Buscar:respect records

Music from Skalpel's iconic debut for Ninja Tune, reinterpreted by top Polish producers! 

Poland's ambassadors of jazz-inspired electronics invited outstanding local producers of downtempo, dance music, hip-hop, and jazz to remix this album. The result is "Recut," the best remix album in the history of Polish phonography. A record every bit as worthy as the historic original. It’s an extraordinary tale of the past and present of Polish electronic music.


This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Skalpel’s debut album, which was released by the famous British label Ninja Tune in 2004. The Polish duo, Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudło, gained international acclaim by venturing into the then lesser-known territory of Eastern European jazz, updating it with electronic tools.
Pitchfork praised the album enthusiastically: „On these tracks, Skalpel smudge the line between organic and electronic effortlessly, like a landscape artist working with charcoal, creating deep nuances of light and shadow that give the work its overall depth. (…)Its rhythmic dexterity and melodic sweep are hard to deny” -
The prestigious The Wire added: "Jazz, breaks, scat shuffles and funky riffs? of the highest standard. This release deserves to see them revered far beyond Poland"

Today, looking back over two decades, this album can be confidently considered a milestone in Polish electronica and a timeless classic of downtempo, nu-jazz, and trip-hop. Thanks to this record, the band also gained worldwide recognition, and their subsequent consistently high-quality albums like "Highlight" and "Origins" continue to attract significant interest.
Skalpel’s debut with Ninja Tune undoubtedly changed the face of Polish music, redefined the perception of the Polish jazz canon, and paved the way for younger creators. "Many of them, on 'Recut,' pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudło.
Artists like Magiera, Emade, 1988, Kixnare, Steez, Latarnik, Envee, Pejzaż, Etnobotanika, and others are now recognized names and respected figures in the Polish music scene. Though each of the artists invited by the Wrocław duo has developed their own original style, they find common roots in the duo’s music, on the border between jazz groove, hip-hop ease, downtempo moodiness, or ambient.
The excellent interpretations showcase the incredible potential revealed by Skalpel’s debut material, which continues to inspire new discoveries. This is a record that does not age, still captivates, and continues to inspire and provoke new interpretations.


Let’s RECUT this!!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, THE ROUTES are back with their unique blend of beat-you-to-death surf music (IGGY POP). Their latest target: the music of JOY DIVISION!

Having previously surfy-fied the songs of KRAFTWERK and BUZZCOCKS, Surfin' Pleasures sees THE ROUTES take on the music of JOY DIVISION. As with their previous tributes, this is not an album of note for note cover versions. THE ROUTES have only taken subtle melodic and rhythmic hints from the original songs; rearranging them into songs of their own, respectfully and lovingly translating the music of JOY DIVSION into a different musical language.

Surfin' Pleasures sees twelve classic JOY DIVISION songs reimagined and rearranged as banging 60s surf guitar instrumentals (a la THE VENTURES, DICK DALE, SHADOWS, TRASHMEN, TERAUCHI TAKESHI, LINK WRAY, THE SURFARIS and THE ASTRONAUTS and more).

Prepare to be taken on a wild musical trip where A Means To An End and Ice Age are transformed into the background music of a 60s drag race movie, Transmission hints at the classic ASTRONAUTS sound, and Digital gets the beach party treatment... You don't have to be a fan of JOY DIVISION to enjoy these tunes, and likewise if you're a JOY DIVISION fan you don't need to be a fan of surf music to enjoy them.

The record cover comes courtesy of British design icons Peter Saville and Malcolm Garrett. It is a reworking of Peter Saville's design for JOY DIVISION's Unknown Pleasures. Reminiscent of the op art of Bridget Riley, the lines are no longer that of a pulsar, but that of the sound wave of a reverb tank. Its cover design is provided with calender embossing as well as a printed inner sleeve, just like the hit-album Unknown Pleasures.

Blasphemy or alchemy? You decide!

One thing is for sure is that THE ROUTES have provided the world with yet another future cult classic, destined to irk or jerk for eons to come.

Re-mastered from original mono master tapes.

Limited edition 1000 copies.

180 gr vinyl pressed by Pallas in Germany.

Deluxe high-gloss flipback album jacket.

Facsimile reissue using the original cover art.

Double insert using an original photo by JP Leloir from 1955.

Each record has been visually checked to prevent defects.

Recorded December 27 and 29, 1955 at the Pathé Magellan studio, Paris.

Original LP issue: Barclay 84.023.

After hitting Paris in 1950, saxophonist Bobby Jaspar enthralled jazz fans and jazzmen alike with his smooth, elegant playing, with the lyricism of his tranquil phrases heavily influenced by Stan Getz in particular. So when Jaspar began regularly performing with a small ensemble at the Club St-Germain five years later, he adopted the same instrumentation as that of his idol’s illustrious quintet, with Sacha Distel on guitar and René Urtreger on piano in the roles of Jimmy Raney and Al Haig, respectively.

Contrary to what its title might suggest, ‘Modern Jazz au Club St-Germain’ was actually recorded in the studio. It features compositions by Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis along with a handful of standards, in which the angular aridity of bebop gives way to the generous and yet sensitive idiom of cool jazz.

Jaspar’s premature death in 1963 robbed the jazz world of a promising talent; this record is among his best efforts as a leader. Bobby Jaspar is in top form here !!!

Text – Pierre de Chocqueuse

Bobby Jaspar (Tenor Saxophone & Flute)
Sacha Distel (Guitar)
René Urtreger (Piano)
Benoit Quersin (Bass)
Jean-Louis Viale (Drums)

“For fans old and new, they can expect to be reintroduced to some raw, authentic, classic Detroit Hip-Hop from beginning to end.”-Phat Kat on the Deluxe Edition re-release of “Carte Blanche”.

Phat Kat’s phenomenal sophomore solo LP, “Carte Blanche”, first released in ’07 via Look Records, is the sound of Detroit. It’s gritty, soulful, and raw, three key ingredients in bringing the blue-collar city’s vibe to life in music form. It’s also a modern classic that is getting the deluxe edition re-release it deserves, Below System Records is adding two rare bonus tracks produced by late Detroit legend, J Dilla.

Anyone familiar with Kat or Dilla’s work knows the two shared a special bond. In fact, Dilla would often go to the gruff-voiced emcee whenever he was looking to create a particularly tough track. This friendship led to them forming the group 1st Down, and this re-release’s two bonus cuts, “World Premiere” and “It Don’t Get No Liver Than This (feat. La Peace),” which were recording in 1996 and ’97, respectively. Despite 1st Down never taking off due to label issues, Kat and Dilla remained close and recorded a number of underground classics. Those include several joints off “Carte Blanche”, such as the stirring “Don’t Nobody Care About Us”, “Game Time”, and the Elzhi-featured “Cold Steel”. It’s actually that last track that Kat picks as his favorite cut off the record.

“If I gotta choose one, it would have to be ‘Cold Steel’ because it makes you wanna wild out as soon as the beat drops”, he says, adding that this was the first time he got to choose a Dilla beat to rap over. “He would never let me rock over beat tape beats-he use to say ‘Nah Kat, just write to them cause I’m gonna make all ya shit from scratch.’ ”

The album also boasts collaborations with other Detroit rap heavy-hitters, such as Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Nick Speed, and T3 & Young RJ (of Slum Village). With Kat as their host, they were able to not only capture the sound of the Motor city in 2007 (when the album was originally released), but also cement its place in the greater canon of hip-hop as we know it today.

The track list includes a mix of soul, R&B, and gospel influences, highlighting her versatility as an artist.

"Split the Lark" EP is a collaborative project between Georgian DJ/producer **IKAKO** and Spanish musician, DJ/producer **The Cap Boy**. Blending their distinct musical styles, the EP likely explores a fusion of electronic, House, Tech , break and acid soundscapes, given their respective backgrounds.

While far from a household name in reggae, Judah Eskender Tafari cultivated a loyal fanbase and respectable catalogue during his recording career. The Studio One single, "Rastafari Tell You" sits at the top of a small set of deep cuts he recorded for Coxson Dodd's famed studio starting in 1978. These have continued to find a place at roots reggae sound systems and DJ rub-a-dub parties after nearly five decades. The earnest lyrics and spiritual mission of these early recordings would define Judah's entire career, extending through the decades to "Great Escape", a new Daptone 45 produced by label stalwart Victor Axelrod. The song alludes to the Old Testament in a vision of mankind gone astray, trying to escape the confines of Earth for salvation. Axelrod provides a lush roots backdrop against which Eskender shines in a way we haven't heard in years.

“Commencement/Mineral Blend” delivers a fusion of rough and ready dub-adjacent bass music compositions from the London based trio Damos Room. Also featured are eclectic remixes from artists Gonjasufi, Lewi Boome, Dome Zero, and Nudibranch residents Polyop.

The bulk of the EP came from a rare in-person collaboration at Elijah Minnelli’s loft. The Horse Militia laid belly to the ground, endlessly feeding an effects chain like a battery hen with noises from multiple contrasting sources. It was particularly hot that day and the windows were wide open, so if you listen closely you can hear the humid Selhurst skyline bleeding into the recordings. This long weekend was punctuated by visits to the local swamp and an outing to see Channel One Soundsystem.

"Commencement," the EP's inaugural offering, unfolds with a hypnotic, droning bass groove, providing the floor for a paranoid stream of consciousness.

"Mineral Blend" takes a lazier dancehall-esque approach. Littered with unloved sounds from previous sessions and repurposing the lyrics ("I want to be a vessel") from Damos Room's DR Viewings #2 release with Polyop, this track weaves in and out of consciousness without ever truly bubbling over.

Remixers Lewi Boome and Dome Zero contribute imaginative 150bpm takes on both "Commencement" and "Mineral Blend” respectively, drawing inspiration from their backgrounds in bass, techno and experimental electronic music.

Polyop's remix of "Mineral Blend" leans further into dub techno stylings, infusing a refreshing and spacious perspective that echoes their acid roots.

The LA-based artist Gonjasufi transforms "Commencement" into a foggy and mysterious rendition, using his unique production techniques to transcend the dancefloor and immerse listeners in a misty sonic landscape.

Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare or Sly and Robbie as they are affectionately known are the drum and bass backbone of Reggae Music, they have played on, produced, invented, reinvented more records then many of their contemporaries put together.

Sly Dunbar born Lowell Charles Dunbar on 10 May 1952, Kingston, Jamaica, drummed his first session for Mr Lee Perry which included a Jamaican hit ,a track called 'Night Doctor', before moving on to the group Skin, Flesh & Bones who had a residency at Kingston's famous 'Tit for Tat' club. This band would evolve into the Channel One house band The Revolutionaries where Sly named after his fondness of the band Sly and the Family Stone would begin to play alongside a bass player who would become his long standing partner in music, namely one Robbie Shakespeare.

Robbie Shakespeare born 27 September 1953, Kingston, Jamaica, had worked his way through session bands including the legendary Aggrovators before uniting with Sly Dunbar in The Revolutionaries. Both musicians had worked with other respective bass / drum players including such figures as Lloyd Parks bass, Carlton 'Santa' Davis drums, but everything seemed to fall into place when they worked together.

They also both had a quest to push the boundaries of reggae music, which they would do throughout their careers, over many sessions to numerous to mention. But highlights would include the groundbreaking Mighty Diamonds 1976 set 'Right Time' with its fresh rockers rhythms which lead the way in the 1970's. Also their work with the bands Culture and Black Uhuru the later of which they toured extensively with, spreading the reggae vibes across Europe and America. Not to forget to mention their Taxi label / productions which are always inventitive whether its in the reggae field or outside where their playing / production skills are much in demand.

The third piece of this jigsaw is the mighty Mr Bunny 'Striker' Lee who brought these legends together. Born Edward O'Sullivan Lee 23 August 1941, he must be one of reggae's most underrated producers. Leading the way in the 1970's especially in the dub field and being one of the early exponents of a King Tubby remix ,which would see nearly all his 7'' releases carrying a Tubby reworking on its flip side. Bunny started his musical career in 1962 working for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label and soon moved into the world of production gaining his first hit in 1967 with 'Musical Field' by Roy Shirley for the WIRL label. The 1970's was a very productive time for Bunny Lee and saw the launch of his LEE'S label which was producing hits in Jamaica. Not having a studio of his own and renting studio time from the existing establishments like Randy's Studio 17 and Channel One he had to have a crack team of session players to carry out this task, fast and efficiently. This happened firstly under the guise of THE AGGROVATORS see The Aggrovators dubbing it studio 1 style JRCD005 and then with the group of musicians THE REVOLUTIONARIES[ see The Revolutionaries at Channel 1 dub plate specials JRCDOO3]. It’s here in the latter of these groups that Bunny matched Sly and Robbie together for the first time and it’s this match made in heaven that these tracks on this release are culled from. Sessions that Bunny Lee produced with Sly and Robbie during this magical 70's period. These rare dubs are taken from the original master tapes, you may have heard the tune before but not these versions. So sit back and enjoy Reggae Musical History in the making....

* First time on 7" for this horns-led instrumental gem from the Love Grocer crew aka Chris Petter and Dave Fullwood (Ital Horns and Zion Train).

* Originally appearing on 10" with a Cheshire Cat vocal in 2000 and on the `Rocking with the Love Grocer’ album, both on Dubhead in 2000 and 2001 respectively.

* Backed with a dub cut.

New West Records is proud to release Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney. This album features new versions of David Olney songs recorded by Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Willis Alan Ramsey, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mary Gauthier, Jim Lauderdale, and Buddy Miller among others. The tracklist is also highlighted by a never-before released live recording by Townes Van Zandt. Originally from Rhode Island, Olney moved to Nashville in the early 70s and fell in with a group of songwriters including Townes Van Zandt, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Rodney Crowell. With his rock band David Olney and the X-Rays he toured tirelessly. He went on to release a string of brilliant albums and his songs were recorded by Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt, and many others. But the bright lights of stardom never shone on David, and he died the way he lived: onstage in a club, far from home, singing a song. This album gathers some of David’s friends and colleagues to pay tribute to his unique vision. Many of these artists are legends in their own right; all are here because of their deep admiration and respect for the man and his songs.

Emerging producer Très Mortimer dishes out eight huge heaters on the highly-anticipated ‘M1 City’ release, a dedication to the mighty Korg M1, coming to Seth Troxler’s Slacker 85 on 25th October.

Kicking off ‘M1 City’ is the simplistic, but refined and booth-rattling ‘Work That Body’. A crisp M1 stab is the main character in this, amplified by thunderous and high energy drums.

Then there’s ‘Secrets’, a house jam inspired by the likes of MK that utilises TR-909 drums, a subtle rolling bassline, intimately whispered and soulfully sung vocal shots, and, of course, classic Korg M1 synth stabs. Together with dramatic contemporary builds, a highly danceable house smasher is formed.

‘No More’ is pure gasoline for the dancefloor. Très pairs another barrage of clean M1 stabs with a rousing vocal sample that leads into, with the help of a rolling snare, another highly effective house drop. Following the extremely saucy ‘Big Daddy’ skit, we’re dropped straight into ‘One Of Those Nights’, a show-stopping track complete with cutting, sharp stabs, a bulging bassy synth and a West Coast-esque synth sound.

‘Bitch I’m From Chicago’ feat. Gleebz is, as the title suggests, a dedication to the city where house music found its name. Batting off all the poser cities like LA and Miami in the sassy lyrics, it embodies the spirit of Chicago with hefty kick drums and weighty chord stabs.

At the tail end of the release, ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘Love’ (featuring vocalist 7000 (7K)), bring things to a rousing emotive close. Both tracks see Très put clean vocals over piano riffs, giving off differing moods – the former is euphoric, the latter melancholic. Synths bubble beneath, and each track funnels their own respective house grooves, resulting in two tracks fit for both the dancefloor and headphones.

Très Mortiner explains: “The M1 sound is classic. It automatically transports you back to those timeless house songs that never get old. For me, house music is all about connection. People experiencing a little moment of euphoria together when they hear a riff that they all know on the dance floor. That’s what it’s all about. With this project I wanted to tap into that 90s rave sound and spirit. I wanted it to sound like the OG Chicago rave scene.”

“M1 City is my first project to be released on vinyl. I think vinyl is very much alive. It’s essentially for music connoisseurs now. I don’t expect people to have a vinyl collection when all music is always available to everyone on their phones. Nevertheless, I love the idea of some random DJ finding this record in a shop in 10 years. Who knows what I’ll be producing then?”

Très Mortimer is a key figure in Chicago's house scene, steadily building a strong following with his no-nonsense, dancefloor-driven sound. Drawing inspiration from his Polish roots, Trés has signed with major labels like Mad Decent, Insomniac’s IN/Rotation, and Ministry of Sound, while also launching his own imprint, Optics Records. He made his mark with a clever rework of Zombies' 1968 hit ‘Time Of The Season’ (1M+ streams). Standout releases include his downtempo collaboration with plumpy, "BAMBU," and his latest single, "At Night I Think Of You," which was recently given a remix makeover by Seth Troxler and Nick Morgan.

Slacker 85, launched in 2023, is the record label behind ‘M1 City’. Founded by Seth Troxler, it aims to give a platform to "oddball, esoteric and diverse sounds," positioning itself as a counter to the polished, refined dance artists dominating the scene. Troxler, upon the label’s launch, declared that he wanted to create something for "the anti-hero, the kids who could have done it but didn’t care to try”—essentially, "the slacker." So far, it’s delivered a range of releases from artists like Jackmaster, Danny Daze, Dan McKie, and Andre Salmon, offering tracks rooted in house music's past but evolving within its present boundaries.

‘M1 City’, this ode to a piece of gear that consistently finds itself at the heart of house music history, highlights Très Mortimer’s respect for and knowledge of the scene and its key gear. Trè combines this admiration and inspiration of house music’s greats with a modern sensibility, resulting in eight tracks worthy of today’s dancefloors and today’s ravers.

Re-issue of this hyper rare single from 1978 on Whirl (West Indies Records Limited). George Clinton's Parliament getting funked up in the Caribbean. TIP!

The Outfit was one of the funkiest bands ever coming from The Caribbean. They showed (together with other top bands from Barbados like The BRC or The Organization) the potential of Spouge music and the many creative possibilities that this genre can lead to.

This single is one of the finest examples of Spouge and Funk blended perfectly together in an explosive, ultra funky cover of the Parliament's "Dr. Funkenstein", titled for the occasion "Dr. Spougenstien". Despite being an extremely rare single, this song used to be quite popular in Barbados, to the point where most people on the Island used to think this was an original song. B side "Theme From Peter Gunn" serves up a punchy and groovy Cosmic disco tune on the very popular Theme from the Peter Gunn tv show.

This single is proposed to you as a first issue on the newly born Lava On Wax Records, started by Dj and Collector Matteo Fava, who have been to Barbados multiple times and works together with former Wirl label since 2020. The release has been possible thanks to help of GUTS from France, who worked since the start of this project to the end in close collaboration with Matteo. Here is what he has to say about this release: " Lava on Wax , It's putting love into old things to make them new with conscience and respect "

Studio 1/11 – Schwarz

Beside GAS, Studio 1 is probably the most known project within Wolfgang Voigt’s oeuvre. The series, comprising ten vinyl-releases and one CD-compilation, was brought into being in 1995 and is - until today - known as one of the most important conceptual precursors of Minimal Techno.

The formally strict but highly memorable series of ten maxis without individual titles, whose covers only distinguish themselves by the chosen colour gained international attention, even far beyond the techno discourse.

In the context of the latest mammoth project »EARQUAKE – Wolfgang Voigt 1991-1999«, a comprehensive digital new-, respectively initial release of Voigt’s almost entire musical work of the 1990s, there are also some so far unpublished pieces going to be released on vinyl. So is the maxi-single »Studio 1/11 – Schwarz« from 1997, which - in respect of its sound and vision - assimilates seamlessly in the so far known series. A collector’s item.

Studio 1 ist neben GAS das wohl bekanntestes Projekt im Gesamtwerk von Wolfgang Voigt. Die 10 Vinyl-Veröffentlichungen und eine CD-Compilation umfassende Reihe wurde im Jahr 1995 ins Leben gerufen und gilt bis Heute als einer der wichtigsten konzeptionellen Vorläufer des späteren Minimal Techno.

Die formal strenge Serie aus 10 Maxis ohne individuelle Titel, deren Cover sich nur durch die gewählte Farbe unterschieden, erlangte - nicht nur durch den hohen Wiedererkennungswert - internationale Aufmerksamkeit, die weit über den Techno-Diskurs hinaus ging. Im Kontext des aktuellen Mammut-Projektes »EARQUAKE – Wolfgang Voigt 1991-1999«, einer umfassenden digitalen Neu- bzw. Erstveröffentlichung von Voigts nahezu gesamten musikalischen Schaffen der 90er Jahre, werden auch einige bisher unveröffentlichte Stücke auf Vinyl erscheinen. So auch die drei Stücke umfassende Maxi »Studio 1/11 – Schwarz« aus dem Jahr 1997, die sich in Sachen „Sound & Vision“ nahtlos in die bislang bekannte Reihe einfügt. Ein Sammlerstück.

“…a surprisingly cohesive atmospheric soundtrack to a movie that does not yet exist.” LONER is the stunning album from cult auteur DAVID J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) featuring Mia Doi Todd and Tim Newman. U.K. Edition in orange vinyl with gatefold sleeve. Limited edition of 500. Former Bauhaus and current Love and Rockets bass man returns via Dakota Records with a series of deconstructions of an original twenty some year old demo. Originally streamed as part of his 2007 series of unreleased stash ‘Tracks from the Attic,’ a precursor to the now hugely successful platform: Patreon. David’s original demo titled ‘Albino Dog’ alongside singer/songwriter Mia Doi Todd’s sublime studio version both appeared via that platform in 2015; only the latter appears amongst this new series of arrangements. David’s premonition of Mia’s voice on this song is one to be applauded – perfectly suited creating a ghostly sepulchral aura. Here the Colonel is aided by a series of foot soldiers varying in rank. Veteran comrade Joyce Rooks adds texture with her trademark cello to Mia’s ‘Albino Dog’, whilst privates’ Nigel Gwennap (‘The Day that David Bowie Died’) and Whitehall Rec’s Joel Baldwin contribute electric guitar and drum programming respectively. But it’s the work of the captain that captivates this whole package. Tim Newman (Love is a Ghost), arranger, sound alchemist, mixer and lunatic. Tim’s work with David is best savoured via their ‘Analogue Excavations & Dream Excavations’ 2002 Glass Modern set. ‘Loner’ offers the listener a kaleidoscope of sounds best experienced with headphones, the journey from David’s simple ‘Albino Dog’ strummed acoustic demo to ‘Crescendo’ is quite staggering. Joel’s synth on ‘Cold, Cold, Cold’ and the glitch added to Mia’s vocal (‘Loner on the Range’) for example take the song into an altogether different direction. But it’s ‘Crescendo’ though that sits atop the apex. Building, as the title suggests, into a blistering array of guitars, bass and drums with a gorgeous, ethereal repeating low vocal motif from Mia wrapping itself around the cacophony.

"Raise a glass to the latest entry in Bloodshot’s Barrel Select Series!

Barrel Select exists to highlight the best of Bloodshot’s cask-strength catalog. Robbie Fulks has made some of the finest records we can claim as our own, but if there’s only room for one on that sacred shelf at the top, it’s Gone Away Backward.

“At a time when modern country feels like bloated spandex-and-Aquanetted pop-metal, Fulks defiantly embraces an unflinching traditionalism.” Paste’s words, not ours, but we’re not gonna argue the point they made when Gone Away Backward hit their doorstep 11 years back. They also called this “a tour du force of bluegrass-derived spare country,” which we’ll also let stand. Magnet said it was “the best album Fulks has ever made, period,” and out of respect for the wonderful work Robbie has done in the past decade, we’ll simply point out that this too is an 11-year-old review.

With Steve Albini at the board, Robbie was able to break his songs down to their core and fire his characters, his chops, his band, and his amazing voice directly at listener’s souls. “We recorded it pretty fast, in a couple of days. People are always bragging that they did it without overdubs, but that’s the way we did it.” The results are everything we ever wanted from Robbie and a high-water mark of folk or bluegrass or alt-country or whatever genre bucket you want to pour his gifts into.

Recorded by Steve Albini

10th Anniversary Barrel Select edition on Bloodshot Red vinyl

“Stunning” —Saving Country Music

“a work of great, accomplished craft . . . vivid and moving” —Ken Tucker, NPR

“The level of artistry is so complete that it suggests a world in which Fulks isn’t a household name is somehow upside down.” —Wall Street Journal"

An incredible version of 7 Days Too Long on beautiful green vinyl, by New Zealand Soul Sensations Jamie and The Numbers. To make this even more special, the artwork has been inspired by Dexy’s Midnight Runner’s debut album “Searching for the Young Soul Rebels”, as well as the sleeve notes written by Kevin Archer. It also features the trombone skills of “Big” Jim Paterson!

“The original by Chuck Wood was released in the 60's. However, it was 1973 when I heard it for the first time whilst growing up in the Black Country. At the time, I was just 15 years old and having no siblings, I looked towards the older kids, who for me, were into the scene, especially Northern Soul. There were songs such as "Me & Baby Brother" by War, and the commercial "Skiing In The Snow" by The Invitations that grabbed my attention, plus I also liked the drummer Hamilton Bohannon.

The footwear of choice were Solatio shoes, which had leather soles that allowed shuffling on the dancefloor, as well as the great acts of acrobatics during the high points of these great tunes. Although girls attended these gatherings, it was unheard of to ask a girl to dance. It just wasn't the cool thing to do! All of this brings me to Dexys Midnight Runners. Mike Taylor, a friend of the band, suggested covering this song. Our sound was a little bit like Jamie & The Numbers, in what both bands set out to achieve with each of their respective sounds. This version has been inspired by Dexys - the intro, the breakdown, the guitar and organ driven vibe, all providing the perfect backdrop for the amazing talent of Jamie Musava. Her vocals are just brilliant and of course, Big Jimmy is there with them on trombone. Now for the caper...”

15 years onwards from the original release in October 2009, "This Is …" by Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos remains a classic in its genre. Upfront, raw and melodic, this super sister funk album has not aged at all. Now, in 2024, it is time for a proper re-release with unreleased bonus tracks, rare remixes and a limited edition double vinyl album. Welcome to the deluxe version of "This Is …" by Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos.

Read here what the original release sheet said about the album:

"Strong album – packs a serious punch" Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, BBC 6 Music

"A breath of fresh air" Keb Darge

"Really amazing stuff, full of killers" Nick / Record Kicks

"Definitely recommended" Peter Wermelinger, Funky & Groovy Music Records Lexicon

"What a fantastic album – this is proper funk" Tobias Kirmayer, Tramp Records

Ever since their first collaboration on the "Mocambo Funk Forty Fives" compilation, things have gained momentum for Gizelle Smith, the "Golden Girl of Funk", and the much respected Hamburg-based label and live band The Mighty Mocambos. Their first single "Working Woman" became an overnight smash and a prime-time club favourite of funk & soul DJs from all over the world. Initially released on the Finnish private press label Old Capital, producer legend and Grammy nominee Kenny Dope (Masters at Work, Bucketheads) picked up and remixed the song for his own label Kay Dee Records. Gizelle Smith & Mocambo now step up with a full-length album of bonafide sister funk. In the days of digital recording and Pro Tools editing, they show true exception to modern techniques and create their highly regarded, unique and raw soul sound, by making use of simple dynamic microphones and reel-to-reel tape machines. In a genre which is often littered with overused clichés of the past, the charismatic Gizelle Smith adds a lot of her own flavour rather than slavishly copying icons of bygone decades. The result is a refreshing alternative to post-millenium plastic pop without being a mere retro rip-off. From the heavy and determined "Gonna Get You" to vulnerable, gospel-tinged laments such as "Coffee High", "This Is Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos" is just as deeply rooted in the music from the golden era of soul as it is a modern masterpiece in its own right. Blazing horns, soulful guitars, driving drums and basslines combined with Gizelle's gripping and powerful voice all weave together to create a long player that is varied and coherent at the same time.

DJ Support from: Dave Lee, Purple Disco Machine, Michael Gray, Birdee, Dr Packer, John Morales, David Harness, Lenny Fontana

Sean’s debut album, ‘Down To The Disco’, comes as a 2 part vinyl series is a tight blend of soulful, disco, '80s boogie, and house music, featuring collaborations with artists such as Brian Lucas, Alexis Victoria Hall, Toni Sea, Nell Shakespeare, Elysha West, Octavia Lambertis, and Pav plus extensive production duties from Midnight Riot’s Yam Who? & Jaegerossa.

Sean Scanlan’s A highly respected UK DJ (Hed Kandi, Fierce Angel, Discopolis, Hat Club, and Ministry of Sound), As a producer his releases have made a significant impact on Traxsource, earning DJ support from industry legends like Joey Negro, DJ Meme, John Morales, Michael Gray, Dr. Packer, and Purple Disco Machine, among others. Inspired by labels such as Salsoul & Z Records, Sean is known for his dedication to producing authentic, high-quality Disco and House music, with a passion for creating vibrant sounds through real musicians, live strings, brass, bass, and percussion, ‘Down To The Disco’ is a must-listen for fans of classic disco house music.

The sacred mushroom played rock music heavily influenced by the blues. Their only self-titled LP released in 1969 on the audio fidelity records label, has be remastered and released again by Akarma Records. The original album is reproduced beautifully and a colorful story about the group by an unknown historian is included on the back cover of the LP.

All the songs are originals with the exception of a Ray Davies song titled 'I'm not like everybody else.' Considering the date that this was recorded, it sounds surprisingly vibrant and hardly outdated. In any event, this is great music. It's a splendid tribute to the blues and how rock music gave the style the respect and admiration that it justly deserved.

This is crank-it-up-loud blues rock that you will surely enjoy if you happen to get into either style of music.