Cerca:funk lab

A one-off 12” from New York’s early 80s boogie underground, Hustlin’ Time was the only single released under the name American Steel. Originally pressed in 1983 on the small but cult Silver Screen Records label, it’s become a rare find for collectors and a secret weapon for DJs in the know.

Built around a strutting bassline, tight drums, and soulful vocals, Hustlin’ Time captures the essence of the boogie sound at its peak, equal parts funk, disco and electro. The 12" delivers four distinct takes: the full vocal, a shorter edit, a stripped-back instrumental, and a Dub mix courtesy of Aldo Marin under his S.U.R.E. Shot alias. Marin would go on to become a fixture in NYC remix culture, and his early touch here brings a raw dancefloor edge.

A 140 gram pressing in 3mm spine black disco sleeve with labels and sticker designed by Bradley Pinkerton.

With a multi-decade spanning back catalogue behind him, Bearface aka Raj Panasa shows no signs of slowing down. Over the years he has built a sturdy reputation around his distinct and innovative feel-good touch whether that be on his own Beartone Records, or the many other labels he has shared his classy sound with.

“Remakes and Raw Cuts Vol. 1” is the launch of a new vinyl series from the London-based producer, a safe place for him to showcase his eclectic sound, alongside edits and remakes of some of his favourites over the years, all finding a home on his Beartone label.

Starting off on the A side Bearface provides a funk fuelled latin explosion with his version of the classic “Tudo Que Você Podia Ser”, sassy disco attitude ready for the summer months, presenting some unforgivable dance floor mania. The A2 “Got To Be” is an original cut, meandering between playful guitar licks, and stripped back, hypnotic percussion, there is a curious atmosphere as the track continues to simmer.

On the flip side an edit from the revered beatmaker. First up he edits “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’” by Jermaine Jackson, the infectious vocal injects a zesty life into a killer electro groove, a playful and animated trip ready to rock the floor! Closing out the EP is the retro sounding “Everything”, the robotic vocal flashes in and out, nodding towards Daft Punk, boasting beautiful strings and crispy hi-hats bringing that day time energy.

Bearface teasing those summer moments with a jam packed EP brimming with sunshine and positivity, dive in and feel the fun!

Peek of Normal is the new label from disco veteran Stevie Kotey, whose productions have graced the Bear Funk, Ambassador's Reception, Strut, Electric Minds and many more labels in the past. Pretty much its first move was to ink a deal with Dutch master Mark du Mosch, who'd been friends with Kotey since the latter moved to Rotterdam in 2005 and discovered his neighbour had similar tastes in disco. This new label's inaugural release, Sterling Melody, is quite the labour of love, and with eight tracks spread across a double vinyl pack collection lean more towards the coldwave, electro and synthpop of the early 80s rather than 70s disco. There are echoes of some pretty classic sounds here, from the Vince Clarke-esque throb of '77777st' and 'A5G Neowise' - not unlike the soundtrack work of mid period Tangerine Dream - to the slower motioning Italo-tinged shininess of 'Soluzio'. Our favourite is the title track itself, perky and full of sparkle, like the incidental music for a lost series about a mullet-clad, white linen suited detective who doesn't play by the rules, only much, much better. Definitely worth a Peek.

C.A.R. (Choosing Acronyms Randomly) is the musical project of Chloé Raunet, a Canadian-born, London-based artist known for her icy synths, warm vocals, and left-field pop sensibility. Drawing from post-punk, electro, and experimental songwriting, she creates music that’s both emotionally charged and sonically adventurous.

Following a five-year hiatus, C.A.R. returns with Shyana, the first single from her long-awaited fourth album, Dance at Oscar’s. Produced by Nathan Ridley, the release marks a creative rebirth: a new label, a new live formation with Joni Green, and a sound pulsing with revitalised energy. After a pandemic-induced break to focus on filmmaking — and a period of burnout and disillusionment — Raunet was ready to walk away from music altogether. But a pair of carried-over festival dates and an impromptu onstage reunion with longtime friend Joni Green unexpectedly reignited the spark. What was meant to be a farewell became the start of something new.

Shyana is a shimmering slice of machine-funk — a warped and groovy tribute to Paul Anka, filtered through C.A.R.’s surreal pop lens. A meditation on teen hysteria, pop manufacture, and the strange alchemy of early fame, the track pulses with wonky elegance and strutting confidence. One of the most playful cuts from Dance at Oscar’s, it showcases Nathan Ridley’s tight, swaggering production while capturing the album’s embrace of movement, humour, and the weirdness of cultural nostalgia.

On the B-side, Cecilia Road offers a more reflective counterpoint — a nostalgic, synth-drenched ballad built around a call-and-response vocal, throbbing melodies, and emotional tension. Intimate yet expansive, it hints at vulnerability without losing the pulse.

Artwork by Chloé Raunet, Craig Richards and Oliver Hupfau.

Ukokos back on a super-limited white label !!

Using the vocals from Cassio Ware and Blaze's classic 'Funky People', this is a raw and possibly even funkier re-rub than the original House classic.
The Ukokos production is deep, gritty, and loaded with a large dose of underground electronic 4/4 funk. We reckon this will turn some heads :

LORD PARAMOUR IS BACK!
After their first big break, the duo returns with "Doom", a second album as daring as it is captivating.
At the helm are DJ Marrrtin, graffiti artist, beatmaker, Stereophonk label captain, member of Funky Bijou, Aktshun, Tino & Marrrtin… & Ajax Tow, DJ-cosmonaut and all-round musician, known for his unpredictable and eclectic sets.
DOOM is a true sonic odyssey: edgy breakbeats, hallucinatory psychedelic vibes, oriental grooves in the style of post-Bollywood library music, a hint of 70s krautrock… and always that downtempo, post-punk, and space groove that is their signature style.
An album like a journey through a cosmic mixtape—retro, futuristic, romantic, and radically free. DOOM isn't just a record. It's a sonic adventure. An imaginary soundtrack. A stylish slap.
Edition of 300 ex - Hand mande Screen printed cover - Hand numbered.

For its sixth release, Rio de Janeiro’s Onda Boa label sees founder Joutro Mundo, step up once again - this time reviving and re-vibing Netinho’s independent 1980s bop, “Du Du Du Domingo”.

Netinho first made his mark in the 1960s as the drummer for Brazilian beat icons Os Incríveis, then again in the 1970s with the heavier, lysergic sounds of Casa das Máquinas. By the 1980s, he had turned toward a new vision, inspired by the spiritual group Amor e Caridade. Released on his own imprint, Manancial do Amor, 1982’s Apartamento 97 – Projeto Amor & Caridade Vol. 2 brought together heavyweights Zé Rodrix, Faísca, and Manito to expand on this funky, pop-rock chapter first introduced with 1980’s Amor & Caridade Vol. 1.

According to Netinho, a year passed in search of inspiration for the follow-up LP before he began receiving notes and poems through his medium, dictated to her by his “protector.” Following that divine intervention, the album’s songs were completed in just two days—including the standout track, “Du Du Du Domingo,” an ode to the beauty of a Sunday afternoon after the toils of the workweek.

Side A presents the original track, lovingly remastered, in all its stripped-down, idiosyncratic glory. A bubbling synth bass paired with a nimble electric bass line set the stage for the plunky synth melody that defines this anomalous yet infectious gem—before giving way to a samba break and a wafting crowd noise that instantly transports you to a sunny Sunday by the sea.

On the B-side, Joutro Mundo injects a new vitality into the track with crisp hi-hats, a thumping kick, and other subtle studio magic. The samba break is brought forward, while the electric bass line—previously bubbling beneath the surface—rises to center stage around the three-minute mark. True to form, Joutro Mundo avoids the obvious, drawing on his deep crates and production sorcery to conjure up yet another gem for the balearic heads and other lovers of left-field dancefloor deviance.

Followed by the first release last year Chinese label Motivation, curated by B.ai, comes back with its second V.A. featuring Ilkay Yeler, J6, SMEV and NAE. The vinyl attributes in progressive house, electro house and electro.

Opening track “Destiny” ‘s morphing main motif gets kept in check by a steady pulse of snappy bass. Enigmatical vocal samples add to the ambiguous atmosphere, so the sets of twinkling mallets J6 sleekly includes, bring a touch of subtle lightness.

A-2 Ilkay Yeler’s sound is fueled by endless nights of groove, and on “Frontliner” this translates to a hypnotic trip into the deep end. Underneath its dreamlike current of silky chords a steady bass riff propels everything forward, allowing a restless arp to zone in and out.

Flipping to the side B, Sev’s Miami-inspired 808 patterns have “Clearing The Fog” come out of the gates swinging. Bright flutes and big basslines provide this slab of machine funk with a tapestry of melody, and fluorescent synth solos top it off.

Nay ends affairs on a melancholic note with “Silent River”. The leads sound like they ran through an eighties wave pedal chain, and as pondering chords and choirs work their way in, a Juno 6 bass adds extra depth. Still firmly directed at the club, the track escapes easy classification - and suitably closes a diverse yet coherent EP.

Ixona ist das zweite Album des Chicagoer Komponisten Conor Mackey unter seinem Pseudonym Lynyn. Lynyns meisterhafte instrumentale Elektronikkompositionen, die hauptsächlich mit Hardware erstellt wurden, greifen auf eine Vielzahl von Einflüssen zurück, darunter Drum and Bass, Dub-Techno und Acid, und tauchen den Hörer in eine Umgebung ein, die sowohl weitläufig als auch überraschend intim ist. Während komplexe Breakbeats durch körnige Texturen und pointillistische Schwärme huschen, entsteht dieser Ort, der kein Ort ist, und erstrahlt. Als klassisch ausgebildeter Musiker und Komponist hat Mackey mit einer Vielzahl von Partnern zusammengearbeitet, von Symphonieorchestern bis hin zu Popsängern. Er spielt Gitarre in der Avantgarde-Jazzband Monobody und hat mit seinen Labelkollegen NNAMDI und Warm Human von Sooper Records Platten produziert. Tagsüber schreibt er funktionale Musik, die von neurowissenschaftlichen Prinzipien geprägt ist, für eine spezielle Streaming-Plattform. Mit seinem Projekt Lynyn taucht Mackey tief in die glitzernden Details fein gearbeiteter Maschinenmusik ein: wie sich Cluster künstlicher Fragmente zu lebendigen Bewegungen zusammenfügen können. Mackeys Arbeit ist geprägt von den dichten, treibenden Feinheiten von IDM-Künstlern wie Aphex Twin und Squarepusher, deren Einfluss auf Lynyns Debütalbum lexicon (Sooper Records) aus dem Jahr 2022 deutlich zu hören ist. In den Jahren nach der Veröffentlichung von ,Lexicon" vertiefte sich Mackey in den Minimal-Dub-Techno der Jahrtausendwende von Künstlern wie Pole, Basic Channel und Deepchord. Das Album ,Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records" von Jan Jelinek hatte besonderen Einfluss auf Lynyns nächste Schritte. ,Es ist ein Album, bei dem man sich richtig in die Couch sinken lassen kann. Es ist extrem weitläufig, aber es fühlt sich sehr nah an - sehr eindringlich, aber gleichzeitig beruhigend", sagt er. ,Es gibt diese kleinen Vinyl-Klicks und -Knackser, und die Percussion besteht aus Mikro-Sounds, und dann gibt es diese Ebenen von Pads und Loops im Hintergrund. Auf Ixona habe ich versucht, diese Komponenten in den Stil zu integrieren, an dem ich seit Jahren arbeite."

Side A / Double A / Work it Out
Not that it really matters, but, new label artwork alert! For release number 008, Mountain 45s gives its labels a fresh, clean look and goes small hole. It’s a “Double A” sider from the label bawss, Double A. And, like Chuck D said, “brother’s gonna work it out”. Big drums, and a new arrangement give this soul classic a dance floor update. For the b-boys/b-girls (and all the dancers), this one will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Side B/ Double A / Skewed Down
This one made the rounds for a while as a digital drop but finally get’s its vinyl due. Hoggin’ drums and the funkiest of bass lines make this a hip-hop rework sure-shot. For old school players and new school fools alike.

Next up on Bosconi, the ever-persistent Italian outpost helmed by DJ sorcerer Fabio della Torre, comes a bold new chapter from label mainstay Lapucci—a familiar name to heads who remember his trippy debut Levitated Sensor Detector (LSD).

With Level of Control, the Florence-based Burbi Dub dubplate conjurer delivers a four-track EP that travels across moody electronics, psychedelic grooves, and off-world rhythms.

Kicking off the A-side is “Radio Controller”, a dark and melodic new beat jam with deep ‘80s roots—think obscure synths, rolling drum-machine funk, and a haunting vocoder line that crackles like forgotten transmissions.
Next up, “Einstein”. This one’s a jacking electro-techno burner, all drive and tension—built for those peak-time moments where things feel like they could go off the rails. There’s a cinematic sense of anticipation here, a nod to the cosmic weight of relativity and dancefloor gravity.

Flip to the B-side for “Level of Reality”—a trance-soaked electro weapon, laced with a screaming guitar-like lead and a soaring, emotional melody. It’s peak-time power with sunrise sensitivity—equal parts rave and revelation.
Closing things out is “Irabijanti”, a stripped-back, hypnotic afterhours tool with a fresh, effortless groove. Subtle nods to Middle Eastern scales and rhythms give it a dreamlike, drifting feel—like getting lost in the dunes of some alien desert.

Another must-have from the Bosconi mothership—Lapucci pilots us further out, not with a bang but with a slow magnetic pull into somewhere weird, warm, and wired.

Hard Times and DJ Spen go back decades. The Baltimore house veteran has long been a fixture at the label’s parties, on the remixes, and now under his Muthafunkaz alias he cements the bond with a set that’s as much a time capsule as it is a renewal. The Muthafunking Hard Times EP revisits a clutch of Spen’s early-to-mid-2000s jams that, till now, have never been committed to wax. True to form, Spen hasn’t simply dusted them off: he’s remastered, refreshed, and imbued them with a 2025 gleam, bridging past and present in one irresistible sweep.

The A-side opens with the Funkee Kole Cappin’ Mix of 2008’s “(You Make Me Say) Woah!”, a gospel-fired stormer whose call-and-response vocals climb skyward while a cheeky Fab Four nod keeps things buoyant. “Holy Ghost” follows in its Holy Spirit incarnation, wringing church-floor catharsis from tribal percussion and sanctified chants - a blast of kinetic, almost Faya Combo-like fervor.

Flip the record and you’re hit with the swing and strut of 2010’s “Gotta Hold On Me,” Spen’s Vocal Mix turning horns and jazzy drums into a pure adrenaline surge. The closer, “Doin’ The Best I Can,” is a tonal shift: harmonica and guitar sketches circling loose-limbed beats, equal parts after-hours reverie and Sunday-morning balm.

Too vibrant, too joyous, too Spen not to press - The Muthafunking Hard Times EP isn’t just archival housekeeping. It’s an affirmation of what house music does best: uplift, electrify, and remind you that, even decades on, the spirit still moves.

DJ Support: Fred P, Mark Farina, Harvey Sutherland and more

When two underground icons like James Curd and Fred P join forces, the result is more than just acollaboration-it's a cross-continental meeting of deep house minds. The track was born in James Curd's Adelaide studio while Fred P was in Australia, capturing a rare and organic creative moment between two respected figures in house music. James Curd, known for his work with Greenskeepers and his extensive catalog across labels like Classic, Defected, and DFA, brings a playful yet precise groove, while Fred P, the introspective deep house pioneer behind Black Jazz Consortium, adds soulful depth and hypnotic finesse. The remix package elevates things even further. Harvey Sutherland, a staple in Australia's modern funk and electronic scene, brings his analog synth wizardry-his remix credentials include Disclosure and Jamiroquai. Austin Ato, a UK house innovator with a DFTD remix for Groove Armada, injects vibrant dancefloor energy. And Junior Sanchez, a long-time figure in New York's club culture, rounds it out with a heavyweight version - he's flipped everyone from A-Trak to Madonna. This is a lineup that speaks volumes before you even hit play.

Christian Beetz aka FRWCTRL contributed to the „Edits for the common man“ label in
2017 already, and the master of Hanseatic Balearic is back now with two edits perfect for
summer time. Austro Funk and Brazilian Balearic House rarities that light up any digger's
heart!
Yours truly, Mr. Fonk, is back too of course. His two edits showcase the classic 1978
Disco popularity peak, as well as its demise into obscurity in 1980, with an Euro Disco
Boogie tune.

Revolution 1988 EP is an innovative interpretation of early House and Acid House vibes. Clocking in at 125 Bpm on the A side, it sets the mood for the sonic exploration of naturally expressed, impactful and upbeat classic house piano riffs and a tight rhythm section, contaminated with a punchy bassline and rich percussive elements. To complete the journey, it’s also worth mentioning the effortless contribution of well worked out vocals and dubby kind of FXs that will lift the dancefloor to the very last beat.

The Red Pill can’t be labelled as a B side, in that it is a dancefloor filler of its own. Creating an 80s feel, it’s driven by funky, low rumbling bassline, and an articulated, snappy, sharp percussions, it infuses pure dancefloor energy with disco vibes and organic grooves. It encapsulates the listener/dancer in an immersive sonic bubble of exquisitely full range textures, emotional layers and sound stage experience. Again, meaningful vocals and piano grooves intermix with reggae/dub FXs and delays. Stick around for the finale and get ready for the unexpected ....

C.A.R. (Choosing Acronyms Randomly) is the musical project of Chloé Raunet, a Canadian-born, London-based artist known for her icy synths, warm vocals, and left-field pop sensibility. Drawing from post-punk, electro, and experimental songwriting, she creates music that’s both emotionally charged and sonically adventurous.

Following a five-year hiatus, C.A.R. returns with Shyana, the first single from her long-awaited fourth album, Dance at Oscar’s. Produced by Nathan Ridley, the release marks a creative rebirth: a new label, a new live formation with Joni Green, and a sound pulsing with revitalised energy. After a pandemic-induced break to focus on filmmaking — and a period of burnout and disillusionment — Raunet was ready to walk away from music altogether. But a pair of carried-over festival dates and an impromptu onstage reunion with longtime friend Joni Green unexpectedly reignited the spark. What was meant to be a farewell became the start of something new.

Shyana is a shimmering slice of machine-funk — a warped and groovy tribute to Paul Anka, filtered through C.A.R.’s surreal pop lens. A meditation on teen hysteria, pop manufacture, and the strange alchemy of early fame, the track pulses with wonky elegance and strutting confidence. One of the most playful cuts from Dance at Oscar’s, it showcases Nathan Ridley’s tight, swaggering production while capturing the album’s embrace of movement, humour, and the weirdness of cultural nostalgia.

On the B-side, Cecilia Road offers a more reflective counterpoint — a nostalgic, synth-drenched ballad built around a call-and-response vocal, throbbing melodies, and emotional tension. Intimate yet expansive, it hints at vulnerability without losing the pulse.

Artwork by Chloé Raunet, Craig Richards and Oliver Hupfau.

The idea of the project is to reconstruct a different perspective of Tribal Italia, an imprint set in 1995 in Riccione.

The label recollected the attitude of the Afro/Cosmic djs of the region like Meo, Fary, Fattori and Brahms that created a distinctive "world-sound trademark" in whole Italy and Europe (as seen lately in the Austrian experiments of Stefan Egger).

There was a side of the label that was clearly influenced by the "heavy-sample" culture of Hip-Hop and, especially, by what was going on in the UK where groups like Transglobal Underground and Loop Guru were creating a new identitarian imagination.

These influences gave birth to a suggestive selection of the best breaks of the Tribal Italia catalogue

Exit were a five-piece ensemble of journeymen musicians from the lone star state of Texas who came together in the early 1980’s to record a handful of popular local 45’s including two Football-mania songs. The groups line-up consisted of lead guitarist and vocalist Clennis High, rhythm guitarist Lonnie Jones, his brother Johnny K. Jones the groups keyboardist, bassist Frank Houston Jr and George Oliver on Drums.

Clennis High, a promising Football player with a flair for playing the guitar began his early musical career while attending Wheatley High school. Aged 17, Clennis played on several Crazy Cajun, Huey P Meaux’s recording sessions for Eugene Gamble and Barbara Lynn. Further recording sessions on Roy Head followed before he accepted an invitation by his neighborhood friend Willie Parnell to play alongside a group of fellow students in a band called ‘The Drells’. ‘The Drells’ had been founded by Archie Bell in 1966 pulling together neighborhood friends James Wise, base singer Cornelius Fuller, Billy Butler, Willie Parnell joined later by Archie’s brother Lee Bell. Clennis would play with ‘Archie & The Drells’ through their time on Skipper Lee Frazier’s Ovide label often accompanied by the ‘Texas Southern University Toronadoes’ where they scored a hit with the dance instruction song “Tighten Up” which on the strength of Atlantic Records picked the group up. Clennis played on all 3 of the Drells studio albums “Tighten Up”, “I Can’t Stop Dancing” and There’s Gonna Be A Showdown” under Gamble and Huff’s tutelage before quitting to return home to complete his degree. He continued to play with several local Houston bands including the Cold Four who recorded the sort after “Love And Care/Low Riden” (Drells).

Clennis later formed ‘The Reality Band’ with his friend Jerald Grey which introduced him to George Oliver and Frank Houston Jr. Occasionally ‘The Reality Band’ played with other groups, one group in particular (which Jerald previously knew) being an outfit from Conroe, Texas called the ’58 Engineers.

‘The 58 Engineers’ were founded by Johnny and Lonnie Jones, taking their name from the Army unit Johnny served with during his time in the service. By 1973 having grown to 8 members the group entered the studio to record the highly collectable and popular funk outing “The Funky Fly (Part1 & 2)” on their own Bryant Records label (Bryant being the Jones brother’s mother’s maiden name).

As members of the ‘58 Engineers’ moved on, the Jones brothers found themselves working more and more with the ‘Reality Band’ so when Jerald Grey too later moved on the remaining ‘Reality Band’ members Clennis, George and Frank having grown fond of the two “Country Brothers from Conroe” as they affectionally called the Jones’s made the decision to continue working with them, which led to the foundation of the group, Exit.

During 1980 the recently formed Exit recorded the first of their two Football -mania songs but it is from the groups 1981 release “Success/One More Hour” (Dat-Tex 105) that Soul Junction have taken the splendid ballad “One More Hour” to pair with the flipside of the groups third release “The Little Green Monster” (Dal-Tex 106) which is now highly regarded and sort after by sweet soul/lowrider connoisseurs alike. Both of these songs have been put back-to-back to feature on Soul Junction’s forthcoming September 45 release.

Selecting melodious and groovy crossover, fusion, and jazz-funk tracks from the Nippon Columbia catalog, including its sub-label Better Days, that City Pop fans will love.
The track selection and commentary are curated by Hitoshi Kurimoto, the most popular City Pop influencer in Japan.
This unique selection includes tracks from Soul Media, Hiromasa Suzuki, Kazumi Watanabe, and Kiyoshi Sugimoto, along with previously unreissued gems.
The artwork is designed by Stereo Tennis, known for its popular '80s-inspired graphics.
A must-have for fans of Japanese Jazz and City Pop.

Celestial Echo (miche & Stu Clark) team up with Divine Disco’s Greg Belson to launch a brand-new 7-inch series spotlighting Detroit’s powerhouse gospel, soul and R&B label — HOB (House of Beauty). Founded in 1956 by Mrs. Carmen Murphy, HOB wasn't just a label — it was a beacon. From the basement of her beauty salon on Detroit’s West Side, she ran one of the most important Black-owned gospel imprints of the 20th century. At a time when both the music industry and the country were stacked against her, Mrs. Murphy built a sanctuary for soul — a Black woman-owned business and creative hub in volatile times.

This inaugural 7-inch kicks off with two in-demand killers:

Side A: Elder Ward & The Ward Singers – "It’ll All Be Over" A fast-paced gospel dancer with a monster groove, killer breaks and heart-wrenching vocal delivery — this one’s a guaranteed floor-filler and rarely surfaces for less than £250 on the collector circuit, if at all. Urgent, uplifting, and impossible to ignore.

Side B: Victory Travelers – "Power Lord" Another holy grail moment — deep, raw, and unshakeably soulful. Rare in its original form, often fetching close to £100, it’s a heavy dose of electrified gospel sure to hit home with fans of deep soul and spiritual funk alike. Fully licensed and remastered, this 7-inch comes housed in a custom Celestial Echo / Divine Disco series sleeve with a faithful reproduction of the HOB label.