a replica promo CD sampler featuring pre-release single versions, an extended mix of the title track, and 'Black Devil Car.'

Review: Jamiroquai's The Return Of The Space Cowboy celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special reissue on "moon grey" vinyl. This edition includes Michael Gray's 2024 Good Vibe Zone edit of 'Space Cowboy', available on a physical release for the first time. The redesigned packaging, featuring foil accents, enhances the original album's iconic cover. Released in 1994, The Return Of The Space Cowboy solidified Jamiroquai's place in music, following their successful debut Emergency On Planet Earth. Fans praised its blend of jazz, funk, and soul, The album achieved platinum status in the UK, France, and Japan, and its single 'Space Cowboy' became a hit, topping the U.S. Billboard Dance charts. Musically, the album toned down its predecessor's "acid" influences in favor of funk and jazz, with tracks like 'Half The Man' and 'Stillness In Time' having a more mature sound. Political themes, such as on 'Manifest Destiny', highlighted the band's growth, addressing issues of racial injustice and homelessness. Timeless and genre-defying, The Return Of The Space Cowboy remains a classic, with its influence felt in artists like Missy Elliott and Tupac Shakur, who sampled its tracks. This reissue commemorates its enduring legacy.

Review: This is a historically significant album now gaining deserved recognition with this anniversary reissue. Born George Folurunsho Johnson in Nigeria in 1916, Ginger's Yoruba heritage shaped his music and by the late 1940s, he had moved to London and was busy collaborating with British jazz icons like Ronnie Scott, Phil Seaman and Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists. A pioneering figure, Ginger recorded some of Britain's first African music releases and mentored a young Fela Kuti and became a cornerstone of the African and West Indian musical community. By the 1960s, Ginger's mastery of Afro-Cuban percussion cemented his legacy across genres and performances, including the Notting Hill Carnival, and this album shows why he was such a singular artist.

Review: A definitive master of jazz, soul and pop sounds across the decades, Quincy Jones pulled off another gem with this genre-defying collection. It highlights an unparalleled level of musical craftsmanship where the arrangements are lush and use orchestral instruments, funky rhythms and smooth vocals to create a timeless sound. Standout tracks like 'What's Going On?' and 'Theme From The Anderson Tapes' showcase Jones' ability to merge complex jazz harmonies with commercial appeal. He also balances upbeat tracks with introspective, slower tunes with the result reflecting Quincy's deep influence on the music of the last half-century.

Review: Brooklyn's Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings were already underground legends by 2005, but this was the release that blew the doors wide open. Reissued here in a 20th anniversary remaster with full instrumental versions, it captures the group in peak form: tight, defiant and dripping with groove. From the snarling funk of 'My Man is a Mean Man' to the gospel-inflected ache of 'Stranded' and the rolling swagger of 'You're Gonna Get It', every track is a showcase for Jones' irrepressible power. 'How Long Do I Have to Wait For You?' and 'This Land is Your Land' still hit like soul standards, while 'Fish in My Dish' and 'Your Thing is a Drag' lean into grit and grind. The instrumentals only deepen the appreciation: pure rhythm section muscle. Recorded in Bushwick's now-legendary House of Soul, it's the record that built the Daptone soundiand lit the fuse for a soul revival that still resonates today.

Review: Behind the unassuming monotone cover of Colours, Judy Bailey's 1976 electric soul-jazz masterpiece, lies a richly textured, spirited recording that defies its minimalist presentation. A central figure in Australian jazz for over 70 years, pianist and composer Bailey captured the shifting jazz landscape of mid-70s Australia with Colours, a pivotal album in the country's transition from semi-acoustic jazz to electric jazz-funk. Often compared to the smooth production of Creed Taylor's CTI label, Colours features crisp drums, processed bass, and soul-jazz arrangements akin to those heard on Bob James and Joe Farrell albums, while also incorporating influences from the sensual vocals of Flora Purim and the lively flute work of Hubert Laws. Bailey's fusion of these elements with her own signature style creates a warm, sophisticated atmosphere. Tracks like the funky 'Fall Down Dead', the Latin-tinged 'Toledo', the vibrant 'Colours of My Dream' and the expansive 'The Eleven Eight Song' showcase her ability to blend genres seamlessly. With contributions from saxophonist and flutist Ken James, the album's grooves are both refined and raw, adding to its timeless appeal. Now reissued by The Roundtable, this seminal Australian jazz recording is available on vinyl in a replica gatefold sleeve, allowing new listeners to experience its vibrant energy firsthand.

Review: If you're not familiar with the 1973 American-Philippine action movie Savage! then join the club. Distributed through Roger Corman's New World Pictures, the Cirio H. Santiago production was one of around 40 that the Hollywood legend worked on at far lower costs in the Asian island nation compared with back in the US. A somewhat exploitative business model taking advantage of lower wages in a developing country, the story also used more than a few totems of the Blaxploitation canon to tell the tale of a criminal who winds up getting caught up in a revolution to overthrow a military government. Heavy stuff dealt with in a pulp fiction style, the score reflects this - funk filled guitar licks, slap bass and woodwind hooks. Hip hop selectors take note, then, there's plenty to play with here.

Review: Ekoya is the fourth album from Jupiter & Okwess and it marks a new chapter in their sound as they embrace Congolese funk, rock, Afropop and Latin influences. This record was conceived during a South American tour and recorded in Mexico so reflects a cross-cultural fusion that's deeply rooted in African history and features collaborations with artists like Flavia Coelho and Mare Advertencia. Along the way, the music tackles themes of change, resilience and the global challenges we face so tracks like 'Selele' and 'Orgillo' fuse political commentary with big rhythms. Through a great mix of languages, rich instrumentation and powerful messages, Ekoya is a wonderfully worldly celebration.