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Review: DJ-friendly and top rare jazz vocals with piano trio in a swinging samba vibe, available on vinyl for the first time! 4 Tracks/ Exclusive Non Album Vinyl only recorded at VARA Studio Hilversum/ Netherlands for the Dutch radio show "Metro`s Midnight Music" in February 1974 produced by Joop De Roo. Remastered 2006. US-singer Mark Murphy is one of the world's greatest jazz vocalists of the 20th century. A six-time Grammy nominee, he has enjoyed a prolific 40-year recording career, with over 40 releases to date. Stereo Review dubs Mark 'one of the major artists of our age. Mark Murphy is a jazz singer.' For decades the question 'What exactly is a jazz singer' has had two easy answers, Betty Carter and Mark Murphy. 'He is arguably the best male jazz singer in the business' declares Rex Reed. Mark's musicianship, range, intonation, diction, inventiveness and incredible rhythmic sense are all of a piece and all marvellous.' Vocal greats Betty Carter, Peggy Lee, Cleo Laine and Shirley Horn all sing Murphy's praises as one of the best in the business and the legendary Ella Fitzgerald declared 'he is my equal.' It was Sammy Davis, Jr. who first discovered the young Mark Murphy in 1953 at a jam session in Murphy's hometown of Syracuse, New York. Impressed with Murphy's talent, Davis invited him to his show that night, where he even asked Mark to join him on stage. In 1974, Dutch radio producer Joop De Roo invited him to the VARA Studios Hilversum for a short rehearsal and a first but final take on the same day with the excellent Louis Van Dyke Trio. The corresponding recordings were shelved in the radio archives over the years and chosen by Joop for inclusion into his programme, that was broadcasted every week around midnight until 1980. Parts of the rare trio recordings feat. Mark Murphy were previously released on a Japanese CD fifteen years ago in very small amounts, unmastered and falsely marketed as the "North Sea Jazz Sessions", although the musical material cannot be connected in any manner to the famous Dutch festival of the same name. The sought after four tracks on this exclusive vinyl EP will NOT be included on the forthcoming Various Artists compilation "Metro`s Midnight Music" featuring rare and unreleased tracks from the Dutch NOS radio archives 1970-1975, carefully remastered in 2006 incl. tracks by the Metropole Orchestra, The Louis Van Dyke Trio, Mark Murphy, Helen Merrill, Eddie Jefferson, Greetje Kauffeld, Dave Pike and others (Sonorama-16/ 2 Lp & 2 CD), to be released in October.

Review: Former band "Kadri Six" - five men plus singer "Lamia" - have devoted themselves to the real spirit of funk and soul music with the release of 'Cold Sweat' on Sonorama. Their trademark sound is "real", "alive" and "black", with raw vocals, moving organ, hard hitting bass lines and trombone or sax riffs to set every dancefloor on fire.

Review: GrandMagnetto, masters of skanking pop reggae covers,
return with 'Everybody's Talkin' by Harry Nilsson, off of
the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack. Blundetto transformed
the track into a killer deep dubby hit. Both tracks are storming.

Review: Kai Alce on FXHE is a real coming together of two US powerhouses, and so it proved when this EP first landed back in 2010. It finds the Atlanta house mainstay in fine form on 'Dirty South Dirt'. It's a humid, stripped-back, dusty house cut with supple synth daubs adding warmth and soul. All these years on the track has lost none of its magic, and on the flipside is an 'Anticipation dub' which layers in some sensors vital whispers to the dubby, cuddly and deep house drums. These are two classy cuts.

Review: Minimal Wave presents an exquisite 7" EP release by Martin Lloyd entitled "L'Amant Electronique". Martin is mainly known for his Oppenheimer Analysis (Minimal Wave) and Analysis (Survival Records) projects, yet through the years he recorded over two dozen tracks on his own, most of which never saw the light of day. The four selected tracks were recorded between 1980 and 1984 in his own "Feedback Studios" in Battersea , London. Martin Lloyd delivers vocals via the vocoder and carefully layers synth melodies which range from upbeat and danceable, to what could be the soundtrack to a 1981 post-apocalyptic science fiction film. The record is pressed on white vinyl with a heavy black jacket (spot gloss) and is limited to 999 hand-numbered copies.

Review: Originally written by Richard Evans, instrumental track ''Burning Spear'' was subsequently covered by S.O.U.L, turning up as a standout on their debut album What Is It? in 1971; with its funky flute and heady bass it is nothing less than a bonefide golden classic. On the B-Side we're treated to the breakbeat heavy, vocal led "Do Whatever You Want To Do" from S.O.U.L's second long player Can You Feel It ?

Review: The Incredible Bongo Band were a loose studio collective interpreting classics of the day in their own inimitable percussive fashion .They are of course most famous for their ultimate b-boy classic version of "Apache". This particular 7" however features two Incredible Bongo Band cuts that have not previously featured on any albums. "The Riot" is a frenetic drum workout and has been championed by the likes of the Chemical Brothers. "Ohkey Dokey (Part 2)" takes on a somewhat more subdued hue in comparison, but has some dope funky clavinet in the mix. Well worth checking.

Review: Born on the French Island of Martinique, Louis Xavier later settled in France where he discovered the freedom of jazz, and an idea to mix his influences into a global melting pot of sound. He formed his band (Synchro Rhythmic Eclectic Language) in Paris in the early '70s, making music that was both spiritual and eclectic for its time. Both tracks are jazz in essence but with instrumental funky rhythms infused with intricate percussion and electric keys.

Review: Outta Sight has only been around for two years but their catalogue would suggest otherwise. In this short space of time they've out our a truck loads of records, all in the form of sweet, highly sought after reissues - hot damn! Dee Dee Sight's "Comin Home Baby" gets the rounds this time and it's a peach. Those swingy rhythm & blues strings sounding so ahead of their time. The B side is "Standing In The Need Of Love", equally as amazing but more of anthem - we can almost imagine a lazy summer day in the mid 60s. Soulful would be too much of an understantement.

Review: A serious piece of soul sampling history right here. "Evil Vibrations" is instantly recognisable thanks to De La Soul's "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays". Fast-paced boogie blessed with swooping sugar harmonies, it still sounds as smooth as it did when originally released in 78. Touching stargazing ballad "The Star Children" was even more popular with the hip-hop set scoring cameos on cuts by both RZA and Mobb Deep. Both cuts are taken from the album Help Us Spread The Message. Criminally it's their only LP!

Review: He's jazzed all over Bob. He's filled Grandmaster Flash with jazz too. Shucks, he's done Jacko several times over. But Ed's back and he's jazzing all over the place. This time they focus on the later stages of Jackson's career: "Dangerous" rolls with sneaking minor key twinkles and smoky spoken word before the melody softens to allow a little Michael in the mix. "Do You Remember" is more a jazz boogie joint with funky piano rolls on the fills and much more engaging groove.

Review: Who can deny anything Roy Ayers, really? Japanese pianist and electronic music producer Kan Sano reworks the American soul, funk and jazz legend's infamous hit "Everybody Loves The Sunshine". He breaks down the sugar-dusted original into something freeform, downtempo and acid jazz leaning, while on the flip, "Music Overflow", sounds exactly like a production you would make after being inspired by sunshine, soul, Roy Ayers and a room full of drum machines and synthesisers.

Review: Few bands live up to their name in the way Jungle Fire do; fusing Cumbia, Afrobeat and trad funk, each JF jam blazes the floor with real power. "Firewalker" is the buzz-cut here, swaggering with Afro-disco confidence; it's all about the epic horn Q&A and cutlass-sharp guitar lick. "Chalupa" takes a deeper route into the dancefloor by way of a classic soul riff that sways to-and-fro before breaking down into a more staccato rhythm. Watch out for the pay-off... Those jazz horns are a delight to behold!

Review: Another fine lesson in deep crate curation, Jazzman rediscover the criminally overlooked skills of Virginia troubadour Lenis Guess. Recorded during the late 60s and 70s, many of the cuts on this special triple-7" box set have never been further than the state line. Which is utter madness... Just listen to the lavish, lolloping bass jam on "How You Gonna Do It", the firing JB-style horn drama of "Thank Goodness Gotta Good Woman" and the raw belly-bound blues soul of "Workin' For My Baby" and you'll wonder how he remained an obscurity for so long. Complete with detailed liner notes, this is a must for all funk aficionados.

Review: Samba flavours do not come more authentic than this. The sixth in Mr Bongo's Brazil 45 series, here they unearth two foundation pieces from Rio collective Os Origianais Do Samba. Forming in 60s Rio, they're still highly active today and have a discography peppered with Brazilian gold. This 45 does well to showcase their breadth... "La Vem Salgueiro" is quintessential samba. Heavy rhythm, punctuated vocals and a dynamic that leaps from bold and delicate in a flash, it charms you instantly. "Tenha Fe" has a softer soul as it strums and sways and more of a folky sensation, tight harmonies and alluring naked instrumentation.

Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series continues with aplomb... On their eighth outing we find the hugely prolific 60s/70s troubadour Wilson Simonal paying homage to the legendary Jorge Ben with two exemplary cover versions. Whether it's on the soft big band emphasis and teasing fills on "Zazueira" or the upbeat, feel-good swinger "Silva Lenheira" there's a raw clarity to Wilson's vocals that instantly endure; the way he pushes his voice to the very edge of breaking on the high notes and a rich, clear delivery, he's the consummate soulful showman.

Review: The Great Revivers continue their unassailable 2014 assault on the record boxes of funk selectors everywhere with yet another killer seven for the Funk Night label. Brashly titled "Don't Mess with GR" may be, but this Russian quartet always prefer to let their musicianship do the talking and you can't fault the Great Revivers funk here as three odd minutes of prime dirtiness unfolds driven by a killer drum beat. It's complemented well by the more uptempo jam that is "Hard Way To Go" and lays down a marker for what to expect from the Great Revivers forthcoming album.

Review: Food Stamps is a great example of a record that fell between the cracks on its original release back in 1982. The one and only release from Baltimore-based funk-rock explorer Billie Senger, it has achieved cult status amongst record collectors due to its obscurity (finding original copies is notoriously tough). This reissue - pressed on green vinyl with new cover artwork - should, then, prove popular. "Food Stamps" - a riotously loose and floor-friendly chunk of funk from the Rare Earth school of white funk-rock - is the real killer, though the MC5-influenced flipside "How Do I Know" impresses with its fuzzy, recorded-in-a-shed feel and extra-cosmic production.

Review: A fifth slab of 7" shaped funk live and direct from St. Petersburg arrives with the Great Revivers offering another Funk Night release that will invariably keep themselves busy on the turntables of funk establishments everywhere. Lead cut "Rhino's Walk" should be titled "Rhino's Strut" in truth given the sheer confidence the Revivers display as it progresses along driven by a killer drum break. Flip the Rhino over and Great Revivers are on more of a downbeat funk flex with "Dead Dipping" which is all about that frazzled organ. Big up Frank Raines and the Funk Night crew for this one!

Review: Soul Brother present two sublime cuts by Carolyn Franklin, younger sister to Aretha, for their debut appearance on the seven inch format. On top of her significant body of work as a songwriter and background artist for Aretha and several other acts of the 60s and 70s, Carolyn Franklin record four solo albums and several singles for the RCA label. Rare groove heads favour Franklin's fourth LP If You Want Me in particular, issued in 1976 but originally recorded three years earlier, and Soul Brother have licensed two highlights for this 7" which demonstrate Carolyn's range for anyone not familiar with her work. "Sunshine Holiday" is a psyche delight akin to Linda Lewis' "Reach For The Truth" whilst "Deal With It" is pure funk.

Review: Rich gutsy soul from a man who's regularly described as Brazil's James Brown, "O Journalerio" is a blueprint funk jam. Released in 1971 (on his hyper-rare album BR-3) it's all about the orchestrated swing, bluesy groove and Hammond licks so lavish you need to towel on every listen. Flip for Som Tres... An off-shoot of the Sambalanco Trio, it's the sound of Cesar Camargo Mariano controlling a restrained rolling slice of filmic instrumental funk where horns, keys and drums gather momentum with big band drama. Neither have been released on 45" before, making this all the more special.

Review: Soul Street maestro's breakthrough release from 1971 gets a much needed spotlight from Counterpart... "Lord What's Happening To Your People" is gospel re-imagined as raw funk as Kenny calls out humanity's problems with the help of a full backing chorus and some very slick, dramatic orchestration. "Go For Yourself" takes us further back into Kenny's career to 1966. Leaner than the A-side but comes with the same elements -tight bandmanship, emphatic backing vocals, instant feel-good dynamics - and is also loaded with some exceptionally clean drum breaks. Go fun yourselves.

Review: Released in 1971 and written and recorded by Dave Hamilton (one of Motown's most prolific and influential session players), Sugar Billy Garner plays the consummate band leader over a relentless groove that rolls with drama. Billy gets sweatier, the guitars get busier, the dynamic gets heavier and heavier... So heavy it rolls into a second part. Primed for the floor, it still hits hard 44 years after its release.

Review: A tale of two sides, Azimuth's classic "Manha" should be recognisable to many; taken from their self-titled LP in 1975, its golden harmonies and lavish, lolloping Bob James style jazz are as timeless as they were 40 years ago. Flip for "America Latina". Conjured by prolific collaborator Osmar Milito (whose discography features the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Spanky Wilson and Liza Minelli), its striking, sing-along charms are no accident... It was actually created for 70s Brazilian soap opera Selva De Pedra.

Review: We're so used to Omar-S pursuing a very particular form of Detroit deep house, that when the legendary producer tries something different, it takes us by surprise. Sidetrakx Volume #3 is full of surprises. Take "Uluu", for example; while still a deep house track, its' undulating dub bassline, spaced-out soul vocal and sparse beats are pleasingly different to his traditionally rolling fare. It's mighty impressive, all told, while flipside "Another One 2 Love" almost eschews deep house completely. Instead, Alex Smith delivers a sweet, almost cute soul song built around head-nodding post hip-hop beats and sweet melodies. It, too, is hugely enjoyable, and once again proves his mastery of multiple genres.

Review: Released in celebration of Expansion's recent re-serving of two of Leon's early 80s albums - Rockin' You Eternally and Leon Ware - here's a delightful 45 that reminds us of his finest solo moments. "Why I Came To California" is a sun-kissed soul boogie groove with big horns and even bigger chorus. "Rockin' You Eternally" (which is, let's face it, one of the smoothest song titles to ever come from the 80s) showcases Leon's softer side. A ballad steeped in sentiment, play this loud enough and everyone in a five mile radius will stop and get smoochy.

Review: As if their recent album Beyond The Sun wasn't quite enough new material this year, Orgone return with two more brand new jams on this 7" for Colemine. "Strike" is a firing, sweaty Union cover that's focused on nothing but an unashamed party. "New You" is a softer, more sensual boogie number that oozes soaking wet guitar licks and honey-coated vocals throughout. Powerful contemporary funk from one of the most successful and prolific troupes in existence.

Review: Brazil 45s hit the quarter century in their run and show no sign of stopping. It's an all-girl affair on this one as two hugely popular and prolific singers take a spin under Mr Bongo's spotlight. Elizabeth (often known as Elizete) lays down a steamy samba flavour that gets raunchier as the track develops. Elza, meanwhile, gets busy on a Bossa tip as a carnival of percussion and horns go toe-to-toe with her sharp, sexy staccato vocals. Powerful.

Review: When Jazzman themselves describe a release as 'hopelessly obscure' and 'off the radar to even the most dedicated' you know you've got something special. There's a really raw rusty garage funk to both sides here; both the classic R&B swing, majestic organs and powerful vocals of "Look Out" and the sweaty instrumental frenzy "Mother Duck" instantly enrapture and make you ponder the age-old question... HOW has this gone unnoticed for so long?

Review: Authentic soul business from Bloomington newbies The Indications brought to you by the good people at Colemine Records. Teaming up with Durand Jones for the A-side, "Smile" is a powerful preachy cut that digs deep into the classic funk mentality while sitting neatly upside the grills of Aloe Blacc or Gnarls Barkley. "Tuck N Roll", meanwhile, is a Meters-level slice of smouldering instrumental funk with big cymbal splashes and a blissful balance of Rhodes and guitar. Spotless.

Review: Obscure Californian group The Real Thing (not the Liverpool 4 piece ) who recorded for US label Whiz enjoy a very special spotlight on Super Disco Edits. Both cuts previously unreleased; they're as fizzy as the product they share a slogan with... "Give It Up & Turn It Loose" takes James Brown to turbo charged pastures, tearing up the funk rule book so rapidly they've got friction burns. "It's A Family Thang" brings us back down to earth with such unified tightness and positivity it would make Sly and the Stones blush. The real deal.

Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series gets its rock on with two hairy grooves, both of which have enjoyed the sampler's crafty knives over the years. First up, Tom Ze's "Jimmy Renda-se" rolls with an oily sleazy groove that's peppered by a playful lyrical rhythm that transcends language barriers. Ben's "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" joins the dots between Samba and very light Rock with all the signatures that made Mr Ben the legend he remains to this day with big vocal harmonies and infectious textures of Brazilian percussion.

Review: The moment you put that needle down on "Ye Mele" you will know that you've lit a serious firecracker; that bold piano hook and silver harmonies have that instant classic appeal even if you've never heard it. A bona fide Brazilian classic. It's backed by a 68 track from the Golden Boys. A much more introspective fusion of late 60s American folk, Latin and Ennio-style original score music, full attention is arrested right until the stunning crescendo finale.

Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series continues its consistently rich vein of form with two more beautifully contrasting - and previously difficult to track down - Brazilian soul jazz fusions from the 70s. Side A is inhabited by one of the era's most interesting individuals. Infamously censored and eventually exiled, Taiguara's chaotic flute, guitar and piano arrangement is a tight weave of melodies, counter melodies and start dynamics. Flip for the classically soul-oriented "Deixa Eu Te Amar" will bright horns, brash drums and a bold vocal from Marisa Rossi. Pow.

Review: Jane, Roberto, and Sidey Morais - Brazil's Os Tres Morais - are placed alongside the wonderful Claudia for the latest all Brazilian showdown courtesy of the always point-side Brazil45 series from the Mr. Bongo label. The latter gives us the mythical "Garra", a tune that sits very nicely next to the likes of Marcos Valle and co, and the singing trio get a reissue of 2006's "Freio Aerodinamico", a gorgeous blend of samba, disco, and something perfectly exotic and vintage. Heart-warmers.

Review: Two more rare grooves purloined from Cultures Of Soul's Brasileiro Treasure Box Of Funk & Soul and delivered on a sweet 45: Celia's "A Hora E Essa" is a steamy Latin funk workout from 72; all horns, cuicas and soft, honeyed vocals. Franco's "Ei, Voce, Psiu!" takes a more US funk idea with Franco's spoken vocals giving off a strong air of bandleader as the band lock down a tight groove beneath. Watch out for samba flip towards the end. Blink and you'll miss it.

Review: Destination Ethiopia: The Wallias Band are one of the country's longest standing troupes with over 20 years service to their name from the early 70s to early 90s and serious accomplishments such as being the first Ethiopian band to tour the USA. Here they're represented in all their full spread glory; "Muziqa Muziqa" has an almost northern soul dynamic with its speed and wily sax blasts from Seyoum while "Muziqawi Silt" is a much more measured, introspective affair. Beautiful.

Review: Two powerful bossa nova workouts from 1972: Brazilian chanteuse Rose Maria delivered two incredible funk jams on Tapecar which escaped her prolific album releases and never enjoyed a repress. Until now... The Afro-Latin soul of "Deixa Nao Deixa" is all about the sudden dynamic from purring verses to emphatic, harmonic chorus while "Avenida Atlantica" takes a more straight-up funk route with its dominant horns and heavy boss break. Instant party material.

Review: Cuban bandleader, composer and rumba magician Ramon Santamaria had a huge influence throughout his 40 year career, notably writing Coltrane's famous "Afro Blue". Here are two of many stand-out cuts from his 1963 album Watermelon Man! While most the album's focus was on his Herbie Hancock cover, it's tracks like these that really gave the album its spirit and unique character; "Yeh Yeh!" is a samba shaking horn-led cut laced with crackling percussion and party cries while "Get The Money" leans back with rhythm and blues sass and a rhythm that's as powerful as Ramon's legacy. Moneymaker shaking guaranteed.

Review: Two outstanding Brazilian funk cuts straight out of 1971: "Esperar Pra Ver" is a laden with an immense orchestrated groove that's triggered by a lean, unforgettable bass guitar riff that matches Evinha's purring, slinky allure. "Que Bandeira" rolls with more of a poppy bossa flow with militant rim shots, swooning strings and a momentum that builds on every verse. Both tracks are taken from Cartao Postal, Evinha's third album that has been known to pass hands for as much as L500 in the past.

Review: Fresh from 68: Atlanta family trio Scott Three only ever recorded two singles and remained something of a local sensation thereafter. It's a shame as there's a real Jackson Five feel to their delivery, especially on "Running Wild" where the session band breaks down and each member pops above the dense music bed. "Gotta Find A New Love" takes a much bluesier tact with rougher instrumentation and an almost rocky build on the choruses. Spotted passing hands for sizeable sums on one bidding site, this is the first time it's been pressed in over 45 years.

Review: Brand new sub-label from the Favorite camp, SOL Discos launches with an absolute reissue gem that has previously passed hands for well over a L100. Hiram & Direct's Detroit-recorded, Hirome-released double-A sets up the new label's stall really well as we're treated to frenetic jazz boogie on "Love Flight" which hasn't lost so much as an ounce of dancefloor focus in its 30+ years while "Turn It Around" is a classic torch ballad Faze-O style. One for getting freaky on the floor, one for getting freaky elsewhere. More please.

Review: During the 1970s, Cornell Campbell made some fantastic records with producer Bunny Lee. 'My Baby Just Care For Me', a favourite amongst the lovers rock-powered 1970s blues party scene in London, is undoubtedly one of their best joint efforts. The riddim is loose and languid, the added piano solos pleasingly expressive and jangling, and Campbell soulful lead vocal tterly beguiling. Chunkier, more dancefloor-friendly roots reggae vibes are the order of the day on flipside cut 'Jah Jah He Morn Ya', where Campbell's vocal improvisation between verses add even more energy to an already heavyweight jam. In a word: essential.

Review: The Afro 45's / Mr Bongo lineage has produced some of the hottest, most sizzling funk reissues from around the globe, and this tasty two-header from Mahmoud Ahmed - who has appeared heavily on Portland's monumental Mississippi label - and Girma Beyene, two greats of the African soul / funk heritage. Ahmed's "Aynotche Terabu" is backed by the Equators Band, and the man's voice rides like crispy waves over the dusty percussion and charging trumpets of the outfit; Beyene appears with a less moody but equally brilliant jazz-leaning piece named "Ene Negn Bay Manesh", bringing through the spirot of greats such as Mulatu and the rest of the African luminaries.

Review: Hamburg's Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are as enigmatic and alluring as when they released their first single back in 2007, a tidy funk 7" that was to set the scene for a very particular sort of instrumental sound. "Jungle Fever", out on their own excellent Big Crown imprint, is a 2015 single that is truly hard not to play on repeat; the tune is a delicate yet funked-out blend of raw drums and tropical steel melodies, much like the name of the band already implies! The flipside "Tender Trap" is more broken and loose in its arrangement, something that makes it perhaps even more catchy and provocative than the title track.

Review: Afro 45's / Mr Bongo show no signs of stopping their tireless run of form and, 7" after 7", they just keep on producing the goods. There's yet more '70s goodness with this new little scorcher: the A-side is 1973's "Tessassategn Eko" by Bahta Gebre Hiwot, a pensive Ethiopian pop hit for all sorts of music fans to enjoy, but "Ayalqem Tedqem" by Alemayehu Eshete on the B-side is where it's at... just listen to that bass and you'll instantly recognize this wonderful little cover.

Review: The Brazil 45 series from Mr Bongo bursts through the picture with yet another rocking 7" fire starter by two vintage pop greats - we have to say, their format simply works. First up is Elis Regina, a Brazilian singer who released a countless pop records back in the '60s, and "Ye Me Le" is a soft, seductive Brazilian soul warmer complete with blasting trumpets and that inimitable South American percussion swagger. Turkey's Senay features on the flip with "En Buyuk Sansin Yasiyor Olman", an incandescent lover's ballad that makes a welcome change to the more widely heard Turkish psych sound of the '70s.

Review: 40 years young: Wood, Brass & Steel's eponymous debut album enjoys a highly timely reissue and it still sounds every bit as funky ("Theme Song"), soulful ("Working On A Dream") and emotional ("My Darling Baby") as it did in 76. Complete with cult dancefloor hit "Funkanova" and the crossover disco hit "Always There", this LP has aged with real maturity and clout. Considering what the members did next (Tackheads, Sugarhill and Fats Comet) Wood, Brass & Steel was something of a supergroup in hindsight... And this album is where it all began.

Review: Still scorching from the heat of their debut album 55, Hamburg's mysterious steel pan handlers return with a dope little 45 that features one of the excellent covers from their album plus an exclusive that we guarantee will drive your next floor crazy... Dennis Coffey's "Scorpio" takes the lead with its instantly distinctive break and pace. Flip for Sugarhill's "8th Wonder" that's riddled with confidently swung drums, smoky trumpets and a groove so funky you might just have to drop it twice. Give the drummer some.

Review: Although Brazil's Banda Black Rio remain infamous for the albums that they recorded in the late 1970s, two beautiful LPs that rode that singular wave of samba-ridden jazz dance, 1980's "Miss Cheryl" is an outstanding tune, and we can hear why RCA picked it up back in the day. Mr Bongo provides us with the reissue here and, if you haven't heard it, it's an absolute delight which switches between disco, psych, and something inherently Brazilian - there's even a wacky synth in there, for good measure. Compatriot Miele appears on the flip with "Melo Do Tagarela (Rappers Delight)", a sublime slice of early, electronic boogie that sounds as fresh today as it did back at the tail end of the 70s. A devious little reissue that you should own...