Back catalogue: Funk/Reissues

Review: The Ipanemas fifth album 'Call Of The Gods' on the Far Out label, is a gorgeous slice of Brazilian vintage magic and clearly invokes the spirit of their 1962 debut 'Os Ipanemas'. Back then they forged their own unique sound by infusing bossa nova with African traditions, jazz instrumentation and the lyrical themes of Samba-Canção [sung samba]. 'Call of the Gods' exquisitely captures their self styled 'afro-bossa' sound of the 1960s, conjuring up that golden age Rio de Janeiro feel. The Ipanemas are a direct link to the old samba roots of the street bars in bohemian Lapa, the 1950s Copacabana jazz joints, and the emerging bossa wave. Wilson and Neco come from the source and made a sound all their own. Crucially, the album is driven throughout by the deep spiritual kick of the Afro-Brazilian religion and music Candomble, whose Gods inspire the title and so much more, as Wilson says 'Brazilian music is religion'. This album swings with grace and pure class, thanks to the rich experience only The Ipanemas can bring.

Review: Recorded at a time when Japan was in the midst of an intense love affair with all things jazz-funk, this long lost album by Cuban band Irakere (which was recorded in Japan in 1980) has been lovingly brought back into stock by the diggers supreme at Far Out Records.
Having formed in Cuba in 1973, Irakere brought their fusion of jazz and Afro-Cuban funk to these recordings, which were put together by Japanese bandleader Chikara Ueda (notable for having been sampled by Phoenix on "If I Ever Feel Better". The recordings certainly bear a distinctive Japanese quality to the production (sounding similar to Sadao Watanabe's 80's output), but Irakere's funk certainly punches through as well. Opener "Cuba Libre" sounds like an out-take from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly sessions complete with some tight Latin percussion, while "Sea Mail" is looser and blessed with some inspired alto-sax solo's.
The calm and sanguine "Que Pasa?" really shows off the clarity and perfection of the recording techniques, with every rim shot and guitar pluck picked up perfectly and clearly - rarely has this style of music been recorded in such a meticulous way. "Gospelanza" is another real highlight, as two separate pianos panned left and right duel with each other before the brass takes over and does the same. It's a magic moment on an album full of unexpected delights - a very worthwhile reissue indeed.