Gustav Brom Orchestra - "Calling Up The Rain" (5:32)
Frederic Rabold Crew - "Ride On" (3:28)
Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - "Samba De Haps" (3:56)
Larry Rose Band - "The Sand" (5:25)
Review: The concept behind this new collection on BBE is a simple but effective one: sommelier Frederic Beneix has picked out a selection of wines, and beat maker DJ Cam has dug deep to serve up some rare but fitting musical accompaniments that were produced in the same year. Wine4Melomanes, therefore, is a unique collection of sounds from all over Europe that connects the complexity and sensuality of a tipple with the rhythm and melody of a song. Most are lush and sophisticated jazz cuts that sound good whether you're drinking or not. Delicious.
Review: The vibrant Cuban music scene of the 1970s thrived with creativity, and FA-5's self-titled 1976 album perfectly captures that energy. Part of Mr Bongo's Cuban Classics series, the record blends Latin rock, funk, soul, disco, and Afro-Cuban rhythms into an eclectic and captivating sound. The funk-heavy opener, 'Muevete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazon' features an infectious bassline, lively horns and drum breaks, setting the tone for a genre-hopping journey. With standout tracks like the Latin disco-funk 'Casa De Ladrillo' and a cover of Commodores' 'Brick House' this hidden gem, which was produced by Tony TaNo, is a must-have for both fans and collectors.
Review: Critically acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Joel Fairstein hails from Knoxville, Tennesee. He was just 24 years old in 1978 when he recorded his debut album Umbra with an ensemble of 18 different sidemen. It has since become something of a collector's piece and now gets its first ever worldwide reissue after first being released on a private label. The fantastic jazz fusion sounds have been transferred directly from master tapes so sound superb. It's a soothing, mellifluous album that has aged to perfection with piano jams like 'Tn' next to funky workouts like 'Womanized.'
Review: The Family Tree's transcendent disco gospel classic We Shall See Him As He Is gets a special and much-deserved reissue here for Record Store Day 2024. It originally debuted in 1979 and since then has grown in stature as a soulful delight that embodies the vibrant gospel disco scene of Baltimore. With original copies commanding prices exceeding $300, this reissue means you can cop it for a reasonable price and revel in its rare gospel charms. Tracks such as 'Psalm 150' and a captivating disco rendition of Stevie Wonder's 'As' are standouts. This one has been remastered and comes on nice on heavyweight vinyl.
Review: Lance Ferguson's work with The Bamboos and Menagerie has been critically acclaimed, but he is just as essential as a solo artist.This new release is a freshly scored soundtrack for the 1981 French film of the same name. It was a romantic thriller directed by Leroi Alarie that was once thought lost until a 35mm print was recently discovered. Alarie was dissatisfied with the original score so asked Ferguson to compose new music for the film ahead of its restoration and re-release. Ferguson's dreamy, instrumental funk sound does a great job of capturing the film's sun-drenched atmosphere and subtly infuses it with 80s vibes next to more contemporary sounds. It's fair to say that the soundtrack very much enhances this rediscovered European arthouse gem.
Review: New Zealand-born Lance Ferguson has been the beating heart of Melbourne's modern funk and soul scene for the best part of two decades. It's this that allowed him to gather many of the city's best musicians together to record "Rare Groove Spectrum", an album of fresh covers of rare and classic funk, soul and Latin jams. There are some killer versions to be found amongst the 11 tracks on offer. We're particularly enjoying the collective's riotous instrumental revision of Pleasure classic "Joyous", the strutting deep funk heaviness of "Egg Roll" (a similarly restless cover of a mysterious but much-played cut that should be familiar to dusty-fingered diggers and knowledgeable dancers) and the sumptuous summer breeze that is the combo's meandering take on Earth, Wind and Fire staple "Brazilian Rhyme". It is, though, all superb.
Review: 17 albums deep and Lee Fields still has something to say. Arm in arm with longstanding band The Expressions, the troupe dig deep an impeccable roll of soul: The soft harmonies and yearning horns of "I'm Coming Home", the light electronic elements on the rhythm of the hazy, laidback torch song "Never Be Another You", the swooning blues of "Let Him In", the almost highlife sparkle to the guitars on "Where Is The Love"... Each of the ten tracks hits with a freshness, energy and realness that few - if any - 70s troubled troubadours could muster. Essential.
Review: This is one of a couple of proper holy grail boogie funk gems that French label PBT are dropping this month. Love At First Sight by First Love was originally released in 1982 out of Chicago and is a rare gem that captures the peak of modern soul and funk. Led by powerhouse vocalist Yvonne Gage (who is credited as Yvine Gage), the newly reissued record deals in rich production by Randy B and Chuck Colbert, who are icons of the genre. Standout tracks include the synth-drenched 'Don't Say Goodnight' and the smooth, late-night groove 'Party Lights', while 'Don't Be Afraid' is a sentinel, string-laced slow burner. With deep basslines, tight drums, and lush synths throughout, this one is a real heart melter.
Review: This Record Store Day, The Flirtations are back with Still Sounds Like the Flirtations, their first album of new material in 55 years. Renowned for their 1969 hit 'Nothing But A Heartache', which spent 14 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100, the group toured with icons like Stevie Wonder and The Four Tops. Their signature song remains a Northern Soul classic, remixed in 2022 by Tobtok and Oliver Nelson. Produced by Ben Rice, the album delves into their life stories, drawing from personal, social, and political experiences and was recorded across Abbey Road, Resident Studios, Degraw Sound, and Creative Workshop, with many standout tracks showcasing timeless perspectives on love and life.
Review: After their debut collab on this label back in 2020, Afro-Cosmic pioneer Daniele Baldelli and sometime FPI Project member Marco Fratty are back once again with a new album, Graffito that taps into all their many years of experience at the forefront of this sound as producers and influential DJs. It's a record packed with cosmic arps and dazzling synth lines that reach for the stars over heavy, churning drums that lock you in. The track titles give more than subtle hints as to the vibes of these pieces, all of which are utterly timeless and could be long-lost 70s classics or future gems.
Review: Free Nationals released their debut album back in 2018. The LA-formed R&B collective comprised of Jose Rios, Ron "T.Nava" Avant, Kelsey Gonzales and Callum Connor are best known as being the backing band for Anderson .Paak but also make grooves just as tight on their own. This debut was packed with top guests such as .Paak himself as well as Mac Miller and Kali Uchis and it was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. It mixes up classic R&B with twists of funk and soul greats like Stevie Wonder.
El Expresidiario (feat Humberto "huango" Muriel) (2:49)
Bang Bang (El Tiroteo) (3:07)
Langaruto (feat Humberto "huango" Muriel) (2:29)
Todo Es Todo (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:20)
Oriza (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:20)
La Chica Del Barrio Obrero (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:22)
Perlas Negras (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:15)
El Dia Que Naci Yo (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (5:36)
Algo Pa' Goza (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:38)
Yo No Vuelvo A Querer (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:04)
El Coco (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:46)
Dame Un Break (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:34)
Canto A Panama (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:23)
Cumbia Bacana (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:45)
Pa' Los Bomberos (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:38)
Caifaz (feat Joe Arroyo) (4:29)
Va A Llover (feat Wilson Saoko) (5:10)
Fruko Presidente (feat Joe Arroyo) (3:57)
La Loteria (feat Joe Arroyo) (4:22)
Review: Given that it can be tricky to track down the original album releases by Colombian 'salsa drura' greats Fruko Y Sos Sus Tesos, this compilation from Vampi Soul makes an excellent introduction to their trademark sound - even if it is made up of 'deep cuts and rarities; from the band's releases on the iconic Discos Fuentes label. This is fiery, dancefloor-ready salsa from the era of psychedelic rock, and it's that aural colour and low-end heaviness that catches the ear throughout. There's not a duffer amongst the 20 tracks on show, which makes picking highlights tough. That said, our current favourites include 'Bang Bang (el Tiroteo', the effervescent 'Oriza', the horn-heavy cheeriness of 'Perlas Negras' and the richly percussive 'Canto a Panama'.
I Got A Thing, You Got A Thing, Everybody's Got A Thing (3:53)
I Wanna Know If It's Good To You (5:59)
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On (3:18)
Hit It & Quit It (2:46)
Cosmic Slop (5:21)
Can You Get To That (2:50)
Loose Booty (3:16)
Funky Dollar Bill (3:06)
A Joyful Process (2:55)
I'll Bet You (6:14)
Review: This is a first-ever CD-reissue of legendary funk outfit Funkadelic's Greatest Hits album - known amongst fans as 'the sheep album' - from back in 1975. It came on Westbound and has plenty of the most enduringly iconic tunes as one of George Clinton's group's most iconic covers in a catalogue full of them. The tracks here are taken from the band's first six albums and features 45 mixes, LP mixes and an edit of the instrumental 'A Joyful Process' which has never before been reissued. The whole thing has been remastered as the original was known for being a little thin in the low end.
Review: Man With A Gun is the debut long player from Singaporean prog and funk group Funkgus. It has a famously enigmatic toxic blue jacket that lurks you in and musically it is no less intriguing. As well as a passionate cover of King Curtis's 'Memphis Soul Stew' there are plenty of supremely psychedelic sounds. The opener is steeped in funky bass riffs with rock-tinged drum breaks and plenty of raw vocals and from there the grooves come thick and fast, often with plenty of texture and charismatic vocals such as on 'Spill The Wine' and the leggy, expressive sounds of 'Everyday People' with its twisted wah wah guitars.
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