FUNKSHONE Vinyl & CDs

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record ever so slightly warped with very light surface marks/scratches, but otherwise in perfect working order***


This 7" is taken from Funkshone's sophomore long player, '2.' It is a hard breaking, funked up b-boy anthem that makes a long awaited appearance on 45rpm with Mike Bandoni's trademark drum grooves set against the usual Funkshone wall of sound. UK broken beat maestro Kaidi Tatham does his magical thing on the flute, too, for good measure. DJ Skeme Richards made the OG a big hitter on the scene after using it in his set at the Red Bull BC Boy Finals in Brazil in 2012. On this special release it gets a 'never-heard-before' b-boy cut up on the flip.

Review: This 7" is taken from Funkshone's sophomore long player, '2.' It is a hard breaking, funked up b-boy anthem that makes a long awaited appearance on 45rpm with Mike Bandoni's trademark drum grooves set against the usual Funkshone wall of sound. UK broken beat maestro Kaidi Tatham does his magical thing on the flute, too, for good measure. DJ Skeme Richards made the OG a big hitter on the scene after using it in his set at the Red Bull BC Boy Finals in Brazil in 2012. On this special release it gets a 'never-heard-before' b-boy cut up on the flip.

Review: UK funk outfit spearheaded by drummer Mike Bandoni returns to the source with a pressing of the original version of "The Strut". A sweaty, Hammond-snapping, break-busting jam with slippery wah wah guitars all laid down by Mike himself. It was a freaky gem when first dropped on the band's debut album in 2008 but this previously unheard and unreleased version is even heavier! Flip for a brand new original: "Spiritual Interlude II (The Heist)". A deeper groove driven by Bandoni's stately breaks and laced with ghostly organs care of co producer Nino Auricchio that rise like voodoo spirits throughout the track. Serious stuff. And only 300 pressed, too.

Review: Welcome to the Seventh release from Skyline, 'Droppin', yet another funk bomb from Funkshone. This time a vocal driven track featuring explosive vocals courtesy of Natasha Watts fused with a killer head-nod groove which is loaded with the usual party tricks; super heavy drums and wicked musicianship across the board from this one man band. On the A-side 'Droppin' is a hard mid-tempo groove, taking the Funkshone act into a whole new territory. Vocals by Natasha Watts who smashes home a great funky song. While on the B-side 'Droppin (Inst)' is a wicked instrumental version, with booming drums and a razor sharp groove that, at times seems heavier than the vocal cut.

Review: "Stop The Bus" is another superb release from the home of funky beats, Skyline Recordings. This is the second single from Funkshone. "Stop The Bus" is an instrumental feast for the dancefloor and the scratch DJ alike. No horns this time around, but with a wider focus on heavy drums, bass and chunks of good old Hammond organ to keep you satisfied.

Review: Funkshone are Mike Bandoni (former Acid Jazz/Ninebar Records musician and producer) and some of the UK's finest session musicians. This debut single 'Purification' Parts 1 and 2 sees Mike playing every instrument, bar the brass, which was laid down courtesy of Andy Ross and Ralph Lamb (Easy Access Orchestra/Roots Manuva), and gives this tune its anthem-like feel. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming or whistling the main horn-line after a couple of spins - it's infectious! One of the most noted aspects about this record is the sound. Authenticity is dear to the heart of Funkshone, and this is evident when the needle drops on this heavy-weight funk dance-floor smash, as the listener is taken back to the 1960s. Another attractive feature for many a battle/scratch DJ are the breaks. Both sides of this 45 are riddled with clear, crisp and downright enormous drum breaks that will leave any Purdie, Idris or Clyde Stubblefield fans more than satisfied.

Review: London nine-piece Funkshone up the funk ante once again, this time on their own brand new label Bandoni Music (named after the band's drummer and manager). Hooking up with The Easy Access Orchestra (who also act as The Herbaliser's live band), both sides of "To The Yard" are a super-tight frenzy where an array of brass and wind instruments get freaky over the rolling drum breaks and the Mike's razor sharp guitar riff. Only 300 copies of this have been pressed.... You know what to do.