SPLIT DECISION BAND Vinyl & CDs

Review: More dusty-fingered funk and reissue fun from DJ Fryer's prolific Athens of the North imprint. As usual, these tracks are pretty darn obscure; they both dropped on the Split Decision Band's 1978 debut on the obscure Network Records imprint. "Watchin' Out" is a tight-but-loose chunk of hazy disco-era funk with a sturdy backbeat and particularly rousing horns. It will slip into both funk and disco sets with ease. Flipside "Dazed" is altogether slower, with sparser production emphasizing the quality of the parping, razor-sharp horns. It's a superb alternative to the equally admirable A-side. Another winner from Athens of the North.

Review: Many funk and soul collectors have long hankered after Split Decision Band's soul 7" single, 1978's scorching - and notoriously hard-to-find - double A-side, "Watching Out"/"Dazed". It was always assumed that the Gordon Starr-helmed band made no other recordings. Happily, enquiries from Now-Again Records owner Egon resulted in Starr handing over the master tapes to this previously unreleased album. It's a superb set, all told, with highlights including the soaring disco-funk brilliance of "Night Dancer", the sugar-sweet soul of "Crystal Powder", the synth-laden passion of "You're The One" and the low-slung, jazz-funk inspired grooves of "Split Decision Band Wants You To Groove". Throw in both "Watching Out" and "Dazed", and you have one of the strongest funk, soul and disco albums you're likely to hear all year.

Review: Egon's Now Again imprint prime us for the forthcoming airing of a previously unreleased album from 70s Iowan funk outfit Split Decision Band. "Watchin' Out" was the band's most successful single and has previously passed hands for over $1000 between collectors. Thundering drums, insistent guitars and cool vocal dynamics that know when to let the music do the talking, both versions will slay any dance just as they did 35-40 years ago. We can't wait to hear the album!