DJS: MOST CHARTED - FUNK - MOST CHARTED IN JULY 2015

Review: The label says it all... Neither of these tracks have ever been released outside the original albums they came on. Until now. The legendary Candido steps up for the A-side with an uptempo, percussion-heavy groove from his 1971 album Beautiful; with big brassy fills and a stripped back, sample-addict's dream breakdown, this still punches as hard now as it did over 40 years ago. Flip for a funk trip from the equally revered Edwin Starr. Taken from his Hell Up In Harlem soundtrack, it's quintessential Blaxploitation funk with slippery bass, sleazy guitars and Edwin's velvet vocals that can go from purring to roaring in 0.03 seconds. Limited to one per customer, jump on this as soon as you can.

Review: Back in the mid 1970s, young engineer Terry 'T.K' Kane and Henry Stone joined forces to launch a studio and record distribution business in Miami. It would spawn a huge number of in-house labels, and even greater number of funk and disco releases, and even a string of million-selling artists. Given this legacy, it's little surprise to see Athens of the North paying tribute to the funk side of Henry Stone's impressive legacy with this superb collection. While there are a few tried-and-tested cuts to be found - see the T Connection and Little Beaver cuts - for the most part The Miami Sound focuses on more obscure - but no less hard-hitting - gems from the likes of Jonny K, Stevens & Foster and Leno Philips.

Review: Sounds like it came out of Lagos in 1971, actually written and recorded in Lyon in 2015: Voilaaa is the brainchild of Bruno Hovart whose long relationship with Favorite goes way back to his days as Patchworks, Mr President and The Dynamics. Recording on a whole host of vintage machines and calling upon local African singers both cuts have a real authentic sense of realness; "Spies Are Watching Me" drives with big horns and swooning strings which isn't dissimilar to the work of The Movers, while the TY Boys-esque "Le Disco Des Capitales" is a heavier, more concentrated slab of floor-minded disco where the groove takes more of a forefront role. Apparently there's a whole album of this cooking... We can't wait to hear it.

Review: One man funk army Gene Dudley is about to drop another 7" upside our lugholes... And this is one of the first signs of its quality. A broad banquet across two courses; "I've Changed" is straight up classic soul with big velvet vocals and massive horns. "Inspector Norse", meanwhile, shows Gene's fizzier, funk side. One of the most creative covers of Todd Terje you'll ever hear, this has already been hammered by the likes of Bonobo and Craig Charles. Sweaty.

Review: Brand new funk from London analogue evangelists The Snitch: Only available on vinyl (due to the fact that they're still tied to a major label for a library music deal), both cuts sizzle and slap with a fire that's been raging since the late 60s. "Don't Get Crazy" is a screaming, sweaty uptempo jam with brash bandleader vocals and breaks so heavy they could crush a house. "Caught On The Wrong Foot" is a straight up instrumental shakedown with bold horns and a groove you wish could carry on until Christmas 2024.

Review: Freestyle mainstays Speedometer are back... And they're brandishing a brand new album. "No Turning Back" is the lead title track. Featuring velvet vocals and sharp scat spits from James Junior, it's a soft-but-stern statement of intent that drags us in gradually and refuses to let us go once we're hooked. Those hungry for Speedometer's more upbeat party feels, flip for "Orisha's Party" where the groove is so tight and fizzy you can't but think of MJ's "Wanna Be Startin' Something". For good measure, The Reflex has also joined the party with a luxurious extended house shakedown that's primed for the season and beyond.

Review: The Originals dot-joining exercise continues apace with another great lesson for the budding diggers and sample spotters... Here Alabama trumpeter Brooks' 74 jazz adventure is dusted off in all its meandering, joyfully unpredictable seven minute glory. Flip for a fine lesson in classic sampling as Tribe Called Quest's "Luck Of Lucien" utilises the hook at a different speed, pitch and vibe that's tailored for ATCQ. In the words of Q Tip himself "Get a grip on the mission you're taking".

Review: Classic alert !! Album only track get's a timely repress as a one sided 45 for specialist crossover dance floors the world over.

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.

Review: Yes! A much needed new issue of Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's sublime 50 Cent cover version arrives courtesy of the Truth & Soul crew! Originally released back in 2008 on Mocambo Records, the cover version was long thought to be the source material for Fiddy's steel pan anthem "P.I.M.P", with Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's signature signature smashing drums and bass heavy groove somewhere between reggae, steel funk, and the Superfly soundtrack. If you missed out first time around, this new issue of "P.I.M.P" is a must grip, not least as it is complemented on the flip by the first BRSB original composition to make it's way to vinyl in the shape of the hard hitting breaks and pan melodies of "Laventille Road March".

Review: In amongst their programme of May essentials, Athens of the North have focused on highlight the grand soul escapades of Master Weldon Irvine across two killer sevens. We Gettin' Down the second and final of these and features two tracks from Irvine's 1974 LP for RCA Spirit Man. The more scholarly ears out there will of course recognise elements of "We Gettin' Down" from A Tribe Called Quest classic "Award Tour" and it's been lifted by everyone from Dego's Tek 9 project to bandy legged pop star Jamiroquai over the years. It's a pleasure from start (what a moog riff) to end and is complemented by the jazzed up bliss of "The Power & The Glory". Athens of the North are really spoiling us!

Review: Previously spotted passing hands for $1000, this Rodney Matthews doublet has been hot property since funk selector Ian Wright unearthed it. "Walking With Eyes Closed" oozes the slick falsetto funk Average White Band always aspired to; well-polished, super-tight, big highs and emphatic harmonies. "Life Is A Beautiful Thing" gets even funkier as the Miami troupe lay down cement-like dollops of bass-led funk over a stick beat and more rifle-like nagging vocals. Look up the word belter and you'll find this record.

Review: German funk collective The Mighty Mocambos unleash another killer track from their third album Showdown on this 7" slammer for Legere Recordings. Up top "Not Get Caught" thrusts with tight drums and a crisp guitar lick, precision played to create space for Derobert's ballsy narrative. Flip for "Never Get Caught", a full-flavoured instrumental that gives every band member time to shine. Exemplary timeless funk that 45 selectors will keep in their boxes for years to come.

Review: In case you didn't know, The M Tet consists of Joe Baer Magnant on guitar, Gary Pitman on the organ, Chris Lujan on bass, and Michael Reed on drums. Together they've been putting out soulful neo-funk, and they're back with their third release, this time for Detroit's Funk Night outlet. "Express Yourself" is a jazzy, instrumental cover of the pop song which goes by the same name, while "Sweetheart" is deeper, moodier and more head-nodding. A tight lil' 7" this one!

Review: Reissued as a standalone single for the first time since 1973, Lyn Collins' most famous track "Think" gets a timely revisit. The harbinger of one of the most important breaks of all time, written by James Brown (naturally), "Think" will still ooze raw funk and party direction for generations to come. Flip for the original People-released B-side, a touching cover of Bill Withers' classic "Ain't No Sunshine". Beautiful.

Review: Released in 1975, Cameroonian Tala AM's fifth album returns to the spotlight by way of African Road Trip. Dense, multi-layered funk with the emphasis placed firmly on the instrumental and vocals are used more as a rhythmic device, each composition is a fully physical adventure. Highlights include the strident piano slams on "Sugar Lump", the rich Q&A hypnosis and counter-play of melodies on "Arabica" and the much softer, reflective feels and shimmering high life guitars of "Soweto". Ageless.

Review: Mark Ronson's unavoidable feel good jam of the year gets the cover version of its life from Sly 5th Ave and the Clubcasa Chamber Orchestra. Surpassing the original in every possible direction, the instrumentation is tighter than queen bee's HQ with the horns showing Bruno Mars how lead lines are done and flutes playing the consummate backing vocals. Uptown funk gonna give it to ya!