Review: Neil Anderson's Original Gravity loves to look back and revive forgotten classics and that is what it does again here with a quick reissue of something it dropped back in March. This time out it is two more massive slices of tasty Latin funk getting served up. The first is Abram & Nestor's 'Four Minutes Of Funk' which is indeed four minutes of funk that will unite dancefloors from here to eternity with its big organ magic. Nestor Alvarez' 'El Trombonista' is as you might guess denied by its big trombone and also boasts some great horn work. Do not sleep.
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: The Original Gravity label is back with more of its fully functional but also exceptionally flair-fulled funk sounds, this time with Luchito and Nestor Alvarez behind 'Tighten Up.' It is another choice reissue that has been dug carefully out of the vaults and comes in seriously limited quantities on 7". Luchito & Nestor kick off with the original version of 'Tighten Up' on the a-side and it's packed with high-tempo breaks and sung-spoken vocals. On the flip is a more fiery and explicitly Latin affair with the warming chords and florid horns of Nestor Alvarez's 'Just Add Vibes.'
Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc - "Lupita" (7:16)
Review: Mr Bongo continue to churn out top-quality re-edits and here they enlist Danny Krivit aka. Mr. K, the New York producer who has longstandingly helped prop up the dance scene there since the early 1960s. Krivit is responsible for perhaps some of the earliest and most significant disco and funk edits on Earth, so we're more than happy to hear these new ones out, in which he lends his ear to two mambi from Latin extraordinaires Sabu Martinez and Nico Gomez. Percussive clanks and boxy slaps abound on this audiophiles' charm.
Review: Soul Direction's 19th outing might be their best to date. It is some top work from The Natural Soul Brothers Ltd that was originally recorded in Philly for the Wally-O Production stable back in 1970. It never got released after originally being laid down back then and that's a shame because it has plenty of great talent on display. The soul grooves are defined by a haunting sound and lingering vocals that make for a mellow but involving track. On the flip, there is more rambunctious energy, prickly drum rhythms and free-form guitar riffs next to a big vocal.
Review: Spanish producer Kiko Navarro has joined up with veteran Beninois vocalists and musical powerhouse Kaleta and the next level skills of The Ibibio Horns for this vibrant new 12". It's an inspired and Afro-infused groove exploration with funk, disco and acrobat all bottle dup in the beats that traverse Afria from East to West. The Ibibio Horns are on fire of course as they blaze up the sounds with their expressive horns and red hot keys while the vocals from Kaleta add further fuel to the fire. Instrumentals are also provided for more direct to dancefloor business.
Review: Ramrock Retro strikes gold again with Aaron Neville's soulful classic 'Hercules.' This track instantly stirs real emotions with Neville's effortless, heartfelt vocals, deep-swinging drums and classy horns. A falsetto at the breakdown elevates the song before the rhythm powers on. On the flip side, Al Jarreau's 'Use Me' delivers familiar yet timeless vibes. Whether you prefer this version or others, the result is always the same: deep, slow-motion funk with a sensual, groovy edge that you will not want to end.
Review: Following on from Gladys Knight & The Pips, Ramrock Retro have a real goldie on their hands here. Aaron Neville's 'Hercules' is an affecting tune that immediately gets the emotions going. The effortless vocal conveys real soul as the drums swing deep and horns bring the class. A falsetto coo at the breakdown takes things to the next level before the drums power on once more. Flip it over for 'Use Me' by Al Jarreau. It's a familiar sound but whichever version you prefer the results are always the same - deep cut and libidinous slow motion funk that hits different.
Review: We are always swooning over the great work done by the Hawaiian label Izipho Soul and as it approaches release number 100 they have pulled off some more magic here. The New Lost Generation is a rather legendary group from Chicago that rebranded with the arrival of the new millennium by adding 'new' to their name. Their sounds remained just as good though with this track, 'Thinkin' Bout Cha.' Taken from their self-titled album back in 2001. After that tender and aching blue-eyed opener, the flip offers 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine' which has a male lead and soft focus melodies.
Review: Newban is a band that hailed from Westwood, California, and was made up of Sharon Bryant, Jonathan Lewis, Porter Carroll and Joseph Phillips alongside Mark Slifstein, Keith Johnson, Albert Jones and Gregory Press. After the release of their first single they rammed themselves Atlantic Starr but then put out a couple albums in 1977, Newban and Newban 2. That's the backstory sorted, and so to this reissued 7" which kicks off with the deep cut funk of 'If I Could (Make You Mine)', a tune with sung-spoken lyrics and rousing horns. 'Rhythm & Rhyme' is smoother and more seductive, with a quieter soul sound seducing as it unravels.
Review: Jalen Ngonda is the latest talent to join the excellent ranks of US label Daptone. Here he serve sup his first music after a life formed in just outside of Washington D.C.. Since age 11 he has been deep into the joys of soul music and now he is a standalone artist with incredible skills. Here hex pores mid-tempo and mellow sounds with their own unique take on his Motown roots. 'Just Like You Used To' has a warm rhythm section that allows Jalen's vocals to soar. Flip it over for 'What a Difference She Made' with its lush strings and plaintive vocal.
Review: Domenico Niki is the man charged with the curation of the Echoes From Disco label and it will all be with a focus on rediscovering and re-editing disco, boogie and jazz from across the world. The inaugural outing features four re-edits that cover a wide array of styles. 'Through That Door' is jazz-funk with twanging guitars and sunny piano keys while 'African Horns' is a deep Afro-funk cut with fluid rhythms soon getting under your skin. 'Copacabana' is a busy, relentless and sax-laced funk banger and 'Follow Me' then slows things down with a more 80s-sounding downtempo soul vibe perfect for early evening sessions.
Review: As they often tend to do, a whole bunch of Anthems of the North 7"s have landed hit smooth and as ever they are all gold. This one is an Ike Noble 45s that comes pressed up with original-style silver ink overprinted labels. Kicking this one off is a previously unreleased cover of James Brown's classic 'Money Won't Change You'. It has some raw-as-hell horns and driving funk breaks that will light up any club and might even be better than the original. The B-side is a sweet as you like ballad that pairs off male and female vocals and deep soul, expressive horns and bittersweet grooves.
Review: This 7" vinyl marks the inauguration of the new Konbini Klassics label and it features expertly curated city pop and funk gems from Japan's golden era. The A-side offers 1983's 'Do What You Do' which is a relaxed synth-driven track with irresistibly catchy vocals. On the B-side you can enjoy the sounds of Cosmos, the all-female supergroup who deliver their slap-funk classic 'Midnight Shuffle' with its big horns, funky bass and twinkling synth melodies. A perfect 45 rpm gem, this release brings Japan's iconic sounds back to life and then some.
Review: This new Soul Direction 7" features a pair of previously unreleased tracks from the great Norman Feels. Little is known about the artist other than the fact he was an underground singer in the 70s. He put out two albums back then on the Just Sunshine Records label and then disappeared without much trace. This one opens up with 'Don't' in a different form to the version that came on his album - it is raw and punchy with his soulful vocals over the top. On the flip is something never rebased before in any form. It is slower, more sensuous and was found on acetates that were purchased via a sound engineer from the studios he once recorded in.
Review: US soul group and Chicago's Southside favourites The Notations endured many musical evolutions in their time. The group released on both major labels and minor ones and had the likes of Sly Johnson and Curtis Mayfield taking care of their production. Numero Group has put together a first overview of their indie-label golden age on the album Still Here 1967-1973 which is full of lush r&b ballads as well as socially-conscious soul. Two of their best now also get pressed up to this 7" with heart-rending A-side and the swooning 'What More Can I Say' both immediately drawing you in. These have been sampled by Anderson.Paak, redveil and so may well sound familiar.
Review: Soul gems from the 60s - well, 1969 to be precise - don't come much more coveted than this one from The Notations. An original copy of this 45 rpm will quite likely fetch over 1500 quid. The r&b group was formed in Chicago, Illinois and featured Clifford Curry, LaSalle Matthews, Bobby Thomas and Jimmy Stroud. They went on to put out four albums and around 15 EPs but none as cherished as this one. 'Trying My Best To Find Her' now lands on a one-sided 7" and is a superb Northern Soul-style, high-energy soul cut with raw drums and aching vocal harmonies that soar and soar and soar.
What You Wont Do For Love (feat Ryuto Kasahara) (4:21)
Lihue (3:48)
52nd Street (4:23)
Review: Tokyo-based jazz fusion trio Nautilus have presented their brand new album, Pacific Voyage in various formats and the is s a nice yellow wax version. It's a breezy summertime soundtrack that blends sunny Yacht Rock with a hint of cool 80s City Pop as the trio reinterprets classic hits from this era and add fresh spins to songs like Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do For Love' and Toto's 'Georgy Porgy.' The album also features tracks from artists like Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Shuggie Otis, Nohelani Cypriano, and Toshiki Kadomatsu, all given the special Nautilus treatment. Guest appearances include UK soul singer John Turrell, German rap legend Toni-L, and Japanese soul artist Ryuto Kasahara.
Review: Japanese jazz-funk trio Nautilus's Sunrise is a vibrant album packed with their signature blend of tight grooves, lush melodies and soulful synths. Drawing inspiration from classic 70s jazz-funk while infusing modern sensibilities, this record delivers a signature dynamic sound that's both nostalgic and fresh. Intricate instrumentation defines it with leader Toshiyuki Sasaki's precise drumming, Shunsuke Umino's fluid basslines and Daisuke Takeuchi's expressive keys driving each track. Highlights include shimmering originals and inventive reinterpretations that once again cement Nautilus as a cornerstone of contemporary jazz-funk innovation.
Review: Trombonist Ira Nepps - a member of Hawaiian AIR classic Lemur who also recorded with the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, Leon Russell and BB King - released only one album and that was this one in 1979. Trombone Feeling is a seamless and soulful fusion of jazz and mellow styles with Brazilian sunshine flavours that brings to mind the work of the great Roy Ayers. It features such gems as the lush title track with its sublime female choses and the more low key and soothing sounds of 'Trickey Mickey' as well as plenty more. It has become a cult and hard-to-find album having only been pressed up 500 times back in the day, and it was popularised on the radio on the US mainland.
Hey All Together (feat Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Shaw, Michael McDonald & Trombone shorty) (3:39)
Greatest Place On Earth (feat Trombone shorty, Ben Jaffe & Charlie Gabriel) (4:54)
Might Last A Lifetime (feat Cyril Neville) (4:45)
Dance Music Love (feat Doyle Bramhall II) (3:44)
Touch My Soul (4:39)
Stand For Something (4:45)
Blessed (4:19)
This Must Be The Place (4:59)
Pass It All Around (4:48)
Beautiful Tears (2:57)
Review: New Orleans music legend Ivan Neville shows why with a first new album Touch My Soul in some two decades. This fresh solo outing on the Mascot label and The Funk Garage is tender and filled with joy from the man who has been known for ferocious funk in the past and gigs with the likes of Keith Richards. It has plenty of distinctive New Orleans sounds and is both a love letter to the Crescent City as well as being a big celebration of the artist's own spiritual and musical journey. "This project is very special to me," says Ivan, and he's not the only one who will think so.
Review: The return of New Street Adventure was met with great warmth by longtime fans earlier this year. Now, one of our favourite bands is celebrating the tenth anniversary of their debut album No Hard Feelings with a special limited-edition olive green vinyl which coincides with an extensive UK tour. Initially pressed in small numbers before the vinyl resurgence, the album became highly sought after, with prices skyrocketing on Discogs. This reissue, remixed by Mitch Ayling, captures Nick Corbin's soulful, socially aware songwriting at its best with rare photos and new sleeve notes making it a must-have reissue.
Review: A phenomenal two-track album from 1970 that was - and still is - ground-breaking in its complexity. A full orchestra of drums, led by Klaus Weiss but also featuring the likes of Uno Lindenberg and Keith Forsey, the whole journey is a percussive odyssey peppered with a little post-studio magic. At points intense, at others deep and meditative, there's a reason why this was going for upwards of L200 before the repress.
Review: Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress Nneka takes it independent for the release of her new album Love Supreme. It is a response to majors refusing to allow her the artistic and creative autonomy she wants. The record is packed with emotive ballads like the opener, impassioned tunes like 'God's Love' and the empowering 'Yansh'. Written during lockdown, the record "became about self-reflection, and seeing how connected our inner world is to the outer world." It's a poignant work with rich creativity throughout, infectious gospel energy in places and moody synth jams.
Review: The glorious Athens of the North label will always be one of our favourites. It is pretty much buy on sight for lovers of soul, funk and disco and this month it is serving up two more unmissable long players. Here it is Ike and The Uptights and their superb sounds which make, what me might bravely, say, could be one of this always high class label's finest releases. Formed by Henry Bradley in Forrest City, The Uptights recorded for Memphis label Action Records and here we get a perfect window into their world of raw and guttural funk.
Review: In a stroke of ingenuity Noori found a neck of a guitar whilst rummaging through a Port Sudan scrapyard along the Red Sea Coast in the 90s. Using their welding talents they fixed it onto a traditional four stringed tambour, creating what may be the only tambo-guitar hybrid in the world. Beja Power! Is a love letter to the Beja culture, inherently political and almost erased by the former Sudanese leader. This historically rich niche of Afro-Jazz is both nostalgic and mystical. Elements of surf rock, electric blues and psychedelia can be heard in these instrumental tracks, a 6-track capsule of a powerful identity nearly lost to the sands of time. Noori & His Dorpa Band's style is authentic and evocative and is a joyful proclamation and demonstration of the magic that is Beja sound and aesthetic.
Review: Be With are busy reissuing a number of Nucleus albums and Alleycat sure is one of their best. It is packed with stone cold rhythms as well as having a red hot sleeve. The band put it out in 197 and it was their last for the Vertigo label, all meticulously produced by Jon Hiseman. It's as good as any of their work with its funk fusions of prog, jazz and rock all ageing brilliantly well. There are big riff-laden tunes, cop-funk chases and more lush and laidback pieces that will have you deep in the groove. It has all been remastered from original tapes so sounds as good as ever.
Speaking For Myself, Personally, In My Own Opinion, I Think (6:43)
Persephone's Jive (2:13)
Review: Headed up by the revered trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr, Nucleus have penned many a seminal album and Elastic Rock certainly is one of them. It was a real milestone for the jazz-rock fusion scene and marked a stunning debut in 1970 that has been hard to find ever since. Saxophonist Brian Smith, guitarist Chris Spedding - who wouold later go on to produce the Sex Pistols' first recordings - drummer John Marshall, bassist Jeff Clyne and sax, oboe and pianist Karl Jenkins all brought energy and invention in equal measure on this one with cuts like the title track offer lovely electric blues, '1916' featuring heavy drums and melancholic horns and 'Striation' being more serene. Be With have remastered this reissue from the original tapes.
Review: Following the success of their first collaborative album, 2017's Curao, Will 'Quantic' Holland and Colombian "folkloric" singer-songwriter India Gongora have once more joined forces for a second joint full-length. Designed as a musical exploration of "the nostalgia of impossible love", the set's uniquely eclectic, widescreen sound joins the dots between the traditional styles of Colombia's pacific coast, cumbia, rock, string-drenched South American ballads and the kind of hard-to-pigeonhole, musically intricate productions that were once the preserve of Rotary Connection's Charles Stepney. It's a terrific album all told, with Holland conjuring up genuine musical magic and Gongora delivering some of the most stunning sounding vocals of her career.
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