Owl Vinilo y CD

Review: Owl Records has another 12" that will get your head swiveling and booty shaking. It comes from the BBC 6 Music host, TV legend turned funk and soul tastemaker Craig Charles who has put together a couple of sizzling edits. First up he layers a classic Hot Chocolate sample over a rolling and rubbery beat and bassline that will pump any dancefloor. On the flip is a more slow and seductive sound in 'Rok On' with its funky bass and sleazy vocals over low-slung and slo-mo beats. Add in the playful trumpets and muted string and you have a brilliantly curious and compelling cut.

Review: The Owl & Posse EP brings together several artists on one fresh 12" that explores many Leftfield disco sounds and adjacent grooves. Pete Le Freq opens things up with the vocal-infused disco-funk of 'The Way Down' complete with splashy cymbals and elastic bass. The Owl's 'JBs Funk' is a horn-led jam that draws its samples from James Brown and Fingerman & Chewy Rubs's 'Revolution NY' has some big synth strings and unifying vocal calls over a nice organic rhythm. Monsieur Van Pratt's 'Guaranteed' is a pure good time groove with joy in its bones and soul in the lung-busting diva vocals.

Review: John Devecchi's AKA The Owl takes flight once again here on his self titled label's tenth outing. Once again it is a head turning mix of disco and funk that carries on where his superb Concrete Funk album from 2021 left off. These are beefy cuts with authentic grooves, starting with the loose limbed playfulness of 'Shake It'. There is a more heavy, purposeful chug to 'Follow Me' which comes alive with lush strings and perfect soul vocals. 'Always Be There' leans into a house groove with noodling guitar riffs a la Chic and 'The Way' is a nice leggy and elastic pumper with expressive diva wails. Super stuff.