Review: Matasuna Records, based in Berlin, kick off their 2025 with a ladling of fresh soul soma food, this time by Barca's finest one-girl band The Blaxound (Marta Roman), in collaboration with singer John Vermont. Building on irreverent, vintage 60s pop from Spain, whose sound is categorically fiendish to replicate, the two artists have nonetheless managed a close hewing here. 'No Es Por Ti' showcases Vermont's throaty singing, lyrically playing out the eternally relatable breakup trope of "it's not you, it's me." Then 'Qu Ms Te Da?' follows with an affectingly syncopal rhythm, with a tightened snare played only on the 4, heightening the erotic tensity of the scene, driven by shuffling hats alone, whilst the artists' respective cools are kept.
Review: On the latest edition of their excellent Soul Essentials series, Outta Sight has decided to bring together two versions of 'Ordinary Joe', a seemingly perennial favourite written by the late, great Terry Callier. His celebrated 1972 recording - all bold, sing-along choruses, organ stabs, jangling piano and lolloping grooves - breezes its way across side A, while Jerry Butler's earlier version, laid to tape in 1970, sits on side B. His version is much more expansive and musically detailed than Callier's take, with superb production from Gamble & Huff and some brilliant orchestral arrangements courtesy of Donny Hathaway. Both versions are, or course, incredible.
Review: Favourite Records' new reissues series come with a new concept; each classic track comes with an exclusive bit of artwork on each side of the 12" sleeve. This time, they compile two speedy funk tracks from Crystal and J.E.K.Y.S.; 'Funky Biguine' is an homage to the French ballroom style of the same name, from which it draws influence, while 'Looking For You' is a devotional dream from J.E.K.Y.S., a French band singing in English. Slick, quick, and affecting stuff.
Johnny King & Fatback Band - "Keep On Brother Keep On" (2:05)
Review: Bill Curtis' Fatback Band is known around the world for its soul and disco hits but their roots actually lay in funk. They were one of the most impressive outfits around in that particular genre and so they have, for those who are willing to dig deep enough, plenty of rare funk gems to call upon from their earliest days. Here we get a couple of them with 'Dance Girl' - the last tune they released in 1974 before signing to Event/Spring. It was a real classic at block parties back in the day and on the flip is a tune that will cost you over L1000 if you can find an original, namely 'Keep On Brother Keep On' - the group's second single on Curtis BC Projects II label.
John Wagner Coalition - "Cold Sweat" (edit) (3:12)
Review: Mushi 45 is launching a new series featuring fresh edits of obscure covers of cuts by James Brown and the JB's. The first boasts two thoroughly obscure covers of "Cold Sweat". On the A you'll find a tidy tweak of a rousing, raucous and sexually charged 1968 version by El Klan, a Mexican band renowned for their heavyweight take on funk, soul and rhythm and blues. Over on side B you'll find an interpretation from the John Wagner Coalition that originally featured on their 1976 debut album, which unusually was made up entirely of James Brown covers. Their version is a little more laidback, with tons of spacey synthesizer flourishes, crunchy Clavinet lines and oodles and wild Hammond organ solos.
Review: There is currently only one copy of this on Discogs and it is listed at a rather eye watering L1200. Thankfully this reissue means you can own an undeniably brilliant tune for a much more reasonable price. It is a seminal New Orleans joint from the main man Eddie Bo who made it for the hugely popular group The Explosions. Juanita Brooks is the powerhouse soul sister who provides the vocals and on the other side is something just as good - a deep soul gem to warm you to your core.
Nuit De Fievre (Pellegrino Nottata Stellata remix) (5:08)
Review: Be Strong Be Free's 7" series is on fire this year and now comes back with a third instalment. It is 'Nuit De Fievre' and it comes from label owner Gratts, aka the "Belgian down under," who revisits disco's golden era by assembling a stellar studio team starring the Moody Mae band in the company of Reinhard Vanbergen on violin and Jaj from Paris on vocals. What they cook up in return is elegant boogie and disco that will chime well with fans of Dimitri From Paris. The B-side features Pellegrino's jazz-funk rendition, adding Mediterranean flair straight from Vesuvius. Both sides promise deliciously uplifting grooves for any disco enthusiast.
Review: 'Foolish Man Part 1' and 'Part 2' by The Huck Daniels Co is one of several 45rpms the BGP label is dropping at the moment and weirdly many of them are also in two parts. This one features guitarist Daniels who was a key part of the B.B. King band ahead of later setting in Los Angeles and becoming a respected leader in his own right. He wrote just one for Kent Records and that was in 1973 as the label headed into its final days. 'Part 1' on the A-side is a driving funk cut aimed squarely at the club and heavy on inspiration from James Brown and the version on the flip levels up with organ playing from Earl Foster.
Review: Americans Hank Jacobs and Don Malone cooked up a bona fide political soul anthem when they crafted 'The World Needs Changin' back in 1970. It is now hard to find so naturally these days it fetches a very handsome fee on second hand markets so has rightly been reissued here by BGP. The a-side is a tune that cuts deep, with pained vocals over a simple but devastating soul rhythm. On the flip is another gem in the form of 'Getting On Down' making this a crucial cut.
Chuck Davis Orchestra - "Spirit Of Sunshine" (6:23)
Review: Westend brings more of that glorious disco goodness that they have been so well known and loved for over such a long period of time. This one is a split that kicks off with Jake's 'You Are the Star.' It's propelled by neat and tidy bass guitar riffs with more decorative melodies and riffs up top. The drums have an irresistible sense of slide to them and the vocal is of course the icing on the cake. Chuck Davis Orchestra steps up in the flip with more lush and classy disco complete with effervescent string stabs and more funky bass. 'Spirit Of Sunshine' manages to bottle up just that and douse you in it from start to finish.
Review: The legendary James Taylor Quartet will soon return with a much anticipated new full length but before that they offer a glimpse not what to expect from it with new single 'Hung Up On You.' Taylor himself has explained that 'Hung Up On You' was left over from a writing session from his other band The Prisoners and that it was "interesting to see how my JTQ guys, usually funk players, took to this approach." It channels the gritty punk and new wave essence of Medway to deliver a fast-paced rock'n'roll anthem that passionately rants about an enduring, unreciprocated love.
Review: Athens of the North is continually one of our favourite labels here at Juno HQ. The Edinburgh based outlet's tireless mission to unearth forgotten gems or shine a light on deserving tracks that may have been overlooked cannot be faulted. This time out Christopher Jay's 'What Do You want Me To Do' from 1987 gets served up on its own 45rpm. It is a glorious bit of disco boogie with a rugged broken beat, funk in the bass and soul in the buttery vocal. On the flip is a subtle edit that hits just as sweet a spot and it comes with a nice picture sleeve, too.
Review: Staten Island's The Jazztronauts return to Nu Tone with a smooth cruising single which capitalises on the slick fusion style they do so well. There's a reflective, season-shifting mood to 'This Thing Of Ours' which feels perfectly suited to the time of year, whether it's David Giordano's wistful guitar chops or Josh Glazer and Shawn Rhoades' brass section pealing out over the laconic rhythm. 'When It Hits' on the flip is a more sprightly affair which sees drummer AJ Pantaleo setting a snappy pace and Jesse Blum flexing out on the keys, once again maintaining the buttery smooth style the band are so well loved for.
Review: The Big Payback series hits third volume and again bangs together classic soul and funk artists with hip hop giants. This JB & The Soul Mates take on Busta Rhymes. They layer up jazz-funk drums and synths into lively arrangements that are topped with sick verses from the master and plenty of James Brown ad libs also colour the groove. It's a high energy party starter, but if you need something a little less busy, the instrumental on the flip has you covered with its big horns and sax lines getting hands in the air.
Shake Your Money Maker (New Super Heavy Funk edit - part 1) (2:37)
Shake Your Money Maker (New Super Heavy Funk edit - part 2) (2:37)
Review: Only 300 copies of this tantalising 7" single from the esteemed Soopastole Edits label are available, so act quickly to secure yours because they all sold out fast back in 2016 upon original release. As usual, Soopasoul, a regular on Jalepeno Records, is at the helm, deftly wielding his scalpel to craft two scorching interpretations of a lesser-known gem from the 'Sex Machine' sessions. On side A, 'Shake Your Money Maker (Part 1)' showcases Maceo Parker's electrifying saxophone solos soaring over Soopasoul's tightened-up version of the JB's infectious groove. Flip to the B-side for more saxophone magic and a groove that delves into the original track's percussive sections, delivering irresistible hip-swinging and toe-tapping thrills.
Review: The tenth release on Fantasy Love takes us back to the Spring of 1978 and Miami Sound Studios, where Aaron McCarthy Junior AKA Jelly had been lending a hand with the recording of Herman Kelly's now celebrated album, 'Percussion Explosion'. 'Everybody Needs Lovin, Now's the Time' was demo'd for that album but never completed; instead, McCarthy joined forces with producer Thomas Fundora to record a tweaked version, featuring his own lead vocals, which was then released on the latter's obscure, small-run label. Here reissued for the first time, the track is a pleasingly celebratory slab of Miami soul that comes backed by 'Hey Look at Me', a sugary, eyes-closed love ballad with similarly fine Floridian instrumentation.
Review: What we gonna do right here is go back, way back. You already recognise that refrain, don't you? That's because it is one of the most sampled refrains in dance music history. Now it gets pressed up on to 7" for this year's Record Store day as a 7" double header featuring two of the most impossibly huge hits from the Jimmy Castor Bunch, namely the million-plus selling 'Troglodyte', and on the reverse, 'It's Just Begun'. A true funk masterpiece that made its mark lighting up parties in the Bronx in the 70's before it set a fire under those who went on to create hip-hop's earliest blueprint, it remains a classic to this day.
Review: Vocalist Jodie Richardson continues to assert herself as a modern soul sensation with this new one on Original Gravity. Featuring Neil Anderson on production, drums, bass and keys, this one could be a double a-side such is the equally brilliance of both tunes. 'Pushover' is a powerful tune with driving rhythms backed by big horns as Jodie's beautiful vocals race along up top. It's steeped in classic soul references and is brilliantly unrelenting. On the flip side, 'Treat Me Better' is another belter, this time rolling a little deeper with empowering lyrics about searching for someone better over super tight stick work.
Review: More scorching hot soul sounds here from Original Gravity who look to Jodie and Floyd James and the GTs for their latest dose of 7" goodness. Jodie is in powerful form on the a-side as she delivers an empowering vocal over fast paced and chested-puffed drums that will steamroller all in their wake. This soul anthem has class and depth with some slick guitar solos and big horn energy. Floyd James & The GTs step up on the flip side with 'Johnnie's Blues' which is full of Hammond organ chords and 60s guitar riffs.
Review: Authentic soul business from Bloomington newbies The Indications brought to you by the good people at Colemine Records. Teaming up with Durand Jones for the A-side, "Smile" is a powerful preachy cut that digs deep into the classic funk mentality while sitting neatly upside the grills of Aloe Blacc or Gnarls Barkley. "Tuck N Roll", meanwhile, is a Meters-level slice of smouldering instrumental funk with big cymbal splashes and a blissful balance of Rhodes and guitar. Spotless.
Review: The latest 45 from Durand Jones & The Indications, out on Colemine Records, brings together two tracks from their previous LP, Private Space. Now lovingly refitted for 7" play as only the best cinematic soul should, the A-side of this record contains the album's title track. It comes in the form of a laid back, string-strung, smoothened progression, on which guitarist Blake Rhein plays minimal but on-the-money strokes, and the ever falsetto'ing Durand Jones sings creatively of and in tribute to the many cordoned-off corners, hiding places and hind spaces of the world; the essential vectors of lovemaking. The flip shakes up the ambiance to a higher set of stakes, deploying an upper-tempo, flunkie disco-funk, to hearsaid but hopeful talk of seas of love.
Review: The King Casuals and were founded in 1962 by the late great Jimi Hendrix and after the guitarist's death, he was in the late sixties replaced by Johnny Jones. He leads them in stomping and high energy fashion and here on the a-side is his interpretation of the Hendrix classic 'Purple Haze.' It's got all the things you need to get steamy on the dance floor and it always used to shake the floor at Wigan Casino. Gene Chandler is a bonafide Northern Soul legend who is well known to fans of the genre and his 'There Was a Time' is a real raw gem on the flip.
Review: Daptone recently released a killer collection of archival cover versions by in-house band the Dap-Kings and their sadly departed lead singer Sharon Jones. One of the headline attractions on that set, the band's righteous, call-to-arms soul version of Woody Guthrie's folk anthem 'This Land Is Our Land', is also featured on this must-have reissue of a "45" that first dropped in 2004. It's superb, but even better is A-side 'What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?', a floor-friendly conscious soul/funk crossover written and recorded at the height of the second Gulf War with Iraq. As usual, Jones' impeccable lead vocal is supported brilliantly by the band's fiery instrumentation and Bosco Mann's fuzzy, sixties-style production.
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (vocal mix) (4:03)
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (instrumental) (2:58)
Review: Remarkably, 16 years have passed since Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings first released 'How Long Do I Have To Wait', one of the revivalist soul and funk band's sweetest and most heartfelt songs. Written and produced by Dap-Kings main man Bosco Mann, the song features one of Jones' most evocative and impassioned lead vocals, as well as a pleasingly laidback, loose-limbed groove, jazzy guitars and pitch-perfect horn blasts. As it did back in 2004, this reissue pairs the peerless vocal version with Mann's typically fuzzy, lovingly crafted instrumental take. If you missed out first time round, make sure you grab a copy.
Jorge Ben - "Ma Ma Ma Ma Mae (A Lingua Dos Anjos)" (4:09)
Cauby Peixoto & Jorge Ben - "Dona Culpa" (3:25)
Review: Mr Bongo's excellent Brazil.45 series digs deeper into the legacy of Jorge Ben, one of Brazil's most famous musical exports and an enduring samba king. Opening up is 'Ma Ma Ma Ma Mae (A Lingua Dos Anjos)' which was originally on his 1980 album Alo Alo, Como Vai? It's a modern sound, with disco inflections and big wind sections, but also some trademark Ben playfulness in the lyrics which speak of flying saucers and angels. O the flip, things slow down and get more steamy and sensuous on 'Dona Culpa' from his Cauby! Cauby!' album of the same year. Two sides, two styles, one irrepressible artist.
Review: Jstar and Dubmatix's Scenario is an infectious mash-up of A Tribe Called Quest's 1992 classic, seamlessly blending hip-hop with dub and reggae influences. The remix revitalises the iconic track, infusing it with a modern, bass-heavy groove while retaining its original energy and lyrical parts. The instrumental version stands out on its own, showcasing the intricate production work and the deep, resonant basslines characteristic of Dubmatix. This remix respects the legacy of the original track while introducing it to a new generation.
Review: Carlton Jumel Smith earned himself the title Mr Soul, being one of NYC's foremost exponents of a faithful sound which keeps the Motown flame alive. Having released a couple of singles on Timmion last year as well as linking up with Dojo Cuts on Colemine, now Smith is stepping out on Mocambo with the riotous party starter 'Keep On Swinging', a heated affair with sassy brass, overdriven guitar licks and the man himself holding it down with a killer vocal turn. 'Hope' on the flip is a funkier number which calls to mind classic Curtis Mayfield, not least thanks to that sprightly percussion section. Great modern soul music which knows where it's coming from.
Review: Jungle Fire are an LA-based megagroup mainly dealing in a modern take on Afro/Latin funk, working in every instrument from electric guitar to djembe to a full colliery section. Flat-caps, shades and trilbies aplenty, their latest album Jungle Fire established a self-starting genre they dubbed 'TropiFunk', a boxy and lo-fi funk sound informed by the haunted fuzz of lost tape music. Now Colemine deliver a new 7" study on their two best tunes, 'Slipshot' and 'Pico Union'.
Basil Kirchin & Jack Nathan - "Viva La Tamla Motown" (3:50)
Alan Parker & William Parish - "Main Chance" (3:05)
Review: KPM Music might just be one of the most expansive music libraries out there, boasting a whopping 30,000 exclusive music tracks for licensing. Some of their earliest pieces are being reissued by Measured Mile, the latest of which appears here in the form of a split 7" by four of the label's most treasured contributors. 'Viva La Tamla Motown' helms up the A-side with wonky, laboured drumming and an excitable rock n' rolly guitar and harmonica. 'Main Chance' brings up the B with a more loungeified flutey strutter.
Review: Mr. Bongo credit themselves with taking a selection of the most in-demand and asked-for titles in their Brazil '45s catalogue, lending them all a loving repress in due homage to the music of the nation. This time, they focus their energies on the synergy shared between the late composer and record producer Nonato Buzar and drummer Jose Roberto, both of whose contributions to the MPB canon are unmissable, referent sonic studs. Nonato's 'Cafua' is a powerful eurythmic, its strigiform vocals proving a suitable narcotic to offset to the track's otherwise restless horns and post-bossa-nova drum clacks, which hit like quick patterings against soft cartilage. Roberto's 'Crioula Multicolorida' is a more vintage recording, erstwhile bringing rare "samba rock" grooviness and reflective, call and response lyricisms to a redolent rhythm.
Judson Moore & The Al Tog Staff - "Everybody Push & Pull" (3:11)
Review: Soul Junction revisits the Scot-Tees Capri master tapes here to unveil two previously unreleased tracks. First is 'My Sweet Polly' by The Scott Brothers, a late 60s dance tune inspired by Howard Scott's former girlfriend. Coupled with this is a studio version of Judson Moore's "Everybody Push & Pull," a crossover hit influenced by Rufus Thomas. The Scott Brothers evolved from the 'Elpeccios' in 1958 to the Scott Brothers Band in 1963 and were instrumental in Chicago's music scene. Their label, Capri Records, produced hits like 'We Like Girls' and worked with legends like Garland Green. Judson Moore was a veteran singer who thrived under their mentorship and went on to leave a lasting legacy.
George Semper - "Knowbody's Gonna Love You (Like The Way I Do)" (demo version) (2:19)
Joanne Vent - "Knowbody's Gonna Love You (Like The Way I Do)" (unreleased Acetate version) (2:11)
Review: On their previous deep dives into the archives of Trindadian-American multi-instrumentalist and producer George Semper, Dynamite Cuts has largely focused on reissuing obscure, private-press releases. Here they go one step further, offering up two unheard versions of Semper composition 'Knowbody's Gonna Love You (Like The Way I Do)'. On the A-side you'll find Semper's demo version, a cheery chunk of summery soul bliss blessed with fantastic group vocals, a superb lead vocal from the man himself, and some deliciously chiming melodies. Over on the flip you'll find a fuzzy, more horn-heavy soul version from vocalist Joanna Vent that was previously pressed to an acetate but never released
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