Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Florence Adooni has been called Ghana's Frafra gospel queen in the past, and with good reason. First single 'Mam Pe'ela Su'ure' arrived in 2021 to widespread acclaim, and she followed up on Philophon with 'Yinne' late last year. Now Adooni is back on the label for a collaboration with German artist Erobique, who is normally found making quirky synth disco cuts. On a visit to Max Weissenfeldt's studio in Ghana, he crossed paths with Adooni and so the lilting, sweetly sentimental 'Mam Tola' was created. The B-side of this single finds Erobique flying solo for 'Bach In Afrika', riding a swift beat from Kung Fu Andoh and flexing on the Hammond organ for an uptempo fusion which might well catch you off guard and make you dance all the same.

Review: Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Arvid & Ernesto continue the Naked Music tradition of thumping club beats from the land of the midnight sun. For this release, entitled 'Try', mixmeister supreme Arvid teams up with male vocalist Ernesto (currently featured on the new Beanfield album) to present four great mixes that each offer a unique interpretation of the Naked sound. All in all, another groove-heavy gem from the Naked Music catalogue, essential for any discriminating turntablist.

Review: Brand new remixes by Kero One of three classic tracks from Common, Erykah Badu, and Andre 3000. The remixed tracks are dance
floor friendly but maintain that jazzy, feel good funky soul that Kero One is known for. The EP includes 5 tracks with plenty of live
instrumentation (Fender Rhodes, Fender Bass, Jazz guitar, vintage synths, etc.). Concept: Common, Erykah, and Andre of Outkast
all shared the same passion, the passion to make good music. Additionally, Common and Andre 3000 shared something else in common:
Erykah Badu. They did however have differences, as their romantic relationships with each other didn't last long. Kero One attempts to
sort out the differences, bringing them together for one last time to shine on the same record, 'The Love Triangle EP', out on Plug.

Review: In 1976, French band Edition Speciale released their debut album, "Allee Des Tilleuls". While much of the album saw them explore progressive rock and jazz-rock territory, it did contain one suitably groovy and life-affirming trip into jazz-funk territory, surprise LP standout "Mr Business". Here that cut gets a single release for the very first time courtesy of the dusty-fingered diggers at Pepite. You'll find the little-known band's languid, Clavinet and synthesizer-heavy original version on side A, with Aroop Roy's tidy contemporary rework on the B. Aroop sticks a rocket up the track's bottom end, underpinning the original song with peak-time-ready drums while wisely emphasizing his own killer bassline and catchy vocals.

Review: Galaxy Sound Co is back with some subtle but sublime new edits, and this time Mr Thelonious turns his hand to 'Soul Town' by The Motherhood from their psychedelic 1969 album I Feel So Free. If you can find this one n 45rpm anywhere it will likely have a high three-figure price tag and this edit is a great alternative with big horn energy and rousing soul-funk grooves. On the flip is 'Pinball 6' which was originally by The Pointer Sisters and made famous for its appearance on Sesame Street in the 1970s when it was used as backing music to the famous segment that taught children how to count. It's an electric bit of jazz-funk that still sounds most excellent.

Review: Reading the tracklist of Edu K's album "Frenétiko", it's soon clear that this man truly loves women. Tracks like "Sex-O-Matic", "Sexxxy", "Quero Ser Ator Porno" (If I Could Be Porn Actor) and last but not least "Hot Mama" all cavalierly illustrate: Edu K's heart beats for all things female. "Hot Mama, won't you shake your hips for me?" asks Edu in the opening line of his sunshine tune, and it is quite obvious that few women would decline. Accompanied by a Cuban piano line, Spanish vocal licks, a bouncy electro beat and an irresistible fuzzy bass line, Edu mashs the Caribbean with Miami bass, Brazil with New York in a unique way. The four remixes included on the "Hot Mama" 12" do equal cross territorial blendings. The A-Side kicks off with the Sinden remix. Call it fidgit house, minimal bassism - this track reverberates many musical flavours in a fresh uptempo groove. But most of all, it is damn funky. The remix is produced by London's Graeme Sinden, one half of top remix team A Brucker & Sinden, whose remix list includes Lady Sovereign, Mary J Blige and most recently released the infamous Din Da Da EP on Counterfeet. Sinden has released tracks on Loungin' Records, and is a long time collaborator of Dave "Solid Groove/Switch" Taylor (who's also behind the pseudonym A Brucker). The Bonde Do Role remix comes in true Brazilian baile funk stylee. Remixed by one of Brazil's hottest new bands (now signed to Diplo's Mad Decent label), Bonde Do Role have added a Tamborzao beat and shaped "Hot Mama" into a favela compatible track, ready to blast the real big speakers. Zuzuku is an upcoming remix talent from NYs Bronx. His reggae and dancehall influenced mashups and remixes on his MySpace site were so convincing that Edu K asked singer/graphic designer/producer Zuzuku to remix "Hot Mama". With a nice (and very familiar) reggae lick, he poured the Cuban bass track into a skanking tune in original JA fashion. Edu K's own "Jameikan" remix starts with a dancehall influenced riddim and breaks down into an uprising, jacking house groove, perfect for DJ mixing from downbeat to uptempo grooves. Four remixes and a crowd pleasing original mix. - the "Hot Mama" EP is another essential vinyl by Edu K that will surely find its steady remain on many DJs playlists.

Review: Following El Buho's "Tributaries" remix album, Wonderwheel offer up this choice 7" featuring two distinct cuts not found on the main record. First up is El Buho's take on grand master Quantic, working with the storied producer's considerable knowledge of Latin music to create a remix of "Cumbia Sobre El Mar" already well loved on globally minded dancefloors. On the flip comes the never before released El Buho version of Nickodemus and Femina's "Inmortales" - a fierce, drum-tastic version to get bodies shaking down.

Review: El Michels Affair returns with a new two-track release that showcases his continued excellence as both a producer and musician. The A-side, 'Mr Brew,' opens with a menacing intro before evolving into a spacious tune masterfully balancing tension and release. Gentle guitars, strings, flutes and brass weave over a heavy drum track to make for a bright and immersive landscape. On the B-side, 'Kodak' is a lesson in space and arrangement with mellow drums and beautiful instrumentation setting the perfect mood. EMA's trademark restraint ensures the vibe remains the focal point while delivering a perfectly crafted sound that never overwhelms.

Review: Once again, El Michels Affair is back with the second instalment of their highly acclaimed "Shaolin Series", bridging the widening gap between hip hop and instrumental soul. After the success of "Cream", the band got back in the studio and churned out two more interpretations of essential wu-bangers! The A side is an instrumental version of the landmark track "Bring The Ruckus" from the Wu Tang's breakthrough album "Enter The 36 Chambers". Stripping the track back to the bare bones, this gives a more sinister vibe to the track. Over on the flip GZA's "Duel Of The Iron Mic" get the respectful treatment, adding strings, horns and original vocal drops from the original. Essential.

Review: For the uninitiated, Eleven76 is a breakdance-friendly space-funk project helmed by Mighty Mocambos member Paul Elliott. This must-check "45" is the fluid combo's third single for Mocambo Records, but the first for two years. Lead cut 'The Scarab's Quest' is seriously heavy, with Incredible Bongo Band style percussion, woozy Moog lines and 1960s spy-funk guitar licks dancing atop a low-slung bassline and weighty funk drums. Elliott's love of heavy bass guitar lines and glassy-eyed 1960s guitars is further explored on flipside 'The Hornet's Nest', an exotic library funk number that sounds like it could have featured on the soundtrack to a turn-of-the-'70s heist movie.

Review: Ever since their first record launched on Futuristica Music, back in 2008, Emanative have been quietly shaping the contemporary jazz-dance landscape - an achievement for which they are rarely accredited to. Hopefully, we can change some of those misconceptions by telling you just how special this new EP for Jazz45 is sounding! The opening "New Day" features the soulful vocals of Ahu over a rolling, breaks-centric groove with plenty of melodic quirks and, of course, the unstoppable euphoric power of the flute; the flipside's instrumental allows you to get even closer to the music constructed by Emanative, which is undoubtedly the outfit's long-running forte.

Review: Emanative is an artist known for his love of collaborating with others. He has worked with Bex Burch during the lockdown and now this new EP is the meeting of those minds pressed to wax. Nick Emanative initially provided Bex with a hazy, 808 / African-inspired sketch and things were taken from there with a back and forth dialogue resulting in an afro tinged house groover with post punk-esque vocal, Ghanaian Gyil xylophone and synths and tape delay from Hector Plimmer. It makes for a fascinating pair of tunes.

Review: Emapea is a bonafide Polish beat-wizard and man being many highly collectible albums, 12"s and 7"s. This lates is another call to action for when the sun arrives, a laidback fusion of soul, funk and jazz with lazy hip hop beats that just melt the heart. The opener '7 Inch' is a crisp boom-bap joint, 'True Fam' brings a steamy sax line and golden keys to the fore, then 'Smuggling Town' rolls us into downtown Jamaica on a blissed out dub. 'Takeover' is another lounge beat masterpiece amongst many in his arsenal.

Review: Hardwax don Mark Ernestus harvests the first fruits of his collaborative seeds sewn in Senegal with a clan of sabar drummers with the superbly titled Ndagga Rhythm Force project. The results on the first mix of "Yermande" are as deeply rhythmic and percussive as you'd imagine, as drums take centre stage and the dubby vocals lie waiting in the sonic ether. Truly meditative stuff from the Ndagga Rhythm Force. Remix-wise the instrumental gives the drums an even more prominent position while the Prophet 5 versions add dense, tightly plucked guitar and clipped synth textures to the lead melody.

Review: Ten Lovers Music hit their quarter century of releases with a various artist compilation they are calling 'Best Of.' They're not wrong to be fair, with a magnificent 11 minute spiritual house workout from Erik Escobar kicking things off. It's a hard act to follow but Cormac Fulton does so by sinking you down into a lush, jazz-licked groove with swirling and romantic pianos. Lorenzo Dewberry rolls out the cosmic house grooves for a life-affirming trip to the stars and GeeW's 'MarshMellow' keeps it classy with plenty of soft tones, warm chords and seductive sax lines.