Budabeats レコード& CD

Review: The Budabeats imprint is a welcomed addition to the funk and soul reissue game, and this third instalment from the label is exactly what we need to be hearing right now - something upbeat, tropical and rare in its original format. On Side A, you got 1971's "O Telefone Tocou Novamente" by the Brazilian Singers, and it's a wavy, magical psych-funk bombshell in the same vein as Marcos Valle's best work. On the flip, there's a special surf-rock-inspired song by Peru's Los Belkings and, yes, it's from 1969 and still sounding like a total monster almost forty years later. Recommended!

Review: Zsuzsa Cserhati was a key player in the Hungarian pop scene of the seventies. She has real talent but was maltreated by the industry so never fulfilled her potential. This new series aims to shine a light on what was never known as a soul scene in the county, but could have been given the wealth of great material produced in a small space of time in the years in question. Most of the sounds never made it out of Hungary but that all changes now. Zsuzsa's two cuts on this 10" are her best ever - 'Puha Sohajok' is sensual but tight and 'Ne Nezz A Napba' is lovely soft soul. The other two cuts are similarly essential making this a fine gateway into this little known scene.

Review: DJ Gandharva and Von Yodi's long serving Budabeats label is always a trusted source for razor sharp disco digs and more esoteric sounds from the four corners of the earth, and they continue their recent leap to vinyl with this stunning selection of jams from the southern hemisphere. Letta Mbulu's Soweto funk gets a little edit treatment from Petko Turner, while BeTe takes on Camila Costa's gorgeous Ponto Das Caboclas for a perfect sundown reflection led by tender acoustic strumming. Chillum Trio work up a sweat over Ebo Taylor's "Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara", creating a certifiable party burner in the process, and then Birdhouse completes the package with the irrepressibly funky "Berimbao".

Review: Budabeats dropped their first Southern Hemisphere EP three years ago now and it sold out in super quick fashion. They finally back it up with more heat, and this one kicks off with an edit of legendary performer Emilio Santiago. The TropiCals duo flip his 'Revelacao' into a pure summer heater with squelchy synth bass and then Chillum Trio's 'Luuva Acida' is percolating and spaced out disco chugger. Cheb Aarab's 'Law Kan' gets an edit from Karl Planck which is all about the retro 80s chords and lush xylophone sounds and then Balint Boldizsar's 'Scarabeu' is an exotic and hypnotic deep disco snake charmer.