Mofunk US Vinyl & CDs

Review:  It's no exaggeration to say that XL Middleton is one of the world's greatest purveyors of revivalist G-funk, P-funk, synth-funk and boogie. While he's been serving up rock solid sets since the dawn of the Millennium, it's taken record buyers a little while to catch up. "2 Minutes Till Midnight", his latest full-length effort, may well be his strongest outing yet. With a combination of laidback raps, soulful vocal snippets, colourful synthesizer lines and head nodding drum machine beats featuring prominently throughout, many will draw parallels with the likes of Slick Rick, Warren G, the Dogg Pound and the man credited with popularizing the style, Dr Dre.

Review: Whenever we are allowed to get back to a dancefloor, this is what we want to hear. Pure uptempo funk, disco heat and synth based boogie that cannot fail to electrifying your soul. XL's signature synth sound really shines through, sometimes in a super smooth and cool fashion such as on the romantic "Swervin On The 210" and at others in a more cosmic fashion like "Crown Royal Bags". "Shotgun Lover" is the dazzling and infectious opener that brims with withering pads and stepping arps while "1990 Brougham D'Elegance" adds a little retro flair and piano goodness.

Review: We're still banging XL Middleton's collab with Moniquea from back in October on the MO Funk label land already he is back with more of his squelchy analogue boogie sounds on the same label. This time Chrome Springs Eternal comes on a cassette and is backed with irresistible analogue jams. The withering chord lines and gurgling bass, pixelated pads and inherent funk of these tunes are gloriously colourful and sun-kissed. It's the soundtrack to a perfect 80s summer in LA you never lived but will feel like you have.

Review: Blue Blade Piranha is a collaboration LP between Zackey Force Funk and XL Middleton, two leading figures in the modern funk scene. Channelling every influence from 90s g-funk to synthfunk-driven sensuality, Zackey and XL's twin talents are heard in tandem, forging a modern, squeaky-clean, and whispery refresher for the modern day. The optimistic uptempo funkers 'Jam Likely' recalls everything from production extraordinaires Pomrad and Photay, while more experimental subsumers like 'Girls & Gangsters' nod at a furtive, spiritual imagining of gangsta rap.