Funk Night US レコード& CD

Review: Self taught, 70s- born London-based artist Mike Bandoni dropped his concept EP Lost Communication in 2020. It now finds its way to vinyl and invites listeners on a journey into "interstellar space and on towards a super massive black hole. A discovery mission in alien territory fraught with lost communication." It blends together heavy drums and more funky and organic drums, plenty of cosmic synth sounds and always with a strong groove at its core. While classic sounds of the 70s are referenced this remains a thoroughly futuristic album perfect for both close headphone listening or nice and loud on a proper good sound system.

Review: R&b and funk singer, rhythm guitar musician and songwriter Rickey Calloway hailed from Jacksonville, Florida but earned himself a global reputation. His style borrowed from James Brown but brought something new, inspired by his time playing in clubs from a relatively young age. He was active in the 70s and much of his music has been reissue do newer audiences since and now comes his King Of Funk album on Funk Night which, from the title down, pays homage to the aforementioned Brown. It features his most well known tune - the wonderful 'Tell Me' - as well as plenty of other big hitters like there particularly hard hitting 'Shake It Up, Shake It Down.'

Review: Misha Panfilov, the Estonian contemporary jazz mover whose many Janus faces amount to more than just two, resulting in many album avatars - here shares a live recorded rendition of a recent pair of shows, played back to back in Stockholm, then Tallinn. The first recorded at Fasching, Stockholm, on August 16, 2023, and the second recorded at Paavli Kultuurivabrik, Tallinn, August 19, 2023, this live record is composed of pieces otherwise heard on Panfilov's earlier albums, and they're chopped and changed to an exclusive running order here. Every track herein brims with a moonwalking lackadaisy, with Panfilov's live sensibility shedding light on his odic borrowing of classic bop and modal, and lending them a lunar reverential twist.

Review: Misha Panfilov's septet showcases his intricate harmonic palette in their second album, To The Mesosphere And Beyond. Filled with optimism, the album features airy, space-age voicings reminiscent of Terry Riley and Raymond Scott, all centered around jazz. The unique addition of a lap steel guitar, inspired by cosmic country music, adds fresh, innovative layers to the music. The album was created during an intense two-week period, with the band rehearsing and performing live in Tallinn and Stockholm, followed by a spontaneous two-day recording session. Despite challenges, the album was completed in just four days. The compositions are structured into four vignettes, transporting listeners beyond temporal and spatial boundaries. The album does well with blending psychedelic elements with jazz. Sasha's passionate saxophone and Ilja Gussarov's flute, paired with Volodja's synthesizer, create an enchanting soundscape due to their desire for exploration and innovation.

Review: Penza Penza, led by Misha Panfilov, is back with a fourth LP, Alto E Primitivo, which was recorded at private events in Funchal, Portugal, and Tallinn, Estonia. The album underscores Panfilov's genre-blending prowess on Detroit's Funk Night Records across 14 tracks that blend deep grooves, intricate guitars, and soulful rhythms from psychedelia to garage rock. The dynamic tracks showcase the groups' newly matured sound with refined production that will find favour with fans of Khruangbin and The Budos Band. Tracks like 'Wacky,' 'Pterodactyl,' and 'Boo Hoo Boogaloo' highlight their instrumental prowess while occasional distorted vocals add texture. Alto E Primitivo then is another gem from Penza Penza.

Review: Shawn Lee steps into untamed territory with Toe Rag Rhythms, a perc-ky odyssey trading in polish for pulse, spontaneity, and raw funk energy. Departing from his usual tightly composed fare, this session hears Lee, a seasoned multi-alias musician and composer from London, joined by four more percussionists, losing himself in a jungle of drums, shakers, bells, and earthbound textures. Lee adds tinkerbell piano lines to ground-lift the otherwise swirling, syncopated chaos, finishing each tracks with a loose-limbed, hypnotic charm. Whether the humid bounce of 'Tropical B Boy', the cinematic swirl of 'Dance Of The Pharoahs', or the laid-back snap of 'Rainforest Hum', this record easily earns its place alongside global groove rarities. Wild, rhythmic, totally addictive.

Review: Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson's album Letting Go of Forever prides itself on being an expansive musical journey, building on the momentum of his critically acclaimed EP 'The Changing Tides Of Dreams'. This 26-track double LP reflects Sholto's rich influences, from Mozart's dramatic 'Lacrimosa' to David Axelrod's eclectic productions. The album's initial tracks, including the evocative 'For The Love Of Stripes' and the atmospheric 'Ligurian Storm', are a signature blend of orchestral and instrumental artistry. 'For The Love Of Stripes' features lush strings and choral elements, interwoven with flutes and percussion to create a nostalgic, dreamy vibe. The track is inspired by the concept of stripes as both a visual divider and a symbol of individuality, which Sholto translates into a stunning musical narrative. 'Ligurian Storm' tells the story of a stormy journey through Italy, combining harp, vibraphone, and synths to evoke the beauty and drama of nature's transformation. Drawing comparisons to the Cinematic Orchestra and Surprise Chef, Sholto's work merges the soulful warmth of jazz and the experimental spirit of 60s and 70s soundtracks. This album should resonate with emotional depth and cinematic flair for anyone who listens.

Review: A decade in the making, the long-awaited new album from Smith & The Honey Badgers gathers analogue sessions recorded by the band over a ten-year stretch, from early risings in Marietta and makeshift setups in a Hackney bedroom to recent studio time at Echo Ray in Wood Green. Lead vocalist Marietta Smith fills out each mix with clarity and vavavoom, the likes of 'Better Times', 'Don't You Doubt It Baby' and 'Echo's Theme' marking a terrific rouser soul record following four early-career singles released via Lunch Money and Fnr.

Review: Funk Night returns with this magnificent new album Vibrant Kaleisdosonic Rhythms from Zanzibar. It is well infuse by a wide range of worldly sounds, rhythms and moods and kicks off with a melange of incidental jazz keys and raw horn sounds that are super exotic. 'Night In Casablanca' is as steamy as you would expect with a low slung groove, 'Badmington Baobab' is another flute lead sound with mystery and intrigue and 'Hologram Water' is more reflective and inward in its lush keys and delicate organic percussive layers. A nice escapist instrument funk album for laid back times.