Hip-Hop Vinyl Neuheiten & Releases - News

chalo is a nascent interdisciplinary creative community and collaborative platform featuring the work of ethnically South Asian artists. With a long term aim to strengthen cross-cultural bonds by showcasing the vast breadth of talent within the community, the first volume features artists with heritage in Pakistan, India and Kashmir. Net proceeds from the compilation are going towards the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and Zindagi Trust.

The first volume of chalo comprises of Pakistani and Indian artists across classical composers and underground hip-hop, visual artists and videographers, journalists and illustrators. It is a multi-tiered release featuring a video, podcast, print series and, most importantly, a music compilation.

Featuring an all-star cast of artists like that range from the cerebral (V.S Narasimhan), to editations on immigrant culture (Riz Ahmed), to post-modern pop (Kavya), to Kashmiri hip-hop (Ahmer), floating left-field electronica (Nabihah Iqbal) to meditative jazz (Sarathy Korwar) to tunes that will leave you sweating on the dance floor (MadstarBase), chalo vol. 1 showcases the diversity and musical range of South Asian artists. It dispels the notion that an often overlooked culture can be painted by one brush, a single narrative.

The compilation will be accompanied by a video piece that gives insight to the plight of artists of colour whilst also highlighting the unique cultural melting pot of influences. This ethos will be extended to an eight-episode podcast where discussions between artists from various parts of India and Pakistan will meditate on discussions of caste, class, politics, race and, amongst it all, the meaning of art. This will be released after the compilation’s launch on November 6th, with the album artwork by Shweta Sharma.

The net proceeds from the chalo project will be split between the Human Rights Law Network and Zindagi Trust which will contribute to the ongoing initiatives they are working on, including Rights to Food, Dalit Rights, Educational Reform, Women’s Justice and Empowerment.

"chalo stems from recognising that there’s a gap in the media we consume. Despite global political, industrial and technological significance, culturally, South Asia’s status is hidden in the margins. With a long term to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations while also elevating and showcasing peoples respective talents, چلو chalo aims to build, however we can, between people.”

By the late seventies Nigerians were increasingly drawn to reggae. It was regarded as a more spiritual and contemplative type of music. When the bright lights and cheap thrills of the dance floor waned, reggae provided life with a deeper meaning. And it didn't come any deeper than 'We Shall Win' by Pogo Limited. Pogo Limited were a Beninese 'super' band, made up of performers from the popular Nigerian Television Authority program, 'Music Panorama'. Emma Ogosi, future superstar and household name, was on rhythm guitar. Robo Arigo was on bass. Pat 'Finn' Okonjo, former frontman of The Hykkers, provided lead vocals. 'We Shall Win' was their first album and a clarion call for change. 'Together' envisages a time when everyone enjoys the riches of Africa. 'Switch Your Lights On' bathes in the purest kind of love and in 'Something Must Be Done', the dream is a long, happy life with great grandchildren. The album's brightest moment, the upbeat 'We Shall Win', takes heart from change in southern Africa. Ironically, it was adopted by the Nigerian ruling party in 1983 as their theme song in what was widely regarded as a massively rigged election. Focussed, deep and contemplative, 'We Shall Win' is a thoughtful alternative to the bright lights of the Lagos dance floor, an album where exceptional musicianship combines with a meaningful lyrics to provide hope in a desperate world. It is an album as relevant today as it was back then.

Pressed on 180g Gold heavyweight vinyl, this collection Shalamar’s greatest US and UK top 40
chart singles.
Shalamar broke onto the disco scene in 1977, but 2019 marks the 40th Anniversary of the classic
line-up formation of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, who set the UK charts alight
throughout the early 80’s with hits like ‘Dead Giveaway’ and ‘There It Is.’
From their debut discofied Motown medley, ‘Uptown Festival,’ Shalamar became constant hitmakers on both the US R&B charts and the UK pop charts, scoring with the dance-floor classics
‘Take That To The Bank,’ ‘The Second Time Around’ and ‘Make That Move.’
While promoting A Night To Remember’ on ‘Top of the Pops’ in 1982, Jeffrey Daniel introduced
UK audiences to the moon walk and started a body popping craze across the country. Their top
ten album ‘Friends’ subsequently spent over a year on the chart and achieved platinum sales.
Shalamar’s current line-up of Howard, Jeffrey and Carolyn Griffey still tour regularly in the UK and
have closed every year since 2010 with a sell-out show at London’s 02 Arena.
The album has an introductory note from the Band’s Jeffrey Daniel

Schmelzend und beschwingt: Berühmte Sänger knöpfen sich bekannte Weihnachtstitel vor: Wenn Dean Martin den Schöpfer dazu auffordert, es schneien zu lassen ("Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"), Paul Anka weiß, dass nun überall Weihnachten ist ("It's Christmas Everywhere"), Harry Belafonte Glöckchen vernimmt ("I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"), Frank Sinatra die Heilige Nacht beschwört ("Silent Night") sowie Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters beobachten, wie der Nikolaus in die Stadt kommt ("Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"), nähern wir uns nicht nur dem 24. Dezember, vor allem hat dann die Stunde der Crooner geschlagen. Mit ihren schmelzend-beschwingten Swing-, Soul- und Gospel Interpretationen bekannter Weihnachtstitel sorgen sie auf der LP-Kompilation "Noël Crooners" auf unterhaltsame Weise dafür, dass die Stimmung nicht ins Rührselige abdriftet, und dennoch eine besinnliche Note bewahrt bleibt. Das gilt auch für weitere Titel wie "Wade In The Water" (Sam Cooke), "Christmas In New Orleans" (Louis Armstrong), "Blue Christmas" (Elvis Presley) oder "The Snow Is Falling" (Ray Charles).

A fun and catchy, but deep set of songs by a mysteriously dark executive character, exploring themes of capitalism and the power of money, all while somehow remaining funky as hell.

Brooklyn guitar maestro Max Zuckerman strikes out from his regular jazz-pop band "Blue Jazz TV" with a tour de force concept album that's part Steely Dan and part American Psych.

Beautifully smooth horn hooks and cutting disco guitar leading to prodigious solos over groovy city pop rhythms,eventually culminating in the mellowest tune regarding corporate sell-outs that's ever been committed to wax, this imaginary AOR CEO "gave the devil what he promised...for The Corner Office."

The genre, electro (or electro-funk), is sometimes perceived to have a separate identity to hip-hop; however, this electronic cousin was integral to the early development of the hip-hop sound. Drawing on drum machines, such as the Roland TR-808, and influenced by funk, these two genres were intertwined and rode a parallel axis for a while, with rap, breakdance, and graffiti as pillars of the culture and community. The mechanical sound of electro would later go on to inspire a different set of producers and played its part in influencing contemporary electronic dance music. For this 7" release we are taking things back to 1984 and 1985 with a split single from The Egyptian Lover and Jamie Jupitor.

First up is a track from The Egyptian Lover, AKA Greg J. Broussard, the cult Los Angeles-based producer, vocalist and DJ, who is a true hip-hop / electro-fusion pioneer. 'Computer Love (Sweet Dreams)' is a seminal electro-fusion / machine-funk classic that saw a release on the iconic label Freak Beat Records (owned by Greg himself). The original 7" release is now very sought-after by collectors.

On the flip we have another electro jam from The Egyptian Lover disciple, Jamie Jupitor. 'Computer Power’ was additionally produced and arranged by The Egyptian Lover, and was released on Egyptian Empire Records (the label that evolved from Freak Beat Records). For this release we have opted for a special 7" unreleased radio edit, that has Greg kindly provided us with, which differs slightly in composition from the previously released versions. One for fans of Dãm Funk, electro and 80s funk.

The fourth release on LA's Pleasure of Love 'Pleasure of Edits' series features west coast talent Air Zaïre on editorial duties.

The desert drive opener 'Midnight Sun' finds a hypnotic groove with woodwind leads and acoustic guitar on a cosmic journey through daytime disco.

The A2, 'Canguelo Perro,' struts through a Paraguayan groove with a sweet saturated guitar hook that sticks with you in the best possible way.

The B side features an off kilter synth bass and pad heavy 80s Japanese flip in 'Shojo Showdown' with crunchy effects and chugging arps leading the way.

Closing out the record is 'South of Sunset,' a euphoric looping strings party starter, an instant classic at the Hollywood weekly party.

Dusty archives, the backrooms of record stores, private reel to reel stashes, master tapes - these are the environs of the Dynamic Range experience. Dynamic Range is a label focused on unearthing deep Soul, Funk and Disco jams that continue to resonate with todays dancers and DJ's. Time spent scouring the bowels of the majors and independents has unsurprisingly resulted in numerous gems being added to the DR wants list. High quality, fully licensed reissues are the order of the day, always taken from the correct master source and re-presented to hungry record heads the world over. To repeat, this is a fully legit operation - Avoid the sharks at all costs!

Javaroo are perhaps not the most well known of Soul / Funk acts, but this UK outfit dropped on full length LP in 1980 that yielded the monstrous 'Breakin In' that has become a hugely sought after 12" single that is a bonafide killer in the AOR / Modern style. It's no surprise then, that this bullet was penned by none other than Heatwave's head honcho, the late, great Rod Temperton. A true visionary and legendary figure in the music industry, Temperton's skills wouls touch the careers of luminaries such as Michael Jackson, George Benson, Quincy Jones & many more. Not bad for a lad from Cleethorpes! 'Breakin In' is one of those records that sends the dance wild, it has had collectors and DJ's clamouring for a copy for many years with the deepest selectors guarding the secret! This is a fully legit repress, complete with Capitol Records OG 12" artwork, featuring the hot as long version 'Breakin In' backed with 'Change It Up' and 'Bring Out The Women' as per the 1980 promo 12" release. Incredible, essential and funky - get some Javaroo into your life!

All music selected by the Dynamic Range team / Licensed and reissued by Above Board distribution in conjunction with Universal Music.
Remastered with love by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK. Artwork edit by Atelier Superplus. 2018.

Previously Unreleased Cinematic Jazz-Funk for Film & Television by Arranger/Composer J.J. Johnson

21 tracks featuring music from Across 110th Street, Top Of The Heap, The Fuzz Brothers, The Bold Ones.Funky Moog modulations, car chases, moody library cues and a righteous soul sister preaching universal truths all revealed in these recently discovered recordings.Masterful arranging and lush orchestration by one of the giants of the Jazz & Soul/Funk Genres.Cut direct to vinyl from the reference tapes.

Storage Find! Limited & last batch of Helsinki band Jesse's third album from 2012 that was never properly distributed internationally. Always steady, but irregularly tipping over to the obscure while always applying stains of disco, house, outernational elements, funk, humour and even pub rock. Also incl. the excellent "Karaoke King" featuring Jimi Tenor on sax and vox.

If you like Soul, Funk & Jazz - Faroul with Dreams and Future
comes next

Worldwide Award winners First Word Records are pleased to welcome back Souleance; a duo that have been releasing music with us for a decade now, and triumphantly returning to the fold with some brand new music for 2020.

This vinyl / digital EP, 'Les Mouches', is their first release for First Word since the acclaimed beat-tape 'French Cassette' from early last year.

Expanding on the original Normand-Parisian super-duo of Fulgeance and Soulist, the Souleance crew now includes Vincent Choquet on synths and Guillaume Rossel on drums as part of their live outfit. Whilst sonically their style remains unchanged, the formation into a full band sees the Souleance sound become bigger, more realised and more formidable than ever.

The title track 'Les Mouches' sets off the EP in a playful disco manner - a chugging bassline, assorted synthesisers, disco claps and a four-to-the-floor drum track, inspired by the likes of Larry Levan and Candido. Meaning "flies", Les Mouches was a legendary Manhattan club that existed around the era of Studio 54, and was infamously a hangout spot for Imelda Marcos. The club itself was named after a play by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Next up is the single 'Aquarelle' (meaning watercolours), which contains more layers than a Bob Ross painting. With its various elements splayed across its aural canvas, sprinkled with some subtle scratches, it's four minutes of funk presented in Souleance's inimitable way.

'The Bounce' follows and enters a more soulful side of the dance, dropping the tempo a touch and inviting in a huge bassline, squelchy keys and intermittent vocal hooks.

'Mont Maudit' takes more of a latin jazz direction with big drums and cymbals rocking throughout, whilst an infectious piano hook cruises throughout, and an ethereal gospel choir switches up the proceedings mid-way.

Things get deeper still with the epic broken beat-esque 'Maneuevers'. Crunchy rhodes dominate this slightly tweaked-out rhythm, a delectable piece of heads-down nujazz fused with Souleance's unmistakable funk once again.

'L'Opuleance' closes out this EP with some more traditional Souleance fare - the tempo a little more head-nod, this one is comprised of some deliciously wobbly bass, chopped samples and hefty breaks.

This EP is essentially a set of grooves marinated in nostalgia whilst managing to sound entirely current. Analogue synths, live bass, sleek cuts and intoxicating drums. This is another round of sure-shot dancefloor fire from our favourite French family.

Previous support has come from OkayPlayer, Bill Brewster, BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft & Huey Morgan, and various DJs on Worldwide FM, NTS & Le Mellotron,

On the A Side the Notorious Brooklyn Bad Boy is back, moaning about the fact that he’s got noth-ing to do on a Saturday after a crazy lit Friday night. This funked up boogie edit is one for the dance floor once lockdown has passed and will surely rock for years to come. On the flip, big Q warms things with the heat. This well known sample is so understated and smooth, yet instantly recognisa-ble not just by die hard fans. It’ll rock any venue from Bar to BBQ back to the dancefloor. Special Edition in gold vinyl.

JKriv - Aguaxire

TASSO (THE GREAT) KAIN- CASTRO'S BEAT/ TEDDY REYNOLDS - LOUISE

A Pittsburgh instrumental anthem flipped with LP only issued R'n'B swingin' masterclass

This is a new release of the Groove Diggers series, the only work released in 1977 by 8-members funka soul band "Moonpie" based in Nashville, USA. Aused to be known as just collectors items but you can listen to high quality sound with skillful performance and various arrangements from this record. The cover take of "Stevie Wonder / Sunshine Of My Life" is really awesome.

Volume 10 of this great series sees Smoove return to the Daisy Age and pay tribute to De La Soul with his cut & paste mix, utilising some of greatest samples ever used! Flip to the B side for his fusion of De La’s Say No Go with the Hall and Oates sample. Quality and very limited – don’t sleep!

Four albums in, the convenient and generalized catchphrase for Here Lies Man’s erudite sound — if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat — might seem a little played out. But Ritual Divination is perhaps the best rendering of the idea so far. Particularly on the Sabbath side of the equation: The guitars are heavier and more blues based than before, but the ancient rhythmic formula of the clave remains a constant.
“Musically it’s an opening up more to traditional rock elements,” says vocalist/guitarist/ cofounder Marcos Garcia, who also plays guitar in Antibalas. “It’s always been our intention to explore. And, as we travelled deeper into this musical landscape, new features revealed themselves.”

The L.A. based band comprised of Antibalas members have toured relentlessly following their breakout 2017 self-titled debut. Their second album, You Will Know Nothing and an EP, Animal Noises, both followed in 2018. Third album No Ground To Walk Upon emerged in August 2019. All of them were crafted by Garcia and cofounder/drummer Geoff Mann (former Antibalas drummer and son of jazz musician Herbie Mann) in their L.A. studio between tours. Ritual Divination is their first album recorded as the full 4-piece band, including bassist JP Maramba and keyboardist Doug Organ.
Ritual Divination continues with an ongoing concept of HLM playing the soundtrack to an imaginary movie, with each song being a scene. “It’s an inward psychedelic journey, the album is the trip,” Garcia says. “The intention and purpose of the music is to create a sonic ritual to lift the veil of inner space and divine the true nature of reality.”

Likewise, musically and sonically, the album is self-reflexive. “On this album the feel changes within a song,” Garcia says. “Whereas before each song was meant to induce a trancelike state, now more of the songs have their own arc built in.” Similarly, the guitar sounds themselves herein eschew the fuzz pedals of previous recordings, going for the directness of pure amp overdrive and distortion using an interconnected rig of 4 amplifiers. And, here, the well-versed live band is able to record as a unit, giving it much more of a live and dynamic feel.

Rough Trade named the band’s self-titled debut in their prestigious Top 10 Albums of 2017. BBC 6 & Classic Rock Magazine deemed it among the year’s best, as well as countless other press outlets singing its praises. Each subsequent album furthered the band’s reputation for genre-smashing rhythmic experimentation, topping many year-end lists as well as earning features from countless metal and indie rock outlets, plus cover stories in weekly papers.
“We’re very conscious of how the rhythms service the riffs,” Garcia explains. “Tony Iommi’s (Black Sabbath) innovation was to make the riff the organizing principle of a song. We are taking that same approach but employing a different organizing principle: For Iommi it was the blues, for us it comes directly from Africa.”
Ritual Divination will be available on LP, CD and download on January 22nd, 2021 via RidingEasy Records.

Repress!

To celebrate what would have been the world-renowned songwriter, Rod Temperton’s 70th birthday, one of the highlights of Heatwave’s ‘Central Heating’ album, and never before released as a single, the mystical ‘The Star Of A Story’ gets an official, remastered outing on 45! Backed with the intoxicating, funk joint ‘Ain’t No Half’ Steppin’ it’s an incredible insight into the magic of both Rod and Heatwave as a whole.

Formed in 1975, Heatwave, primarily a chart topping funk / disco outfit, dropped ‘The Star Of A Story’ an uncharacteristic yet deeply elegant and ethereal departure crafted by keyboardist, Rod Temperton. Like an eternally warming Balearic blanket, angelic, siren-like falsetto vocals from Johnnie Wilder lure from a distance as harmonies straight outta heaven drift across the airwaves.

It’s a serenade of the sweetest kind backed with sweeping cellos, soft keys and laidback acoustic guitars. A dream-inducing, drifting beauty that has been sampled numerous times by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde and Hudson Mohawke and even covered by the legendary George Benson.

On the flip side, a trademark Heatwave mid-tempo funk number, in the form of ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin’. Beginning with a head spinning intro that leads into a true showcase of the group’s collective power on the mic. Mario Mantese jams out on the bass as blaring horns, lively strings and grooving chord struts turn this up about as hot as you can get. Sultry, soulful and smooth bursting at the seams with funk richness it’s long been a staple of the some of the best DJs out there and famously sampled by Big Daddy Kane, amongst many others.

The late composer, arranger, musician and record producer Nonato Buzar is a lesser known great (outside of Brazil). His legacy leaves behind a rich body of recordings, working with some of the cream of the Brazilian 60s and 70s music scene, such as Evinha, Elis Regina, Wilson Das Neves to name a few as well as Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. The awesome organ driven dancer of ‘Cafuá’ is taken from Nonato & Seu Conjunto’s 'O Som E O Balanço De Nonato’ album from 1975 on Som records.
Mr Bongo re-issued José Roberto’s (aka Ze Roberto) ultra rare 'Lotus 72 D' 7” earlier in 2019. 'Crioula Multicolorida’ though not as scarce as ‘Lotus' is still a hard record to find and is equally as great. This anthemic ‘samba rock’ gem, with its amazing breakdown, originally appeared as the B-side of a 7” in 1974 on RCA Victor. It has since been a favourite amongst Brazilian DJs and collectors, featuring on the influential ‘Via Brazil’ compilation series and 'Brazilian Beats Brooklyn' collection on Mr Bongo.

JB's, who are so famous as the backing band of James Brown, are coming back!! About 20 years after the release in the 70's, Aa super-class funk album "Bring The Funk On Down" which was suddenly produced and released as a Japanese project in 1999 by P-VINE and we would like to present a special single from the album for the first time! Both tracks are re-made as short versions just for this ep. BORN TO GROOVE!

Much about 'Beat Bop' is shrouded in mystery. Who really produced it? Why was Jean-Michel Basquiat relegated from rapper on the track to drawing the cover and labels? What are they actually rapping about for most of the ten-minute length?

These questions, however, are all part of the enigma and rich legend surrounding a song that is an undisputed piece of true hip-hop genius. The combination of graffiti artist Rammellzee and rapper K-Rob is a potent one, with each MC adopting a persona - hustler and B-Boy respectively - that they maintain against an unusual swirling backdrop that must be one of the best instrumentals ever committed to wax.
The original Tartown Record 1983 pressing was limited to 500 copies, a mere test pressing in the eyes of the assembled artists, with scarcity further driven by Basquiat's rising rep in the art world. Those few hundred copies – and a subsequent re-release on Profile Records (the same label where K-Rob played out the rest of his brief career) punched well above their weight in terms of lasting influence.
Consider the early vocal tones of the Beastie Boys (who also sampled the track), or the huge part it played in the sound of Cypress Hill and B-Real. His voice is almost homage to Rammellzee's on 'Beat Bop', while they also lifted the chorus of 'Shoot 'Em Up' and even a
sample of 'Cypress Hill' from the track too. It's unsurprising – this is a multi-layered, complex song that reveals a little more of itself each time you play it but remains damn funky.

This reissue boasts the vocal and instrumental versions in full, as well as both the full cover and label artwork from the original Tartown Release.

After selling out on every batch of the limited runs of 300 Donuts 7” releases dropped throughout 2020, Bristol’s 45 connoisseur Boca 45 AKA Scott Hendy offers them up here for the first time ever as a complete collection. 12 of the freshest, hip-hop, funk, soul & breaks sprinkled tracks featuring some choice collaborations with some of the finest artists in the scene.

Collating the exclusive vinyl-only releases since January, as well as some brand-new, never-before-heard singles, Boca is providing a full-on masterclass of production, grooves, song writing and endless talent from an array of artists that tick just about every musical box and smash genre boundaries straight through the middle.

Created in 2006, Setenta, the Latin Soul Band spreads a unique mix over the world scene. For their fifth album Materia Negra, the Paris-based band returns to its roots: hard Latin funk with plenty of Afro-Latin percussion upfront in the mix contrasted with accents of lush vocal harmony and warm, breezy melody. But at its core, there is something essentially darker, rougher and funkier than their previous releases, especially in the guitar and synth work, bluesy minor key arrangements, and lyrical content. It’s essentially a heavier feel with this record, influenced no doubt on the negative side by the current dark times being experienced across the globe due to the pandemic, subsequent economic downturn and the lack of effective government leadership and global solidarity to deal with the crisis. On the positive tip, the inspiring Black Lives Matter movement and international protests against oppressive governments, systemic racism, corporate greed, global warming and environmental exploitation no doubt have something to do with the serious feel of Materia Negra as well.

Another crucial aspect to this newfound toughness is what band member and Latin Big Note founder and director Osman Jr. states is the group’s desire to address DJs and dancers who appreciate the rawest songs from Setenta’s previous productions. The desire is to leave their mark on the decks and dance floors of the planet with a genre that “we defend by taking the torch extended by our mentors such as Joe Bataan: Latin Funk!” Setenta’s sound has always been soulful, with plenty of tropical Caribbean roots, but this time there is an even stronger Afro-centric theme and gritty psychedelic R&B angle, clothed in galactic, outer-space trappings, bringing to mind another forerunner, Mandrill, as well as the Afro-Futurist mothership vibe of Parliament-Funkadelic.

A Nigerian Hypnotich Afro Funk Lp originally released under licence from Love Records to Fontana Records (Nigeria) in 1977 !

The record was produced by the twenty years old Alex Tony Okoroji at the legendary ARC Studios in Lagos, a facility set-up by Ginger Baker. This is the third production for the Alex Tony Okoroji’s fledgling independent label Love Records, the previous record was the pioneering release by Udu - Sound of the People (Love Records, Nigeria 1976) also reissued by Dig This Way in 2020. Musically these two records are poles apart but similar in as much as both the band and producer present a personal musical vision that sounds nothing like their piers’ at the time…

The Springs Band formed in Ibadan (Oyo State) which is roughly 130km northeast of Lagos. The seven members met while training to be Reverend Fathers for the Catholic Church and come from both Nigeria and Sierra Leone… in retrospect as unlikely as this sounds (particularly when you hear the record) the band were the Seminaries event house band at the time…

Musically, the record consists of five prime time dancefloor gems with two very subtle afterhours numbers to close - not a bad track on here - which at times in itself is unique for records from the region in the late 70s.
The first five tracks are complex hypnotic afro funk with an almost mesmerizing organ groove, that is deep and raw at the same time which well represent the time, the place and the people involved in the recording...
As odd as it may sound the spiritually of the bands chosen profession is reflected in the fluid deep funk of the groove ... not being there we can only guess how the live performances of this "band in full flight" must have been ... as luck would have it the recording captures all of those elements and that’s what the end result sounds like near unbeatable!
Judge for yourself via this enlightening release!!!

Reading the original hand written press release for the record it would be fair to say, at the time, the members of the band were potentially not entirely focused on their chosen vocation and, reading between the lines, were mildly concerned what their educators might think… years later it’s pleasing to discover that all of the survivors became as good as it gets in their original career choice… better still… for the Afro-Centric music collector… the very same set of individuals (in their wilder days) recorded one of the most forward thinking and dance floor friendly records of the period… little known until now…

“This is our dream world cristalised in vibes. In a world of uniform hate where people experience death in a trance , it is through love's cry that we see through the eyes of wisdom that he needs somebody. Music is the message transmitted in this super disko funk for funky people, to tell the brandifield dad the truth or ask a music-minded-lass, introduce me to your loving. So, if you have anything to say, why not join us and say it...after all it's a happy world... We have a right to the good things of life.”

Led by French B3 Hammond maestro Guillaume Metenier and featuring an all-star lineup of musicians from the extended Mocambo fam, Pigalle Connection connect the dots between instrumental funk, b-boy breaks and cinematic soundscapes. After their celebrated and battle proven 45 "Paris Breakdown", this fantasy funk supergroup is finally back with a new double delight on 7 inch wax.

"Casino & Church" / "Vendetta James" is a nod to Peter Thomas and Ennio Morricone, two massively influential score composers who both sadly passed away in 2020. A-side "Casino & Church" is a blistering blend of afro-boogie, breakbeat funk, blaxploitation and eurocinema, led by hypnotic percussion and an infectious guitar. Flip to the B-side for "Vendetta James", where Mediterranean funk meets Italo Western and b-boy breaks in a sequence of hazy atmospheres and alluring moods.

Recorded live to 8-track tape with vintage equipment and instruments, both sides of Pigalle Connection's new 45 showcase the band's unique sound and deep appreciation for great film scores and heavy funk.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing Brazil Funk Power – Brazilian Funk & Samba Soul, a limited-edition one-off pressing, exclusive for Record Store Day, collectors seven-inch box set, featuring ten superb, rare and classic Brazilian funk, boogie and Samba soul tracks cut across five individual bespoke 7" singles, all housed in a bespoke box set.

This release features music by Jorge Ben, Azymuth, Donato, Tim Maia, Novos Baianos, Cassiano and many more. Incredible and infectious heavy samba, funk and soulful Brazilian hypnotic dance tracks from some of the most important names in Brazilian music alongside some serious rarities.

All tracks have been digitally re-mastered and the singles come housed in a thick, heavyweight deluxe card box. This box-set is a
one-off pressing exclusively for Record Store Day.

Bohemia After Dawn, the soundtrack of a lifestyle compiled in 12 sunsoaked songs. After an endless time of silence from the German Nu-Jazz outfit they're back! Laid back and lovely, matured and mellow to spoil us with their uber-cool vibe coming directly from the breezy Algarve. Bahama Soul Club's 5th album draws deep inspiration from the multicultural verve of young worldy folk drawn to the Bohemian coasts of the most southwestern part of Europe, where hippiesque hedonism, infinite musical diversity, and offbeat enchanted lifestyles fuel the scene.

"From countless ideas and numerous demos over the past four years, we handpicked those few songs that shone the brightest. 2018 saw a single release 'Never Roam No More' featuring the legendary John Lee Hooker. 2019 'Aint Nobody's Business' featuring Billie Holiday hit the scene. Another real legend, Sister Wynona Carr is featured on 'Tears Run Down'."

"Increasingly during production we became aware of the amazing complexity of local artists, talented individuals to be found performing all day and night in the bars and near the beaches. It would take more than a couple of albums to bring these troubadours together. For this album we began with just a few, an eclectic mix, and we found our studio blessed with some serious vibes. Josephine Nightingale 'Mercy Me', 'Castelejo' and Taly Minkov-Louzeiro 'Troubles all be gone'. The ultimate track on the album 'Castelejo' is dear to our hearts and an homage to the late Vitor Hugo, featuring Rui Correia on accordeon and vocals by Cutty Wren and Hedvig Larsson. These artists are from the local neighbourhood; quite literally across the lane. What a blessing, what a discovery! Last but not least, one of the most exciting voices in the Bahama Soul Club family so far ... Cuban artist Arema Arega is something of a permanent feature and shows her talents in 'Mango' and 'Alma Sola'."
As if this weren't enough there are two cool remixes from the masters of the scene: Mighty Club des Belugas and SMOOVE himself!

The ever-prolific Ed Upton aka DMX Krew is up next on Utter with 'Turn It On', a four-track EP of Level 42 cover versions. Yes, you read that right... as if 2020 couldn't get any stranger!

This is no exercise in irony though. This record is a true labour of love for Ed, a sincere tribute to a band he adored as a youngster. The original Level 42 tracks he has covered - 'Turn It On', 'Love Games' and '43' - all appeared on their acclaimed self-titled debut album way back in 1981, which also featured the talents of a young Wally Badarou and Atmosfear's Leroy Williams.

Ed has stayed faithful to the tracks' excellent arrangements, swapping out live instruments for drum machines and synths, vocals for vocoders.

The result is a record that retains the original material's brit-funk charm but with that unmistakable DMX Krew electro-funk and boogie flavour. It breathes new life into these classic tracks without deviating from what made them so catchy and fun in the first place. We hope they put a smile on your face too.

Limited 12" in fluorescent green sleeve.
Dedicated to Rowland 'Boon' Gould (1955-2019).

Studio One Rocksteady is the fantastic new instalment in Soul Jazz Records' journey through the mighty vaults of Studio One, reggae's number one record company and its legendary pioneering producer Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd.

With excellent sleevenotes by Lloyd Bradley (author of the classic book Bass Culture - When Reggae Was King (Penguin)) this album is dedicated to rocksteady at Studio One as well as covering reggae soul and the birth of reggae. Featuring an all-star selection of artists: Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Jackie Mittoo, The Heptones, John Holt, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown and more.

Soul Jazz Records' Studio One Rocksteady is released in CD- jewel case, 16-page booklet with card slipcase, as well as a heavyweight double-vinyl edition in deluxe strong gatefold sleeve (with full sleeve notes and free download code).

Welcome vinyl reissue for this ultra-rare slice of warm and dreamy down-tempo disco heaven from one-hit wonders Byron. Originally released in 1985 on tiny Italian label Golden Sound, 'Too Much' is highly sought after today in Balearic circles for its gorgeous sun-drenched atmosphere and the understated chugging funky combination of hypnotic bass, other-worldly vocals and heady chiming synths. A must for any discerning Balearic record bag, grab a copy while you can.

Fred broke out on scene with his slept on debut, the crossover soul gem "Love Can Last Forever" in 2016. After a four year hiatus between releases, it's time for his sophomore single "Sweet Thing", and it's clear that his talent is like fine wine, a thing that needs its time. Since his premier release kicked off Stylart, the Timmion sublabel, Cold Diamond & Mink has put soul on the table with a steady pace and from this new track it's clear that they shine some special love for Fred.

As a result,"Sweet Thing" is as lush as it comes with a shimmering electric piano, horns on full blast and strings to boot. When fused with Fred's delicate delivery, passionate lyrics, overdubs and a mid-tempo soul dance groove, it all really comes together. There's a gentle southern breeze in the air and can we really demand less from Espoo's finest.

We are nowhere nearer to cracking the enigma of Fred's personality, but he does seem less complicated than on his first release. "Sweet Thing" is exactly what it sounds like, a soothing piece of soulful sunshine. Something to enjoy in good company.

Fred broke out on scene with his slept on debut, the crossover soul gem "Love Can Last Forever" in 2016. After a four year hiatus between releases, it's time for his sophomore single "Sweet Thing", and it's clear that his talent is like fine wine, a thing that needs its time. Since his premier release kicked off Stylart, the Timmion sublabel, Cold Diamond & Mink has put soul on the table with a steady pace and from this new track it's clear that they shine some special love for Fred.

As a result,"Sweet Thing" is as lush as it comes with a shimmering electric piano, horns on full blast and strings to boot. When fused with Fred's delicate delivery, passionate lyrics, overdubs and a mid-tempo soul dance groove, it all really comes together. There's a gentle southern breeze in the air and can we really demand less from Espoo's finest.

We are nowhere nearer to cracking the enigma of Fred's personality, but he does seem less complicated than on his first release. "Sweet Thing" is exactly what it sounds like, a soothing piece of soulful sunshine. Something to enjoy in good company.

Despite the troubles globally faced in 2020 it's safe to say that The Allergies have been a shining ray of light, having had an absolutely glorious year, releasing their fourth studio album, achieving the 'A playlist' on BBC 6Music and Radio Eins, climbing high in the NACC US college charts, and generally receiving critical acclaim from a world that had an understandable appetite for some joyful and fun music in their lives…

And they are not done yet! As they return once more to continue their mission of reshaping vintage sounds for the modern dance floor. Packing a couple of dope tracks that of course fit their ethos of creating music that is both fun and funky.

Not content with sampling everything they can get their itchy scratchy fingers on, they've decided to look back into their own catalogue to appropriate their own material into something new. Yes indeed, the samplers become the sample…

And given their expansive funk-filled legacy, why wouldn't they? Especially given that the sample in question is of the third unofficial Allergy - Andy Cooper (Ugly Duckling) and his jumping vocals from their track 'Main Event'.

'Jumping Off' sees that vocal restyled from a classic hip hop cut into a party-starting, beat-tastic, dance floor bomb a la Fatboy Slim, this is one that has the magnetism to make it a surefire crowdpleaser from the moment the needle drops…

And flip it over for more fire - 'Gather Around' is a chic, good time, upbeat, soul shaking track with so much bombastic-ness packed in that could make Shaggy blush.

The good news doesn't stop there as these two DJ weapons are going to be packed together on 7" on a limited run of 300 just before the festive season really gets going. As always they sell out fast so act quick to get in on the action!