Review: This vibrant 1969 release captures the raw energy of Latin soul and funk, a perfect snapshot of Spanish Harlem's musical melting pot. With tight grooves and infectious percussion, the ensemble delivers tracks that feel alive with cultural and rhythmic vitality. Each arrangement draws from the boogaloo era's creativity, blending soulful melodies with sharp, danceable rhythms. This reissue offers a chance to experience a key moment in New York's Latin music history with its unmistakable blend of genres.
Review: Mr. Money With The Vibe is the debut studio album from Nigerian singer Asake. Following an impressive debut and meteoric rise in the music industry, Asake signed with YBNL Nation, the label founded by one of the godfathers of modern Afrobeats, Olamide. The 12-track album features elements of traditional Nigerian fuji music, Afropop, and South African Amapiano and sees appearances from fellow Nigerian star Burna Boy and American rapper Russ. The results are an ethereal sonic oasis that clearly sets Asake apart from his peers. Includes the single, 'Sungba (Remix),' 'Peace Be Unto You (PBUY),' and 'Terminator.'
Review: The always excellently go slow and tropical sounds of Big Crown now look to Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band for covers of two classics. Up first is Grace Jones' nightclub classic "My Jamaican Guy" while on the flip is Erykah Badu's tribute to the legendary J Dilla, "The Healer". Both retain the essence of the original but come with loose hand claps, shimmering steel drums that bring coastal breezes, sand and sun into the equation and leave you laying horizontal. These are fine interpretations of top notch source material.
Review: Joe Bataan's 1968 sophomore album Riot! is considered a cornerstone of Latin soul and the record that truly cemented his reputation as the genre's king. Backed by the dynamic Latin Swingers band, Bataan masterfully blends Afro-Cuban rhythms, soul and funk with his signature streetwise flair. Tracks like 'It's a Good Feeling' and the title song capture the energy and emotion of late-1960s urban life while reflecting both personal and societal struggles. Its infectious grooves, raw vocal delivery and tight instrumentation mean that this one remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate across the generations.
B-STOCK: No outer sleeve; otherwise in good condition
Wishful Desire (5:26)
Na Wahala (6:36)
Na My Life Be Dis (10:21)
Memories (6:03)
Review: ***B-STOCK: No outer sleeve; otherwise in good condition***
There is always a good backstory to the music that Emotional Rescue releases and this EP is a case in point. It comes from Betty & The Code Red and Betty was the girlfriend of Tunde Obazee, a Nigerian-born artist who used music as a "non-violent tool to express his socio-political opinions on global injustice." The pair would entertain people on campus by playing anything they could get their hands on, informed by the old Edo folk songs they had grown up around. They went on to live in Italy and the US and start a family as well as lay down self-released songs that have become cult classics. A selection of them feature on this, the first of two EPs from the pair.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Wishful Desire (5:26)
Na Wahala (6:36)
Na My Life Be Dis (10:21)
Memories (6:03)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
There is always a good backstory to the music that Emotional Rescue releases and this EP is a case in point. It comes from Betty & The Code Red and Betty was the girlfriend of Tunde Obazee, a Nigerian-born artist who used music as a "non-violent tool to express his socio-political opinions on global injustice." The pair would entertain people on campus by playing anything they could get their hands on, informed by the old Edo folk songs they had grown up around. They went on to live in Italy and the US and start a family as well as lay down self-released songs that have become cult classics. A selection of them feature on this, the first of two EPs from the pair.
Review: The Brazil 45s / Mr Bongo outlet is back with its classic moves, coming through with some truly special soul blends out of the Brazilian golden era. Dalila and Neyde Alexandre feature in this latest 7", the former with 1968's "Canto Chorado", a slow-burning bubble of funky exotica - surely impossible to find in its original shade - and the latter with a funky little bomb from 1971 by the name of "Perplexidade" - surely the smoothest, sexiest soul number out this week! Lovely stuff.
Review: Mr Bongo's launch their new Cuban Classic Series with this reissue of a sought-after, psychedelic funk masterpiece: Yoyi. A fusion of traditional Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms meets disco, jazz, and funk, with hints of 70s soundtrack productions, this much-loved cult album by Grupo Los Yoyi hears nine predominantly instrumental tracks. Together, they were originally released in 1977 on Areito Records, a sublabel of the state-owned label Egrem, it has become one of the rarest (even in Cuba) yet in-demand albums to be procured by the label. It is the sole album from Grupo Los Yoyi and was composed, orchestrated, and produced by the mysterious, Jorge Soler Leo.
Jacob Velez & La Mambanegra - "Manana" (feat Nidia Gongora) (2:46)
Tonada - "Manezco" (3:17)
El Hijo Del Buno - "La Danza Del Espiritu" (feat Los Gaiteros De Pueblob Santo) (3:32)
De Mar Y Rio - "Bailen Y Gocen" (3:52)
Umu Obiligbo - "Udemba" (3:35)
Amadou Balake - "Massa Kamba" (4:33)
Joi N'juno - "Samemala" (5:18)
Conjunto - "Koemanoe Sani" (3:44)
Mendes Brothers - "Balumuka Palops!" (5:15)
Gaby Moy - "Ene Alengue" (5:53)
Poirier - "Teke Fren" (feat Waahli) (2:59)
Timothee Et Pot & Co - "Rentre Dans Ton Hlm" (5:24)
Locobeach - "Idea Desesperada" (4:05)
Review: This latest offering is a testament to Guts' curatorial flair, stitching together rhythms from across the globe. Each track is carefully chosen to highlight soulful grooves and infectious melodies, all while maintaining a sense of discovery. The release moves effortlessly between vibrant Afrobeat, laidback funk, and hypnotic Caribbean influences, creating a natural flow that feels like an intimate DJ set. This is music with heart and authenticity, a celebration of the dancefloor's rich diversity.
The Garifuma Collective - "Merua" (feat Umalali) (3:10)
Luizga & Izem - "Yemamaya" (4:01)
Blue Bird - "Foefoeroe-Mang" (3:55)
Poirier - "Pourquoi Faire Aujourd'Hui" (3:39)
Kaleta & Super Yamba Band - "Jibiti" (Bosq remix) (4:33)
Ezra Collective - "Lady" (5:30)
Joskar & Flamzy - "Faroter" (4:02)
Dowdelin - "I Like To Move It" (3:01)
Review: Spanish selector Guts digs deep into his collection once more to offer up another collection of the cuts that have made his sets so special over the years. It's an international mix that takes in worldly Afro grooves, percussive cuts, plenty of gorgeous instrumentals with elements of soul, jazz and funk. Standouts include The Garifuma Collective's 'Merua' (feat Umalali) and Kaleta & Super Yamba Band'a 'Jibiti' (Bosq remix). They tell a great story when playing out together and certainly capture the essence of Guts, who has been serving up these collections to great acclaim for a while now.
Review: K.O.G's Zone 6 Agege album was recorded back in November 2020 and it pays homage to a small coastal suburb in Accra, the Ghanaian capital where he grew up. Now it gets revisited for a series of superb remixes alongside a couple of the original standout tunes. Poirier, Captain Planet and Aroop Roy all bring the class here. Each one is a fresh fusion of Afro-jazz with compelling rhythms at their heart. Originals 'Shidaa' and 'No Way' are still fresh, too.
Review: Konkolo Orchestra are keepers of the Afrobeat flame. They may be based in Zurich, but their assembled ensemble has a deeply rooted sound which brings a vibrant modern twist to the foundations laid down by the likes of Fela Kuti. They've been teasing their fully fledged arrival since 2022 when we first heard their debut single 'Blue G', but finally Rocafort are able to present their first album. It's a true celebration of West African music culture, fronted by Nongoma Ndlovu on the lion's share of vocal duties and with Eric Owusu laying down the djembe and kpanlogo in front of Alexis Malefakis' rhythm section. It's a joyous album from start to finish that does credit to the Afrobeat tradition while adding its own touches to the mix.
B-STOCK: Creasing/bending to corners of outer sleeve but otherwise sealed and in perfect working condition
Whoah! There's No Limit (feat Mara TK)
Life On Earth (feat Mara TK)
Makossa No 3
The Sweetest Meditation (feat Mara TK)
Low To The Street (feat Lisa Tomlins)
In Your Life
Just Do You (feat Mara TK)
C90 Eternal
Note From Home (feat Toby Laing)
I Love Music (feat Lisa Tomlins)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing/bending to corners of outer sleeve but otherwise sealed and in perfect working condition***
This "Special Edition" of Lord Echo's recent third full-length, Harmonies, seems to be aimed at DJs. Whereas the original pressing contained the same tracks on one piece of wax, this version stretches the same tracks over two super-loud, heavyweight records. Formatting aside, the album itself is something of a head-in-the-clouds, feet-on-the-floor treat. It features the Kiwi producer working with a range of collaborators - Tony Laing of Fat Freddy's Drop and regular studio buddy Mara TK included - to serve up intoxicating cuts that brilliantly fuses reggae, dub and rocksteady rhythms with elements borrowed from disco, Afro-soul, Afro-funk, spiritual jazz and, more surprisingly, techno. It's a hugely vibrant and entertaining set, offering a good balance between dancefloor vibrations and more laidback concoctions.
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: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged, record slightly warped***
From the early 1970s, Tim Maia released a string of superb albums that cemented his reputation as Brazilian music's most soulful artist - a guitarist and singer who created thrilling new musical hybrids that owed as much to U.S funk and soul as samba, bossa-nova and MPB. 1975's "Racional Volume 2", a hard-to-find set that's finally been reissued, is one of the best of Maia's key early albums. Rhythmically, the majority of the tracks feature typically shuffling South American rhythms, but the instrumentation and vocals above are far closer in tone to the sunnier, more horn-heavy end of the soul and funk spectrum (with some sweeping orchestration thrown in to add a touch of MPB class). It's a brilliant blend that guarantees good times from start to finish.
Review: Over the course of fifty years, Kamalesh Maitra devoted himself to the art of tabla playing - specifically playing the tabla tarang, a set of between ten and sixteen hand drums tuned to the notes of a drone and scalic backing. Here on Black Truffle comes 'Raag Kirwani On Tabla Tarang', a quelling new record detailing one of several newly unearthed archival recordings of this late great purveyor of the Indian classical music tradition. Across just two movements in one raga, Kirwani demonstrates an adroit playstyle, slickly promulgating an illusorily multi-armed sound; it's almost unbelievable at points as to how he achieves his various unisons and flams, with several pinpointable moments sounding as if at least three drums are being struck at once. Seated behind a semi-circular array of drums, Maitra produces stunning waves of melodic improvisation enlivened with the rhythmic invention of a master percussionist.
Review: South Africa's Letta Mbulu has put out a vast amount of quality material in her lifetime, and although the singer was based far away from Europe, her music was picked up by the London massive during the mid '80s at clubs like Dingwalls and featured heavily in the rare groove digs. The opener "Sweet Julu" is now a London two-step classic, while other tracks like "Nomalizo" or "The Village" are more on the disco side, all of them filtered with a distinctly tropical edge! A top reissue!
Original Nairobi Afro Band - "Soul Makossa (No 1)" (7") (4:20)
Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes - "Jungle Beat (Mutaba)" (3:05)
Review: Jump 'N' Funk started life as a small event in New York, organized by Rich Medina in order to pay tribute to the genius of Fela Kuti. Since then, parties have been held across the world, with Medina and guests showcasing music by, or inspired by, the Nigerian Afrobeat legend. This debut Jump N Funk compilation follows a similar formula, delivering both purist Afrobeat cuts (see Fela's punchy "Stalemate", and "Na Oil" by son Seun and his band, Egypt 80), and tracks in other styles that draw heavily on the style. Highlights in the latter category include the hazy Afro hip-hop of Aquil, a tasty Afro-house dub of River Ocean's cover of Timmy Thomas' classic "Why Can't We Live Together", and the lazy, sun-kissed glory of Kutiman's "Bango Fields".
Review: The brilliant Nusantara Beat are back again with more gold on this new 7" via Bongo Joe Records. It comes after the success of this labels lasting project, Djanger/Borondong Garing, with Lamunai Records and again fuses modern-sounding grooves with more traditional Indonesian vibes. In fact, the A-side here is a love song from Indonesia during the 70s so is steamy to say the least with hints of psychedelic-folk and trip-hop. The other track, 'Kota Bandung', echoes the cultural variant of the Sundanese capital city with lush melodies and rich harmonies as well as a catchy beat.
Insanely funky business from Senegal's famous Orchestra Baobab (who are still touring and toiling 40 years later), "Kelen Ati Leen" is a really sweaty, heavy slab of funk that stares west for inspiration and a mild psychedelic Hendrixian sheen. "Souleymane", released three years after the A-side in 1978, takes more of a Latin influence as the horns get steamy over a rigid highlife spine to create a detailed and very physical groove.
Review: Following persistent requests, Mr Bongo has finally relented and dedicated an edition of their popular Brazil 45s series to Orlandivo Honorio de Souza, a composer, singer and percussionist whose 1977 album Oelandivo remains high on my collectors' wants-lists. Wisely, their A-side pick is 'Onde Anda O Meu Amore', a cosmic and spacey fusion of samba-soul and jazz-funk rich in ethereal flute lines and intergalactic keys. This time round it comes backed by the equally as impressive 'Gueri Gueri', an insatiable samba-rock number wrapped in heady accordion, jangly acoustic guitar and punchy horn sounds.
Jazz Inspiration Orchestra Feat Frederic Rabold - "Red Point" (4:54)
Spring Feelings (feat Gisela Hafner) (3:17)
Review: As part of the Tramp Records tribute to German jazz legend Frederic Rabold as he approaches his 80th birthday sees the influential maverick's 'Red Point' released on 7", marking its first appearance on vinyl. 'Spring Feelings,' a track from Rabold's Time Machine album, is also included, a soulful glimpse into his creative genius. This release continues Tramp's tradition of championing exceptional artists, following in the footsteps of previous vinyl releases by Blue Rhythm Combo, Deep Jazz, and others. Rabold's work stands tall among these giants, and this collection is a fitting homage to his enduring influence in jazz.
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series continues with aplomb... On their eighth outing we find the hugely prolific 60s/70s troubadour Wilson Simonal paying homage to the legendary Jorge Ben with two exemplary cover versions. Whether it's on the soft big band emphasis and teasing fills on "Zazueira" or the upbeat, feel-good swinger "Silva Lenheira" there's a raw clarity to Wilson's vocals that instantly endure; the way he pushes his voice to the very edge of breaking on the high notes and a rich, clear delivery, he's the consummate soulful showman.
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series rarely misses a beat, with each successive seven-inch showcasing two more hard-to-find treats from the dim and distant past. The latest instalment opens with "Vou Morar No Teu Sorriso", a sought-after cut from Trio Tenura's eponymous 1971 MPB/soul fusion album. It's a genuinely summery treat, with ear-catching, reverb-heavy vocals and rising horn lines rising above a life-affirming backing track. On the flip you'll find "Quem Vai Querer", the title track from a superb 1977 album by Eliana Pittman. A breezy chunk of sizzling samba-soul, the cut features an impeccable lead vocal from Pittman and some sing-along group chorus vocals
Review: It would be fair to say that few of us are familiar with the music of Madagascar, a notably beautiful island in the Indian Ocean whose indigenous culture has rarely registered in Western Europe. Yet as this fine compilation from Strut proves, the nation once boasted a vibrant recording industry whose distinctive sounds blended strong East African influences with more traditional local sounds and the ever-present inspiration of American soul, funk, disco and boogie. "Alefa Madagascar" tells this story through sound by focusing on some of the fuzzy, electrified blends of salegy, soukous and soul popular in the country between 1974 and '84. It does a bang up job, offering up 18 essential cuts that all but the most dusty-fingered crate diggers will never have heard before.
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