Funk / Reissue Recommendations Best Of 2012

Review: Fly Girl/Fly Boy anthem alert as German funk outfit The Mighty Mocambos team up with legendary US producer Afrika Bambaataa. Assisted by vocalists Charlie Funk and King Kamonzi for French label Favourite Recordings, it's a modern day b-boy wet dream as a dedication to universal hip-hop and funk culture whilst emulating the vibe of a NY block party with that breakbeat punch. And there's an exclusive instrumental on the flipside: nothing less than essential.

Review: Square Records offshoot, Nirobi has been there to keep us satisfied all year long, remoulding and re-funking some absolute classics. There's no need for names here as the tracks are all too famous for introductions but the mystery artists behind these mixes have done a spectacular job of refixing "Once In A Lifetime", "Lovely Day", "As We Enter" and oh, go on, Biggie's "Hypnotron" - probably the funkiest bloody re-edit this year!

Review:  Two dancefloor bombs which should make tasty additions to your record box. Dr No & The Cuban Maffia are a six piece outfit from Central Havana who recorded this tribute, ''007 Mambo'' as a nod to Ian Fleming's Mr Bond back in the late 1970s, along with dozens of other cover versions to assist their own compositions in their live repertoire. This version was originally only 90 seconds long, so Texas Toni extends the journey with some funky Latino peak time pressure. On the flip, Sundance Kid drops an infamous soundtrack and Texas Toni re-edits the original parts, disposing of the downtempo elements to concentrate purely on the dancefloor potential.

Review: Always a destination label for fans of classy disco and funk edits, GAMM introduced The Reflex to their roster with these new additions to their "ReVisions" series. Marvin Gaye's "Ain't No Mountain" gets a subtle boost to the beats and bottom end, while on a similar Northern Soul vibe, The Reflex treats "Rehab" with a new set of drums and a few added strings and stiff guitar chanks. Best of all, the beatless instrumental of Marvin's seminal "What's Going On" is reconnected with the original acapella in a superbly tasteful mixdown that shows off every nuance of that incredible recording.

Review: Soundway is always there for our obscure afro-jazz needs and 2012 was no different. They did pull off something special on this collaborative effort 7", bringing you the sweltering body funk of K Frimpong & Super Complex Sounds' Ahyewa, edited here by bad boys Hide and Smile, where the dup create a real jumble out of that clicky percussion. On the flip, Quantic is called for remix duties on both jams, the first being The Uhuru Dance Band with "Untitled", a hand-clapping make-you-wanna-move sort of thing, followed beautifully by The Cranes' "Joy", another incredible touch on the original, adding a lil nit of extra oomph to that beat! Warmly recommended.

Review: Gems? Diamonds, more like. Sparkling funky diamonds that shine from every guitar, horn, bass and deep belly-driven chants. First up is a 1976 number from Wganda Kenya who actually come from Colombia. You'd never tell; with vast harmonies and a sonic span that's as wide as the Serengeti plains, its heart beats to a strict Kenyan rhythm. M'Bamina add a French African touch to the B on a specially edited version of "Atide O Sika" by label boss Nik Weston under his MUKAT edit guise. Watch out for the deconstructed percussion and bass break. A finer example of an edit you will not find. The Juno edition of the single comes in exclusive packaging of kraft paper hand stamped inner sleeve,additional branded card sleeve,signed insert,sticker and plastic protective outer sleeve

Review: Having previously dropped a brilliant reggae refix of Adele and a Latin remake of Kelly Rowland, this pair of rootsy producers reunited on the Resense label for an excellent covers project. Mario's Tuna hooks up with Miles Reverse to deliver a stellar version of Smokey Robinson And The Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey", featuring driving, raw drums and sweet Rhodes action. Suonho matches him with a bouncy new take on Joe Bataan's boogaloo classic "Gypsy Woman" that comes reloaded with some crisp claps and plenty of pep in its step. Check it!

Review: Outta Sight has only been around for two years but their catalogue would suggest otherwise. In this short space of time they've out our a truck loads of records, all in the form of sweet, highly sought after reissues - hot damn! Dee Dee Sight's "Comin Home Baby" gets the rounds this time and it's a peach. Those swingy rhythm & blues strings sounding so ahead of their time. The B side is "Standing In The Need Of Love", equally as amazing but more of anthem - we can almost imagine a lazy summer day in the mid 60s. Soulful would be too much of an understantement.

Review: The Outta Sight Soul label kept coming with the good stuff this year, this time featuring a double sider from the sadly departed R&B vocalist Etta James flipped by the unknown Tony Topsy. The 1961 classic "Seven Day Fool" is classic stompy Rhythm & Blues tackle with great lyrics in which Etta tells us about working her butt off for a whole week just to get the good loving of her man. On the flip you'll find a more bluesy rasping soul number from female vocalist Tony Topsy on "Just A Little Bit".

Review: Buscemi is perhaps more famous for his successful nu jazz runnings from a few years back, but here he pops up on the cheeky Austrian label Resense for a catchy mash up of sampled vocals, thumping bass and jazz swing on "It Ain't Right, No, No". On the flip the Jacksons' dancefloor favourite "Blame It On The Boogie" gets reworked in a mashed frenzy of sample stabs and a bossa beat, with lashings of flanged bass and vocal samples. Both tracks are an acquired taste but it's selling like hot cross buns on Easter Sunday, so they must be doing something right!

Review: Germany's Tramp records puts out killer reissues on nice thick vinyl - end of story. And they've done us all a mahussive favour this year by bringing back "Panama" the infamous Roy Porter Sound Machine 7", the origina being near mythical now. The vocal version is simply one of those essential boogie tracks and we'd all feel incomplete without it in out bags. The instrumental is also a stratospheric masterpiece - that percussion glides up and down so well it's sickening. No, but seriously, you NEED this.

Review: Look Around The Corner sees two of Tru Thoughts most successful artists reunite in the shape of Will Quantic Holland and Alice Russell. When the two have previously collaborated, the results have mostly been dipped in magic and lovingly various - compare the heaving funk of "Pushin On" with the more delicate "Sweet Calling". "Look Around The Corner" is the title track from the album of the same name, and it unfurls into a delightfully soulful flutter of instrumentation delivered by Quantic's world-renowned outfit the Combo Barbaro. It can't help but recall The Rotary Connection and the whole track is lifted beyond the clouds by Russell's immediately distinctive voice.

Review: Japan-based Originals are purveyors of the finest hard-to-find funk, soul and hip-hop, and 2012 was another biggie for them! This time we got Steve Parks giving us the title track, a tranquil boogie thang, ready to make your hips swirl and your heart soar. Masta Ace drops his "Talkin' What I Feel" on the flip, and if you don't know, get to know...

Review: Extremely welcome reissue for one of the absolute holy grails of the rare groove scene. Ultra-rare and super-expensive in it's original 1980 release, this incredibly sexy tune from Chicago band Starvue fully deserves its status as a true soul anthem. Produced by The Chi-lites' Clarence Johnson, 'Body Fusion' never lets up the dancefloor pressure from beginning to end - the wonderful fusion of achingly beautiful strings, loping bass, flutes, the coolest fingersnaps and of course the mesmerising vocals of Tony Hicks combine to create an intensely emotional and rolling momentum that builds and builds. A masterpiece of soul history that still sounds as fresh as ever - essential!