F Spot US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Fresh instrumental Afro-funk-disco magic from LA-based quartet The Bombillas, once again emerging from their post-LP slumber with the complementary 'Kidi Bloom' and 'Hatif'. In no rush to release again since 2022's 'Nac Nac/Senebi', this new 12" is suitably taciturn and unaffected; the A-sider riffs on distinctive Arabian folkloric music styles, its brand of funk closing in on a harmonic minor key, as David Michael Celia and Tyler Nuffer digitally riffle the electric keys and vintage-amped guitar respectively. 'Kidi Bloom' is a similar pre-car-chase scene complement, bringing cluing vibraphones and mod-wheeled synth work to a relative slow jam.

Review: Miami's Far Produce are fresh faces, but their sound is full of respect for times past, building on classic soul jazz by bringing it a modern instrumental twist. Led by two Studio City, CA natives - Addison Rifkind on guitar and Michael Duffy on drums - Fat Produce deliver a veritable cornucopia of fruits and groceries to chew on here. 7" A-sider 'Sticky Beets' turns our inners red, as we're led to imagine chowing down on the perfect beetroot yield and the funky euphoria that inevitably follows ingestion of such a delicacy. B-sider 'Son!', meanwhile, draws on an amalgamation of several Bay Area-inspired grooves - Duffy is a walking rhythmic encyclopaedia - set against an improvised, on-the-fly groove first laid down by Rifkind, whose hook-worthiness is unmistakable here.

Review: 'Heavy Manners,' is a groovy summer jam 7" from Germany's premier reggae duo, Marcus I and aDUBta. This collaboration, influenced by US Soul and classic Jamaican Reggae, brings the Studio One vibe of the 1960s to life. Following their debut album Cut A Wire Showcase (2023), they now deliver this upbeat, flying-cymbal track that's sure to set any dancefloor on fire. On Side-2, a minimalist riddim "Version," perfect for DJs craving that authentic vibe. After nearly two decades as a reggae drummer, aDUBta has fully embraced the sounds of 60s to early 80s reggae, gaining international recognition with Sounds From The Attic. Marcus I's soulful vocals and sharp songwriting shine throughout, recorded at aDUBta's Attic Roots Studio. The single, mixed analogue on a Tascam 388, is primed for sound systems worldwide, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this dynamic reggae team.

Review: F Spot kick off their year with a fresh new release from fresh new funk pushers, Mestizo Beat, emanative of the MagaNa Brothers's hillside studio in Topanga, CA.. Coming at the sound with a distinctive Afro-Cuban bent, this 7" flaunts the natural ends of their particular sound: 'She's A Rose' packs a beautiful brass section and charms the listener with it's extended pre-chorus section. 'Lotsapoppa', meanwhile, minimizes the sound with a simple kick, bass, and djembe groove to start with, before launching into a dynamic Afro-disco infection, the collaborative patients zero, one and two being Steve Haney of Jungle Fire on drums, Jason Cressey of the True Loves on trombone, and Jesse Audelo on arrangement.

Review: Night Owls return with a second wave of 7"s, delivering a fresh take on two classics by Aaron Neville under the featherlight sway of infamous record producer Allen Touissant. Reimagining 'Hercules' alongside 'Tell It Like It Is', the duo once again poke at the seams of the cine-funk sound, enlisting powerhouse collaborators - Alex Desert & The Lions, and vocalist Asdru Sierra - on both sides of this blistering 45. The B especially brims with a busty bonhomie on 'Tell It Like It Is', rewiring the OG song's current flows to a throughput of smooth reggae and cumbia.

Review: Night Owls are coming off the back of their best-selling tune yet and follow-up 'Ain't That Loving You' (feat. Chris Murray) backed with 'Are You Lonely For Me, Baby' (feat. Malik Moore) is likely to be just as hot. It finds the Night Owls stepping up their game as they flip Johnnie Taylor's super sweet Stax classic ballad into a delightful dancehall anthem. On the flip is another version of a 1966 classic with all-new bass and bounce, a tough rhythm and deep vocal delivery from Malik Moore of The Lions and Ocean 11 association.

Review: Straight from Producer Dan Ubick's Lions Den Studio, Night Owls presents two re-imagined soul classics here. First, soul sensation Eli 'Paperboy' Reed tackles Ray Charles' 'You Don't Know Me.' Ubick sought someone to infuse soul into the song once sung by 'The Genius' himself, finding it in Reed, whose journey from Massachusetts to Mississippi's Delta shaped his soulful style. On Side B, Jr Thomas & The Volcanos bring their Rocksteady flair to Eddie Kendricks' 'If You Let Me,' paying homage to Jamaican legend Winston Riley. Night Owls' versions inject new life into these classics, ready to ignite the dance floor with their infectious grooves.

Review: Night Owls are back with a fresh take on Lee Moses' 1970s cut Got That Will, transforming the soul classic into a dancehall-inspired banger. Dan Ubick leads the production, bringing in powerhouse vocalist Gina Murrell and the tight rhythm section of Wilder, Colie, and Rivas to infuse the track with new life. As if that wasn't enough, Kingston's Ranking Joe adds his signature toasting, giving the track an extra layer of authenticity and drive. The B-side, Got That Dub, takes things deeper with Roger Rivas on the mix, dialing up the echo and delay to create a spaced-out, dubbed-up version. With steady radio play on BBC Radio 6 and KCRW, this release is already making waves. DJs and collectors will want to act fastithis record is primed for late-night sound system sets and is sure to fly off the shelves.