Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

This was the first single for the group of servicemen stationed near Phoenix, Arizona. They cut it for Bob Ross’ Chartmaker imprint in Los Angeles in 1966. It was bootlegged under the name the Magicians in the UK in the 70's but this is its true billing and again we have two rare, classic soul dance tracks; harmony is to the fore.

Eastwood Rides Again follows the theme of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters previous classic, Return Of Django - and like that one, the groove isn’t just the rocksteady rhythms you’d expect – but also maybe this more spacious version of the style. They got their funk on with the inspiration of Spaghetti Westerns and soul music. The record is largely instrumental and it's a representation of Perry’s significant production skills. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was a pioneer in the 1970's development of dub music and worked together with artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Clash and The Beastie Boys. Nowadays he’s still performing and recording music.

From the cosmic creative musical mind of Swiss/Catalan studio whizz, Zeleste Nightclub engineer, video nasty film composer, occasional Jaume Sisa (Muìsica Dispersa) collaborator and future electronic music therapy pioneer J. M. Pagaìn comes the synth-ridden, vocoder-loaded 1984 sci-funk soundtrack to Barcelona’s daytime TV response to the universal E.T. phenomena. Get ready to meet your new alieniìgena amic and the unidentified flying object of thousands of Catalonian kids’ affections through the 1980's as Finders Keepers present Pagaìn’s lost lunar modular synth score to ‘Kiu I Els Seus Amics’ (Kiu And Friends aka Kiu Is Your Friend).

From the same intergalactic phenomenon that brought such delights as Turkey’s exploito cash-in ‘Badi’ or South Africa’s lo-rent homage ‘Nukie’ to our unregulated small screens and the same craze which filled international airwaves with the likes of Extra T’S electro smash single ‘E.T. Boogie’ or the million selling Columbian ‘Cumbia De E.T. El Extraterrestre’ smash hit... not to mention a wide range of unofficial theme-tune cover versions from Holland, Austria, France and Germany (lest we forget an inspired late period Lee Scratch Perry Album).

In 1982 the diaspora from Steven Spielberg’s small fictional mid-American neighbourhood that played host to everyone’s favourite torch fingered, three toed, Skittle-scoffing space goblin touched virtually every family home in every major city resulting in one of the biggest cinematic merchandise phenomenas of the 21 st Century, resulting in an unexpected high-demand / short-supply play-off in which bootleggers, copyists and counterfeiters rose to the challenge like never before.

When Spielberg regrettably told interviewers that he had no intention of making a sequel to ‘E.T. The Extra Terrestria’ it instantly became open-season for the imitators... but way before somebody squeezed-out ‘Mac & Me’, ‘ALF’ and ‘The Purple People Eater’, a team of kid’s TV executives in Catalunya were ready to fill the widening gap in the market without haste. Created in 1983 by Luna Films and Televisioì de Catalunya (TV3) and screened exclusively in Catalunya, ‘Kiu I Els Seus Amics’ was one of the first E.T. ‘tributes’ to make it out of the gate and with a crew of five individual directors and writers to ensure that the five episode, one-off series hit the wave of phone-home-fever, Kiu has since remained a short but sweet micro- memory in the hearts of an entire generation of Catalonian cosmonauts.

This special Finders Keepers edition comes complete with all of Pagaìn’s cosmic synthesiser soundscapes fully intact (barring striking comparisons with the likes of Tangerine Dream, John Carpenter, Vangelis and the soundtrack music of Suzanne Ciani), as well as some rare, unreleased, incidental TV edits. The bulk of this LP is made up of tracks taken from the rare full-length album, which was released after the TV programme had already been aired and coincided with sales of jigsaws and rubberised play figures in an attempt to catch-up with the unexpected mega-success of the show, needless to say, with a short promotional window, the LP (and cassette edition) did not benefit a re-press and with most copies sold to children, few vinyl pressings have escaped repeat needle scratches and decorated sleeves.

From bhangra house, to late disco, from mental bass to downtempo astral journey, the mysterious quidam is delivering 4 different reflections of 90's electronic music. First release of the Paris-based collective, Mercredi Records.

Limited vinyl edition.

These two new tracks continue to push the band’s sound into new territory; ‘Overture 1’ is a brand-new composition from Ruby Rushton keyboard player Aidan Shepherd. Taking inspiration from bands like Weather Report and Soft Machine, it's explosive introduction leads you to a dub-like breakdown, creating an open space for Shepherd to let loose his synthesizer for some deep space, Headhunters’esque exploration.

Yardley Suite - is a song first conceived by band leader Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne back in 2012. Having lied dormant for several years it felt like an appropriate time to pull it back out the bag. It’s a composition inspired by Cawthorne’s solo work as an electronic producer, under his alias Tenderlonious. Always wanting to merge his various approaches, ‘Yardley Suite’ is the perfect mix of Jazz and House. With a steady four to the floor beat and snappy horn lines it's sure to work its magic on dancefloors around the globe.

Having focused on improvisation and more “open” compositions in the past, the bands new direction is geared towards tighter, more groove-orientated arrangements. This exciting new material is yet further evidence that this is a highly prolific band at the top of their game, continually evolving, stretching out their own unique sound across the full jazz spectrum.

DJ Support: Tom Ravenscroft, Bradley Zero, Huey Morgan, James Endacott, Kev Beadle, Chris Phillips, Tony Minvielle, Tim Garcia, Delia Tesileanu, Kamaal Williams, Al Dobson Jr, Contours, Poly-Ritmo.

This collection of rare black gospel from the Midwest—featuring church congregations, basement recordings sessions, family bands and children’s choirs—is drawn together by two threads. The first—hope—which holds fast and unchanging, even in the most trying of circumstances. The second—circumstance—the way these recordings fell into the hands of producer, Ramona Stout, in Chicago at the dawn of the Obama era, when she had just about lost hope in her American Dream.

Over the course of five years (2006-2011) of vinyl hustling in Chicago’s South and West Sides, these 45s came into Ramona’s hands, mixed up in milk-crates stacked with Northern Soul, water-damaged jazz and Hall & Oates LPs. After much travel and time, Ramona has articulated the spirit that drove this music forward. In this collection, she writes of this music and its relationship to the struggling communities where the records were found.

Sourced from exceedingly rare 45s—many of which were vanity pressings of less than 100 copies—all but one of the tracks found on this collection appear for the first time since their original release. Remastered by Grammy-winning producer Christopher King, these recordings have been resurrected for a new generation of listeners. With art direction by Grammy-winning graphic designer Susan Archie, this collection is a tangible, immersive experience in the struggles—the victories, the failures and the lingering hope—that defined Chicago in the post-Civil Rights era.

No Other Love is a singular, impressionistic journey into music that expresses faith, despair and exuberance. It is also a profound exploration of the very meaning of hope.

... Comprises 'Good Things' (a cover of the Maxayn classic), 'Gotta Get Better In A Little While' (cover of the Derek & The Dominoes gem) and new songs 'Coming Unstuck Again', 'My Child' and leading track 'Soona Than Much Layta'. NEW LINE UP – a veritable who’s who of the 1990's UK Acid Jazz Scene: Matt Deighton is still there playing central talismanic figure. Sulene Fleming (ex Brand New Heavies, vocals), Mick Talbot (the inimitable keyboard hero of The Style Council, Dexys), Ernie McKone (Galliano, Push, Paul Weller, Carleen Anderson), Bass Crispin ‘The Pump’ Taylor (Galliano, Push, Dexys, Candi Staton, Carleen Anderson) on drums.

Late nineties/early noughties, hip hop / R&B crossover bombs from Raphael Saadiq & Q-Tip.

Straight outta New York.

It is a cliché to describe music as a trip or an ocean or whatever, so this album, Tecwaa’s album “Beyond the Altai” released on Höga Nord Rekords, will in part be described as a snowman: the snowman has its characteristic familiar shape. He is cold yet there is something warm and cuddly about him, something that makes you feel happy and safe.

The A side on the album goes from that warm/cold cosy feeling but elements of destruction like melodies in minor keys slowly transforms the album to become only cold and not so cosy - the snow turns grey and the snowman’s smiling mouth becomes a twisted grin. Its contours disappears and the shape dissolves as the snow melts and floats out on the ground beneath its body. As the album develops, the sound gets harder and darker and the York based DJ moves closer to his roots in electro and Roland-machine knob-turning.

In some ways, “Beyond the Altai” is a call from the eighties and nineties dancefloors like in the tracks “Back To The Atomic Ether” and “10 Swords” on the B-side but all melts together in Tecwaa’s music to create his own obstinate and loose sound!

The Detroit Reels Project, est. 2019.

We are proud to welcome to the world of Unissued Soul something we have been working on since almost a year. When Brad Hales from Peoples Records out of Gratiot, Detroit, invited us over to discuss the project I had no idea of what was going on.

Turns out a posse was coming together to handle a very relevant archive of reel tapes, mainly containing demo takes from a handful of recording Studios based in the area. After the discovery and the subsequent physical restoration of the reels (baking and transferring to a workable format), we at would play the role of complete/arrange and release those original recordings rolled up on a spindle since 50 years.

We have set up a little sister label called Cannonball Detroit with the not-so-easy task to handle the “artistic” side of this delicate plan.
All releases within this program bear an arranged/finished version on Side A and original reel demo on Side B.

NBN Archives is proud to debut a forthcoming series of Hip-Hop and R’n’B reissues with a little known Californian project from "108", a short lived Bay Area group which consisted of rappers Encore (Shaya Bekele) and Grand The Visitor (Everett Aknowledge) along with composer-producer Sedric Edwards. Originally released in 1996 in a very limited quantity of one hundred CD's, the album "Mission Infinite" never really got the attention it deserved until now.

By the mid 90s Encore and Grand had already been gravitating around the San Jose Hip-Hop scene, releasing music in connection with Bay Area Hip-Hop Icon Peanut Butter Wolf - both featuring on one of Wolf’s first 12’s “Step On Our Ego's?” (1996, South Paw Records). In the same year, Grand released his first solo single “The Visitor” on Blind Side Recordings produced by PB Wolf and Encore's first single was one of the very first releases on Stones Throw in 1997. Sedric Edwards was a sound engineer working locally when he met Chris Cut (aka PB Wolf). They set up a studio together where he met the two MC’s. According to Encore: "One day, Sedric was playing some of his Jazz-infused instrumentals in between sessions, and we were like: ‘We should try something with this!’”

Working with Sedric’s simple homestudio set-up and with local musicians adding instrumentation to his bass playing, they managed to achieve a "live feel" on the album. Released upon completion via Wake Up Records, the LP was promoted with a couple of shows in small clubs around the San Jose area - where most of the CD's were sold. However without distribution or promotion the record fizzled out. It remains a mystery up until today how this album remained so slept-on for over two decades.

At a time when rapping over live instrumentation was not very common, a style popularized by bands like The Roots, the 108 project truly stands out amongst other Hip-Hop releases of that era. NBN Archives is extremely proud to present this 90's Hip-Hop underground masterpiece, remastered from the original DAT tapes, for the Jazzy Hip-Hop Aficionados.

Black Cash & Theo edits!
Galaxy Sound CO crew back at it!!

SIde A.
Hailing from Detroit Heavy Funk, Drum Beak Monster of a cut.
This record is a killer. Banginí drums, horns, a sweet bass line, Jake Wade and the Soul Searchers knew how to lay it down. Their DIY attitude was a great indication of just how much music that was under the radar at that time.

Toured with Blue-eyed Motown artist Stoney Murphy, even played in venues such as Detroit's famous Grande Ballroom.

Seaching for Soul, This 1968 Funk Bomb was even sampled in Beyonce song "Suga Mama""

Side B.
Show Stopper- Edits

Black Cash & Theo decied to give it Drum Edit Work out!!
This 45 from Iron Knowledge (from Youngstown, Ohio!) released in 1972 is an undeniable face melter! ìShow-Stopperî boasts one of the heaviest, gnarliest sounds ever put to wax!!!!!
In the distorted guitar riffs aggressive psychedelic funk "Show-Stopper" heavy drum break down.

The seventh 7-inch in Most Excellent Unlimited's series of Mr. K Edits combines a pair of lush midtempo modern soul gems, with both sides textbook candidates for a perfect set-opener. "Live In Me," from Rufus and Chaka Khan's 1979 Masterjam LP, was never released as a single, but that didn't stop it from becoming a fan favorite and warm-up classic for soulful DJs. Composed and produced by the legendary Rod Temperton and Quincy Jones, who were fresh off the completion MJ's Off The Wall when this was recorded, "Live In Me" is judiciously extended here by Danny Krivit without losing any of the graceful magic of the original.Philly jazz-funkers Pieces Of A Dream get another respectful Krivit extension on the flip side, with their gorgeous "Warm Weather." Written by maestro Dexter Wansel and featuring Barbara Walker on lead vocals, the laid-back pulse of this smooth '81rare groove mainstay has never fallen out of favor with DJs who understand the power of gentle persuasion.

Another batch of killer breaks from the crates, obscure vinyl drums ready for your sampling and Djing pleasure. Dinked (big hole), jukebox style. ... Ya may need 2 Copies.

Italian cult combo CALIBRO 35 release their highly anticipated 7th studio album "MOMENTUM" on January 24th 2020. "Momentum" follows "DECADE" their previous studio album released in 2018 that had marked 10 years of Calibro 35 and it stands out as a new starting point for the project. In the last 10 years Calibro 35 have dug the golden age of soundtracks and they had been to the future with "S.P.A.C.E.", "Momentum", as the band stated: "represents a look at nowadays and a reflection about making music right in the time that we're living".

Inspired by the work of artists such as Tortoise, Jagajazzist, Dj Shadow, Budos Band, Stelvio Cipriani, Ennio Morricone, Sandro Brugnolini, White Noise, Comet is Coming, JPEGMafia and DJ Signify, compared to the previous Calibro 35's full lengths on the 10 tracks that make up the new album, band's instruments and sounds have increased in number and complexity as well as reality.

The music palette is further extended by incorporating even more synths and electronic sounds, but keeping everything true and 100% real, with all the instruments played live and with no presets or programming. The two featurings on the album serve the cause as well. On the first single "Stan Lee", they collaborated with rapper, producer and songwriter Illa J a former member of super group Slum Village and younger brother of the late legendary hip hop producer and rapper J Dilla.

On "Black Moon", the combo from Milan provided the groove for London-based artist MEI. "If Decade was the sum of everything that the band had felt in the previous ten years", Calibro 35 says, "Momentum is the prequel of what you will hear in the next ten".
To mark the new beginning and come full circle, the recordings took place under the expert hands of usual suspect Tommaso Colliva, in the same studio where Calibro released their self titled debut album twelve years ago.

Dr Rubberfunk might not be medically trained, but he does know a thing or two about treating your ears, as he returns with the fourth instalment of his popular 'My Life at 45' series. Having established himself in funk, soul, blues and jazz circles with a ton of high calibre releases, the good doctor holds a reputation for quality productions, with a hands-on approach, both in front of, and behind the mixing desk, as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and producer.

A-side 'Boom!' features the vocals of the UK's leading blues & soul singer – John Turrell. Mr Turrell recounts the sorry tale of a man who has burned the candle at both ends, leaving him with just his recriminations and a great slab of wax on his hands.

As always though, with JT, it's delivered with humour "I've got the Tuesday tears, got the Wednesday woes – my serotonin too low …"
On the flip 'Steppin' In' is a low slung beat fest that is guaranteed to make your head nod, as piano, guitar & Hammond ride a tight jazz funk groove.

With its killer drum break and sweet piano arrangement courtesy of Zelpha Wells, "Price Of Love" stands as a manifesto of Harvey Gates' musical vision, which was clearly ahead of its time; the song, written in 1978, give us a glimpse of what was to come in the following decades. This record retains a large crossover appeal, and will fit well into the most diverse music lovers' collections. Salvation Rock is proud to announce the first and only official repress on original format, beautifully presented in a thick cardboard company sleeve and full label original artwork. This LP is a 100 % high quality and legit reissue.

Royal Torrence aka ‘Little Royal’, was the half brother of the legendary James Brown as they reportedly shared the same father and were close bothers throughout their adult lives. Both singers shared a vocal talent that drew music lovers to them. Little Royal grew a following in soul music from the 60's and 70's and made waves with the hit ‘Jealous’ in 1972 reaching #15 in R&B chart. ‘Razor Blade’ is also another highlight that created a mini dance craze and has since been sampled by Ice-T and J Dilla.

VISIONS by ORPHEUS – Limited Edition Orange Vinyl LP
'IZIPHO SOUL RECORDS' are truly blessed to represent the vinyl element of JARROD LAWSON'S pseudonym project, ORPHEUS -
A beautiful, bewitching, viby brew of acoustic & electronic elements, featuring lush, soulful vocal textures and elegant melodies. The fine artwork of Jaquelyn Cruz has been recreated in all the glory of a 12 inch cover, with printed inner sleeve and ORANGE vinyl.

In Jarrod’s words – VISIONS, a non-lyrical album of all original music which has been carefully crafted and tailored to tease your senses and guide you thru a peaceful, spiritually enriching experience.
I am truly honored and humbled to have been a creative conduit through which came this vivid tapestry of dreamy, visionary tales.

The original concepts which gave birth to these compositions are, in my mind, not unlike “visions" which are imparted to shamans during traditional consciousness-altering ceremonies, and much like the healing that comes through the use of associated sacred plant medicines, my intention is for THIS MUSIC also to produce healing vibrations, to soothe, and be a sort of medicinal balm for your soul.

I have chosen to release this under the pseudonym, Orpheus, whom was a legendary musician in Greek mythology known for his unique ability to charm the very animals and trees of the forest with the enchanting melodies he performed on his lyre. It was important to me that I create some division between Jarrod Lawson, the soul singer as I have come to be known, and Jarrod Lawson, the purveyor of alternative artistic pursuits, such as this.

... Essentially, an alias gives me artistic freedom to explore other creative territories and (hopefully) not alienate my fervent supporters, to whom I am most appreciative and grateful!

Introducing ACID JAZZ’s first release of 2020 coming out on our newest subsidiary label Fingier Records, dedicated exclusively to the Soul, R&B, Boogaloo and Raw Funk productions from the Argentinean producer Kevin Fingier. After many years DJing and promoting Soul & Mod culture in Argentina, the co-founder of the Buenos Aires Soul Club decided to give a twist to his versatile production career and start to produce Soul and R&B recordings.

To achieve this, he gathered together a house band called The Kevin Fingier Collective and experimented with recording techniques used fifty years ago to get an analogue sound that’ll take you to straight to the 60s. For the first limited edition single Kevin brought back the legendary Northern Soul singer Gerri Granger, to sing on the A-side track Don't Wanna Cry No More - a Soul/Funk tune with a huge R&B influence. On the flip side there’s a killer Mod Jazz instrumental called Sunglasses After Dark Part 1.

Legendary Detroit MC Guilty Simpson & New Zealand producer Leonard Charles team up as The Leonard Simpson Duo and provide a one of a kind 70’s inspired, psychedelic & acid influenced Album.

The psychedelic sound of this album is heavily drawn from rare acid influenced records from New Zealand’s 60’s and 70’s, carefully selected, picked and sampled by musical multi-talent Charles himself and accompanied by very well placed instrumentals and interludes taking direction from late 60’s jazz/rock fusion, fuzzed out African records and compulsory David Axelrod leanings. All of that combined with the lyrics and the beloved attitude of Motor City’s finest makes this album a beautiful, inspirational and surpassing Trip.

Active since the mid ‘90’s Guilty Simpson (100k monthly listeners on spotify) has become an institution and earned his spot in Detroit’s hip-hop legacy alongside friends, fellows and colleagues such as J Dilla, Slum Village, Eminem, D12, Danny Brown, Big Sean, Phat Kat or Black Milk and receives nothing but love and respect from the hardest street emcees as well as from acclaimed producers wherever he goes. Over the last decade Guilty continued the name he made for himself since his 2008 debut “Ode To The Ghetto” (produced by i.e. Dilla, Madlib and others) and has delivered plenty of features, mixtapes and studio albums ever since.

Leonard Charles has been a music producer since 2001. In his late teens he already played and toured with i.e. Randy Crawford. Charles attended the Red Bull Music Academy in South Africa in 2003 where he performed i.e. with Hugh Masekela and attended lectures with synth pioneer Bob Moog. He has won New Zealand Music Awards for his production and composing work with the Band Opensouls (previously released on Jakarta Records) and singer Hollie Smith. As a session guitarist Jeremy has played on recordings for i.e. Aaradhna, Teeks, David Dallas and many more while as a producer he has worked with i.e. Grandmaster Caz, Kimbra, Mara T.K., Georgia Anne Muldrow, Declaime and others.

The Duo met for the 1st time when Guilty came through Charles’ hometown Auckland, NZ, on tour in 2016. Charles reached out to Guilty and the two connected immediately, started working together and what was initially planned as an EP soon turned out to become a full-length album with late 70ies inspired psychedelic and acid influenced beats by Leonard and Simpson’s distinctive and uncompromising lyrics. Artwork and design for this record were contributed by conceptual mastermind Simone Cihlar (Anderson .Paak, Seeed, Habibi Funk, Tom Misch and many more.) The record will feature at least three singles accompanied by two videos, being released in January 2020. International promotion for this project will be handled by Jonathan Kim, while additional promotion for AUS/NZ will be accompanied by Josie Campbell.

Available on vinyl for the very first time: the 1992 album "Apocalypse Across The Sky" by the legendary MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA. Produced by BILL LASWELL, remastered for vinyl by HELMUT ERLER at D&M Berlin and according to Songlines one of the essential recordings of the ensemble.

No matter if you consider the MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA a "4,000 year-old rock'n'roll band" (WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS) or even "6,000 years old" (ORNETTE COLEMAN) – without doubt, the music of the ensemble in all its incarnations over the centuries is deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, paganism and the cult of the goat-god Boujeloud. According to a myth, many centuries ago Boujeloud appeared to a shepherd called Attar, an ancestor of today's ensemble leader BACHIR ATTAR, and till today every year at the end of Ramadan a fire in honour of the goat-god is ignited. This pagan root aside, the music performed in several hour long rituals on traditional instruments like tebel and tariyya (drums), ghaita (a woodwind instrument), lira (flute) and gimbri (stringed instrument) reveals hypnotic, trance-inducing qualities and is considered to have magical and healing properties.

In the 1950's, BRION GYSIN along with PAUL BOWLES were among the first westerners to witness such a ceremony, and it was GYSIN who invited the MASTER MUSICINS OF JAJOUKA to play in his restaurant in Tanger, and who later (in 1967) brought BRIAN JONES to the small village of Jajouka where the ROLLING STONES guitarist recorded the ensemble for what became the first "world music album" and that raised interest in the MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA in the western world. Since those days, a wide number of creative minds like WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS, ORNETTE COLEMAN,MARC RIBOT, FLEA, TALVIN SINGH or the ROLLING STONES have worked with THE MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA who are now performing regularly outside Morocco.

In 1991, iconic producer BILL LASWELL also embarked on a trip to the small village of just 800 inhabitants in the Rif mountains to record the group for his AXIOM label - "Apocalypse Across The Sky" is, unlike other LASWELL projects that bring together different cultures and genres, a pure document of the ensemble, raw and unpolished but exquisitely recorded, and ranks according to the world music magazine Songlines among the essential recordings of the legendary MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA and is now available on vinyl for the very first time!

Following up on their explosive and critically acclaimed debut album Free To Believe (2015, Do Right Music), Canada's premiere deep funk outfit The Soul Motivators are back with their sophomore album Do The Damn Thing. The 9-track album delivers a heavy dose of the band's signature funk sound, incorporating the soulful sensibilities of lead vocalist Shahi Teruko, who has been performing and touring with the band for the past two years and makes her recorded debut here.

From the high-octane 'Mindblastin' and 'All the Way to the Bank' to the moody ''Black Rhino' and the car-chase MSFBs-inspired 'Savalas' which show off the Motivators' instrumental grooves, Do The Damn Thing is guaranteed to appeal to the most discerning funk fans.

The band continues to broaden their definition of soul music from a spiritual, political and social standpoint, as evidenced by the album's most poignant and introspective moment, 'Modern Superwoman' featuring lyrics penned by Teruko. The Soul Motivators have toured tirelessly in their hometown of Toronto and all across the country. Their diverse crowd always turns out for their propulsive live show, and their mandate has always been the same: inclusivity, community, togetherness, and getting down on the dancefloor.

'TNT' has never released a record before (aside from the 12" we did last year), so this is a huge fucking honour to be trusted with this material. TNT Roots has continued a solo career since Earthquake quietly folded in 2002, trading short-run CDr's on Ebay and the Blood & Fire forum. His music still survives on not-for-sale dubplates - pushed exclusively by legendary 90's sounds like Aba Shanti.

The result is the Raw Dub Creator LP - a survey of his 2006 - 2018 CDr selected by Bokeh. Urgent steppas for dark dances, heavier than the grave - next evolution soundsystem muzik. These are driving militant sounds for these times made in seeming isolation in Northampton (TNT never plays live, doesn't want Bandcamp, just wants to sell his CDs quietly over email). TNT Roots' contribution to dub is seismic, almost dinosauric, but through some glitch in universe fabric, 'Mighty In Battle' Bokeh 2018 was his first official vinyl release.

As half of Earthquake - he's responsible for the darkest, forward, most slept-on future of dub to grace us. This unique and heavy vision has reset the whole game with long unavailable LPs like Revelation in Dub and Dub Harder Than Steel make obvious an understated lineage flowing from 90's steppas down to jungle, grime, hardcore, darkcore, doomcore, it's kinda pointless to list them. It's dub. TNT and Earthquake's rightful place alongside those mystic giants, Iration Steppas, is more than assured by those that know.

Co-Produziert von Jan Weissenfeld von den Poets Of Rhythm/Karl Hector and the Malcouns/Soul-Saints und mit Features von AG (DITC), El Da Sensei (Artifacts), Phat Kat und Paws One, kommt ein unerwartetes Release der 'TRIBEZ', die sich hierfür mit Maniac
von den Demograffics zusammengetan haben, um eine zeitlose Rap-Platte aufzunehmen.

Die Band hat sich musikalisch hierbei am Krautrock der 70's orientiert, ohne aber den so wichtigen Groove, den eine Hip Hop Live Band ausmacht, aus den Augen zu verlieren. Die 5-köpfige Band 'TRIBEZ' aus München/Regensburg gilt schon seit langem als DIE Hip Hop Band Deutschlands. Umjubelte Auftritte als Live Band und Produktionen mit u.a. Megaloh, Roger Rekless, Samy Deluxe, Alex Prince, Afrob und diversen Shows auf renommierten Festivals wie dem Splash! oder Summerjam Festival zählen unter anderem zu ihrem Repertoire.

Zuletzt wurden sie gemeinsam mit Samy Deluxe, David Pe und Roger
Rekless auf ausverkaufter Freestyle Tour gefeiert. Mit ihrer eigenen Konzertreihe ,,Loop Sessions'' sorgen die 'TRIBEZ' außerdem seit einiger Zeit regelmäßig für Begeisterung und ausverkaufte Häuser.
Bei den Loop Sessions am Start sind die 5-köpfige Live Band 'TRIBEZ': Dam Sick an den Drums, Bass & 808 Drum Machine, Monster FunkDogg Ningu Storm an den Keys, Guitar Riffs von Ben T und Rufflow an den Turntables zusammen mit wechselnden MC's und Freestyle-wütigen Hosts! Dabei werden Beats internationaler Produzentenikonen wie J Dilla oder Madlib, aber auch hiesiger Größen wie Dexter oder Suff Daddy mit einer Detailverliebtheit und Kunstfertigkeit, die in Europa ihresgleichen sucht, neu interpretiert.

Die Gästeliste der bisherigen „Loop Sessions“ liest sich daher auch wie ein Who-is-who der deutschen Hip Hop- und Freestyle-Szene: Afrob, MC Rene, Roger Rekless, David Pe, Holunder (Blumentopf), Fatoni, Damion Davis, Morlock Dilemma & Hiob, Negroman,
Dexter, Juse Ju, Edgar Wasser und eine ganze Reihe weiterer hochkarätiger MCs teilten sich bereits die Bühne mit den 'TRIBEZ' - Maniac, bekannt als Produzent und Rapper der Demograffics, hat sich mittlerweile zum Herz der bayerischen Hip Hop-Szene gemausert.

Er begeistert aber auch weiterhin als einer der wenigen englischsprachigen Rappern in Deutschland weit über die Grenzen des Freistaates hinaus. Wenn er nicht gerade an neuen Liquid & Maniac Songs arbeitet, versorgt er seine Homies mit Beats. Da wären u.a. Roger Rekless, Mc Rene, Dexter uvm. Auch in Sachen Mundart Rap hat er mehrere Songs produziert u.a. den Klassiker “Bavarian
Squad”. Nebenbei steht Maniac bei den Loop Sessions der Tribez. neben Moop Mama‘s Keno als Host mit auf der Bühne, organisiert eigene Jams und steht immer öfter auch hinter den Plattentellern.

Raw Funana music, a sibling of Cumbia, distilled from the Badiu masters of the accordion. Crafted in the isolated northern heartlands of Cabo Verde's Santiago Island, where revolt and rebellion against injustice courses through it's history's veins. Hypnotic notes on aged accordions tuned and flavored in ways found nowhere but Santiago are infused with inviting baselines, raucous rhythms, blade-on-iron percussion, and the bubbling lyricism and lament of the island's finest ambassadors. Best enjoyed with grog, Cabo Verde's local moonshine made from sugarcane crushed by bulls. Imbibe responsibly, listen carefully, and dance recklessly.

Not much is known about Philadelphia record producer/label owner Curtis R. Staten who sporadically operated the C.R.S. record label during the late 1960's throughout the early 1980's. During that time, C.R.S. released at least, 15 singles and 2 albums of some of the finest R&B, funk and gospel recordings from the Philadephia area.

Fans of Northern Soul and Deepfunk will be pleased to see, also hear, some very rare AND amazing songs by such artists as George Johnson Jr. & The Mondells, Bonnie Blanchard, Andy Aaron & The Mean Machine, The Zodiacs, Midnight Madness, Carl 'Sherlock' Holmes, ... and many more.

Seven Wonders is a 14 track snapshot of the experimental Soul and Jazz scene burgeoning in Australia today. Recorded at Plug Seven Studios in Melbourne in collaboration with Wondercore Island, the compilations main aim was to capture spontaneous musical moments that reflect the diversity of sounds, and quality of musicianship in Australia today, with very little interference from microphone to tape to the record in your hands.

Seven Wonders contains a super diverse cross section of artists, with well over 50 individuals putting in their time & creativity to bring this to life. It's a record that truly highlights the grass roots soul movement blowing up day to day in Australia. It's recorded largely over two weeks, the majority of the tracks on 'Seven Wonders' were captured in one take, bottling the raw energy and virtuosity of Melbourne's most accomplished, established and emerging players.

There's an antipodean take on P-Funk from Laneous, characteristically enigmatic vocals from soul singer Allysha Joy and a free-flowing instrumental from Sampa the Great collaborator Dave Godriguez, aka GODTET. Several tracks include production and background instrumentation from Hiatus Kaiyote's rhythm section Perrin Moss and Paul Bender, and way, way ... more.

"Last year's 'Love Saves The Day' was excellent, but I get the sense that he was just warming up... this double header which is en route from Spain's capital next month contains this massive funky jam - and this is smoking!"
- Craig Charles

After his previous banger 'Love Saves the Day' got hands in the air on dance floors all over the world, well, it turns out that Casbah 73 was just warming up.

This new double A-sided release kicks off with 'To Be Free', an ambitious and, dare we say it, timeless number. It sees the welcome return of the very talented Angela Gooden, her alternatively seductive and evocative vocals riding a sumptuously warm and rich groove featuring a sparkling string section and anchored by a heavyweight golden era disco rhythm section. Classic yet modern, this will set any dance floor alight.

Over on the flip-side, 'Doing Our Own Thing' is a massive, full-on instrumental jazz-funk boogie cut rich in live instrumentation, clocking in at just over nine minutes and showing off a killer horn section to full effect. The dazzling interplay between the various players has peak-time euphoria written all over it, and those nine minutes are over way too soon.

The new single is a more than worthy successor to last year's 'Love Saves The Day', an insatiably funky slice of disco soul that smacked of raw authenticity (and one of the funkiest bass breakdowns you'll hear in a long while). A "proper" composition recorded live in the studio with an excellent cast of musicians, it found favour with many of the scene's more open-minded DJs across the board.

All through the nineties, revered digger/vinyl dealer Oli Stewart aka Casbah 73 trawled across America leaving no warehouse standing in his quest for the rare and the downright elusive. His knack for discovering, or bringing to light many an unknown classic, meant his reputation with DJs and producers around the globe was legendary.

Extremely rare left field funky soul on this one, originally released on the 'catchy' Mijarelix label (name came from the initials of the band members). Charm is the name of the game. Fragile guitar and vocal with a great hook, simple and beautiful. Flip it over and you have another original, more garagey but still funky flip, not sure which I prefer, love them both, hope you do.

The hotly tipped post-punk, disco-funk phenomenon Squid are back with a new EP called ‘Town Centre’ which is released vinyl via Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label, the first EP from the legendary singles label.

Kicking off with the ambient sprawl of Savage, Squid are instantly revelling in the uncertainty and ambiguity found in the searching out of ideas and have created something that feels meditative yet active, capturing their alluring chaos but presenting it in a totally different manner. Next up, the propulsive, guitar-ledMatch Bet was written at guitarist Anton Pearson’s parents house in Norfolk and spawned from an open tuning fingerpicking pattern that sparring partner Louis Borlase had been developing after being inspired by the Don Edwards track ‘Coyotes’ in Grizzly Man. On The Cleaner, Squid are at their angular best, the lyrics are inspired by moving to London and trying to adjust to the pace and lifestyle of the city. The track is bursting with ideas, and there’s a clear energy and determination within the band to embrace different musical styles, deftly.Town Centre closes with Rodeo, a cinematic track that features an observational monologue from Ollie Judge.

For Town Centre the band once again team up with producer du jour Dan Carey and emerge with a powerful, intensely angular collection of songs that recall the finest corners of late 70s post-punk alongside a propulsive motorik drive and glimmers of early noughties disco whilst expertly making it all their own.