New releases last two weeks: Funk/Reissues

Review: Just three months after its predecessor was released, the second and final part of Joe Armon-Jones' epic All The Quiet album series lands in stores. Entirely written, produced and mixed by the man himself - with a few friends and high-profile guests popping up to add instruments or take to the mic - the set offers atmospheric, immersive and perfectly-pitched musical fusions rooted in his various sonic influences (think jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop and dub). Highlights are plentiful, from the deep and dreamy jazz-soul shuffle of 'Another Place' (featuring significant contributions from vocalists Greentea Peng and Wu-Lu), to the warming, dubbed-out soul of top-tier Yazmin Lacey collaboration 'One Way Traffic'.

Review: Long buried and now finally pressed to 7", 'Drug Story' is a curious outtake from Joe Bataan's post-Riot! hot streak, recorded in the late 60s, when studio time came easy and inspiration even easier. Originally shelved by Fania execs, who balked at what they misread as an endorsement of drug use, the track sat forgotten until a reel surfaced in a New York thrift store and eventually made its way into Vampisoul's hands. First released on the eponymous Drug Story LP in 2022, it now appears in its firstly intended single format. The track unspools slowly, with Bataan on lead vocal and keys, eventually flipping into a looser Latin funk section with Bobby Rodriguez, Pete Quintero and William Howes Jr.

Review: First featured on Body And Soul's ultra-rare 1971 album and now a coveted collector's item, these two standout funk beauties are available on 7" vinyl for the first time. Essential for any self-respecting soul and funk fanatic, this one captures the raw, vintage energy of a bygone era and still cuts through today. The A-side, 'In the Beginning,' serves up deep funk grooves and soulful harmonies reminiscent of Sly Stone's classic sound. On the flip, the band offers a vibrant, funk-infused take on Laura Nyro's 'Stone Soul Picnic' and reimagines the timeless track with bold rhythms and all-new and funky fresh flair.

Review: Adeen Records is back with its The Bird series and this time Cad73 is the one at the buttons. First up he flips the age old classic 'Love and Happiness' into a smooth and seductive sound with lush chords and warming melodies. Flip it over and you will find a rework of 'How Can I Forget You' which becomes a Northern Soul great with big hooks and driving rhythms that will get big reactions in the club. Two different but equally effective and cultured cuts.

Review: The Bird series is back once again with a fourth offering and it is label founder Jason Wilkins who takes care of this one under his Camille moniker. It kicks off with a flip of 'Hogin' Machine' that has raw and dusty drums and funky basslines that keep on coming and keep you locked. things slow down n the B-Side with 'Safari in D'. This one becomes a more mellow and laidback sound that offer a different take on an original by L'Eclair. The bass is warm and melodic, the drums loveably lazy and the keys jazzy and pensive. Super stuff for lo-fi lovers.

Review: Moscow's premier instrumental outfit the Diasonics return with a limited clear vinyl 7" drawn from their forthcoming second LP Ornithology. The A's 'Oriole' locks into a crisp disco-funk rhythm, combining icy Soviet-era synth motifs with the kind of motorik groove that could've come straight off a 70s Eastern European library session, its minimalist melody mimicking the oriole's call while nodding to the Moscow commuter train of the same name. Flip it for 'Chickadee', all break-heavy thump, plucky bass and streetwise swagger straight from early 80s NYC.

Review: Dancin' The Mambo (The Reflex Revision) grooves with infectious disco energy, seamlessly blending Chic-esque rhythms with early piano house vibes. The Reflex's revision injects new life into this 1980 gem, maintaining its French flair while adding modern twists. With its pulsating basslines and irresistible beats, this track is a testament to the timeless allure of disco music. Perfect for igniting dancefloors, its vibrant energy captures the essence of a bygone era while feeling fresh and exciting for contemporary audiences. Prepare to be transported to a world where disco reigns supreme and every beat compels you to move.

Review: Mushi 45 prompt a history lesson: Hailing from Paris in the early 70s, Lafayette Afro Rock Band forged a fusion of American funk and West African rhythms, producing grooves that stuck like thumbtacks through later genera such as hip-hop and electronica. Their track 'Darkest Light' stands out for its piercing, mussitating bari sax riff, famously looped on Jay-Z's 'Show Me What You Got'. Another essential cut, 'Deep Gully', delivers sharp guitar stabs over a crisp drum break, also a backbone for numerous hip-hop and jungle tracks. The group's sessions at Pierre Jaubert's Parisound studio yielded records like Soul Makossa and Malik, both cult classics rich in percussion and horn work.

Review: Brazilian hip-hop star Laiz follows her breakthorugh Ela Partiu album from last year with a multilingual, percussion-heavy tribute to Jorge Ben Jor & Quarteto Em Cy, threading Brazilian hip-hop through Latin groove, Afrobeat and free jazz. Recorded at Nima Studio in Hildesheim with her 20-strong band dubbed the New Love Experience, the album sits between languages and borders, echoing Laiz's own migration from Jundiai to Europe in 2019. Shaped as much by cultural dissonance as it is by Babylonian joy, the record is sung in seven languages, leaning on lyrical mysticism and transitive instrumental interplay, telling particular stories of heritage, upheaval and diasporic unity.

Review: The Owl label kicks on with another party-starting mix of edits and remixes that blend funk, disco and soul into pure heat. 'Gimme Your Thang' is a low-slung opener with a filthy bassline and James Brown samples bringing it to life. 'Freaky To You' reworks a g-funk classic into a lavish and bumping slow-motion seducer and 'Rock Me Again' brings chunky, rolling funk with more classic vocal samples. 'Future Shock' shuts down with a lovely falsetto vocal and some psyched-out guitars.

Review: This fourth volume continues this series' mission of bringing some rare Afro-disco gems up to date for modern dancefloors. New life is brought into lesser-known classics while preserving the vibrant energy of the genre right from the off with Side A offering up the infectious, organic sounds of 'MPDD' while Side B offers 'MKZB' which has a seriously groove-heavy bassline and smartly layered percussion. Both of these are proper secret weapons for DJs and pure bait for dancers.

Review: Madrid-based Sinouj blends Mediterranean roots with contemporary jazz, funk, rock and West African rhythms on this wonderful new 7". Their inclusive approach brings together influences from flamenco, Iranian classical, soul and modern jazz, all of which can be heard here in music that feels both global and uniquely theirs. Their latest release reimagines 'Hak Dellali,' a North African classic popularised in the 80s by Tunisian and Emirati artists. Sinouj transforms the song with Moroccan chaabi beats and Tuareg blues-rock energy, and it has become a staple and standout of their live shows. A psychedelic remix by Berlin's Voodoocuts adds a club-ready angle.

Review: The third full-length from London nine-piece Soul Grenades distils over a decade of performance into slick, high-impact modern funk. Their sound - sharp brass, syncopated rhythm, deep-pocket bass - owes as much to the horn-driven grooves of the Meters as to the tightly orchestrated grit of early 2000s revivalists. But it's the band's songwriting, honed through years of gigging, that carries the weight here. 'Dopamine' is an instant opener, kinetic and bright, while 'Jealousy' draws from vintage soul drama with horn stabs and raw vocal flair. On 'Star Gazin'' and 'Be Mine', they shift into a softer register without losing rhythmic tension. 'Death At The Disco' ups the stakes, laced with cinematic flair, and 'Suga Mama' punches through with high-speed strut. Elsewhere, the slow-burn closer 'A Better Day' leans into gospel-funk catharsis, building tension in restrained waves. Everything is dialled in - arrangements tight, solos concise, vocal harmonies blended without fuss. While earlier records mapped out the group's energy on stage, this one moves with the confidence of a studio band in full control. As far as raw pleasure goes, they've hit the brief.

Review: Venice-based DJ and collector Zaffa is next up on the ever-superb Scruniversal label with a couple more delightful disco dancers. 'Trip Through The Galaxy' is a slow-motion cosmic trip that is vast in scale and high on soul thanks to the warm vocal that floats amidst funky riffs and glowing keys. Things stay just as sensuous and steamy on the flip with 'Supernova Child', another fluid and funky jam with oodles of synth magic and gentle grooves all soothing mind, body and soul. The real kicker is the vocal samples that add extra spaced-out funkiness.