Matasuna レコード& CD

Review: For seven years, Matasuna Records has been dedicated to uncovering musical gems from the past. Now, they introduce a thrilling contemporary find: Barcelona-based band Bidaide. Their debut 7" vinyl single features two unreleased tracks, 'Batua' and 'Love Me & Give Up', both of which showcase their eclectic blend of soul, funk, psychedelic rock, reggae-dub, and library music. 'Batua' on the A-side delivers an energetic fusion of funky rhythms, agile guitar dialogues, and vibrant brass overlays. On the B-side, 'Love Me & Give Up' offers a soulful, relaxed vibe with Motown-esque charm. Bidaide's evolution from a duo to a vibrant band culminates in this dynamic release.

Review: Stone cold New Jersey funk business; Calender's seminal "Hypertension" has been a waymark in dancefloor developments since '75 and its big strings, high energy and nagging vocals still have total resonance to this day as proved by this rolling, conga fuelled twist from Mexican maestro Hotmood. Flip for more relevance as "Ritmo Latino" (from Calender's '76 album "It's A Monster") gets a cheeky breakbeat facelift from Voodoocuts. Now there's no excuse not to get funky every single day of the year.

Review: Over the last couple of years, Matasuna Records has developed a tried-and-tested formula. It revolves around finding and licensing killer cuts - think funk, Afrobeat, tropical flavours and Latin beats - and then pairing them with a fresh, floor-friendly re-edit. Their latest find is something of an overlooked gem: a gorgeously sunny 1983 number from Ghanaian musician Mawuli Decker that's piled high with infectious, EWE-language vocals, Highlife guitars, spacey Moog sounds and cute electric piano solos. The accompanying Renegades of Jazz re-edit is pleasingly faithful to its source material, deftly showcasing Decker's brilliant music while beefing up the bass, subtly tightening up the drums and layering on some complimentary hand percussion.