Review: Soul Jazz Records promise this is a one off and strictly limited pressing of Alien Starr's 'World Of Ecstasy.' It is a faithful reproduction of the original in terms of art and sound and has been restored from the label after they included it on their excellent recent Space Funk 2 - Afro-Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976-84 compilation. tUSA in 1985 featuring big slap bass energy, hand claps, drum funk and electro boogie bass. .
For The Record (feat Ohmega Watts & Ozay Moore) (4:07)
Afterglow (4:06)
Bored (feat Reginald AK) (2:58)
Midlife Glow (feat Ozay Moore) (3:53)
Better Than That (4:52)
Review: Melbourne funk and soul talents The Bamboos have now been blazing their own trail for almost a quarter of a century. This Is How You Do It makes their 11th studio album and shows the nine piece collective still has plenty to say for itself. Although at times this hints at a new direction, the album also bares all the hallmarks fans have come to love and expect from the group with Lance Ferguson's soulful production and effortless groove paired with the potent vocals of Kylie Auldist. Guest MCs from the US (Ozay Moore and Ohmega Watts) feature as do some boogie and disco tinged singles like 'Ex-Files'.
Review: Mother's I'd Like To Funk shows off their reissue credentials once more here with a real sizzler from Danish pop group Boulevard. The tracks are from their little-known 1981 album American Dream and have been fully licensed here. A-side 'Ready For Your Love' is a sweet street soul gem with snappy drums and fleshy arps next to the aloof male vocals. 'Still Ready' on the flip is a Synthphonic Dub that has a very similar rhythm and sound but with some more native chords over the top and an extra bounce and talk box vocals.
Review: Chet Faker is Nicholas James Murphy, a Melbourne born artist who has built up a small but well formed discography since 2012. It includes two albums, the latest of which was Hotel Surrendor on BMG in 2021. Tow of the jams format now get presser's dup to this fresh 7", one as a special Japanese version. 'Feel Good' is a balmy bit of broken beat, with funky bass riffs and aching vocals. 'Whatever Tomorrow' then places focus on a lone voice which conveys real pain until longing drums arrive next to big string chords.
Review: Written by James Ernard, 'How Close' is a poppy funk track with as much history as killer synths. Written after his previous Ohio-based group Perfect Element declined opening for Prince on tour, Ernard left to set up his own label (which met a similar end as he and co-founder Kennith also had a falling out over creative differences). 'How Close' is a sensational piece of 80s American pop history, with a killer synth line and earworm vocals that'll have you shaking your hips before even realising. Side B has a nippy little remix by an undisclosed producer (which is sometimes the case with such niche pieces of history), that nonetheless breathes even more life into such a colourful track. It's often the 7" records that tell us the full history of the music industry behind the scenes at that time, and this release is no different - a perfect addition to that niche 7" collection you've been building up...
Review: If you've never heard of Dicky Continental, don't worry: this fine album of atmospheric, trip-hop influenced soul is his first release of note. Those au fait with the catalogue of Red Snapper may recognise the alias though, as it's a solo pseudonym of the band's drummer, Rich Thair, and was used back in the day for a handful of remixes. 'Un' - Welsh for one - is undeniably impressive, with Thair delivering killer drums (recorded expertly), as you'd expect, simmering synth-strings, woozy electronics and moody aural textures aplenty. Our picks of a strong bunch include the vintage Portishead style smokiness of opener 'Make Them Disappear' and the more joyful, hip-hop influenced 'Does She Know' - both of which feature lead vocals from Jo Sims.
Review: El Buho's fifth studio album may be his most personal yet. Strata draws from Robin's attempts to grapple with the tension of experiencing happiness, joy and gratitude in our daily lives with loved ones or through sharing music, while the world falls apart around us. This dynamic of trying to live in the moment and enjoy the privileged life we have, yet in the back of your mind there is an overwhelming sense of dread that the world will never be the same and, as climate change really starts to hit home, there are incredibly difficult times ahead. It is about our attempts to find a place of peace, balance and fulfillment between these powerful strata above and below us.
Review: Lucky Brown continues his relentless quest to keep the spirit of deep funk alive with this latest LP drop on his spiritual home of Tramp Records. The Seattle funkateer has been credited with keeping authenticity and gritty flair at the heart of his sound and that comes through by the bucketload on this essential record from the archives of his band The Funk Revolution. Pulled from the heady, spiritual living room sessions from which his 2011 Tramp debut was compiled, this is the first half of a veritable feast of hot and heavy jams from a band locked into something just beyond their comprehension, like all the best funk should be.
Review: Limited edition 7" comes in just 500 copies and features the American soul-jazz band from San Diego, California, known as The Greyboy Allstars. Memners Karl Denson, Elgin Park, Aaron Redfield, Chris Stillwell and Robert Walter have released six albums to date and originally formed as a backing band for rare groove star DJ Greyboy. Here though is the title track of their 'A Town Called Earth' long player from 1997 and it is one that is sure to appeal to jazz and funk heads who enjoy Pharaoh Sanders and Thembi. The band played seven live-streams during the pandemic and proved they still very much have it.
Sumimasen Suite (feat Emily Capell, Rebel Dread - part 1) (3:52)
We Need Power (feat Josh Milan - part 1) (6:10)
I'm Thinking, I'm Spacing (feat Afrika Bambaataa) (7:58)
Outer Space (feat DJ Krush) (2:29)
Galactic Beats (part 1) (3:45)
Hear There (feat Kan Takagi Reck) (2:34)
New Beginning (7:17)
Review: Maverick Japanese producer Yasushi Ide's 2020 album Cosmic Suite was widely heralded and critically acclaimed. It now gets a welcome follow up with a second volume that features an a-list of international artists including Don Letts, Josh Milan, Japanese diva UA, Afrika Bambaataa and many more. As such all sorts of sounds from dub to house, broken beat to Afrobeat, freeform, jazz, post-punk and more feature. It is a future-facing collection of cuts all masterminded and conducted by Ide from his Grand Gallery HQ in Tokyo.
Review: 'Off Days in London' is a collaborative EP by Detroit's Illa J and London-based Ash Walker. Their serendipitous meeting in London in 2023 during Illa J's break from touring led to the creation of four fresh tracks that blend hip-hop and jazz. Despite busy schedules, the two artists found time to bond over shared influences, like featuring Detroit legend Amp Fiddler on their albums, and turned their studio sessions into soulful, genre-blurring music. With Illa J effortlessly switching between singing and rapping, the EP showcases organic collaboration and leaves listeners eager for a full-length project from the pair.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.