 |
 
|
The Link Quartet 'Italian Playboys' Hammond Beat
Hammond Beat is a name synonymous with excellence in its niche genre, they
nurture and present the cream of the crop in the Hammond music scene from
around the world. So with that said it's always a real pleasure to hear what
they issue. The Link Quartet is not a disappointment, its almost as if The
Brand New Heavies never happened and the spirit of acid Jazz had remained
pure. If you were like me and wanted more of that wailing RnB Jazz and
pounding Hammond madness and less candy floss then you'll love this!
The Link Quartet produce the kind of organ madness that you'd expect to find
more in a compilation of Library music dug up by Luke Vibert or Barry - 7,
it transcends the normal mod purist sound that so many of their peers strive
to perfect, a track 'Milwaukee Hunter' is more hip hop than even John
Murtaugh's 'Slinky', but having said that there are some top notch straight
ahead floor fillers here such as 'Rubber Monkey' which I can see being spun
in every decent freakbeat room around the world.
Featuring Eddie Roberts from the UK's The New Mastersounds and Doug Roberts
from The Diplomats Of Solid Sound, there are some killer funk moments which
will get some of the pre 66 obsessive folk skipping a track here and there
and the more open minded of us turning the volume up, not your usual
all-the-same-pace Hammond LP this one has more up and downs than a ride on
John Holmes lap, there's a whole spectrum of sound and emotion from
blistering 'The Champ' on acid freak outs to cheeky mod jazz pop to heavy
guitar soaked grooves. Eddie Roberts's sitar on 'Spider Baby' will get the
mod jet set, young and old, wetting themselves when they hear it. An
essential soundtrack for very groovy times indeed. http://www.linkquartet.com |
|
Bebel Gilberto 'Aganju' Atlantic
The songs of Astrud Gilberto and Joao Donato were probably the first Brazilian music I ever
heard, it was so sublime and fascinating that I have been a aficionado of
the Bossa Nova and Brazilica ever since. I have to admit when I found out
that the daughter of Astrud had started recording I was interested but
sceptical wether she'd have anything in her of genuine interest more so than curiosity, the stuff I heard was good but nothing I'd choose to buy so I never bothered to look any further. So it was a nice surprise to be sent this CD single of her new record 'Aganju' and I have
to say its bloody lovely. Delicate, languid Brazilica that slows time to a
more leisurely pace and gives you a fleeting glimpse of how life could and
should be. If you havve heard her LP and were dissapointed then do give this ago - i'd call it an essential addition to your collection. |
|
The Blenders "Nothin But A Party pt.1/2" Tramp
Most people who know this record will have heard it from Keb Darge's Funk Spectrum III, the original 45 has remained a bit elusive to say the least, when copies do turn up they generally go for a fairly impressive sum so it's nice to see it lovingly re-issued and legitimately licensed at last. A hard-hitting instrumental funk party starter, think inter-band shouting and heavy organ over a fabulous wild funk beat and you've got the picture. Part 2's the side for me. Yummy! This needs to be in every funk dj's box and now thankfully you can afford it to be. Released on the highly regarded www.tramprecords.com this will be the first in which they hope will be a successful series of essential re-issues. |
|
Castor Pollux & Soul Dpt. "Gnaoua" / "Afrika sun" Tramp
The strangely titled 'Gnaoua' is an upbeat instrumental typical of European 'new funk', a sound that takes the organ / drums formula of the Meters and Fela Kuti and wraps it together with a wild funky freestyle. The musicianship here is outstanding; check out those crazy horns, they are all over the shop, up down and inside out. The infectious groove of "Afrika Sun" is a mesmerizing instrumental which takes Fela's Afro Beat and drives it feral and crazy with breath-taking flute, Eno-esque effects and off kilter stabbing organ, it all goes to make a sound quite difficult to describe and startlingly unique and original. All very, very good stuff and highly recommended. A 45 for the dj box, I personally want to see more discord in new funk and less polished mimicry. |
|
Rainstick Orchestra 'The Floating Glass Key In The Sky' Ninja Tune
These two met in Tokyo four years ago where they began hanging out and working on music together, inspired by Manchester's celebrated music scene along with punk and parliament / funkadelic. The sound they have ended up with is however more Eno than Devoto and more Coltrane than Clinton, sit back and relax to the Rainstick Orchestra's gorgeous electronic symphonies that will make your brain tingle and your ass shake in equal measures, listen to it driving through the countryside late at night and try not to hit repeat after track 2 too many times.
|
|
Ammoncontact 'One In An Infinity Of Ways' Ninja Tune
Hailing from Los Angeles, this duo bring with them a style which calls on the revolution Jazz and freedom music of the late sixties as well as the last 20 years of innovation in underground west coast hip hop, think of artists such as Madlib, Quantic, Jurassic 5 etc and you are roughly in the right playing field. There is a distinctly live jazz feel with bursts of wild drum rolls and crazed hoopin' n' hollerin'. Totally infectious Drum and Bass that makes Miami Bass seem like nursery music. The LP is almost entirely instrumental with the exception of the last track. Prefuse 73 has labelled the music "machine funk" but I think it's more than that, this sounds very rootsy and warm, two emotive factors one doesn't generally associate with a machine. If I were to try to tag a genre to this LP it would have to be something more useful like BUY IT! Ninja Tune are beyond doubt on a roll at the moment, this along with the Diplo LP on Ninja subsidiary Big Dada should definitely be in your box. Progressive stuff! |
|
SOUL FUNCTION DVD/CD V2 Music Limited/ NSP Music Limited
I have to say when I was first told that this was coming through the post to review I was worried - all I could think of was The Strange World Of Northern Soul DVD box set where the creators trekked around the states meeting up with soul legends, a dream line up of the highest order, years were spent researching and compiling footage. Then when it came to putting the whole thing together they let ego get in the way, rather than handing it over to someone competent with the necessary skills and love of the subject matter, they edited it all together in the most bizarre unwatchable structure - and worst of all they destroyed all the footage with the most unbelievably childish video effects, it really is mind blowing how somebody could have produced such garbage. All that work and history, rendered totally useless and unwatchable.
I'm pleased to say this DVD is perhaps the first DVD of the Northern Soul genre that you MUST buy. This is a lovingly constructed presentation with two features, the first is the award winning short film 'Function At The Junction' a tale revolving around 3 soul dancers coming together at a small northern club to enter a dance contest, I won't spoil any of the plot here but will say that although I was but a bairn when the Casino was in full swing in the mid seventies this looks pretty authentic stuff and i'm sure a lot of the old timers will be getting a few adrenaline flashbacks when they watch this. The second feature is a documentary titled 'Way Of The Crowd', filled with interviews of soul legends such as Don Gardner, Cody Black, Bobby Hutton etc, as well as scene legends such as Keb Darge, Ady Croasdale, Bill Brewster etc. The footage is all pieced together in a way that leaves you hungry for more, it captures the excitement of this music perfectly and you can't help but get up off your seat and do a few spins around the room.
The musical selections on the audio CD are all stone classics, The Royal Esquires, Dave Charles, Steve Mancha, Clay Hunt, Tommy Neal, Emmit Long as well as my current favourite northern tune the incredible 'You Can't Have Your Cake' by Lela Martin. The whole package is really well designed and considered, it's great to know that this incredible music is finally being presented in a way that it deserves. buy it or find out more here. |
|
Beans 'Shock City
Maverick' Warp
Just can't get into this at all, my initial reaction was to
throw it in the garbage so I passed it around a couple of people
with good taste and opinion on new music but they both came
back saying they couldn't be bothered to listen beyond a couple
of tracks. It's just not good. I can't get why Warp signed this
artist, there are so many great MC's out there on DIY labels
or unsigned who cough with more talent. At one point this guy
states that all other MCs don't like him because they can't
sing like him and goes on about how great he is - I listened
unbelievably. This is the most untalented and undeserving artist
I have come across on a label that is renowned for great music. |
|
Hexstatic 'Masterview'
DVD/CD Ninja Tune
I was ever so slightly disappointed at 'Salvador' the first
12"/CD/DVD release from this LP but everything appears
to be back to normal with this groundbreaking release. Hexstatic
are on form and have created a great LP. Technically they have
surpassed their previous work with a DVD/CD package, the video
selections have a choice of 2D or 3D vision - yep 3D glasses
are included. Some videos work better than others in 3D, it
has to be said, the best being Juice Aleems digitised face coming
through the screen spitting words and images out of his mouth
in the video for 'Distorted Minds', there’s a lot of retro
computer game homage’s that will make Mame fanatics twitch
and nudge each other, comedy moments come in the form of Parrots
and Toucans manipulated to sing along with the music, space
cadets and techojazzfanatics will love 'Telemetron' a nod to
Hex's earlier outings in cut and paste sampling. In ‘Pulse’
trippy visuals are taken to the next level into 3 dimensional
space where coloured circles spiral out of the television and
into your mind, dig out those dirty old needles and get the
liquid bubbling cause this is just what the doctor prescribed
for those long dark winter nights. |
|
Diplo 'Florida'
Big Dada
Diplo was born in Mississippi and raised in Florida where his
imagination was fuelled by the mysteries of the swamp combined
with his love of comic books, dinosaurs, hippy chicks and extreme
violence.
This bubbling broth of influence comes through his music in
stitched together compositional ideas or sketches, alone they
are interesting funky patterns and rhythms, together they are
intriguing symphonies. In the same way DJ Shadow created a new
sound from amalgamating incongruent elements Diplo has done
the same thing in his own unique way. The LP starts off kind
of in the same vein as early Runaways with the trip hop (sorry)
symphony 'The Big Lost' and continues along that path with deep
epic journeys through swirling guitars and big fat hip hop drums,
the great thing about it is that where most artists would let
a stomping fat beat carry on unchanged throughout the track
Diplo layers his music with more and more melodies and rhythmic
changes each more compulsive than the last. By the end of the
LP you feel like you’ve heard five different albums worth
of material all rolled into one. This is a staggering debut
LP, which feels like a genuine classic to my ears, not a collection
of unrelated recordings but a whole concept of emotional shifts.
The selection of guest vocalists blend into the album without
feeling like disparate moments or make the LP feel like a compilation
ala David Holmes 'Bow Down...' Martina Topley-Bird brings seductive
fragility to the stargazing 'Into The Sun' a beautiful awakening
of the senses with a definite psychedelic quality to the music
with backward guitars and drums, P.E.A.C.E. from the Feestyle
Followship dizzies the mind with his flow of consciousness on
'Indian Thick Jaws' and Sandra Melody, Vybz Cartel & Pantera
Os Danadinhos bring up to the minute Jamaican styling to the
middle of the LP as a explosion of rudeness and sexy booty shaking.
This LP is available now so go seek this mother out. |
|
Beans 'Down By
Law' Warp
Beans style of vocals and his music is not something that is
instant, nor is Beans the best rapper you'll ever hear neither
does he have a melodic voice or one that sunds especially standout,
the way he uses it is basic and his lyrics are pretty run of
the mill. But there is something there that makes you think
somewhere down the line something moderatley ok could come from
him. 'Down By Law' is a back to basics hip hop, arms in the
air block party shouter, nothing sophisticated or slick, not
a bad thing, it is what it is. Bits of this EP have nice early
80's electro wibbly bits that modulate on their own nicely for
a bit before Beans starts rapping, i'm not 100% sure I like
this EP at all, it's definately different, in parts the music
kicks up a gear to KLF kinda old school rave territory. Hmmmm,
I really don't know about it, it's less than ok, play it next
to Cappo and it doesn't stand a chance. But it is a different
kettle of fish entirely. Gilles Peterson's currently spinning
it as a hot record so whatever I say won't matter anyway! |
|
Mr
Scruff Presents 'Keep It Solid Steel Part 1' Solid Steel
Well, trying to get tickets to Mr Scruff
dj is a total nightmare so now you can have him in the comfort
of your own living room whenever you want. This selection
of assorted cuts has something for everyone, Jamaican style
rudeness courtesy of Scottish reggae act Mungo's Hi Fi, deep
and dirty funk and grooves, stacks of great hip hop from Britain
and the US including a proper tasty treat from Nottingham's
Cappo, theres gospel tinged soul and spiritual jazz with a
trememendous epic ending to the mix from Pharoah Sanders.
Mr Scruff is notorious for playing 6 hour sets so in order
to fully reflect the diversity of his musical selections Ninja
Tune promise to release a whole series of Mr Scruff presents
and will be issuing a faberge designed case for them all to
go in to? Not sure if they are joking about the faberge thing
but lets hope not! Great first installment lets hope the Scruff
makes them all this good... |
|
Robert Jay 'Alcohol'
Voxpop45's
Great to be see this 45 get a legit re-issue, the originals
are pretty tough and still today largely unknown even amongst
a lot of hardcore collectors. Written after one hangover too
many, Robert decided to shake off the drunk he'd been in for
countless years and sit down and write a song warning of the
dangers of the demon drink. Taking the bad woman theme so common
in blues recordings he switched the theme to alcohol and funked
it up to create the marvelous "Alcohol". Not wanting
to seek out a major label contract he decided to release this
record independantly, in fact he released 2 different versions
of it within four years of each other. The pressings were limited
to 300 copies and was never repressed until now so it's no surprise
this guy and his music have remined unknown until now.
This is the first of what promises to be a series of Voxpop45's
so watch this space and we'll keep you informed of new releases. |
|
Hexstatic "Salvador"
Ninja Tune
Hexstatics music has always sounded better when supported
by the visual imagery they create alongside it so it makes
sense to release their new single as a DVD issue. Out of the
two audio visual pieces on the disc 'Salvador' is the more
interesting, a nice latin american tinged club track with
typically trippy cut, paste and freak out visuals. I love
the old guy who pops up here and then letting out a shrill
scream, very few of the sequences are impressive, some of
the raw footage seems misplaced and generally it doesn't feel
like a piece of Hexstatic work. The settings do however put
you right in the middle of latin America and it does have
a certain energy about it but in total I was dissapointed
at the quality of ideas in the visual sequences and compered
to their last LP these songs are not of the same excellence.
For those of you wondering how you'll play this in a club,
it's also going to be available on 12". |
|
Homelife "Guru
Man Hubcap Lady" Ninja Tune
I like to play promos I receive in the post to people I know,
friends and fellow workers/lifers, their reactions can help
you to rationalise your emotions to the music contained within,
sometimes i'll swear a record is the best thing EVER only to
be met with indifference or partial acceptance, this promo however
has had everyone who's heard it asking who it is and getting
rather excited, not something that happens all that often. Homelife
have mastered a free from genre-defining collection of the most
exquisitely gentle and downright raucous/mad pieces of music,
the beats cover Dheli to the Welsh dales. Without being derrivative
it's sort of like early Beta Band in a roundabout way but with
a touch of Beck and Sukia’s sexadelic sounds thrown in
and some incredible vocal performances that will get Money Mark
fans creaming in their crotchless panties. With a shifting line
up spread around the world you are presented with constantly
changing styles with every track as great as the last. This
is folk funk for seducing only the finest Corsican mountain
goats.
Impossible to pick out individual tracks as being standout as
the entire LP is a standout recording, without doubt a modern
day classic. |
|
Nostalgia 77 Seven
Nation Army 12” Tru Thoughts
Following the critically acclaimed debut album ‘Songs
For My Funeral’ Nostalgia 77 are back with this highly
anticipated cover version of The White Stripes ‘Seven
Nation Army’. Originally recorded for exclusive play at
Phonic:Hoop (True Thoughts Brighton club night), massive demand
has resulted in this official release.
Sounding like a harder (and possibly more soulful?) Marva Whitney,
or maybe Merry Clayton with a twang of Tina Turner - circa ’67.
but actually sung by English soul sister Alice Russell. One
of the chaps I work with mistakenly took this for an old record
and said he always thought the White Stripes wrote this, thinking
this was an old 60’s recording! Now whether that is a
good thing or a bad thing I will leave to you, it certainly
does have an authentic 60’s/70’s jazz funk feel
to it and her voice is quite fantastic. Perhaps the novelty
value of a cover version will wear thin in time, as most do.
So if that is the case then luckily it’s only one of 6
songs on the 12”.
‘The Turning Point’
sounds like an obscure funk 45 that would reside solely in the
hands of a serious funk collector like Josh Davies or Malcolm
Catto, maybe an unreleased master tape of Miles Davis jamming
late one night just for fun with the JB’s, Miles wanting
to show Maceo how to play funk with that horn of his.
Track 3 is an A cappella version of Seven Nation Army that will
only interest those interested in scrutinising vocal skills
or those looking to sample, steal or mix with.
‘The
Funeral’, The Conventicle’ and ‘Sad Thing’
are a collection of moody jazz soundscapes over deep dubby hip
hop beats with plenty of funk and jazz cut up into it that wouldn’t
sound out of place on Mo Wax’s Royalties Overdue, for
me these latter three recordings would the reason for buying
this 12”, for while the instant attraction of Seven Nation
makes you instantly love it, it’s these that you are going
to keep coming back to this record for.
So, buy it and support the growing scene in the UK which just
seems to be getting better and better with each release. |
|
Alice Russell ‘Under
The Munka Moon’ Tru Thoughts
Alice Russell is a sensation, a voice capable of producing the
most beautiful and delicately soulful vocals, raw, gritty, sweet
and seductive. I don’t know if Alice has mastered her
skills from carefully listening to artists such as Mavis Staples,
Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, Fontella Bass, Merry Clayton, Marva
Whitney etc… or whether she is just simply built from
the same mould, feeling the music equally. The songs are masterful
productions from a variety of artists such as Quantic, Plaid,
TM Juke, Kushti and Natureboy that take in the dark and sensual
broken beats and sublime seventies soul, there are a couple
of moments of raw soulful wailing and hollering.
Two songs have been taken from The Quantic Soul Orchestra LP
that Alice performed on, they ‘Take Your Time, Change
Your mind’ and ‘Something That’s Real’
along with two songs from Quantics Apricot Morning LP ‘Search
The Heavens’ and ‘sweet Calling’, these add
a balance to the LP and keep it ticking along nicely. However
if you already have both of these Lp’s then it does come
across as being a bit of a ‘best of’ LP.
To pick out a couple of the tracks; ‘Hurry On Now’
is the opening track and is arguably the best on the LP, a fantastic
classic seventies soul sound reminiscent of the best Staple
Singers. ‘Someday’ is a classic soul vocal sung
over smoky eyed hip hop beats that puts Portishead in the shade.
“sweet As The Air’ is a gorgeous brazillian tinged
acoustic jazz serenade, ‘Somebody’s Gonna Love You’
is a great country soul track with excellent piano and violin
backing, this has Alice throwing her voice up and down the scale
to mirror the violin. If you are after some harder sister funk
sounds then check Alice’s contributions on the new Quantic
LP. |
|
Quantic ‘Mishaps
Happening’ Tru Thoughts
Will Holland creates music that makes me think of Beards. Bavarian
men sporting full on beards and leather vest jackets smoking
away a hazy afternoon of jazz madness and afro rhythms, but
then sometimes it makes me think of a Skegness beach scene,
a vivid postcard image of ice cream dripping onto a big, fat,
rounded, pink belly glowing pink in the bright afternoon sun.
Packed full of blissful summer harmonies and sweet serenades
that take you on a magic excursion; over the rolling forests
and hills of north eastern Europe through the cream-tea filled
afternoons of middle England down to the sunny backyards of
Brighton and then over the channel to the perilous back streets
of Paris before taking in the sun soaked streets of Nigeria.
Before our final destination we are taken to the very depths
of Americas Deep South for some raw soulful wailing from deep
in the delta, and then finally it is on to the heady barrio
and vibrant forests of Rio de Janeiro for some sublime Brazilican
jazz.
Destined to be THE sound of summer 2004 (if we ever get one!)
this LP is a melting pot of ideas and styles with a staggering
line up of contributors… the breathtaking return of Alice
Russell (check out ‘Sound of Everything’), Sonny
Akpan of Nigerian Afrobeat funksters ‘The Funkees’,
French MC Trinidad and last but not least the legendary Spanky
Wilson. Having never been a fan of Spanky’s ‘You,’
a club classic that the entire funk and hip hop community treasures,
I wasn’t all that fussed about seeing her name on here,
but remembering that awesome version of ‘Kissing My Love’
that she cut around the same time then you have to be a little
expectant of possible excellence.
The two Spanky Wilson tracks on here literally pass water over
everything that she has done prior to this and should rightfully
be the recordings she is associate with from this moment on,
they are the staggering “Don’t Joke With A Hungry
Man” a sort of retake on ‘kissing my love’
(check that opening break!) and the wonderful “When You’re
Through” a raw n’ blistering heavy funk outing that
would make even James Brown himself blush! The Jamaican/Hawaiian
tinged “So long” rounds off the LP perfectly. |
|
The Rhythm Masters
"In Harmony" Compilation Soul Patrol Records
Damn that sleeve design is dreadful, I beg you to not let it
hinder your purchasing judgement though, for behind the horrible
facade lies a wealth of first class afrobeat, New Orleans swamp
rhythms and Hammond jazz-funk. Featuring deleted and previously
unissued material from Soul Fire and Timmion Records. Timmion
fans are in for a treat with an instrumental version of the
original music used for "Make You Wanna Holler". Recently
a lot of shit has been said about Soul Fire records, I will
just sit silent and allow these cuts to do all the talking.
This shit is smokin! Another essential batch of Timmion cuts
make it essential. Released on the notorious Soul Patrol Records
but this time around Mr Magneron has come correct and all is
above board and legit. Good work sir. |
|
Wagon Christ "Sorry
I Made You Lush" Ninja Tune
Welcome to the wibbly wobbly world of Wagon Christ where
the long arms of Mr Tickle reach through the speakers to caress
your sexy bits while Chorlton and his Wheelies run amuck through
your mind rearranging everything you know to be normal. This
is the sound of the strange world of the munchkins, who live
in the bottom of your garden, orchestrating a choir of Aled
Jones' vocalising their pleasure at schools of jellyfish lusciously
performing humjobs on their testis.
As you would expect from this most prolific of current day artists,
it aint what you expect it to be, at times its funk - and damn
good funk at that, other times discotastic bangers, often delicate
and seductive but then Rhubarb and Custard kicks in and everything
goes quite silly. It is the madness that lurks in all of us.
Luke Vibert aka Wagon Christ knows. And this will start your
day with a bellyful of everything you need. |
|
The Yards "Munchimoo
Boogaloo" Bugaboo Records
One of my favourite tracks from the soundtrack to Wilson Chance
(see review further down the page) a loungecore tiki-tastic
workout featuring a full big band sound. Pretty different
from the rest of their more traditional mod/hammond beat outputs.
If the kitch tiki torcher side is too much for some of you
out there then flip it over for a proper boogaloo version
without the orchestration, featuring two drummers - one in
each speaker this is a reet proper banger. |
|
Troubled Soul "Funky
Me Pts 1 & 2" Crowbar Records
A completely unknown funk track from presumably
the late sixties that until now has been previously unheard
outside of a small circle of interested potential buyers.
The two sides are taken from a recently discovered acetate
from the US west coast, no known master tapes are in existence,
so the 45 has been mastered direct from the acetate, but one
would never know as the quality is as good as any rival release
on todays funk re-issue market. the sound is a raw and unashamedly
blatant take on the superheavy James Brown sound. Nothing
is known about 'Troubled Soul', who they were, where or when
they recorded this, most certainly a local band comprised
of amateur musicians just starting out and attempting to cash
in on the late sixties funk phenomena by recording this. Sadly
they clearly didn't make it in that incarnation, as the 45
never saw the light of day nor have the band ever been heard
of elsewhere. The 45 is a fantastic insight into the local
funk scene of the late sixties having little production sheen,
it's pretty much a live rendition of the song capturing all
the urgency and fire of the players who give it there all,
pounding out a sick funk groove. I cannot recommend it high
enough, a must have 45 for anyone interested in funk music. |
|
Rev Jamel & Bob
Johnson "Walking on the Moon" / "Did You See
Those Men" FUNK 45
Taken from Jazzman Records site... As
much as we’d like to tell you a fascinating tale about
the history of the dear Reverend and his colleague Bob, unfortunately,
this record is so rare and these artists are so obscure that
it was impossible to track down any actual background information
on their whereabouts past, present and future. As far as we
know, there is only one known copy of this 45 in existence
(that'll be in funk 45 collector Ian Wright's infamous hoard)
and from that copy, all we’ve been able to gather is
that it came out on the J. & S. NY based label, catalogue
# 871910. Even Buddy Resnik, the owner of the original studio
mastertape, couldn’t offer up any additional information.
Indeed, this one deep funk mystery yet to be solved but in
the meantime, we simply could not resist sharing this ridiculously
funky record with the funk-o-philes around the globe. This
record is literally, out of this world!
Absolutely one of the rarest, and a truly amazing 45, this
is exactly what it's all about, now why can't I find stuff
like this? That evil Ian Wright. You must buy a copy of this
45 or you'll regret it for years to come. What more can I
say?
|
|
France Gall "Zozoi"
JAZZMAN
Well, I have been trying without any joy to get this record
for about a year since seeing it in a playlist on this very
site from those people in the know over at Happy Jazz. So
a bit of a treat to be given this to review and finally to
be able to play it in the comfort of my home. A wonderful
Brasilian tinged recording from1970 by Serge Gainsbourg's
favourite pop plaything. ‘Zozoi’ a cover of the
super rare Celia song of the same name is dripping with deep
brasilian percussion and rhythms like the awesome cheapie
"Le Coeur Qui Jazz" before it, flopping on release
has made this a pretty tricky record to pick up, until now
that is. A must have purchase. |
|
Harvey & the Phenomenals
"Soul & Sunshine" / "What Can I Do"
FUNK 45
Having never really been a big fan of this superheavy funk
rarity, I have to say listening to it at home that I can actually
see what all the fuss is about, it's pretty good really, still
reminds me of the choppy funky score that occassionally got
rolled out for the token exciting bit of seventies tv show
Quincy. Only ever seen 1 copy of this for sale and needless
to say it was well beyond my price range. For a fiver well
worth picking up. |
|
The T.M.G's
"The Hatch" / "Agravation" FUNK 45
"The Hatch" is a stupidly rare mod organ 45 and
legendary discovery of Mr Finewine's, that previously featured
on his awesome compilation "Vital Organs". Stealing
the show there, it's great to see it released on 45 for a
deserving audience, but, and yep there is a nasty but! Heartbreakingly
Jazzman have chosen for whatever reason to ommit the unheard
soul side "What Can I Do" instead doubling the Hatch
up with The TMG's second release and it has to be said rather
droll "Agravation". Hopefully this soul cut will
see light of day as rumour has it that it's a bit of alright!
|
|
FIRE "Flight
to Cuba" / "Soul on Ice" FUNK 45
I can't believe how much the price has dropped on this one,
but cheaper still is a 100% legit issue again from Jazzman
Gerald and chums featuring the incredible and lesser spun
vocal version “Soul On Ice” on the flip. Magnificent
45, that should by rights sit right at the top with the greatest
of funk, latin, boogaloo... 45's. |
|
WESS & THE AIREDALES
"Black Out" / "Airedales Popcorn" JAZZMAN
More 100% legit re-issue's of two raw n' superfunky, ultra-rare,
Italian release's from Wess & the Airedales, Recorded
in 1970 at the peak of the dirty era of funky soul, not the
most melodious tracks Jazzman have released, instead two rather
straight forward bangers that should fuel the ram raider urge
inside all of us. Class stuff for mindless dancefloor violence.
Get to it people.
http://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk |
|
Herb johnson
"I Know" / Make You Wanna Holler" Timmion Records
Inc
A must have 45 - stop reading this, panic slightly, buy a
copy online now (Jazzman maybe) and then come back to resume
reading - as you are probably aware Herb Johnson passed away
very recently; 19th January 2004 in his hometown of Philadelphia,
he was aged a grand ol' 68 years old. Born in North Carolina
he moved to Philly as a child where he lived for all of his
adult live and enjoyed a successful career in the local music
industry from 1960 to 2004, Admittedly with more than a few
years of silence in between. Bearing in mind that this was
the great mans last release, it was slightly worrying receiving
this for review, what if it was shit? How could I give it
a bad review? Luckily it's abolutely bloomin' marvelous so
no need for fear!
Side 1 "I Know" is a previously unreleased acetate
from 1966 and a genuinely odd blend of chirpy sixties northern
soul pop sung over "Don't Chain My Soul" style funky
backing - pounding drums, choppy beat, oddball pauses and
quirky melodies. His voice reminds me of early Arthur Lee,
full of the joys of spring. A record as wonderful as it is
curious! You should be just as likely to hear it played at
the Dome as you would Madam Jo Jo's. Side 2 is an outstanding
fresh deep funk classic, recorded just prior to his passing
with Finland's finest The Soul Investigators providing backing.
This certainly doesn't sound like to a typical 68 year old,
his vocal performance is the most potent I have ever heard
from him, passionate, urgent, soulful and compelling. The
Soul investigators have done a magnificent job here in creating
an authentic late sixties heavy funk sound - definately one
for the dancefloors. Buy it now before it's too late! |
 |
Sven Zetterberg
"Heartaches Was All You Got" / "Song From A
Worried Heart" Last Buzz records
Side 1 "Heartaches Was All You Got " sounds like
a lost sixties Detroit masterpiece, perhaps a one off acetate
lost in the depths of soul limbo until now. A tale of broken
relationship sung over a lovely mid tempo backing, with all
the right ingredients in all the right places. Hard to believe
this is a new recording. Absolutely perfect! Side 2 has more
of a modern soul sound, "song from a worried heart"
has sort of a ghetto tale styling to the lyrics, but the subject
matter is much more generic to the wider world, not for this
reviewer i'm afraid but side 1 does more than make up for
it.
For those of you reading this wondering who on earth was responsible
for recording this, Sven Zetterberg is a 51 year old white
stockholm based bluesman formerly of blues act Chicago Express
with 30 years in the music industry under his belt. The 45
is released on the tiny Gothenburg label Last Buzz Recordings
and taken from his latest CD " MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION".
This was only pressed in a run of 300 with a third already
sold so be quick if it isn't already too late!
http://www.soulastatic.just.nu/
|
 |
Calypso king
& The Soul Investigators "Home cooking" Timmion
I missed this when it came out last year on limited CD so
was delighted to get a copy of the LP to review. This has
sat right at the front of my current play pile of LP's for
about 2 months now getting spun from start to finish almost
daily, and it just seems to get better and better the more
you hear it... true the cover is pretty bad (I'll do your
next cover for free chaps providing you keep the records coming)
and the thought of an entire LP of instrumentals may seem
slightly daunting at first.
The concept of the LP is firmly soul food and, well... food
in general, you've got tracks about popcorn, gravy, bar-b-q's,
pork, even the electric cooker is celebrated in song! The
titles include "Mo' Hash", "Deep Fried Chitlings"
and "Momma's Gravy"! Exactly the kind of stuff we
like over here at SoulGeneration. Luckily the tracks live
up to the promise of the titles and bearing in mind that the
band also recorded last years Diddiers Sound Spectrum masterpiece
you know that you're in for a treat. It's hard to pick out
highlights as all the tracks are great but at a push i'd mention
the percussion heavy "Micro PopCorn" with 'nuff
chicken licks to get your wings well and truly flappin', "Momma's
Gravy" a serious dancefloor destroyer complete with spy
guitars, "Greasy Pork" borrows the opening riff
from somewhere? is it "Jan Jan"? hmmm been buggin'
me... "Greens Please" watch this one bring body
poppin' back to the dancefloors! "Good Food" heavy
on feel good vibrations and ass shake ingredients. Future
classic, miss this at your own peril.
http://www.calypsoking.com |
|
Kid Acne "Reality
Raps EP" Invisible Spies
Featuring a Radio Edit of the title track aswell as two brand
new tracks not featured on the LP ("The Bomb Bomb"
& "Move It Or Lose It") as well as a remix from
Spectre (Wordsound Recordings) of "Reality Raps".
Kid Acne jumps in his time machine and takes us back to '86
for these old school infused party rockers, the Boom Boom
is most certainly in full effect! "The Bomb Bomb"
has Mr Acne coming on strong like a milk tray sporting loverman
and getting grizzly in the street with a couple of GCSE skivers.
"Move It Or Lose It " is the standout track on the
EP, featuring Infinate Livez from Big Dada, the first collaboration
between the two and hopefully a sign of things to come.
hear a soundfile of "Move
It Or lose It"
http://www.invisiblespies.com/newartistpages/kidacne.htm
To see stills from the forthcoming video to "Reality
Raps" click the following link - nice hat :) http://www.invisiblespies.com/realityshootbig.html |
|
The Soundtrack
To Wilson Chance "The Sound Of Danger" Hammond Beat
Just what the doctor ordered - a heavyweight selection of
acts those nice people over at Hammond Beat have pulled together
from around the globe to create this - the soundtrack to the
forthcoming film Wilson Chance ( to be released summer 2004).
At times sounding like the most devastatingly good library
music you'll never get your hands on (check out "Greased
On Delta Street" by Italy's The Link Quartet) and at
other times leave you wondering why John Barry never thought
of that. The soundtrack features the legend that is Vic Flick
- no seriously it does! And yes he's still got it (check out
"The Wilson Chance Theme" by The Special Agents
feat. the great man himself).
Quite clearly an essential release upon listening, showcasing
some of the 'Hammond Groove' scenes most creative and musically
adventurous ensembles. Acts include: The Link Quartet from
Italy, The Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E. from Switzerland, Mike
Painter And The Family Shakers from Italy, The Special Agents
from the UK, The Yards from the USA and Vic Flick (The original
007 guitarist) from the USA.
Drenched in 6T's spy-fi and exotica with that glorious Hammond
organ sound featuring heavily. Standout tracks other than
the two previously listed have to be "Munchimoo boogaloo
( Tiki Torcher Mix)" by the Yards - a frollocking Tiki
tinged affair that will get you reaching for your cocktail
shaker, "Chasin' Chance" by Mike Painter will get
you revvin' that Barracuda up if car chase themes are your
thing and this one is one of the better ones i've heard, blistering
stuff! And if the funk purists are thinking "why am I
still reading this?" then perhaps I should mention The
Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E's wonderful "How Good Is Good"
style frenzied workout on the B3 "Krambamuli '67".
Ass spanked? Yes please.
Just hope the film lives up to the soundtrack!
http://www.wilsonchance.com
http://www.hammondbeat.com
|
|
The Neapolitans
feat. The Lonesome Organist "Comb It Out" / "Sunny"
Neapolitan Records 45
2003, in my opinion, has been a great year for new funk
music, perhaps one of the finest to date. As well as the return
of Daptone products to the racks it's also seen well established
acts like Speedometer dropping their first long player and The
New Master Sounds 2nd LP (still not heard it yet but I hear
it's good), a run of great progressive funk issued from The
Malcouns and Quantic Soul Orchestra to name but a few and acts
like The Diplomats Of Solid Sound and The Boogaloo Investigators
opening up the funk sound to more established markets such as
the Boogaloo and sixties RnB scene. Throughout the year a small
U.S.A. based label from Milwaukee have dropped two promising
raw funk instrumentals on the international scene, while both
releases have been well received, neither have made too big
an impact. Well if there is any justice left in the music industry,
and I like to think that in the funk and underground hip hop
scene we have to pride ourselves on holding out and keeping
the shit tight and correct, then this 45 is going to change
that. Like the good boys and girls you have been Santa has saved
the best toy for the Christmas month of December! What lucky
f*ckers we all are!
I woke up on the morning of first hearing this 45 to a completely
out of the blue email from one of my all time favourite soul
singers Betty "I'm Evil Tonight" Harris and if that
wasn't good enough I realised I had the day off work! Waiting
for me in the post was an unmarked test pressing, no signs of
any artist name or track title, or even a cover note, remembering
an email promising a promo of the new Neapolitan release I curiously
put it on the turntable not quite know what to expect. The A
side opened with a raw funky guttural growl of Link Wray-esque
guitar that was followed by a barrage of insanely heavy drumming
that would make James Black appear limp wristed. I knew that
this wasn't going to be yet another record I politely refuse
to review!
Indeed the track spazzed out in the most amazingly original
and exciting way, making warm up records out of heavy deep funk
classic such as "Fish Head" and "Psychedelic
Hot Pants". The only record I have heard recently that
made me this excited was the unknown Profiles Band 45 that ruined
many a collectors week when it went for fairly hefty money on
ebay last month. A truly filthy and utterly essential brew of
everything that is good about funk. The flipside warrants a
whole review to itself really, not knowing the song titles to
the sides I was listening to, I naturally presumed I was listening
to a new composition penned by the band, it's not until 2/3rds
into the track when it starts to click that you are listening
to the most bizarre reworking of Bobby Hebb's ever pleasing
Sunday morning smiler 'Sunny' that kicks down the dividing walls
between tittyshaker, super heavy funk and sixties Sitar Pop.
"Hear Comb it Out" here
and then buy it here.
This will go out of circulation really fast so be warned you
will not want to miss this one.
http://www.0tv.com/users/neapolitan/funk/ |
|
Speedometer
feat. the Speedettes "This Is Speedometer" Blow It
Hard CD/LP
It wasn't until the release of the classic "Wait Up"
45 that I started to really take notice of Speedometer, and
from that moment on I've considered them as one of the 3 bands
most likely to deliver the first new-funk offering that would
have the right ingredients to transcend this niche market of
enthusiasts, obsessives and occasional buyers, crossing over
into the wider soul/funk/jazz audience and beyond. While I still
firmly believe that they are quite capable of recording that
masterpiece I don't think that this LP is quite the one, or
that the time is right for people to accept this type of music
as seriously as they would The Sugarbabes or Travis! Please
do prove me wrong though as I would love to see the sales go
through the roof on this one. Having said that, I am by no stretch
of the imagination dissing this release, quite the contrary,
without any hesitation this LP is frankly the best collection
of new 'authentic' soul, funk scorchers I’ve yet heard
from any artists - ressurected or new to the 'scene'. They seem
to have taken the standards raised by Daptone over the last
2 years and given it another funky foot forward. Recorded with
a personnel of 17 musicians and singers the LP is a masterpiece
that shifts from first class Marva Whitney, Mary ‘Queenie’
Lyons influenced sister-soul screamers (Wait Up, Just Keep On,
What Am I Gonna Do) to laid back Meters-esque grooves (Mullet)
and onto hard Jazz-Dance Latin fusions (Episode In Palmetto)
with spectacular fluidity. The LP contains a surprising deep
soul ballad "All I Ever Need" which I second Mr
Stirlands petition to be released onto a 45. "Episode
In Palmetto" is one of the highlights for me, a hard Jazz-Dancer
that takes 6 hours of the best 'Out To Lunch' sessions and condenses
it into 3 minutes 16 seconds of furious Afro Cuban/Latin percussion
and flute infused grooves. "What Am I Gonna Do" is
the kind of mid-tempo, sister funk that if it were a recently
unearthed old 45 would have the collectors scrambling for a
copy like newly born puppys to their mothers teats. Expect to
see the future-anthem "Grow Bag" on many a play list
to come. Funk recording of the decade? Certainly a very serious
contender, utterly outstanding work. Hear clips and read another
review plus many others at: www.witchsbrew.co.uk
www.speedometer-funk.co.uk
|
 back to current reviews |
|
|
|
