Review: Two popular tracks from the highly rated and MURO-curated compilation Diggin Victor: Deep Into The Vaults Of Japanese Fusion / AOR are now made available for the first time on their own standout 7". Originally released as a limited item at an anniversary event, these rare gems are magically escapist sounds that blend library music, jazz, soul and Balearic mindsets into a pair of tropical heaters. The Kumi Sasak A-side is a real melodic noodler with meandering bass and a whimsical, carefree spirit as it heads nowhere in particular in hypnotic fashion. Side-B has 'Kimono' by Tetsuo Sakurai, which is a more rhythmic sound with funky bass riffs and 80s broken beats and a lush vocal.
Enjoy The Silence (Smoove Multitrack rework) (5:31)
Let's Stay Together (Smoove Multitrack rework) (6:20)
Blind Alley (Smoove Multitrack rework) (4:46)
Review: While the Reflex was the first to forge a career out of multi-track re-editing (which would have been called remixing back in the disco era, since you are rearranging using the original parts), plenty of producers have followed in his footsteps in recent times - not least popular disco and funk party-starter Smoove. Here he serves up a ninth instalment in his excellent 'Multitrack Reworks' series. On side A he does a stellar job in reinventing Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence' as a squelchy, synths-and-slap-bass sporting mid-tempo disco anthem, complete with spine-tingling vocal breakdowns. He opens side B with a stripped-back, dubbed-out take on Al Green classic 'Let's Stay Together', smartly emphasising the bittersweet beauty of the original version's orchestral accompaniment, before delivering a sweet, head-nodding take on the Emotions' 'Blind Alley'.
Review: This new 7" offers the chance to discover unearthed killer tunes from the vaults of the Austrian Public Broadcasting Institution (ORF), which officially appear on wax here for the first now time. Stefanie & ORF Big Band are behind 'Compared To What', a hard-hitting funk cut with lo-fi aesthetics and big horns. The flip side version is a subtle tweak with just as much energy. These tracks are pressed in top audio quality as they have been sourced directly from the archive master recordings. This release is a strictly limited edition so do not sleep.
The Style Council - "My Ever Changing Moods" (single version) (5:45)
Sergio Mendes & The Brazil '66 - "Tristeza (Goodbye Sadness)" (2:51)
Review: Tower Vinyl out of Japan is putting out a series of superb 7" records that bring together classic funk sounds from across several different sub-styles and decades. Could this sixth in the series be the first time that Paul Weller's The Style Council have ever appeared on the same record as Sergio Mendes & The Brazil '66? Quite possibly, but we are here for it. 'My Ever Changing Moods' (single version) is a superb bit of high-speed funk with guitars and synths paired to perfection under a smoky and smooth vocal from Weller. 'Tristeza (Goodbye Sadness)' is a shimmering bit of Brazilian samba.
Review: This seminal collaborative album by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson was released in 1975 but gets a special reissue for Record Store Day 2024. It blends jazz, soul and acute political commentary with Scott-Heron's powerful spoken-word lyrics alongside Jackson's innovative woodwind arrangements. The title track reflects the duo's global perspective and highlights the struggles for freedom and equality that are still so relevant today. The album's fusion of groove, intellect and activism marked a significant moment in Scott-Heron's career. With its poignant social messages and rich instrumentation, this record remains a timeless work of political and musical significance.
Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy - "Fire (She Need Water)"
Cougars - "Right On"
Eddie Spencer - "You're So Good To Me Baby"
The Hitch-Hikers - "Mr Fortune" (feat The Mighty Pope)
Noel Ellis - "Memories"
Wayne McGhie - "Here We Go Again"
Review: Working in partnership with Light in the Attic and curated by Grammy-nominated producer, DJ and journalist Kevin Howes this wonderful new collection chronicles a vital musical migration: in late-1960s Toronto, Caribbean immigrants infused the city with ska, rocksteady and reggae and recorded some of the era's toughest tracks. Originators from Studio One, Treasure Isle and Trojan Records all united and broke racial and cultural barriers to build an influential yet under-appreciated Canadian reggae scene that is now showcased with a 20-page booklet with archival images, artist bios and essays on this double vinyl set.
Review: New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee Bette Smith returns with her third album, Goodthing, which blends soul, gospel, and rock & roll. Produced by Grammy winner Jimmy Hogarth, the album features anthemic soul rock sounds driven by Smith's raspy, soulful vocals and rather reminiscent of the late great Tina Turner, as well as Aretha Franklin and Etta James. Influenced by her childhood in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Smith merges street-corner soul with the gospel music her mother loved. Building on the success of her previous albums, Jetlagger and The Good, The Bad, and The Bette, this new work again showcases her powerful range and solidifies her as a dynamic and ever-rising soul artist.
Review: This third collaborative album between Scream & P. Rock takes inspiration from a trip to Brazil, where they collected samples in Rio. As such the sounds blend Brazilian grooves, bass synths, live percussion, funky drums, guitar solos and vintage breaks with raw, experimental touches into an album full of life. The duo's signature sound is a fusion of their own DJing and music production and is ever more refined, having been crafted over the course of a year. Cinematic arrangements and a fresh approach to sampling make this another great chapter in this duo's musical story.
Review: Broken Shoes is the successor to Almon Memela's 1975 album Funk Africa, but it's even rarer and released under a different project name. This album highlights Memela's unique approach to African funk as he delivers two expansive 15-minute tracks that showcase his prowess as a guitarist and composer. For them, Memela teams up here with Soweto's Pelican Club house band, whose skilled members add a rich, rhythmic backbone to his intricate guitar lines. The two compositions on Broken Shoes feel like immersive musical journeys, drawing you into a landscape where traditional African influences meet the groove-driven energy of funk. The extended tracks provide ample space for the musicians to explore and build up layers of rhythm and melody with a live, almost hypnotic quality.
The Cliffs - "Revelation" (feat Mankunku Ngozi) (6:41)
The Four Sounds - "Seven Steps Lament" (6:39)
The Jazz Ministers - "Zandile" (11:10)
The Tailfeathers - "Tail Feathers" (4:33)
Cassidy Clarke Band - "Doctor L" (6:39)
Zim Ngqawana - "Kubi" (7:28)
Johnny Dyani - "Magwaza" (13:02)
Review: Fred Spider Presents Chakalaka Jazz: A Selection of South African Gems celebrates South Africa's unique and ever-moving jazz landscape. It is a scene that has always blended traditional niches with global influences and styles like marabi, goema and mbaqanga capture the essence of this as Fred "Voom Voom" Spider dives into those and many other rich, eclectic depths. Spider's term "Chakalaka Jazz" reflects the spicy blend of influences and is named after the local relish made from tomatoes, onions and chilli. This collection, spanning 1969 to 2003, is a mix of local talent, exiles and expats that honours the golden era of the 1970s.
Mujeres Sud Americanas (The Women Of South America)
Miss T
Graciela
Amigos
Taking A Good Long Look
Review: This is a real jazz-funk gem for those who know, but it has long been out of print after its initial release on PM Records in 1976. It features an all-star lineup of saxophonist Steve Grossman, bassist Gene Perla and percussionist Don Alias and highlights include Stevie Wonder's 'Creepin'' and the iconic 'Sweetie Pie' which has famously been sampled by acts like the Beastie Boys. The Stone Alliance trio is joined by Argentine musicians who enrich their sharp core sound with keyboards, percussion and bandoneon for a warm, lyrical vibe. A real 70s masterpiece.
Review: Stone Alliance dropped a number of now cult albums that brought fresh invention to the world of jazz-funk back in the 1970s in their prime. Many have become hard to find and out-of-print pieces that cost a pretty penny. Heads Up is a fine example of the trio's signature prowess featuring saxophonist Steve Grossman (who worked with Miles Davis no less, plus bassist Gene Perla and percussionist Don Alias. The album blends sharp improvisation with rich, global influences and standout tracks like 'Tribute to Afreeka' and 'Jimmy & Donnie.'
Review: By and large, disco albums of the 1970s and 80s are largely rubbish, mixing shorter versions of dancefloor epics (at least in their superior 12" version forms) with saccharine ballads. Sylvester's Step II, first released in 1978 and here revived in audiophile-friendly form, is an exception to the rule. Unusually, there's no excess fat and plenty of righteous, life-affirming dancefloor heat with the peerless 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' and San Fran disco-classic 'Dance (Disco Heat)' being accompanied by the high-octane disco-funk stomp of 'Grateful' and the languid soul-funk bump of 'Was It Something I Said'. Even the slower numbers are excellent, particularly 'Epilogue' - a slowed-down, gospel-tinged 'reprise' of 'Mighty Real' that's worth the admission price on its own.
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