New Darius album, featuring Wayne Snow, Kadhja Bonet, Benny Sings...
After the release of his last EP "OASIS (Prelude) on Roche Musique, Parisian producer Darius reveals his second album "OASIS" with the powerful track "EASE YOUR MIND". A groovy dancing track reminiscing of his early trademark electro dance sounds with catchy R&B lead from Devin Tracy. The acclaimed and certified artist is now ready to unveil his new project, teased since the release of the +10 Million streams "EQUILIBRIUM" in 2020.
Celestial Echo Records brings back Sweet Mixture’s “House Of Fun And Love”, a killer slice of crossover soul from 1973.
Produced by Ron Rice and originally coming out of Chicago’s Bazar label he ran, “House Of Fun And Love” sits right in that sweet spot between modern soul and boogie before the lines were fully drawn. It has that glide you want from a great crossover record: warm vocals, a rolling groove, tight drums and enough lift to move from a soul room into a dancefloor set without forcing it.
There’s a nice full circle moment with this one too. “House Of Fun And Love” was one of the earliest releases on Discs of Fun and Love, the label run by miche and Frederika. It sold out quickly the first time around and years on, it feels like the perfect record to bring into the Celestial Echo catalogue, another holy grail for 2026.
On the B-side is “I Love You”, a sweet ballad that is smooth, heartfelt and beautifully understated. A beautiful slow number that’s common on a lot of these early soul records.
A rare soul grail made available again, respectfully cut, properly pressed, and ready to play.
Die neueste 45er vom Co-Sänger und Schlagzeuger von Indications liegt voll in seinem Element, bietet aber eine schöne neue Palette an Klängen. Die Gitarre im Intro erinnert ein wenig an Filmmusik im Morricone-Stil, ähnlich wie etwas, das man auf dem Soundtrack zu ,Postales" hätte hören können - was Sinn macht, da auf beiden Alben der legendäre Gitarrist Tommy Brenneck zu hören ist. Uptempo, eingängig, rau _ frisch und doch klassisch. Genau das, was du auf einer frischen 7er für die Plattenteller willst. Die B-Seite trifft genau das, wofür Mr. Frazer bekannt ist _ die langsame und tiefe Süße. ,Let Your Love Grow" besticht durch eindringliches Cembalo, kraftvolles Schlagzeug, ein Klavier, das Rza gutheißen würde, und einen Refrain, der einfach nicht aufhört. Schnapp dir gleich zwei Exemplare.
Die neueste 45er vom Co-Sänger und Schlagzeuger von Indications liegt voll in seinem Element, bietet aber eine schöne neue Palette an Klängen. Die Gitarre im Intro erinnert ein wenig an Filmmusik im Morricone-Stil, ähnlich wie etwas, das man auf dem Soundtrack zu ,Postales" hätte hören können - was Sinn macht, da auf beiden Alben der legendäre Gitarrist Tommy Brenneck zu hören ist. Uptempo, eingängig, rau _ frisch und doch klassisch. Genau das, was du auf einer frischen 7er für die Plattenteller willst. Die B-Seite trifft genau das, wofür Mr. Frazer bekannt ist _ die langsame und tiefe Süße. ,Let Your Love Grow" besticht durch eindringliches Cembalo, kraftvolles Schlagzeug, ein Klavier, das Rza gutheißen würde, und einen Refrain, der einfach nicht aufhört. Schnapp dir gleich zwei Exemplare.
Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa link up with Harry Fraud on Roofless Records For Drop Tops, the latest chapter in the rappers collaborative series. This Fraud-produced installment is considered Disc 2 in the series and follows up the Digital-Only 'Disc 1', which was produced by Cardo. Backed by Fraud's smooth production, Curren$y and Wiz deliver the laid-back flows, sharp lyricism, and effortless chemistry fans have come to expect. Built for cruising and easy listening, the project continues the sound and style that has made these three some of hip hop's most consistent names for a decade. Now available on vinyl, Roofless Records For Drop Tops is a must have for collectors and fans looking to add another essential release from Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa, and Harry Fraud to their shelves.
Wewantsounds it delighted to announce a deluxe reissue of Frank Foster's 'The Loud Minority' LP. Released on Bob Shad's Mainstream Records in 1972, it's a landmark album and one of the key political works of the 70s. Featuring an all-star cast of superb musicians including Elvin Jones, Stanley Clarke, Airto, Cecil Bridgewater and Marvin 'Hannibal' Peterson, it is also Dee Dee Bridgewater's earliest full recordings. This special edition includes a 20-page booklet featuring amazing unseen session photos recently unearthed, an introduction by Judd and Mia Apatow (Shad's grandchildren), an essay by British journalist Kevin Le Gendre and an exclusive interview of Cecil and Dee Dee Bridgewater by Paul Bowler. The album's original artwork as been recreated with original photos and the audio newly remastered from the original tapes.
When he recorded "The Loud Minority" in 1972 for Bob Shad's Mainstream Records, Frank Foster had been a solid sax player for nearly twenty years, playing with the likes of Donald Byrd, Thelonious Monk and The Count Basie Orchestra. For this special session, he gathered a stellar line up of old fellow musicians like Elvin Jones and Harold Mabern and young turks including Stanley Clarke, 'Hannibal' Marvin Peterson, Cecil and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Cecil Bridgewater remembers: "Frank, his thing was, any group that he had he wanted to give young musicians a chance." As usual for Mainstream sessions, the studio was booked for two days and the record was cut live, supervised by Bob Shad's trusted men, arranger Ernie Wilkins and engineer Carmine Rubino.
What came out of these two days is now the stuff of legend, four long funky jams fuelled by two distinct line ups playing simultaneously augmented with a powerful 6-piece brass section led by Foster. The album kicks off with the anthemic "The Loud Minority" (sampled by United Future Organization and DJ Shadow) with its long brass introduction followed by Dee Dee Bridgewater fiery poem, a politically charged statement expressing the fight for civil rights, before the whole group comes together for a funky explosion clocking at 14 minutes. "That was a period where we were really into our African consciousness" reminisces Dee Dee in the interview.
The album continues with the funky uptempo "Requiem for Dusty" while "J.P.'s Thing" adopts a slightly more spiritual feel, with a beautiful Fender Rhodes solo and Foster's soprano sax improvisation. The album ends with "E.W. Beautiful People", a long dreamy improvisation climaxing with Dee Dee Bridgewater's poignant vocals.
The Loud Minority is a key militant jazz manifesto and one of the landmark jazz funk albums of the 20th Century. The album was recorded in two days but its legacy lives on and still resonates loudly in the BLM days. Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue this major works with newly remastered audio and a deluxe 20-page booklet full of breathtaking unseen session photos and insightful texts telling the whole story of this superb album.
Marcus Gad, one of France's top reggae artists, hailing from the Pacific island of New Caledonia, returns with a powerful new album, FOR ALL Produced with his longtime collaborator Tamal, along with instrumental backing from his band Tribe, the record brings 12 new songs that continue Gad's thoughtful and catchy approach to modern reggae. Lush production, killer musicanship, along with modern vibes and riddims all make the album one of his best yet. Lyrically, Gad tackles many of the topics that have concerned him for years - liberty, equality, fighting against injustice and the problems of the world today.
Van Ghost is the sinister collision of fine art and grimy underground Hip Hop. Released in 2018, the album pairs Washington, D.C. MC ANKHLEJOHN with producer Big Ghost Ltd. for an 11-track journey inspired entirely by the paintings and troubled world of Vincent van Gogh.
Each song takes its name from a Van Gogh work, from The Night Café and The Yellow House to The Starry Night, The Red Vineyard, and The Potato Eaters. But rather than simply paying tribute to the painter, ANKHLEJOHN and Big Ghost translate that imagery into something darker, rawer, and distinctly their own. Big Ghost's ominous, cinematic production creates a bleak and atmospheric backdrop for ANKHLEJOHN's abrasive, unpredictable delivery and vividly street-centered lyricism.
"Baby put that cheecky dress on_get your feet on the ground, shake your hips to the sound! We're dancing to the music!"_of THE MODBIRDS! Ladies & Gentleman, die Tanzfläche ist freigegeben! Spotlights an, Boxen auf Anschlag aufgedreht bis die rotierende Discokugel in 1000 Scherben zersplittert - hier kommt "Shards", der erste Longplayer der Modbirds. Einen berauschenderen Cocktail mit allerfeinsten musikalischen Zutaten wirst Du an keiner Theke finden! Der abwechslungsreiche Mix aus Ska, Soul, Reggae, Rocksteady, einer kleinen Prise Punk bis hin zu Swing und klassischen Big Band Elementen macht süchtig und vereint alles was Birdies, Rudeboys und sonstige Nachtschwärmer lieben werden. Nach ihrer Mini-LP "Spin it to win it" hat die 7-köpfige Big Band mit u.a. ehemaligen Mitglieder von The Porters und Los Placebos im Music Area Studio bei ihrem ehemaligen Bandkollegen Beagle 12 neue Songs aufgenommen und all ihre musikalischen Einflüsse und Vorlieben darin einfließen lassen. Ob Jamaica-Roots, Ausflüge in verschiedenen Waves of Ska-Äras, den typischen UK-2 Tone Sound nach Art von Madness bis Buster Shuffle oder eine einfach nur Spaß machende Reminiszenz an all die deutschen Ska-Bands von El Bosso bis Frau Doktor (mit dem einzig deutschsprachigen Song "Jogger"): Mit jeder Note und Takt merkt man diesem Album an: Die Modbirds leben und lieben diese Subkultur seit Jahrzehnten und kreieren daraus ihren eigenen Sound! Die 180g Vinyl-Edition kommt im Gatefold in klassisch schwarz oder silber mit mehrfarbigem Splatter. Limitiert auf insgesamt nur 300 Exemplare!
"Baby put that cheecky dress on_get your feet on the ground, shake your hips to the sound! We're dancing to the music!"_of THE MODBIRDS! Ladies & Gentleman, die Tanzfläche ist freigegeben! Spotlights an, Boxen auf Anschlag aufgedreht bis die rotierende Discokugel in 1000 Scherben zersplittert - hier kommt "Shards", der erste Longplayer der Modbirds. Einen berauschenderen Cocktail mit allerfeinsten musikalischen Zutaten wirst Du an keiner Theke finden! Der abwechslungsreiche Mix aus Ska, Soul, Reggae, Rocksteady, einer kleinen Prise Punk bis hin zu Swing und klassischen Big Band Elementen macht süchtig und vereint alles was Birdies, Rudeboys und sonstige Nachtschwärmer lieben werden. Nach ihrer Mini-LP "Spin it to win it" hat die 7-köpfige Big Band mit u.a. ehemaligen Mitglieder von The Porters und Los Placebos im Music Area Studio bei ihrem ehemaligen Bandkollegen Beagle 12 neue Songs aufgenommen und all ihre musikalischen Einflüsse und Vorlieben darin einfließen lassen. Ob Jamaica-Roots, Ausflüge in verschiedenen Waves of Ska-Äras, den typischen UK-2 Tone Sound nach Art von Madness bis Buster Shuffle oder eine einfach nur Spaß machende Reminiszenz an all die deutschen Ska-Bands von El Bosso bis Frau Doktor (mit dem einzig deutschsprachigen Song "Jogger"): Mit jeder Note und Takt merkt man diesem Album an: Die Modbirds leben und lieben diese Subkultur seit Jahrzehnten und kreieren daraus ihren eigenen Sound! Die 180g Vinyl-Edition kommt im Gatefold in klassisch schwarz oder silber mit mehrfarbigem Splatter. Limitiert auf insgesamt nur 300 Exemplare!
Not many can match V.I.V.E.K when it comes to pushing sound system culture.
With over two decades worth of releases, dances and low-end pressure, the Southall-born, System Music label owner announces the imminent arrival of his debut album, ‘The Escape To Nowhere’.
Spanning eight deep and meditative tracks, ‘The Escape To Nowhere’ is a fully realised exploration of dubwise tradition, reimagined through V.I.V.E.K’s unmistakable expert approach and unbound from one specific genre
Drawing from a lifetime immersed in bassweight heritage and club-ready experimentation, the record distils his musical journey into a fully formed and immersive statement, featuring the haunting vocals of Dandelion and Dego Ranking, experimental percussion and a meticulously sculpted low-end design.
‘The Escape To Nowhere’ will mark the 50th release on System Music, a landmark that underscores both the label and artist’s enduring commitment to forward-thinking bass music firmly rooted in culture and craft.
A stylish selection of city pop, funk and modern soul from Japanese label Nippon Columbia, selected by DJ Notoya and featuring cult classics and rarities by Hiroshi Sato, Hatsumi Shibata, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama & many more.
Annotated by Notoya with journalist Nick Luscombe and artwork by Optigram.
Newly remastered audio.
The selection on ‘Tokyo Glow’ starts with 'Kimugare' a relaxed mid-tempo track by Kumi Nakamura, actually a famous actress who only recorded one album in 1980 for Columbia.
The set continues and flows effortlessly with the sunshine grooves of Miyuki Maki, Hatsumi Shibata and cult keyboard player Hiroshi Sato before the pace starts going faster and funkier with New Generation Company, Kengo Kurozumi - with his superb boogie, 'Juggler'
- and one of the queens of the genre, Hitomi 'Penny' Tohyama with 'Tuxedo Connection'.
Another fine example on the set is the mid-tempo groove of "I Wander All Alone Part III" by New Generation Company, an aggregate group of some of the best Japanese session musicians led by arranger Katz Hoshi and including Hiroyuki Namba (key), Kazuo Shiina (gtr) and Yutaka Uehara (ds) who all played with Tatsuro Yamashita among many others.
There are many other excellent examples in 'Tokyo Glow', showcasing the diversity and specificity of Japanese City Pop during the late 70s and 80s.
Nippon Columbia opened their much-guarded vaults to curator DJ Natoya. Tracks were remastered in Tokyo and the result, ‘Tokyo Glow’, is a unique insight into a most creative period in Japanese music.
Hey! Mein Name ist Terry Cole, und ich habe das Privileg, ein wunderbares unabhängiges Plattenlabel namens Colemine Records in Loveland, Ohio, zu betreiben. Wir machen das schon seit fast 20 Jahren, und wir haben das Glück, unser Label direkt über unserem ebenso wunderbaren Plattenladen namens Plaid Room Records zu betreiben. Im März 2020, als die Realität einer globalen Pandemie einsetzte, waren wir uns nicht sicher, wie es mit unserem Veröffentlichungsplan weitergehen sollte. Alles kam quasi sofort zum Stillstand. Aber nach ein paar Wochen des Brainstormings beschlossen wir, dass wir - obwohl unser Plan für physische Veröffentlichungen völlig auf den Kopf gestellt worden war - jeden Donnerstag abends eine neue digitale Single veröffentlichen würden, bis wir den normalen Betrieb wieder aufnehmen konnten. Wir nannten die Kampagne ,Brighter Days Ahead", denn bei Colemine versuchen wir, immer das Positive zu sehen, wann immer es geht. Also haben wir den größten Teil des Jahres 2020 lang jeden Donnerstag digitale Singles veröffentlicht; dazu gab es virtuelle Listening-Partys und DJ-Sets auf YouTube. Das hat ziemlich viel Spaß gemacht. All diese Songs gipfelten in einem 2-LP-Set, das wir schließlich 2021 in physischer Form veröffentlicht haben. Und obwohl wir hoffen, dass so etwas wie eine globale Pandemie nie wieder passiert, musste ich zugeben, dass ich einen Weg finden wollte, die ,Brighter Days Ahead"-Kampagne zu einer Art dauerhaftem Projekt für uns zu machen. Während ich das hier schreibe, ist es das Jahr 2026 - offensichtlich habe ich also ein paar Jahre gebraucht, um diese Idee zu entwickeln, aber wir sind endlich am Ziel angekommen und das fühlt sich verdammt gut an. Die Idee ist ziemlich einfach: Der erste Band von ,Brighter Days Ahead" verfolgte einen rückblickenden Ansatz _ eine Zusammenstellung dessen, was wir bereits veröffentlicht hatten _ und dieses Mal verfolgen wir einen vorausschauenden Ansatz. Was du in deinen Händen hältst, ist ein Vorgeschmack auf das, was noch kommen wird. Diese Platte ist eine Kristallkugel, die tief in die musikalische Zukunft des Jahres 2027 blickt und dir einen kleinen Vorgeschmack darauf gibt, worauf du dich aus dem Colemine-Universum freuen kannst. Und wisst ihr was? Dieses Stück Plastik, das ihr in euren Händen haltet, ist die einzige Möglichkeit, es zu hören. Diese Songs sind noch nicht digital erhältlich. Einige davon sind Rohmischungen. Manche sind so brandneu, dass die Songtitel noch nicht einmal endgültig feststehen. Also reißt die Schutzfolie ab und schnallt euch an - ihr seid dabei, eine Zeitreise in die Zukunft zu unternehmen, ganz ohne Fluxkompensator. - TERRY COLE (Inhaber / Betreiber Colemine Records)
Bill Withers was a modest, gentle, and yet towering musical figure responsible for some of the most important, universally known soul hits ever written. It’s no wonder that “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” won him two Grammy awards and undoubtedly played a huge role in getting him inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Naked & Warm is Withers' fifth studio album, released in 1976. A year earlier, the Sussex label—home to Bill's first four landmark albums—ceased operations. Withers then signed with the mighty Columbia Records, which would remain his home until the end of his recording career. While Naked & Warm retains Bill's unique, earthy approach to soul that made him Sussex's biggest star, it's clear that musically too, he was in transition; the first half of the album is full of synthesized jazz-funk vamps, while "City Of The Angels" is an almost 11 minutes long cosmic funk excursion combining biting Rhodes chords with swirling synth pads and Dorothy Ashby's spiritual harp work. All in all, Naked & Warm might be one of Bill's most underrated records, simply because his previous work for Sussex was just that impactful.
Naked & Warm is available as a 50th anniversary edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on blue vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet featuring lyrics and new liner notes written by Marcia Withers.
Classic edits that place the funk upfront. Da Breaks brings that familiar flavour with a twist of Boom-bap, these timeless reworks are built for DJs. Trimmed, tightened and ready to mix.
featuring the complete 17-track deluxe edition available on vinyl for the very first time, plus additional rare bonus track "Stay With Me Baby", making this the definitive edition for collectors and fans.
YES is a genre-blurring blend of punk, electronic and rap from South Africa, released on limited edition White Vinyl
South African alt-rap trio Internet Girl have officially announced their debut album, YES, arriving November 13 via PACK. Records. Alongside the announcement, the group has released their new single “DA BUSINESS” featuring Kenny Mason.
A high-energy party anthem, “DA BUSINESS” opens with distorted guitar before chopped vocals briefly pull things back, only for an abrupt beat drop and howling synth to send the track into overdrive. As another synth melody sweeps in, TK cuts through the chaos with an introspective opening verse before Kenny Mason crashes in with a gritty guest verse. Live drums, distorted guitars, and surging synths continue to build around them, turning their vocals into something closer to rage-filled battle chants than traditional rap verses.
Partially written on tour last year, “DA BUSINESS” is the oldest song on YES and one of the album’s few guitar-led tracks. Kenny connected with the trio over DMs months earlier before joining them on the track, bringing Atlanta and South Africa together for one of the album’s most charged moments. “DA BUSINESS” follows the trio’s recent single “ALL THE SAME,” a swagger-heavy track built around a hypnotic Spanish-language vocal sample and live drums before a heavily distorted bass synth takes over in its final stretch, drawing inspiration from South Africa’s booming taxi rave scene. Together, the two singles offer an early look at the range of YES, moving between the rock, rap, and electronic sounds Internet Girl have made entirely their own.
Written largely during a week-long trip to South Africa’s Karoo region at the beginning of 2026, YES captures Internet Girl at a turning point. What began as an ad-lib TK would throw into his verses gradually became the philosophy behind the record: saying yes to an idea and committing to it completely, even before there’s any proof it will work. Across the album, that once-delusional confidence begins to feel real as the trio reflect on coming of age, growing more comfortable with themselves, and becoming increasingly assured in the music they make.
The new release arrives on the heels of a big year for the South African trio, who have brought their high-energy live show to stages around the world, including Pitchfork Music Festival Paris and Boiler Room Soweto, while co-headlining Kiss Kiss Festival in South Africa alongside Basement Jaxx.
Ariwa Sounds started in a front room in Thornton Heath, South London. Four tracks, some homemade equipment, and Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor, at the controls. That was 1980. Over four decades later, the label has more than 300 albums to its name and a legacy that stretches well beyond the reggae scene.
This compilation pulls twelve tracks from across the catalogue. Dub, lovers rock, heavy roots music, digital dancehall — it's all here. What ties it together is the Ariwa studio sound all going through Mad Professor’s desk.
Mad Professor is the backbone of it. Dub Me Crazy got him known and his production credits run from Jah Shaka and Horace Andy to Massive Attack, Sade and The Orb. The tracks here — the Dub Sampler, H2SO4, Disco Dude, Kathmandu Dub — show why.
The Jah Shaka collaboration Only One God is a landmark. Two of the UK's most important dub figures on one track. Dark and heavy roots music.
The Robotics appear twice — Hong Kong Flew! and Miss Mood. They are Ariwa's house band and have backed U-Roy, Lee Perry, Big Youth and more over the years.
Aisha closes things out with Can You Feel It. A track that crosses reggae, soul and boogie funk. Collectors have been after original pressings for years.
Starky Banton, Ragga Doll, Professor Doppler and Earl Lawrence complete the compilation. Exactly the kind of thing that reminds you how wide the Ariwa net was cast.
Sleeve design is by Trevor Jackson. One of the UK's most respected graphic designers. His work has defined the visual language of British music for thirty years. His involvement here signals exactly the kind of release this is. A serious serious catalogue and compilation of music, treated with the respect it deserves.
Ariwa sits alongside Greensleeves as the most important reggae imprint this country has produced. This compilation shows why.
BEAT'EM ALL is french hip-hop/jazz instrumental trio SHIBUUYA!'s latest LP release. A blend of nu-jazz, fusion, hip-hop and future beats, all in original compisitions from the band's keyboardist and drummer, the album goes against the polished image we usually have of jazz music to deliver a raspy, energic and groovy sound that shakes the listener instead of nurturing him. With prestigious featurings such as CHiLi GiRL aka Shinobu Kawasihma, a Tokyo-raised Shamisen (a traditional japanese guitar) player, Melbourne rapper Nelson Dialect, french virtuoso saxophonist Hugo Afettouche, or the "french problem kid of jazz" trumpetist Daoud, SHIBUUYA! pushes forward its identity with references to japanese pop-culture through anime samples, powerful hip-hop beats, progressive broken-beat grooves and crazy deliveries on all three instruments (keys, drums and bass), all of it served by an original manga-inspired cover art by the band's keyboardist and leader. A reference to the japan-popular videogame genre (Shibuya being a neighborhood of tokyo centered around fashion and pop culture), BEAT'EM ALL tries to beat the odds on what we expect from a jazz album and to make it sound more like a garage-produced LP rather than a million-dollar studio album, to make as authentic and as generational as possible, a true product of today's young jazz scene.
The latest in our series of Limited Edition 7x7" Soul Box Sets celebrates the work of Dave Hamilton.
Dave's musical career in Detroit stretched from the 40s into the 80s. He was involved in all black music styles during that period - blues, jazz, and gospel as well as soul music.
A talented songwriter, he wrote or contributed to ten of the fourteen compositions here and produced them all in his studios.
Though his released output was modest, considering the amount of recording he did, the gems in his tape vaults have been surprising and entertaining black music lovers since they were accessed by Ace in 1990.
That purchase came about due to Richard “Gilly” Gilbert’s detective work in discovering that a big covered-up Northern Soul spin at Wigan Casino was actually Dave’s production on “Little Ann” Bridgeforth. The ensuing years have seen soul tracks in all genres, issued on Kent and BGP and we are still discovering great tracks 36 years on. Witness ‘You Got Me Where You Want Me’ by Chico & Buddy, a fabulous funky number from around 1970 that would have been a soul fan’s favourite whenever it was issued; this is its first public appearance.
Funk crosses over to all dance scenes these days and even jazzier tracks like Dave’s own ‘Soul Suite’, a close relation of his coveted ‘Pisces Piece’ will pick up plays now it is on vinyl. Northern Soul lovers have been demanding J T Rhythm’s ‘I Love The Way You Walk’ on a seven, as have Motown connoisseurs with Rita DuShay’s original of ‘All I Need (Steal Away Tonight)’ as covered by Barbara McNair on her 1966 Motown LP.
Original copies exist of the Ravins ‘Your Love Is What I Want’ but unless you have several grand to spare on this fast and furious dancer, our audio-enhanced release is a great substitute; especially with the Kent 45 deleted.
OC Tolbert delivers a tough and menacing Clarence Reid song ‘Along Came A Woman’ which has huge dancefloor potential, like Dave’s own bluesy vocal on his similarly gritty, R&B composition ‘Take Care Of Your Own Business’.
Dave’s accomplishments into the 70s and 80s are admired by modern soul lovers and his ‘Ride The Disco Train’ by the Moderations, hit a perfect groove for progressive clubs of the genre. Both the Felecia Johnson and New Experience tracks thrive on the laid-back atmosphere Dave was able to conjure up in his home studios and the talented singers present his thoughtful songs with panache.
With enhanced audio for both of Little Ann’s uptempo and ballad classics ‘What Should I Do’ / ‘Deep Shadows’ this box set is irresistible as well as being a tribute to the unsung heroes of Detroit Soul music.
Czarface opens another portal. On Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer, the boundary between comic book canon and hip-hop reality dissolves. Frankie Pulitzer, also known in certain dimensions as FacePuller, is no ordinary collaborator, character, or catalyst. He is a hybrid entity: part human, part alien force, fully embedded in the expanding Czarface universe.
Following landmark team-ups with MF DOOM and Ghostface Killah, Czarface continues its “Meets” saga with a full-scale crossover event that pushes deeper into story and sound. Frankie’s presence is both lyrical and mythological, bringing a chaotic, shape-shifting energy that challenges and complements Czarface’s razor-sharp precision. Dusty drums, cinematic soundscapes, and razor-edged bars bring the classic Czarface sound, yet mutated.
The universe widens with appearances from Busta Rhymes, Method Man, and El-P (of Run the Jewels), each adding their own gravitational pull to the project, thus grounding it in hip-hop legacy while amplifying its larger-than-life scope.
On this recording, one can hear both resolve and farewell. Just before departing for the United States, Masabumi Kikuchi pours himself into these now-legendary compositions.
Gifted with a singular artistic voice and a keen sense of his time, Masabumi Kikuchi established himself as a pianist of international stature. In 1973, he relocated his base of operations to New York. Recorded immediately before that move, End For The Beginning captures a studio live performance held in front of invited fans, documenting a pivotal moment in his career.
During this period, Kikuchi was exploring innovative sounds through the use of electric instruments and unconventional ensembles. Yet on this album, he returned to a more traditional format: a two-horn frontline backed by a piano trio. The program consists entirely of five original compositions by Kikuchi himself.
The determination surrounding his imminent departure fuels the music's intensity, while the sense of farewell evokes a distinctly Japanese emotional depth. Masterpieces such as “Shuuu”, “GinKai”, and “Green Dance” emerge like waves from beyond an atmosphere charged with tension and anticipation. Each performance unfolds with remarkable focus, lyricism, and power.
A work of striking conviction and emotional resonance, End For The Beginning stands as one of the defining achievements of Kikuchi's career and a fitting summation of his artistic vision.
We’re delighted to announce the new SFJ album Tabibito-tachi 旅人達 (The Travellers) on WONDERFULSOUND
SFJ's album under the duo name, due for release at the end of November. As Oscar SHOLTO Robertson and David Bardon's first outing as recording artists in their own right — following years spent producing and playing session for other acts — the campaign is in its early stages, with the album's arrival set to anchor the wider push. A live launch party in London is planned around the LP's end-of-November release date, marking the duo's first live outing to celebrate the record. Radio and press activity is yet to come; the campaign will build from the single's release through to the album launch and live show.
Recorded in Rented apartments and rehearsal rooms on the move last year through Japan, China and London, the album grew out of a constantly shifting creative process.
"We set up wherever we were staying, turning temporary rooms into makeshift studios and capturing ideas as they emerged between journeys."
CCCC is the collaborative album by Italian singer-songwriter Chiara Civello and producer Clap! Clap!, released via Civello's newly founded Quarter Moon Records. Across ten tracks, the record brings Civello's songwriting and distinctive voice into dialogue with Clap! Clap!'s production, moving between electronic music, jazz, art-pop, broken beat. Sung across English, Italian/Sicilian dialect and Portuguese, the album also features percussionist Mauro Refosco and keyboardist Dario Bassolino.
On 24th May, 2024, the exact day of its Golden Jubilee, Diamond Dogs will be issued as a limited edition 50th anniversary half-speed mastered LP. The first single from the album, ‘Rebel Rebel’, reached number 5 in the UK and the album would also reach similar heights on both sides of the Atlantic reaching number 1 in the UK and number 5 in the USA.
This new pressing of Diamond Dogs was cut on a customised late Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics from 192kHz restored masters of the original master tapes, with no additional processing on transfer. The half-speed was cut by John Webber at AIR Studios
The writing of the album was influenced by Bowie not being able to secure the rights for a theatrical production of George Orwell’s 1984 and the work of William S. Burroughs, whom Bowie had interviewed for Rolling Stone in November 1973. The songs on the album created an urban apocalyptic scenario with Bowie appearing on the cover as a controversial half-man, half-dog hybrid painted by the Belgian artist Guy Peellaert from photos by the world-renowned photographer Terry O’Neill. Since its release, tracks from Diamond Dogs have been covered by artists such as Beck, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Def Leppard, Joan As Police Woman, Dead Or Alive and The Struts.
Yes, yes funky people, another super sexy, soul groove makes it onto the DYNAMITE CUTS 7” series. Took a long time get this one across the line. Two versions of the timeless classic “Take me with you”. A – Side is the one we all know, Lyn Christopher - Amazing deep bass groove and vibe. This has been released as a 7” before but on Styrene. Also bootlegged many times over the years, but here at Dynamite cuts we do it right. This official release includes the iconic sleeve, which is a beauty. To top that, our B-side we have the UK version which was released the same year. Tyrone & Carr, first released on Jam records, part of the UK label DJM, now sell for big bucks £350 +
Silsila Dubs is a brand new label emanating from the backrooms and dancehalls of West London. Deeply inspired and rooted in the long standing traditions and dialogues of sound system culture, the label's output will echo the myriad musical foundations laid at various local historic venues including Southall Community Center and the Tudor Rose respectively.
Energized by the sounds of Jah Shaka, Aba-Shanti-I (Falasha Recordings), The Disciples, Manasseh, Conscious Sounds and more, the Silsila Dubs sonic aesthetic is that of classic 1990s sounds and recording techniques, lovingly channelled and dubbed via the cult Soundcraft Ghost Mixing Desk at Silsila HQ.
This debut release from the label has been written, produced and mixed by Govind Singh of the burgeoning Mya Hi-Fi crew who are closely related to Silsila and it's output. Across 2 mixes 'Perseverance' offers us a meditative and uplifting space in which to enrich our ears and our minds to carry on, no matter what life throws at us. Positive sounds for all to absorb.
Aura Safari are taking it back to the source with new album Spaced Out Disco on Hell Yeah. The eight-track record is inspired by the iconic sound, feel and studio techniques of the original 1970s disco and was played entirely live with real instruments.
Aura Safari are Andrea Moretti, Lorenzo Lavoratori, Daniele Melloni and Nicholas Iammatteo, and they have been releasing EPs, LPs and remixes on this label since 2020. They have long been entrenched in the local scene of Perugia and are live specialists with a unique chemistry that allows them to translate funk, jazz, soul, disco and house into their own timeless and universal musical language.
Integral to the album is the live performance aspect. All the band members hooked up in the studio and played together, often laying down tunes in one take and then adding some post-production for a modern edge. Disco, dub, jazz-funk and instrumental grooves define the sounds while the creative use of classic delay, echo, spacey FX and dubbed out arrangements lead the record the same Jamaican character that inspired original dub-disco pioneers like Arthur Russell, the Compass Point Studio and labels like Prelude and West End.
'Starlove' opens with low-slung grooves and squelchy bass that twist you inside out before 'Spaced Out' shimmers with astral melodies and synths that rise like a rocket disappearing into the night sky. Funky claps and flashes of Dexter Wansel-inspired soul complete the picture, while 'Santa Barbara' eases the pace with a brain-bending dub workout full of weighty low-end and warm, sun-kissed chords. 'Cosmic Affair' lives up to its name, gliding through the galaxy on uplifting guitars and slinky drums, all wrapped in irresistible retro-futurist magic and lit by the moon.
'Disco Mirage' turns inward with simmering bass, dusty open hi-hats and hazy synth trails drifting through effervescent jazz keys that rise like champagne bubbles. 'Magik Space Dust' stretches towards the stars with soaring leads and knotted bass locked into an effortless groove.
Spaced Out Disco does exactly what it promises and plots a richly imagined journey that never stops looking towards the stars while keeping its feet firmly on the dancefloor.
Wie Amerika selbst ist auch die Geschichte von Chess Records eine Geschichte von Chancen in neuen Ländern, in denen Grenzen zwischen Hautfarbe und Kultur überwunden wurden, um Rhythm and Blues-Musik
zu schaffen, die Zuhörer auf der ganzen Welt beeinflusste. Das beeindruckende Künstleraufgebot von Chess
– und seine Gründer – haben den Blues von Volksmusik zu populärem Sound weiterentwickelt und verändert.
Chess Records wurde 1950 von den polnischen Einwanderern Leonard und Phil Chess gegründet und entstand im Süden Chicagos, aber der Einfluss ist weltweit und über Generationen der Popmusik hinweg spürbar
– von Acts der British Invasion wie den Beatles, den Rolling Stones und Eric Clapton, die Chess-Künstler
als ihre Vorbilder nannten, bis hin zu den heutigen Stars wie Beyoncé, Jack White, Questlove und Bruce
Springsteen.
Die fortlaufende monatliche Serie wird Veröffentlichungen von legendären Künstlern aus dem renommierten
Chess-Kader präsentieren, diesmal Chuck Berry ”Back Home” und Muddy Waters ”Sing ”Big Bill” Broonzy.
Legendary London drummer Crispin “The Pump” Taylor releases his long-awaited debut album Licence to Fill on Monks Road Records, celebrating 35 years at the heart of the Soul, Funk, Rare Groove and Acid Jazz scenes.
A founder member of Push and former member of pioneering Acid Jazz outfit Galliano, Taylor has also toured and recorded with Zero 7, The Blow Monkeys, Dexys Midnight Runners, Seal, Paul Weller, The Funk Brothers, Marlena Shaw, Candi Staton, Carleen Anderson, Urban Species and many more.
Licence to Fill brings together original Funk, Soul and Jazz material, featuring acclaimed musicians including Mick Talbot, Angelo Starr, Joe Cang and Matt Deighton.
A heavyweight debut from one of the UK's most respected groove-driven drummers.
Du hast hier ein Album in der Hand, das zum Zeitpunkt seiner Aufnahme nie veröffentlicht wurde. Über 30 Jahre lang lag es im Archiv von Plattenproduzent und Musiker Dave Hamilton, einem der unbesungenen Helden der Detroit-Soul-Szene. Die Schachtel mit den Tonbändern war einfach mit ,The Possible Little Ann Album" beschriftet. Die Songs von Little Ann sind zeitlose Meisterwerke der Soulmusik. Deshalb dachten wir hier bei Timmion Records, dass sie zusammen auf einem Album gehören, so wie sie ursprünglich gehört werden sollten. Manchmal braucht es Zeit, bis sich Möglichkeiten erfüllen.
Madlib ist der Beat Konducta - oft kopiert, doch nie erreicht. Neuauflage der essenziellen Beat-Konducta-Reihe, hier die Volumes 1 und 2 als Siren Split Edition Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes & Movie Scenes, the Sequel waren die ersten offiziellen Veröffentlichungen in Madlibs Beat-Konducta-Reihe (Vol. 1 Ende 2005, Vol. 2 im Jahr 2006). Bei beiden handelt es sich um Instrumental-Hip-Hop-Produktionen von Madlib, die im Stil von TV- und Film-Library-Platten der 70er Jahre gehalten sind und zusammen eine Stunde voller instrumentaler Klanglandschaften bilden. Nachdem sie lange vergriffen waren, erscheinen diese beiden Volumes von Madlibs legendärer Instrumental-Reihe nun erstmals als farbige Doppel-LP auf Vinyl, welches zur Hälfte rot und zur Hälfte blau gefärbt ist (50/50 Split Vinyl), und verpackt in einem aufklappbaren Gatefold-Cover.
Neuauflage der unverzichtbaren Beat Konducta-Serie von Madlib - hier die Volumes 3 und 4 in der Saffron Blend Edition! Die Beat Konducta-Reihe Vol. 3 & 4 führt nach Indien. ,Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4: In India" ist ein Doppelalbum mit Instrumentalstücken von Madlib, die von Bollywood-Soundtracks und anderen indischen Produktionen der 1960er bis 1980er Jahre inspiriert wurden. Die beiden Teile erschienen ursprünglich im Jahr 2007 als separate LPs. Nachdem sie lange vergriffen waren, erscheinen diese beiden Volumes aus Madlibs legendärer Instrumental-Reihe nun erstmals als farbiges Doppelalbum - gepresst auf halbtransparentem silbernen und safrangelben Vinyl und verpackt in einem aufklappbaren Gatefold-Cover.
Neuauflage der essentiellen "Beat Konducta"-Reihe, hier Vol. 5-6: "Dil Cosby & Dil Withers Suite" (Steady Metals Edition) - Madlib zollt J Dilla Tribut! Auf "Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: Dil Cosby & Dil Withers Suite" (ursprünglich 2008 als zwei separate LPs veröffentlicht) würdigt Madlib seinen verstorbenen Freund und musikalischen Weggefährten J Dilla - unterstützt durch Features von J. Rocc. 42 soulige, atmosphärische Instrumentals bilden den Abschiedsgruß an Jay Dee. Nachdem sie lange vergriffen waren, erscheinen beide Teile von Madlibs legendärer Instrumental-Reihe nun erstmals gemeinsam als farbige Doppel-LP auf metallisch schimmerndem silbernen und goldenen Vinyl, verpackt in einem aufklappbaren Gatefold-Cover.
Hier ist das definitive Beat Konducta-Box-Set: 7 LPs, die alle sechs Teile von Madlibs legendärer Instrumental-Serie vereint - erstmals gemeinsam erhältlich in einem hochwertigen, schweren Deluxe-Schuber. Zusätzlich enthalten ist Vol. 0, eine zuvor offiziell unveröffentlichte Promo-LP mit weiteren Tracks. Das 7-LP-Box-Set umfasst alle sieben Teile von Madlibs "Beat Konducta"-Reihe aus den Jahren 1994 bis 2008. Die Volumes 1-2, 3-4 und 5-6, die lange vergriffen waren, erscheinen hier erstmals als Doppel-LPs im klassischen schwarzen Vinyl und im aufklappbaren Gatefold-Cover. Exklusiv in diesem Set enthalten ist zudem Vol. 0: Earth Sounds, gepresst auf grünem "Northern Lights"-Vinyl. Die Tracks auf Vol. 0 entstanden im Zeitraum von 1994 bis 1996 und wurden dann ursprünglich 2001 als streng limitierte Promo-LP veröffentlicht. Die musikalischen Einflüsse reichen von Library-Musik aus TV und Film der 70er Jahre bis hin zu Bollywood-Soundtracks und weiteren Produktionen aus Indien (aus den 60er bis 80er Jahren) und gipfeln in einer Hommage an seinen verstorbenen, großartigen Freund und musikalischen Weggefährten J Dilla. Essentiell, keine Frage.
Wie Amerika selbst ist auch die Geschichte von Chess Records eine Geschichte von Chancen in neuen Ländern, in denen Grenzen zwischen Hautfarbe und Kultur überwunden wurden, um Rhythm and Blues-Musik
zu schaffen, die Zuhörer auf der ganzen Welt beeinflusste. Das beeindruckende Künstleraufgebot von Chess
– und seine Gründer – haben den Blues von Volksmusik zu populärem Sound weiterentwickelt und verändert.
Chess Records wurde 1950 von den polnischen Einwanderern Leonard und Phil Chess gegründet und entstand im Süden Chicagos, aber der Einfluss ist weltweit und über Generationen der Popmusik hinweg spürbar
– von Acts der British Invasion wie den Beatles, den Rolling Stones und Eric Clapton, die Chess-Künstler
als ihre Vorbilder nannten, bis hin zu den heutigen Stars wie Beyoncé, Jack White, Questlove und Bruce
Springsteen.
Die fortlaufende monatliche Serie wird Veröffentlichungen von legendären Künstlern aus dem renommierten
Chess-Kader präsentieren, diesmal Chuck Berry ”Back Home” und Muddy Waters ”Sing ”Big Bill” Broonzy.
Skepta returns with his highly-anticipated new album, The Fork and Knife. A record rooted in the sounds, energy and culture of contemporary Britain, while looking firmly beyond its borders. Shaped by decades spent immersed in sound systems, clubs and rave spaces, The Fork and Knife moves freely between grime, garage, house, jungle and electronic music. At its centre is Skepta as a rapper, writer and producer - reflecting his position at the centre of rap and his instinct to continually push the sound forward. Identity runs through the heart of the album. Skepta explores what it means to be British, the son of Nigerian immigrants, and to exist between cultures. Rather than viewing diaspora through a lens of struggle, The Fork and Knife embraces it as a source of strength, a superpower that has informed Skepta’s resilience, work ethic and creative instinct. The visual world of The Fork and Knife draws on 1980s Nigerian-British imagery, football culture and documentary realism, connecting the history of the Windrush generation with the energy and reality of modern London.
A hot slice of Latin dance music — produced by the legendary Masters at Work, the house icons and masters of that Nuyorican sound, “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” González — from Los Amigos Invisibles, the Venezuelan band who have spent decades perfecting the art of getting away with everything.
Packed with raunchy songs (of course) that fuse every American genre under the sun — from salsa to acid jazz to disco to funk — this record tore up dance floors twenty years ago.
Around The Sun is a 23-track anniversary compilation marking ten years of Batov Records, featuring artists including Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra, Sababa 5, Satellites, Boom Pam, MOMO. and Mamman Sani. The collection reflects the label's catalogue across Ethio-jazz, Anatolian psych, Mediterranean disco, contemporary jazz, instrumental music and other globally influenced styles. The release includes two Batov edits, several tracks appearing on vinyl for the first time.
All tracks recorded at ROLL OVER STUDIOS, London. January 2004.
Features 10 Studio tracks including: It Mek, Israelites and Sing A Little Song.
Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born on 16th July 1941 in Saint Andrew Parish, Greater Kingston, Jamaica. As a youngster Desmond regularly attended his local church with his grandmother and aunt. Here would bring him his lifetime religious commitment and his enjoyment for singing.
Dekker moved to parish of St. Mary following his mother’s death as a result of illness. He later moved to St. Thomas, where he took up an apprenticeship as a tailor, before he moved back to Kingston and landed himself a job as a welder.
His co-workers encouraged him to pursue his singing career, he successfully auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract. As his career took off this was the time he decided to adopt the name Desmond Dekker instead of 'Dacres'.
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - In/Flux - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Hindsight
#2 - Lost And Found (S.F.L.)
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Lost And Found (S.F.L.) - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Hardcore (Instrumental) Hip-Hop - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Last Stop
#3 - What Does Your Soul Look Like
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like - (Part 2 - Original Standalone Version) - (Side A, Track 2) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like - (Part 3 - Original Standalone Version) - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4 - Original Standalone Version) - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like - (Part 1 - Original Standalone Version)
#4 - Midnight In A Perfect World (U.K. Version)
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Midnight In A Perfect World (Radio Vision) - (Side A, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Midnight In A Perfect World (Gab Mix) - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Midnight In A Perfect World (Extended Vision) - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Mutual Slump (Album Version)
#5 - Stem
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Stem (Cops 'N' Robbers) - (Side A, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Red Bus Needs To Leave! - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Stem/Long Stem (Earlier Version) - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Soup
#6 - High Noon
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Hypnotist Intro - (Side A, Track 2) DJ Shadow - High Noon (Alternative Mix) - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - Devil's Advocate (Alternative Version) - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Organ Donor
(Extended Overhaul - Original Version)
#7 - Camel Bobsled Race
(Side A) DJ Shadow - Camel Bobsled Race (Original Unedited Version) (Part 1) - (Side B) DJ Shadow - Camel Bobsled Race (Original Unedited Version) (Part 2)
#8 - Bonus Disc for this Box Set
(Side A, Track 1) DJ Shadow - In/Flux (First Ever MPC Version) - (Side A, Track 2) DJ Shadow - Lost And Found (S.F.L.) (First Ever MPC Version) - (Side B, Track 1) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 2 - First Ever MPC Version) - (Side B, Track 2) DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4 - First Ever MPC Version)
Zum ersten Mal seit Jahrzehnten erscheinen DJ Shadows legendäre Mo’Wax-Singles wieder offiziell – in einem umfassenden 8-teiligen Vinyl-Set, das mehrere Stunden bahnbrechender Musik enthält.
Die Aufnahmen wurden in den Abbey Road Studios von Miles Showell halbspeed-remastered und klingen so klar und kraftvoll wie nie zuvor. Die Box enthält zahlreiche bisher unveröffentlichte Mixe und Edits sowie eine exklusive Bonus-LP mit den ursprünglichen Demos von vier Tracks – ein einzigartiger Einblick in die Entstehungsgeschichte des Shadow-Sounds.
Abgerundet wird das Set durch neue Fotografien von Brian Cross (B+), DJ Shadows langjährigem visuellen Wegbegleiter.
Ein essenzielles Sammlerstück für Fans, Vinyl-Liebhaber und alle, die die Wurzeln moderner Beat-Kultur feiern wollen.
"This box wasn’t made for the casual listener,it was made with the hardcore fan in mind. I’ve always felt, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right, and every step of the process was
made with this philosophy firmly in mind. I had fun locating and resurrecting these songs, some of which still feel close to my consciousness as though they were made yesterday.”
-DJ Shadow
“Slide in the party like three monkeys wearing a trench,” GDP says in the opening seconds of Cross Off Matthew, his first solo album in over a decade. The line is indicative of the New Jersey emcee/ producer’s relationship with music, one that’s ebbed and flowed throughout his career and eclectic discography. Entirely self-produced, Cross Off Matthew feels like a reintroduction as well as an expansion of what makes the cult rapper so beloved. GDP came up in the respective punk, hardcore, and skateboarding scenes of New Jersey, roots that inspired his DIY approach to making hip-hop. He applied a decidedly punk ethos to his brand of neo- boom bap on early releases like 2009’s Realistic Expectations and 2011’s Useless Eaters, albums that celebrated his youthful indiscretions but also signaled an old soul lying beneath the surface.
He opted to release them on punk/indie labels (including Run For Cover and Ride The Fury Records) instead of more traditional hip-hop outlets, and along with an ambitious touring schedule, he carved out a dedicated fanbase throughout the early 2010’s. Cross Off Matthew is a slow-cooked labor of love, born out of taking enough time away from something to understand the journey with greater perspective and appreciation.“I’m older, arguably wiser, but that creative fire stayed with me,” he says. “I wanted to make something that felt nuanced, something that I could feel proud of.” Throughout the album, the production toggles between foreboding and facetious just as deftly as his bars. Tracks like “Island In The Sky” and “Location Therapy” make rap confetti out of caustic guitars and glaring distortion, while “Seroquel” and “Rock For Light,” (the latter a nod to NJ rap royalty, The Outsidaz) embrace GDP’s signature blend of East Coast hip-hop and punk sensibilities, with lyrics that highlight the sharp wit and heady philosophizing that he made his name on. GDP examines vices, interpersonal relationships, the collective dread of late-stage capitalism as well as the pitfalls and rewards of trying to lead a creative life throughout it all. The wiseman that peaked out from beneath the shield of debauchery on his early releases has now come to the forefront, as GDP’s trademark humor and commentary feel refined by years of life lived experience
Drop the needle on this latest dispatch from the tape vaults, and we are back in Chicago at The Curtom Studios in 1977. For instalment number five in the "Hutson Sevens" series, Home of The Good Groove Records are so very honoured to deliver this previously unreleased cut from Leroy Hutson—a true titan of soul music and an absolute master of his craft.
"Betting On My Love" carries that signature smooth orchestration we have come to expect from Hutson’s finest hours. It moves with a wonderful, breezy optimism. Hutson’s joyful, velvet lead tones skip effortlessly across the groove, wrapped in lush backing harmonies that instantly evoke the feel of the Hutson II
classic, "I Think I’m Falling in Love".
Now, a brief confession of pure, crate-digging indulgence: if tailored strictly for the dancefloor, the track arguably hits its logical peak and fade just past the three-minute mark. But to cut it there would strip away the raw human magic of the session. If you let the wax ride to the very end, the arrangement dissolves into a wonderful, lingering instrumental outro, culminating in the studio players purposely "clattering" their instruments in a moment of pure creative release. It is a brilliant, candid studio artifact that was fortunately preserved on the original master recording. Essential listening for the global soul family—do not sleep on this debut pressing.
For the flip we present Leroy Hutson’s 1979 cut “ So Nice”, a masterclass in late-70s soul music. A stand out track from the “Unforgettable” album and a vital reminder of Hutson’s unmatched ability to inject sophisticated romanticism into the bleeding edge of that disco era.
Slightly edited for the 7-inch pressing, up steps our remastering and editing maestro Mr Phil Ward. Phil always has the utmost respect when remastering and editing original content, ensuring that every second of the groove is fully respected and preserved. His stellar work here includes the studio recording of the three-count drum intro, never heard before now, leading into that meditative smooth groove layout.
It is an exquisite arrangement of simmering electric keys, nimble basslines courtesy of the legendary Keni Burke, and subtle bongo accents that collectively deliver a timeless masterpiece. Now available on 7-inch vinyl for the first time.
![VARIOUS - BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD [VOLUME 2]](https://www.deejay.de/images/l/7/1/1270471.jpg)
