Freestyle レコード& CD

Review: Albert "Alchemist" Thompson's Promise Land comes courtesy of Freestyle Records and has great appearances on the mic from reggae and dancehall greats Frankie Paul, Joseph Cotton, Prince Malachi and Anthony John. It has never before been released and has had a long maturation period over the last 30 years. Albert Thompson was chief engineer at I&I Sound Recording Studio once it left LA and head to Jamaica and he saw work with greats like Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer and Gregory Isaacs. He laid down these rhythms in 1991 during some downtime and then added the vocals 16 years later in London when working with talented local and touring Jamaican artists.

Review: Freestyle Records has been doing sterling work in sniffing out and reissuing rare boogie and jazz-funk releases from the early to mid 1980s, the majority of which initially appeared on tiny British labels. Their latest pick takes us back to 1983 and the largely unknown world of AGR Records. Boogie trio Bogaz only ever released two singles, with 'I've Got Love' standing out. Most won't have heard it before, but it's brilliant - a near-perfect slab of soulful electrofunk of the sort more commonly associated with labels in Los Angeles and New York. We get full vocal and dancefloor dub style 'instrumental' mixes, both of which feature a superbly squelchy synth bassline, tight machine drums (sometimes with bonus Latin-style percussive flourishes), gorgeous piano stabs, lusciously languid jazz guitar solos and warming horns.

Review: 'Hard Times' is a mega rare outing from Chequers which they dropped back in 1983 at the height of popularity for this sport of sound. It's irresistible electro-boogie that will get you in a spin in no time. The squelchy bass, r&b vocals and withering sci-fi disco synths all bring real colour. Flip it over and you will find the equally stellar 'If You Want My Love'. This is the first time this one has ever been reissued by its Freestyle label. Don't sleep on this surefire party starter and underground classic.

Review: In cahoots with legendary Japanese record store Jet Set, Freestyle Records has decided to offer-up a 45 featuring two tidy cuts from Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum 2 album, a second set of inspired cover versions from the multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and producer. On side A the Melbourne-based musician gives his take on Azymuth classic 'Veo Sobre O Horizonte', re-imaging it as a starry, vintage synth-laden shuffle through sun-baked South American jazz-funk complete with woozy horns, Herbie Hancock keyes and eyes-closed female vocalizations. On the reverse Ferguson turns his hand to Carly Simon's 'Why', adding gorgeous horn solos and sunset-ready flourishes to a faithful re-recording of the reggae-influenced number's familiar groove.

Review: Freestyle 'Turn Up The Music' courtesy of this new 12" from Roy Hamilton, Cosmo Bowen and Dennis Palmer. The trio worked together way back in the 80s and back then it was as part of a nine-piece outfit known as Breeze. Anyone who attended the iconic Ronnie Scott's in London back then will probably have heard them play upstairs with the likes of Hi Tension and Gonzalez. In 1984 they decided to lay down this one and only 12" on the HBS label they ran. It's a stomper but a laid-back one that is now well in demand on the funk and soul scene.

Review: The Switch label was one of those classic early 80s Brit funk obscurities which has since attained cult status for diggers who can't enough of that boogie sound. Tony Jackson was a key player on the label, and his 'Steppin' Out On The Groove' has everything you could wish for - from twinkling piano to low down dirty Moog bass, chirpy brass and a groove that just won't quit. Second hand copies of this pearler have changed hands for some princely sums over the years, but now Freestyle are derailing the shark train and giving up the goods for all music lovers to enjoy.

Review: Brit-boogie obscurity alert! You might not be familiar with La Famille - a short-lived group established by jazz guitarist Alan Weekes, whose members also included then future Soul 2 Soul singer Caron Wheeler and a pre-fame Cleveland Watkiss - but in 'Dancer', they made one of the loveliest jazz-funk/boogie crossover records of the early 1980s. Originally a white label-only release and near impossible to find since, the record has long been crying out for a reissue. It has all the ingredients you'd expect - squelchy synth-bass, soulful vocals, leisurely jazz guitars, drum machine beats and an overriding sense of musical sweetness - and is presented in equally essential vocal and instrumental mix variations.

Review: Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 2 on Freestyle back in January was a superbly well received collection of reworks and imaginings of soul classics. Now Lance Ferguson follows it up with a tidy 7" that features his take on 'Mango Meat' as well as his unique Latin soul cover of Gladys Knight's classic 'Got Myself a Good Man.' It's a bustling jazz-funk gem with glorious flutes bursting out of the mix and rollin drum rhythms. 'Mango meat' goes a litter deeper with its more rolling drum work and psyched-out guitars and big horns.

Review: Street soul is one of the many short lived but vital in between genres that have emerged from the studios of the UK over the decades. Pause was an early act who excelled at the form as two incredibly rare and hard to find tunes that are both being pressed up bony Freestyle this month prove. The first one comes on this 12" in the form of 'It's Just Amazing' with various different mixes. The vocal mix pairs lo-fi drum breaks with shards of 80s synth stabs and a gorgeous vocal harmony finished perfectly by a melancholic bassline. The two instrumental mixes are even more dusty and lo-fi but the vocal version is the one that will always stand out and get the floor in a tizzy.

Review: Freestyle Records are dropping some super top-notch reissues this month, and the originals are mega rare and expensive so boogie and Brit funk fans couldn't be happier. This one by Private Funk-Shun was originally released in 1986 and for this 7" has been officially licensed, remastered and pressed in limited numbers. 'All That I Wanted Was You' has twanging bass riffs and electronic drums that really slap under singing leads and a super vocal. 'Fantasy' is a little more loved-up by no less sure to get you on your toes. Two lovely tunes whether or not you knew them first time round.

Review: This is a long overdue reissue of a lovely feel-good soul number from Sonja Richard. It is her one and only listed release on Discogs and landed back in 1987 on the Rock The House Records label. Why she didn't do more off the back of this one is anyone's guess but we wish she had: it's a lovely laid-back vibe with 80s electronic disco production, buffed metal chords, and naive melodies. As well as the standout original the flipside has a fine version that offers a slightly different look. A real must own for soul lovers.

Review: Yet another 12" rarity from the annals of UK funk & boogie history - this time the 1985 cut 'Sexy Lady' from VeiraKrew. Carribean-born and British-raised pianist Elvis Veira moved to England alongside his pianist and music teacher mother at the age of two, quickly becoming proficient on piano, guitar and bass by his early teens. His love for playing music and singing in choirs propelled him on this musical journey, and his late teens to 20s saw him supporting acts such Heatwave, Wham, Katrina and the Waves and more. In 1983 he started working under the alias VeiraKrew, and a couple of years later in 1985 laid down this 12", backed up with the title track's killer instrumental version and the B-side 'Welcome to a Dream'. It was self-released by Veira, quickly becoming a collector's item with clean copies changing hands for up to 150 a piece. The instrumentals are fresh and filled with life, and 'Welcome to a Dream' is an incredible mid-tempo bopper. Well worthy of a repress, and is sure to be in demand - so don't delay!