Review: The Samosa label returns with Part 2 of the Re-Funk Head project, once again showcasing top-tier disco grooves. Opening up is Dirty Elements & Drunk Drivers feat. E.M.E with 'Disco Ball,' a sassy, high-energy track featuring a standout brass ensemble, while track 2, 'Ain't No Doubt About It' by Moplen, entices with disco beats, bongo rhythms, and a masterful bassline. Jazzyfunk's 'Sexy Thing' continues the disco theme with soaring strings and a punchy bassline, perfect for any dance floor moment. Closing the EP is DeGama's 'Feel The Groove,' a powerful tune blending house vibes with blues-inspired guitar and sultry saxophone. Re-Funk Head Part 2 is essential for serious funk fans.
Nuit De Fievre (Pellegrino Nottata Stellata remix) (5:08)
Review: Be Strong Be Free's 7" series is on fire this year and now comes back with a third instalment. It is 'Nuit De Fievre' and it comes from label owner Gratts, aka the "Belgian down under," who revisits disco's golden era by assembling a stellar studio team starring the Moody Mae band in the company of Reinhard Vanbergen on violin and Jaj from Paris on vocals. What they cook up in return is elegant boogie and disco that will chime well with fans of Dimitri From Paris. The B-side features Pellegrino's jazz-funk rendition, adding Mediterranean flair straight from Vesuvius. Both sides promise deliciously uplifting grooves for any disco enthusiast.
Review: The Jackson Sisters are next up on the latest 45 from Tower Vinyl, which has in recent times done a superb job of serving up some timeless and effective vintage soul sounds from across different niches and eras. This one kicks off with the well high energy sound of 'Miracles' with its big vocals, bigger drums and raw horns that are well known to cinema goers everywhere. 'Boy You're Dynamite' is a more raw and emotive sound with a striped back rhythm but superbly gut wrenching vocal deliveries.
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: The fantastic James Taylor Quartet delivers a punk-infused track with a powerhouse chorus here that channels the energy of Taylor's time with The Prisoners when supporting The Ramones during their 1986 UK tour. Of that time he has said The Ramones were "incredible-watching their three-hour sets every night at 21 had a huge impact on me. It took until I was 60 to find a way to act on that inspiration." Though The James Taylor Quartet has always had a punky rock 'n' roll vibe in their live shows, this feels fresh and like a new discovery, despite the influence always being present on some level.
Review: The legendary James Taylor Quartet will soon return with a much anticipated new full length but before that they offer a glimpse not what to expect from it with new single 'Hung Up On You.' Taylor himself has explained that 'Hung Up On You' was left over from a writing session from his other band The Prisoners and that it was "interesting to see how my JTQ guys, usually funk players, took to this approach." It channels the gritty punk and new wave essence of Medway to deliver a fast-paced rock'n'roll anthem that passionately rants about an enduring, unreciprocated love.
Review: 'Miss Your Life' is a punky new wave track that was originally penned as a poem before evolving into a song. It critiques British apathy, complacency, and a pervasive sense of powerlessness and pessimism that we can all relate to. The song itself serves as a rallying cry to resist and take action before it's too late. The James Taylor Quartet's guitarist Mark, typically known for his more intricate parts, nails the punky intro with precision and the track captures this outfit's defiant spirit and youthful energy while also blending joy and rebellion as they revisit their adolescent years with a powerful message.
Review: Jeroboam serves up the tongue-in-cheek title 'Brexit Funk' on Chuwanaga and is sure to get you moving as a result. There is some serious sunshine and Brit-funk loveliness to the title track. It is lit up with vibes keys and irresistible funk basslines that all brim with good-time fun. 'Peckham Night' is a more sultry and steamy sound for when the sun is setting thanks to its lazy drums and splashy cymbals all topped with some smoky trumpet soul. A dub mix rounds out with even deeper-cut grooves and romantic melodies. Three grown-up delights for sure.
Judson Moore & The Al Tog Staff - "Everybody Push & Pull" (3:11)
Review: Soul Junction revisits the Scot-Tees Capri master tapes here to unveil two previously unreleased tracks. First is 'My Sweet Polly' by The Scott Brothers, a late 60s dance tune inspired by Howard Scott's former girlfriend. Coupled with this is a studio version of Judson Moore's "Everybody Push & Pull," a crossover hit influenced by Rufus Thomas. The Scott Brothers evolved from the 'Elpeccios' in 1958 to the Scott Brothers Band in 1963 and were instrumental in Chicago's music scene. Their label, Capri Records, produced hits like 'We Like Girls' and worked with legends like Garland Green. Judson Moore was a veteran singer who thrived under their mentorship and went on to leave a lasting legacy.
Southside Movement - "I'm So Glad That I've Got You" (3:28)
Review: In the early 80s, Chicago-based funk band Southside Movement teamed up with soul singer Jackie Ross who was already well known for her work with Chess and Brunswick. Though this collaboration produced incredible music, it was largely forgotten since only a few test pressings existed so it never spread too far. However, in 2023, P-VINE reissued their only full-length album on vinyl for the first time and now, the standout track from their partnership, 'You Are The One That I Need' comes on its own special 7" which is the first time it has been available in this format. It's a wonderful and previously long-lost collaboration that is well deserving of your attention.
Review: The Jackson 5 were a legendary American pop band consisting of famous musical brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. Managed by their father, Joe Jackson, the group achieved great success in the 1970s and were much loved amongst younger audiences. They had plenty of chart hits and several of them went on to have great solo careers, of course. Their eighth studio album, G.I.T.: Get It Together was released on September 12, 1973, under the Motown label and now gets reissued on limited red vinyl with an insert.
Review: This is a historically significant album now gaining deserved recognition with this anniversary reissue. Born George Folurunsho Johnson in Nigeria in 1916, Ginger's Yoruba heritage shaped his music and by the late 1940s, he had moved to London and was busy collaborating with British jazz icons like Ronnie Scott, Phil Seaman and Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists. A pioneering figure, Ginger recorded some of Britain's first African music releases and mentored a young Fela Kuti and became a cornerstone of the African and West Indian musical community. By the 1960s, Ginger's mastery of Afro-Cuban percussion cemented his legacy across genres and performances, including the Notting Hill Carnival, and this album shows why he was such a singular artist.
Review: A definitive master of jazz, soul and pop sounds across the decades, Quincy Jones pulled off another gem with this genre-defying collection. It highlights an unparalleled level of musical craftsmanship where the arrangements are lush and use orchestral instruments, funky rhythms and smooth vocals to create a timeless sound. Standout tracks like 'What's Going On?' and 'Theme From The Anderson Tapes' showcase Jones' ability to merge complex jazz harmonies with commercial appeal. He also balances upbeat tracks with introspective, slower tunes with the result reflecting Quincy's deep influence on the music of the last half-century.
Review: If you're not familiar with the 1973 American-Philippine action movie Savage! then join the club. Distributed through Roger Corman's New World Pictures, the Cirio H. Santiago production was one of around 40 that the Hollywood legend worked on at far lower costs in the Asian island nation compared with back in the US. A somewhat exploitative business model taking advantage of lower wages in a developing country, the story also used more than a few totems of the Blaxploitation canon to tell the tale of a criminal who winds up getting caught up in a revolution to overthrow a military government. Heavy stuff dealt with in a pulp fiction style, the score reflects this - funk filled guitar licks, slap bass and woodwind hooks. Hip hop selectors take note, then, there's plenty to play with here.
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.
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