New releases last two weeks: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Naya Beat's modus operandi is to champion the OG sounds of the South Asian underground through the lenticular funnel of dance music. Their latest in this effort is a breakout wonder in V/A form, herding together three contemporary club titans for a jolly trans-national dialogue over the original stylings of an inimitable key player in proliferation of Bhangra music, Manjeet Kondal. The late great Kondal hears one original piece, 'Pyaar', reissued, alongside two exclusive versions of 'Ishkaan De Mamle' by digger extraordinaire Mr. Scruff, followed by a closing, straight-from-the-stems downtempo acid dub tribute by modern day remixers and DJs Turbotito & Ragz. This is an honorific tribute to the crossection of late 80s to early 90s Bhangra music with acid house, carefully modelled after the aesthetic sensibilities of the time.

Review: The blistering, one-of-a-kind West Coast disco-funk record 'U Need Me' by LA Propinquity surfaces as part of a new body of historic productions initially intended for compilation on a full-length LP. For reasons undisclosed, this never happened; instead, Italian sonic exhumers Cannonball Records have been afforded the privilege of reissuing these tracks across a series of 7"s themselves. Hardly and criminially under-recognised in their day, the L.A. Propinquity were nonetheless composed of the angelic city's finest, with drummer James Gadson forming a prominent part. A blast from the 1970s, 'U Need Me' is a beaming slice of unrequited longing, set to delicious funk tones that are as maximized as they are unstrained.

Review: Indonesian groove merchants Lair are back on Guruguru Brain with their second LP, which finds them digging even deeper into themes as well as the instrumental psych sound they established themselves on. The album reflects on the land in the region of their hometown Jatiwangi, on the northern shores of Java, and the tension between love for their home and the grim portent of industrialisation. Led by the strident, meandering guitar sound as it careers through all manner of moody landscapes, it's an engrossing trip-out and a sincere expression from a community which neatly proves the international power of psych rock as a vessel for a message.

Review: Originally released in 1960, Harold Land's Fox has not been reissued since 1969; this Craft Recordings reissue is long overdue. The tenor saxophonist delivers six fast-paced hard bop dazzlers here, flaunting an ultra-speedy take on the already high-velocity sound. Aside from the obvious talents of Land, the listener will be equally impressed by the inclusion of St. Elmo Hope in the Land band as pianist, lending an extra-special dimension to this challenging, whimsical, but still breezy album.

Review: In the enchanting realm of music, Laufey's latest offering, Bewitched: The Goddess Edition, unveils a captivating tapestry of vocal prowess and emotional resonance. Expanding upon her Grammy-winning 2023 LP with four additional tracks, the album solidifies Laufey's place as an artist of exceptional talent. Laufey's voice possesses a crystalline purity that shimmers with effortless grace. Her intonation glides effortlessly through a cascade of jazz ballads, each one imbued with a bittersweet tale of love's potent allure. 'Bewitched: The Goddess Edition' a stunning display of musical artistry.leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of listeners.

Review: Laufey's GRAMMY-winning sophomore album, 2023's Bewitched, returns in freshly expanded form. Musically, the set is rooted in vintage jazz and classical music, though its perspective - not just lyrically, but in its approach to subtle musical fusion - is undeniably contemporary. It remains a brilliant set, with the Icelandic artist effortlessly flitting between 1930s style smoothness ('Dreamer'), string-laden acoustic jazz ('Second Best'), bossa-nova ('From The Start'), and tributes to the heartfelt works of Nina Simone ('Misty'). This edition also boasts a quartet of bonus cuts, including superb recent single 'Goddess'.

Review: 'On A Magic Carpet Ride' was a single originally written by Randazzo/Pike who worked on a lot of Little Anthony records. It is a Northern Soul classic, as is a much sought after and hugely expensive version by Bradford born singer Kiki Dee, who was the first white British female to be signed to Motown in 1970. This cheeky one-sided 7" makes the soul stunner available once more in original form and is full of big bouncing drums, string stabs, soaring vocals and unbridled upbeat joy.

Review: Hailing from Berlin, Los Baby Jaguars craft vibrant musical journeys that span cumbia, Latin funk and on to Afrobeat. They themselves call their unique sonic cocktail a "tropical rocket" ride through the decades from the 60s to the present and we do not argue with that. Their debut 45 is a double header here, 'Las PiNas' and 'Playa Boogaloo,' released by Nu-Tone with some superb artwork. The music collides cumbia and Afrobeat on a cosmic dance floor amongst the stars and brings an all new kind of energy to international dub.

Review: Nu-tone introduces the debut single from Lulada Club here - a superb New York City based all-women salsa orchestra headed up by band co-leader Andrea Chavarro. After two years of live performances, they're finally sharing their music for everyone to dance to and dance you will to these most intoxicating mixes of funk, cumbria, salsa and more. It was recorded live and all-analog at NY Hed Studio by producer Rocio Verta-Wray, and the single comes on random-colour vinyl. Lulada Club emerged in 2022 to fill the gap for women ensembles in NYC's live music scene and co-leader Katherine Ocampo has said their aim is to "provide access to live music, culture, community, and representation for women in music festivals and other spaces."

Notes: Maggot Brain Issue 16: Spring 2024

This is a really packed, special issue of Maggot Brain, with the feature cover story a comprehensive interview by celebrated writer Sasha Frere-Jones with essayist, Lucy Sante (who's written for every issue of MB since the start), on the occasion of her awesome memoir about transitioning, I Heard Her Call My Name.

Phill Niblock: A tribute to the genius musician, filmmaker, label head, and generous promoter of ecstatic sound, by Steve Silverstein.

Tresa Leigh: An in-depth feature on the star of Efficient Space's beloved Ghost Riders compilation! Really a beautiful, untold story.

Dredd Foole: As his legacy is revealed through Corbett vs Dempsey's archival series, Foole talks to Six Organs of Admittance's Ben Chasny about the role of his band the Din in the Boston underground. Plus sidebars from Christina Carter, Kris Price, and Phil Milstein.

Loopsel: Mike McGonigal on some of the most elusive, beautiful contemporary music, straight out of Gothenburg.

Jeff Noon: An illuminating interview with the British speculative writer on his newest work as well as the 30th anniversary of the stunning Vurt.

Sleater-Kinney: 30 vital years of uncompromising music, by none other than Audrey Golden!

Hudson of Feature Inc.: A celebration of the most innovative gallerist of our lifetime on the occasion of the Soberscove Press book about his work and life.

Shabazz Palaces: The creator of vital, spiritual hip-hop beautifully interviewed by Detroit-based musician and writer Zachary Weedon.

Birtha: Nate Carson's in-depth feature on the pioneering, all-women boogie-choogle act.

Shonto Begay: One of Maggot Brai's favourite contemporary writers, JD O'Brien, in deep discussion with the great Native American painter-with particular emphasis on how his works engage with and are influenced by music. This piece alone is so well-written and illustrated it's worth buying the issue for.

Some columns: The debut of archivist Andy Zax's fabulous 'Extinctophonics' column! Cassette reviews, plus copious book and record reviews as well! Ana Gavrilovska on Detroit-based jazz duo Balance! Nate Carson on the Earth documentary, in the debut of the music documentary column! The latest Icons column finds Michelle Dove exploring the work of Chicago's beloved Douglas McCombs! 13 Questions for contemporary folk great Lael Neale by Mike McGonigal! And more Lucy Sante!

Review: Magic Number is Ross Hillard, a downtempo and orchestral composer whose engineering and bass playing can be heard on an array of releases, most notably for the likes of his own house favourites including Louie Vega, DJ Spen, Kerri Chandler, Lay-Far and Atjazz. Now debuting his first record on the latter artist's eponymous label, Badly Written Songs sounds like a slice of humble pie, but it's actually well-thought out title: in Hillard's own words, "(it's) a tongue-in-cheek reference to how transient electronic music can be." Thus, writing songs in this genre might not have been the most sensible and sustainable idea - but we all love house music, so we put everything into it, hoping that people don't discard it too soon. True to an engineer's tastes, the album is ultra-dynamic and bright throughout, serving up a consistent guest-vocal steeze reminiscent of Charles Webster or Herbert's gravitas.

Review: Dominick Martin is best known as stone-cold drum & bass don Calibre, a prolific producer with a masterfully deep and smoky sound. He has also made tech house under his own name, but lesser known is this album
Valentia which was originally released in 2013 and has now been remastered and repressed on 180 gram vinyl with a sleeve containing the lyrics. It was written on the amazing Valentia Island, joined to the west coast of Co Kerry in Ireland by a bridge t and battered by strong winds. Says Martin, "I took my computer and mic with me not knowing what to expect when I got there. In one of the rooms sat a piano, and as my fingers touched the keys I knew there was a story there waiting to be told."

Review: Rachel Maxann's 7" single 'All Of This And Nothing' offers a delightful journey back to the swinging 60s. With a sultry voice and passionate singing, Maxann channels the era's essence, accompanied by a backing band featuring a vibrant horn section and captivating organ melodies. The title track oozes with vintage charm and undeniable groove, transporting listeners to a bygone era of soulful music. On the B-side, 'Find Myself Another Man (alternate take)' takes a different turn, embracing early rock 'n roll vibes with a sprinkling of blues influence and soulful flair. Maxann's vocals shine against the backdrop of energetic instrumentals, delivering a rousing performance that keeps the essence of the era alive while adding her own modern twist.

Review: Soul Direction have taken two tracks from his the legendary soul man Tommy Mc Gee's first two 45s and put them together on one limited new 7". Fact fans will appreciate knowing that 'To Make You Happy" was originally titled 'Just to Make You happy' and now gets a rerelease that will surely give some light back to the music as well as the man. These two superb tracks have seemingly been missed by so many collectors over the years, but also have become more elusive in recent times. They feature on the Positive-Negative Album as well as rare 45 releases but to have them together as one here is a no-brainer for soul lovers.

Review: House music and fresh modern funk are happy bedfellows on this new EP from Moniquea with the masterful production taken care of by XL Middleton who, if you ask us, cannot miss at the moment. With an unmistakable West Coast vibe characterised by punchy synth bass and leads, this A-side embraces the good times with pulsating beats and detuned chords. On the B-side, the '97 Remix pays homage to Moniquea's g-funk origins while the bonus Applejac remix of 'Hate To See It' seamlessly blends dance-oriented elements with lush synth strings reminiscent of peak-era Neptunes productions from the 2000s.

Review: Mukatsuku has got another little treasure on its hands here with a tune from MBE and UK Soul legend Omar. It dates back to 2004 and has never been on 7" before having become something of a classic after original release on 12". Dons like Gilles Peterson and IG Culture were early supporters of the driving, peak time broken beat sound and the tune was often a highpoint of Omar's live sets. It has never been released as an instrumental either - until now. Both tunes now together on one 45 make for an essential cop for soul fans and, as always, there is strictly no repress on this one so move fast.

Review: Gerry Mulligan's album Night Lights exemplifies his mastery of the baritone saxophone within the West Coast jazz scene. Recorded at The Nola Penthouse Studios in New York, Mulligan's quintet delivers a captivating performance. The title track sets the tone with Mulligan's crystalline piano work, while Art Farmer and Bob Brookmeyer showcase their finesse in solos. Louis Bonfa's 'Carnival' and 'Wee Small Hours' evoke emotion, with standout solos by Jim Hall. Mulligan's arrangement of Chopin's 'Prelude In E Minor' adds depth, leading into the upbeat 'Festive Minor' and the tender 'Tell Me When.' Despite being overlooked upon its release, Night Lights remains a gem, cherished by enthusiasts for its timeless elegance and still growing with recognition,

Review: Soul gems from the 60s - well, 1969 to be precise - don't come much more coveted than this one from The Notations. An original copy of this 45 rpm will quite likely fetch over 1500 quid. The r&b group was formed in Chicago, Illinois and featured Clifford Curry, LaSalle Matthews, Bobby Thomas and Jimmy Stroud. They went on to put out four albums and around 15 EPs but none as cherished as this one. 'Trying My Best To Find Her' now lands on a one-sided 7" and is a superb Northern Soul-style, high-energy soul cut with raw drums and aching vocal harmonies that soar and soar and soar.

Notes: The eleventh issue of We Jazz Magazine, "Oni Puladi" for Carla Bley. 128 pages, 170 x 240 mm in size and printed on 140g Edixion paper with laminated 300g Invercote covers. All articles presented in English. Carla Bley by Stewart Smith, Gondwana Records by Debra Richards, [Ahmed] by Seymour Wright, Amirtha Kidambi by Ayana Contreras, Ruth Goller by Daryl Worthington, Abdul Wadud by Pierre Crepon / David Neil Lee, Francois Jeanneau by Bret Sjerven, Mette Henriette by Debra Richards, Nduduzo Makhathini by Rob Garratt, Discaholic column by Mats Gustafsson, We Jazz Festival 2023 photo essay by Julius Toyryla, album & live reviews, plus more.