Mad About レコード& CD

Review: Courtial With Errol Knowles's Don't You Think It's Time album gets a first ever vinyl reissue here, and gets deluxe treatment. The original was recorded in 1976 in San Francisco's Bay Area and soon became a real collector's classic for its vital soul and jazz funk sounds. To be honest, the cover art alone is worth the entry price here, but the sounds sure are sublime, with wiggy synth lines weaving their way in and out of the funky drumming on 'Don't You Think It's Time,' 'Best Of Friends' offering lush string sounds and silky grooves and 'Love Nevermore' having a bit of a samba shuffle next to the acoustic guitars and golden Rhodes chords.

Review: This 12" reissue of Fats Gaines Band's 'Zorina' harks back to the group's clean, stark collective funk sound. The band was led by Fats Gaines, a jazz musician and orchestra leader who had a significant presence in the Bay Area music scene since the 1950s. Zorina, meanwhile, is a soul singer from Louisiana who joined the band as their vocalist. Eight tracks of smooth disco-funk careen across an expertly-mixed plane of stereo goodness, with tunes like 'Born To Dance', 'Sweet Freak' and 'For Your Love' sure to dazzle with their clean, synth-bass-heavy "owws".

Review: Sam Sanders & Visions delivered their The Gift Of Love back in 1983, and what a romantic offering it is too. Sanders composed and directed the whole album as well as producing it and supplied the tenor sax sounds that define it. It is his only album with the band - though he also released one solo album under his own name - but it stands tall as a jazz classic rather apart from its peers of the era. His mix of modal, post-pop and soul-jazz is steeped in history as it goes from busy dancers to more mellow and introverted pieces like the standout 'Fantasy.'

Review: Mad About's latest reissue is a doozy for funk fans. Telstar's Orbiting is a soulful, ghetto-vibed masterpiece that comes all the way from Barbados and is back on wax fr the first time since its original pressing. This album blends infectious rhythms with powerful, emotive vocals that epitomise the essence of 1970s funk and Caribbean-influenced grooves. A standout track is Kool & The Gang's funky version of 'Kool Reggae,' which adds a unique twist to the classic while other highlights like 'World of Tomorrow' and 'Making a Living' have become DJ favs thanks to their killer grooves and timeless appeal.

Review: Disco E Cultura Volume 2 by Portuguese label Mad About Records is a fantastic collection and retrospect into the vibrant dance music landscape of Brazil during the 70s and 80s. Curated by Joaquim Paulo, this compilation delves deep into the soul, funk, disco, boogie, and jazz-funk sounds that defined the era. Featuring a diverse selection of tracks, the album offers a kaleidoscope of colorful, floor-friendly jams adorned with punchy horn lines, classy vocals, and irresistible grooves. Standout highlights include Lafayette's infectious 'Sol De Varao,' Franco's Barrio-funk groove, and Aloisio's jazz-funk gem 'Tema R,' which impresses with its hot-stepping breakbeats and strong synth solos. The second side of the compilation continues the more amazing music with tracks like 'Deixa Rodar' by Hanna, 'Manifesto' by Marilia Barbosa, and 'Fogo Sobre Terra' by Coral Som Livre, each contributing to the rich heritage of Brazilian dance music.

Review: Disco e Cultura Volume 2 is back with more carefully curated disco greatness. This one which comes on limited edition heavyweight orange wax offers 15 tracks of the funkiest Brazilian music from the 70s and 80s. As soul and funk swept the globe in the 1970s, Brazilian artists blended these international influences with their unique style and as a result crafted their own distinct and vibrant sound. This collection showcases those innovations which went on to become uniquely Brazilian and capture the essence of that dynamic era. This is a much-needed injection of sunshine into any record collection.