Guarapachanga (A Nicholson Miquifaye remix) (9:14)
Guarapachanga (A Nicholson Miquifaye reprise) (5:56)
Review: The New York-based (U)nity is made up of Michael Valeanu, Axel Tosca Laugart, Chris Smith, Max Cudworth and Amaury Acosta. They formed the band in 2006 as a project to explore Afro-Cuban jazz, funk, soul and contemporary electronica. They say they've been influenced by everyone from Chucho Valdes to Art Blakey to Led Zeppelin to Kendrick Lamar, and you can definitely hear all of that in this jawdropping work. "Guarapachanga" is special in that it was the first song written by the band back in their days as music students at The New School. It's derived from the style known as guarapachangeo - the most advanced form of Cuban rumba, heavily improvisational and based on very complex rhythms and melodies. On this recording, (U)nity is graced with a guest performance by Grammy Award winner Pedrito Martinez, a master rumbero, one of the greatest conga players ever, an innovator who has left a permanent mark on Cuban music. Martinez is also a priest in the Yoruba religion and a historian of Cuban culture.
Over its eight and a half minutes, "Guarapachanga" twists and turns and journeys through a mind bending array of different tempos and modes, from Latin jazz to hip hop, ultimately ending with a trippy ambient soundscape. The whole thing is overlaid with free spirited melody, soul and the Afro-Cuban essence that is the band's lifeblood. The white-hot live playing gives it the feel of the best early-morning jam session, yet it packs a sonic punch that will make it sound incredible on a good sound system in the hands of adventurous DJs in the world-beat or spiritual-house vein. If you didn't know "Guarapachanga" was a contemporary work you might mistake it for a Loft classic; yet it's also as fresh and exciting as anything you'll hear this year.
Review: The brilliantly entitled 1619 Bad Ass Band covered myriad different styles from mellow sound to furious funk on their superlative and self-titled debut long player back in 1976. Two of it's standout tunes now get pulled and pressed on this red hot 7" from P-Vine, complete with a flip-back sleeve. That LP is a rare one amongst the famous TSG catalogue and first up from it is the mid-tempo dance gem 'Nothing Can Stop My Loving You' while on the flip there is the more heavy funk sound of 'Step Out' which anyone who has listened to any DJ Shadow will know he sampled.
Review: The 4 Jades are a mysterious soul and funk group from Ohio, who first released these two stunning tracks in 1972 under the label Cin-Town Records. Written and produced by label owner Wilbert Longmire, who also features on guitar here, he joins the likes of William L Johnson for a loving stylistic homage to the likes of James Brown and Curtis Mayfield here. Both 'Gee, How I Miss You' and 'Doon-Chang' express the sultrier and waltzier respective ends of the Jades' sound; don't let their name fool you, as they're anything but 'jaded', with the former track flaunting their lithely harmonic acapella abilities and the latter reflecting a more sexually tense atmosphere, one that hardly assumes a thing.
Review: looking for a drum and breaks heavy 45 to destroy your dancefloor ? Try this for size picking up props from those big DJ's in the know - Limited to 200 hand -numbered copies . Don't sleep !
Review: Only 230 copies of this hot-to-trot seven-inch exist, so you'll have to move fast to secure a copy. It's certainly well worth picking up, thanks to the quality of the cut-and-paste antics on show from Gimme Some More main men the 45 Brothers. Taking a similar approach to Double Dee and Steinski, "Next Level" sees them stitch together a variety of killer funk grooves and sweaty breakbeats, which are then peppered with all manner of classic hip-hop vocal samples. Flipside "Right On" is an altogether deeper affair with a hazier, more undulating feel and excellent use of deep Rhodes chords, flanged guitar licks and drifting female vocal samples.
Review: 'Mysterious Vibes' is the latest of several new releases by piano trio 45trio for Bloom Music Japan. As always led by pianist and producer Swing-O, 45trio demonstrate here a slow-honed mastery of nighttime, quayside funk, with the titular A-side of this fresh 7" procuring a deft combo of searchlit synth and vivacious vocoder. The B's 'A Little Spice' breaks from this with a strutting walking bass and backbeat combo, harking an Afro-Brazilian piano tinge.
Review: Soon to be followed by two more from the mighty Ratio - ACR:EPC and ACR:EPR - EPA is the opening chapter in a triptych born from nothing. Or at least no fixed plan or specific agenda. A day spent jamming in the studio with close friend of the band and regular vocal collaborator, Denise Johnson, the recordings here and on the pair still to come represent the work they did that day, shortly before the world lost the woman in question forever.
Passing away in July 2020, well before her time, this is ACR paying tribute to another integral part of the Manchester music Factory. From the hypnotic and woozy 'Wonderland', where Donna Summer meets acid jazz, to the more straight-laced disco material - delivered with an edge you'd expect in terms of instrumentation and vocals - EPA is a fitting way to honour her legacy.
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band - "What Can You Bring Me?" (2:45)
Review: You just cannot miss with this superb label which is now up to release number 33 in this series. And the latest is a golden-era classic featuring legendary mic men A Tribe Called Quest and top soul boy Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band. The A-side features the track taken from A Tribe Called Quest's Love Movement album so is packed with their signature beats and bars. On the B-side, you are treated to the funky original sample source from Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band which delivers a raw, infectious groove. If you love classic hip hop and funk, and why wouldn't you, this is a great pairing.
Curtis Baker & The Bravehearts - "Fried Fish ’n’ Collard Greens" (2:40)
The Native Yinzer - "The Hip Strip" (2:33)
Review: The fourth edition in Original Gravity's Down In The Basement series, which gathers instrumental soul and swing cuts onto worthy 7" slabs, resounding the fervent 1960s decadal gap in which mod reigned supreme. With juleps flowing and kneecaps knocking, Abramo & Nestor bring newfangled electric pianistic swing with 'Dig It!', while a twinned "hit it!" injunction is heard from Floyd James & The GTs on the reissued 'Work That Thang'; James' voice is tubed and speed-delayed to terrific effect, achieving a sprung intonation. Curtis Baker brassifies the bonanza with the lively 'Fried Fish 'n' Collard Greens', while The Native Yinzer's exiting excitation 'The Hip Strip' quilts our ears with a mnemic, down-feathery Hammond-breaks bit.
Review: The studio of Harry J's in Jamaica has turned out another pair of belters here. This limited edition and hand-numbered 7" features two killer 1969 tunes. The first is a bittersweet roots tune with a lead trumpet that does all the work. It's in conversation with the organ below and as they to and fro, expressing their pair, the bass rumbles and the percussion jangles. As well as that standout from Richard Ace, the flip-side has a super rare tune 'Candy Lady' by Hugh Black & George Ferris. It's another earthy tune with lovestruck vocals.
Review: As the title suggests, there's an undeniably humid, sun-kissed and tropical feel to Act of Sedition's latest double-dose of seven-inch re-edits. Accedo Domingo lives up to his name by adding squelchy TB-303 lines and relaxed house beats to a stirring Cape Verde dancefloor jam on "Corre Riba", before Those Guys From Athens deliver a chunky, house-style revision of a turn-of-the-80s MPB classic ("No Bola"). Over on the second "45", DJ Laurel tools up an undeniably funky disco number (the stellar "Peanut Man") before Monsieur Von Pratt makes an already heavy disco-funk number even weightier ("Lose Your Mind").
The Born Messengers - Let Love Flow (LLorcavaller remix) (4:48)
Coffe & Cocaine (Bruno Belissimo edit) (3:39)
It Ain't Reggae (Lego edit) (4:21)
This Time Baby (Bully Boy dub) (4:43)
Review: Those playful edit and remix maestros at French label Act of Sedition are back with another red hot, super limited 2 x 7" special. It kicks off with a nice languid remix of the classic 'Let Love Be Free' with an extra low slung sleazy bassline beneath the gorgeous vocal. Bruno Belissimo goes for a heavy, scuffed up deep house take on 'Coffee & Cocaine' that has a vast bassline and some jazzy keys all tumbling off grid. Lego edits 'It Aint Reggae' into a high speed boogie gem and Bully Boy offers a chunky disco stomper to round things out.
Review: Soul fans are in heaven this month, just from the releases of Soul Direction alone. The label has been hard at work serving up plenty of golden nuggets and next in the spotlight is Joe Adams. 'That's Not Half Bad' is his stunning version of the Gene Woodbury classic. This is another lost tune that was found on a DAT tape recording made from material that was laying around in an old basement. It comes steeped in rich Philly soul and with gorgeous vocals that for us outshine the original. On the flip, it is backed with an equally sublime mid-tempo heart-wrencher for those tender moments.
Review: Florence Adooni's relationship with Philophon goes back some time. She was the voice of Guy One's group and featured on his hit 'Estre' while she also provided vocals for Jimi Tenor's club classic 'Vocalize My Luv'. Under her own name, she has also dropped a series of top albums that have earned her the title of "the queen of Frafra-Gospel". This super sweet 45rpm typifies that sound with shakers and hand clapping, acoustic guitars and earthy drum sounds. 'Yinne' is upbeat and sunny and rich in melody and 'Fo Yelle' is much more heartfelt and introspective. Both are great.
Review: This release was deftly crafted by Visceral Grooves in collaboration with Dig. Find. Listen. Sample. Chop. Repeat., featuring the duo of LA artists Sankofa and J. Dankworth. Side A is a killer instrumental hip-hop cover of the Billy Brooks' classic 40 Days, while side B is a slow-burning original composition by the band Aesthetic, lifted from the forthcoming album 'Anesthetic'.
Review: Whereas most record label prefer to revel in the idea of the finished project, a smaller cohort still prefers to play up the idea of the cutting room floor, the dubplate, the manuscript, the demo. Whilst dubstep might've revived the dubplates trend for a more contemporary listener, US imprint Disco Dub Demos (how apt) know all too well that of the earliest forms of this "rawness fetishism" in music emerged from disco. Here the label-born moniker African Duplate lays down four ultra-utilitarian tools that shoot squarely for the essence of - they name it - 'Afro Disco'. On the B-side also comes a worthy, somewhat haunting flip track, 'Come On & Groove It'.
Review: African Dubplate delivers a thrilling selection of classic and rare Afro jams, reworked and pressed with a disco single flair. Though the mysterious artist behind the project remains anonymous, it's clear the source material hails from the rich well of African rhythms. Each track brings fresh energy to timeless sounds, crafted with the dancefloor in mind. Be sure not to miss out as this limited stock release is sure to fly off the shelves. Grab yours while you can!
Review: Nothing screams global music culture like a Senegalese-Japanese Afrobeat band, although listening to Afro Begue you would imagine all creative minds involved come from the mother continent. "Boula Niit Tognie" is a wonderfully expressive slice of Afrobeat in the finest tradition of the sound, all interwoven guitar twisting out complex but utterly natural sounding configurations, and a tumbling rhythm section you can happily float away to. Ryuhei The Man steps up for a re-edit on the flip that does a delicate job of beefing the track up for the club - the difference is subtle, but worthwhile, like a good re-edit should be.
Review: Hot Casa France reissue a sultry drum workout from master Turkish darbouka player Yasar Akpence's 2004 album 'Passion Percussion'. 'Desert wind' layers unbelievably tight darbouka trills and phrases over a pulsing, almost dembow-esque core, making for a perfect Balearic DJ tool for any occasion. We can imagine this one bookending hypnotic techno wormholes in a small hours Donato Dozzy set, with its wide stereo drum intrusions and tight production longing to be aired off a suitably weighty soundsystem. Truly chameleonic and compelling music!
Review: Kalita Records proudly unveils the reissue of the legendary gospel disco anthem, 'Doing Our Thing With Pride' by the Al-Dos Band, alongside the previously unheard gem, 'Love Jones Coming Down.' Originally crafted in 1976 by William and Elizabeth Robinson in Greenville, South Carolina, this soulful masterpiece captures the essence of uplifting gospel disco, blending seamlessly between tranquil listening and dancefloor euphoria. Originally pressed in a minuscule run of 200 copies on their own Warmer Productions label, the single struggled to find its place amidst the musical landscape of its era. However, its scarcity only enhanced its allure, becoming a holy grail for collectors willing to pay top dollar for a rare original. Following their successful excavation of the band's unreleased album in 2021, Kalita Records now presents this coveted record in a limited-edition 7" picture sleeve single, ensuring its legacy is preserved and accessible to a new generation of music enthusiasts.
Review: Alessandro Alessandroni is a library music legend who set the blueprint for the genre early on and then managed to get even more famous because of providing the iconic whistle on famous spaghetti western 'A Fistful of Dollars'. The influential composer and musician had a big say in the world of soundtracks during the 60s and 70sFour Flies have often released his work or covers of it. The tunes on this 7" are taken from an obscure 1975 Italian film by Elio Bartolini. They walk the thin line between disco and funk and jazz-funk with big horn and rhythm sections. Both might have been lost forever if it weren't for the fact that this label put them on the now modern classic and hard to find compilations Esterno Notte and Esterno Giorno.
Review: As showcased by DJ Koco from Japan on instagram and as the label artwork makes clear, this two-tracker from the previously unheard Alex Santos Orchestra was made in tribute to Creed Taylor's legendary CTI Records imprint, which during the 1970s released some of the finest jazz, jazz-funk and fusion ever made. On side A the studio collective gives their interpretation of Freddie Hubbard's 1970 epic 'Red Clay', with the track's most famous musical elements - jaunty sax riffs and mazy electric piano motifs - rising above a funkier, warmer and tighter interpretation of the track's low-end groove. Turn to the flip for their version of Bob James' favourite 'Nautilus', a harder edge take that combines a faithfully spacey take on the original's electric piano melody with sweatier beats and heavier horns.
Review: Los Angeles' Alex Santos Orchestra previously paid tribute to classic jazz-funk imprint Red Clay Records via a 45 featuring covers of two classic cuts. On this follow-up, they've turned their attention to another similarly lauded label, Flying Dutchman Records, offering their interpretations of two tracks associated with one of the imprint's most-loved artists, Lonnie Liston Smith. On the A-side they handle 'Devika (Goddess)', a David Hubbard composition that they re-frame as an atmospheric, bass guitar-led slab of laidback, head-nodding jazz funk full of warming electric piano, flanged funk guitars and hazy horns. Arguably even better is their party-starting take on Liston-Smith's most celebrated tune, 'Expansions', whose familiar bassline and infectious groove never fails to get dancefloors moving.
Got To Get Your Love (Muro Diguma edit - instrumental) (4:15)
Review: The latest set of Diguma Edits sees dusty-fingered Japanese digger-turned-re-editor DJ Muro take his scalpel to 'Got to Get Your Love' by Clyde Alexander & Sanction, a suspenseful and action-packed 1980 number from producers Peter Brown and Gary Davis. Muro first cuts down and compresses the ten-minute vocal version, making merry with the track's unusual combination of classic disco grooves, showtunes-style orchestration and eccentric vocals. Over on the flip he does a similar job on the slightly different instrumental take, in turns showcasing the track's crunchy guitars, warming electric pianos, spacey synths and grandiose orchestration.
Review: If pure party-starting pleasure is your thing, you'll find plenty of instant gratification within the bulging catalogue of Bristol boys The Allergies. Alternatively, you could start with the pair's new seven-inch single, which boasts two steaming summer anthems in the making. Their old pals the Cuban Boys guest on A-side "Let Them Know", adding their distinctive rapped and sung vocals to a hip-swinging mambo-influenced backing track full to bursting with Cuban rhythms, jaunty guitar licks and barrio horns. Over on the flip, regular collaborator Andy Cooper raps his way through a fiery funk-rock-meets hip-hop bomb that will have hands shooting skywards faster than you can say, "Mine's a Tequila shooter!"
Review: The Allergies' latest offering is a double dose of sample-heavy goodness, a testament to their cratedigging prowess and knack for flipping vintage sounds into dancefloor gold. 'Knock Me Off My Feet' is a glorious reimagining of a late-sixties Southern soul 45. The original Motown-influenced arrangement is already a potent brew, but The Allergies inject it with a booster shot of fat drums, beefy bass, punchy percussion, and soaring horns, propelling it into another dimension entirely. It's a vibrant, energetic track that's sure to get any party started. On the flip side, 'Let Me Hear You Say' transports us back to the sweaty, pulsating energy of the early-80s New York club scene. Old-school MC chants intertwine with strutting disco loops, creating a sleek, slinky groove that's pure retro realness. The beat is infectious and relentless, a hypnotic pulse that demands movement. This 7" single is a delightful double-header of dancefloor delights, a testament to The Allergies' ability to breathe new life into vintage sounds. It's a must-have for any self-respecting vinyl enthusiast and a guaranteed mood-booster for any occasion. The Allergies have once again proven their mastery of the sample-based art form, delivering two tracks that are both respectful of their source material and utterly transformative. A joyous celebration of music's past, reimagined for the present.
Review: Jalepeno continues to offer-up must-have singles from the Allergies most recent - and, in our view, most impressive - album, Say The Word. This double A-side "45" features two of that set's most impactful cuts. On the A-side you'll find 'Get Yourself Some', a bustling vocal funk workout laden with gnarly funk-rock guitars, punchy horn blasts, bluesy harmonica motifs and wild Hammond organ licks. On the reverse, mic men Dr Syntax and Skunkadelic lend a hand on 'I'm On It', where the pair's deep-throated raps ride an Incredible Bongo Band style groove punctuated with jaunty sax lines and heavy organ riffs.
Are You Ready (feat Andy Cooper & Marietta Smith) (3:15)
Review: Jalapeno Records is one of UK's funkiest dance labels and is has been for ages. Bristol beatmakers The Allergies are just as funky and always serve up a massive dose of sunshine on their Latin flecked sounds. The opener here is 'Move On Baby' and is one of the best tunes the pair have ever laid down. Its packed with great samples, a high speed 60s spy theme rhythm and vintage rhythm 'n' blues vocals over energetic drum breaks. It is a textbook offering form this duo with all the big hooks and horns you need to carry you to the next level. B-side banger 'Are You Ready' is a stomping soul sessions with huge vocal work from Miss Marietta Smith.
Review: The Alpha One project is led by New York music industry veteran Nicky Kalliongis, a seasoned sound engineer, producer and songwriter with experience at Atlantic Records. Adding to its pedigree, Alpha One features musicians from the iconic band Change who ensure an authentic and electrifying boogie funk sound. And that is what we have here on new single 'Changes' which will get any ass-shaking and floor pumping with its irresistible synth lines and vocals. Flip it over for an instrumental that is more dialled back and direct.
Review: You'd be hard pushed to find a better label than Hawaii's Izipho Soul when it comes to heart aching soul sounds. As it fast approaches its 100th release it is Jesus Alvarez who lands on this new 7" with two tunes taken from an album that has not knowingly been released and never maddest past the promotional test pressing on Columbia. Both just are exceptional and are from the same recording period as 'Sooner or Later', a 7" on Polydor, with Alvarez being well known at the time for his Sylvia Robinson connection and productions and performances on The Willow Band's 'Willowman' and The Nicky Newarkers 'Woman'.
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