Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Dave Welding's Soul Junction has another great package here from The Hill District. This was a group of working musicians that was initially assembled by bassist Walter "Sonny" Hughes who was impressed with them after seeing them rehearse one afternoon. They only ever managed to record one 45, however, and it is this one, and it has overmuch remained hard to find over the years. Hill District's 'You're Scared Of Falling In Love' is glorious sunny and carefree soul with gentle rhythms and great vocal work. Richie Merrett then steps up on the flip with 'You'll Always Have Yesterday Standing By' which is much more verily sentimental and pained.

Review: Pete Cunningham's hybrid electronic/acoustic jazz collective Ishmael Ensemble has been right at the forefront of innovation when it comes to those sounds. For his latest project he links up with lyricist and MC Rider Shafique. They first met some six years ago when Cunningham was struck by "his powerful way with words." As such they got in the studio, Cunningham embraced a more bass heavy sound to his style and drew on his love of the likes of dub kings King Tubby and Adrian Sherwood. Coupled with Rider's voice and you have a superb new record.

Review: One of the many musical golden moments Joyce has given us during her 20 album/40 year career, "Aldeia de Ogum" is a full-bodied samba smash that enjoyed a renaissance during London's acid jazz era in the late 80s. Meanwhile on the flip Roshina lays down an incredible version of Fitzgerald's "Summertime". Spider like nylon string finger business, softly backed by emotion-drenched strings, it's one of the best cover versions Mr Bongo have ever given us.

Review: A unique smashing of worlds between funk and hip-hop, this fantastic, vibrant, red-and-black splatter 7" brings together a host of collaborating greats, all of whom have contributed in major ways to both sounds over the years. With Dan Ubick on guitar (Breakestra, Big Daddy Kane), Julius Augustus on bass (The Sandollars), Dan Hastie on organ (Orgone, Alicia Keys), Steve McCormick on dobro and Professor Shorthair on the cuts and edits - and mastered by Dave Cooley (J Dilla, Madlib) - this is a mournful yet masterful example of live-recorded battle breaks.

Review: For the latest volume in their essential "Brazil 45" series of seven-inch singles, Brighton-based Mr Bongo has decided to offer up a fresh pressing of MPB star Renata Lu's superb 1971 single "Faz Tanto Tempo". You'll find the title track, a heavyweight fusion of US style soul and funk with added Latin percussion and a touch of easy listening sassiness, on side A, with original B-side "Sambaloo" on the flip. This features Lu singing over a hybrid samba/boogaloo backing track rich in jaunty bass, rasping horns and jazzy electric piano riffs. It's arguably every bit as alluring as the A-side.

Review: With their second bit of splendid new music, The Revues once again explore the areas where Tejano music, Latin soul and funk all intersect. The 45rpm is a fresh and updated take on Rene y Rene's legendary version of 'Mi Corazon Esta Llorando', which is a tough groove for sure but which comes with some sweet melodies and sunshine vibes for sure. The a-side has the yearning vocals of Angel Salgado next to warming organs, funky breaks and lithe bass, and the flip-side is a stripped-back instrumental.

Review: Vocalist and poet Roger Robinson has connected with Jabu producer Amos for this new single which finds them explore new grounds. After their fuzzy lovers rock outing last time out, here they head off into space with more cosmic and zoned out sounds full of intimate and slo mo grooves. 'Summer' goes first and is a blissed out cut with ambient pads and lonely piano keys encouraging you to get lost in deep thought. 'Feel Bad Smile' is even more of a cosy late night cuddle, with spoken word mutterings and lingering notes breaking your heart each and every time.

Review: The Izipho Soul label continues to bring us hard to find nuggets from the many-layered history of US soul music. On this latest 7" we're treated to Ron Foster's 1985 version of 'Don't Let Him Get The Best Of You', which was recorded with the 21-strong Kindred Spirits Orchestra and has been revived with a new vocal take from the original lead singer of Whirlwind, Sandi Everett. On the flip, you can enjoy an extended mix of Lee McDonald's 'Let's Play Luck', a disco-fied stomper from his classic album Sweet Magic.

Review: Hailing from Las Vegas, Johnny Ruiz and the Escapers offer up two sides of haunting group sounds sure to scratch the itches of doo-wop and soul enthusiasts alike. Adorning the a-side is 'Sorry' a stark, creeping, dirge-like ballad with a sparse rhythm track that swings eerily underneath Johnny's sublime lead and the Escapers plaintive harmonies, creating an hypnotic vibe that will have you dropping the needle over and over again. Continuing with the dark vibes but picking up the pace a couple BPMs, 'The Prettiest Girl' brings a measure of hopefulness to the tune, evoking the earnest, lovelorn memories of youth. A must for fans of Nolan Strong and the Diablos Fortune Records output.

Review: It would seem we're back on the Christmas card list... 2000 Black supergroup comprising the likes of Dego, Mensah and original Bugz members Lord and Tatham have been slowly ramping up their releases again and this year has seen their largest output yet. Following "Two Way Here One Way Go", "Simmering" proffers three more sublime and silky instrumentals from deeply decorated foursome. "Simmering" is a tight jazz funk jam with a sprung guitar groove spine and a blissful switch into soothing flutes midway, "Private Life" flips for a sunnyside digidub, all spacious and rippling with its breezy keys while "Climb The Sun" brings us back to the funk root note but with rising synth insistency that's bruk to the bone. Simmering now, boiling tomorrow...

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: The fifth volume of their magnificent Super Spicy Recipe series finds the label's crew in full party effect, with the six tracks here crossing the borders from peak time dropping to essential warm up/down gear. First up, Vagabundo Club Social takes 'Beso Loco' featuring Tomjake Sax and turns up the controls to maximum fun, the Colombians throwing in tons of groove and Afro -influenced percussion, before Monsieur Van Pratt and Guatemalan singer Teff Brolo. This all-original track is leaded by the powerful soulful vocals, accompanied by a groove-infused piano which keeps the beats nicely anchored, followed by the ever dependable Reece Johnson who closes off this side. Flip it over for Bernardo Mota & Boogietraxx and the euphoric 'Keep On Doing Your Thing' before Sartorial takes proceedings into slightly jazzier territory on B2 and B3.

Review: It could not get much more late-1960s into early-1970s folk rock if it tried. Band name: Rainbird. Album title: Maiden Flight. General vibe: somewhere between a psychedelic ultraworld, late night blues basement and trip to a remote island to join an off-grid community. Painting quite a vivid picture there, admittedly, this 1971 rarity proves exactly why contemporary musicians can try to emulate this era but will never truly recreate it. Simply put, it's impossible to commit in the same way today. Rant and questionable point aside, Rainbird's uncovered gem is an epic masterpiece in no uncertain terms. From the wistful croonerdom of 'Stormdance (Part 1)' and its Wurlitzer powered chaotic seizure follow up l ('Stormdance (Part 2)'), to the lead guitar solo mastery of 'Man On the Mountain' and the quiet, reflective journeyman stuff on 'Sailboat', it manages to include every totem of this scene, without sounding cliched.