Do Right! Music レコード& CD

Review: Elizabeth Shepherd strives to push the boundaries of what is considered conventional jazz to create a sound all her own. Nostalgia 77 (aka Ben Lamdin) first burst onto the music scene with his heavy, new funk sound in 2002. Nostalgia's style can be described as a combination of soul and jazz composition with computer based production techniques. He is known for his tasty jazz reworks, which tend to include a touch of raw funk to mix things up a bit. This formula certainly works well on "Reversed"; from the extended drum breaks to the snappy horns, his version sounds very much like a freshly discovered soul 7" from a dusty old record warehouse. "Reversed (Nostalgia 77 mix)" is now available as a limited edition 7" single.

Review: Here's a rare treat, as Canadian producer, self-proclaimed polymath and underground neo-soul chanteuse Maylee Todd inaugurates her band "Pegwee Power" (named, it seems, after a track on her 2010 set "Choose Your Own Adventure") in order to lay down two synth-heavy chunks of 1980s boogie-soul. Smooth A-side "Mutual Attraction" is particularly impressive, sounding like the kind of slick, synth-laden chunk of sensual '80s soul that would once have been a staple of late night AM radio. It's stylistically spot on, of course, though it's the song itself and Todd's sensitive vocal that stand out. Over on side B she successfully turns in a sympathetic and deliciously dreamy cover of the RAH Band's 1983 UK boogie gem "Messages From The Stars".

Review: Since 2002, this Ottawa-based band has been keeping the classic sounds of raw, gritty groove alive and well in Canada. Their style combines jazz, funk, African and Latin music with messages touching on politics and spirituality. The blaring horns, retro keyboards and polyrhythmic beats show the influence of James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Fela Kuti and Tito Puente, but the sound remains refreshingly original. Their stylistic variety is in part due to the diverse musical backgrounds of the band's individual members: jazz, funk, blues, reggae, classical, and traditional Cuban, Brazilian and West African percussion. "Mista President" evokes not only the spirit of a certain Mr Anikulapo-Kuti, but also a packed Shrine going nuts. "Insurrection", on the a-side, is a more straight-up funk cut that will induce feverish shape throwing wherever it is played.

Review: The Soul Motivators back up their widely acclaimed 2020 album 'Do The Damn Thing' with a new 7" that shows no dip in form whatsoever. The killer double-sided 45rpm is defined by the big, lung-busting and soul-searching vocals of Shahi. The a-side 'It Is What It Is' is well crafted with high grooves and rousing chords all making you want to dance. Lyrically it echoes the ups and downs of all our everyday lives. Reverse it and you'll find 'Raise a Glass' - a hard-hitting deep funk track.