Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

In 2000, Aesop Rock released his first official album, Float, following his steady ascent in the underground from two previous releases, the collection of works CD of lore, Music For Earthworms (1997), and the Appleseed EP (1999). And, while every album Aesop has done since then has captured his continual evolution as both a producer and a writer, Float was undeniably exceptional in its own right. For one, there was something impacting about a full-length album, 20 tracks deep, that never had any singles. Every track only existed as part of the album experience.

That in mind, the album’s production is split nearly in half between Aesop Rock and longtime collaborator and good friend, Blockhead, as well as one offering from Omega One, the Reggae-vibed “Skip Town”. The album’s production largely seems to have one collective goal, to immediately capture the intended mood, luring the listener in and leaving them attentive and prepared for the carefully crafted accompanying lyricism.

Lyrics in mind, Aesop Rock is clearly the star of the record, but the few guest appearances, strategically spread throughout the album, are either the result of great foresight or unavoidable synergy—perhaps both—as Slug (of Atmosphere), Vast Aire (of Cannibal Ox), and Dose One were all right in the midst, or directly on the verge, of breakthrough career moments of their own around the same time they were featured on Float. As for Aesop, the album finds him diving deep into his intricate, visually descriptive

In 2000, Aesop Rock released his first official album, Float, following his steady ascent in the underground from two previous releases, the collection of works CD of lore, Music For Earthworms (1997), and the Appleseed EP (1999). And, while every album Aesop has done since then has captured his continual evolution as both a producer and a writer, Float was undeniably exceptional in its own right. For one, there was something impacting about a full-length album, 20 tracks deep, that never had any singles. Every track only existed as part of the album experience.

That in mind, the album’s production is split nearly in half between Aesop Rock and longtime collaborator and good friend, Blockhead, as well as one offering from Omega One, the Reggae-vibed “Skip Town”. The album’s production largely seems to have one collective goal, to immediately capture the intended mood, luring the listener in and leaving them attentive and prepared for the carefully crafted accompanying lyricism.

Lyrics in mind, Aesop Rock is clearly the star of the record, but the few guest appearances, strategically spread throughout the album, are either the result of great foresight or unavoidable synergy—perhaps both—as Slug (of Atmosphere), Vast Aire (of Cannibal Ox), and Dose One were all right in the midst, or directly on the verge, of breakthrough career moments of their own around the same time they were featured on Float. As for Aesop, the album finds him diving deep into his intricate, visually descriptive

Robert Torres Psych-Funk, unreleased Kungfu flick theme tune, saved from the last remaining cassette copy Left, lost and almost forgotten. First time on a 45 and flipped with an Afro-Disco banger from China featuring MC Didjelirium. This limited edition picture cover release features special artwork from Mark Cursa.

Eminem, the biggest selling music artist of the decade returns with his eagerly awaited new album - his first original studio album in over four years. Already A-listed at Radio One, Kiss, 1Xtra, Capital, Choice. He will be in the UK for promo including an appearance on Jonathon Ross. There will also be a follow up album "Relapse 2" released later in the year.

Step in the Arena is the second studio album by hip hop duo Gang Starr, printed as a 1990 release and commercially released on January 15, 1991. The album received critical acclaim and was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The Source magazine stated: “Step in the Arena stands alone on a musical level, yet it also remains true to hip-hop’s underground heritage.” In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source’s 100 Best Hip Hop Albums. Urban Legends/UMC will reissue Step In The Arena on 2LP 180 gram black vinyl on 28th June, 2019.

Legendary genre-bending, multiple Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and producer 'Robert Glasper' releases his newest project "Fuck Yo Feelings". It's the result of a 2-day session in which Glasper invited musician friends to stop by the studio and organically create together, the final result being this mixtape which sonically documents the lost art of improv and on the spot collaborations that can only come from authentic relationships and true artistry.

Jazz / Funk / Fusion 45" from the Italian collective 291out. Comes with a premium brown paper sleeve and pantone label. Mastered and manufactured by Timmion Cutting.

In 1978, Roy Roberts produced and wrote a song for soul music legend Eddie Floyd; this melancholy storyliner has languished in the vaults for over forty years. IZIPHO SOUL are thrilled to release on a 45 and continue our Rock House Records/Westwood Music Group licensed collaboration.
Featuring on the A Side, Southern soul legends Barbara Carr and Roy Roberts duet on the supreme mid-pacer ‘It’s Only You’.
250 collectors’ copies pressed for the Real Soul Heads!

Please note ‘Guess It Wasn’t Meant To Be’ has been restored from the original tape to its best possible quality - unrepairable damage is evident in the final parts.

Avant-garde percussionist, singer, self-taught trumpet player, composer and author,
Edmony Krater, since the late 1970s has been a go to reference for French Caribbean music and all things Gwakasonné.

This Guadelopean great had been somewhat quiet since the mid 80s, however in 2019, after the recording of a live show for Cult Berlin club night, African Acid Is The Future that received a release via The Vinyl Factory, his light was relit.

Prior to this, in 2015, along with Diggers Digest, Paris based Heavenly Sweetness reissued the highly sought after 1988 album, ‘Ti Jan Pou Velo’ and Edmony began to stir up rumours of new material coming.

2018 saw his first foray into new recordings, Heavenly Sweetness released ‘An Ka Sonjé’, a record garnishing praise from Pan African Music, and he now readies his second for the label with, ‘J’ai Traversé La Mer’ (I’ve Crossed The Sea)

Like the hundreds of thousands before him, Edmony Krater also crossed the sea. Pulled from Africa, caught up in the violent and absurd logic of triangular trade. Slaves were forced to America, the Caribbean and Europe, where many descendants have since become famous writers, poets, leaders, athletes and of course, musicians.

Featuring members of Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, The Pro-Teens are a mysterious instrumental outfit from Melbourne, Australia.

Within Melbourne's burgeoning cinematic-soul scene, which includes breakout acts Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo, mysteriously sit The Pro-Teens. Helmed by prolific drummer and percussionist Hudson Whitlock, who also plays in both aforementioned bands, this breakaway studio project involves an interchangeable collective of incognito, Melbourne-based, esteemed instrumentalists playing under outlandish pseudonyms such as "'Dead Honest’ Dean Amazing" and "Libby Clique-Baite". Symbolically led by keyboardist "Snooch Dodd", new album ‘I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly’ is the latest musical concoction from Whitlock's eccentric brain, marrying the soul/funk roots of sample culture with the principles of boom-bap hip hop.

Incorporating the colourful comic book stylings of MF DOOM and Kool Keith, or the dark and exotic flavours of Gravediggaz and The Wu-Tang Clan, The Pro-Teens also take cues from their composing heroes Galt MacDermot, Richard Evans and Marc Moulin. The Pro-Teens bop, zip, whip and fling on this phantasmagorical journey - an unorthodox patchwork of cinematic soul, hip hop-guided funk breaks, vivid instrumental textures and film score-esque moods.

The Pro-Teens work on the same analogue recording model adopted by the tight-knit College Of Knowledge label, self-recorded and produced with the rag-tag crew of musicians putting tracks down live to tape in crammed attic studios and sharehouse recording spaces.
The first limited pressing of 'I Flip My Life Every Time I Fly' was released on the 'College Of Knowledge' imprint in late 2020. It was one of the highlights of the year at Mr Bongo HQ who loved the concept and felt this tripped out masterpiece from Melbourne needed to be heard well beyond those lucky enough to have bagged those limited first copies.

- Tripped-out masterpiece from Melbourne’s cinematic soul scene. Featuring members of Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo.

- Inspired by funk, library music, cinematic scores, soul, psych-folk-rock, wonky synths, and fused with a hip-hop aesthetic.

- "My Beat Of The Week!" - Huey Morgan, BBC6 Music

The ever popular Mellow Mellow Right On label returns with this much sort after release available for the first time on black vinyl featuring two more dance floor soul classics.

Holy Tongue is a collaboration between percussionist Valentina Magaletti, best known for her work with Vanishing Twin, Tomaga, UUUU, Raime, Nicolas Jaar and Jandek among many others, and producer Al Wootton.

Mungo’s Hi Fi cement their long-standing connection with Italian-born, Paris-based singer Marina P, by releasing eagerly awaited concept album Soul Radio. Over six years in the making, Soul Radio is an ambitious representation of the artistic fullness of Marina P, expanding into multiple genres while keeping its roots in rocksteady, reggae and ska.

The first release on DJ Stryda’s Sufferah’s Choice label features two exclusives from the pen of the legendary Nick Manasseh. Side A opens with the deep and heavy ‘Babylon Outside’. A tightly-coiled bass line underpins energetic percussion and a siren that wails into the night. Followed by a dub in the traditional style, it’s raw, driving power and statue-toppling weight perfectly capture the frantic time we are living in. A straight-up soundsystem classic.

Following the incredible response we received to Soul Revivers digital debut ‘Harder’ we decided to press a limited edition 45 to celebrate this new band landing on Acid Jazz. Soul Revivers are reggae veteran Nick Manasseh, returning to Acid Jazz for the first time since the 1998 album 'Shining', and David Hill formerly of the Ballistic Brothers and founder of Rootikal.

The single has a hard-hitting rhythm topped with Ranglin’s fluid guitar, and has already garnered praise from Gilles Peterson who said, ‘This is special, return of the great Ernest Ranglin’, while David Rodigan excitedly commented, 'This is superb, so refreshing and so unique. Ernest Ranglin on top form’. It has also been on the Jazz FM playlist for the last 4 weeks.

“Nick and I have loved the music of Ernest Ranglin since the 80s, which was when we first discovered the unique sound of his guitar on those classic Studio One rhythms. Collaborating with him has been a joy and a blessing.” David Hill, Soul Revivers

Life After Death is the second studio album by The Notorious B.I.G. released originally on March 25, 1997. A 3LP album was released posthumously following his death on March 9, 1997. The Album was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1998 and is considered by music writers as one of the most seminal Mafioso rap albums. The album features collaborations with guest artists such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and several more.

2017 marks the albums 20th anniversary as well as 20 years of his passing. This release has not been in the marketplace for several years and is being re-pressed on black vinyl.

2020 re-issue, dinked jukebox 7

'Legend' is lofty praise that is often used lightly, however, Mike D from the Beastie Boys certainly is one in the truest of spirits. We are delighted after over 30 years of being involved in music to finally release a project involving such a hip-hop pioneer and icon as Mike. In keeping with the maverick attitude of the Beastie Boys, you don't always get what you expect. For this release there isn't a hip-hop beat, instrumental-funk or hardcore-punk joint in sight, rather an electronic-African club banger.

Mike took it upon himself to rework Malian artists Idrissa Soumaoro and L'Eclipse De L'I.J.A. and their track ‎’Nissodia', which is taken from the 'Le Tioko-Tioko' album originally released in 1978 on the German Democratic Republic (GDR) label ETERNA. The song was also featured on 'The Original Sound Of Mali' compilation released on Mr Bongo back in 2017.

It was November 2019 and the day before a Mr Bongo 30 years celebration event in Paris at the Pedro party in the 'New Morning' club, when out of the blue the remix landed in Dave Mr Bongo's inbox. We loved it straight away and decided to road test it the next night in the club. Whether it be a remix/re-edit/rework, it doesn't matter, what does matter is that it works spectacularly in the club and had people jumping on the stage to dance at the party. A sensational track and one which leaves a beautiful memory of good-times from a night out in Paris (and one which is in retrospect is even more poignant as the late-great maestro Tony Allen was in the club that night), and we are sure it will light up many more dancefloors to come.

South London’s Lianne La Havas re-entered our musical consciousness at the end of February with her emotionally stirring soul-gem ‘Bittersweet’. This came in conjunction with an Annie Mac Hottest Record, a mind-blowing live show at the Barbican with the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Jules Buckley and an incredible Colors session – all of which helped put Lianne firmly back on the cultural map for 2020.

‘Lianne La Havas’, Lianne’s third album and her first in five years and is an album of startling beauty and insight—made entirely on her own terms which has been quite a journey. In one sense, geographically: La Havas spent a lot of time moving back and forth between the UK and the States working on writing and exploring her own identity. As a result, ‘Lianne La Havas’ feels spacious and luminous. Its sunbaked sounds recall, in places, the Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Milton Nascimento (on “Seven Times”). You might also hear the curveball chords of Joni Mitchell and Jaco Pastorious’s jazz explorations (“Green Papaya”), or the puttering drums and inviting warmth of golden-era Al Green (“Read My Mind”). And throughout the record, there’s a sense of empowerment that has its roots in the crisp ‘90s R&B of Destiny’s Child.

Jazz runs deep through the music of A Tribe Called Quest.
It's as Q-Tip infamously puts it inExcursions,the opening track of their sophomore album:"Don't you know that things go in cycles? The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin' like Michael."A new 7" release by Amsterdam-based, Jerusalem-born keyboardist, DJ & producer Soul Supreme is in its own way a reflection of that. The record features homages to iconic hip-hop tracks "Check The Rhime" & "Lyrics To Go" from a jazz perspective.

"It's kinda ironic: these tracks are interpretations, but almosteverythingis different," says Soul Supreme. "The harmony, the melodies, the instruments that are used for each part, the structure…
I want to take the listener on a trip to overlook a track they know, but from a different perspective. I try to go 'in and out' of the ATCQ tracks so the listener never knows what's going to happen next. My overall goal is to give existing music my own twist. I don't want to sound like a rehash of something listeners have heard before."

The characteristic guitar line on 'Lyrics To Go' is an example of that: in Soul Supreme's version, the guitar melody is actually a Moog in disguise, emulating guitar bends with his synth by adding lots of distortion. But to Soul Supreme, that's far from science. He doesn't sit down with apad & pento think of ways to switch things up. It happens through improvisation on his Moog Sub37, DSI Ob6, Rhodes MK1, or on his now new Yamaha piano. In that sense, it's A Tribe Called Quest's hip-hop he loves, but a jazz influence that prevails. Obsessively studying the work of pianists such as Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Weldon Irvine for over fifteen years now.

This 7" follows the line of Soul Supreme'sThe Message / Umi Saysrelease on Chicago-based imprint Star Creature Universal Vibrations last year. The 7" taking on tracks by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Mos Def was sold out in a matter of days.

"It's like that y'all, check it now…"


*** SOUL SUPREME ***

Soul Supreme is an Amsterdam-based, Jerusalem-born keyboardist, DJ & producer. He began playing the keys at the age of sixteen, obsessively playing 6 to 8 hours a day—even skipping school for it. After a couple of breaks from playing music because of this thing called Life, it was a move to the Netherlands in 2014 which made him reconnect to playing the keys as his biggest passion. Soul Supreme eventually also immersed himself into beatmaking for seven years, as well as DJ'ing up to this day. As a DJ, he has played alongside Damu The Fudgemunk, DJ Shadow, Boogie Blind, DJ Day & Shortkut.

Masterworks Music are back on the vinyl trail with their 15th 12" release, with Italian disco stallion Gledd in charge of the disco funk.

While some EPs might offer some down time and lower-tempo numbers, Soul Shapes goes for the dancefloor jugular with all four cuts designed to get you up and grooving.

Lead track 'Light of Florence' cleverly builds with strings and stylish background synths before dropping into a soul-searching vocal and gorgeous keys. With driving percussion, a walking bassline and cleverly restrained dynamics, it builds and bubbles with endless groove.

Follow up 'I Just Want You' builds on that teasing disco funk by upping the tempo and adding in blaring horns, a sizzling Rhodes breakdown that will have you playing air keys and yet more disco groove. Peak time, warm up, opening slot, closing track - this will work anywhere.

On the flipside, 'Of Rainbows' is a brilliantly-worked filter disco track, cleverly teasing in the disco loop with drop-dead-gorgeous strings before dropping back down to a deep house (and we mean deeeeeep house) bassline that carries the track from start to finish.

Gledd closes out the all-killer EP with 'Your Mind.' With Chic-style wah-wah guitars, clever drum fills and yet another stonking bassline, it's another beautifully crafted disco groover that cleverly blurs the line between peak-time heater and perfect warm-up material.

Originally released in 1982, on Cobiana Records.

Limited deluxe version of 500 copies on 180 gram vinyl, with insert and tip-on cover.

Tustumnhos di Aonti can be defined as “a testimony of the weakness of yesterday.” The album is an African Groove made with European instruments, but with its heart and soul deeply grounded in Guinea-Bissau. The eight tracks represent Ze Manel’s (member of Super Mama Djombo) poetic yet frustrated account of what was happening around him. “Love is a social thing, when I see something I don’t like, I sing it in my way. About the people. The people are never wrong.”

Middle Name Dance Tracks Vol 1 is the second release from Sampology’s new imprint. The Middle Name Dance Tracks project reflects standout live & club nights in Brisbane of recent years, where there has seen a steady cross pollination between the club and soul/jazz communities. The blurred line between these two musical worlds has delivered an array of diverse and joyful events for both artists and avid music fans.

This project is a collaborative creative effort between Sampology, Megan Christensen and Sam Stosuur. The recording process was live in nature with Megan on piano and keys, Sam Stosuur on bass/bass synth and Sampology on MPC drums and programming. Having live conga & timbale from Brisbane based Latin percussion staple Gus Cereiji glues the groove together. These sonic choices were inspired by listening to NYC early 80s disco labels, especially Prelude 12" releases, which balanced drum machine & synths as well as live studio musicians. Vocals on 'Only Joy' were recorded by Kerry Raywood. Vocals for 'Bless' come from Brisbane jazz vocalist Merinda Dias-Jayasinha. The combination of the Middle Name Dance Tracks trio and the additional Brisbane artists offers a specific music palette that’s live in essence, dancefloor in orientation, and magical in delivery.

Middle Name Records Dance Tracks Vol 1. artwork was created by artist Sue Poggioli, Sampology’s mother who also created the artwork for the 2016 Natural Selections EP.

Rivage was one of the records during my early days into Modern Soul I was desperate to get hold of, 'Strung Out On You're Love' is up there in my top ten and I managed to pick a copy of the 45 when in the USA in the Early 2000s for a decent price. I only found out there was a rarer LP with a longer version of the track around the same time, with the bonus of a pile of solid Funk, modern and sweet soul tracks. Fast-forward to 2019 and friend Angelo Angione hooked me up with the band who were excited to work with me on a reissue. Now those who know the LP will know it's rather odd cover, this was a marketing idea by someone at the Label, despite the band not wanting to use it that's the way it ended up. We decided to put things right and have reinstated the original cover shot of the band. This LP is simply one of the finest 70s LPs, it's mad that it has not been reissued before now…enjoy.

Killer funk masterpiece first released almost 20 years ago by the legendary Leeds outfit led by guitarist Eddie Roberts. Fierce drum kit and twangy guitar with hammond organ stabs leads way to upfront vocals from Sulene Flemming who has worked with Bernard Purdie, Reuben Wilson, Brand New Heavies and Incognito etc. Originally released in 2001 it still sounds fresh as ever and this version comes backed with an exclusive unreleased instrumental version. 500 hand-numbered copies in gold stamped black sleeve.NO REPRESS

Strut present the first ever compilation bringing together classics and rarities from the seminal spiritual jazz and conscious soul label Black Fire, covering 1975 to 1993. Formed by DJ and record producer Jimmy Gray in Richmond, Virginia, and following in the footsteps of other influential black-owned independent labels like Strata-East and Tribe, the foundation of Black Fire coincided with saxophonist James "Plunky" Branch returning to the city from New York to form Oneness Of Juju. The band's 'African Rhythms' album in 1975 was the perfect fusion of jazz, deep African polyrhythms and empowering lyrics and bassist Muzi Branch, a trained artist, created the first of many Black Fire hand-illustrated sleeves for the label's debut release.

The ultimate freestyle box contains Johnny O - “Fantasy Girl” (Vinyl EP), Stevie B - “Hit Collection” (Vinyl 2LP), Johnny O - “The Very Best Of” (CD) and Stevie B - “Greatest Freestyle Collection” (CD).

AL GREEN co-wrote 'Keep On Pushing Love' in 1993, which first appeared on the Don't Look Back album produced by Arthur Baker. It was an almost instant hit in the modern soul rooms and has enjoyed iconic status ever since. In 1995 Joey Negro remixed it for a 12-inch but here we feature the original recording that makes its 7-inch vinyl debut.
'Your Hearts In Good Hands' is from 1995 and is the lead track on the album of the same name. Arthur Baker, producer, captured Green's original vocal style and sound, as with the earlier production of 'Keep On Pushing Love'.

Repress!

DJ/producer Don Pascal has long been an advocate of fusing London’s sound system aesthetic with more traditional music from around the globe.

Following on from his 2014 release The Cali Experiment, (fusing Latin influences with the sounds of London’s underground club scene) we are happy to announce his forthcoming album The Dakar Experiment.

Featuring musicians from Senegal’s legendary evolving band Xalam, The Dakar Experiment is a sonic exploration fusing Senegalese musicianship and London’s Broken Beat scene.

As the homogenised sound of western pop permeates traditional music the world over, The Dakar Experiment offers an alternate pallet of influence, retaining tradition yet suggesting other possible paths.

The foundations of the album were laid at Henri Guillabert’s studio in Dakar over most of 2016 with Moustapha - Taffa – Cisse, Yahael Camara Onono and of course Henri and Don, then completed in London with an array of musicians, pulling on the city’s vibrant and re-emergent Broken Beat scene.

Featuring vocals by Lyric L, Rich BLK and Niara Scarlett, and remixes by EVM128, Trev and Xtra Brux, The Dakar Experiment is an exercise in finding what connects us in an increasingly divisive world.

Re-issue of an extremely now rare 45 from 1977 that sells for £1,000 if you can find an original copy. The release is one of only two releases for the Cygnet label recorded at Malaco Studios. Earl composed both sides, "Very Special Girl" originally the B side, but switched around here as it became better known for its spins on modern soul room dancefloors.

Sublime 2-Step Classic Recorded In Jamaica By The WIRL Company And Released On Graeme Goodall's UK Doctor Bird Label, Remaining The Label's Most Sought After And Valuable

Recorded and produced in the late seventies with Lee Perry, the album which Congolese artists Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo recorded together is one of the most mysterious projects to surface from the Black Ark Studio during the late 1970s. Its also one of the most misrepresented of Perry’s productions, with myriad explanations for its existence falling far short of what actually happened.

The intention of the original band, formed in France by the producer Bernadette Duget and composed of a mixture of Congolese, Senegalese and French musicians, was to head to Jamaica to record a rock album with African undercurrents in Lee Perry's Black Ark studio. However, in Jamaica things didn't go according to plan and the project turned out to be a failure. The Congolese duo Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo continued working with Lee 'Scratch' Perry and this collaboration would eventually bear an unexpected reggae fruit. These recordings were originally released on LP in 1979 and re-released in 1991, yet the vinyl album remains highly sought-after .

Now finally re-issued with extensive liner notes by the American journalist, author and reggae aficionado David Katz sheds more concerted light on the complex tale that lies behind the work. Most notably thanks to the emergence of new eyewitness accounts such as Seskain Molenga, Wasis Diop and Lee Perry.

The debut album by Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo remains a unique slice of musical ingenuity, an intoxicating sonic storm that resulted from their temporary presence at the magical space of the Black Ark. Tribal grooves coagulate in a thick swirl beneath trademark Black Ark bass lines. The two cultures connect in electrifying ways, while the reggae beat thrives in a more ancient setting. The songs are sung with gusto in Lingala and there’s an exuberant spirit to proceedings. This record is a document to what happens when fate intervenes and fetches victory from the clutches of defeat. There is blood and there is fire.’

A roots reggae vibe, a nonchalant melody...We’re kicking back, Jamaican style, with a glass of warm beer poured from the latest collaboration between O.B.F. & Nazamba.

Drinking a cold beer in a hot country isn’t necessarily the best idea. Your body starts to think that it’s cold, and slows the perspiration that helps you to control your temperature. Result: you actually feel hotter. But a warm beer, according to any Jamaican barman worth his salt, can just as easily be drunk in the morning as at midday or when the night falls.

Nazamba may sing the praises of cold drinks to Aza Lineage, taking her on a tour of the best ice-cold beverages on the planet, but she refuses to give in: “ A cold beer, never!” This single is best served with the animated clip made by Laska and one of the 500 limited edition, specially stamped “Hot Beer” bottles.

Until Now, All Is Well is the latest track to be shared by The Nix, a loose collection of uniquely talented musicians corralled together by Nick McCarthy (ex Franz Ferdinand) and Seb Kellig around their Sausage Studio in east London.

Based around the original composition ‘Warm Canto’ by Mal Waldron, the track features founding member of the avant-pop band Stereolab Laetitia Sadier.

Out on Moshi Moshi Records, Seb of The Nix said about the making of the track:

A night at Sausage Studios and nothing falls into place...we talk, we laugh, we mess about. But the 'record' button remains un-hit.
Time is not on our side, we need inspiration, and we know where to find it:
We saddle our bikes and ride into the mild London night. Down to Homerton, along the Canal, passing Springfield, we end up in Tottenham.

The mighty Jah Shaka tears the place apart. Low ceilings, the place is filled with smoke and bass. One love, unity, another version....the mids, the tweeters - in perfect harmony. Familiar riddims, unknown dubs. Shaka on the wire.

We get back to Sausage as the sun rises. Our senses are numb. We can't hear, don't want to see, how good it feels not to be guided by ears but by the heart. We close the curtains and plug in.

OUTTA SIGHT celebrate five soulful years - in association with Passion Music - with the release of the coverted Northern Soul classic I Got To Find Me Somebody' by The Vel-Vets. This special 45 is coupled with the driving, funky, You Don't Mean It' by Towanda Barnes.
I remember queuing and walking into Wigan and hearing The Vel-Vets I Got To Find Me Somebody' which remains in my top ten just because of the memory of hearing it that first time at the Casino' DJ Ginger Taylor

repressed!

Two rare and mystery-shrouded party-in-the-house sides from 1976.

Willi J Coe’s Cleethorpes anthem ‘Boogie With Your Baby’ was a no-hit wonder that goes for around £100 if you can find a copy on the original shortlived Ki Ki label.

Produced by Willie J Key and arranged by Bob Holmes (Joe Tex / Freddie North / Slim Harpo) it’s a slice of funky party disco. A proper floorshaker. V Rare Function’s ‘Disco Function’ was originally on Soul Unlimited in 1976 and fetches around £50 a copy these days.

Sampled by Luke Vibert in more recent times, it’s a brass-stabbed party anthem with a nod to Kool And The Gang when they were funky.