CQQL US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Robert Chini (pronounced keeney), a native of Southern California, is a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter who began his musical journey as a drummer at the age of five. With a star-studded career as a touring member of many a famous band including Peaches And Herb, Tower Of Power and Air Supply, Chini's efforts have still yet to falter or fly under the radar; quite to the contrary, he's still going strong, currently performing as both a solo artist and studio operator. 'Doin' It all For You' was written and recorded in 1979, while the B-sider here, 'Everlasting Love', was written and recorded three years earlier. Both songs hear Chini sing of commitment and dedication to love, narrating a journey from internal preoccupation with the self to finding a sense of eternity in devotion to another.

Review: 'I'll Keep Loving You' and 'No Use Hidin' from Class of '78 are delightful boogie-funk gems that capture the essence of early '80s music. 'I'll Keep Loving You' is an upbeat love song with a groovy disco-funk vibe, perfect for energizing any lounge or dancefloor. The track's spacey elements and lively rhythm create a vibrant atmosphere. 'No Use Hidin' complements it with its blend of funk, lounge, and new wave influences, offering a slightly edgier but equally danceable tune. Both songs highlight the group's talent for creating infectious melodies and rhythms, making this 7" a fun and essential addition for fans of the era's boogie-funk sound.

Review: Jordan Chini, also sometimes spotted out and about as Boy Dude, is an LA producer and multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for leftfield twists on the dub wise tradition. He makes his first appearance on CQQL Records as Count Dubula, laying down a sure shot 7" which will be warmly received by any lovers of the OG 70s dub sound. Maintaining the space between the notes and running everything through a truly authentic signal chain, this is a lovingly crafted record which could easily pass for a joint from the glory days of dub innovation. Soundsystem celebrants and sofa-bound spatial explorers alike, rejoice.

Review: If you don't know (well, even if you do know it is still true), Californian multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis is Egyptian Lover's keyboard player, and is also a member of Campus Christi with Peanut Butter Wolf. He steps out alone here with a new and outlier funk album that shows off his idiosyncratic style. It is a raw and dense sound that mixes up bold funk and gritty psychedelic soul while embracing the darker edges of both styles. Along the way, Ellis explores themes of truth, authenticity and the pitfalls of wealth while reflecting on the cost of giving away one's heart. Tracks like 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy 'capture these ideas with unfiltered emotion.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


If you don't know (well, even if you do know it is still true), Californian multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis is Egyptian Lover's keyboard player, and is also a member of Campus Christi with Peanut Butter Wolf. He steps out alone here with a new and outlier funk album that shows off his idiosyncratic style. It is a raw and dense sound that mixes up bold funk and gritty psychedelic soul while embracing the darker edges of both styles. Along the way, Ellis explores themes of truth, authenticity and the pitfalls of wealth while reflecting on the cost of giving away one's heart. Tracks like 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy 'capture these ideas with unfiltered emotion.

Review: California multi-instrumentalist, Egyptian Lover's keyboard player and experimental producer Brian Ellis follows up his Quarantine Tapes with his first full-length solo album in four years. Unfortunately, we'll never have a lifetime supply of Brian's music, although that's forgivable since recorded music media also incorporates the genius invention that is playback, which means even one purchase can last for a lifetime as long as you keep your record in good nick! This one is a swirling bomb of bombast funk and dodgy-output psychedelic soul, one that is unafraid of the murkier ends of each sound. Ellis muses on the nature of truth, authenticity, dirty money and the consequence of leasing one's heart out, as on 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy'.

Review: First Timers is a destined collaboration between two accomplished producers Andreas Stevens (aka DJ Greyboy) and Brian Ellis. Setting out to create timeless music using only the finest vintage hardware gear, they've conjured a stunning debut bridging a gap between funk and AOR/Soft Rock. First Timers unleash onto the world a 45 housing the working man's anthem 'Three Day Weekend' and Stone City-inspired 'Out The Sheath'. Both tracks feature live horn arrangements by the Black Thor Horn Section, an attribute as rare as the vintage synths and drum machines used to craft these tunes.

Review: The CQQL label has always come at house music from a different perspective than most, and that's certainly true once more on this latest drop, not least because it comes on 7", which is not so often associated with this genre. It is K Wash who steps up here with guest AMIRSAYSNOTHING for a low slung, swaggering cut with bold analogue drums and plenty of hip hop attitude. The mumble rap bars add another layer while snaking leads bring some West Coast cool. After that opener comes 'Protect My Neck' which ups the tempo but keeps the production raw, stripped back and suggestive, with more intimate vocals and ticking hi-hats keeping time.

Review: Still active on the scene, McKenzie & Gardiner are a UK-based electro, funk and boogie duo. Prior to the turn of the century, they'd only released one single, 'From Time' - an impeccable-quality UK boogie tune meditating on the passage of time and its mediation on an important romantic relationship. Ironically, lots of time has passed since then, and the pair's obsession with time doesn't seem to have stopped them from biding it. Now, after honing their craft for so long, we finally get their first official album, 'Timestamp', unveiling the official and mastered versions of precious songs that otherwise existed as raw demos.

Review:  Morris Mobley is an alter-ego who makes music that is designed to chill you to the bone while also blowing your mind. Words like suave, cosmopolitan, lustrous and precise all come to mind when listening to the two tracks that make up this tidy 7", the second on the US label CQQL. Opener 'What's On Your Mind' is a low slung, bumping groove with lo-fi production and an aching vocal and on the flip it gets stripped right back and made into a warm, romantic late night dub.

Review: This deep, jazzy and lo-fi house 12" is perfect for escaping at this time of year as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the general weight of modern life can get all too much. It comes from an array of standout producers from around the world including Darone Sassounian, Jamma D and Jarren from Los Angeles, Roche from Portland and Morris Mobley from Nancy, France. Between them, they offer the cuddly, cloudy depths of 'Drippin'' (Sauce dub), humid and jazzy heat of the sumptuous 'Don't Wanna Leave The Couch Today', playful rhythms of 'House Shuffle Boogie' and more besides.

Review: Joey Rico Sr., the Italo Disco maestro, reappears with a track that melts hearts from the off. This is the genuine article-no imitations here, just scorching cosmic disco with bright arps and electronic grooves that never quit. Featuring unparalleled yodelling, 'Melting in Switzerland' is another unique sound from Joey Rico Sr.'s on Nobell Foods and it has been pressed on premium wax. For extra delight, flip to the bonus mix aka the Extra Cheese dub on the verse which is no less effective and timeless, and is by no means cheesy in the traditional sense.

Review: California label CQQL Records welcomes The Roswell Universe for a new, fun and sunny uptempo fusion of jazz, boogie, funk and pop into a dance floor-friendly record that cannot fail to ignore the club. The group behind it is a rotating crew of musicians from around LA that has been working together since 2016. They have a full horn section as well s talented musicians on bass, keys and drums and that shows here: 'Come Up' is brilliantly loose and kissed by warm sunny rays. The lush beats have a laid back feel while the melted chords are draped over the top and the filtered vocal brings the soul. Flip it over for a fine instrumental.