Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The classic 1982 funk anthem 'Don't Fight The Feeling' by American r&b and funk band One Way gets a fine 12" pressing here, which means it can be played nice and loud. Singer Al Hudson leads the way with his buttery vocal, while a stepping and broken rhythm with lovely dry claps and w sloppy synth squeal make for a pretty unique sound given when this was first recorded. On the flip side, Windjammer's 'I Thought It Was You' offers a more mellow, melodic contrast full of the band's signature blend of r&b and jazz with cooing, heart-melting vocals and a nice stepping rhythm that lovers of UK street soul will surely be drawn to.

Review: UK mambo kinds Orchestra Mambo International share their second single for ATA Records, both on digital and vinyl formats once more. After a dazzling debut single for the label back in May 2024, 'Balia Mi Cha Cha' is a funky cha cha number driven forth by the songwriting of bandleader and trombonist Jonny Enright, backed up by vibraphone from John Settle and lead vocals from Venezuelan singer Carlos "Pachanga" PeNa. The B-side, meanwhile, is a mambo instrumental entitled 'Bajo Con Vibes' ('Bass With Vibes'), which riffs on the double metonymy of the word "vibes" and plays up to a fantastically warm bass sound, providing a proper aural rung onto which central part of the track the listener may latch themselves and become thus enthralled.

Review: BBE, known for its groundbreaking J-Jazz and J-Jazz Masterclass series, now shines a light on an inerasable gem in Japan's national discography: the debut LP Rainbow Love by Orquesta Del Sol, the country's first authentic salsa band. Salsa's roots in Japan trace back to the post-WWII era, with groups like Tokyo Cuban Boys, but it was the 1977 Fania All-Stars tour that initiated wider interest. Percussionist Masahito "Pecker" Hashida, influenced by New York's salsa scene, formed Orquesta Del Sol on his return. Their debut, put out in 1981, blends compositions in Japanese, Spanish, and English, while working in a cover of Noro Morales' 'Rumbambola'. Produced by Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami, the album's bold sound was a product of Japan's studio scene and the band's connection to the Nuyorican salsa style. This reissue includes seven bonus tracks from the band's later years, remastered for a new generation.