Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Berlin based Afro-Soul duo Jembaa Groove consists of bass player and composer Yannick Nolting and singer-percussionist Eric Owusu. Backed up by a further five players to form a septet, their music aims to cement the reputation of West African musics like highlife with the frenetic pace of Berlin's underground music scene. 'Sweet My Ear' is their latest single, packed with a steady Ghanaian funk, muted horn section, and multi-layered rhythm section, effecting a casually shuffly sound. With the instrumental in tow too, you can expect this heater sate all ears around, and to deliver on its intention to encourage spontaneous romantic encounters.

Review: 'Mango Woman' is fresh a 7" by the German duo Mo' Horizons, known for their eclectic mix of downtempo, funk, soul, jazz, Latin, and African music. Prominently featuring the vocals of Gyedu-Blay Ambolley - an enduring pioneer of Ghanaian highlife, and debatably considered by some to be one of the forefathers of rap music - this is a sultry affair, charting up-close, boomy vocals and well-rounded percussion choices. Vintage Latin music artist Sono Rhizmo helms up the remix on the B-side, providing a carefully uptempo take on the track.

Review: From Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley returns with another simmering display of his self-styled Simigwa-funk-part highlife, part jazz, part proto-rap, all unmistakably his own. Still sharp at 77, Ambolley commands a tight ensemble through groove-led declarations like 'Wake Up Afrika' and 'U Like Or U No Like', riding swung basslines and crisp horn arrangements with the flair of a master bandleader. 'God E See You' finds him slipping into a smoky, Afro-soul register, while 'New Simi Rapp' stretches out into hypnotic territory, led by flutes, baritone sax and rhythmic mantras. 'Ochoko Bila' and 'If You Want To Know' are more playful cuts, full of bounce and quick-fire wisdom. The production, split between Ghana and the Netherlands, balances live grit with rich detail-everything breathes, nothing is wasted. As ever, Ambolley's voice is both storyteller and instrument: loose, commanding, and deeply rooted in diasporic sound. This is music that moves and means.

Review: Ubbo Gronewold and Tobi Kirsch are back with a second compilation of intercontinental rhythms after the success of the first one not so long ago. This one carries on where that one left off, but with the added emphasis of focussing on other European regions and including different countries than those from Vol. 1. A super broad spectrum of sound is covered as the mission goes on to connect music across borders and boundaries from Africa to Europe. There are newcomers, well known names, and a whole wealth of great jams and all of them rich in the musical traditions of Africa.