Colemine US Vinilo y CD

Review: Harlem-raised Gloria Barnes got her big break after a couple of her early recordings became big hits on the UK Northern Soul scene. Her sole album, 1971's Uptown, has long been an in-demand item amongst collectors, regularly fetching four-figure sums when copies do occasionally change hands. Here the album gets reissued for the first time, allowing those without money to burn to enjoy its rich and evocative mix of Northern style dancefloor stompers, heart aching torch songs and downtempo soul shufflers. The quality of Barnes' vocals naturally impresses throughout, but the musical backing - provided at different points by the Hustlers, the Disciples and Ohio Players - is every bit as beguiling.

Review: Black Market Brass are back on Colemine with a third full length that once again finds them offering up an all new take on Afrobeat that mixes the traditional sounds of the genre with heavy, hypnotic and sci-fi influences. Saxophonist Cole Pulice has said of the record: "We didn't leave the traditional Afro-beat sound behind, but we did allow ourselves to pull from different places with less hesitation." The nine piece album was recorded live to tap which lends it a lived-in feel and mixes organic instrumentation with heavily processed synthesizers, harsh glitches, fuzzed out guitars and raw percussion. It is a truly arresting and infectious listen.

Review: We're not sure of the back-story of Devlon Lamarr's eponymous trio, but this debut album for Colemine is an absolute killer. Lamarr is a virtuoso organist, and it's jammed-out Hammond organ and electric piano solos that naturally take centre stage throughout. That said, both drummer David McGraw and guitarist Jimmy James play their part throughout, with the former's ambidextrous fills and the latter's raw licks also catching the ear throughout. Musically, the tracks range from Meters-style heavy funk and lounge soul workouts to a range of cuts more heavily influenced by the blues of John Lee Hooker and the similarly instrumental brilliance of Booker T and the MGs.

Review: The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio are masters of the lost art of music that really makes you feel good without being cheap or cheesy. Making their sound so good is a careful mix of 60s organ jazz a la Jimmy Smith, some soulful strutting that Booker T would be proud of and plenty of sprinkles of Motion or Stax magic. The band is lead by Delvon Lamarr, a self-taught virtuosic musician who light sup each and every track, much like the warm, whirring organs that bring the funk. Expert drums and conversational playing styles all help make this one a real stand out.

Review: 'Dojo Cuts: Pieces' is a retrospective of the Australian funk and soul band's best works, harking all the way back to the six-piece's formation in 2009. Emphasising confidence, rhythmic tightness and unisons above all else, there are selections here ranging from their powerful debut album 'Take From Me' to their latest project 'Rome'. This is a project that flaunts what the band do best; expand outwards from the can't-go-wrong Atlantic/Stax Records template into something greater, not to mention adding a contemporary production sheen.

Review: Super soul group The Ironsides teased this new album with a tasty 7" on their home label Colemine back in October. The whole record was laid down at Transistor Sound Studios in the North Bay Area of California and is full of more of the life-enriching sounds you might already know and love the band for. It is a great fusion of classic psych-soul sounds with sweeping orchestral arrangements and is inspired by library music and soundtracks from the 60s and 70s. Guess including Colemine artists Kelly Finnigan and Monophonics appear to help make this most lovely of records even more special.

Review: Karate Boogaloo's latest album, Hold Your Horses, offers a captivating collection of original instrumental tunes from Melbourne, Australia's vibrant soul scene. The album's lead single 'One Hand One Bounce' sets the tone with its spacious and introspective vibe, all moody dynamics that draw the listener in. Drawing from influences like Booker T & The MG's and The Meters, Karate Boogaloo infuse their music with a blend of cinematic tension, whimsical melodies, and eerie discordance, all underpinned by heavy funk grooves. The band's chemistry, developed over 15+ years of friendship and musical collaboration, shines through each track, creating a cohesive, immersive listening experience. Recorded live with no overdubs, Hold Your Horses captures the raw energy and spontaneity of Karate Boogaloo's performances. The instrumental palete, limited to drums, guitar, bass and organ, establishes a consistent tone while allowing for neat shifts and nuanced execution.

Review: Monophonics' fifth studio album since 2012 is a real doozy. It invites you to the opening of Sage Motel, a place where all the ups and downs and human existence can be experienced. Dreams are made, hearts are broken, and all produced by bandleader Kelly Finnigan in a record that captures a timeless psychedelic soul sound with psych-rock overtones. The album is packed with heart aching high lights and that famous vintage aesthetic, with 'Warpaint' being perfectly indicative of what to expect from it overall.

Review: Monophonics haven't been on the scene since 2012, but they're now back with their fifth LP, grandly unveiling the new bougie build that is Sage Motel. Blending heavy-hearted soul with psych rock - and building off the sound that earned them their standing as one of the most impactful modern soul bands of this generation - lead single 'Warpaint' works in a lo-fi proggy soul that recalls Gnarls Barkley or Lee Fields, with lyrics singing of something beautifully simple and endemic to soul: not being able to climb down off a high.

Review: Over the last decade, San Francisco sorts Monophonics have firmly established themselves as one of the soul scene's most dynamic bands - a fiery live outfit whose distinctive blend of heavy soul and psychedelic rock has made their numerous albums must-check affairs. "It's Only Us", their fifth album and first for five years, is another superb set, with the band's now trademark sound being expanded to include songs that make extensive use of sweeping strings, softer and groovier arrangements and lyrics that tackle a variety of weighty personal, political and social subjects.

Review: Monophonics have amassed a fine following over the last decade thanks to their heavy soul and psych-rock sound. They are led by singer Kelly Finnigan and members have a rich history as veteran touring performers and as individuals growing up in the Bay Area all of which is drawn upon now for their fourth release since 2012. It's Only Us is, they say, "a reflection of what they see as the current state of the world." It addresses gun violence, mental health, broken relationships and much more with high-level production and their signature soul sound present throughout.

Review: Steve Okonski is the leader of his eponymous Okonski trio and for his new album, he set time aside in the winter of 2020. His background is classical piano and for this one, he collaborated with Michael Isvara "Ish" Montgomery and Aaron Frazer with the aim of making a record driven by beats but entirely instrumental. Recording sessions were full of improv and spontaneity which comes out in the final cut with all its rich, triumphant yet pensive melodies and variation in tempo from calm late-night walks to more upbeat workouts.

Review: Cali soul supergroup Thee Sinseers premiere their next album Sinseerly Yours, strutting down the proverbial red carpet with ten new, contemporary rerubs of classic soul standards. Fronted by bandleader and son of East Los Angeles Joey Quinones, the group has quietly chipped away at the sounds of r&b and soul for the last half-decade; he and his crew are heard at the polished end of an extended studio session held in Rialto, California, the ineluctable Second Hand Sounds. Making unprecedented use of a converted studio space which used to be a dentist's office, the unique acoustics of which lent them a fuller sound than formerly heard, we hear the band expertly toggle between 60s pop vis-a-vis early Beatles records to obscure Jamaican dancehall here.

Review: Previously a Record Store Day special, Colemine elevate this epic 45" compendium to permanent status. 22 tracks heavy, the double 12" whammy unites some of Colemine's finest curations over the years into one perfect collection. From the rare shimmering guitars and woozy horns of The Rugged Nuggets to Colemine debuts such as the sweaty afrofunk boogaloo fusion of Ikebe Shakedown's 2009 breakthrough "Hard Stepping" and the garage funk fizz of Alan Evans Trio's 2012 "Drop Hop" via the beautiful "Smile" from Duran Jones & The Indications' debut album last year, no other album represents the breadth, warmth and vitality of Colemine quite as succinctly as this collection. Slab it up.

Review: Soul Slabs Vol. 2 is a second collection of 7" a-sides from Loveland Ohio's essential Colemine Records. The label has long dealt in heavy soul, funk, and r&b that is always perfectly authentic, with old school production values and timeless songs that translate across the ages. Lots of ground is covered here in fine style, from the raw and direct opener from The Gripsweats on through superb drum-funk from Jungle Fire and more tender and soft-hearted moments of soul bliss such as Jr Thomas & The Volcanos's 'What A Shame.' Highlights about on this one which comes in its own slipcase.

Review: It wasn't long ago The Winston Brothers dropped their debut 45 on Colemine, and the German funk crew are back already with their debut LP, DRIFT. The band's sound is sharp and stylish, tapping into the classic foundations of funk while keeping things more explicitly tilted towards the modern deep funk sound you'll find lurking around labels like Colemine. The vibe is versatile, with slower ballad joints rubbing shoulders with hot and steamy beatdowns, each ingredient in the stew bubbling long and hard for maximum flavour. With production credits linking the group to the likes of The Mighty Mocambos and Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, you know these cats are serious about bringing you the finest funk known to all humanity.