Review: Original pressings have been previously spotted passing hands for well over L1000: Big Apple Band's 1976 deep funk classic has been rarer than hen's teeth for most of its 41 year life. Its sought-after status accelerated by Keb Darge for last 15 or so years - that and the fact it's an out-and-out soul-stirring, honey-vocalled, low and slow funk burner - AOTN have finally unleashed it in it full length for all of us. And we should all be eternally grateful.
Review: Destination 1981 for these Latin cover versions from renowned composer and Tito Puente compadre Ray Barretto. First heard on his 1981 album La Cuna, both these versions (taken from the original masters) sparkle and shine with this trademark jazz signature; the 7" version "Pastime Paradise" offers a little more bounce in the rhythm than Stevie's original while the vocals are eerily similar to Wonder himself. Carlos Franzetti's "Mambotango" enjoys pride of place on the B; light and almost loungey in its make up, the horns do all the seducing over a smouldering samba beat.
Review: Athens Of The North present a brand new label Owl Of Athens. And they're starting with a serious musical mission statement. Taken from Beginning Of The End's rare eponymous LP, both cuts were written by NY hitmaker Alessandro Randazzo, both "Superwoman" and "That's What I Get" are delivered with premium polish and large-scale dynamics. The former is a heartfelt, big band-led slab of funk that's dense textured in superhuman musicianship. The latter places more focus on the vocals with epic cascading harmonies and a razor-sharp Afrobeat backing. What a way to launch a label!
Review: Get your hips and heart around this bit of L.A. boogie by the elusive Ben White and you cannot help but feel better. It is a highly sought-after rarity that disco collectors have been fawning over since forever. It was originally reissued as a 45 by the great Athens of the North and now comes this 7" version which was sourced from Andy Noble, who has often helped the label out before. It features two sides of exceptional modern soul and boogie that blend rhythm and grove in magical ways that are never going to age. 'I See A World' has lovely and tender falsetto vocals and 'Give Me Love (Always)' is more of a party starter.
Review: Ben (Benjamin Robinson of Ben & Coco) and the Tight Squeeze Band have not long been getting us hot under the collar as Athens of the North put out a reissue of their AM Funk 7" only back in March. Now the faultless Edinburgh label is back with another pair of tunes from them that are just as good. 'Thumping For You' is nice loose-limbed, off-grid funk with love and wonky drums, happy sax lines and sustained chords bringing a golden touch next to the aloof vocals. 'Brandon's Song' is another uplifting one with seductive claps and shakers, squelchy leads and lush string synths.
Review: We go all weak at the knees and starry-eyed simply at the mention of the words 'Athens of the North'. The label has one of the best catalogues out there and adding to that richness now is this glorious Memphis funky 45rpm. It comes from Ben (Benjamin Robinson of Ben & Coco) and the Tight Squeeze Band and features two unreleased tunes from the tape archive. The A-side is a real dancefloor heater with lovely frayed, lo-fi production and tight, quick drums. Neat guitar riffs, distant chords and lively vocal ad-libs bring the energy then on the flip things get gorgeously deep and vibey on 'Summer Rest'.
Review: In the sales notes accompanying this latest slice of 7" gold from Athens of the North, boss man Euan Fryer admits that he spent a good "four or five years" trying to locate an original copy of "Time For Change" before finally tracking down original singer Benita. She was more than happy for him to reissue the record, which is one of the most inspired and well-made disco-soul records you're ever likely to hear (how it remained a lost classic, we'll never know). Benita's lyrics and vocals are superb, the horns are punchy, and the B-side "Hot Mix" contains one of the best slap-bass solos you'll ever hear. In a word: essential.
Review: DJ Fryer's Athens of the North imprint has provided soul and disco DJs with some killer 7" reissues since launching earlier this year. Here, he uncovers another obscure but oh-so-good gem. There's little information available about Bileo, aside from the fact that they released just two singles between 1979 and '83. "You Can Win" was there debut. It's a deliciously loose and celebratory chunk of disco-soul featuring spellbinding horns and a cheery, wholeheartedly positive vocal. It's the sort of disco-soul gem that makes us want to hug complete strangers before running into the sea fully clothed. The more low-slung disco-funk flipside, "Let's Go", is almost as good. Recommended.
Review: Athens Of The North have worked with some OGs and veterans in their time but Bobby Boyd is by far one of the biggest and influential. Cutting his teeth in the Lafayette Afro Rock Band before going solo, he recorded a whole host of material that remained unreleased. Until now. "Love Goddess" kicks off the collection with a northern soul stomp, big harmonies backed by a tight, slippery funk groove while "Good News" is golden era Boyd funk with its bright horn work, positive sentiment and driving soul energy. This is an amazing piece of investigatory work by Fryer and co. And there's more, too...
Review: The second 45" of unreleased material from Lafayette Afro Rock Band member, highly talented and criminally overlooked instrumentalist and singer Bobby Boyd; both tracks show how relevant and ahead of the music he was deep into the 80s; "I Like What You Do To Me" is a synth boogie jam with both feet planted firmly on the dancefloor while "Girl Like You" is unabashed proto house with a great drive and strutting sense of soul. While it's amazing Athens Of The North are working with Boyd to release his music now, it's a shame these never saw the light of day when he wrote them 30 years ago.
Review: More unreleased gold from Lafayette Afro congressman Bobby Boyd on Athens Of The North. Big 80s boogie funk, "Rock On" delves deep into Boyd's later material with a light Latin flare and a little p-funk sleaze and a full flavoured guitar solo. The main hit, however, is the dancefloor blunderbuss remix by decorated engineer of the time Bob Blank. With a discog that includes the likes of Larry Levan and Arthur Russell, he adds strong shades of proto house to the mix with big kick drums and an arrangement and dynamic that still boots floors and doors down to this day.
Review: Bless you Athens of the North. This holy grail of a seven inch from Brand New was originally included as a bonus on the label's crucial 2LP Henry Stone's Miami Sound compilation last year. Apparently they pressed a few too many and instead of letting them gather dust in a warehouse, DJ Fryer has decided to share the remaining copies. You'd be hard pressed to find a finer slab of early 70s soul than the delightful harmonies and orchestration of "Thousand Years," whilst flip side "Party Time" offers a grittier funk edge to Brand New, with a clear line to what would become disco. There's a reason original 1972 pressings of this have passed hands for hundreds of pounds.
Review: North Carolina's Brief Encounter were one of the bands to define the 70's US soul sound but, unlike many of their peers, the group remained in the sights of crate diggers and specialists, straying away from significant commercial success. This particular single, for instance, wasn't even released officially and has remained the stuff of legends until now, so it's thanks to the reliable Athens Of The North that we're able to give it a spin on our turntables. Put simply, "Where Will I Go" and "Always" are two unmissable soul ballads that are simply impossible not to appreciate and get excited by - they encapsulate a particular note of optimism and romance that represented the 1970s in America, taking us on a journey into the past. Don't miss it!
Review: The latest reissue on the constantly on-point Athens of The North imprint comes from Brief Encounter, a North Caroline soul, disco and boogie outfit from North Carolina who released two albums between 1977 and '81. "We Want To Play For You" is taken from the latter, and offers a hazy, surprisingly sweet - if undeniably floor-friendly - take on the New York boogie sound of the period. With bold pianos, fuzzy vocals and occasional percussive breakdowns, it ticks all the right boxes. Flip to the B-side for "Sweet Tender Loving", a sumptuous, string-drenched disco-soul number that boasts a particularly impassioned vocal and a huggable, feel-good groove.
Review: Athens Of The North serve up a mighty fine taster of a singles LP that is due to drop soon of Brief Encounters most popular modern and disco sounds. Both the tunes here are stone cold classics licenced direct from the band. 'Get A Good Feeling' is all big horns and rolling rhythms, disco flourishes and squelchy bass. On the flip, the tone changes completely with the heart aching balladry of 'Just A Little Notion'. Falsetto vocals are off set by warmer backing singers, pained wind leads ring out and spoken word sections bring the intimacy.
Review: It's hard to keep up with the number of releases that Athens Of The North are putting out this month, but you really must try. This one is a gooey and loved up disco 12" from the dream team pairing of Tom Findlay from Groove Armada and James Alexander Bright. They hook up via mutual appreciation over Twitter and worked up a load of new material in the studio as Bright & Findlay. Their first offering 'Slow Dance' is perfection - lush 80s synths, slow-motion boogie beats and drum machines marbled with little guitar riffs and soulful vocals that ate you to a better place. Two further heart melters come on the flip side and we are already in love with this project.
Review: James Alexander Bright's new sinle, Cool Cool, is a sonic kaleidoscope brimming with vibrant sounds and deep emotion. Bright's distinctive voice, reminiscent of Eddie Chacon, Beck or Michael McDonald, shines throughout. His multi-instrumental prowessiplaying guitar, bass, keys, and moreiadds layers of complexity to the record. Cool Cool illustrates Bright's evolving sound and unwavering creativity, making it a compelling addition to his diverse discography. The 'ECLA Beautiful dub' adds a great alternative version that provides a broken down moody version of the original to balance the 7". Both sides are excellent.
Review: Multi-talented artist James Alexander Bright unveils soulful anthem 'Fall For You' and funky track 'Viper Flames' in the superb Athens of the North, all as a tease his forthcoming third solo album on the label in mid-2024. Reflecting on love's power in 'Fall For You', Bright's upcoming release follows his acclaimed debut album 'Headroom' and contributions to Groove Armada's 'Edge Of The Horizon'. His second album, 'Float', garnered praise for its eclectic blend of styles. These new tuns show what he is all about - sunny soul with standout keys and dreamy vocals that melt even the stoniest of hearts.
Review: British multi-hyphenate James Alexander Bright is soon to return with his third album and ahead of that you can get a taste of what to expect in the form of this irresistible electro-boogie banger. 'Straight Line', says Borght, "started out as a wonky homage to 80s & 90s radio" and is "based on the memory of meeting someone you want to stay up all night listening to music with". His voice takes the lead with LinnDrum beats and wispy synths, lithe pads and a slapping bassline. It's sultry, steamy and sure to get temperatures rising. 'Oh My' is a superb jazz-funk workout in a late-night Theo Parrish style.
Review: As he does on the regular, Athens Of The North chief Euan Fryer has unearthed, licensed and reissued another obscure, impossible-to-find gem. Chuck Brimley's cover of Michael Frank classic "St Elmo's Fire" originally appeared on a tiny Milwaukee-based label in 1981, but pretty much sank without trace (according to Fryer, even local record-diggers didn't know of it's existence). It's something of a seductive, early AM radio gem - a deliciously warm, woozy and dewy-eyed mixture of AOR, soul, soft rock and the kind of glistening jazz-funk that would once accompany 'pages from Ceefax' on late night BBC TV. The track's jazzier elements - think trumpet and sax solos, twinkling electric piano riffs and so on -come to the fore on the accompanying flipside instrumental version.
Review: The Broomfield family troupe - led by Aaron Broomfield - laid down a sweet series of rare groove 45s during the late 70s, this Keb Darge-championed 45" from 79 (originally on Taurus) being one of the most popular. With its high energy, slick keys and sparkling percussion "Stop" sits slap in the middle of disco and boogie while "Doin' It Our Way" hits with much more of a jazz funk feel with bold harmonies hitting hard on the chorus. Previously spotted passing for L400 - it's another expert democratisation by AOTN.
Broomfield Corporate Jam - "Does Anybody Really Know" (4:01)
Review: For their latest trip into "in-demand collector cuts" territory, Edinburgh's Athens of the North shines a light on the work of obscure Miami artist Aaron Broomfield. "I'm Gonna Miss You" originally appeared on Mountain Records in 1981 and has become something of a sought-after record in recent years. It's a brilliant chunk of rubbery Miami synth-funk rich in mazy synthesizer solos, elastic slap bass and the urgent hustle of P-funk. Over on side B you'll find the cosmic soul bump of "Does Anybody Really Know", which appears to a previously unreleased vocal workout featuring some deliciously fuzzy electric guitar solos.
Review: The relentless Athens Of The North is having a busy month even by its own high standards. February alone has at least three new 45rpms dropping and this might be the best: Homegrown Syndrome were a band that ended up in LA but giggled all round Memphis. Some members had played with an earlier band but they all came good on these previously unleashed tunes that have been found in the attic of Jerry Jones. 'Got The Love' is a chunky funky stepper with swirling synths and disco energy. 'Party Vibes' then takes off once more on hip swig claps, big arching chords and strident drums.
Review: So good it spills over into two parts, Bill Brown's cult 1974 Brownstone release "Bip Bam" has been known to pass hands for triple figures in the past. Now you can enjoy its sweeping MGs style lavish organ and horn fusion at a fraction of the price. Deep, soulful, laced with infectious percussion and Bill's swooning scat vocal textures, this still sounds of its world and time to this day.
Review: The irrepressible Athens of the North is back with another heart-melting 7", this time from OG Tulsa soul man Billy Bruner. He is known for writing this, a superb ode to his homeland that is steeped in classic 80s soul sounds and is filled with melodies, hooks and rhythms that burrow deep into your brain. On the flipside is a ballad that has never before been released and was found in the archives.'I Want To Hold You' is a slow motion plea with nice rough edges that well deserve to be brought back to life.
Review: A serious self-press rarity from the heart of Clarksville, Suggs never achieved the recognition he deserved during his tenure as a band leading soul man. Still in Clarksville and now a missionary, the sentiments of this recording history peak resonate with what he does now: "Everything That Looks Good" is a JB style message on the lure of temptation while "You Don't Deserve", an instrumental that sees Bubba switching his vocals for equally commanding sax, is a moment for poignant, soul-searching reflection. Lord have mercy.
Review: Love Chug by East Coast Love Affair and BDK delivers two distinct approaches to peak-time dancefloor energy, perfect for any house club setting. Side-1 features 'Love Chug' by East Coast Love Affair, a track that expertly builds with a driving disco vibe. A powerful guitar riff takes the lead, while a filtered hook pushes the sound deep into house territory, creating an immersive experience that evolves throughout. On Side-2, BDK's 'Pure Sass' offers a strong, uplifting house track that borders on gospel house. Its vibrant energy and soulful vibe are reminiscent of classic Jasper Street tracks, making it an irresistible choice for the dancefloor. Together, these tracks provide a dynamic balanceione that builds and one that never lets upiensuring that the energy stays high all night.
Review: Georgia-born soul singer Nathan Bartell cut a number of obscure deep funk, soul and disco singles in the 1970s and early '80s, most of which are on the wants-list of some of the world's most enthusiastic and knowledgeable record collectors. Athens of the North is therefore doing a good deed by collecting these sought-after "sides" together on an album for the very first time. The self-titled set does a great job of introducing us to Bartell's soulful world via a mixture of righteous funk floor-burners, emotional slow jams, Southern soul numbers, slick boogie numbers and '80s soul treats. In other words, it's a much-needed retrospective of one of underground soul's genuine forgotten talents.
Review: Georgia-born soul singer Nathan Bartell cut a number of obscure deep funk, soul and disco singles in the 1970s and early '80s, most of which are on the wants-list of some of the world's most enthusiastic and knowledgeable record collectors. Athens of the North is therefore doing a good deed by collecting these sought-after "sides" together on an album for the very first time. The self-titled set does a great job of introducing us to Bartell's soulful world via a mixture of righteous funk floor-burners, emotional slow jams, Southern soul numbers, slick boogie numbers and '80s soul treats. In other words, it's a much-needed retrospective of one of underground soul's genuine forgotten talents.
Review: Athens of the North is back in business this new year with a couple of singles as well as a new album dropping before the end of January. This time it is Bo'vel's Changes album that gets served up on wax having teased the act by including them on a compilation Just A Touch late last year. Their soul sound is distantly UK-centric but with influxes from dub, funk and more. That is well showcased here across ten tracks that were famously made in the mid-90s in Manchester without a big budget or big press campaign but became cult classics all the same.
Review: The untouchable Athens of The North has got another carefully sought-out reissue on its hands here with Bobby Boyd's self-titled album. He was a Lafayette Afro Rock Band member, highly talented and, we think, rather overlooked instrumentalist and singer and his work has appeared often on this label who have single-handedly been getting him the attention he deserves as a result. Now it all comes to fruition in fine style with this ten-track pearler - a mix of his upbeat funky grooves, more tender and downbeat soul swooners and plenty of gorgeous sounds in between, not least the jazzy grooves of 'How Do You Hang On To A Dream.'
Review: Athens of the North have teased this collection of singles with a bunch of taster 7"s but still the full length itself confounds expectation. It is a superb work of heart aching soul and modern disco from Brief Encounters who are best known for their stone cold classics 'Get A Good Feeling' and 'Just A Little Notion.' The first of those two features here along with many others gems such as the blue-eyed opener 'Where Will I Go,' deep soul of 'Don't Let Them Tell You' and bigger, horn led tunes like 'I'm So Satisfied.' It's an essential album for any and all soul lovers.
Review: Throughout the 1970s, North Carolina outfit Brief Encounter released a string of fine, but largely overlooked, funk and soul 45s. Their most significant and celebrated release, though, is 1981 album "We Want To Play", a warm and groovy collection of boogie-fired soul songs that regularly changes hands for significant sums online. As this Athens Of The North reissue proves, the LP has lost none of its luster over the years. Highlights include the inspired string-drenched ballad "Now I Know I Love You", the groovy dancefloor heat of "Rocking" and the soaring gospel-disco brilliance of "Always".
Review: Given their respective careers, you'd expect this surprise debut album from Balearic nu-disco specialist James Bright and Groove Armada member Tom Findlay to be rather good - or at least sonically attractive with good grooves and quality musicianship. It is, of course, with the pair opting for a glossy, 80s-influenced synth sound, bubbly electronic grooves, sun-splashed Balearic pop intent and authentically executed nods to West Coast electrofunk and nu-disco pioneers Metro Area. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the synth-fired blue-eyed soul of 'Slow Dance', the sunset-ready gorgeousness of 'Flowers', the low-slung, late-night AM radio vibes of 'It's Only Rain' and the Morgan Geist-esque 'NY Disco (Smile)'.
Review: We have been waiting for this full length to drop ever since we were tased by the lead single a month or so ago. There was already no doubting James Alexander Bright's chops but this Athens of the North album proves them beyond doubt. It is a vibrant fusion of his multi-instrumentalist skills with boogie, soul, disco and funk all coalescing into something new but run through with a timeless authenticity. 'Straight Line' brings squelchy boogie vibes and a hooky falsetto, while 'Fall For You' is more yacht-rock style soul. There are then bouncy but tender cuts like 'Catch My Breath' and intimate pieces like 'I Feel Alive' (feat Letherette) all making this one of the year's standouts.
Review: Athens of the North originally contracted obscure 80s boogie artist Billy Bruner about reissuing two of his rare, sought-after singles - "The Tulsa Song" and "The Dream" - but instead raided his tape archives and putting together what's effectively his debut album. Combining previously released tracks (including some made as part of similarly obscure outfit T'Spoon and the gospel-leaning band The Davis Family), unheard extended versions and previously unreleased songs, the album is warm, soulful, slick and summery. Highlights include the stuttering P-funk flex of "Cats Meow", the sizzling dancefloor heat of "School Dance" and the deliciously extended version of glassy-eyed '80s soul jam "Never". If sparkling, synth-heavy '80s soul is your thing, this is one surprise retrospective you won't want to miss.
Review: Athens of the North originally contracted obscure 80s boogie artist Billy Bruner about reissuing two of his rare, sought-after singles - "The Tulsa Song" and "The Dream" - but instead raided his tape archives and putting together what's effectively his debut album. Combining previously released tracks (including some made as part of similarly obscure outfit T'Spoon and the gospel-leaning band The Davis Family), unheard extended versions and previously unreleased songs, the album is warm, soulful, slick and summery. Highlights include the stuttering P-funk flex of "Cats Meow", the sizzling dancefloor heat of "School Dance" and the deliciously extended version of glassy-eyed '80s soul jam "Never". If sparkling, synth-heavy '80s soul is your thing, this is one surprise retrospective you won't want to miss.
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