Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Funk editor Mister Mushi finalises the latest fleet-dispatch by the eponymous factory known as Mushi 45. All housed on a distinctive yellow, large-innered 7" record (you know, the you need the metal spindle adapter for), every release on this label is a charm. Here the dotted line marks out a well-defined classic by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock from 1998, 'It Takes Two', which in turn samples Lynn Collins' 'Think', after which this reissue is named and from which the now rather saturated vocal sample originates. James Brown's original production and backing "c'mon!" admonitions shine brightly, while Mushi's extra phattenings also serve to emphasise the mix without peaking it.

Review: Disco Donuts strike back with a back-to-back pose in the vein of pivotal disco-funk remixing from local edits master Mister Mushi. Once an out-letter of releases on his own Mushi 45 imprint, through which we heard many another reissue by the likes of Afro Breed and The Ethiopian Brothers, this second of two new migrations over to the Disco Donuts label proves a versatile sound and approach to his craft. The A-sider here features a mechanically reproducible instrumental version of Chic's 'Good Times' mashed up with Ronnie Hudson's 'West Coast Poplock', providing equal doses of freshness and reconnaissance.

Review: The first edition in Mister Mushi's 'Disco Donuts' series hears the producer flip two largely unknown disco-soul originals, both of which are like needles in haystacks. 'Can't Buy Soul' obverses this 7", riffing on Hebrew Rodgers' 1973 Original Sound classic 'Can't Buy Soul' - though it may have been eternally obfuscated by the Beatles song of similar title, the song is wickedly authentic and works just as well with a 4x4 as it did with its OG broken backbeat. 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' does similar, grabbing a tricky disco song of uncertain provenance, and lending it an obstinate, disco-mixable straightening-out.

Review: This sneaky 7" from Mister Mushi is a must-have for any discerning digger or lover of feelgood grooves. The A-side, 'Hard Lifetime', is a masterclass in sample-based alchemy, seamlessly blending a killer hip-hop-meets-funk groove with elements of David Byrne's iconic vocals from Talking Heads classic 'Once in a Lifetime'. The result is a wonderfully infectious and toe-tapping creation that breathes new life into one of music's most familiar tunes. The production is so expertly crafted that Byrne's vocals sound tailor-made for the backing track, a testament to Mister Mushi's skills as a producer and sample manipulator. On the flip, you'll find the instrumental version, stripped of the vocal sample but retaining all the infectious energy and groove of the A. A record that will undoubtedly get heads nodding and bodies moving, a testament to the enduring power of expertly crafted sample-based music.