Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

AS WE CONTINUE ON! Caserta is back with another vocal you haven’t heard on it’s own before with music that defies the time period the song was actually recorded in. If it wasn’t for the recognizable vocal that is Curtis the A Side could be confused with something you might of found on Beat Electric back in the day. Growling bass and boogie synths stabs make for a west coast post disco affair.

While the B side is a cheeky take on another 80s classic from the legendary Solar Records catalog. With the familiar 808 drum and lush 80s synths it might be a bit of a task to figure out what version to sing along with!

This EP sees the third outing for Celestial Being, with creator Felix Buxton ( Basement Jaxx ) unveiling a recorded version of the Love Frequency Trilogy, sung by Citizens Of The World Choir & London Contemporary Voices ( LCV ) accompanied by some further sonic ethereal journeys.

Celestial Being creates music and art with Spirituality and Connection to the Divine at its core.

Love Frequency Trilogy was performed twice last year, by the ‘Got Soul Choir’ (created to combat loneliness and isolation) as part of the Edinburgh Wellness Festival and by Citizens Of The World Choir (Refugees and friends) & LCV as part of a global Peace Broadcast for International Peace Day 2020 with Peace One Day.

The Trilogy consists of:
‘Awake’ - A hymn to the power of now and a realisation of the divine essence in all of us.

‘Raise The Vibration’ - Spiritual jazz dance for free spirits calling us to ‘Raise The Vibration, all throughout creation!’

‘The Love Frequency’ - A meditative mantra accompanied by Crystal Harp harmonics of the love frequency and healing harmonics.

Accompanying tracks include:

‘Finding Our Way’ a shamanic trance-inducing deep house journey.

‘Always’ Uplifting angelic voices move through a cathedral of space and time. Spacey Alternative Electronic.

‘New Moons’ a John Cage-esque minimal soundscape of lunar awakening.

‘Love Tones’ for deeper reflection and meditative connection to the ‘Love Frequency’.

Love Frequency Trilogy: "I have been looking into the nature of sound and it’s healing properties for several years and discovered one of the best ways to heal ourselves is through singing with others. Incredibly, when we do all our heartbeats come into alignment and start to beat as one. In a pursuit of the Frequency of Love and also having heard about miracle DNA healing through transformational sonics I was determined to combine these factors and the result is ’The Love Frequency’, says Felix Buxton,
'Our truest, sweetest melody is always with us and within us. We don’t need to learn it, it is simply there and there to share, where just need to find it.'

CB03 EP will be released on digital (14th May) and vinyl (Summer 2021) with artwork by Celestial Artist Silvy Liu.

An internet image search of the Welsh countryside looks exactly like you might have pictured it. The grassy knolls, grass-topped rooftops, horses and lambs on the green pasture, the winding roads; beauty that manages to dodge the cliché by a hundred miles. When it comes to the instrumentals of Jeb Loy Nichols' album "Jeb Loy", recorded far away from his Wales home in a Finnish basement studio, modern pastoral soul might as well be the appropriate term.

Void of Jeb's raspy vocals, but still featuring his acoustic guitar, an air of serenity emerges from the tracks. The crow has flown away into the grey clouds leaving the misty airwaves for the drums and bass, guitars, organ and horns, the familiar tools of Cold Diamond & Mink. And these fellows know how to build an ambience, just have a listen to the instrumental version of "Living It Up".

"Jeb Loy" might be the independent soul album of the year. But as all of the single releases from it are vocal tracks, this release is your only chance to cop these instrumentals. You'll find that they have stories of their own to tell. Some pretty, others joyful and all inspiring.

Legendary Reggae vocalist Cornell Campbell is to release a new E.P entitled 'Time For Peace', to mark the 52nd Anniversary of Martin Luthur King Jr's assassination, 4th April 2021.

Taking its title from Cornell's lyrical addition to Black Man In A White World, "I want you to understand, I need, I need everyone to hang on, in love, peace and unity", the new 12" EP features bold interpretations of two of soul music's most iconic songs about race, identity and injustice.

Both Michael Kiwanuka's 'Black Man In A White World' and 'Outernational Blues' - a take on the Marvin Gaye classic 'Inner City Blues' - evoke the sentiment and spirit of MLK's peaceful protest, and act as a reminder as to the importance of grace, pride and dignity in difficult times. Capturing a unique combination of vocal vulnerability and wisdom, this is music that demands deep listening. Cornell Campbell's voice at 75, carries a new found poignancy and depth of emotion; one which feels perfectly suited to delivering an elders perspective on such emotionally loaded topics.

The E.P was recorded and produced over four countries, with the music for all tracks having been recorded in London, England at The Total Refreshment Centre, before being voiced in Kingston Jamaica at Anchor Studios. Additional backing vocals were added at Heritage Recording Co in Burbank, California, before the track was finally mixed and produced by Sergio Lopez, in Andalucia, Spain.

'Time For Peace' is the first in a series of four releases from icons of reggae, including 'Time For Love' by Tabby Diamond, of The Mighty Diamonds, 'Time For Change' by Fred Locks and 'Time For Unity' by Big Youth; all to be released on limited 12" vinyl.

Instagram: @jancromusic creditsreleases April 4, 2021

All music recorded by Kristian Craig Robinson at Total Refreshment Studios, London.

Vocals recorded by Delroy 'Phatta' Pottinger at Anchor Studios, Kingston, Jamaica.

Mixed and produced by Sergio Lopez.

Keith 'Mindlink' McKintosh: MD, Arranger and Keys
Ajani 'AJ' McKnezie: Bass
Brian 'Rim Bim' Gustave: Drums
Benedict Wood: Guitar
Jordi Viella: Guitar
Alabaster DePlume: Saxaphone
Jackson Mathod: Trumpet
Tamina Johnson-Lawson, Aankha Neil and Moira Mack: Backing vocals

Backing vocals recorded by Chris Rondell at Heritage Recording Co, Burbank, California and arranged arranged & produced by Brandon Eugene Owens.

SP-1200 BANGERS ACROSS FIVE 7" RECORDS, FROM ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC PRODUCER OF THE 90s - PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH NOTORIOUS B.I.G., TUPAC SHAKUR, BIG DADDY KANE, LL COOL J, BUSTA RHYMES, AND MANY MORE!

On “Dizzy Strange Summer”, Genevieve Artadi offers a window into her ad-lib creativity and the LA community where it’s been nurtured. This is the vocalist, composer and producer’s second solo album, and it sees her stake out her own ground outside of her other groups KNOWER, Expensive Magnets and Everything’s Under Control.

She brings her own slant to the DIY LA scene that she’s grown up in, melding influences from jazz, psychedelia, bossa nova and avant-garde electronics. “Dizzy Strange Summer” marks not only Artadi’s debut on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint, but her first self-produced project released on any record label.

An impulsive spirit underwrites every part of the album, something reflected in the energy Genevieve devotes to create the videos to accompany them. It’s an honest, unmediated reflection of the period in which she created the music, supported by a close circle of like-minded musical friends including - but not limited to - Louis Cole (Brainfeeder), Sam Wilkes (Leaving Records), Henry Halliwell, Daniel Sunshine, Adam Weissman (Pollyn / Real Bad Man), Ruslan Sirota, Ross Garren, David Binney and Jacob Mann — each of whom she tapped up to add their flavour to songs where she felt their styles or talents aligned. Most tracks would begin life on her laptop, be sent to a friend for them to add their spin to it, before coming back to Artadi to be elevated to their final form. Reflecting on what drives her to create, she says: “Sometimes I just really get that burning feeling to make something and get it out there.” Above all, this is an album that speaks to that drive: to create something and share it with people.

The album was written in a time of upheaval, something reflected in both the lyrics and the sound of the record. “I was pretty lost… but enjoying feeling lost,” Artadi says. Drawing inspiration from the tumult around her and she relished the opportunity to express herself uninhibited by the shackles of compromise associated with collaboration. Crucially, this often means a silly, playful side being played off against a serious one; but she doesn’t think the former
undercuts the latter, seeing the two as vital shared ingredients to what she does. “I don’t feel like I would be giving an honest picture if I didn’t do both,” she says.

‘Dizzy Strange Summer” revels in juxtapositions, unleashing high energy assaults at full tilt before giving way to soft-focus melancholia, allowing Genevieve to show off the full spectrum of her vocal prowess. On the first single ‘Living Like I Know I’m Gonna Die’ for example, her delivery is beautifully understated and airy: “Living like the future is a guess, living like I’m smaller than a speck”. “I sing it softly ‘cos it’s an internal proclamation... a message to myself,” she
explains. She displays this vulnerability on ‘All I Want For Now’, ‘Before The Dark’ and ‘Will You Tell Me’ too - the later a stunning duet with harp. Elsewhere, on ’Godzillaaaa’ for example, her delivery is informed by ESG and Talking Heads, stomping past on a stark riddim in a whirlwind of distorted percussion and synths

140g crystal clear vinyl LP in an artworked inner sleeve housed in a 3mm spined outer sleeve. Artwork by Genevieve Artadi. Includes MP3 download code

Two brass-powered monster tracks from Deptford
Northern Soul Club Records.
Irene And The Scotts’ 1967 smash goes for around
£150 a copy these days. A Detroit soul side
arranged by the legendary Dennis Coffey,
produced by Motown man Bob Babbitt, co-written
by Ray Monette (later a member of Motown act
Rare Earth) and featuring the mysterious Irene’s
punchy torch vocal backed by Chicago soul band
The Scott Brothers. Rife with brass stabs and a
glorious sax break - an absolute floor filling gem.
Backed with The Chantels’ ‘Indian Giver’ from
1966, which first appeared on the Verve label (a
copy of which would now fetch around £275 a
throw). A super-rare soul side from the Bronxbased all-girl doo wop pop outfit who found the
funk in the mid ‘60s. Delivered over a hypnotic
backbeat, ‘Indian Giver’ is a horn-laden uptempo
groove with a drummer on double-time. An
absolute handclapping, split-inducing dance
classic.

This is a Coke Bottle Green version of the vinyl.

Dip your soul into this new album by Jeb Loy Nichols, full of gritty grooves, mellow melodies and life-fuelled lyrics. Timmion Records reintroduces to the world a seasoned wordsmith and singer through 10 shining examples of rootsy modern r&b that fuse together southern soul, folk music and world class balladry. Led by Jeb's intimate acoustic guitar and raspy incantations, while supported by Cold Diamond & Mink's tight rhythm section, you are in for a helluva ride.

The album, simply named "Jeb Loy" is a testament to the artist's decades long career, spanning soul, country and r&b. Signed to Capitol Records in the late 90's and making it as far as MTV with his video for "As The Rain", Jeb was fairly soon dropped by the major label. Since then, the American-born artist has churned out a steady output of material from his country-side home in Wales. The songs on "Jeb Loy" are clearly drawn out from experiences in life lived, relationships and moments on the road. In tunes like "Living It Up" the listener is pulled inside a mesmerizing groove and Jeb's understated social commentary, evoking a mood that should sit well with fans of Menahan Street Band. On "Not There Yet" Jeb builds on the motif of crows, which become familiar to the listener through many of the album's tracks, looking at the birds in the sky as a reflection of his personal state of being.

Timmion is putting out several songs from "Jeb Loy" on singles, but the album is something to be experienced in itself. It's in that rare vein of classic independent folk soul albums, like Larry T & The Family or Willie Wright's "Telling The Truth", which work like magic on rainy lazy sunday afternoons. It's the perfect companion for those transcendental occasions, when things in this chaotic world seems to make sense, just for a moment.

Modulor and Octave Lab are delighted to announce the first official reissue of Kellee Patterson’s ‘Kellee’ LP. Recorded in 1976, ‘Kellee’ is the second album for the amazing lady soul singer after her debut album ‘Maiden Voyage’ released on Black Jazz Records. Produced by Gene Russell, who also produced ‘Maiden Voyage’, this album includes some great soul & jazz cover songs. Barry White’s masterpiece “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby”, The O’Jays “I Love Music”, The Stylistics “Stop, Look & Listen To Your Heart”, Grover Washington Jr “Mister Magic” and Kenny Logins “Time To Space”... ‘Kellee’ is a must-have record for every jazzy / soul music fan.

Having released his debut album Around The Corner in 2018, as well as a critically acclaimed LP in collaboration with Los Angeles-based musician Tristan de Liège two years later, Keno aka David Hanke's latest opus, Out Past The Current, brings together not only some of his finest remixes from the past four years but also a handful of new and exclusive works.

Once again Hanke's love for more downtempo styles is on show - a passion that has immersed the producer into the electronic music scene since the early 2000s. Developing his own style over the last few years with lush instrumentations, more complex songwriting and distinctive drum programming, his songs and remixes ease the mind with echoes from the past.

„Meraki“ ist LESKYs erstes Album. In weniger als drei Jahren hat sich LESKY als einer der vielversprechendsten und ambitioniertesten Produzenten der deutschen Beatszene etabliert. Für einen aufstrebenden Künstler zeichnet sich seine Diskographie als wahnsinnig tiefgehend und vielseitig aus. Egal ob er sich in Sample-gestützte Lofi-Beats oder Trap und Phonk stürzt, es gibt immer eine starke melodische Seite in seiner Musik. LESKYs Sound kurz zusammengefasst: „All meat - no fat: harte und busy Drums, Neo-Soul Akkorde auf dem Fender Rhodes und eine gefilterte Moog-Basslinie“, wie er sagt. Mit einer Gästeliste, die alte Freunde wie Phlocalyst und Sátyr neben MPM Künstlern FloFilz, MC Turt von den Summers Sons, Sakura Murakami und neue Talente wie das Kölner (Beat- )Wunder Midan oder New Jersey Sängerin Tally Schwenk umfasst, bringt „Meraki“ das Beste aus vielen Welten unter LESKYs Groove zusammen. Weitere Künstler, die auf dem Album erscheinen sind DDob, Meadow, Cuebe, Flynn und Mensing. „Meraki“ ist griechisch und eines dieser Worte, die sich nicht ins Deutsche übersetzen lassen. Man könnte es so formulieren: „Wenn du ein Stück deines Selbst, deine Essenz und Kreativität, in das legst, was du tust.“ Für LESKY steht es außerdem für den Wandel vom Hobby zum Beruf. Geboren und aufgewachsen in Leipzig, ist LESKY mit 21 nach Köln gezogen, zunächst für ein Praktikum, später für einen Job bei MPM. Vorgespult in‘s Jahr 2021: LESKY hat ein weiteres Mal seine Taschen gepackt und sich nach Tiflis begeben, der Hauptstadt Georgiens. Es scheint ganz so, als hätte die Reise des jungen Produzenten gerade erst angefangen.

Mary J. Blige, the legendary singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and honorary Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, will re-release her acclaimed 1994 sophomore album, My Life, on Nov 20 via UMC. The album, which celebrated its 25th anniversary November 29, 2019 will be released in two physical forms: a 2cd and a standard weight black double vinyl. From her No. 57 hit “You Bring Me Joy” to her No. 22 version of Rose Royce’s 1976 soul classic “I’m Going Down,” My Life was one of Blige’s most creatively vital works to date.

Kalita are excited to announce the first ever official re-release of Michael Paul's 1984 reggae boogie single 'Reggae Music'! Originally appearing on New York-based Revolver Records, run by famed jazz bassist Bob Cranshaw, 'Reggae Music' was seemingly the 'hit-that-never-was' upon its initial release. However, since then a combination of both scarcity and quality has transformed the single into one of the most sought-after records in the genre. Accompanied by a phenomenal dub version, this record easily deserves its space on record shelves across the world. With prices becoming ever exceedingly eye-watering and copies ever harder to find, Kalita come to the rescue, offering a loud and remastered 12" single for all.

Originally out on CD, this mix was for a free compilation for a clothes trademark, this is finally out on vinyl:) Boots Groove:)

The vinyl version was pressed in two vinyl options - transparent white (100 copies) and black. Both on 180g.

Moo Latte:

"Snax", my 5th longplay album, is a collection of 16 compositions, contrasting flavours and textures. Each of them is served as a small appetizer. Some are easily digestible, even dietary, some are greasy and full of calories. Each individual song is rather brief and can be a perfect little snack in the middle of a day. However! They will taste the best if you take your time, have a bite of one after another and enjoy the feast. From starters to desserts.

Warning! This album may contain peanut products!

Cooking those instrumental tracks, I yet again explored my jazz background and combined instrumental improvisations with hip-hop, ethno and soul inspirations. Whole album is kept in a non-binding lo-fi vibe but maintaining the hi-fi level of attention to details. With "Snax" I decided to go for a much wider palette of sounds unlike my previous, more conceptual albums. The last track "Worth it" features a charizmatic Philadelphia based artist - Ler Stevens which has shed a new light on my instrumental joint "Coins". The artwork has been created in a collaboration with a talented Polish illustrator - GBUR.

Angolan producer 'Nazar' coined the term “Rough Kuduro” as an interpretation of the Kuduro musical style, translating the upbeat sound to expose the uglier side of what he saw in Angola, heard first on 2019’s astonishing six track ‘Enclave’ EP.

‘Guerrilla’, Nazar’s debut album, examines his family’s collective memory and country's past, threading together oral histories, political realities, and artful re-imaginings of direct horrors, to document his personal story of the 25 year Angolan civil war and it's aftermath in a detailed and episodic manner, particularly how his father's rank as a Rebel General led to a prolonged and continuing separation of his family across continents.

Nazar tells his story both impressionistically, and at times with stark directness. Rumbling bass overlaid with piercing synths mixes with field-recorded Ovimbundu folk song and a distant waterfall. The sound of a cocking gun leads into tumbling Kuduro beats and driving low-end bass. Elsewhere, slow, menacing dub suggests violent civil unrest, while reversed vocal shouts and protesting Portuguese rhymes evoke a pervasive atmosphere of chaos.

... Further in, we hear Nazar’s mother recalling the day she left home aged 16 to join the rebel movement, his sisters harmonising in the background over field recordings made in the ruins of his grandparent's home. After the housey ‘FIM-92 Stinger’, the album snaps back to the ferocity of conflict with the guttural ‘Immortal’, its deep bass shrouded in haunting shrieks driven by clicks and distortion, reflecting a time in the very early years of the rebel movement when witchcraft was used to procure immortality.

‘End Of Guerrilla’ is the final reprieve, reflecting the euphoria and melancholy that came with eventual ceasefire … “It’s about the end, but also dignity and remaining standing despite being mutilated. Making your voice heard despite not having anything to say.”

Neroli starts a new series of one offs releases within its own catalogue, with a seven inch double a-sider from Nicola Kramer. The urge to finally put on wax these beautiful songs produced by Domu in 2008 was the sparkle that brought Volcov to create this Neroli From The Archive series references to his old label Archive and the From the Archive radio shows and compilations are pretty clear. Nicola Kramer was the phenomenal voice behind many Domu, Rima, Bakura songs with appareances also on Jazzanova and Chateu Flight releases. But especially on her only solo album The Other Side, from which these two songs are taken, she shines immensely with her unique ghostly soulful tones.

Founded by the pianist Robin Notte (from the former electro-jazz band WISE) Panam Panic is one of the best Jazz-Groove french band. Influenced by Musician like Yussef Dayes, Robert Glasper, Roy Hargrove or Christian Scott, Panam Panic mix up Jazz with groove, Hip hop and electronic textures. The Black Monk is their first vinyl album.
Robin Notte's gamble is to create a Jazz which is sufficiently sophisticated to delight the most demanding experts, yet also accessible enough to initiate neophytes.
As such, Panam Panic defends a resolutely actual Jazz, open with no borders or blinders, combining powerful organic grooves with tidy melodies, delicate harmonies and frenzied solos.

For 1971’s Black Unity, Pharaoh Sanders added groove to foundation of spiritual and free jazz he had explored on his previous Impulse! albums. The result is a piercing and emotive 37-minute rhythm-driven title track exploration of African, Latin, aborigine and Native American sounds.

This Verve By Request title is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Third Man in Detroit.

On today’s episode of LA’s Most-Blunted, the POOLS boys are back with a brand new sample-laden selection of beats and blends!

Picking up where their previous RNT outing ‘Innertubes’ left off, the 12 tracks of 'Sunned’ layer found and filtered sounds over rough’n’ready MPC beats, dripping with delay and vibey ambience. Each track boasts its own unique soundscape and structure, but taken together as a collective listen the record has a zoned-out and sun-drenched quality that is…well, unmistakably POOLS.

Tune in, light up and vibe out!

Prince Fatty's new independent record label Lovedub Limited kicks off with a super 7" from the man himself. It is in fact something of an homage to the 1970s jazz-funk of Lonnie Liston Smith but with some hefty dub and reggae treatment. Shniece Mcmenamin stars on vocals and brings plenty of summer soul to the groove which is also lit up with free-flying flute lines over steady reggae rhythms that will sink you in deep to Winston "Horseman" Williams and Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie's drums, organ and piano. On the flip is the dub with the iconic Liston-Smith melody leading you through a lazy afternoon in style.

In 2020, Dance Music don, Ashley Beedle was approached to edit the unreleased track which had a UK 12” vinyl release in 2021 on the charity A's and Bees label. Having heard the track in all its glory, Ramrock Boss Lady, Jo Wallace immediately thought that a 7” edit would sound like a Blackpool Mecca classic that never existed!

And so, the editing process began again and, this time, the North Street Collective came up with ‘Superfine Feeling’ 7” Edits and, in the true tradition of soul tracks, named them Pt1 & Pt2. An exuberant, uplifting, Mecca Soul unreleased monster finally receiving the talcumed dancefloor love it deserves 44 years later!

Regno Maggiore is the debut album of Davide Meucci, Turin based artist, who released his first record Astroveliero on Gang of Ducks in 2019.

Esasummà is an intimate tale of the artist's life, who used the creation of this record as a tool to implement the shamanic Recapitulation technique. This technique was developed to remove the effects of the accumulation of memories related to our personal life and heritage into our physical and spiritual body, in order to allow a rebirth of life.

It has been produced with an instinctive matrix, recording with diy instruments, sounds and voices and without a fixed creative planning.

The album ended up with 13 tracks that smoothly run through one another, moulding a surreal world that's hard to place within a definite time or space, but which surely leaves you wanting to understand more.

In the words of the artist, "Esasummà is an earth rooted record taking inspiration from the cosmo, which dances with our planet and makes the stars' eyes shine".

All tracks written, produced and mixed by Davide Meucci

Mastered by Nick Foglia at Polo Studio

GODREC0030 – All rights reserved

1977’s Jenakuru was self-produced and reveals a slightly darker, somewhat introspective and perhaps more vulnerable side to Saitana. A great admirer of Jimi Hendrix, Satiana often performed
solo during this period. “It was really unheard of at the time to perform without a band. He could
entertain people like that and a lot of people loved him because he was such a character.” There
was also an increasingly Dionysian aspect to Saitana’s routine as a performer - a gradual advance
into drunken showmanship akin to Jim Morrison. Taken from the original reels.

Saitana’s debut Baby Don’t Go in 1976 saw him return to the producer of the Beaters first album, Ray Nkwe,
whose JAS Pride label was undergoing a mid-70s boom. In contrast with the mod sensibilities of the early
Beaters, Saitana came out of the gate with a completely new look to suit the times, sporting an impressive
Afro, an embroidered dashiki and an amicable grin on the album’s cover. A mix of Soul, Folk, Blues and Rock
the debut from Saitana is not to be missed. Recently mentioned by Trevor Noah as one of the albums that
influenced him as a youth. Taken from the original reels.

Funkamental is a label of new releases and first-time-on-wax reissues curated by Funkamente, also behind the Edits Estrela and Lisbon's East Side Radio.

When a record collection starts to grow, some blind spots become very noticeable: records too hard to find, upcoming artists with music so good it deserves a nice record or old releases that have never been
pressed to vinyl. Yet.

That's how Funkamental was born: out of the desire – should we say "the need"? – to have a specific release on vinyl. How specific? Anything that'd fit in our bag.

The first Funkamental release is Sonic Fiction, the only album by Spaceboys, initially released on CD back in 2003 described as an interplanetary never-ending jam session between Sun Ra and Fela Kuti, materialized by the hands of Francisco Rebelo, João Gomes and Tiago Santos who first assembled as Cool Hipnoise in 1995 a prolific band recording a string of albums, singles and EPs revolving around Funk, Acid Jazz, Jazz Funk and Dub for the best part of ten years

Soul Jazz Records are releasing this latest Studio One compilation which features non-step 100% stone-cold classic Studio One killers! Spanning 40 years of the legendary label, this album is a fitting tribute to Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd and is a who's who of Jamaicaan Reggae.

Studio One Records is excited to announce the release of their new boxset, the Studio One U.K Red series! Featuring 16 classic tracks from artists such as Ken Boothe, The Heptones, and Ernest Ranglin, this collection is a must-have for any music lover. Get your copy now and experience the sounds of Studio One Records!

• 1971 Invictus records release, The Glass House features the distinguished voices of Pearl Jones, Ty Hunter, Larry
Mitchell and Scherrie Payne. Each selected with great care to form HDH’s only mixed- gendered vocal group
• Scherrie Payne, sister of Invictus start Freda, who co-wrote many of the groups songs before joining The Supremes
in the mid 1970s
• ‘Crumbs Off The Table’ #7 in the R&B and Pop charts. Other stand out tracks include ‘Look What You’ve Done To
Love’, ‘If It Ain’t Love (It Doesn’t Matter) – a Payne/Hunter duet.
• Demon Music are proud to reissue the groups debut album on 180g heavyweight vinyl with printed inner sleeve

The rola cracks off with Joe sweet talking his way out of ending up in the dog house.

Reality Jonez, known for his falsetto on "A Million Girls", joins Thee Baby Cuffs, convincing her once again that there's a million girls in the whole wide world but "You're My Reason".


Just in case plain English ain't enough, Gilberto further convinces her in Spanish, "Mi Chicanita, mi chula baby, you're my reason".


Joe goes on into a barrio love story, "I try to stay out of trouble, but sometimes, trouble seems to find me, all I need is someone I can tell my troubles…." And just to let her know she's special, Joe and Gilberto end with, "without you, there is no me."


The rola is packed with gutsy dynamic vocals, bilingual lyrics, harmony and a rhythm section spoiled in Gold, Diamonds and Mink Coats by none other than Finland's finest, Cold, Diamond and Mink.

Purple Vinyl

The legendary Tony Cook, one of the most influential artists of Funk music, and James Brown’s drummer, has produced many great records since the early 80’s, from Boogie, Electro Funk, and House Music.

This EP showcases the versatility of Tony Cook’s creative repertoire and is a testament to his very unique style of production with unreleased songs.

"As Purple is to Lavender..."

With our Africa Airways series flying high we felt it is time to introduce a new compilation focusing on the unique contribution from some of Africa's most recognised female artists and some lesser known ones for good measure. We are excited to be launching this on Women's Day 2018 as our way to highlight the incredible, yet under-acknowledged musical contribution that African women have given to the funky sounds of Africa. Taking our cue from the Alice Walker essay "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens", the creative sparks that inspired this collection of songs were formed in their Mothers' Gardens by Mothers who paved the way for their daughters to keep the creativity of black women alive through their strength and resilience. Whilst we have a bit more of a message with this one, we wouldn't be Africa Seven if it wasn't damn funky at the same time!

We kick things off with the infectious sound of South-African Letta Mbulu. Letta started her career playing alongside fellow heavyweights Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela as cast members of King Kong in the 1950's and has since gone on to become one of the most influential south-African artists, even featuring on Michael Jackson songs, as well as being recognised for her contribution both musically and to that of the country's liberation struggles. With a crate-digger, secret weapon version of her classic Kilimanjiro single, "Kilimanjiro, Take Us Higher" is longer and has all the disco groove and delight you need and desire from such a star.

Uta Bella takes over from Letta, with a powerful Africa Seven return. "Enyin" is a glamorous disco scorcher heightened by glittering keys and irresistible West African vocals. One of Nigeria's unsung pioneers, and first female pop bandleader, Mona Finnih continues the flow with an effortless boogie number "Ani Kewa Jo" which just keeps on giving for nearly 7 glorious minutes. This devastating 80's number "Nou Ke Sa Inmew" from Cida Desvarieux follows up Uta and is dealt in two halves. Firstly a hit of beautiful vocals and slap bass controls the floor before handing over to the powerful guitar riffs and horns which groove out for the rest of this number. Wrapping up the first side with a classy reggae inspired number "Time Waits For No One" is Christy Essien, the grand dame of Nigerian pop, who was never far away from the issues affecting women in the Nigerian music industry.

Side two, enter Togolese singer Akofa Akoussah causing a storm with "Tango", delicate at times yet with a ferocious, unforgiving energy. Next a more obscure offering from Carmen Ezumah with vintage afro goodness in the form of "Tala Tala". Moving on, we have the Nigerian Lijadu sisters (dubbed "the West African Pointer Sisters") with one of their most notable hits "Danger". Our penultimate offering is another dose of obscurity, sandwiched between two greats, with Kenyan Bakambi N'Kela's uncompromising "Kilimanjoro".

Mothers' Garden finishes the way we started. With another one of Africa's leading ladies and music royalty, Miriam Makeba. Nicknamed Mother Africa, Miriam is famed for her huge musical contributions, her role in fighting the apartheid and for becoming a UN Ambassador. "Xica Da Silva" is a cover of Jorge Ben and the slow, hypnotic rhythm allows for the power of Miriam's voice to shine through.

Some serious swagger emerged on Shelby S. Singleton’s SSS International label, including the funk-soaked, Allen Toussaint-penned ‘There’s A Break In The Road,’ Mickey Murray’s relentless ‘Sticky Sue,’ Bettye LaVette’s standout revival of ‘Piece Of My Heart,’ and more sensational workouts! Cut by Kevin Gray and pressed on gold vinyl at Third Man Pressing!

!!! A DOSE OF PSYCHEDELIC FUNK & BLUE-EYED SOUL !!!

It's been a minute since Perfect Toy Records last hooked you up with a wild ride down that ol' psych-soul highway but the blacktop beckons once more with the sourcing of material for Down & Wired Vol. 5 by veteran follower of the 'way of the dusty crate' - Chan The Man!

This one begins, aptly enough, with an irresistible cover of Hit The Road Jack, by turns languorous and fiery from Bay Area-based Lydia Pinkham & The Denver Hot Flashes. Of course, working up a head of speed, is intoxicating and the next three cuts, from Changes, The Changing Times and Abe, Malka & The Basic Bronx, deliver increasingly scorching psych-funk laced with wah-wah guitar. Things get heavier again as Side A draws to a close with a brace of rock-oriented cuts – an uptempo blues groove from Reb and a psych-rock nugget from Dallas.

The second half of the LP, like the first, also opens with a cover – this time with The Nassauvians' heavy take on Baby Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood followed by a dirty slab of 60s garage rock from The Continentals. After that, things take a mellower turn with The Ladds' lowrider love song, I Found A Girl, (the first ballad to be featured in the series!) before getting back to the psych-rock on a short edit of the original 9-minute long It's Love from German Christian rock band Oratorium. Wrapping things up for Vol.5 are Caesar & His Romans' garage classic Black Lantern and The Bobbies' funked up cover of Jerry Lee Lewis's, She Put Me Down.

In short, it's another triumphant set of dope obscurities (once againaccompanied by detailed liner notes and never-before-seen photos of the artists) and a tribute to the dusty-fingered digging skills of Chan The Man.

It's been a minute since Perfect Toy Records last hooked you up with a wild ride down that ol' psych-soul highway but the blacktop beckons once more with the sourcing of material for Down & Wired Vol. 6 by veteran follower of the 'way of the dusty crate' - Chan The Man!

This release opens with two consecutive covers, the first of which is What's Happening's instrumental Latin-jazzy cover version of Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang followed by Hercules & The Black Majic's raw take on counter-culture anthem War. Then it's the turn of E.S. Grit to deliver proto-stoner rock on Petty Insinuations and Canadians the Klaas Craats Six to unleash a heady cocktail of funky psychedelia and garage fuzz on their sole 45 release. Mercy Men's Fifth Street, by contrast, delivers unadulterated deep funk and is followed by blistering funky rock on Staff & Managements' aptly-named instrumental, Fresh Dirt.

The second half of this collection is opened by two amazing finds - Snapdragon's super-funky organ-led Hardluck and Ron Lynch & Bene Regesh's psychedelic garage-rock number Evil Woman. Subsequently, Carolina Tikis and The Raiders keep the revs up with a brace of instrumentals - funky garage rock and a garage/RnB hybrid respectively - which are slipstreamed by some uplifting bubblegum guitar fuzz from The Cynch. The final cut is an unreleased live recording from Mike Peace & Filet of Soulpitched somewhere between garage rock and 'country funk'and while it may havestanky lo-fi production values it is not only one of the best cuts on the entire release but the band have arguably the funkiest rhythm section too!

In short, it's another triumphant set of dope obscurities (once againaccompanied by detailed liner notes and never-before-seen photos of the artists) and a tribute to the dusty-fingered digging skills of Chan The Man.

A second volume of late 50s and early 60s Cambodian slow rock, pop and R&B tracks - following the first volume's featuring as compilation of the week on Lauren Laverne's BBC 6Music show.

From the late 1950s onwards a music scene developed around Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, inspired by the prevalence of imported rock & pop records arriving in the country from US & UK and also chanson and bolero records from France & Latin America. This collection documents some of these early home-grown slow rock, pop & rnb 45 recordings from the early 60s, prior to the further embrace of US psych & garage rock-orientated sounds in the mid 60s and into the Vietnam war era.

A high quality selection of little known and underrated Soul, AOR and anything in between!

As a spare time dj and only one of the many thousands of record collectors on this planet (but avowedly one of the not so many from Austria) it's a wonderful feeling to share some of my personal favourite songs with fellow music lovers from around the world. I don't wanna bore the pants off anyone out there as the music clearly speaks for itself. But then I think that I should shine some light on particular songs of my choice selection.

The twelve tracks on this album display a wide range of genres with some being difficult to categorize. Call it whatever you feel describes it best. I would say it is authentic music with a whole lot of soul. A fact which should be mentioned (and which makes me proud to be honest) is that many of the songs have not found its way onto a compilation album yet. Rarity was not the prime reason though, however some of the original records do not turn up often and thus might be considered 'rare'. During the last couple of months I have had listened to this selection at least a hundred times. For some reason I am still not tired of it and this is what I hope for you to experience too.

Roman Bloecker – December 2021