Funk / Reissue Recommendations August 2011

Review: A duo that have a phenomenal amount of fans despite never being picked up by the mainstream, Jalapeno duo Smoove & Turrell return after their 2009 debut Antique Soul. Combining funk beats with Turrell's gutsy and gravelly vocals works wonders again on big tunes like the Northern Soul stomp of "Higher" or the mellow nu-disco of "In Deep". This combination of producer and singer have struck gold again, and Eccentric Audio should see them seriously make an impact this time around.

Review: Names You Can Trust presents No. 3 in its series of New Cumbia vinyl 45s. This latest release features an original track from Argentinian record junkie, producer and creator of the Soulfood parties in Buenes Aires, Doctor Stereo (aka Ezequiel Lodeiro), as well as a remix from Brazil''s DJ Tahira.

Doctor Stereo marks his debut on NYCT with a swinging summertime heatrock. La Cumbia Perdida is an exploration into early 1960s Cumbia roots, full of irresistible hip hugging piano licks against a contemporary backbone of heavy drums and squelchy synthesized effects.

DJ Tahira (behind the excellent Fumãca Jazz Remix of GRC''s Secret Stash on the NYCT Remixes EP) shifts the original track ever so slightly into Afro-Colombian territory, subtly adding a layer of quintessential Afro-Beat inspired guitar licks and a deft touch of deep subterranean bass.

Review: Two classic and storming early R&B sides from Roy Brown on Jazzman Records offshoot label Juke Box Jams. "Mr. Hound Dog's Back In Town" was Roy's killer vocal and upfront guitar-licked retort to Big Mama Thornton's massive breakthrough hit "Hound Dog". On the flipside "Fannie Brown Got Married" kicks off with an infectious rhythm and a great main vocal with alternate answering band chorus and main floor saxophone. This is timeless stuff.

Review: The first in a series of unique Direct To Disc albums from Stones Throw, undertaken to celebrate reaching the fifteen years of business milestone. The label's resident pint sized crooner Mayer Hawthorne and backing band The Country recorded this ten track set live at Capsule Labs back in April, with the music being cut to acetate on the go. Never to be released on any format other than the double vinyl, minimally packaged release you see here, this is an all too tempting chance to grab a bookmark in the glorious history of one of the best labels out there.

Review: Jeanne Demetz's killer "Calypso Daddy" was cut in the 1950s but never actually saw a commercial release, so for collectors it's a completely new discovery. Perhaps it was deemed too unusual or exotic for mass consumption, or perhaps it was shelved as the bandleader responsible, Johnny Alston, was experiencing a downturn in popularity after enjoying success through the 1940s. Whatever the reason, we're glad it's finally seeing the light of day; a killer Latin rhythmic pattern, great instrumentation and seductive Calypso-esque vocal combine to great effect. On the flipside "Everything Will Be Alright" starts off with a bluesy boogie woogie piano and walking double basslines before Jeanne delivers the full weight of the song with the catchy titled chorus.

Review: If you're looking for a top-notch introduction to the collaborative work of pioneering poet/spoken word vocalist/singer Gil Scott-Heron and musician/producer Brian Jackson, we'd suggest taking a serious look at Anthology: Messages. Originally released in 2005, it contains most of the pair's most celebrated soul/jazz fusion works - including 'The Bottle', 'Winter in America' and 'Home is Where The Hatred Is' (albeit in expanded live form) - alongside some deeper picks, slept-on album cuts and genuinely inspired moments such as 'Racetrack in France', a 1977 cut that boasts some seriously squelchy, proto-acid electronics, and 'Hold On To Your Dreams'.