Back catalogue: Funk

Review: Second time around for Banda Achilifunk and Original Jazz Orquestra's sought-after 2011 cover of disco classic "I Believe in Miracles", original copies of which now change hands for serious sums online. The expansive Spanish crew's baggy, sun-kissed and rumba-soaked Latin disco cover of the Jackson Sisters' classic is perfectly pitched, adding layers of crunchy Clavinets and punchy horns to a sumptuously summery groove. Over on the flip we get two different takes on McFadden & Whitehead classic "Ain't No Stopping Us Now": a decidedly Balearic Spanish language cover ("No Nos Pararas"), and an instrumental cover full to bursting with superb grooves and even more scintillating horn solos.

Review: If we said 'a Latin funk cover of Michael Jackson's "Bad"' what would you say? If the answer is anything other than 'WTF? I need that in my life' we are officially worried about you. Who wouldn't want that? Not to let the cheeky b-side outshine the A, "Feelings" is a Banda Achilifunk original; rolling with a rhythm n' blues motif and some fly Spanish lyrics, it's feel good party joint with heaps of distinction.

Review: The Moiss Music label seems to like to drop their EPs two at a time. They did it in February and they're doing it again in May. This eighth outing collects four more lively disco cuts, each with their own subtle influences. Berobreo's 'White Rabbit' for instance has funky undertones with loopy guitar riffs and nice breaks. The Magic Track's 'Jamming With Mom' meanwhile is more sensuous and deep, with late-night synth work and seductive vocals. Oldchap's 'I Want To Show You' has an expressive soul vocal with more low-slung grooves and Alexny's 'Not Bad' then gets quick, clipped and loopy for its lip-pouting disco thrills.

Review: The nucleus of the dirrty south, and the birthplace of trap, Atlanta has more to offer than sleazy, grinding 808s. As proved by this fantastic dubby disco 7 from Smokecloud. Applejuice takes a well known Etta James sample (previously used by Pretty Lights and pilfered by Flo Rida) and massages it into a much smokier, trip-hop template while Osmose dubs out a vibrant Silver Convention string hook, drops the tempo and adds a whole bucket of low-end. Funky.

Review: Repress of the sought after Mukatsuku Records 12 containing two remastered tracks of Atlanta musician Ojeda Penn presented here according to Ojeda officially for the very first time.The A side kicks off with the extended holy grail instrumental version of 'Brotherson' taken from the Happiness album. There were two versions of the album Happiness in 1980 on the IFE independent label. They looked almost identical but the first version contained the now rarer elongated 9 & half minute jazz fused instrumental version of 'Brotherson' and then a few months later Penn recut the same album but with a much shorter version of the main track but this time adding strings and vocals assisted by Tommy Stewart from 'Bump N Hustle Music' fame. The former version is now being sold up to 500 dollors so this 180 gram single is a welcome release to the reissue market. Juno copies come in an exclusive branded card sleeve + sticker

Review: Two hugely historic versions from Adidas's high-schooling Originals imprint. Odetta's 1970 original is a beautifully sexy, smouldering piece of smoky blues while Bo Diddley's cover (that came four years later) is much more upbeat and funk focussed with added horns and head-turning bass runs. Both have inspired every generation that's followed and have undergone myriad sample treatments. Return to the source and understand just why they've been so influential.

Review: GAMM pulled off a real coup in securing a double drop of edits from Istanbul's Onur Engin and we implore you head straight for the A Side brilliance of his Freddie Hubbard tweak. Anyone with a cursory knowledge of deep house history will immediately recognise the opening string flourishes of "Sunflower" - the basis to Pepe Bradock's timeless "Deep Burnt"! Engin's take on the Hubbard original remains faithful yet adds just the right amount of percussive deftness to give it some dancefloor feet. The flipside is dedicated to a delightful take on the mid seventies soul rarity "For Real" by Flowers which again provides ample evidence of Engin's intricate editing skills.

Review: Onur Engin is one of the few producers whose edits consistently hit the spot. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Engin has a subtle touch, an approach that pays the source material due reverence. More often than not, this old-fashioned approach pays dividends. This ninth volume of his popular OE Edits series boasts four more hits, from the spiritual disco-funk of "Expansions" (a re-cut of Lonnie Liston Smith's original), to the sweaty closeness of Roberta Flack re-version "Feel Like Makin' Love". For the Balearic heads, there's also a delicious version of Santana's "Aqua Marine", and a dash of spiritual jazz in the form of "Maracatu". They'll go like hot cakes, so don't sleep.

Review: Frafra gospel artist Alogte Oho was rumoured to be a leading artist within the 'explosive' music scene of Bolgatanga, in Northern Ghana. His debut release "Zota Yinne" in 2014 has already become a collectors item. On this release, Oho is joined by the all female choir group Sounds of Joy, comprised of Lizzy Amaliyenga, Patricia Adongo and Florence Adooni. On the A side, we have the uplifting and soulful vibes of "Mam Yinne Wa" featuring some wonderful wind and string instrument passages. On the flip is the reggae influenced swagger of "Yu Ya Yumma".

Review: Although Oneness Of Juju are often lauded for their avant-funky-spiritual-jazz albums from the mid 70s, they are really
best known in clubland for this killer 80's groove track that was released on Sutra. 'Every Way But Loose' still retains
some of their afro jazz elements, but it's got a heavy dancefloor beat, with a darn nice groove to it!

Review: California funk troupe Orgone really need no prior introduction and it's great to see the group line up for a release here on the Colemine Records label. Initially released on clear vinyl in limited numbers earlier in 2014 whilst label boss Terry Cole was on tour, Don't Stop has now been pressed in a larger quantity for all the budding funk selectors out there and shows two distinct sides to the Orgone sound. The title track is all about the power house vocal performance from Tiffany Austin and how Orgone "make it easy" for her to ride the groove. Flip over and "Powerfeed" is Orgone laying down a heaving slab of heavy instrumental funk.

Review: It's been a long time between drinks for Outer Space, a Barcelona based six-piece who last appeared on wax in 2019 via a private press edition of their 2017 set Into The Unknown. You'll be delighted to hear that they're in fine fettle on this Rocafort Records-released "45. A-side 'Not Even Light' is a languid but floor-friendly affair, with ear-catching electric guitar melodies, jazz-funk flourishes and snaking horn lines rising above a chunky, loose-limbed funk break. Over on the flip Catalonian singer Gemma Humet handles lead vocals on 'Dead Planet', a filmic affair with subtle jazz overtones that's as atmospheric as they come.

Review: After taking a year out (presumably to rotate his head 360- degrees and hoot at the moon), wide-eyed re-editor The Owl returns to action with another essential collection of reworks. Check first the hot-stepping James Brown style funk strut of "On It" - all rubbery but thrusting grooves and guttural grunts - before switching to the slick and rising disco goodness of "Boogie". There's something of a switch on the flip, where he works his magic on the low-slung disco tune that Paul Johnson sampled for his classic house cut "Get Get Down". Best of all, though, is the filter-sporting disco-house bagginess of "Sly Lovin", which rounds off the EP in fine style.

Review: It's been three years since his debut album "Aural Penetration". Since then he's formed a band - The DooDoo Funk All Stars - and produced for various hip-hop heads including members of Pharcyde. Here we can hear why he's in high demand; both instrumental cuts ooze street soul smarts and enough sexiness to carry themselves with or without a vocal. With two totally different shades of synth-soul covered (wonky, LA-style and a more European jazz) Tony's got something for everyone.

Review: Craft Music's Good For Dance series continues with its second instalment and this one has been curated by none other than DJ Craft himself. Joining him are talented pals Schmoltz, Bogdan Ra, Romain FX, and Outra, also known as Joutro Mundo. These deep diggers are celebrated for their prowess in unearthing hidden gems and transforming them into dancefloor anthems and that's what they do here as each artist brings a unique flavour to the mix. Schmoltz's 'Luv The States' is a peak-time percussive disco jam, Bogdan Ra brings some slap-funk drums and glossy Italo synths and 'Tell Me Why' has crunchy drums and jagged synth stabs before a camp closer in 'Colosso'.