Funk

Review: As it is often best done in soul, contemporary band Annie & The Caldwells are a family affair, channelling the depths of heartache and euphoria through danceable Mississippi-born bombasts. Lead vocalist Annie Caldwell leads the band alongside her husband of 50 years Willie Joe Caldwell, and is backed by children Deborah, Anjessica, Toni, Willie Jr. and Abel. Juggling hard work with harder musical playing, Can't Lose My Soul takes aim at modern day soul greatness, documenting quotidian struggles and everyday joys in song, and centring their concept on their locality of Main Street, West Point, Mississippi, where the family have run various businesses for decades. With a record this rooted in community, who better to rep the Southern soul set than the Caldwells?

Review: Laurence "Larry" Brown only saw two singles to his name despite his boundless talents as a producer, instrumentalist and singer, and this record from 1979 is one of them. To break training is to flout the rules of the game - this is often a necessary ritual if one is to see through one's own personal vision quest in life's existential rite-of-passages, such as love and individuation. "I've been walking the line, controlling the line... I ain't been doin' what's right, baby... in the beginning, I'd give up everything for the sake of winning..." such are the musings of a man newly in love.

Review: Jean Carne was an underrated legend of disco and r&b music through the 70s and 80s and this reissue helps one of her gems back into the spotlight. On Side-1, the title track delivers a smooth, sensual slow jam that blends early 80s soul with subtle funk and electronic influences. Carne's vocal performance is nothing short of captivating, evoking both tenderness and passion in equal measure. Side-2 offers 'Heartache', another classy soul track that showcases Carne's ability to convey emotion through her rich, soulful and wide ranging vocal talents. The track effortlessly captures the smooth, seductive essence of early 80s r&b and boogie. Timeless rare grooves from yesteryear like this coming back around to be heard again is what makes reissues so important.

Review: Diplomats of Soul is the duo of Mike Allin and Ralph Tee and they are celebrated not just for their funk and soul expertise but also for releasing a steady stream of soulful gems since 2006 through their Expansions label.Continuing their solo project, they deliver a stunning cover of Barbara St. Clair's rare groove classic 'Teacherman' here. Distinct from their earlier hits, 'Teacherman' continues to redefine their promise by offering two lush 70 soul tracks: one vocal and one instrumental, continuing their tradition of soul innovation with a contemporary and groove-heavy edge.

Review: Ebony Evans is a superb soul talent who for this single worked with Manny Campbell who wrote and arranged. Originally recorded in 2004, 'Loving You Is All I Wanna Do' appeared on the Luv's Fire CD Maxi Single and later on a full album in 2006 through Coastal Records but now debut on vinyl thanks to Soul Direction. On the flip side, Lewzarius' 'Step Up" shines as a rich collaboration between Campbell and Haran Griffin, who is best known for 'Movin' Much Too Fast.' Atlanta-born Lewzarius recorded this track during his time at Coastal Records in the late 90s.

Review: This 45 delivers two standout tracks with a unique twist. On Side-1, 'Stop On By' offers a clean edit of the classic Bobby Byrd and Vicki Anderson hit, blending soulful post-disco, funk and soul elements into a timeless gem. Side-2 features 'Give A Little', complete a lilting groove, smooth, loungey edges and a classic, pure but sultry vocal that make it a dynamic but still mellow choice for more discerning rare groove DJs.

Review: The Messin About crew are back once again to show they have made a fine art of arsing about. This 7" offers up two more rarities that have never before made it to vinyl but very much deserve to have done. First up they offer the lush and soulful US disco of Golden Flamingo Orchestra's 'The Guardian Angel' which will warm through any wintery dancefloor. On the flip they change the vibe entirely with Carol Grimes's 'Uphill Peace Of Mind,' which is indeed a grimy UK funk weapon that packs a seriously rhythmic punch.

Review: How many people are too many people to be in one band? The answer is certainly not ten for ten piece Melbourne funk crew Mondo Freaks, who now offer up their debut EP. This lot originally started as a concept band playing late 70s and early 80s funk classics and they have since backed luminaries like Leroy Burgess and Evelyn "Champagne" King. The band is led by session bassist Luke Hodgson and drummer Graeme Pogson and has five talented vocalists who all shine: tracks like 'Find A Way' with Jade McRae's uplifting vocals and the Harvey Sutherland remix of 'Bells Are Ringing' are particular delights. Overall though, all of these fresh funk flavours combine live instrumentation and great songwriting to create a sound that goes well beyond homage.

Review: Under the Linkwood alias, Nick Moore has released a wealth of fine material since debuting in the late 2000s - including a string of sublime albums and EPs. Last year he popped his re-edit cherry alongside The Mighty Zaf via a two-tracker paying tribute to the late, great Phil Asher. Here he takes the next step, delivering a first solo scalpel missive via the reliable and long-running Moton imprint. On side A, the Edinburgh producer attempts to 'Make It Better' via a razor-and-tape style edit of a slap-bass-sporting, synth-wielding slice of early 80s disco-boogie perfection. We have no idea of the source material, but the lightly extended track is as infectious as it is intriguing. Over on side B, 'No Easy' is a sweet, string-laden slab of mid-tempo disco-soul sweetness, while 'Brekkers' is a squelchy, up-tempo electrofunk workout tailor-made for break-dancers.

Review: The one and only Mr. K presents a two-sided treat here starting with Janice McClain's underrated 1983 disco track and featuring a smooth, laid-back groove that blends steppers vibes with mid-tempo Philly soul. Written by McClain's uncle Milt Tennant and Thom Page, it captures a classic sound that is further enhanced by McClain's heartfelt vocals. This edit trims the rare 12" version for a 7" debut with pristine sound and the B-side flips to a fresh take on 'Brazil', which was a 1975 hit by the Ritchie Family. Mr. K's edit extends the vamp section, offering a full, uninterrupted four minutes of irresistible disco joy.

Review: Prolfic producer Neiro 'Papik' Poggi founded the Soultrend Orchestra almost 15 years ago as a vehicle for his acid jazz, funk, soul, disco and jazz-funk fantasies. The project has been 'on ice' for a while, with Now Imagine, officially the band's second studio set, appearing a decade after its predecessor. It's a typically musically rich affair with a string of guest vocalists joining the expansive 'orchestra' to run through happy, sun-splashed tracks. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from a lightly Latin-tinged cover of Sister Sledge disco classic 'Lost In Music' and the Jamiroquai-esque warmth and soul of 'Wiser' (featuring Wendy D Lewis), to the vibraphone-wielding smooth grooves of 'Touched By Your Love' and the glossy jazz-funk-goes-house rainbows of 'You Came Along' (featuring Steve Biondi).

Review: This 180g swimming pool blue vinyl is a Record Store Day exclusive of an early 80s gem. Rhyze to the Top came in 1981 and marked the debut album by American funk and r&b band Rhyze. Listening back now it's clear the record captured the vibrant energy of early 80s sounds with lush synth work and nice Casio keys. That means it is a must-have for funk and r&b heads of any era and is why original copies often sell for over L50 on second hand markets. The album has remained out of print on vinyl for 43 years up to now but for this occasion has been fully remastered. Whack it on and take yourself back to a golden age.

Review: Rufus and Chaka Khan's final stretch balances the unfiltered funk of their live performances with the studio polish of their later work. Their live recordings deliver an electrifying set, reworking classics like 'Tell Me Something Good' and 'Sweet Thing' into extended, groove-heavy jams. 'Ain't Nobody' stands outinot just as the lead single but as a masterclass in electro-funk, pairing airtight drum programming with Chaka's soaring vocal for a career-defining moment. Their studio material shifts towards sleek 80s production, offering a more restrained but still soulful contrast. A dynamic farewell from an era-defining partnership.

Review: Funk and soul group Sho Nuff were already beneficiaries of such greats as Stax Records and Malaco before their fourth LP, now reissued here through Wewantsounds, came out via the Japanese music racket King Records. Whilst their earlier records saw wide promotions in the US, Body Pressure heard the sextet relocate their appeal to the Japanese market, after having toured regularly in the Eastern isle after their prior album Stand Up For Love saw only modest sales success. Now well into their early-mid 80s embrace of boogie, the likes of 'Body Pressure', 'Monster Monster' and 'Is This For Real' hear unique pan-Asian collaborative panaceas, with recordings from Japanese funk jazz guitarist Takao Naoi standing out most notably on this sizzler.

Review: While the Reflex was the first to forge a career out of multi-track re-editing (which would have been called remixing back in the disco era, since you are rearranging using the original parts), plenty of producers have followed in his footsteps in recent times - not least popular disco and funk party-starter Smoove. Here he serves up a ninth instalment in his excellent 'Multitrack Reworks' series. On side A he does a stellar job in reinventing Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence' as a squelchy, synths-and-slap-bass sporting mid-tempo disco anthem, complete with spine-tingling vocal breakdowns. He opens side B with a stripped-back, dubbed-out take on Al Green classic 'Let's Stay Together', smartly emphasising the bittersweet beauty of the original version's orchestral accompaniment, before delivering a sweet, head-nodding take on the Emotions' 'Blind Alley'.

Review: By and large, disco albums of the 1970s and 80s are largely rubbish, mixing shorter versions of dancefloor epics (at least in their superior 12" version forms) with saccharine ballads. Sylvester's Step II, first released in 1978 and here revived in audiophile-friendly form, is an exception to the rule. Unusually, there's no excess fat and plenty of righteous, life-affirming dancefloor heat with the peerless 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' and San Fran disco-classic 'Dance (Disco Heat)' being accompanied by the high-octane disco-funk stomp of 'Grateful' and the languid soul-funk bump of 'Was It Something I Said'. Even the slower numbers are excellent, particularly 'Epilogue' - a slowed-down, gospel-tinged 'reprise' of 'Mighty Real' that's worth the admission price on its own.

Review: Whether or not this label is named in reference to long-life semi-skimmed milk, we do not know, but the tunes on it are certainly fatter than the 2% you get with UHT. 'Set Your House In Order' is the sort of raw, from-the-heart soul sound that will bring any floor to rapture with its gospel influenced lyrics, big horns and neat organ chords. It's a real dancer, while 'Lego Brick Road' is more of a funk-strutter with moody bass and upright kicks embellished with some warped vocals and playful licks. Two gems.

Review: 'Breaks' compilations featuring classic funk, soul and disco cuts with drum-breaks that could be doubled-up or sampled by DJs and producers, were once a mainstay of hip-hop culture. These days, far fewer are released, making this excellent collection of break-sporting gems from legendary Miami label T.K Records (and its T.K Disco offshoot) a pleasing development. Regardless of whether you're a hip-hop turntablist or not, there are tons of bona fide classics on show, from the impassioned call for peace that is Timmy Thomas's peerless 'Why Can't We Live Together' and the bubbly, reggae-tinged disco brilliance of Peter Brown's 'Dance With Me', to the regularly-sampled soul wonder that is Betty Wright's 'Clean Up Woman' and the strings-and-synths-laden excellence of 'Keep It Up' by Milton Wright.

Review: This two-disc collection is a brilliant collection of soulful delights, capturing the vibrant spirit of a golden era in music. Featuring a seamless blend of smooth grooves and electrifying dance tracks, it's a joyous celebration of 80s soul, funk and r&b. From silky ballads to funky floorfillers, the compilation offers something for every mood and taste. The energy kicks off with electrifying beats and infectious basslines from artists like Uncle Louie and Carl Carlton, whose dynamic performances set the tone for the journey ahead. Soulful standouts like Lamont Dozier and Valerie Horton-Brown bring heartfelt emotion, while The Chi-Lites and The Jones Girls channel timeless sophistication into their tracks. Hidden gems such as Funk Fusion Band's captivating groove and Spencer Jones' dub mix showcase the innovation and versatility that defined the decade. The seamless interplay of upbeat anthems like Aurra's joyful energy and introspective offerings from Today, Tomorrow, Forever creates a rich, varied listening experience. With its expertly curated tracklist, this compilation is a delightful rediscovery of an era when bold rhythms and heartfelt melodies ruled the airwaves, leaving an enduring legacy.

Review: Catawba Records celebrates 40 years of influential music with The Lowdown: A Catawba Records Story. Founded by industry legend Richard Mack who helped launch icons like Earth, Wind & Fire and The Jacksons, this curated compilation from the label highlights Catawba's rich legacy in disco and soul with standout tracks from Maurice Starr, Dutch Robinson and The Fantastic Aleems. It takes in all manner of infectious grooves with throwback analogue drums sounds, brilliant keys and smooth vocals with plenty of rare edits, unreleased gems and more well-known but still timeless cuts. Favourites for us include the lithe and leggy Silk jam 'Somethin' 'Bout The Way' and the soul-drenched funk-disco of Jackie Moore & Wilson Pickett's 'Seconds Of Your Love'.

Review: Soul Cal is a deep dive into America's independent 70s soul scene, expertly curated by Eothen 'Egon' Alapatt. This compilation is a prime blend of the retro-utopian vision, where small-town record stores and garages across the U.S. might have been hiding virtuosic funk and soul outfits. The bittersweet joy of these previously overlooked musicians finally getting recognition is palpable, and the music itself is an absolute thrill. Songs like Luther Davis' 'You Can Be A Star' and Pure Essence's 'Wake Up,' the album is an impressive variety of styles, from heartfelt ballads to hard-hitting funk grooves. Anubis' 'Ecology' and Mixed Feelings' 'Sha-La-La' add a dash of social consciousness, while Leon Mitchison & The Eastex Freeway Band's 'Love Is' brings smooth sophistication. Mastered by Dave Cooley and team, the sound quality is stellar, making these hidden gems shine. Soul Cal is not just a tribute but a rediscovery, offering a bittersweet glimpse into an era of soul music often overshadowed by its mainstream counterparts.