Review: Bongo Joe and Sofa Records' third instalment of the Maghreb K7 Club Disco Single series dives deep into Algeria's vibrant 1980s scene, offering four tracks that shine a light on the region's overlooked gems. The A-side is led by two irresistible pop-boogie-funk tracks from Khaled Barkat: 'Galouli Enshara' and 'Zourini'. Self-taught and self-produced in 1983, Barkat's music was a hit at the time but got overshadowed by the rising tide of rai. His dynamic collaboration with Yazid Fentazi, Redouane Ayoub, and Mhenni Benlala resulted in a sound that blends infectious grooves with local flair. Now, for the first time, these tracks are on vinyl, offering fresh ears the chance to rediscover a key player in Algeria's pop history. Cheb Tati takes over on the B-side with 'Dub El Hammam', a heavyweight dub number that showcases his range as a rai vocalist. Tati was flown to London in 1989 to work with dub pioneer Denis Bovell, and this track is a standout from their sessions, merging the pulsating rhythms of reggae with a distinctly North African flavour. Closing out the release is the Kabyle band Asif, whose only known recording, 'Tafsut', serves as a fitting finale. Formed by three brothers in Lille during the late 70s, this beautifully crafted pop-boogie track captures the band's unique sound, bringing a sense of nostalgia and triumph to the collection.
Nick Bike - "Scratch Sentence / 98 Beat / Skipless / 101 Beat" (6:19)
Review: Private Stock Records serves up a treat for DJs and turntablists with a new 12" packed with beats, scratches, and skipless tracks. Four skilled DJsiBig Once, Cutso, Double A, and Nick Bikeicontribute their skills to this collection, offering a diverse range of flavours for scratching and beat juggling. Each DJ delivers a 'Scratch Sentence' and a selection of beats at various tempos, providing a versatile toolkit for creative routines. The inclusion of skipless tracks adds another dimension, allowing for seamless blends and extended mixes. With its focus on functionality and quality, this release is a must-have for any serious turntablist or DJ looking to expand their arsenal of sounds.
Review: Stone cold New Jersey funk business; Calender's seminal "Hypertension" has been a waymark in dancefloor developments since '75 and its big strings, high energy and nagging vocals still have total resonance to this day as proved by this rolling, conga fuelled twist from Mexican maestro Hotmood. Flip for more relevance as "Ritmo Latino" (from Calender's '76 album "It's A Monster") gets a cheeky breakbeat facelift from Voodoocuts. Now there's no excuse not to get funky every single day of the year.
Review: Mr Bongo's reliable Brazil 45s series reaches its' 85th instalment. This time round the Brighton-based label has chosen to offer up two cuts from Waldir Calmon's 1970 set Waldir Calmon E Seus Multisons. While the album is not all that renowned, the track 'Airport Love Theme' - which resides on the A-side here - most certainly is, thanks to Madlib sampling it on the Madvillain album. It's a laidback and languid fusion of mellow soul breaks, Mexican stand-off trumpets, soaring choral vocals, Mediterranean acoustic guitars and mazy organ solos, all topped off with the sugary polish often associated with classic lounge music. Over on side B there's a chance to savour another killer cut from the same set, Jean-Jacques Perrey-esque lounge funk groover 'Afro Son'.
Review: The Brazil 45 series is pure gold for lovers of Latin sounds across the funk, jazz and soul spectrum. Each one sells out fats but usually emcees back around, as is the case with this 18th edition. It features Ely Camargo's 'Taieiras' from his Ely's 1972 album Cantos Da Minha Gente and is a lively folk-inspired track sampled famously by DJ Yoda in 2012. Despite recording 12 albums, Ely remains an enigmatic figure whose music is all we have to feed off. On the flip side, Rio sibling trio Trio Esperanca shine with their psychedelic gem from their 1971 self-titled album. Known for their stunning harmonies, the group released seven albums between 1963 and 1975 but this is one of their finest moments.
Black Nostaljack (Aka Come On) (radio edit) (4:03)
Black Nostaljack (Aka Come On) (feat Run & Kid Capri - Kid Capri mix Tape remix) (3:51)
Review: Bronx titans Camp Lo came out strong when they arrived in the late 90s on Profile Records. Of the many sure shots on their debut LP Uptown Saturday Night, 'Black Nostaljack' was a cool, funked up party jam to get every nodding their approval. It's a classic kind of hip-hop, like an East Coast version of People Under The Stairs, and it sounds super fresh on this 7" from Get On Down. As well as the original version on the A side, the flip features the jacked up 'Mix Tape Remix' from Kid Capri, which turns the heat up good and proper if you need to get the crowd freaking.
Review: More from the cheeky scamps behind the Disco Bits label, an imprint whose releases regularly blur the boundaries between re-editing, re-making and remixing. Here they welcome back imprint regulars Cannon & Mirrorball (we laughed, at least), who once again serve up two guaranteed disco floor-slayers. A-side 'Hot Lovin (Don't Stop, Don't Quit)' sits somewhere between disco-house and hip-house, with excitement-building raps lifted from vintage hip-hop cuts sitting atop a non-stop beat crafted from tooled-up elements from a celebratory disco favourite. As the title suggests, 'Shack Attack' cheekily blends elements from Banbarra classic 'Shack Up' and B-52s hit 'Love Shack', adding some other choice samples to create a tidy, well-made mash-up that sounds tailor-made for disco dancefloors.
Review: Cappo is one of Nottingham's finest and now he's back once again, this time with a drum heavy hip hop weapon that has been produced by Doctor Zygote and Jazz T. 'I Go Off' has hard bars and dark beats with a lingering and menacing sense of soul. As the dusty, stripped back beats set an imposing groove, Cappo flows over the top with great wordplay delivery in his inimitable Midlands twang. On the flip is an instrumental that hits hard, but it's the original a-side that you want here.
Captain Gloats vs The Beastie Boys - "Ring My Cheque Up" (4:34)
Captain Gloats - "Chequestrumental" (4:34)
Review: A genius soundclash with a distinct New York flavour, bringing two generations of world beating sounds from the Big Apple together on the same track. The rapping is just as smart mouthed and amusing as you'd expect, but it's their unlikely pairing with these familiar 70s disco grooves and additional beat enhancing that brings this release to life. It all makes for a heady, ludicrous but also ludicrously natural sounding mashup that you can really imagine causing carnage on many a dancefloor. There's an instrumental mix on the flip, too, for those after something a little less audacious to spin, but the A-side is where the true action is.
Review: Captain Planet is a globe trotting DJ and producer who mixes up worldly roots music with his own fresh take on hip-hop and dancehall. For this one he joined up with Zuzuka Poderosa & Raphael Futura for a brilliant Brazilian disco and funk song that harks back to the 70s and 80s with influences like Tim Maia, Sandra Da Sa & Gilberto Gil. 'Moqueca' though also has some nice dance floor weight to it as well as the richly tropical percussion, steamy horns and seductive chords. On the flip is an instrumental and the good news is this is a taster of a full album to come.
Review: Brazil 45s hit the quarter century in their run and show no sign of stopping. It's an all-girl affair on this one as two hugely popular and prolific singers take a spin under Mr Bongo's spotlight. Elizabeth (often known as Elizete) lays down a steamy samba flavour that gets raunchier as the track develops. Elza, meanwhile, gets busy on a Bossa tip as a carnival of percussion and horns go toe-to-toe with her sharp, sexy staccato vocals. Powerful.
Review: Hot on the heels of this one first being reissued back in May, it now gets a second run courtesy of Disques Messager out of France. Cristina Camargo's 'Moral Tem Hora' was one of the standouts from the super Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds (1978 - 1982: selected by Junior Santos) compilation. It's a perfect fusion of Latin flair, Brazilian disco and jazz funk magic that has fat bass riffs and lots of bright chords and busy percussion next to a classic vocal. On the flip things get slower, sentimental and all loved up on 'Minas Do Rei Salomao' which his a perfectly steamy jam for those hot afternoons under the sun.
Review: Late 70s funk fusion from Tunisia: capturing the moment leading Tunis bands Dalton and Marhaba Band joined forces for some legendary disco fusion. "Alech" ignites with a Doobie Brothers style shiny guitar, big slap bass and soaring synth work while "Hanen" is a little more introspective and soulful with its honeyed harmonies and cascading chord sequence. Complete with instrumentals.
Review: The Carver Area High School Seniors' 'Get Live '83 (The Senior Rap)' is a stone cold party hip hop classic. It has been out of print for some four decades, however, and so has become a rather hard to find and expensive record. Thankfully, Soul Jazz Records have got the rights to this full reissue which was first pressed in 1982 on the private press label Challenger. The cut featured as the standout on Soul Jazz Records' recent 'Yo! Boombox' collection and now standalone as a seven minute stunner. It's an old school party disco delight with great rap and killer beats, all presented with the original artwork.
Review: The Off The Radar label very much got itself on the radar with its first offering of timeless edits. After that Brazilian focussed 12" comes a hand-stamped slab of wax with an Afro and funk twist. It is again by label heads Biga and Mirko Casalini 'Freaky' gets things underway with a strident groove and big bass licks topped with some sumptuous strings. 'Uptown' brings dazzling disco grooves and big synth energy under a lush vocal while 'Afrikasem' takes you to the Southern hemisphere in an instant with its Afro percussion and big beat brilliance. 'Stop' is another fine fusion of worldwide disco sounds.
Review: Casquiat - a mysterious production moniker, and clear play on words of the name of a famous New York neo-expressionist artist, punned with either a casket or casque (we're not sure which) - lays down an equally mysterious but also supremely effective edit of the infamous Boyz II Men tune, 'If I Ever Fall In Love Again', re-baptizing it 'Lady Friend' and lending two alternate takes on the rerub (whether 'Bad Self' or 'Lady Storm' are artists or mix names, we also can't tell). Whereas the original track's bittersweet barbershop tones exist purely as an acapella - unusually, in their case, it was an original acapella, not recorded for a produced pop song - Casquiat lays down two, boxy contemporary breaks / hip-hop mashups here, one operative at 90bpm and the other more at 70bpm, and both bringing unusual dubby flavours to an otherwise pure R&B hit.
Review: Kendrick Lamar's 'King Kunta' and Kelis' 'Milkshake' hear an unlikely pairing on the perfunctorily named Edits series. The former track - some might agree its dust is still settling, as it was released in 2015 - sounds almost twice as lively here, its "oh, yes, you can, oh, yes you can!" ad-lib sounding about as squeezed as a hand-wrung lime steeped in its own juices and then dried out in Saharan heat. There's a diatonic, electric piano hook added on top too; Kelis' flip has a similar feel, mashing up the noughts teaser hit with a dash of easily identified r&b goodness - we're 99% sure you'll recognise the instrumental, its having also originated somewhere in the familiar fires of pop musical preeminence.
Review: Casual Connection returns with a pair of clever edits that breathe new life into familiar classics. On 'Downtown King Kunta', the team samples Ginuwine's iconic 'Pony' and adds a fresh rap vocal, reimagining the smooth, sultry vibe with an energetic, streetwise twist. The track strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation, giving listeners a new appreciation for the beloved sound. On the flip side, 'Billie's Milkshake' takes Busta Rhymes' 'Gimme Some More' and gives it a playful, bass-heavy makeover. The edit retains the original's dynamic energy while adding a contemporary flavor that'll have crowds moving. Casual Connection's ability to elevate these tracks while keeping the essence intact showcases their skill in remixing and reinvigorating hip-hop and r&b staples.
Review: Lovers of heart aching soul are well attuned to the output of the Izipho Soul label. Each and every 7" they serve up is impossibly emotive and the new one is no different from Cornell CC Carter. It features singles taken from the artist's hugely anticipated new album, Next Life, and suggests it's going to be an absolute cracker. It will feature 13 carefully constructed songs with rich 70s and 80s soul influences throughout. Here the two chosen singles offer mid tempo, deep cut funk backed with a big ballad that will melt anyone's heart.
Review: Mr Bongo take an MPB breather, tempering their recent larger-scale ambition to reissue mammoth Brazilian disco on comp with a 7" side order appetiser of a classic Brazilian MPB track. Celia's 'Na Boco Do Sol' ('At the Mouth of the Sun') is a gestalt slice of slow-samba, bringing with it a dash of torrid soul and telenovela cinematics. The favourite Arthur Verocai collaborator sings of psychic cities and imaginariums of the soul, verifying a well-travelled spirit; Verocai himself, and Vitor Martins, both lend the song a fuzzy phonic with their guitars and strings. And on the B side comes 'A Hora e Essa, the first track from her second self-titled LP: a lively samba-funk workout, doused in jazzy piano licks, strutting guitars and punchy horns.
Review: Two more rare grooves purloined from Cultures Of Soul's Brasileiro Treasure Box Of Funk & Soul and delivered on a sweet 45: Celia's "A Hora E Essa" is a steamy Latin funk workout from 72; all horns, cuicas and soft, honeyed vocals. Franco's "Ei, Voce, Psiu!" takes a more US funk idea with Franco's spoken vocals giving off a strong air of bandleader as the band lock down a tight groove beneath. Watch out for samba flip towards the end. Blink and you'll miss it.
Review: The hard-digging record fiends at Kalita are back with more brilliance. This one is the first-ever retrospective of work by Jamaican-born artist Desmond Chambers. The first tine is a proudly politically aware tune previously only avialbel on his 1987 album Tiger Born, while the single 'The Morning Show' has before now only been available as the B side of little known single 'I Have Seen Love In Your Eyes.' The two other tracks are mega cult, hugely loved acid-infused dub snakers with boogie-infused rhythms. Original copies will cost you a huge amount so make sure you snap this one up asap.
Review: Compton's own Channel Tres has been making waves since he first popped up in 2018, signing to majors and dropping some heavyweight collabs with the likes of SG Lewis, Robyn and Emotional Oranges. It's a good opportunity to track back then to his first records, being reissued by his regular stomping ground of Godmode. What has made Channel Tres so instantly appealing is his smart embrace of deep house on tracks like 'Controller', which place him in a similar sphere to the likes of Galcher Lustwerk. Nick Sylvester's production is utterly addictive, creating a cool and deadly cocktail which has lost none of its potency in the five years since release.
Review: Chase & Status and Stormzy coming together was always going to be huge. One rules the charts, the other the clubs, and between them they cooked up a massive single that got heard everywhere all summer long, including a special live performance of it in Ushuaia Ibiza. Now you can own it on a slab of vinyl that has been cut nice and loud, which is perfect for the tune - the bass is devastating, the bars from Stormzy are hard, the energy is dark and unrelenting and it's the perfect sort of jungle cross over sound that will continue to be heard everywhere well into 2025.
Review: Matthieu Chedid and Seu Jorge's long-running collaboration reaches a new peak with this latest release. A-side, the track 'Parioca' brings together the duo's signature stylesiChedid's French flair and Jorge's Brazilian rhythms, resulting in a seamless fusion of groove and melody that invites listeners into a warm, joyful world where their distinct musical identities meet. The B-side's dub mix of 'Parioca' takes things in a deeper direction, layering hypnotic rhythms and atmospheric textures that open up the track, creating an expansive, dubby atmosphere. It's a perfect companion to the original, showing the depth and versatility of their musical partnership, which continues to evolve after more than a decade of collaboration.
Review: Echo Chamber Recordings celebrates its first anniversary this month with a new release in the Boogaloo Lessons Series. This latest instalment comes in special hand-numbered orange vinyl 7" limited to 150 copies and features Cheeba's Latin Bros, who deliver exceptional boogaloo tracks as per usual. The A-side, 'One Step Beyond,' boasts infectious rhythms, powerful drum beats and dynamic fills. On the B-side, 'Set Your Soul Free' combines the energetic boogaloo vibe with a touch of soulful tenderness, featuring vibrant percussion and captivating, offbeat chords. This release promises to keep the dance floor moving and showcases the rich, rhythmic textures of the boogaloo sound.
Review: This month, Echo Chamber Recordings turns one year old and makes the occasion by offering dup another instalment in the popular Boogaloo Lessons Series. This one comes from Cheeba's Latin Bros who serve up boogaloo brilliance starting with 'One Step Beyond' which has some ass-shaking rhythms and plenty of big drum sounds, rolling fills and natty chords. On the flip, 'Set Your Soul Free' has a big boogaloo vibe still but also more tender soul vibes in amongst all the vibrant percussive shuffling and unbalanced chords.
Review: Cheeba's Latin brothers are back with yet another Havanan shuffle, extensively vacationing in Cuba to soak in very best of the nation's ripest stylistic amassments. Taking cues from cut and paste funk to Latin boogaloo, 'Cuban Shuffle' and 'Pablo's Theme' urge us formerly to "keep it going, now" before latterly dropping us into a fuzz-scat vat of hazy brass and stomping, found percussion. Most notably, the A-side's vinyl scratches sate a pruritic itch, and a careful dosage of reverb marks out a roomy but expansive atmosphere, one difficult to recreate lest you actually were there in 1970s Cuba.
Review: Sol Power Sound is back in a big way with a reissue and remix EP from the legendary Nigerian Ju-Ju king, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey. The double A-side EP features 'Eyi Yato', a tune from 1981, that captures Chief Commander and his band at their absolute funkiest. It's as if there's something in the name itself - 'Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey' - that commands an almost godlike, daresay tyrannical command over each conjunctive performance here; every one of the All-Stars' parts play back as though they've puppeteered to an autocratic degree, resulting in a funky tightness that only obedience to the most just of authorities can muster. The original, with its boinging jews' harps and wahhing guitars, is the patent highlight; but we're sure you'll be no less pleased to learn of the (double-time! dub disco!) Mad Professor flip (...!) that's on there too (winky face).
Review: Norfolk breaks master Chrome has been at it since the 80s, but this is a marker of authenticity that almost goes without saying, not least since his latest 7" 'Don't Stop Get It' needs rather little context to back it up. When your A-side is this bouncy, punchy and deft, most cut-up heads will deem it an insta-cop. That being said, while these sample-heavy originals prioritize maximum bass and treble at all turns, they also flaunt a taste for the weird; the B's 'Funky Atmosphere' is funky indeed, coming thick and fast with its cuckoo-clock-like samples and strange plinky-plonky stutters.
Review: Supreme musica popular Brasileira and bossa-nova vibes here on two tracks from Mr Bongo's leading Brazilian 45's lady, Claudia. "Deixa o Morro Cantar" features on Claudia's very first 7", released in 1965 by RGE Brazil. Her version of "Mas Que Nada" is said to be more of a jazzy/folk-funk take on the Ben classic. A relatively recent discovery made during the label's last trip to Brazil, Maria das Gracas Rallo was born in 1946 in Rio de Janeiro. She has become the most awarded singer outside of her home country and was most popular internationally in 1982 with the song "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from the musical Evita. Moreover, she has recorded over twenty albums and has amassed huge record sales throughout her successful career.
Review: Two supreme MPB/bossa nova cuts courtesy of Mr Bongo's resident popular-musica plug Claudia. The MPB singer began her career at the tender age of nine and gained recognition in the 1960s. Her repertoire extends to samba and rock, and having put out an extensive suite of LPs, we're more than faithful in Claudia's selective brilliance, not least when it comes to her own catalogue. Here on the A we have 'Deixa o Morro Cantar', which features on Claudia's very first 7", released in 1965 by RGE: a warm, burring, brass-backed beat typhoon. And on the flip side comes her timeless version of the mythic 'Mas Que Nada', a jazzier folk-funk take on the Jorge Ben classic.
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