Back catalogue: All genres

Review: The reissue of Stone Alliance's self-titled debut album from 1976 is a thrilling revival for jazz fans. Originally released on Gene Perla's PM Records, this album has transitioned from a rare groove gem into a cornerstone of America's deep jazz canon. The all-analog remaster by Bernie Grundman enhances the record's sonic depth, removing Dolby noise reduction and allowing the music to breathe, resulting in what Grundman claims is the best sound this album has ever had. The ensemble, featuring percussionist Don Alias, bassist Gene Perla and saxophonist Steve Grossman, delivers a dynamic performance. The album kicks off with the electrifying 'Vaya Mulatto', a track that masterfully shifts from a samba-like groove to high-speed funk, exciting even non-jazz fans. 'Sweetie Pie' shows the group's chemistry with its infectious riff and adventurous sax explorations. Meanwhile, their languid interpretation of Stevie Wonder's 'Creepin'' adds a different flavor. This definitive reissue, complete with an informative eight-page booklet, makes this a record you need to have.

Review: A collection that blends classic soul, jazz, and rhythm & blues with a touch of British mod flair, this is the 11th album from the British veterans. From the outset, the album demonstrates the band's ability to capture emotion with the haunting saxophone and reflective vocals on 'How Many Times', which sets a powerful tone for what follows. The title track delivers an uplifting, seventies-inspired anthem, combining brass, hand percussion and heartfelt harmonies that evoke the essence of Isaac Hayes and Stevie Wonder. Tracks like 'Everything & All I Want' and 'Cut Me Loose' highlight the band's versatility, drawing influences from artists such as Paul Weller and Fela Kuti. The latter, featuring JP Bimeni's stunning vocals, delivers a funky, rhythm-driven groove. Meanwhile, 'Close To Where You Are' is a beautiful love dedication with its soulful brass arrangements and dreamy trumpet segments. The album also explores more introspective moments with 'Fix You Up', which exudes a relaxed, jazzy vibe, while 'The Beat I Know' offers a peaceful, bass-driven composition with serene vocals from Sheree DuBois and Carmy Love. Other tracks like 'When Worlds Collide' and 'Reach Out' deliver elegant slices of rhythm and blues. The band's ability to mix emotion with impeccable musicianship is on full display. The closing track, 'Summer Song,' featuring the legendary Omar, is a poignant tribute to overcoming life's challenges, closing the album on a deeply reflective note. The Revival of Survival is a stunning, soulful journey that will leave listeners eagerly demanding more.

Review: Stone Foundation return with their 11th studio album, also marking their first in three years. Known for their collaborations with the likes of Omar, Laville, J.P. Bimeni, and above all their long-time collaborator Mick Talbot (The Style Council), this wonderwork hears this stylish high council of soul rejoice at their formative 25th anniversary, as they tour the world with the likes of Grace Jones and Paul Weller, their sights set firmly on the future. This new release promises a fresh evolution of their signature "small town soul" sound, which, despite the name, takes cosmopolitan flight into an atmospheric sound, in the stead of home.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record slightly warped***


The Strikers were a talented band from New York who delivered catchy and groovy tunes with soulful vocals and tight instrumentation. This album, originally released in 1981, features their two classic singles 'Body Music' and 'Inch by Inch', which are still played in clubs and on radio stations today. This reissue by Unidisc Music is a high-quality vinyl release that preserves the original sound and artwork of the album. This record is a must-have for fans of 80s funk and disco.

Review: At the tail end of the '80s, Sylvia Striplin quit Norman Connors' jazz-funk group Aquarian Dream in order to pursue a solo career. Joining forces with producers James Bedford and Roy Ayers, she recorded 1981 debut album "Give Me Your Love", a well regarded but largely overlooked set that has since become a sought-after item amongst soul collectors. This Expansion reissue presents the album on vinyl for the first time in two decades. As with many soul albums of the period, it sashays between jazz-funk, boogie and heartfelt slow jams, contrasting memorable dancefloor workouts (see stone cold classic "Give Me Your Love" and a stellar cover of Roy Ayers favourite "Searchin") with more saccharine, loved-up fare.

Review: American rap outfit Sugarhill Gang changed music history with their fresh hip-hop sounds and never more so than on their self-titled album. It is often said to be the first rap full length and it came in 1980, a full four-plus decades ago now so gets a special, if possibly slighty late, 40th-anniversary reissue on limited edition and numbered heavyweight vinyl. It, of course, includes the band's most seminal tune, 'Rapper's Delight', in two different versions, as well as equally timeless joints like 'Rapper's Reprise (Jam-Jam)' and the much loved 'Sugar Hill Groove'. A bona fide classic, this one.

Review: A nine-piece instrumental combo hailing from San Diego, California, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble deliver a heady brew of jazz, funk and global rhythms on their latest offering. Recorded in their homebase of Lemon Grove, the album sees them expanding their sonic palette, drawing on library music, spiritual jazz and exotica. Tracks like 'Makin' Moves' and 'The Grifter' showcase the band's signature funk-driven energy, their tight grooves and soaring horns recalling the classic sounds of Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power. But there's a more introspective side on display too, with tracks like 'Mother Earth' and 'Freddie' evoking the spirits of Freddie Hubbard and Phil Ranelin, their introspective melodies and atmospheric textures adding a layer of depth and complexity. 'Corporatocracy' is a standout, its extended tabla solo and modal funk groove demonstrating the band's willingness to experiment with unconventional sounds and structures. This adventurous spirit is a hallmark of The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, a band consistently pushing the boundaries of their sound while remaining firmly rooted in the traditions of jazz and funk.

Review: The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, a soul and funk nonnet from San Diego, have long blessed the Colemine modern funk sceptre with crumbled parfaits of funk topped with crumbly analog psychedelia and Afrobeat. With their new album, they ravage fresher sonic territories. Recorded between 2021 and 2024 in Lemon Grove, California, Gemini centres on their already-laid breakbeat-heavy funk-soul-jazz foundation, heard in tracks like 'Makin' Moves' and 'The Grifter', but they also draw influence from library music, spiritually-inclined jazz and exotica adjacents. Personifying the astrological Gemini - curiosity, versatility - 'Corporatocracy' stands out as special, welding an extended tabla solo to a wordless critique of the world's most egregious mega-firms.

Review: Moving away from their usual meticulous approach, this Australian cinematic soul outfit embraces spontaneity, infusing their signature sound with newfound energy and groove. The result? A record brimming with vibrancy, experimentation and undeniable funk. The opener, 'Sleep Dreams', is a laid-back entry point before 'Bully Ball' crashes in with its raw, thunderous drums and deep-pocket funk. The band's sonic explorations continue on 'Body Slam', a track that begins with a sweet soul feel before morphing into something dark and eerie, highlighted by a timpani recorded in a distant bathroom. That same adventurous spirit shines in 'Fare Evader', where sci-fi-esque synths punctuate a hard-hitting rhythm. Surprise Chef pushes the tempo on 'Consulate Case' and 'Tag Dag', drawing from afro-funk and jazz-funk influences, while ballads like 'Websites' and the ethereal 'Dreamer's Disease' showcase their softer, cinematic side. With Superb, Surprise Chef amplifies the fun without sacrificing their signature musicianship. This album solidifies their ascent from underground favourites to a global force in modern soul.

Review: Sporty Cat sykes delivers the album he always wanted to in the 80s. Laid down the traditional Tascam way, the talented Michigan multi-instrumentalist digs deep into soul palette with equal measures of organic and electronic instrumentation. Expect heavy waves of atmospheres, rich layers of funk and consistent levels of emotion as we glide and stumbled between each touching moment; the drifting sunset ballad "The Best Of My Love", the weeping keys and fluttering slap bass of "Togetherness", the cloud surfing dream boogie of "Sometimes", the rude synth bass and sultry R&B vocals of "If You Want Me", the list goes on...

Review: By and large, disco albums of the 1970s and 80s are largely rubbish, mixing shorter versions of dancefloor epics (at least in their superior 12" version forms) with saccharine ballads. Sylvester's Step II, first released in 1978 and here revived in audiophile-friendly form, is an exception to the rule. Unusually, there's no excess fat and plenty of righteous, life-affirming dancefloor heat with the peerless 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' and San Fran disco-classic 'Dance (Disco Heat)' being accompanied by the high-octane disco-funk stomp of 'Grateful' and the languid soul-funk bump of 'Was It Something I Said'. Even the slower numbers are excellent, particularly 'Epilogue' - a slowed-down, gospel-tinged 'reprise' of 'Mighty Real' that's worth the admission price on its own.

Review: In 2002, the Japanese government recognized bamboo flute maestro Hozan Yamamoto as a "living national treasure". It was in honor of his lengthy career in music, and in particular the way he championed a traditional Japanese instrument even when he was turning his hand to Western music. "Beautiful Bamboo Flute", an album first released in 1971 and almost impossible to find since, is a superb example of this. It sees him deliver haunting, emotional and life-affirming solos over funky jazz, big band and fusion backing tracks that tend towards the fresh and funky. It's an unusual blend, but also an invigorating and exciting one.