Back catalogue: Funk/Reissues

Review: The Allergies first double A-side of the year is so strong, we reckon it may well be one of their best singles to date. A-side "Felony" is particularly potent: a hybrid Northern/Southern Soul stomper rich in crunchy drums, heavy bass, punchy horns and heart-aching vocal samples lifted from (we think) an obscure soul record. The production is formidably fuzzy, making it sound like something recorded in Detroit or Memphis in the 1960s rather than cooked up in their studio in 2019. Flipside "Rile 'Em Up" is similarly weighty, though this time they're off on a Latin funk tip with a little help from regular rapper Andy Cooper, soul-stress Marietta Smith, saxophonist Mr Woodnote and a handful of killer boogaloo samples.

Review: The JalapeNo label never fails to serve up the sort of hot and spicy funk sounds that electrify dance floors. It is UK beatmakers The Allergies who take care of this one with fire-in-the-hole future classics that pack powerful punches with their famous signature sound. First up is the vintage funk of 'Love Somebody' with its big and beefy breaks and vintage sounds. On the flipside is 'Promised Land' which is the title track from the forthcoming album. It's a big and bulky breakbeat smasher that will get the feet tapping and the fists pumping.

Review: Clear the way when you see them coming through! Three albums deep since 2016, Jalapeno's in-house funk machine The Allergies wheel up with more brand new material. "Every Trick In The Book" shakes and slides with a wry psychedelic groove, a familiar vocal, big horns and lavish dollops of the feel-good flare the Bristol duo have made their signature. Need something spicier? Flip over for "Nuff Respect" where long-standing MC partner in vibes Andy Cooper steps up to cover one of the all time OGs: Big Daddy Kane. Back up and bow.

Review: Bristol duo The Allergies team up with award-winning Afrofuturist K.O.G. aka Kweku Of Ghana for a collaboration that's as explosive as it is catchy. 'Koliko' is a potent blend of late 60s African rhythms and upfront hip-hop swagger, with K.O.G's vocals adding a raw energy and shamanistic intensity. His lyrics, delivered in both English and his native tongue, explore themes of identity and cultural appropriation, adding a layer of social commentary to the infectious groove, while on the flip, 'God Walked Down' takes a different approach, its soulful melodies and uplifting harmonies showcasing The Allergies' versatility and their ability to craft music that moves both the body and the soul.

Review: Dr Rubberfunk (AKA long-serving DJ/producer Simon Ward) may have reached the start of middle age, but he's showing no signs of succumbing to a typical "midlife crisis". In fact, his recent releases have been among the strongest of his career to date. The third part of his ongoing "My Life At 45" series is another belter, with opener "A Matter of Time" - featuring talented, fast-rising vocalist Izo FitzRoy - being a particularly strong exercise in revivalist 1960s soul. Elsewhere across the EP, "Slim's Mood" is a fine chunk of hazy rhythm and blues featuring some awesome, Peter Green style jazz guitar solos, while closing cut "Moody Drums" is a chunky beats track tailor-made for funk and hip-hop DJs who like to get busy in the mix.

Review: The Third Degree cover Kylie Minogue's hit song from 2001, as well as Duffy's 2008 smash - the UK band do so in their patented Northern Soul style, owing to their specialism in reinterpreting noughties pop numbers. Whether by way of its powerful vocals from Michelle David or a horn-driven arrangement by the band, this is a drivingly breaksy hazer, with both tracks on the 7" hearing some extra danceable beef lent by producer Smoove.

Review: Freak The Speaker marks a vibrant evolution in The Allergies' sound, showcasing their deep-rooted love for diverse musical styles. Producers Moneyshot and Rackabeat have upped the ante, delivering their biggest beats yet and enlisting an array of talented MCs and vocalists to bring their vision to life. Afrobeat star K.O.G. injects energy into the lively 'Koliko,' while Ohmega Watts delivers sharp, impactful verses on the hard-hitting 'No Flash.' UK rappers Dr Syntax and Skunkadelic trade dynamic bars over booming 808s on 'My Own Way,' and Dynamite MC shines on the soulful, infectious 'One Time.' Fans of The Allergies' signature funky, sample-heavy production won't be disappointed. Tracks like 'Let Me Hear You Say' channel vintage roller disco vibes, while 'Knock Me Off My Feet' is a 60s soul-inspired banger that's already garnered praise. Andy Cooper of Ugly Duckling brings his trademark flair to his features, complemented by the lively contributions of saxophonist James Morton and soulful singer Marietta Smith. Freak The Speaker is a celebration of music's global diversity, wrapped in The Allergies' unmistakable style.

Review: Boom: three years, three albums. No biggie for Bristol duo The Allergies, Jalapeno's biggest success story since Kraak & Smaak. Each album shows them getting deeper into the groove, creeping away from the cheeky samples and sculpting their own pedigree funk originals. With Ugly Ducking Andy Cooper onside through the mix from the wild ride vibing "Fade Away" to the white knuckle lyrical fire of "Run It Back", there's a real band feeling to the whole album as familiar voices thread throughout the jams... including that of UK hip hop legend Dr Syntax.

Review: Even by their usual high standards, the Allergies new LP - their fourth in total - is a particularly kaleidoscopic, party-starting affair. It sees the popular Bristol duo join forces with a series of guest vocals and MCs, most notably regular rapper Andy Cooper and cheeky scene veterans the Cuban Brothers, to deliver a series of funk-fuelled workouts that variously mix and match elements of hip-hop, mambo, stomping Northern Soul, deep funk, jazz and horn-heavy 1970s soul. While the samples of old are still present, it's the tightness and weightiness of the live instruments and strong vocals that make "Say The Word" such a terrific listen. In our opinion it's their strongest collection of work to date, and that's saying something. Bravo!

Review: Is there a more hard-working pair of party-starters than the Allergies' Rackabeat and DJ Moneyshot? The Bristol-based duo have been prolific over the last few years, yet the quality of their work seemingly hasn't suffered. Promised Land, their fifth album, is another invigorating, thrill-a-minute ride through hip-hop/funk/soul/rock/breakbeat fusion, where almost every cut is ripe for dancefloor plays. Highlights include the bluesy breakbeat bustle of 'Working On Me', the scratch-happy, Fatboy Slim-esque fun of 'Jumping Off', growling Dynamite MC hook-up 'Lean On You' (which reminded us a little of Plantlife), soul stomper 'Love Somebody' and 'Are You Ready', where Ugly Duckling's Andy Cooper and singer Marietta Smith both make their mark.

Review: With a long line of Tru Thoughts documents in his back cat going back to the mid-2000s, and a damn fine comeback on Lack of Afro's label a few years back, Flevans delivers his third album on the mighty Jalapeno. The perfect playground for his wide-armed hook-laden musical funk, and home to his prominent band members Elliott Cole and Izo FitzRoy, it's a match made in groove heaven. The sleazy prowls of "Two Steps", the delicious jazz funk of "Part Time Millionaire", the gilded feel good soul of "15,000 Words" and the straight up shape cutter "Invisible" are just some of the on-point highlights. And that's before we even get to the smouldering Lauryn Hill cover "Ex Factor". Part time millionaire, full time musical brilliance.

Review: Smoove's latest LP, the retro-modern funk take that is First Class, is primed for a spacious yet packed dancefloor. Smoove's deft emulatory production skills are once again put on full display, collecting vocal samples and original backing tracks from genres like funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop to produce something to the tune of 15 or so remixes. Bustling interpretations of Kraak & Smaak, Una Mas Trio, and Brenda Boykin render this a headsy yet unpretentious dance dazzler.

Review: UK funk and jazz band, Smoove + Turrell, are back on the unstoppable Jalapeno Records with their fifth studio album for the label, making them the imprint's star residents. Alongside the deluge of LPs that they've released for Jalapeno, the outfit have dropped countless singles, each one of them showcasing one strand of funk and soul. Mount Pleasant is an undeniably festive collection of tunes, primed and ready for the summer months, full of zest and life for the dancers. The main ingredient is funk and jazz, but the power behind this memorable LP is the band's pop sensibility, coming through in everything from the vocals to the arrangements, creating a selection of tunes that are instantly memorable and painfully hummable. Is this the rise of the underground coming through above the line? Only time will tell, but we think these guys are the real deal.

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: Jalapeno superfunkers Smoove & Turrell celebrate a decade of their unique, fast lane dancefloor soul with this epic 18 track double LP that digs deep into their extensive five album body of work so far. Powerful, hooky and characterised consistently by John Turrell's gutsy, heart-punching vocal style, across the set we're blessed with everything from sparkling disco ("Beggarman") to stomping northern soul ("I'm A Man") via lavish 80s style funk and straight up Hammond slapping sweaty funk ("Lay It On Me"). A fittingly supersize sized set to celebrate a landmark anniversary for the northern troupe; here's to another 10 years.

Review: Modern day funkateers and stomping soul boys Smoove and Turrell can always be relied upon to deliver the party-starting goods. Even so, new album "Stratos Bleu" - their sixth studio set in total - may well be their strongest and most well-rounded set to date. Interestingly, this time round they've infused their usual breakbeat-driven funk and soul sound with a range of distinctly 1980s musical influences, including audible nods to boogie, electro, early Chicago house, Loose Ends, Soul II Soul and deep synth-pop. As a result, it's a hugely colourful and vibrant set, with Turrell's honeyed voice sounding particularly fresh atop Smoove's more electronic-sounding backing tracks.

Review: Wolfgang Valbrun carries the torch for all great soul musicians with an incredible debut album, which looks at the human frailty that has shaped by his lived experiences and hard-won articulation of current affairs. Resting on the intersectional axis of soul, rock and blues, Wolfgang provides introspective insight through raw and unapologetic lyrics, married with the dynamic musicianship of his band. Over ten tracks, Valbrun analyses relationships, money, religion, greed, growing civil unrest and the antagonism by authorities towards the marginalised; using these as springboards into self-reflection and via the prismatic medium of soul music, arrives at the conclusion that humanity is inherently lacking, and that we must learn to live with this, rather than striving to become totally whole.

Review: Comprising of five 45s and a booklet in a chunky presentation box, this celebration of two decades of the funk fuelled Jalapeno Records imprint would make a perfect Christmas gift, either to the DJ in your life, or yourself. It boasts a range of vintage cuts and more recent label treats, with highlights including the Northern Soul-inspired heat of 'Felony' by the Allergies, the soulful breakbeat sweetness of Kraak and Smaak's 'Squeeze Me (featuring Ben Westbeech)', the Latin funk-breaks business of Skeewiff's cheeky 'Soul Bossanova', the contemporary disco brilliance of Dimitri From Paris's tweak of Izo FitzRoy's 'I Want Magic', and the superb modern soul of Smoove & Turrell's 'Slow Down'.