Back catalogue: Funk

Review: At first an obscure library music curio made by Keith Papworth under the aegis of Music De Wolfe - the brainchild of Dutch composer and oboist Meyer De Wolfe - Hard Hitter long flew under the radar as Papworth's unsung instrumental funk magnum opus, that is, until it was reissued in 2022 by Fat Beats, and again now by Dynamite Cuts. We'd wager that it was the Fat Beats reissue that really cemented the legacy of this gem, which placed its intensely sampleable funk breaks in the context of NYC hip-hop culture, cementing its legacy as a favourite sample source for beatmakers, not just a simple and enduring joy in the realm of hard-hitting library funk.

Review: The Record Store Day releases are coming thick and fast already and Dynamite Cuts have got one of the more essential ones here. It features a pair of tracks from Steve Parks, who looks as cool as can be on the much loved cover. This is the first time the lead single has ever been put on its own 7" after first coming on his 1981 album. That is now mega-rare and a high value collector's item and surely this one will be too, soon enough. The mastering is high class, allowing the free flowing jazz funk goodness to really shine. On the reverse is a more intimate late-night romancer. What a pair of tunes.

Review: Originally released in 1981, Steve Parks' first and only album titled Movin' In The Right Direction is a funk and soul masterpiece to those that know, which was popular with rare groove DJs throughout the '90s and early '00s. This is the first proper reissue of the highly sought after album, brought to you by London based Dynamite Cuts. Featuring the title track as well as 'Sadness In My Samba'.

Review: Johnny Pate's musical work on "Shaft In Africa", the 1973 sequel to the better-known "Shaft", has long been regarded as one of the strongest soundtracks of the Blaxploitation era. To prove the point, double seven-inch specialists Dynamite Cuts have gathered together some of the most potent tracks on two "45s". Check first the gloriously over-the-top Afro-beat/Blaxploitation funk fusion that is spiralling opener "You Can't Even Walk In The Park", before diving into the jaunty Afro-funk blast that is "Shaft In Africa" (and yes, it does include some serious wah-wah guitar action). On record two, "Truck Stop" is a more laidback affair where fuzzy horns sharply rise above dense African percussion, while "El Jardia" is a more laidback affair influenced by North and East African jazz and soul.

Review: Dynamite Cuts & The George Semper Music Archives present the first official re-issue of the Funk and Soul band The Perfect Circle from their 1977 self titled The Perfect Circle, LP. The peak of George Semper's music legacy as a "Godfather of Bay Area Funk" and "Hammond B3 Hero" Semper produced, performed on, and released the LP on his Los Angeles based Inner City Records label. The Perfect Circle band is known for their "Bay Area Funk" San Francisco/Oakland sound a unique fusion of funk, jazz, soul, & rock akin to bands Tower of Power and War. The Perfect Circle, LP has since become rare-vinyl grail among DJs, music lovers and collectors worldwide! A superb work, we chose our two favorites leading with the disco-funk dancer title track introducing the band The Perfect Circle. On the flip side is the rare groove The Hands of Time, a b-boy, disco, jazz-funk floor shaker. Don't miss out on The Perfect dancer, DJs tool and one for the collectors!

Review: Dynamite Cuts brings the heat once more with a second volume of their Sound Music 45s series. Siegfried Schwab takes care of the A-side with 'Getting High', a scorching funk workout with hard-worked guitar chords and precise percussion over lots of wah-wah effects. 'Feel It; flip the script with a superbly stripped-down jazz-funk lounge sound. Klaus Weiss then steps up on 'Time For Rhythm' with some loose, percussive funk beats that are raw and organic, then Peter Thomas closes down with 'Documentation', a more richly instrumental and multi-layered jazz-funk sound that conveys real grandeur.

Review: The work of legendary drummer turned library musician Klaus Weiss continues to be reissued. For this series, Dynamite Cuts are looking back on a mid-1970s series of EPs released by Weiss originally for the famous library Sound Music. Carrying a minimal production that still has appeal for the modern listener (don't Dynamite know it), the four tracks here are curt, squelchy and beat-centric, with highlights including the clavichord-wacky 'Frogs', the sonically obese 'Productive Facilities', and the space-age drum freakout 'Coordinates Meeting'.

Review: This great series from Dynamite Cuts continues to delve deep into the alluring world of library music. It is sound that captures real feelings and evokes all sorts of memories, even those that are imagined, with a single note or seductive groove. This collection is made of tracks from the German Library series Sound Music Albums which sell for over L150 if you can find a copy. There are four tunes in all, three from Klaus Weiss and one from Peter Thomas, all of which add up to another great collection and a must for serious music heads.