Review: Peoples Potential Unlimited or PPU, is one of the freshest funk labels out there, whether serving up new funk sounds that sound old, or reissuing classic funk sounds that seem bang up to date. Often lo-fi in design but high in emotion, they make for party-starting gems with real swagger. This latest limited 7" is a reissue of a classic from The X-Man, who has apparently been locked away in the Detroit Psychiatric Hospital for the last 30 years. His aggressive funk style pairs driving drums and taught synths with libidinous vocal delivers and plenty of great guitar riffs. Here we have the driving 'That Body' paired with the more deep and bumping 'Fire Up'. Both bang.
Review: Almost five years have passed since we last heard from X Ray Ted, a Bristol-based party starter and champion turntablist best known for his occasional outings on Ghetto Funk. He's in typically funky form on his first ever vinyl outing, offering up two killer cut-and-paste workouts via a cheery Bomb Strikes "45". Both cuts are carefully crafted from largely familiar loops and samples, but tastefully enough done to ward off any accusations of cheesiness. A-side 'Mirror Ballin' is particularly potent, with the West Country producer peppering a tooled-up version of a familiar mid-tempo disco-funk groove with all manner of much-loved vocal samples. Flipside 'Party Time' lives up to its title, strengthening an even fierier disco-funk groove with the kind of cuts and samples guaranteed to get any dancefloor rocking.
Review: Fresh off the back of X-Ray Ted's debut album Moving On comes this instrumental/scratch tool version of 'Get Loose', one of the record's best-loved non single tracks. Prior to the full album's making and eventual completion, The Bristol-based DJ and producer had spent years honing his craft and refining his signature sound, which drew heavily on soul, funk, hip-hop and breaks; all of which were styles heavily indebted to the street battle breaks culture found in 90s New York and other major cities. 'Get Loose', the seventh track on the record, features British rappers Dr. Syntax and Elemental and is a fiery exploration of what it means to loosen oneself; the track features here in full original form, alongside its locked groove and acapella versions, the former of which samples an oldskool comedy set characteristic of the kinds of sources battle DJs would sift theirs from.
Review: Kazzey's 'Serious', a standout from his 2022 album Voyage, gets the vinyl treatment after making waves in the street dance scene. This collaboration with LA modern funk heavyweight XL Middleton became a favourite in dance battles and viral videos across the globe, from the west coast of the US to Japan and back to Kazzey's native France. DJs with a taste for modern funk quickly picked it up, giving the track heavy rotation in clubs. Now pressed on vinyl, the b-side features the 'Midnight Drift Remix,' which brings a smoother, late-night vibe to this dancefloor gem. With its irresistible groove and cross-continental appeal, 'Serious' is set to keep heads nodding and feet moving well into the night.
Review: XL Middleton's first 45rpm on the mighty Star Creature Universal Vibrations label is a majestic collab with the amazing Saucy Lady. 'Daydreaming' is pure good time music, packed with sunshine and to-die-for boogie baselines that wiggling away beneath jazz-funk chords and funked up drums. It's an irresistible jam as the temps go up, and if for someone reason you want to hear it without the effortlessly cool vocal, you can flip this 7" over for a fine instrumental jam. With debuts as good as this, the label is sure to want more from XL - we certainly do.
Review: Long time compadres spotted together on Mofunk as far back as four years ago with "Press Play", Zackey Force Funk and XL Middleton collide on the LA funk imprint again, this time sharing the 45" a side a piece. ZFF goes for the soothing touches, smooth with just subtle hints at sleaze while XL goes all out George Jetson with an upbeat juicy space bass strut, sprinkled keys and new jack vocals. Two dope label faces, two killer jams, one fly way to kick off 2018 from Mofunk.
Review: We're still banging XL Middleton's collab with Moniquea from back in October on the MO Funk label land already he is back with more of his squelchy analogue boogie sounds on the same label. This time Chrome Springs Eternal comes on a cassette and is backed with irresistible analogue jams. The withering chord lines and gurgling bass, pixelated pads and inherent funk of these tunes are gloriously colourful and sun-kissed. It's the soundtrack to a perfect 80s summer in LA you never lived but will feel like you have.
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