Brenda Boykin - "All The Time In The World" (4:05)
Step Three - "A Dream" (feat B More - instrumental) (5:51)
Review: This split release offers two laid-back tracks from the depths of Brazil. On the A-side, Brenda Boykin (a jazz vocalist with a rich, creative voice which was nominated for a BAMMY Award in 1997 for Best Vocalist) delivers a soulful cover of Louis Armstrong's seminal 'We Have All The Time in the World,' the theme for George Lazenby's one-time portrayal of James Bond as well as a real karaoke favourite. The B-side features Step Three's 'A Dream,' a funky instrumental track with B. More which became a dance floor favourite following its 1993 release. Pressed on red 7" wax, this one beautifully captures some timeless Brazilian rhythms.
Review: Here's a killer reissue from the Soul Jazz archives which is finally getting a repress. It's hardly surprising when the reissue becomes as sought after as the holy grail original jam from 1970, a sublime instrumental anthem of soulful, skanking perfection with Cedric Im Brooks flexing his sax in glorious style over a beautifully rough n' ready rhythm. It was shortly after this recording was laid down Brooks went on to form The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari with Count Ossie, which tells you all you need to know about the heritage we're dealing with here.
Review: The unequalled Soul Jazz label is serving up some monster funk this month and they don't come much bigger than these two cuts from Chuck Carbo. Opener 'Can I Be Your Squeeze' is a super catchy, break heavy and funk fulled party jam to destroy the floor. Written and produced by the celebrated Eddie Bo, it comes with big drums from New Orleans stick man James Black. On the flip is the ever so slightly more mellow but not less dance 'Take Care Your Homework Friend.' These have long been hard to find and now come pressed nice and loud on fresh wax.
Review: Mr Bongo restock a brilliant 7" in their signature Brazil 45s series. The nineteenth to grace it, this blue-starred slice of small wax shone a light on Wilson das Neves' brilliant cover of Average White Band's 'Pick Up The Pieces' on the A, as well as a Mr Bongo fave on the B, Som Tres' potent samba-funk overflow 'Tanga'. The former flexes the historic muscles of a mythic Brazilian percussionist and vibesman, lending fidgety soft feels to AWB's already lull-lifting concoction; then 'Tanga' contrasts to this sense of measuredness with pure animal verve, as Tres' calls out to his bandmates commandingly amid whirlwinds of piano and drums.
Review: Lisa Decker makes a return with two new singles here that are taken from her upcoming album which is due in May of this year. It comes two years after her debut with the Japanese jazz trio Nautilus and marks something of a conceptual shift in her sound. 'Love & Hope' finds her turn in a stylish jazz vocal with funky bass loops and organic drums and percussion that straddle many different genres. 'Summer Child' then sinks into a nice smooth jazz-funk vibe with soft focus chords bringing a touch of class to her breezy vocals.
Review: Sometimes a record drops and you just know it's going to be hot. This is one of those records, an essential 7" from Bloom and Japanese talent DJ Koco aka Shimokita, who has been spinning 45s since 2011 and can juggle beats like Messi can juggle a ball. He is a favourite with the likes of Gilles Peterson and is likely to win many new fans with this one. 'World Famous (feat 45Trio)' is a gloriously jazzy, soulful sound with funk drum breaks and warm, organic percussive tumbling next to natty chords and a killer bassline. Add in the equally irresistible 'Re Create #01' on the flip and you have a sure-fire future classic, so do not sleep.
Golden Boys - "Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gaviao)" (2:38)
Silvio Cesar - "Beco Sem Saida" (2:21)
Review: Mr Bongo's essential Brazil 45s series notches up release number 89 via a blast of heavy dancefloor pressure that touches on both Brazilian funk and samba-rock. On the A-side you'll find Golden Boys' 1975 gem 'Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gaviao)', an irresistible slab of full-throttle, orchestra-sporting, Hammond-heavy samba-funk marked out by strong group vocals and some superb musical arrangements. Over on the flip you'll find another classic from the same producer (Milton Miranda), Silvio Cesar's 1971 carnival masterpiece 'Beco Sem Saida' - an infectious excursion that found fame in the 2000s when Drumagick sampled it on 'Sambarock'.
Review: Super Spicy celebrates getting to five years old in the best way it knows how - with a new release, of course. This one comes on translucent re wax and brings together a blend of seasoned and fresh talent including Hotmood, Shalvoy, Diana Swan, Musta, Adam Nova and Uptown Funk. These tracks do a fine job of reflecting the label's dedication to innovation right from the off. Musta's 'Fresco' is a nice jumbled percussive disco funker, Hotmood's 'Ayaaa' rides on some electric synth waves and Shalvo's 'Dancin' is a smooth cruise for the midnight hours. On the flip side are three more vibrant and vivacious disco dancers for good times only.
Review: Mr Bongo's crucial Brazil series hits a 94th volume here with vocal and instrumental group Os Carbonos from Sao Paulo. The band had a long and fruitful career that started in the 60s and ran on into the 80s. This offering is a tune from later on in their time and it is a prime slice of Brazilian boogie with funk drums, vamping chords and hip swinging claps all designed to bring the good ties and the sunny vibes. The bass-driven a-side is the one, but the flip from Sandra Sa is a special kind of sentimental soul sound.
Review: Fresh from dropping another essential seven-inch with his regular Sound Combo band, Misha Paniflov has joined forces with fellow multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee for a string of collaborative singles. This "45" sports two genuinely impressive cuts, each full to bursting with quality live instrumentation. It opens with 'Sigmund Jahn Bossa', a superb fusion of late 1960s library jazz (think Roy Budd's score for Get Carter and you're in the right ballpark), bustling bossa-nova and spiralling psych-funk. Over on the flip the pair continue to deliver lounge, influenced, tongue-in-cheek thrills via the cheap, Sideman drum machine rhythms, tumbling guitars, elongated Hammond organ chords and hazy backing vocals of 'Aquaria'.
Review: Limited white vinyl repress.DJ Soopasoul's last mash-up was an inspired affair that saw him perfectly fuse tracks by Philadelphia Soul legends MFSB and the Beastie Boys. Here he takes a similar approach, placing the rap vocals from the 1995 hip-hop classic 'How High' atop a suitably funky, lolloping beat crafted from clavinet-heavy sections from Stevie's party-starting floor-heater 'Superstition'. It works remarkably well on the A-side vocal mix, and those who'd not heard either track would be convinced that there was no mash-up antics going on. Over on side B you'll find an instrumental mix that showcases Soopasoul's editing skills; minus the vocals, is a fine re-edit of the Wonder-ful jam.
Review: Stefano Tirone has been a stalwart of the Italian scene since making his debut on legendary Italian house label Calypso Records way back in 1992. Since then, his productions have become increasingly more jazz and soul focused, with a sizeable side order of groovy downtempo beats. His latest seven-inch single begins with "Try My Love", a hazy chunk of head-nodding jazz-funk/soul fusion rich in languid synthesizer solos, lazy grooves, hazy horns and soulful vocals. It's really good all told, though we'd argue that flipside "Odoya" - a wiggling chunk of Afro-tinged mid-tempo funk - is even better. Either way, it's another rock solid release from the effervescent Tirone.
Review: 'Shehzadi' (which means "Princess") is an Indo-disco gem featuring Solomon's Hindi vocals over Sababa 5's blend of hypnotic drums, nice pulsing bass, bright electric guitar and sparkling synths in a minor key. It channels '80s nostalgia with a modern twist and so rather evokes a Stranger Things meets Bollywood-type vibe. 'Ranjha' (which means 'Lover') shifts to a Middle Eastern feel with synths that echo traditional instruments like the saz. The upbeat groove complements Solomon's dynamic vocals and is filled with hope while dramatic pauses and an exuberant synth solo from Sophia add extra flair to make for a compelling mix of emotion and energy.
The O'Jays - "Now That We Found Love" (Soul Flip edit) (4:17)
Review: After a pause since last March, Soul Flip Edits returns with a fresh new logo and a highly anticipated new Soul Flip outing on 7" vinyl. To mark this comeback, the much loved label has reimagined a classic: Sam & Dave's 'Soul Man' and they have givien it a punchy update that stays true to the original's vibe. On the B-side, they've reworked 'Now That We Found Love' by The O'Jays by adding a smooth touch that promises to keep dancers moving. Both tracks bring timeless soul energy with an enhanced twist so are two perfectly "flipped" soul anthems ready for the party.
Review: Caito Sanchez lives in New York but was born in Panama and is a dedicated drummer who has spent years as a sideman. He's been honing his craft since the early 2000s and has played with the likes of Charles Bradley, Lee Fields and Brian Jackson. Now he finally makes the big step of going it alone and this debut single shows what he is capable of. He takes care of drums, but also bass, guitar and lead voice on a pair of nuggets that are heavy and psychedelic Spanish rock tunes full of fresh new wave sounds.
Review: Dirty Harry is one of the greatest Western characters of all time and the main title theme from the movie is just as brilliant. Here it gets pressed up to a fiery and funky 7" that follows on from one on this same label back in summer which offered up 'Scorpio's View' on 45rpm. This one opens with the eponymous theme which is a funky and thrilling chase with superb rhythms and lush strings and then the flip is 'Magnum Force' (main Title) which is more subtle and slow burning but just as dramatic.
Review: Dynamite Cuts brings the heat once more with a second volume of their Sound Music 45s series. Siegfried Schwab takes care of the A-side with 'Getting High', a scorching funk workout with hard-worked guitar chords and precise percussion over lots of wah-wah effects. 'Feel It; flip the script with a superbly stripped-down jazz-funk lounge sound. Klaus Weiss then steps up on 'Time For Rhythm' with some loose, percussive funk beats that are raw and organic, then Peter Thomas closes down with 'Documentation', a more richly instrumental and multi-layered jazz-funk sound that conveys real grandeur.
Review: Dynamite Cuts brings the heat once more with a second volume of their Sound Music 45s series. Siegfried Schwab takes care of the A-side with 'Getting High', a scorching funk workout with hard-worked guitar chords and precise percussion over lots of wah-wah effects. 'Feel It; flip the script with a superbly stripped-down jazz-funk lounge sound. Klaus Weiss then steps up on 'Time For Rhythm' with some loose, percussive funk beats that are raw and organic, then Peter Thomas closes down with 'Documentation', a more richly instrumental and multi-layered jazz-funk sound that conveys real grandeur.
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.
Review: Wow, classics don't come much more special than this. A like-for-like repress of the 1970 RCA release, both sides here are soaked in Scott Heron's raw troubled soul. The endlessly sampled, hugely powerful and perfectly funky "Revolution" remains almost as poignant and prophetic as it was the day it was penned. "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" is much more personal and reveals his talent as a singer as much as the lead track boasts his poetry and ability to deliver a strong message.
Review: Gil Scott-Heron's 'Pieces Of A Man' was the first LP recorded by the poet and musician, made and released in 1971. Owing to the album's importance, BGP have released two of its most standout tracks, the title track and 'Think I'll Call It Morning', on a limited 7" that will doubtess prove exceptionallyy handy for DJs who need to get straight down to business.
Review: Back in the 60s and 70s, library music exploded as a genre. It saw plenty of talented musicians make extra cash by laying down endless instrumental grooves for use in TV, film and radio. The King Underground label is now digging into the vast vaults for a new series of releases of some of the finest sounds from the era. The first 45 features tracks considered to be 'dramatic' from John Scott and Tony Kinsey. Scott's 'Milky Way' opens up with cosmic chords and sweeping strings that take you to the stars while 'Star Voyage' has a more busy lead. Kinsey's 'Kaleidoscope' builds the tension with multiple movements from several instruments.
Review: Izipho Soul and Rena Scott have had a long and fruitful relationship that continues with this new 7". It offers up two new takes on a classic tune from Scott which tells of 'the inevitable frustrations of a long distance love affair.' The original is a big soul number with plenty of golden synths and mid-tempo 80s drums that hark back to the heyday of r&b. On the flip is The Nigel Lowis mix of 'You're So Far Away' which strips away some of the noise and makes the track a deeper, smoother, more seductive soul jam with a rather familiar baseline.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Edit master Scruscru rarely misses no matter what sounds he decides to put under his scalpel. For this one on his own superb Scruniversal label he turns his attention to the lush sound world of City Pop over in Japan. On one vital 12" the maestro cooks up six varied but equally vital sizzlers starting with the funky sounds and big brass of 'One For Xsuxsu' then taking in the blissed out disco and house beats of 'Kyoto Sunshine', jazzy keys of 'Horomi & Rikishi', funky bass twangs of 'Secret Dream' and jazz lunge excellence of 'Nippon Bossa' before 'Scrutinised Tune' closes out with brown beats and sunny chords. Scruperb stuff.
Review: It was way back in 1977 when disco collective Seaquence made their debut on Aidqueen Records, a tiny, independent label based in their home city of San Diego, California. That debut, a delightful but extremely hard to find "45", has long been in demand amongst deep disco collectors, hence this timely reissue on Athens of the North. The real killer is A-side 'Disco Thing', a tight-but-freewheeling chunk of disco-funk piled high with alternate male/female vocals, loose-limbed drum-breaks, punchy horns, swooping strings and squelchy synth sounds. Original B-side 'Your Love' is a deeper and far sweeter affair - a traditional flipside slow jam that's as tear-jerking as it is effortlessly soulful.
Review: Cordial serve up some previously unreleased funky and soulful vibes from the much loved West Coast group Seaquence. These are high speed and hugely cosmic affairs with squealing synths reaching for the skies over driving rhythm sections. 'Visions Of My Love' opens up and is a short but potent bit of soul power with lung busting vocals and great horns. 'Life' on the flip side is more mellifluous, with acrobatic vocals rising and falling over more great horns and splashes of jazzy drum work.
Review: .US soul combo The Sextones duo have plenty of authentic soul chops - so much so that this one sounds like it could be a long lost 60s classics. But no, it's a new tune from their forthcoming album. The first press sold out instantly and so a reissue is already here. First up is 'Without You' which is an uptempo burner, showcasing playful call-and-response vocals, xylophone and horns over an unapologetically locked-in rhythm section. Turn it over for 'Love Can't Be Borrowed', a mid-tempo slice of soul magic that muses on relationship difficulties.
Review: This one from The Sharpees's is a mythical gem among vinyl collectors that has long been revered in the Northern Soul scene. The story began when UK dealer John Anderson discovered an acetate titled 'Go On and Laugh' in Chicago with no artist name. It was sold to DJ John Vincent, who credited it to the Just Brothers, fuelling further curiosity. Years later in 2016, USA label Secret Stash unearthed the mystery by revealing the artist as The Sharpees who were known for hits like 'Do the 45' and 'Tired of Being Lonely'. Now, Anorax reissues this limited edition 7" alongside 'Tired of Being Lonely' to feed enduring demand.
Review: A near-mythical release from the Italian composer/bassist/karate don Pino Presti, Shitan was a one-off project in 1977. Slow, pensive, full of tension and loaded with detailed cinematic elements, it still sounds forward-thinking today. No surprises that the original 12"s regularly go for hundreds. Madly the long version never made it to the original 12" so this is the first time the full five minute version has been available. As if a repress wasn't enough reason to jump on this!
Labi Siffre - "I Got The" (New New Super Heavy Funk edit) (4:25)
Banbarra - "Shack Up" (New New Super Heavy Funk edit) (3:28)
Review: As soon as you drop the needle on this one you will recognise it as a sample source for one of the biggest hip hop tunes of the last 30 years. That tune was of course by Eminem, but Jay-Z and Miguel also used it in their own work. It is originally by veteran UK soul sensation Labi Siffre and features sweet beats and a rugged riff. On the flip, Banbarra's 'Shack Up' brings some raw funk vibes with chugging drums and belting vocals, and both of these versions are New New Super Heavy Funk edits by the Soopastole label's in-house namesake.
Review: A short name hides a long story - Detroit-born Chad Hughs graduated from the same high school as Diana Ross, going onto become a multi-talented musician as well as a teacher and composer. The fourth release from cd exclusive vinyl pressers Jai Alai, collectors can now own this unique 7" containing two completely different sides of Sir Wick from his two albums. A side's title track 'Seal My Heart' contains the vocal talents of Sedalia Marie, with layered vocals and a baseline that makes this pure soul song feel deeply cinematic. The B side has been decades in the making, selected from a fully orchestrated musical in the works since 1996, finally being recorded and completed in 2017. These two tracks are deeply sentimental ditties of doting young love, and now two rare soul ballads from a musical luminary are available for the first time on a 45. What better soundtrack to date night than these?
Review: Amongst fans of Brazilian music, Sivuca is arguably best known for his 1973 cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" - later a favourite on the rare groove scene - which re-casts the Bill Withers classic as a sumptuous chunk of shuffling samba sunshine. Here, the track gets reissued as part of Mr Bongo's brilliant Brazil 45s series, alongside his lesser-known - but no less impressive - cover of Edu Lobo's "Ponteio".
Review: The Jalepeno label is a famously fiery funk outlet that serves up more of that dance floor heat here. It comes from Skeewiff's One Sample Short Of A Lawsuit EP back in 2000 and gets pressed to its own tidy 7" here. As the title of that EP suggests, this is music that mashes up the past with a serious of sizzling samples over driving rhythms. 'Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya' is real horn led b-boy stuff with crashing breaks, and on the flip is 'Man Of Constant Sorrow' with its nagging and iconic vocals over a more country-fried funk beat.
Review: The JalapeNo label sure does like it hot and this one is no different. It sees the return of label regulars Skeewiff for a new series of outings that take the form of reworked covers of some of their favourite library tracks, inspired by greats of the genre such as Keith Mansfield, Brian Bennett, and Alan Hawkshaw. First up is 'Exclusive Blend,' a rather classic instrumental composition by Mansfield. 'Spanish Flea' is on the flip and is a version of a very famous work by Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass Band. It's a funky take with lots of percussive energy and big strings.
Review: He's jazzed all over Bob. He's filled Grandmaster Flash with jazz too. Shucks, he's done Jacko several times over. But Ed's back and he's jazzing all over the place. This time they focus on the later stages of Jackson's career: "Dangerous" rolls with sneaking minor key twinkles and smoky spoken word before the melody softens to allow a little Michael in the mix. "Do You Remember" is more a jazz boogie joint with funky piano rolls on the fills and much more engaging groove.
Kenny Smith - "Lord What's Happened To Your People" (2:51)
Kenny Smith & The Loveliters - "Go For Your Self" (full) (4:49)
Review: Soul Street maestro's breakthrough release from 1971 gets a much needed spotlight from Counterpart... "Lord What's Happening To Your People" is gospel re-imagined as raw funk as Kenny calls out humanity's problems with the help of a full backing chorus and some very slick, dramatic orchestration. "Go For Yourself" takes us further back into Kenny's career to 1966. Leaner than the A-side but comes with the same elements -tight bandmanship, emphatic backing vocals, instant feel-good dynamics - and is also loaded with some exceptionally clean drum breaks. Go fun yourselves.
Review: Tunnie Smith was born to sing, and 'Dancing On Da Clouds' is the biggest belting under his belt. Handpicked by his pastor in the early 1970s, this lesser-known golden child soon found himself touring every corner of his home state of Louisiana. His first record deal followed, which led to a slew of promised releases and shelvings, rises and falls. 10 years later, a chance meeting with producer George 'Paco' Patterson helped catapult Smith to indie stardom, and his relatively underground status helped foster the uniquely atmospheric mood of these two devotional pieces. They somehow straddle the rapture of soul and the later washiness of dream pop; a strangely beautiful release.
Review: Veteran Newcastle-based producer Johnathan Watson aka Smoove is back with the third instalment in the Multitrack Reworks, a new series that will be putting out limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12's that are made from reworked tunes constructed from the original multitracks. This one features the deep down and dirty P-funk of A-side cut 'Deep', while over on the flip Watson lends his Midas touch to a solid reconstruction of a certain deep funk classic by Slave, as well as a spruced up soul classic for all the heads out there on 'Superman'.
Review: Smoove is one half of the legendary edit duo Smoove and Turell from Northern England. He goes it alone here on the fourth volume of his Multitack Reworks series with two slices of the kind of grooves that we know and love and him for. A-side 'Live' and flip track 'Egypt' are both prime cuts of timeless funk with driving drum breaks and plenty of catchy and hooky melodic motifs. These limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12"s always do damage on the dancefloor so are well worth picking up.
Review: Newcastle upon Tyne's Smoove & Turrell originally released their sweltering soul power anthem 'Beggerman' which appeared on the Antique Soul album. The track is now getting a vinyl reissue 12 years later, thanks to JalapeNo Records. On the flip, you have got another classic from their back catalogue in the form of 'Higher' taken from the Eccentric Audio album and it is arguably their most slept on track, or, what they would probably best describe themselves as "North East Ghetto Soul".
Review: Random Rap Records offshoot Dinked 45 has hit gold with 'Happy (Hammond)', the first single in seven years from Chris Read and keyboardist Rob Barron's occasional So Much Soul Players project. As the title suggests, it's a cheeky and cheery Hammond funk reinvention of Pharrell Williams' classic which features Barron playing the famous melody - alongside a few wild solos - atop a sweaty, bass-heavy, breakbeat-driven dancefloor groove. It's a simple idea brilliantly executed all told and a guaranteed party-starter to boot. Over on the flip you'll find a slightly tougher, shorter 'Instrimental Mix' that cuts down the use of the melody in favour of elongated Hammond chords and more prominent beats, as well as a short 'Bonus Beats' drum track for DJs who like to get busy in the mix.
Review: Floridian musician Tedi Robinson specialises in what he calls "mellowfunkism" - a smooth, colourful, Prince-influenced take on retro-futurist soul that various draws inspiration from jazz-funk, '80s groove, contemporary R&B and P-funk. It's this attractive, effortlessly soulful trademark sound that's showcased on Robinson's second Six Nine Music "45" as Son of Pearl. Robinson's dazzling bass and smooth vocals take pride of place on A-side 'Wonderful', alongside head-nodding, hip-hop style beats, glistening guitars and twinkling electric piano sounds. Over on the reverse, 'The Other Side of Nowhere' boasts all manner of kaleidoscopic, P-funk-influenced synth sounds, crunchy R&B drums and more elastic bass courtesy of Robinson, whose vocals are once again superb.
Review: Four Flies present the first ever 45rpm to be taken from Giuliano Sorgini's masterpiece album Zoo Folle. The library and soundtrack specialist cooked up some irresistibly groovy and funky sounds on the record and two of the best are picked here for serious DJ deployment only. 'Mad Town' opens up with some killer and funky drum breaks with a slick flute line adding extra pizzazz up top. It's a psyched out number for big dance floor moments an on the flip, 'Ultima Caccia' is a more Afro-tinged and tribal number with blissed out drums from Giuliano and some mad funky percussion by session player Enzo Restuccia.
Review: Originally written by Richard Evans, instrumental track ''Burning Spear'' was subsequently covered by S.O.U.L, turning up as a standout on their debut album What Is It? in 1971; with its funky flute and heady bass it is nothing less than a bonefide golden classic. On the B-Side we're treated to the breakbeat heavy, vocal led "Do Whatever You Want To Do" from S.O.U.L's second long player Can You Feel It ?
Review: Outta Sight's latest monthly rare soul missive contains hard-to-find and overlooked classics from "hard-hitting" New Jersey vocal group Soul Brothers Six and New Orleans Rhythm and Blues man Willie Tee. It's the former's wonderfully sweet and loose "I'll Be Loving You" (first released in 1966, fact fans) that takes pride of place on the A-side, serving up a lightly sauteed soul take on the rhythm and blues template. Willie Tee's 1967 jam "Walking Up A One Way Street", a summery affair blessed with a superb horn section, leisurely groove and brilliant lead vocal from the man himself, can be found on the B-side.
Review: The Soul Motivators back up their widely acclaimed 2020 album 'Do The Damn Thing' with a new 7" that shows no dip in form whatsoever. The killer double-sided 45rpm is defined by the big, lung-busting and soul-searching vocals of Shahi. The a-side 'It Is What It Is' is well crafted with high grooves and rousing chords all making you want to dance. Lyrically it echoes the ups and downs of all our everyday lives. Reverse it and you'll find 'Raise a Glass' - a hard-hitting deep funk track.
Review: Spasibo welcomes Russian outfit the Soul Surfers who word on the street says have a studio full of vintage, Soviet-era gear. Using library music as their source, they bring their own psychedelic twist with deeply funky grooves and have done now for over a decade. Here they kick off with a seven-plus minute medley of 16 tracks that mix up soul from all eras with wah-wah sounds and real emotion. They repeat the same trick on the flipped with 17 tracks all featuring in a journey through space and funk that leaves you in awe.
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