Review: Winfree's 'Friday Night,' a catchy 7" on Six Nine, delivers a fresh take on soul with a modern twist. Side-1 features the T-groove remix of 'Friday Night,' blending a slamming slow groove with funk and electro complete with vocoder work that nods to Zapp. Side-2's 'The Way She Makes It Bounce' dives into early electro sounds, perfect for low-rider music enthusiasts, channeling the spirit of Roger Troutman. This release captures the classic vibes while infusing it with contemporary elements, making it a track to check out for fans of both old-school and modern funk. Both sides, needless to say, are proper party starters.
Let's Straighten It Out (cut Creators edit) (4:11)
Review: Octave Lab, based in Japan, have embarked on a fresh series of 7"s, onto which the A-side comes pressed with a classic American funk and soul original, whilst the B, handled by a hip-hop hand in the classic stylee, Cut Creator$, flips things to harder and hipper effect. This time we meet again with O.V. Wright's 'Let's Straighten This Out', an omnipotent-sounding instrumental soul track cut from the superb record The Bottom Line. The track adjudicates and resolves, between romantic plaintiff and defendant, an egregious inter-relational tort, by way of ultra-slick, leaden strings and anodyne pianos: "sit yourself down, girl, and talk to me... tell me, whassa on your mind?"
Playing Games (feat Bryson - extended version) (2:22)
Drunk Dialing Lodt (2:14)
Come Thru (feat Usher) (2:58)
Potential (2:51)
Fun Girl (1:49)
Tonight (2:55)
Me (2:15)
Like It (feat 6lack) (2:51)
Just Might (feat PARTYNEXTDOOR) (3:26)
Stretch You Out (feat A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie) (2:21)
Off Of You (2:05)
Anna Mae (2:17)
I'll Kill You (feat Jhene Aiko) (2:59)
Nobody Else (3:51)
Playing Games (bonus track) (2:24)
Girls Need Love (feat Drake - remix) (3:51)
Review: "Over It" is the debut album from the US's latest r&b sensation, Summer Walker. Lead singles "Playing Games" and "Come Thru" have already done well in the charts, while the remix of Walker's "Girls Need Love" featuring Drake is another gem amongst many here. Further collaborations with the likes of Usher, Bryson Tiller and 6lack also enrich this album, which is a contemporary take on classic r&b. Smoochy, romantic bedroom grooves and plenty of heart-aching vocals from the Atlanta talent will make you nostalgic about teenage love. Honest reflections on relationship woes crop up often and lend the album an air of depth and credibility that make it all the more essential.
Toxic Tropic (feat Anthony Joseph/La Reyna) (3:18)
Light (4:02)
Di Yo (feat Flavia Coelho) (4:10)
Vanse Carnival (4:39)
La VI A Bel (2:51)
An Lot Soley (feat Ballake Sissoko/Vincent Segal) (4:38)
Soul Tropical (3:43)
Don't U (4:24)
Night In Madinina (3:05)
Kle (feat Ballake Sissoko/Vincent Segal) (4:19)
Review: David Walters's new album Soul Tropical on French label Heavenly Sweetness is perfectly titled. It is a lush collection of soul so tropical you feel as if you're dancing deep in a steamy jungle as the music uplifts and truly nourishes. It draws on his family heritage in the West Indies and finds David once again singing about this famous string of sun-kissed islands across 13 joyful cuts. These are tracks with rich arrangements and plenty of world instruments making a fusion of disco, zouk, Caribbean, Afrobeat and funk that make a lasting impression. An essential album as summer approaches.
On My Mind (11:59 PM) (feat Chevy Jones & Bishop Lamont) (3:43)
In Case Some Shit Go Down (feat Mike Jones & Frank Lee White) (3:30)
I Need A Light (feat Nate Dogg) (4:38)
Get You Down (feat B-Real & Side Effect) (3:47)
I Like That There (feat Bishop Lamont) (3:55)
Gorilla Pimpin (4:10)
Make It Do What It Do (3:51)
Chronic Break (0:27)
All I Ask Of You (feat Frank Lee White, Bishop Lamont & Chevy Jones) (3:27)
Ahh (feat Frank Lee White, Bishop Lamont & Chuck Taylor) (4:11)
Review: Warren G's 2005 album In The Mid-Nite Hour delivered more of his already by then well-established signature West Coast sound with smooth G-funk beats and laid-back flows. He will always be known for his classic track 'Regulate' but Warren G continued to fuse hip-hop with funk, soul and r&b influences throughout the following years, not least with this record. Standout tracks like 'In Case Some Sh*t Go Down' and 'I Need a Light' feature collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg and they perfectly capture that timeless West Coast vibe. The album blends some witty, pithy storytelling with his signature infectious grooves and stands tall as a testament to Warren G's talent as both a rapper and producer while keeping the G-funk legacy alive.
Behind The Disguise (feat Marina Quaisse
- Closing)
Sieze The Day (feat Charlotte Savary) (2:45)
Sieze The Day (instrumental version)
Review: Ten years on from its original release, Wax Tailor's cult classic returns in a striking marbled double collector's edition, complete with the previously unreleased 'Seize the Day' on a 7" single. This long-awaited repress invites a new generation to rediscover one of trip hop's most defining albums, a record that carved a global following for the French producer. The new vinyl pressing, unavailable for years due to its overwhelming success, brings an immersive experience to the listener. Known for its cinematic approach to sound, the album blends moody samples, orchestral elements, and downtempo beats into a seamless narrative.
Behind The Disguise (feat Marina Quaisse
- Closing) (1:22)
Review: An essential work in the trip-hop landscape, now reissued to offer a fresh chance to experience its cinematic soundscapes and genre-crossing influences, weaving samples from jazz, hip-hop, soul and film scores into a cohesive, evocative sonic tapestry. Tracks like 'Que Sera', 'Ungodly Fruit', and 'How I Feel' showcase his unique ability to craft lush, atmospheric beats reminiscent of RJD2 or Portishead's Geoff Barrow. A key part to the success of this release, is the use of samples - ranging from classic hip-hop to cinematic dialogue - with some tracks, particularly those featuring orchestral arrangements, stand out for their unusual intricacy, with 'Hypnosis Theme' and 'Our Dance' exemplifying Wax Tailor's mastery of blending classical elements with laidback rhythms.
Review: Following the massive success of his 2021 debut album Gratidao, French producer Wealstarcks returns with another standout record, this time called Valeu Obrigado.' Once again he skilfully blends house and electro sounds with the vibrant energy of Funk Carioca culture to make for a collection of tracks that are filled with soulful grooves and irresistible dancefloor anthems guaranteed to get any crowds moving. Most notably these sounds showcase Wealstarcks' knack for creating fresh, dynamic grooves that work on modern ears but also maintain a deep connection to authentic Brazilian funk influences. It comes as a limited edition release that will no doubt be a longtime favourite in any collection.
Review: The Weeknd's latest project continues to push boundaries, but it's the quieter moments that really leave a mark. Take 'Dancing in the Flames'iit starts with muted synths, almost tentative, like something trying to find its footing, before blossoming into a dense, emotionally charged soundscape. Tesfaye's falsetto feels particularly vulnerable here, a perfect match for lyrics that seem to teeter between hope and resignation. On 'Timeless (feat Playboi Carti),' the mood shifts entirely. Carti's jagged verses cut through the lush production, creating a tension that makes the track feel alive and unpredictable. And then there's 'Sao Paulo (feat Anitta),' which bursts out with a vibrancy that feels like a releaseia rare moment of pure celebration. Overall, the album's impact lies in its restraint, in the contrasts and the spaces between moods where it truly resonates.
Review: After his last album incorporated neon and darkwave stylings into his ever-expanding musical fold, we unanimously agreed back at the beginning of 2021 that it was high time The Weeknd put out a 'greatest hits' album. In February, our wish was granted in CD form, and now, 'The Highlights' has seen an official rerelease on double gatefold ultra-heavy vinyl, doing thorough justice to The Noise's cosmic collabs with Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande. Spanning cuts all the way through from 'Thursday' to 'After Hours', this album does a remarkable job of unifying the best tracks from this devlishly suited, R&B hitmaker's career.
Review: The Weeknd's upcoming release marks the final chapter in the trilogy that began with After Hours and Dawn FM, bringing his signature fusion of nocturnal R&B and cinematic synthwave to new emotional depths. Highlights include 'Timeless', a brooding collaboration with Playboi Carti, and 'Sao Paulo', a sultry track featuring Anitta, blending Latin rhythms with atmospheric production. Thematically, the album explores redemption and self-reflection, with Abel Tesfaye's haunting falsetto weaving through stories of loss and longing. Fans can experience this new chapter live at a one-night-only show at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, a fittingly grand stage for what promises to be an unforgettable closing act.
Review: The Weeknd's latest album takes the form of a concept about a radio station that is listened to on a car journey towards the end of days. It features a number of guests such as Tyler & The Creator, Jim Carrey and Lil Wayne as well as production from Calvin Harris. The album's standout single is 'I Heard You're Married' which is a gloriously catchy disco-dance beat with singable choruses and epic synth lines. The whole thing is a mix of dance, electro and pop with more wax and textural beats next to the sentimental songs. It's one of his most adventurous and a real return form.
Review: It may have been released digitally six months ago, but Kanye West's "Jesus Is King" album - his 12th solo set in total - has finally made it on to vinyl. By now, most will have already heard it, but for the uninitiated "Jesus Is King" sees West meditating on Christianity, offering up a tight 27-minute set of tracks that draw influence from (or explicitly sample) gospel music in all its forms. It's still a hip-hop album of course, it's just that the beats, musical choices (gospel choirs, loops from killer records by gospel soul act The Whole Truth etc) and lyrics are closer to the black American gospel tradition than anything West has released before.
Review: The ever divisive Kanye West dropped this 10th album Donda on streaming platforms back in August 2021. He has already served up an expanded 'deluxe' version on CD and now it comes on limited edition vinyl. Less over the top than its predecessor, this record continues the iconic artist's infatuation with blending cutting-edge contemporary hip-hop (and nods to his musical roots in the '90s rap scene), R&B and his beloved gospel, resulting in a grandiose and entertaining set that makes use of a huge roll call of guests and collaborators *Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Yachty, Roddy Ricch, Young Thug, Jay Electronica, Travis Scott, The LOX, Kid Cudi, Fivio Foreign and many more.
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