Back catalogue: All genres

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: Education & Recreation is the new album from Melbourne, Australia band Surprise Chef, whose music is all about evoking rich moods. Their vibrant arrangements draw on 70s film scores, jazz's funky styles and plenty of the sounds and scenes that hip hop has taken most of its samples from over the years. Their instrumental sound has been honed over years of practice with Lachlan Stuckey on guitar, Jethro Curtin on keys, Carl Lindeberg on bass, Andrew Congues on drums, and Hudson Whitlock composing and producing. From chunky earworms to mediative grooves, this one has it all.

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.