Back catalogue: Funk

Review: A deluxe edition of this album that expands on an already captivating musical journey. Originally released in 2023, it garnered critical acclaim for its unique blend of soulful vocals, intricate bass lines, and masterful production. This expanded version adds new dimensions to the experience, featuring collaborations with a diverse array of artists, including Durand Bernarr, Samm Henshaw and Danielle Ponder. Tracks like 'Le Depart (Feat. Durand Bernarr)' and 'Serena (Feat. Samm Henshaw)' showcase the collaborative spirit of the project, while remixes from Young Franco and Jitwam inject fresh energy into familiar favourites. Oasis masterfully blends personal storytelling with political themes, her lyrics exploring themes of identity, social justice, and self-discovery. The result is a sonic tapestry that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, inviting listeners to connect with the music on multiple levels. With its expanded tracklist and diverse range of sounds, it's a must-have.

Review: Given that Olli Avhenlahti released his debut album way back in 1975, you'd forgive the Finnish pianist-composer slowing down a little in his old age. Mirror Mirror, his latest gorgeous and thoroughly entertaining full-length excursion, arrives some seven years after its' predecessor, Gilles Peterson favourite Thinking, Whistling. Beginning with the gorgeously warm and sun-kissed title track, Avhenlahti and his trusted band of players lay down a series of killer cuts that invariably join the dots between contemporary jazz, jazz-dance and jazz-funk. It's a format that offers the perfect platform for Avhenlahti to show his skills on Rhodes electric piano and his trusty Oberheim synthesiser. Naturally he does that, sparring with sax and trumpet soloists over some seriously sumptuous grooves.

Review: Boom: three years, three albums. No biggie for Bristol duo The Allergies, Jalapeno's biggest success story since Kraak & Smaak. Each album shows them getting deeper into the groove, creeping away from the cheeky samples and sculpting their own pedigree funk originals. With Ugly Ducking Andy Cooper onside through the mix from the wild ride vibing "Fade Away" to the white knuckle lyrical fire of "Run It Back", there's a real band feeling to the whole album as familiar voices thread throughout the jams... including that of UK hip hop legend Dr Syntax.

Review: Ebo Taylor, a towering figure in highlife and afrobeat, recorded his latest album during his debut US touria milestone that came at the remarkable age of 88. Teaming up with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Taylor crafted a psychedelic journey steeped in 70s-inspired rhythms. Tracks like 'Beye Bu, Beye Ba' and 'Kusi Na Sibo' reflect his spiritual depth and lyrical wisdom, exploring themes of gratitude and divine guidance. Recorded at Linear Labs, the album pulses with fuzzed-out guitars, polyrhythmic percussion, and Taylor's signature vocal style, standing as both a testament to his enduring brilliance and a crown jewel in the Jazz Is Dead series.