Funk / Reissue Recommendations November 2016

Review: The only time in the known universe when having your bike nicked is a good thing... Vancouver turntable champ Nick Bike returns on his own Chosen Spokes imprint with another beat bouquet. Armed with his now signature skill of taking well known classics, here we takes on two of the biggest possible tracks and rewires them for today's beat-hungry floors. James Brown goes under the knife as "I Feel Good" gets a sharp shuffle with full emphasis on the swing while the in-house backing band The Andantes version of Whitfield & Strong's Gaye classic gets a sultry twist. Complete with a beat version and DJ tools, Nick rides right into the heart of another sweet beat success.

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...

Review: Geordie soul powerhouse Smoove (aka Jonathan Scott Watson) & (John) Turrell are back with their new album Crown Posada which proves that this Northern Funk duo's rise through the ranks of British soul has been nothing short of unstoppable. With the new single "You Could've Been A Lady", there is also some sweet synthpop inspired groove on "50 Days Of Winter" and some feel good R&B on the infectious "Fight On" amongst many other lovably groovy sounds on offer here. Turrell's wonderfully executed arrangements accompany Watson's smooth as silk voice and it's a great listen from start to finish.

Review: Washington's Fort Knox Five have literally always been doing their thang. The quartet is made up of Sid Barcelona, Jon Horvath, Rob Myers and Steve Raskin, a collaboration of musicians who have given us a wonderful selection of music across many a genre. They've almost always appeared on their of Fort Knox label, so this new single for the Dinked imprint feels like a welcomed change in their releasing pattern. It's a one-track situation here, but "Don't Go" is a funk bomb capable of deconstructing any dancefloor form here to Detroit, and Joe Quarteman's zesty vocals are immediately hummable. Check that instrumental cut, too - pure, break joy!

Review: Misha Panfilov is a man of many talents. Not only is the Estonian producer an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, but he's also something of a sonic magpie. To date, his fuzzy musical output has included revivalist jazz-funk, space-age analogue electronica, and bossanova inspired easy listening. His core sound, though, remains funk, which he mostly explores on the Misha Panfilov Sound Combo releases. "You Got It Right" is typically psychedelic, with Panfilov peppering a low-slung groove with all manner of musical solos and Eastern-influenced chants. The hallucinatory dancefloor fun continues on the flip, where the constantly rising "Solar Blast" - all dusty analogue synths, wavy flute solos and killer funk breaks - cuts an impressively tipsy figure.

Review: Jalapeno's northern funkers Smoove & Turrell gear up for their fourth studio album Crowd Posada with two superlative songs that at once demonstrate their range and innate soul ability. "Could Have Been A Lady" has a deep bluesy rock twang to its groove with just a toe or two in the pub while the curiously titled "Glue Bag Flags" takes us on a much sleazier trip with samples, a slinky bassline, a perfectly executed vocal Q&A and a zero-to-sixty tempo switch when you least expect it. Bring on the album.

Review: Singer, songwriter, actor, legend: Roy Hytower's Doktu Rhute Muuzic project pays homage to his roots (literally - his father was a herb doctor) his beliefs and his pure skills. A story teller with a strong, smoky bluesy twang and wide range over two sides he paints a big picture; "I'm In Your Corner" has a great Stax style sleazy funk with its tight looseness and brilliantly timed horn section. "Tip Jar", meanwhile, is a much slower jam that rolls with a lolloping groove and a destitute tale that sucks you in with the similar techniques employed by the one and only Mr Brown. Yeah it's that good.

Review: Tramp Records is one of Germany's tiniest (in their own words!) but funkiest labels who release new bands, but also re-issue quality rare funk, soul and jazz too. This time around they present us with City News for some truly authentic porn-funk soul vibes that you would honestly be convinced were from the early seventies in the vein of Hot Chocolate or Ramp like on the tremendous A side "Bustin' Up". On the flip we've got "Chan The Man" a kung-fu fightin' hoe down aboard the soul train express.

Review: When it comes to reissuing vintage soul and funk, Germany's Tramp label is second to none. For them, a new week means a new beauty to reissue, and this particular week in October is no different; in fact, this magnetic little 7" is fabulous in every way. First up is 1971's "Funky You" by The Fugitives and Archie, a group who only released a handful of EPs under that moniker, but whose most famous tune is here for you to own, and cause serious levels of angst among the collectors (as you can imagine, the original is rather hard to find). On the flip, the same outfit team up with Scottie for a more classic, sensual love ballad called "Love Come Down", the sort of song which makes your head turn and spin to ask the DJ: "mate, what's that!?".

Review: Melbourne is home to one of the strongest funk revival scenes on the planet. Amongst the scene's heaviest hitters - in more than one sense - is drummer-turned-producer Ivan Kkatchoyan. Having been part of heavy funk combo Cookin' On 3 Burners since the dawn of the millennium, he's now the driving force behind Choi Records. His heavy funk rhythms and astute period production are at the heart of Mayfield's "On The Ropes", which also includes some stellar horns and - in its A-side form, at least - some on-point vocals from Carla Troiano. Like previous Choi releases by Traffic and Fulton Street, it's a revivalist funk treat.

Review: Joni Haastrup's classic, cosmic disco LP is among the best of the best in terms of Afrobeat. What is particularly special about it is its 1978 release date - this was miles ahead of everyone else at that stage of African disco music - and the fact that it was the only piece of music to be released under the artist's real name. There is not much we can say about this absolute gem of an album, apart from the fact that it should not be missing from your own shelves, or DJ bag, for that matter. On the latter point, these six tunes are perfect for just about any situation requiring a dance. This is top Afrobeat beat music in all its glory. NOT to be missed. Warmly recommended...

Review: On its' original release in 2002, Tony Allen's HomeCookin album was arguably a little overlooked. Like its' predecessor, 1999's Black Voices, the set updated the legendary drummer's Afrobeat sound for a new millennium. As this timely reissue proves, it was a particularly successful exercise. The album's genius lies in the Nigerian sticks-man's combination of traditional elements - most notably his loose, skittish polyrhythms, guitars and punchy horns - with elements of future-jazz, modern soul (see the brilliant Eska collaboration, "What's Your Fashion") and hip-hop. British rapper Ty excels himself on a number of killer cuts, though it's a more traditional Allen style dancefloor workout - the sublime "Crazy Afrobeat" - that really stands out.

Review: Durng the mid-to-late 1970s, the music scene in Nigeria was dominated by releases emerging from the recording studios of Lagos. Yet across in the Eastern city of Aba, groups who drew inspiration as much from American West Coast rock as the hard-edged funk of James Brown were making serious waves. Amongst these was the eight-piece Friimen Musik Company, whose obscure, 1978 album We Can Get It On has long been considered an overlooked classic. This reissue confirms that its fusion charms - think Afro-funk meets Steely Dan via Boz Scaggs and early Bee Gees - have not been eroded by the passage of time.

Review: One of Rio's most enduring, popular and characterful songwriters throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, Tim Maia released over 30 albums right up to the year he died in 98. This is where it all began: 1970's debut album. An explosive mix of US and Europeans styles boiled down by Brazilian heat, across the LP we're treated to smoky, sweaty rhythm & blues ("Coronel Antonio Berto"), swinging London big band jams ("Flamengo"), deep-seeded, heartfelt balladry ("Eu Amo Voce"), trembling delicate soul ("Azul Da Cor Do Mar") and plenty more. Historic and still wholly relevant.