Back in stock: Funk/Reissues

Review: Over the course of two fine, full-length excursions, Don Glori (real name Gordon Li) has perfected a warm, breezy and frequently life-affirming trademark sound that cannily joins the dots between jazz, samba, MPB, jazz-funk and soul. He leans into the latter elements more on summery third set Paper Can't Wrap Fire, drawing on the talents of a wealth of Melbourne music friends across nine sublime tracks. There's much to admire throughout, from the sun-soaked jazz-funk/soul fusion of 'Brown Eyes' and summery head-nodder 'Janet', to the spiritual jazz joy of 'Song For Ants', the Brazilian brilliance of 'Precious' and the oceans-deep nu-jazz shuffle of 'Saturn's Return'.

Review: The magnificent Mukatsuku returns with another superb little package here on limited 12". It features the Afro disco sounds of Fred Fisher Atalobhor And His Ogiza Dance Band firstly on 'WTFS' which was originally released back in 1981. It's a booty-wiggling cut with myriad funky lines, squelchy synth motifs, lush chords and soul drenched vocals that bring the sunshine and party in equally playful measure. On the flip is 'Ebi Lolo' which is defined by its big brass section and loosey-goose guitar lines, bright chords and subtle funk. Two great gems once more from this on point label.

Review: Two cornerstones of rare Amazonian (!) cumbia appear together on 7" for the first time, as Vampisoul resurrect these wildly sought-after versions of 'Sonido Amazonico'. On one side is a hypnotic, percussion-heavy take by Ranil Y Su Conjunto Tropical, first and only released on LP. Led by Raul Llerena, this Iquitos band helped forge the sound of psychedelic cumbia through Llerena's Producciones Llerena imprint, now a holy grail label for collectors of such trove-bound tropical rarities. On the inverse comes Los Wembler's de Iquitos - of equal stature as one of the genre's most enduring groups - bringing their stomping rhythmoids to the same track; it also just so happens to remain one of their most defining anthems. The UK's not the only "jungle scene" out there - just listen to these killer, understoried sonic forests.

Review: Pam Todd & The Love Exchange's 'Let's Get Together' dropped in the golden disco era of the late 70s and is one of our all-time top jams. The percussive breakdown at the mid-section is magic, and it all oozes funk, as well as having a proper singalong vocal up top. Mr K maintains the care of the original while tweaking the drums for modern floors across three subtly different mixes here on the Shrylden label. We found this one in the warehouse, so don't sleep, cause it won't be around long.