Our Hearts Didn't Go That Way (feat Durand Jones) (3:57)
Long Term Parking (3:05)
So Real (2:54)
Magazine (0:35)
Fight Or Fall (4:21)
Review: Brooklyn-based band 79.5 make music right now, rather than being some long-lost acts from the 80s as you might expect from the cover. The group consists of singer, songwriter and composer Kate Mattison, singer and rapper Lola Adanna, drummer Caito Sanchez, bassist Andrew Raposo and sax player and flautist Izaak Mills. Their self-titled album comes on Razor-N-Tape and captures the sound of New York City perfectly with soul and psychedelic melodies that are hard to match. From 70s underground disco to acid jazz to and sweet pop sounds, they draw on it all for this fine concoction of dancefloor gems, which also serves as a protest at the often all too male dominated world of dance music.
Review: A new take on a Jonathan Richman classic from 1977 which has lit up clubs for 45-odd years, especially during the punk era. The track's infectious rhythm has inspired various reggae remixes but now it's getting a fresh cumbia twist. Cumbia and reggae share a common groove, making them a perfect match for DJs to mix and this one was recorded in Lima by Pancho Acosta, founder and guitarist of Company Quinto, who transforms the track into an upbeat cumbia gem. The flip side features Acosta's 'Carnaval de Jujuy' blended with Money Chicha's modern take on Peru's fuzzed-out chicha sound.
Akiko & Masayasu Tzboquchi - "Love Theme From Sparticus" (feat Mbanja Ritchy aka B-Bandj - Clear Day mix) (4:34)
Review: Tom Browne's 1980 single 'Funkin' For Jamaica' has long been something of an anthem - a hybrid funk/boogie classic that remains a staple in sets of hip-hop, disco and soul DJs alike. Given its ubiquity, covering the song is fraught with danger, but remarkably Japanese producer Akiko and guest vocalist Mbanja Richy have successfully put a new spin on it. Their take is subtly tougher and more synth-heavy, with bilingual French/English vocals, nods to Zouk music and a bassline so squelchy it could have been lifted from a P-funk record. Over on the flip, the pair go mellow, deep and laidback on a pleasingly skewed hip-hop soul cover of Terry Callier's legendary vocal interpretation of Alex North's 'Love Theme' from 'Spartacus'. Inspired stuff all told.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Tough Victory (3:11)
Space (2:32)
Raise It Up (2:37)
My Jamaican Dub (2:40)
I Need Somebody To Love Tonight (4:01)
Dirt Off Your Shoulder (2:53)
Getting Nasty (3:04)
Blow Your Cover (2:34)
Represent (3:23)
The Healer (2:50)
Les Fleur (3:20)
Squaring The Circles (3:29)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
The latest must-cop record from the good people at Big Crown is a real summer special. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band serve up some seriously soul-enriching grooves, with the impossibly warm and good time vibes that come from steel drums on each and every one. The beats are rooted in funk, with fat bass and expressive horn work bring each one to life. There are sojourns into dub, disco and jazz, and the whole thing bris with so much character and personality that it cannot but put a smile on your face.
Review: A bold fusion of Afrobeat, funk and jazz on the debut LP from Blvck Spvde & The Cosmos, marking an exciting addition to Mello Music Group's catalogue. The album is steeped in legacy, with powerful rhythms and expansive arrangements, with tracks like 'Doom' revealing an intense, layered sound, while 'What You Won't Do' reinterprets a classic with introspective depth. All in all, there's a balance of forward-thinking jazz with hints of raw, soulful energy as the ten-piece ensemble capture the feel of St. Louis' live scene and a spirit that's truly timeless.
Review: This definitive triple-disc collection celebrates the pioneering spirit and musical evolution of Brass Construction, a band that consistently pushed boundaries and redefined the landscape of r&b. Spanning their ten albums, this compilation features 43 essential tracks, from the horn-laden funk of their debut to the synth-pop futurism of their final offering. Along the way, they touched upon disco, Latin jazz, rock and boogie funk, showcasing their restless creativity and mastery of diverse styles. Key tracks include the iconic 'Movin'', 'Changin'', and 'Ha Cha Cha', as well as the soulful 'L-O-V-E-U' and the infectious 'Partyline'. With detailed sleeve notes by Charles Waring, this collection is a must-have for any fan of r&b and a testament to Brass Construction's enduring legacy.
Review: Coolin' Out's back with a fourth volume of seductive edits for those more cultured dance floors. This one kicks off with 'Solstice' which is laidback and oozes cool. Gentle drums and mellifluous synths rise up from the deep cut and slow-motion groove with plenty of cosmic edge. The tight instrumentation creates a sublime atmosphere that is both full of relaxation and subtle euphoria. The flipside, an edit of Soul Vibrations,' flips the script with dusty drum breaks, a hint of Italian Library music instrumentation and some rousing melodies that get you on edge.
Johnnie Taylor - "Just The One (I've Been Looking For )" (2:42)
Review: This essential 45 brings together two hard-to-find cuts that have long been popular amongst rare groove dancers and dusty-fingered hip-hop DJs/beat-makers. On side A you'll find Cut Chemist fave 'Hey Joyce', a rare 1967 single from soul man Lou Courtney. Featuring a rasping, impassioned lead vocal from Courtney, sweet female backing vocals and the kind of semi-stomping beat that's so beloved by Northern Soul heads, it's a real must-have treat. Over on the flip you'll find Johnnie Taylor's more relaxed - but no less passionate - 'Just The One I've Been Looking For', a 1966 Stax B-side that remains a fine example of warming Southern Soul.
Review: The latest release from the TakeFingz label, DJ Katch's 7" single, dives into the blaxploitation soundscape with a fresh twist on a classic 80s hip-hop track. This installment, the fourth in Katch's series, reimagines Grandmaster Flash's iconic 'The Message,' splitting the track into two sidesiScene A and Scene B. Side-1 features an extended funky loop, evoking the feel of a hero driving into the sunset during the credits, while still retaining a vibrant dance floor groove. Side-2 offers a stripped-down, choppier version, perfect for DJs to mix or scratch. Katch's rework celebrates 50 years of hip-hop with his signature style, blending streetwise funk and jazz with distinctive samples and iconic verses. Played by notable DJs like The Allergies and Craig Charles, this release showcases Katch's talent for creating a "furtive" sound, blending classic hip-hop with a touch of cinematic flair.
Review: Toby Gee's Lowrider 7" delivers a fresh spin on two iconic tracks, turning them into fun party-fuelling artillery. On Side-1, the Racked Mix of 'Lowrider' reimagines Cypress Hill's classic into an underground groove, infusing it with a darker, more rhythmic vibe that keeps the original's essence while bringing something entirely new to the table. On Side-2, the Cracker Mix of 'Vanilla Bop' takes Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' and transforms it into a lively jam band groove. The crisp scratches and expertly crafted edits to the original vocals add a layer of excitement, making it a perfect floor filling track that's sure to get attention.
Review: DJ TRON's latest release offers a vibrant fusion of funk, hip-hop and dub influences. The A-side, 'Jamaican Champ,' delivers a dancefloor-ready groove with expertly crafted sampling that maintains high energy throughout. The B-side, 'Spice Girl,' features a fantastic horn section and an irresistible rhythm, making it a strong party anthem that captures the essence of classic ska while adding a fresh twist. This 7" is a must for fans of reggae classics and ska, offering a perfect blend of nostalgic vibes and contemporary flair.
Review: The music of Earth Wind and Fire is pretty inescapable, but you won't find us complaining. The American soul, disco and funk collective have crafted some of the greatest dance floor tunes of all time, and they still bang decades later. This Ultimate Collection gathers together the best of them on nice heavyweight yellow vinyl. From the epic 'Boogie Wonderland' to the more sentimental 'Fantasy' via super funky gem 'September' there is plenty to love here. First released in July 1999 on Columbia Records, it claimed high in the album charts and remains an invaluable collection.
Review: Cameroonian legend Victor Edimo's rare and collectable Decca Nigeria album Thank U Mamma enjoys its first reissue since being released in 1981. Five tracks tight but crammed full of vibes, this is one of the funkiest, sunniest and most vibrant albums to come out of Lagos in the early 80s. From the blissed, bless 'thank you' vocal loop of the title track to the blazing feels of "Marina Drive" to Victor's signature freak bass licks on "You", this is such a beautiful album from start to finish.
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat Yazmin Lacey) (4:11)
Ajala (0:42)
The Traveller (4:48)
N29 (3:56)
No One's Watching Me (feat Olivia Dean) (4:57)
Hear My Cry (3:31)
Shaking Body (3:14)
Expensive (6:10)
Streets Is Calling (feat Manifest & Moonchild Sanelly) (3:08)
Why I Smile (5:20)
Have Patience (2:35)
Everybody (4:01)
Review: One year on from making history as the first ever jazz band to be awarded the Mercury Prize, Ezra Collective are continuing to pump out their sensational, unique blend of jazz, roots, afrobeat and calypso. 'Dance No One's Watching' is the highly anticipated follow-up to the aforementioned award-winning 'Where I'm Meant to Be'. Set to release in September, the two singles 'God Gave Me Feet For Dancing' and 'Ajala' set the bar high. The prior is a jazzy, drum-led groove backing the buttery smooth Yazmin Lacey, a name to watch in the soul scene (famously she was scouted after being persuaded to sing on a drunken night out.) The track is a sunny interpolation of Cy Grant's 'Feeling Good' (though let's face it, Nina Simone truly made that record) with a quintessential British soul sound that brings to mind the stylings of Greentea Peng, early Jorja Smith work etc. To boil it down to 'easy listening' would feel reductive but, my God, it's easy on the ears for sure. Single number two, 'Ajala' is quite a stark contrast. Incorporating the hectic feeling of bebop classics, it's a blaring and fast-paced brass session with some great high-tempo percussive afrobeat. Taking its name from the Yoruba slang for fidgety, derived from the Nigerian journalist who one day decided to travel the world on a moped, the track does just that: it begs you to get up and move. If these two tracks are anything to go by, the world is set for a future award winner this Autumn.
Review: The PPU label of out DC is one of our favourites. It's lo-fi sound draws on disco, funk and soul and results in always magical 7"s of delightful dancefloor heat that not only serves up killer grooves, but also plenty of memorable and heart aching hooks. This new one from Glass Pyramid has it all. 'Stop It' is a lo-slung and dusty disco gem with lung busting diva vocals and hip swinging drums that will bring tears of joy to the eyes if dropped at the exact right moment in a set. On the flip, 'Better By The Minute' is another banger with hints of UK street soul in the drums and vocals.
Review: Mayer Hawthorne's debut release hears a faithful reissue via Stones Throw. 'Just Ain't Gonna Work Out' was first released in 2008 as the first forerunner to the LP A Strange Arrangement, which was released the following year. Housed on a distinctively oblong, heart-shaped, red 7", the star track hears Hawthorne segue uncertainly from serenade to breakup song, and we're treated to his trademark croaky falsetto too; too nice to pass up. B-sider 'When I Said Goodbye' is a haunting soul reminiscence, giving barbershop harmonies laid down by a ghostly troupe, amid talk of shattered wills and wistful post-breakup apologies.
Jimmy Hicks - "I'm Mr Big Stuff" (Mako & Mr Bristow edit) (3:41)
Candi Staton - "I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart" (Mako & Mr Bristow edit) (2:41)
Review: Mako & Mr Bristow are top stars of the Stank Soul Edits series and here they take care of a 15th release for the Soul Flip label. Its an imprint with a soft spot for new versions of classic sounds, as the title suggests, and here the pair turn their attention to Jimmy Hicks' reinterpretation of Jean Knight's classic 'Mr Big Stuff' and they draw out the rolling drums and iconic bass riffs then layer in the vocals and tooting horns. On the flip, Candi Staton's 'I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart' is in focus and again becomes a real dance floor heater with contemporary oomph.
Review: Most people will recognize Brian Jackson as the most important collaborator with Gil Scott-Heron - between them the pair laid down a mesmerising new kind of soul which resonates in its influence and brilliance to this day. Jackson went on to work with scores of legends of Black American music, but this new album is something altogether his own. Working with Daniel Colias from Phenomenal Handclap Band, Jackson revived a long-dormant solo project from the 70s and brought it to fruition in a set of ascendant soul cuts which speak to Jackson's mighty legacy while offering something wholly contemporary. 'All Talk' bursts with jazz funk and boogie flourishes, while 'Path to Macondo / Those Kind of Blues' takes a more introspective trip into Jackson's illustrious musicality. Forget reissue culture for a minute - here's a bonafide legend still doing it in the here and now.
The Jam - "A Solid Bond In Your Heart" (Soul Flip edit) (3:59)
The Capitols - "Cool Jerk" (Soul Flip edit) (3:53)
Review: Soul Flip are the label completely upending our idea of what 'edits' are. Rather than putting 4x4 kicks on disco classics or reinventing funk instrumentals from the ground up, take this treatment of The Jam: 'A Solid Bond In Your Heart' gets a nice glassy flip-up, with sunny rhythm guitar and handclaps backending a song we never knew had the potential to become soul music in the first place. An equal treatment is given to The Capitols' 'Cool Jerk'.
Review: It's been nearly ten years since the first release of Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics' first ever collaborative album, Jaiyede Afro, which did thorough justice to the creative possibilities of Nigerian Afrobeat that arguably haven't been represented so well since Fela Kuti's last releases. Deft rhythms, and loosely-laid-down layers of guitar and horn, ride over each other like harmonious, health-giving backings for life across this short statement of nine tracks. Now reissued via Strut, we're reminded of its spiritual mood of tricky electronics and wahhing ambiences, as it slowly expands outwards into a holistic psychedelia, more than the some of its easily discernible parts.
To See One Eagle Fly (original version 1978) (5:09)
To See One Eagle Fly (Mudds extended mix) (7:27)
Review: Well, what a way to inaugurate your label! The newly crowned Spacetalk comes through resolutely correct with this reissue of 1978's "To See One Eagle Fly" by Morrison Kincannon, a psyched-out funk bomb with a glorious blue-eyed soul twist, and a mystical sort of vibe that can proudly sit up there with the likes of Stills, Nash and Young - i.e. proggy but still groovy. There's an extended remix from Mudds, and the man goes for a kind of dub version approach; a new and different tactic to deploy over a rock tune, but effective nonetheless.
Review: One Bjorn Wagner is the mastermind behind the cosmic disco project Magic Source, a natural follow-on after the acclaimed funk outfits Mighty Mocambos and Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band. Voyage Spectral is his second album under the alias, following Earthrising in 2016. It's a dazzling display of synth-laden grooves, inspired not least by the rare and obscure cosmic disco bits made by relatively anonymous artists for European music libraries. Minimal, princely, fast disco cuts like 'Speed Boat To Atlantis' embematize the feel of this album and Wagner's oeuvre, as they nail the chilled-out psychedelic fantasy of magic-carpetting to far-off mythical worlds.
Review: Jay Murphy - Franco-American musician, producer and singer based in Paris - and South African singer songwrite Natalie Nova join forces to give a fresh spin to a classic, reinterpreting a well-loved track with their own unique flair. The original mix oozes with jazz-funk vibes, where Murphy's smooth keyboard work and Nova's soulful vocals combine effortlessly, adding new depth and energy to the timeless track. The groove is rich and inviting, pulling you into its rhythmic charm while still honouring the essence of the original. On the remix, Young Pulse brings his signature style, turning the track into a soulful, funky journey with added layers of warmth and groove. His touch injects an extra dose of funk, transforming it into an irresistible dancefloor-ready tune.
Review: Primetime Paris producer Jay Murphy first teamed up with Natalie Nova in 2022 to release 'Boogie Oogie', a rejig of the classic A Taste Of Honey song. Emphasising postmodernity, we hear a timeless club classic liquefied for a fluid psychic economy: Murphy, a Franco-American musician based in Paris, produces, sings and key-plays over this funky opus, attesting his involvement in the funk scene since as far back as the early 1990s. But now Rob Hardt and Young Pulse bring their own versions, spanning slapping, chime-trilling propulsions, and a wildout inductive monologue from an anonymous contributing vocalist: "if you think you're too cool to boogie, boy have I got news for you... I wanna see you shake your derriere..."
Now Is The Time (Ashley Beedle Warbox dubplate special)
You Wish
Mind Eye
Argha Noah
Calling
Dreddoverboard
Thinking Of Omara
Be There
Les Nuits
Morse
I Am You (live in Chicago)
Passion
Give Thx
195 lbs
70s 80s
Flip Ya Lid
Be, I Do
(Man) Tha Journey
Now Is The Time
Bless My Soul
Da Feelin
African Pirates
Mega Donutz
Mission Venice
Dextrous
Aftermath
I'm For Real
Set Me Free (Piano dub)
Nights Interlude
Review: Amazingly, it's 25 years since George 'E.A.S.E' Evelyn and then production partner Kevin 'Boy Wonder' Harper sat down and recorded "Dextrous", their monstrous, bleep-era classic on Warp. A quarter of a century later, Evelyn is still going strong, though the grooves have mellowed a lot in that time. Here, Warp celebrate the producer's epic career with a much-deserved retrospective. All the familiar favourites are present, from the rush-inducing thrill of early dancefloor smashers "I'm For Real" and "Aftermath", to the sinewy downtempo goodness of the decidedly Balearic "Les Nuits", the blazed hip-hop dub of "195 Llbs" and stoner soul of "70s 80s".
Whatever Makes You Happy (feat Taylor Williams) (2:58)
Last Forever (feat Wyatt Waddell) (2:45)
Review: Chicago multi-genre music collective Patchwork Inc. offer a distinct, subtle blend of pianistic soul and cinematic warmth on their latest 7" for Colemine. Elusively cryptic and seemingly not entirely willing to divulge their membership, we do know that North Carolina native Taylor Williams and Chicago journeyman Wyatt Waddell are nonetheless involved: their conjoined hands craft heartfelt ambles through smoothly arranged backbeats and ride-tsking R&B phrases, evoking farewell-bidding moods and last-ditch begs for togetherness.
Review: Reissued on Akarma after an untimely period of stagnation on the secondhand market, in which time it fetched unholy sharkers' prices, Chameleon Vol. 2 is an original Prince compilation album featuring a collection of demos, outtakes and studio sessions, culled from the legendary rock musician's actually existing Vault. Made up entirely of rare and unreleased tracks from the pan-chromic artist's catalogue, early editions of this one of course came out on limited transparent purple wax. Alas, this latest black vinyl pressing had to be done, to counter the secondhand scrimps. Notable tracks include an alternate dance mix of 'Come', an extended mix of the Love Symbol opener 'Thunder' and a closing menage-a-cinq and 'Five Women', written for Joe Cocker no less.
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