Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Emma Noble, the emerging soul singer from London, delivers a powerful performance on the girl group soul anthem 'Unstoppable'. Her second single, it's poised to become a next-gen floor-filler; catch us playing it on repeat, *in flagranti*, after it premiered on Craig Charles' BBC6 Soul Show in early 2025. 'Going Going Gone' backs it up on the B-side, as the first single from FPE's upcoming album Waves. Hearing rising Australian singer-songwriter and pop genius J Mahon on vocal duties, the track's catchy brass sections combine with J's androgynous soul vocals, and evokes the sounds of young Motown artists in the style's 60s adolescence.

Review: This classic Japanese funk tune has long been adored by erudite boogie, 80s funk and soul fans in Japan but also more internationally, and for the first time here it is now available as a 7" single. Produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu, the release includes one track each from the Jadoes albums It's Friday from 1986 and Free Drink in 1987, both of which are considered iconic in the Japanese boogie canon. 'Summer Lady' is full of glossy 80s drums and sparking melodies that bring unbridled joy and 'Friday Night' is a little more paired back but the stepping drums and male-female vocal interaction is a thing of beauty.

Review: Measured Mile, the 7"s label run by Bob Stanley, firms its focus on DJ-friendly 45s that are or were either very rare or previously unavailable in the format. Its run of sharply curated 7"s is replenished with another three-tracker, this time an unusual choice, fencing two classic British sports broadcasting themes, pivoting from midtempo funk to faster breaks. Leading the A are two standouts from Douglas Wood, 'Cranes', known as the punchy, synth-heavy theme from the BDO World Darts Championship - and 'Drag Racer', the atmospheric opener to the BBC's Snooker World Championships coverage, both drawn from the revered Studio G library catalogue. On the flip, John Cameron's 'Sprocket Shuffle' - the lively 1980s ITV Snooker theme - rounds out the package in a flurry of analogue texture and charming nostalgia.

Review: There's more to US funk god Rick James than just 'Super Freak' and this sprawling retrospective proves it. Across four sides, the Buffalo-born musician's full-spectrum funk is on glorious display i from the righteous bounce of 'You & I' and weed-soaked romance of 'Mary Jane', to the hard-grinding grooves of 'Ghetto Life' and 'Give It To Me Baby'. The hits are all here, but so are deeper cuts like 'She Blew My Mind (69 Times)', 'Cold Blooded' and 'Can't Stop', showing off James's twisted humour, whip-smart arrangements and genre-bending instincts. Highlights like 'Glow', 'Dance Wit Me - Part 1' and the Temptations-featuring 'Standing On The Top' cement his reputation as a psychedelic soul innovator who consistently defied convention. Even the closing Busta Rhymes flip of 'In The Ghetto' feels earned i a nod to his lasting influence on rap and r&b. This isn't just a greatest hits i it's a flex, a time capsule and a reminder that Rick James could outplay, outsing and outfreak almost anyone.

Review: Brooklyn's Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings were already underground legends by 2005, but this was the release that blew the doors wide open. Reissued here in a 20th anniversary remaster with full instrumental versions, it captures the group in peak form: tight, defiant and dripping with groove. From the snarling funk of 'My Man is a Mean Man' to the gospel-inflected ache of 'Stranded' and the rolling swagger of 'You're Gonna Get It', every track is a showcase for Jones' irrepressible power. 'How Long Do I Have to Wait For You?' and 'This Land is Your Land' still hit like soul standards, while 'Fish in My Dish' and 'Your Thing is a Drag' lean into grit and grind. The instrumentals only deepen the appreciation: pure rhythm section muscle. Recorded in Bushwick's now-legendary House of Soul, it's the record that built the Daptone soundiand lit the fuse for a soul revival that still resonates today.

Review: Ekoya is the fourth album from Jupiter & Okwess and it marks a new chapter in their sound as they embrace Congolese funk, rock, Afropop and Latin influences. This record was conceived during a South American tour and recorded in Mexico so reflects a cross-cultural fusion that's deeply rooted in African history and features collaborations with artists like Flavia Coelho and Mare Advertencia. Along the way, the music tackles themes of change, resilience and the global challenges we face so tracks like 'Selele' and 'Orgillo' fuse political commentary with big rhythms. Through a great mix of languages, rich instrumentation and powerful messages, Ekoya is a wonderfully worldly celebration.