Funk

Review: This is another reissue of a record that remains an ongoing favourite. Original Gravity delivered again with the original pressing featuring two unique versions of 'Burning Spear'. Nestor Alvarez opens with a lively, Latin-inspired rendition filled with fluttering flute melodies, raw drum beats and vibrant dancing keys that radiate sunny energy. On the flip, La Machine D'Argent takes a more cosmic approach, smoothing the vibe and layering spaced-out sounds for a dreamy, immersive journey. This release showcases Original Gravity's knack for reimagining funk with flair by offering two distinct yet equally good takes on a timeless groove.

Review: An intriguing song is 'Aftershower Funk', the Latin American musician Joe Bataan's curt salsa single from 1974. Fresh, cologned, groomed, and with towel firmly wrapped round hair, Bataan's largely instrumental track is about as lightfooted as the sprightly young man he was, then at 34 years old. With heavy tin drum and cowbell clangings peppered throughout, a toe-tapping mood is sure to beset the listener. B-sider 'Fin' continues the mood, uniting percussion with piano, brass, whistle and rhythm guitar; a much fuller exercise in triumphant finality.

Review: The electrifying return of El Combo Batanga. The Afro-Cuban band and Ubiquity Records favourites descend upon us once more in a sallying storm of Isthmian lightning, bridging the spirit of classic Fania and Tico Records releases, and whipping them back around and through gales of Latin funk, son, timba and boogaloo. "Batanga" refers to the traditional Cuban instrument heard throughout their records, if you listen closely: new A cut 'La Cuota' brings an urgent, hyperbolic funk, while 'Darling' contrasts with nixie moods, a heart-burning Latin soul lament.

Review: This long-overdue 7" reissue breathes new life into a rare Latin funk treasure from the golden era of the genre. The A-side, 'Together People (Pamoja Watu),' delivers a fiery blend of James Brown-style grit and Manu Dibango-inspired groove, complete with driving rhythms and infectious energy. On the B-side, 'It's Your Thing' reimagines the Isley Brothers classic as a bold instrumental, packed with Hammond organ flourishes and raw Latin funk swagger. Originally a Bobby Marin studio project featuring Chico Mendoza and members of Ocho, these tracks are essential for DJs and collectors, preserving the spirit of New York's vibrant Latin music scene.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Local Sugar Diggers is a series from label head Scruscru that draws together a fine selection of re-edits and reworks of a mix of hard-to-find old records, all done by his mates. This time out it is LTF who steps up his 'At The Pier' is an effortlessly funky jam with some laid-back horn work adding extra spice next to the jumbled percussion. Flip it over and you find 'Con Ritmo Y Melodia' which is a slower, steamier, more Latin-flavoured sound with shuffling percussive grooves and big old breaks to get the floor going.

Review: Danny Krivit remains in a class of one when it comes to meticulous and masterful edits of classics. He puts out a fair few of them too, but the quality levels never dip, as is the case again here when he throws it back to the energy of his native New York's most legendary dancefloors. Opener 'Flying Machine' by War was originally composed for the 1978 film Youngblood and is a dramatic Latin-infused instrumental packed with swirling flutes, fierce perc and a breakbeat that's fuelled countless Afro house tracks. It's a fiery dancefloor weapon that hasn't been on 7" before and it comes backed with 'How Much Are They', which dives into deep dub territory with help from post-punk legends Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay. It's a real mind melter packed with mad effects.