Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

"Endeavors", the 4th compilation from Voltaire Records, explores the vibes of boogie, disco, modern funk, and whatever the hell type of music is also on there that doesn't fit into those aforementioned genres.
It's the music that a bunch of nasty psychotic animals would be jamming in a festering urban back alley, as shown on the compilation cover, illustrated by Oakland- based artist, Jessie California

Harvey Sutherland, hailing from Melbourne, kicks off the compilation with 'That's The Fact, Jack' a drifting G-Funky/Rhodes composition that glides smoothly along like a cutlass supreme in the slow lane. K-Maxx, of the Sweater Funk crew, next takes on production and MC duty on 'Wake Up', and churns out a heavy boogie-soul testament to the female persuasion. XL Middleton closes out the A side with 'One and Only' an uptempo boogie-slapper accompanied by his signature shredding keyboard lead. On the B Side, Social Lovers start it off with the deep disco cut 'Can't Let It Go', which dubs along as vocalist Megan D weaves her sultry vocals between polyrhythmic percussion. Moon B next challenges the dancefloor to pinpoint his sound to a specific era, location, or vibe...and comes up with the atmospheric groove of "Back On". Timothy Fairplay closes out the comp with the sinister rolling sci-fi cut 'Rooftop Meeting'; an altruistic anthem of computer hardware mayhem, that defies time and space

Truth & Soul is proud to present the first Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band single on our imprint.

Following up on the smashing success of their "Bacao Suave" b/w "Round & Round" 45 on Plane Jane, we bring you "PIMP" b/w "Laventelle Road March".

Back in 2008 BRSB released it's smashing cover of 50 Cent's P.I.M.P. which was long thought to be the original sample for the tune. The Mocambo pressing already hard to come by and fetching
top dollar on the internet has become an underground classic.

On Side A BRSB treat the tune to their signature smashing drums and bass heavy production, taking the original loop and turning it into a full composition. Brass and steel pan parts putting it somewhere between reggae, steel funk, and the Superfly Soundtrack.

Side B is the first BRSB original making it's way to vinyl, "Laventille Road March" hits hard. The heavy drumming, open breaks, and pan melodies make this a sureshot for DJs and listeners alike.

Full length album "55" out in 2015

Great Curtom 12' featuring four floor-friendly rare groove classics from the inimitable Leroy Hutson, showcasing the soul legend's effortlessly elegant style and unmistakeable smooth voice. Side A includes the amazing full seven-minute version of that warm and sensual slo-mo ode to love 'All Because Of You' followed by stunning laid-back jazzy instrumental 'Cool Out', a big favourite of Kenny Dope and Gilles Peterson. On the flip, we have the massive soulful club classic 'Lucky Fellow' followed last but not least by 'So Nice', a loose grooving stepper drenched in summery good vibes. A great chance to
own some of Mr Hutson's choicest cuts on one vinyl 12' - essential!

Second in a new series of vinyl-only loud-pressed double packs documenting Italy's legendary Afro Funky / Cosmic scene packed with an eclectic selection of obscurities that filled the floor at fabled clubs like Cosmic, Typhoon and Baia Degli Angeli. First to drop is the 'Mi Yo', a super-rare slice of pounding tribal drum-driven afro funk, originally released in 1984 and presented here in a DJ-friendly extended edit, then Sharon Bailey's amazing 'Cosmic Dust', an in-demand slo-mo Salsoul oddity from 1981 still receiving heavy rotation from DJs such as Harvey and the Idjut Boys. Flip over for 'Time Actor', a nine-minute electronic dance epic from Richard Wahnfried, an alias of German experimentalist Klaus Schulze, followed by the Baldelli-favoured 7' version of the Belle Stars' percussive pop gem from 1982 'Iko Iko'. The second disc keeps the pressure up with the heavy mid-tempo Afro-electro vibe of KSB's Misaluba plus chugging funk workout 'The Pressure' from South London outfit 400 Blows and Ryuchi Sakamoto's stunning analogue synth dreamscape 'Plastic Bamboo'. Finally Hamilton Bohannon closes the show with 'Truck Stop', his guitar and harmonica driven funk opus from 1974. Essential collection of Afro Cosmic classics - don't miss!

7 inch Coloured vinyl (ultra clear)

Dropping ahead of the release of Tim Deluxe's new studio LP The Radicle, 'LOVE Is' is the next single taken from the album, presented here in its original form as well as an additional dub version. A jazz-fueled, bluesy masterpiece with a heart wrenching vocal , sublime live instrumentation and incredible production values, 'LOVE Is' demonstrates just how far Tim Deluxe has come as an artist, and is indicative of the quality of the album as a whole.

A rare 1966 trio recording by piano legend Dom Salvador. Features Edison Machado (drums) and Sergio Barroso (bass). Tracks include an uptempo version of Donato's 'Lugar Comum' ('Índio Perdido') plus 'Fred's Ahead', & 'Sambório'.
Dom Salvador, born 1938 as Salvador da Silva Filho, worked in a series of bossa jazz combos and professionally backed top-name artists such as Elis Regina, Jorge Ben and Edu Lobo. Almost all his songs were original compositions, showing Salvadors stately position in the Brazilian jazz brethren.

A. A heavy spaced out disco b-side instrumental edit, something that had to be done. B. A monster garage rock edit from the US.

The Cosmologist continues their trip around the musical universe, focusing on the records that were formative personal influences. This one is a detour away from the clubs and casts the spotlight on the modern soul world, with these new versions kept sympathetic to that era, but in a way that will still work up a sweat on today's soulful floors.

The A side is another socio political masterpiece from 1973, from one of the era's foremost songwriters, Sam Dees. The new version keeps very true to the source, with some subtle re arrangements, augmented with a looping percussive shuffle and some cosmologist stardust sprinkled lightly on the mix.

The flipside goes back even further to 1968, another classic soul groove from Barbara Acklin. Here the Cosmologist extends the main vocal track, with the lesser known piano version from Young Holt Unlimited, to give it a new twist and extends the listening pleasure to just under 5 minutes. Perfect for this new 7" format chosen to celebrate the longevity and power of soul music and the staying power of vinyl as a format. This is lined up as a limited edition release for Record Store Day 2015, as this is precisely what RSD is all about....

Under the influence, and always under the radar...

Sound obsession, a label run by producer and DJ Kirk Degiorgio and artist manager and lawyer Mark Melton, are reissuing for the first time in 40 years 3 rare and in-demand albums by legendary and pioneering French electronic composer Bernard Fevre. These are amazing considering how long ago they were released.

An electronic masterpiece full of moogs and analogue drum machines where Fèvre's deft touch with the synthesizer bring to life alien and eldritch scenes.

For their 10th 7" release, Cherries teams up with San Francisco's funk child K-Maxx.
With his signature soul-centric boogie/funk, sound, K-Maxx brings two smooth, midtempo tracks for his first Cherries release. Side A, 'Be Together' has a bubbly bass line with playful synthesizer & piano melodies, all under an infectious vocal hook that will keep bodies swaying & heads bobbing. 'Reachin' (Paradise)' is an uplifting & introspective song exuding the message to never give up on your dreams, told through a funk melody in the positive and optimistic soul spirit of Kashif or Glenn Jones.

N.C.M. is the independent production company/label Napoleon Cherry has been working under since the late 80s with releases as Cool Waters and Station To Station.When You Had The Chance" is from an unreleased slo-jam session from a few years back.

The prof is back w/some heavy boom bap for New Orleans Funk maestros. Check the heavy head nod on "Right Place Wrong Time" & the sweet funky grooves of "Superjock." Heavy beats, clean scratches, & funk for days.

Piscean Group return to R2 with a new 7' single Saint Loius Strut.

"Sources is a brand new series which will examine the output of a number of extremely influential independent U.S. labels throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Bill Brewster, co-founder of the influential DJ History website and forum and author of the acclaimed "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life" will be compiling and writing the sleeve notes for the series. The first six releases will concentrate on 6 New York independent labels which have each been massively influential in the evolvement of Dance Music over the last 30+ years: Easy Street, Fresh, Sleeping Bag, Sam, Streetwise and P&P.

Each 3 x CD package will be full of lovingly re-mastered original 12" mixes as selected by Bill. These will include many tracks which have never made it to CD before and you can be sure that a variety of 'secret weapons' will emerge from each of these packages! All notes and scans will be included in a 16 page colour booklet which fits beautifully within the 3CD superior digipack. The usual Harmless PR and Radio operation will support all Sources releases.

The fifth Sources package comes from one of the most collectible Black Music labels of all-time the highly enigmatic and mysterious P&P Records. P&P Records was the company founded by Harlem based Peter Brown an operator of the highest degree in terms of productivity and the sheer amount of releases which came out on a bewildering array of labels like P&P, PAP, Land Of Hits, Heavenly Star, Golden Flamingo, Sound Of New York, Tyson, Sound Of The Universe, Hit Makers Of America, Lonnie, Clarence Music, Queen Constance and La Shawn amongst the ones which are known. Most of these releases were personally distributed by Peter Brown throughout Harlem and New York but most through the independent and 'Mom & Pop' stores which meant their distribution was limited and mainly within the New York area. Most P&P original releases are now highly collectible with many selling for several hundred pounds a copy, IF you can find one!

P&P Records is such an enigma that untangling the releases, different labels and year of release is an ongoing task. Some P&P Records have only recently been discovered, some P&P releases have never been found and there will be several P&P releases that have yet to be unearthed. As of 2015, there is no accurate listing and releases like 'Sources: The P&P Records Anthologies' are probably more like works in progress.

We divided the P&P catalogue that know about into two different packages 'Sources: The P&P Records Soul & Disco Anthology' and 'Sources: The P&P Records Funk & Rap Anthology' since the label spanned all these areas.

The P&P Records Soul & Disco volume probably contains over £5000 worth of records at their current value, since P&P is pretty much the most collectible group of labels for Soul and Disco output, or, 'Ghetto Disco' for short. Plus the mostly crude recordings and mastering techniques are now in fashion as people search for more 'earthly' natural records rather than the highly polished records from the era.

Having said this, 'Sources: The P&P Records Soul & Disco Anthology' has been extensively re-mastered so that these records can be heard properly for perhaps the first time. The collectors of P&P were right. The scope and diversity of P&P Records is testament to the hustling skills of Peter Brown perhaps the ultimate Harlem hustler. Who'd have thought that a scuffling set of badly-distributed Ghetto records from the 70s and 80s, would become the most collectible labels in the world some 40 years later P&P we salute you!

The sixth Sources package also comes from one of the most collectible Black Music labels of all-time - the highly enigmatic and mysterious P&P Records.

P&P Records is such an enigma that untangling the releases, different labels and year of release is an ongoing task. Some P&P Records have only recently been discovered, some P&P releases have never been found and there will be several P&P releases that have yet to be unearthed. As of 2015, there is no accurate listing and releases like 'Sources: The P&P Records Anthologies' are probably more like works in progress.
The P&P Records Funk & Rap volume probably contains over £4000 worth of records at their current value, since P&P is pretty much the most collectible group of labels for Funk and Rap output, or, 'Ghetto Funk' for short. Plus the mostly crude recordings and mastering techniques are now in fashion as people search for more 'earthly' natural records rather than the highly polished records from the era. Having said this, 'Sources: The P&P Records Funk & Rap Anthology' has been extensively re-mastered so that these records can be heard properly for perhaps the first time. The collectors of P&P were right. The scope and diversity of P&P Records is testament to the hustling skills of Peter Brown - perhaps the ultimate Harlem hustler

Repress.

More uber-rare Soul & Funk mined from the deepest, darkest corners of the TK Disco vaults all the way down there in Miami!

Leon DeBouse, an unknown Miami vocalist dropped his "A Fine Instrument" LP on tiny TK offshoot Bold Records in 1977 & it's crammed full of sweet modern Soul gems (Check "Getting With My Baby" & "Every Fellas Girl" for starters!) that all have that deep, sun-drenched groove that works just as well lounging at home as it does on a sweaty dance-floor! If small label, obscure, low budget, over-looked, positively "off the radar" Soul is your thing then Leon's debut LP is definitely for you!

This LP is an extremely rare piece, sought after among serious Soul / Boogie fanatics around the world & often reaching over the £200 mark when a used copy comes up for sale! This pressing has been re-mastered, re-pressed & re-released for 2015 with the permission of & in conjunction with Joe Stone of TK Disco, Miami FL.

A collection of some of the rawest funk ever committed to plastic, vintage 45's that no serious collector should be without.

Lifted from the Trouble Man soundtrack from 1972 this haunting track makes its debut on a 45 and is paired with The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff's Touch Of Jazz' which mixes it up with several jazz funk classics - two musical legends from two different eras make a perfect fit on this limited 45....don't sleep!

Limited repress for this mighty double header of highly sought after disco funk rarities from TC James and his Fist-O-Funk Orchestra. Originally released on the tiny Fist-O-Funk label out of NYC, this impossible-to-find 12' boasts the incredible tripped-out Walter Gibbons mix of 'Get Up On Your Feet (Keep On Dancin'). Weighing in at an impressive 11 minutes, this mix bears all the Gibbons hallmarks, - wild psychedelic synth sections, stretched out breaks and an amazing hypnotic dancefloor groove that never lets up the pressure for a second - immense! Flip over for the magnificent Saverese mix of 'Bumpsies Whipping Cream', a funky-as-hell disco track filled with soaring guitar riffs, b-boy friendly percussion breaks and some very ecstatic female vocals. Essential purchase.

Streaming and download links below.
'Ennio Styles ... tastemaker ... I check out his playlists every week' Gilles Peterson (BBC/Brownswood)
'Ennio Styles ... great discoverer of new music' Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts)
'His comps are always on point' Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s)
'Ennio has an amazing radio show and his taste in music is simply awesome' Moovmnt

Melbourne tastemaker Ennio Styles follows up Stylin' 500 and Stylin' 600 with another massive collection of free music representing the diverse and soulful sounds of his Stylin' radio show, which clocks 14 years and 700 episodes this August on the legendary 3RRR-FM.

Since BBC's Gilles Peterson made Stylin' 600 his album of the week two years ago, Ennio has been joined on the show by the likes of George Clinton, Robert Hood, Lonnie Jordan (War), Steve Spacek, Chris Dave, De La Soul, Derrick Hodge, Joey Negro, Soil & Pimp Sessions, Thrupence and Hiatus Kaiyote, as well as having live-to-air performances and mixes from Kirkis, Frank McComb, Jordan Rakei, A Guy Called Gerald, Mr Scruff, Harvey Sutherland, Silent Jay/Jace XL, Basic Soul Unit, Ghost Mutt, Oisima, Sauce81 aka N'gaho Ta'quia, I'lls and Queen Magic. The last three of these are featured on this new compilation.

Stylin' 700 again shows how close Ennio keeps his ear to the underground, with many unreleased and under-the-radar tracks that could have been the rare grooves of the future if he wasn't playing them now. The music comes from Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, France, Spain, Portugal and no less than 13 US states. Amongst the selections there are surprising versions of James Blake, Bobby Womack, Thelonious Monk, James Brown and Ann Peebles. Digging further beneath the surface of these tunes will reveal producers and musicians with credits extending to everyone from Horace Andy, Robert Glasper, Butcher Brown, Roy Hargrove and Eddie Palmieri to Carl Craig, MF Doom, Tall Black Guy, Drake, Thundercat, Chance the Rapper, Louie Vega, Miles Bonny, Ayatollah and Q-Tip.

1. Valerie Troutt Jazzsoul Project - Suddenly Awake
2. Tennishu - Black
3. MUNDU x R-kay - So Much Wilhelm Screams
4. Jered Sanders - Same Ol' Thing
5. Zach Witness - Arise
6. Dogg Master & Busta Brown - Decompression Activated
7. Mortimer Snerd III - Got To Get Away From Here (Belizian Voodoo Priest Remix)
8. Tyra Hammond - Please Forgive My Heart
9. Zillanova feat Cisco Tavares - Suicide
10. N'gaho Ta'quia - I Ain't Your ...
11. Malice & Mario Sweet - Jaine Phonda
12. Chasr feat Mohamed Camara - Lalua (Part 1)
13. Nardo Says - Space and Time
14. I'lls - Fifty-Phiphti
15. Dominique Sanders - Jazz Jokes
16. Ode to Omni feat Maricia Danielle - All I Have
17. Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch - Sugarplums
18. Brian Owens feat The 442s - Prayer for My Children
19. Joel Holmes feat Rossella Carrieri - A Time to Love
20. Queen Magic - Said That You Wanted
21. Alizzz - Collapse
22. (U)nity feat Pedrito Martinez & Lauren Desberg - Aggayu
23. Octa Push - Tamu
24. Kelvin Sholar - CrissCross
25. Taylor Louis & the Legacy - Time Again
26. Brae Leni - IWanChah
27. Antique Naked Soul - The Big Payback
28. DJ Harrison - Country Virginia
29. Mitch Frohman - Accents Con Ritmo
30. Kerbside Collection - Sweet Like Nectar (Ennio Styles Remix)
31. Pat Van Dyke - Rhythm Ace
32. Akua Allrich feat Nicholas Payton - I Can't Stand the Rain

Two brand-new hard electro-funk jams for poplockers from label boss Ed DMX.Sure to be popular with funk and boogie revivalists as well as electro and breakdance fans.
Funk Steps features a sparse, handclap-heavy beat, an arabian-style synth hook, some very greasy guitar playing and a vocoder lead vocal imploring the listener to get down and do their thing on the dancefloor.
Space Fonk is an uptempo synth-funk number with squelchy synth bass, vocoder hook and live tambourine and guitar. Moogs and lazer zaps all over this one.
Ed DMX continues to DJ & perform live around the world: recent bookings include Bloc Weekend, Batofar in Paris, Berghain in Berlin and many more.

Taieiras features on Ely's 1972 album 'Cantos Da Minha Gente' on RCA. She recorded 12 albums between 1960 and 1983. We know very little about her and there is little information available.

Taieiras has never been released on a 7'.


Trio Esperanca - Nao Aguento Voce

A vocal trio from Rio, formed by siblings Mário, Regina and Evinha Correia José Maria, whose three older brothers we're the Golden Boys.

The original line up recorded seven albums for Odeon Brazil between 1963 and 1975 Não Aguento Você is taken from their self-titled 1971 album.

You may be surprised to know that Trio Esperanca still tour and release today; Regina, Evhinha and younger sister Mariza are playing dates in France and Japan in 2015. You can find out more on their website - http://www.trioesperanca.com/

Has never been released on a 7'.

Japan Issue CD of previously unreleased recordings. 7 tracks have been remastered from James Mason's personal master tapes (which had to be repaired due to deterioration during storage) and have attempted to preserve as closely as possible the sound of the original recording. Liner notes are written by James Mason himself. TIP!
James Mason only made one album, that won acclaim years after it's release. Rhythm Of Life' became a soul-jazz cult classic, recorded in around 1978/79 with musicians such as Narada Michael Walden and Gene Torres, and featuring Clarice Taylor's beautiful, characteristic vocals. The multi-instrumentalist recorded far more tracks around the release of Rhythm Of Life', but his music became out of fashion because musical trends shifted. Another album never arrived, and the recordings ended up in a box. Today the release of James Mason's second album is finally set, and will be an collection of these forgotten tracks.

"Following a sense of disbelief that I could have ever forgotten about this music, for me the first echo was recollection, a flood of memories. I had poured all of the passion I could muster into this music. I labored tirelessly and thoroughly loved what I was doing. I thought I was creating my future and that this was my big chance. My idealism is evident in the lyrics. The first echo carried with it a recollection of the process of making this music. The nights in the studio. The learning curve. The equipment I borrowed. The effort and the passion. The exhilaration of a young man's immersion in an act of self actualization is difficult to put into words. I was making the music that I loved and was engaged in an act of 'proving myself to the world'. As it turned out, the affirmation I was seeking would only arrive as an echo — as recognition and acceptance of Rhythm of Life' built gradually over the decades', James Mason states in the "Recollection Echo' album release.

"(...) I am proud of much of this collection, but this is not "Rhythm of Life". Narada Michael Walden does not play on any of these tracks and I definitely would have liked to have had a lot more of Justo Almario. Most of it was created with zero budget and was intended to be redone with an appropriate budget and higher production values supported by a record deal. I wish you could hear these songs with the production treatment they deserve. For those of you that have enjoyed Rhythm of Life' I sincerely believe that there are moments and motifs in this collection that can take you to those same inner spaces. Otherwise I would not have approved this release.'

"(...) When I listen to this music I experience a recollection of the passionate execution of the production process, a young man engaged in an act of self-actualization and the dissolution of my relationships with these musicians who were once my friends. But, I also experience a profound reaffirmation of my belief in myself as an artist. With the benefit of the hindsight of my current sensibilities, even in the midst of its various defects, I hear in this music what I always believed I had in me as an artist. Some of this shit's really good! I hope you think so too..."

Klappcover

Super hot reissue of the original Portuguese Boom Records release of the Sarr Band's sought after 1979 'Double Action' LP. The title track, a heavy chugging Cosmic gem, is a bit of a holy grail among disco aficionados and a favourite of DJs like Harvey & Rahaan but the rest of the LP is equally as good. Other standouts include dark slo-mo instrumental 'Soul Machine', a wonderful cover of Vince Montana's classic 'Nice & Nasty', the dirty drugged up disco groove of 'Mefisto Boogie' and not forgetting the highly in-demand 'Magic Mandrake', a great slice of off-the-wall dancefloor madness with pumping bass, searing horns and sleazy vocals. Essential disco long player - don't miss.

Camp Supafrico return with the sixth edition of their highly acclaimed 'Sound of Funky Africa' series. Digging even deeper into the Afro-funk vaults, side A features the über-rare 1984 Shina Williams and His African Percussionists 'Agboju Logun'. Grooving along for a massive eleven and a half minutes, this super-heavy Nigerian disco cut splices raw sounding horns with choirs and chants. Seriously epic. Flip over for 'Don't Do It' from Bongi Makeba, a mesmerising afro-funk workout with her powerful voice weaving in and out of the grooving bass and spaced-out sax. Last up is the sought-after 'Mangous Ye' from Black Soul. Originally the B-side of a 1976 release on tiny but top-quality NYC label Beam Junction, this Tom Moulton mixed slice of high-octane percussion-soaked afro-disco hit big on Italy's Cosmic scene as well as the clubs of New York. Another surefire hit from the Supafrico imprint.
[A] A1 | Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - Agboju Logun

Butterz have finally got their own studios, and this is the first music to come out of their new found home. Royal-T, DJ Q and Flava D lean towards their UK Garage roots on both versions. The Day Mix, designed in the spirit of the 'Tropical' style Royal-T & DJ Q have explored previously alongside JME and Preditah in the series of the same name. The night mix is a chilled out version at 125 bpm, something typically out of the Butterz palette. But in this rare case we get to hear these producers explore something outside of what they would play in their peak time main room set environment. This is the first of many collaborations from the trio who individually are some of the brightest stars in the UK Underground right now.

Legendary ivory-tickler Spooner Oldham is synonymous with the Muscle Shoals sound. The southern soul pioneer famously backed the likes of Etta James, Jimmy Hughes, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, and many more, but his lone solo album, Pot Luck, finds Spooner in a rare role: front and center.

Luv Ya is a funky, disco/boogie tinged joint w/big bass, crashing drums & vocals from boogie chanteuse Amalia, while "Blue Charms" shows a synther, instrumental side of the duo with it's prog-ish bassline, soaring vibes, & heavy drums.

A taster from Tempo Dreams Vol 3 the duo put together. "So Sedated" is a chugging, synth heavy ode w/druggy, understated vocals & non-LP B from Italian producers Sphynx, "Azul", an 80s infected electro joint. US, Germany Japan only.

For those who might have missed out first time on getting hold of these surefire dancefloor winners which are dead certs for the funk fraternity. The Agitators from Knoxboro in Augusta get all Maceo Parkerish on us for JB's Lick with catchy sax melody led lick & a familiar workout that goes down a treat. On the flip side good ol Hurricane Harry & and his 9 piece Storm Chasers stir up the ocean of good groove with ''Choppy C's''.... check those drums....the super tight brass section and the kick ass organ solo. Sublime stuff again from the stables of Killer Funk.



- Choppy C's Texas Toni edit

It's the season of the juiciest, sweetest fruit, of shorts, tank tops and thongs, the time of year when you look at life through a dark pair of sunglasses. Summer is also the time of year when lovers of soul, disco, funk, bossa, jazz and other similar grooves get together to enjoy the sunny vibrations sampled by Guts and Mambo from the world over.
Since 2013, this duo has trademarked and branded its acoustic discoveries with the appellation Beach Diggin', a label that certifies the quality and rarity of its products and guarantees a maximum dose of sunshine for every groove. Braving the hordes of sugar-hungry bees swarming around boxes of Caribbean records, the humidity in the holds of boats, or jostling to save 45's lying on the ground from being trampled underfoot, Guts and Mambo, at the risk of their own lives, have explored the most far-flung corners of the earth, all for a single purpose:
To discover and to share.
Because in the end, the geographic origin matters little. Even if the golden triangle of Brazil, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago remains the largest supplier, Beach Diggin' is above all a way of being, a way of living the moment and life in general to the fullest. Permanent coolitude on the BPM, fast or slow, an epicureanism that is equally at ease whether its produced with a sense of Amazonian luxuriousness or the sparse comfort of a deserted beach, a reserve of a few degrees of heat to put on the turntable when it gets cold outside.
So, it's not surprising that tracks from Eastern Europe, North Africa, or the US have quickly received their stamp of approval. In this third compilation, just as in the previous two, the rule remains: Beach Diggin' is a state of mind...

Funkshone take the next step in bringing you this new 45 on Bandoni Music, a new label set up by Mike himself. This is the first single in what is hoped will become a long line of successful Funk and Soul 45's on this new imprint. Only 300 vinyl copies are to be made and sold. Each hand numbered with a personal message in every copy.
Just like the very first Funkshone 45 (Purification Pts 1&2) this one is co produced by Nino Auricchio and features the incredible musicianship of The Easy Access Orchestra (Herbaliser/Roots Manuva/Just Jack) on Brass, Wind and Flute alongside Mike playing everything else that you hear. Just like old times then! Yes there are heavy drums (several breaks, perfect BBoy material!!!) and bass, that cutting 70's wah guitar and clav, sun drenched 70's sounding Rhodes, driven percussion and of course that all important relentless brass and flute.

The founder member of Afro-disco legends M'Bamina wickedly go-betweening Congolese roots and swingeing techno: three boom shots of raw, virtuosic percussion, threaded with complex drum-machine programming and sparse synths.

Just in time for summer! Some serious heat from the darkest corners of the TK Disco vaults, dug up, re-mastered and brought back to life for your listening and dancing pleasure!
To say Trama's sole LP is a rarity is an understatement! Released on TK offshoot CAT Records in 1977 it's swaggering street-funk attitude, tight ass rhythm section, blistering arrangements and stellar vocal performances from a young Donna Allen has left beat digging, Soul, Boogie and Disco freaks hot under the collar for over 3 decades!
Often selling on-line for tidy sums (£250 +) this LP is a true gem, now is your chance to own a %100 legit, TK Disco sanctioned, vinyl copy of this killer Soul LP. Re-issued just the way it originally came out in 1977, no tricks. Essential!