Family Groove US Vinyl & CDs

Review: 'Funky Soul' - a 1970 single from New Orleans band David Batise & The Gladiators - rose to prominence in the 1990s thanks to its inclusion on several high-profile funk compilations, before finding further success thanks to a Breakestra cover in the early 2000s. Ahead of a new collection of unheard cuts from the southern funk band, Family Groove records has decided to reissue it. In it's A-side 'Part 1' form, the track is a killer instrumental funk workout rich in razor-sharp guitar licks, weighty bass, crunchy drum breaks and hazy horns (the arrangement of which was provided by Isaac Hayes). Arguably even more frantic and energetic is the flipside 'Part 2' take, whose call-and-response vocals were a familiar feature of the band's popular live shows.

Review: Two previously unreleased cuts from 1977, HOWEEFEEL is an earlier version of cult Chicago soul act Davis Import. Emphatic, harmonic and full bodied, quite why "People Of The World" remained unreleased is mind-blowing, it's got every possible hallmark of the late 70s sound and its delivered with raw authenticity and full groove command. "Lookin' For A Love", meanwhile, is way ahead of its time. Hinting at 80s funk elements you'd associate with the likes of Prince, it's a smouldering synth and slap-bass heavy track designed especially for smooching. File in the same essential playlist as Faze-O's "Riding High".

Review: Another royal re-edit by the one and only KON, here we find him going to town on 1974 soul classic from Pat Tandy's The Pretenders. Flipping the arrangement so each section gets a chance to shine (notably the raffish walking bassline and sweeping strings) the lead remix pays full respect to the original while giving it a completely fresh new life. Complete with the extended original for the more purest fans, KON's delivered gold once again.

Review: After the previous Three Dimension recordings dug out of an Alabama studio by Family Groove, we're more than happy to hear something else from this no-hit-wonder from '83. Two more unreleased gems here, leading in with the Rick James on a shoestring nastiness of "Freak Call" - it's loose and unpolished, but there's so much energy locked up in this jam, it's like it made itself get discovered all this time after it was recorded. "I Want You Back" is the consummate sensitive B side - a sweet soul number for a slow dance after all the freaky business is done with.