Back in stock: Funk

Review: After years of silence following the loss of Sonny Knight in 2017, former Lakers members Blair Krivanek and Cy Pierpont return with their new project, Ace Box Shift. The duo have made plenty of standout contributions to the soul revival scene before now and here they debut on Secret Stash Records with another pair of fiery instrumental cuts that work exceptionally well for DJs and dancefloors alike. They find Krivanek's jazz-infused guitar work meeting Pierpont's pounding rhythms with raw, funk-driven results that make for a bold, high-energy comeback that pays tribute to their roots while also moving things onwards.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Brazilian electronics are back in vogue, and Tony Bizzaro might have just snaffled up said new wave's crown. All the way from 1976 comes 'Que Se Faz Da Vida', a strutting, suave, emotionally cool EP of only the most DJ-able and collected soul-funk. This reissue is, bizarrely, Bizarro's first ever.

Review: P-Vine Japan does great work once more here by bringing back into print some hugely sought-after sounds from the blues and r&b world. The first release in their new series revives Larry Davis' 1969 Kent Records single, which was originally written by Sherwood Fleming. The A-side, 'For 5 Long Years' delivers a gritty mid-tempo funk-blues groove while the B-side, 'I've Been Hurt So Many Times' (a classic subject for a blues tune) channels Willie Cobbs' signature sound. These will be familiar to anyone who has danced at a Northern Soul event and cannot be slept on.

Review: Kelly Finnigan, based in San Francisco, continues his rich legacy of soul with a fresh collaboration alongside fellow genre legend Renaldo Domino. The pair's new 45, kicks off with 'Keep Me In Mind,' is a track originally laid down in 1967 by Buffalo's Samson & Delilah, but Finnigan brings a modern, soul-soaked touch to the tune, locking in with tight rhythms and vibrant horns, all while channeling the essence of classic male soul duos like Sam & Dave. On the flip side, 'Let Me Count The Reasons,' pulled from Finnigan's recent A Lover Was Born, dials down the tempo into a more tender, romantic groove. Written with long-time collaborator Max Ramey, it beautifully weaves influences from Detroit to Philadelphia soul. This 45 is yet another nod to Finnigan's knack for crafting timeless soul, making it a must-have for DJs and lovers of classic, heartfelt music. With every release, Finnigan proves why he remains at the forefront of modern soul.

Review: Wow! Of all the melancholic modern disco we've come across this year, this has to be the best so far, though we're surprised its popularity hasn't metastasised in size since its original Rysque Records release back in 2013. Ben Johnson and Tim Tucker make up Love Cryme, and their works combine a localist Sacramento slapper sound and a hissing, reel-to-reel feel. Compared to their Star Creature debut which brought measured but still potent titrations of purple sizzurping G-funk, 'Get It On' goes for a more minimally classic disco-soul cruise, with a sloppily gated snare and two-tone tearjerker preluding a neurotic but decadent vocal line from Tucker, as libidinous synths swell out uncontrollably from below.

Review: Please welcome new LA Afrofunk troupe Mestizo Beat. Previously known as Soulfire Collective, this debut 45 marks a clear line in the sand and an exciting future. Sweaty, energetic, tightly woven instrumentals we kick off with "Featherbed Lane", a boogie-based jam with spiralling sax leads and a guitar solo so hot you could cook a banquet on it. "Handcuffed To The Shovel", meanwhile, gets to work with a rawness, persistence and infectious rhythmic motion. We know you're going to dig this!

Review: Holy grail alert! This gem from the 80s boogie scene is an ultra-rare 1983 release on Starville Records that is now finally reissued after decades of scarcity. Long coveted by collectors and often fetching €800-€1000 a pop, the standout track of the two is 'I Wanna Thank You'. It's a bona-fide boogie-funk gem with silky vocals, rich synths and an irresistible mid-tempo groove. Flip it over for 'Lover's Holiday,' a soulful, harmony-laced slow jam that showcases Starville's signature sophistication with aching vocals and a sense of yearning that stays with you for a long time. This is a limited press, so don't hang about.

Review: Chicago multi-genre music collective Patchwork Inc. offer a distinct, subtle blend of pianistic soul and cinematic warmth on their latest 7" for Colemine. Elusively cryptic and seemingly not entirely willing to divulge their membership, we do know that North Carolina native Taylor Williams and Chicago journeyman Wyatt Waddell are nonetheless involved: their conjoined hands craft heartfelt ambles through smoothly arranged backbeats and ride-tsking R&B phrases, evoking farewell-bidding moods and last-ditch begs for togetherness.

Review: Windy City collective Future Rootz are all about mixing up worldly electronic sounds, Latin, tropical bass and global jazz. This second volume in their new series does just that with two expressive remixes of iconic Afro-Colombian tracks. On Side A, Sound Culture delivers a modern take on Son Palenque's legendary 'A Pila el Arroz,' which was originally composed by Justo Valdez for Palenque Records. He infuses it with fresh and bubbly bass and hypnotic vocal chants. On side-B, Afroqbano reimagines 'Tropical Scenes' by adding a vibrant, rhythm-heavy twist to the original that sympathetically blends traditional Afro-Colombian sounds with electronic influences into a wiggling bit of irresistible and sunny global fusion.

Review: Four Flies present the first ever 45rpm to be taken from Giuliano Sorgini's masterpiece album Zoo Folle. The library and soundtrack specialist cooked up some irresistibly groovy and funky sounds on the record and two of the best are picked here for serious DJ deployment only. 'Mad Town' opens up with some killer and funky drum breaks with a slick flute line adding extra pizzazz up top. It's a psyched out number for big dance floor moments an on the flip, 'Ultima Caccia' is a more Afro-tinged and tribal number with blissed out drums from Giuliano and some mad funky percussion by session player Enzo Restuccia.