Epsilon Vinyl & CDs

Review: Cash Money Experience are soul dons and if you need proof listen no further than this new 7". Darryl Howard is the vocalist and songwriter of Nu'rons and here he offers up the lead vocals while Emanuel Campbell, who is one of his co-members in Nu'rons, is responsible for the lyrics. On the extended version of 'Outside Looking In' the vocals convey plenty of pain on nice laidback drums and funky riffs. The Full Radio Edit distils things to a shorter play length but is just as effective.

Review: The Essence Of Life is very much listening to the sort of sublime soul music that is always offered up by the Epsilon label if you ask us. This latest limited edition 45rpm features their 'You're An Angel' which is one of the many tunes that made the group such favourites back in the seventies. They formed in Charlotte North Carolina at Johnson C Smith University and are made up of a pair of basketball players who were allegedly overheard singing in the shower and asked if they wanted to form a group. They went on to perform with plenty of stars of the day and as you can hear from this 7" their falsettos are to die for.

Review: The Epsilon Record Co label has been digging deep again to turn out some obscure soul treasure. This one has never been released before and so is sure to become a staple in the sets of DJs like Hunee and Floating Points. 'What Will I Be' is a busy dancer, with hard ass chord work and big drum hits all softened by a speedy but emotive falsetto. On the backside is Let's Try It Again' from 1980, another heart aching and tender soul nugget with expressive melodies and nagging bass under rolling drums. Both are stone cold gems.

Review: Modern soul fans will know how well-revered the 'Kick It Off' tunes is that was released in the mid-70s on a small indie label, Ndugu. Well the band behind the music was Kenyatta, and now some more of their previously unreleased tunes have been discovered by the Epsilon Records label. Now pressed up to this limited 45rpm, they are super vintage soul tunes with all the lo-fi production and unbridled vocal passion you would expect. They have been carefully remastered but havent lost that authentic old school edge. 'If We Only Had' is the more raw and direct of the two, while the flip is that bit more sweet and sentimental.

Review: Serious soul collectors may be aware of Kenyatta's sole single, a much sought-after 1974 seven-inch featuring the independent soul gem 'Kick It Off'. It turns out the band recorded more material during an extended studio session the following year, but for a variety of reasons those tracks - enough to fill an album - never came out. Happily, Epilson has persuaded the band to let them release two of the tracks from the session - recovered from dusty master tapes- on this essential "45". A-side 'Let Me Love You' is a super-sweet slab of flowing, stripped-back mid 1970s soul, while flipside 'Ain't Nothing Doing' is a slightly bluesy soul-rock number featuring jazzy guitar solos and some superb group harmony vocals.

Review: Kenyatta was a short-lived project from 1974 that dealt in a particularly heavy brand of funk that teetered on the jazzier end of the spectrum before vanishing into obscurity. Thankfully Epsilon have revived the single, originally released on Ohio label Ndugu, and given it a dusting down for the modern audience. The playing is loose and tight in all the right places, with 'Kick It Off' rolling with a jangling urgency which will get you up and moving with purpose, while 'Movin' Music' maintains the energy for a B-side as strong as the lead track.

Review: This is the first time these two mega obscure and super rare Northern Soul nuggets have been re-released. They were initially recorded at Edgewood Studio in Washington DC in 1969 by Keni St. Lewis who was a prolific songwriter who recorded only a couple of his own tunes. He as a part of various other groups like The Cairos and The Chancellors and this was his first real hit as a solo artist after he wrote others for the likes of Billy Butler, Gene Chandler and The O'Jays.

Review: Epsilon Record Co. has done great work here by getting a new one out of Mantis who is back after 40 years with a brand new and super soulful single. It is one rooted in the classic though, with nice lo-fi and not overproduced drum work, glorious chords and a feel good vocal. 'When I Feel Like You Love Me' is utterly uplifting and cheery and is sure to melt all hearts who hear it. An instrumental is offered up on the flip but do the right thing and plenty the full and magical vocal version.

Review: A charmingly ethereal platinum gem of synthy disco-soul, Mantis' 'Love Was Born For Me' is a formerly unissued slice of genius dance music from the lesser-spotted New Hampshire, US fivesome. Allen Atkins, Baxter Fullerton, Alvin Harrison, Vernon Stewart, Rocky Whitaker, Paul Ungar all came together as fresh graduates of Dartmouth College back in 1976, and decided to take a shot at stardom while they were young, as the trope goes. Never quite finding favour with the "free" hand of the music market - of course, most of the best talents tend to be smothered by it, not lifted up - it's only now that they're seeing more recognition than ever before, thanks to the reissuing work of our friends over at Epsilon. Now we hear the beautifully songwritten 'Love Was Born For Me', citing the feeling of jubilance and renewed confidence in love, not to mention the wowowow-ing lo-fi slow jam, 'Do We Have A Love', which shows off the incredible vocal melisma of Allen Atkins.

Review: A never-heard-before unearthing of another Northern soul curiosity, 'Let's Get Together' is a formerly lost gem by Natural Impulse, an eight-piece soul group from San Francisco whose diverse lineup included Jess Gonzalez, Andres Soto, Hank Oden and Geoff Gilbas. This jubilant get-on-upper pines after a 'baby' for whom the lead singer couldn't live without; the twist is that this rather wistful assessment hardly registers any sense of melancholy in the listener. Instead, you've got all manner of horns, breakbeats, electric pianos and solos operating in harmonious unison, painting an entirely happy picture of new love. Cop it while you can.

Review: There's not much to go on when it comes this latest release on trusted soul and funk outpost Epsilon. Whoever Pals & Gal were, their sound is rooted in the classic era of 70s soul even if the track was completed bang on the turn of the decade in 1980. There's a big band arrangement powering 'Lil' Bit Different' which was put together by Ron Foster, and there's as much focus on holding down the groove as different instruments coming to the fore to do their thing. The lyrics tell it straight - this is just a little bit different.

Review: Epsilon Record Co's latest release, presents two previously unissued tracks from Prime Cut, ideal for summer vibes. On Side-1, 'I Don't Wanna Be Without You,' and the B-side offers 'Angel,' both showcasing the band's soulful essence. This release has an intriguing backstory. In 2021, while working on the T.A.X.I.E project, Epsilon Record Co's favorite sound engineer, Steve Fuji, introduced these tracks. Fuji, a seasoned sound engineer and former solo artist from Riverside, CA, had an impressive career in major Los Angeles studios during the 70s. Alongside his engineering work, he had a brief stint as an actor and worked on hundreds of recording sessions with various bands, always keeping an ear out for soul music gems. Fuji had kept master tape copies of his favorite recordings, including these two Prime Cut tracks, which he edited down from their original six-minute lengths. Upon hearing them, the team at Epsilon was astounded by their quality. Though most of the band members have since passed away, this release stands as a tribute to their legacy, preserving Prime Cut's rich musical contributions. The story behind these rare gems, along with the quality of the music, is like finding buried treasure on a remote island - it's what music lovers and diggers dream about. Unearthed rare gems directly from someone who was in on the original sessions. Magical!

Review: Renaldo Domino has nothing to do with the pizza chain, of course - in fact, he was so named because his voice was sweet as sugar (Domino is an American sugar brand, if you didn't know.) He had a very short but sweet - pun intended - a career that saw him drop tunes on Mercury subsidiaries Smash and Blue Rock, and later Twinight records. They managed to make an impact and for that reason, he was inspired to get back to making new music in 2019. 'I'm Hip To Your Game' was his first single and one that was soon re-recorded for a second release - it's deep and warm with lavish strings where the A-side has a swinging Northern Soul vibe.

Review: Now reissued on Epsilon - way after its initial 1976 release on the obscure Indianapolis, Indiana-based Lulu Records - 'Put A Smile On Time' is the second-ever single to have been released by short-lived 70s soul outfit Rhythm Machine. The combined talents of Donald Harris, James Boone, Maurice Puckett and Robert Dycus are heard once more, in fully-remastered glory no less. The title track (reshuffled onto the A-side here, after it was formerly released on the B) is a soft, rimshotting, lively funk number, replete with unctuous rhythm guitars and rapturous vocal highs. 'Can't Do Without You' is similar, presenting an intriguing lyrical conundrum: no matter how you treat this singer, it'd make to difference: he simply can't do without the object of his affections.

Review: Taxie's 'Rock Don't Stop' was brought back to prominence by the likes of Floating Points who regularly drops it in his expansive sets of disco, soul and funk gold. He even reissued it on his own Melodies International label in 2015, and now Epsilon Record Co get in on the act with some carefully unearthed and previously unreleased versions on this new 7". The A-side is an alt mix that's a little more raw and lo-fi, but just as glorious as the standout original. On the reverse is the superbly slow and seductive sunset soul of 'I Think I'm Falling In Love' which cannot fail to melt your heart with its golden keys, woody percussion and lush vocals.

Review: Woody Whittaker, Ronnie Arch, Wayne Chatman and his wife Loma are California band T.A.X.I.E aka Talented Artist Xclusively In Entertainment. The head of the Epsilon Record Co. made contact with them on a trip Stateside in search of new music and eventually agreed to put out some of their previously unissued tracks. The two he offers up here are delightful disco gems - 'Dance' is first and is a mid-tempo groove with gorgeous harmonies and seductive guitar melodies. 'Taxie Band' is a more upbeat and jazz-funk-tinged gem that overflows with soul and joyous vibes.

Review: The Williams Brothers, hailing from East Orange, New Jersey, burst onto the scene with a compelling blend of sweet soul and deep funk. Their standout double-sider featuring 'That's Life' and 'Rap On,' originally released in 1972 on Twain Record, showcases their exceptional musical abilities. This release, now a rare gem, captures the soulful depth and vibrant energy that defined the group, making it a collector's dream. Starting in gospel music, the brothers transitioned to R&B with their father's reluctant blessing, quickly becoming local sensations. Their journey took a significant turn when they won a competition by New Zealand Breweries, leading to international tours and increased fame. Despite facing early challenges, including a tragic car accident that paralyzed the youngest brother Anthony, the Williams Brothers have continued to evolve, recently venturing into EDM and gaining recognition as an electrifying opening act for major DJs. Their records, especially early releases like 'That's Life/Rap On', are highly sought after today, commanding thousands of dollars per copy, solidifying their status as an underground legend of music.

Review: Ray Williams & The Majortones's 'Girl (You're So Sweet, You're So Fine)' on Epsilon Records has never previously been released, somehow. It is a wonderfully sweet modern and crossover soul sound that is actually a cover version of the popular Lil Major Williams original of the same name. The grace is a lush one driven by soul-train-era beats and big horns that burst out of the mix while the buttery smooth vocal gets you where it hurts. Flip it over for a more funky instrumental version.