Trad Vibe Vinyl & CDs

Review: .No, this is not a surprise jazz-funk outing from Dan 'Caribou' Snaith, but rather a reissue of the sole single that French outfit Cortex released as Caribou, way back in 1977. Copies of that record are now very hard to come by, so it's great that Trad Vibe have delivered this fresh edition. It's worth picking up for 'Californie' alone. The track is a near perfect fusion of the Gallic ensemble's usual loose jazz-funk sound and energetic, sun-drenched disco - all breathless electric piano solos, memorable guitar licks, dancefloor-friendly grooves and spiralling group vocals. Original flipside 'Stevie', a more relaxed and loved-up affair closer in tone to Cortex's usual material, once again resides on the reverse.

Review: Never before released in this particular form, two inscriptions by the French jazz fusion band Cortex make for a fidgeting classic each, perfect for the tube-amped dancefloor. Made up of many a cover and original, the full-length 'Inedit '79' EP first came to Underdog Records in 2006, though it was composed almost entirely of recordings laid down in 1979, proving the band's asynchronic staying power across decades. This new 7", however, recuts the lead track from the album, and a never-before-heard session floorcut respectively. The B-side in question, 'Where Do You Come From', did not appear on the 2006 release, and was also recorded later in 1981, though it is considered a part of the same inspo-flush.

Review: Marseille's Mofak lays down yet another two modern boogie cuts for the fans. The titular 'Rock Your Money', featuring the vocal talents of Said (IAM) and Elois Scroggins, makes ample use of appended vocoder and telephoning lead vox; all comes wrapped in an ultimately bouncy number, against which Scroggins' vocals are stark. On the B, we hear 'System 3.0', a logical continuation of the A-side's theme, albeit this time gladly accepting the femme vocal assurances of AprilSoul, while Mofak himself hops on the vocoder; both paint a picture of a systematic love, one which cannot survive without vice and indulgence.