Search:golden soul

2025 Repress

The Colombian producer whose name is on everyone's lips, figure of the underground in his native land, Felipe Gordon makes a sensational debut on our beloved label SKYLAX RECORDS ! His fabulous Django Mango EP mixes his house music obssessions with his love for Latin & jazz music. Adept of analog equipment and eminent musician, he gives us a real work of art to store alongside Nuyorican souls legends (master at work in mind). Kicking off the release, the title song django mango takes us through the swirls of the alleys of bogota, a bit as if moodymann had paid for a first class round trip in bogota , a laid-back title that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. a clever mix of funky bassline & a light piano that almost reminds us of the masters of the buena vista social club (without the vocals!) in house mode. A masterpiece in itself. on A2, we can hear this mixture again the perfect fusion between the golden-age house aesthetics and the cultural sounds of South America all complemented by a superb vocal during the break "our names are nick names wich won't reflect where we came from" a statement in itself ! The b-side from the outset gives us perhaps one of the best songs of the ep, the brilliant dakar, a subtle mix of rhodes, swaying bass and African children's chants. And to end, D, Fuck Off All Your Trouble, is an ode to the resilience of the motor city in the purest style of the 313. A brillant debut !Skylax 4 Ever

Fly Anakin is a rapper and producer who approaches his craft in a way few contemporaries can. Vigilant yet unorthodox, DIY-minded yet prolific, the Richmond, Virginia multihyphenate’s razor-sharp lyrics, ear for soulful production, and collaborative synergy are the result of over a decade of fundamental mastery. Described by Madlib as “one of the illest MCs,” the Mutant Academy cofounder was in his pocket well ahead of his acclaimed solo debut, Frank (2022). After years of consistent releases with his collective, Anakin broke major ground in 2020 with his and Pink Siifu’s joint project FlySiifu’s, followed by their $mokebreak EP in 2021. A student of the East Coast’s golden age, Anakin transmutes its spirit into music that’s both classicist and pioneering, having worked with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, redveil, BbyMutha, and MAVI. With the release of a Mutant Academy debut album completed, and his solo album (The) Forever Dream imminent, Anakin has cemented his place as a leader in rap’s underground Renaissance.(The) Forever Dream commemorates a new era of freedom for Anakin, who rarely approaches bodies of work without a preconceived concept. Executive produced by Quelle Chris, the project, which features the likes of Denmark Vessey, The Alchemist, BbyMutha, and Pink Siifu, includes songs that Anakin believes are some of his most experimental and ambitious. “The album is me and Quelle kicking it, smoking, learning each other, and playing video games,” he says of the project’s inspiration and recording process. “It was time to make some mindless music, to tackle production I would’ve otherwise picked up.” The long anticipated project comes after years of Anakin and Quelle developing a strong rapport, stemming back to 2019. “Quelle is one of the best collaborators ever—he’s not biased but he knows what he likes, open minded but stubborn at the right times,” Anakin says of his collaborative relationship with the Grammy nominated producer. “On the low we just alike but polar opposites, we can do no wrong together.”

Fly Anakin is a rapper and producer who approaches his craft in a way few contemporaries can. Vigilant yet unorthodox, DIY-minded yet prolific, the Richmond, Virginia multihyphenate’s razor-sharp lyrics, ear for soulful production, and collaborative synergy are the result of over a decade of fundamental mastery. Described by Madlib as “one of the illest MCs,” the Mutant Academy cofounder was in his pocket well ahead of his acclaimed solo debut, Frank (2022). After years of consistent releases with his collective, Anakin broke major ground in 2020 with his and Pink Siifu’s joint project FlySiifu’s, followed by their $mokebreak EP in 2021. A student of the East Coast’s golden age, Anakin transmutes its spirit into music that’s both classicist and pioneering, having worked with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, redveil, BbyMutha, and MAVI. With the release of a Mutant Academy debut album completed, and his solo album (The) Forever Dream imminent, Anakin has cemented his place as a leader in rap’s underground Renaissance.(The) Forever Dream commemorates a new era of freedom for Anakin, who rarely approaches bodies of work without a preconceived concept. Executive produced by Quelle Chris, the project, which features the likes of Denmark Vessey, The Alchemist, BbyMutha, and Pink Siifu, includes songs that Anakin believes are some of his most experimental and ambitious. “The album is me and Quelle kicking it, smoking, learning each other, and playing video games,” he says of the project’s inspiration and recording process. “It was time to make some mindless music, to tackle production I would’ve otherwise picked up.” The long anticipated project comes after years of Anakin and Quelle developing a strong rapport, stemming back to 2019. “Quelle is one of the best collaborators ever—he’s not biased but he knows what he likes, open minded but stubborn at the right times,” Anakin says of his collaborative relationship with the Grammy nominated producer. “On the low we just alike but polar opposites, we can do no wrong together.”

Fly Anakin is a rapper and producer who approaches his craft in a way few contemporaries can. Vigilant yet unorthodox, DIY-minded yet prolific, the Richmond, Virginia multihyphenate’s razor-sharp lyrics, ear for soulful production, and collaborative synergy are the result of over a decade of fundamental mastery. Described by Madlib as “one of the illest MCs,” the Mutant Academy cofounder was in his pocket well ahead of his acclaimed solo debut, Frank (2022). After years of consistent releases with his collective, Anakin broke major ground in 2020 with his and Pink Siifu’s joint project FlySiifu’s, followed by their $mokebreak EP in 2021. A student of the East Coast’s golden age, Anakin transmutes its spirit into music that’s both classicist and pioneering, having worked with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, redveil, BbyMutha, and MAVI. With the release of a Mutant Academy debut album completed, and his solo album (The) Forever Dream imminent, Anakin has cemented his place as a leader in rap’s underground Renaissance.(The) Forever Dream commemorates a new era of freedom for Anakin, who rarely approaches bodies of work without a preconceived concept. Executive produced by Quelle Chris, the project, which features the likes of Denmark Vessey, The Alchemist, BbyMutha, and Pink Siifu, includes songs that Anakin believes are some of his most experimental and ambitious. “The album is me and Quelle kicking it, smoking, learning each other, and playing video games,” he says of the project’s inspiration and recording process. “It was time to make some mindless music, to tackle production I would’ve otherwise picked up.” The long anticipated project comes after years of Anakin and Quelle developing a strong rapport, stemming back to 2019. “Quelle is one of the best collaborators ever—he’s not biased but he knows what he likes, open minded but stubborn at the right times,” Anakin says of his collaborative relationship with the Grammy nominated producer. “On the low we just alike but polar opposites, we can do no wrong together.”

The Ibex Band, with Giovanni Rico and Selam Woldemariam at the creative helm, provided the musical backbone for legends like Aster Aweke, Girma Beyene, Tilahun Gessesse, Mulatu Astatke, and Mahmoud Ahmed, including the iconic album Ere Mela Mela, shaping modern Ethiopian music as we know it today. This 1976 album (Ge’ez Year 1968) played a pivotal role in that legacy and has now resurfaced to set the record straight.

There’s a tendency to talk about the seventies as a golden age of Ethiopian music. There are good reasons for that, and just as good reasons against it. However, the notion of a golden past privileges the role of Western explorers and suggests that the pinnacle of Ethiopia’s musical culture is something only a foreigner can appreciate and unearth. It downplays the complexities of Ethiopia’s culture and history, creating an artificial divide between then and now. And it underestimates the constantly evolving sound that has followed.

The legendary musical outfit The Ibex Band, later metamorphosed into The Roha Band, has played a central role in defining the sound of many of the greatest stars on the music scene of Ethiopia from the mid-seventies onwards–but their golden output has never really waned. The story of the origins of the band that provided the musical backbone for greats such as Aster Aweke, Girma Beyene, Tilahun Gessesse, backing the solo career of group member Mahmoud Ahmed as well as backing Mulatu Astatke and many others has yet to be properly told.

Two misconceptions plague the image of Ethiopian music, one is that the music is pure because it is, by some notion, unexploited, the other is that it is all traditional. To begin with, a combination of political changes between the late sixties and the mid-nineties created an environment where only the most dedicated and skilled musicians struggled on and pursued a musical career against fierce odds. The whole Ibex Band, with Giovanni Rico and Selam “Selamino” Seyoum Woldermarian at the creative helm, are arguably the origo of the vibrant scene in the mid-seventies, and the said pair are foremost responsible for not only navigating the band through troubled times, but also modernizing the 6/8 chickchicka rhythm to a contemporary form. Giovanni laid the rhythmic foundation with heavy looped basslines that reinvented traditional melodies as dance music, and with Selamino’s innovative guitar work they influenced scores of musicians from Abegaz Kibrework Shiota to Henock Temesgen. Even Giovanni’s Fender bass and Selamino’s Gibson guitar inspired younger musicians in their choice of instruments. Not only in choice of instruments but also in sound–even as the digital revolution hit Ethiopian music, a lot of popular music still took its cue from the masters from Ibex and Roha.

Ibex emerged out of the ashes of the sixties group the Soul Echos band, adding Giovanni and Selamino to their ranks and taking their cues from a slew of influences, such as Motown and The Beatles, fused with traditional music. A tighter-knit unit than most bands at the time – Ibex has remained six to seven members throughout their whole career, compared to many bands that were as large as fifteen or sixteen men strong when Ibex set out. Their playing has been viciously focused, economical yet heavy. Just a year before the recording sessions of the album in your hands, Giovanni and Selamino made a contribution to the popular musical lexicon of Ethiopia that was simply defining the popular sound: their arrangement and recording of bandmate Mahmoud Ahmed’s solo effort and real commercial breakthrough tune and eponymous album, Ere Mela Mela, from 1975.

Selamino has never limited himself to being an adroit lead guitarist, but has always been a scholar of history, and as such he has probably contributed as much to modern Ethiopian music with his guitar playing and compositions as with a deepened understanding of modern or contemporary – Zemenawi – Ethiopian music. Selamino’s contributions serve as a metaphor for those of the whole band, at one and the same time creating and defining a new, danceable and updated sound anchored in Giovanni’s bass, whilst also elevating the broader scene through their support for others on the scene and on top of that, increasing the understanding of the music.

There is an understandable desire to romanticize the musical heyday Ibex and Roha were at the forefront of, because so much of the output is sorrowfully hard to come by. Ibex creativity was nothing short of ridiculously fierce compared to many of their Western contemporaries. Based on their sheer recorded output alone they could have usurped the title “hardest working in show business” from James Brown, recording more than 250 albums or 2500 songs in the seventies and eighties. Some only surface as cassettes today, others were never given full LP release, and some are simply impossible to find today. In the light of that, it’s nothing short of a miracle that the recording Stereo Instrumental Music from 1976 (Ge’ez Year 1968) has resurfaced. Unearthed in perfect condition on a chrome cassette, this is musical history comes alive–to set the future straight. Stereo Instrumental Music was recorded in collaboration with Karl-Gustav Lundgren, a Swedish national working for the Radio Voice of the Gospel. It took two sessions at the Ras Hotel ballroom in Addis Ababa. The Ibex Band was the first band in Ethiopia to employ a four-track recorder for their recording (the first available in the country, lent by Karl-Gustav). Later the same week, Giovanni and Selamino realized that, lengthwise, the recorded material fell short of what they wished for, so they recorded four more tracks in one more session on a single-track recorder. The Ras Hotel and Ghion Hotel, where the Ibex Band held musical residencies were to Ethiopia in general and Addis Ababa in particular what Motown was to the USA and Detroit a few years earlier – a hotbed of musical creativity and showmanship.

The most astonishing thing about Ethiopian music of the last half century is how tradition and modernity are intertwined. Because of this feature, it’s kind of hard to tell when there ever was or when we are in a “golden age”. So much of music from the past has been criminally neglected, but because of the hardships in the past, it would be an oversimplification to say that said past was a golden age. Probably, the golden age is what we are approaching, because for the first time both the past and future are accessible, and the monumental contributions from before can lay a firm foundation for a thriving music scene today. The Ibex Band stands firmly in the past, present and the future. That, if anything, is golden.

The detailed history of Stereo Instrumental Music is in many ways unique. To begin with, it couldn’t have been recorded earlier (there were no four-track recorders available) and it really couldn’t have been recorded afterwards either, at least not in the years directly following, because of the toll the musical scene took from the unfavorable political climate that followed when the nascent Derg regime and rival groups tried to assert themselves, the musical equipment lent from The Voice of Gospel Radio simply disappeared from Ethiopia when the radio station folded in 1977. Karl-Gustav Lundgren,
the Swedish foreign national who assisted during the recording, worked with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus at the time, recalls how they only had about fifteen minutes to get the microphones in place for the recording as to not alert neither the management at Ras Hotel nor the authorities and most importantly, to complete the recording before the curfew came into effect at midnight. In leaping to the opportunity to use previously unavailable equipment to push their sound forward and improvising to meet the logistical challenges, the Ibex Band displayed the very avant-gardism and adaptability that explains their longevity as a band through the years. The recording of Stereo Instrumental Music is from a given time in history, but it sounds as beyond time.
Much of the energy that burst out of the scene that Stereo Instrumental Music came out of dissipated or got sidetracked during the societal changes Ethiopia went through in the 1970s and 80s. Whilst leaders might have professed to be revolutionary, the work ethic of the Ibex Band can truly be described as that. They never called it quits, but adapted, toured extensively abroad in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and found ways to work even in the face of the curfew that curtailed a lot of musical life. They even played major arenas in the nineteen eighties, despite said curfew and restrictions. The whole extent of their legacy has never been told, but their music speaks louder than words, so therefore… tune in to the Ibex Band’s Stereo Instrumental Music.

R&B duo THEY. — songwriter Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — have developed a smooth, future-facing sound for nearly a decade. In the early days, it was simple; two artists aligning on an appreciation for '90s R&B, new jack swing, and the height of soul-sampling hip-hop. Jones making beats and Love on the lines, a basic, balanced, and open-ended setup, free from major label expectations (which they'd feel on their 2017 breakout Nü Religion: Hyena) and high-profile collaborations (explored on 2018's Fireside, 2020's The Amanda Tape, and 2023's Nü Moon). They're proud of every stop along their story, while hindsight and a fresh perspective after signing to Secretly-affiliate label drink sum wtr have afforded them some distance to reflect on where THEY. goes next. The answer is LOVE.JONES. Here the duo exudes a whole new energy by reasserting their artistry in its most potent and pure form, just Love and Jones, making straight-fire, love-making music indebted to the golden neo-soul era that gave us the namesake 1997 film. “Forget the features, forget bringing in the big producers and writers. It's really just a return to our original dynamic," says Jones. Refined and reinvented, THEY. have arrived at their boldest work, a stacked, high-energy collection celebrating Black art, culture, and "the intense feelings of Black love."

Adeen Records returns with a superb EP that blends a classic with three new and fresh unreleased tracks. Deep house don Chez Damier's Panorama Bar Remix kicks off and is a a 2021 standout with a killer baseline and Spanish guitar that brings some sunny soul and makes for some top level house grooves. Makez then shines with 'Rocket Music' which has a chunky low end and glistening, golden piano chords making it a late night favourite. On the B-side, Adeen regular Alkalino delivers a tropical-infused edit for the peak time and Gledd closes with a classy cut 'Sere Yo' that is all about the drums. Lovely stuff.

Golden Ratio are Simon Stoll & Gary Clegg

It all started as a lockdown project in 2020 with Gary and myself exchanging ideas down the ether which grew into a body of work that we were excited to take further. We continued with the online process and enlisted some musicians we knew to fill in the gaps. Initially, this featured Jake Telford on sax and flute who is also credited with co-writing Morphology and Natural Law and Andre Espeut vocalist also credited with co-writing Stand Up & Fight, One Family and Wake Up To The Day. As restrictions lifted we were able to get some drummers into the studio: Filippo Galli (tracks 1 & 2) and George Addison-Atkinson (tracks 3-9). Other musicians featured are Kevin Davy, trumpet on Breaking Through Time, Gianluca Chiarella guitar solo on Morphology and Mohammed Nazam guitar on One Family.

In terms of previous experience, Simon was a member of Mamas Gun in their very early days before concentrating on a business career but has actively played with musicians from the north London music scene since the late 90’s. Gary played on the dance mix of Lazy by David Byrne produced by DJ Mark Wilkinson, played for Funkshy (Tansay Omar project), played in Charlotte Kelly’s band (from Soul II Soul) and was resident bassist at the Iceni club in the 90’s.

It’s long been our dream to have our own project featuring original compositions and dedicated to the style of music we love, our routes being the jazz funk and acid jazz scenes from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. We now have the opportunity to try and realise this dream and feel your label would be a perfect fit for us as it echoes and promotes those same musical influences.

Pete Herbert is back with another tasteful assembled and escapist compilation. This one focuses on slowed-down, low-slung sounds for the golden hour when love is in the air and the vibes and blissful. Balearic mainstays feature throughout with Max Essa's 'Warm Enough' a delightfully humid and synth-laced deep house jaunt, Fernando's 'Moon Rocks' full of shimmering synth lushness and Pete Herbert's remix of Mantas & Vencla's 'Sun' offering some piano laced fun to rouse the 'floor.

Narciso has been running parallel to most of his contemporaries, staying close to the main lane but researching in his own distinctive way. He takes pride in "being free from limitations and conventions. To me, music doesn't follow fixed rules; it is a field for experimentation, where any sound can be transformed into something pleasing to the ear". Depending on what one considers "pleasing", this is a pretty challenging set of tracks. The artist never loses the balance, though, mindful of a certain "dance" context in which this music thrives, but it is also that same context that is being constantly twisted and reshaped into other forms. Some of those provide fresh ground for others to follow; some are of such individuality that no one else dares disturbance; some quickly return to a safer way of communication.

"Diferenciado" does communicate, but like words can be changed to sound different and still mean the same, such are music and sound with Narciso. It's not about alienation of the listener nor alienation of the self from the surrounding areas. "I believe music is present in everything around us." And if anyone can say her/his/their music "reflects vision, experience and perception", you know the end result is not often surprising or even that different from previous examples. Well, we stand by "Diferenciado" in its obvious distinctiveness, and if all the blurb so far may read like a nervous justification it's just because of the excitement in helping put this out into the world.

As a founding element of RS Produções, where Nuno Beats, DJ Lima, DJ Nulo and Farucox are also found, Narciso has been contributing to a spiritual and creative atmosphere that permeates the environs of Lisbon where that golden, inspired air has to fight for space with many kinds of instability. The beauty and drama of opening tracks "Ziu Ziu" and "Cabelinho" (this one with mate Farucox) should be able to touch any sensitive soul that appreciates the quirkiness often attached to pure expression. As in "Pipipi" too, for example, where melody and rhythm gently and moodily lead you into a brief but sudden interruption feeling like a change into another state of being. Do not shy away. Narciso steps up as himself, not as representative of whatever or whoever.

Dennis Brown has always been cited as Jamaica’s favourite singer. While Bob Marley set out to conquer the world, Dennis’s popularity on the island grew with every year. Overseas success also came Browns way with crossover hits like the massive ‘Money In My Pocket’. He will always be fondly remembered on the sound systems across the caribbean as the Crown Prince of Reggae.

Dennis Brown (b Dennis Emanuel Brown,1957, Kingston, Jamaica) began his illustrious career at the grand age of eleven like many of the other child singers at Coxsonne Dodds Studio One stable. His first hit in 1969 a cover of Van Dykes ‘No Man Is An Island’ still stands the tests of time and also its follow up cut ‘If I Follow My Heart’ as Reggae classics. The 1970’s saw Dennis build on his reputation by working with all the top Jamaican producers and
studio’s perfecting his sound. Lloyd Daley, Impact, Joe Gibbs, Aquarius and Derrick Harriott to name but a few. But it was his work with producer Winston ‘Niney’ Holness that he enjoyed the most success and many say recorded his best work for. Where many of the other producers stayed with the tried and tested Lovers Rock formula that did prove so popular with Dennis’s voice, producer Niney the Observer as he is fondly called, pushed him into a more roots led direction, over stark rhythms created by Niney’s studio band Soul Syndicate.

Two outstanding albums were put together ‘Just Dennis’ (1975) built on a collection of singles they had recorded together, ’Cassandra’, ’Westbound Train’, ’No More Will I Roam’ and ‘Conqueror’. The second 1977 set ‘Wolf and Leopards’ made up again of singles the prolific two had cut including, ‘Here I Come’ (a live favourite that Dennis always liked to start his set with) and ‘Children of Israel’ made these both strong roots era albums.

We have stayed with this period for our Dennis Brown album. Some of the above-mentioned cuts are present alongside the timeless crossover hit ‘Money In My Pocket’ (1979) produced by Niney but often credited as a Joe Gibbs production as it was released (and sweetened by adding Orchestration for the foreign market place) on his label. By the way this is the original Jamaican version (unsweetened) that you will find on this album a more truthful version in our humble opinion. His voice reigns supreme across these Niney produced cuts ‘Smile like An Angel’ ‘Silver Words’, ‘Play Girl’ and the fantastic ‘Poor Side Of Town’ (helped along by the great harmonies of the Heptones group), ‘Tribulation’ and ‘We Will Be Free’. Dennis Brown’s prolific catalogue of tunes that also found an outlet on his own DEB inprint (named after his initials) stands to show what a great artist he was and what a fine team he and Niney made when in the studio creating these magical moments. So sit back and enjoy a killer set of tunes compiled by Niney himself...Tribulation Times indeed and long may the records of the Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown rule the world.....

Definitive Recordings is proud to announce the reissue of deep house classic "Liferaft" by Juicy Fruit (aka Meredith Ledger), fully remastered and set to breathe new life into one of the 90s' most iconic releases. Originally dropped in 1993, this EP features the original as well as remixes by John Acquaviva and The Stickmen.

The standout title track, "Liferaft", is a rich and soulful deep house gem, built around a captivating piano house theme that harks back to the golden era of house music. The track's groove is driven by a classic house beat and a funky, rhythmic guitar lick that perfectly complements its melodic core. The fresh remaster brings new clarity to its timeless warmth, elevating it for modern sound systems while keeping the vintage charm intact.

House music legend John Acquaviva takes the funky guitar lick and pushes it further into the groove, layering it with a robust and simplistic bassline. His remix evolves into a deep yet vibrant soundscape, showcasing Acquaviva's signature house influence.

The "The Stickmen Dub" intensifies the original's foundation by supplementing it with a hypnotic organ sound. This remix enriches the track with subtle but powerful layers, creating a mood that's both dancefloor-ready and deeply immersive.

Definitive Recordings is excited to share this release with long-time fans and newcomers alike. Whether you're a die-hard house aficionado or just discovering the classics, the "Liferaft" EP is a must-have addition to any collection.

Back in what now feels like a golden period in music and creativity, in the 1970s, many bands were formed by students. It almost seems like so many people could either sing, play, dance or write songs! This was also the case of several Woodland High School students in New York, who created Newban with fellow classmates.
The group started gigging around the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, and were soon brought to the attention of legendary Bell Recording Studios audio engineer Malcolm Addey, who recorded with the band over a two-month period in 1974. Three years later the tracks made up two superb and sought-after albums released by tax scam label Guinness.
In 1977, Newban headed out to play the Los Angeles nightclub scene, closed a deal with A&M, and changed the band name to Atlantic Starr at the request of Herb Alpert.
For the first time on a 7” format, Soul4Real brings you two of the best songs from Newban. Enjoy the music...

Bells Are Ringing is the debut EP by Melbourne Funk 10 piece outfit Mondo Freaks, released following on from the single of the same name and a thrilling Dub Version by Harvey Sutherland.

Mondo Freaks formed originally as a concept band, equipped with an ever-evolving setlist of late '70s and early '80s Funk classics, their journey has seen them invited to be the backing band for the Australian tours of such luminaries as Leroy Burgess (the producer and artist behind Boogie and Disco favourites Black Ivory, Logg, Aleem, Inner Life, and Universal Robot Band) and the iconic Evelyn "Champagne" King. Having performed at the iconic local Meredith Music, Golden Plains and Panama festivals and at numerous residencies Mondo Freaks have carved their mark, returning now to ring in a new era of groove-soaked original music.

The band revolves around the rhythm section of in demand session bassist Luke Hodgson and drummer Graeme Pogson (GL, The Bamboos). Gathering some of the finest musicians from Melbourne's legendary Soul scene, they're accompanied by five incredible vocalists including Jade McRae, Susie Goble, Francisco Tavares, Aaron Mendoza and Jason Heerah.

New tracks on the EP include "Find A Way", which hits straight away with a percussion and synth hook, blending Jade McCrae's vocal delivery with an uplifting message about finding hope in trying times.

Also included is the Harvey Sutherland Vocal Mix of "Bells Are Ringing", which keeps much of the spaced out Larry Levan, Shep Pettibone re-edit approach that was on his much lauded Dub Version.

It's easy to see why his remix skills have been in demand and utilised by Disclosure, Khruangbin, BadBadNotGood, Tycho, Boston Bun, Lucius, Jungle Giants, Genesis Owusu and Franc Moody. On his own releases Sutherland has collaborated with the likes of DāM FunK and Nubya Garcia.Tightening its hold on the dancefloor, the beefed-up rhythm section rolls deep into the nocturnal hours, as mesmerising reverb loops elevate the track skywards.

Luke and Graeme got to know Harvey Sutherland when they played together backing Leroy Burgesson his Australian tour in 2018. After that Luke and Graeme played in Harvey's live band across the world and then contributed his 'BOY' album. "We were thrilled when he turned in his Dub of "Bells"", Luke said. "A kind of 'what would Shep Pettibone or Larry Levan do?' moment. It's like being transported to Compass Point Studios in '81!"

Mondo Freaks make Funk inspired by late '70s / early '80s era as it gently moved beyond Disco. That era has continued to inspire many artists, but what sets Mondo Freaks apart is their live instrumentation plus a focus on vocals and great songwriting, creating something beyond simply instrumental grooves.In the studio and in their full live lineup Mondo Freaks are a formidable ensemble who take their sound beyond mere homage, without a hint of irony or any knowing winks. Mondo Freaks simply breathe life into a timeless sound and make it feel more relevant than ever.

Soul music has always been in Paul Weller’s blood from early Jam covers of Martha & the Vandellas 1963 classic ‘Heatwave’. Along with other forms of music, soul found its way into Paul’s record collection, nourishing his ears and informing his own songwriting

We don’t need to recap a questing musical career from the Jam to the Style Council and then blossoming into one of the most productive and revered careers of any UK solo artist. Paul has written anthems, standards and a songbook that have always developed from his own feelings.

Whilst Paul has talked about his love of soul music he has, before now, simply been too busy to sit down and curate a collection of his favourite tracks and get it into the record racks.

Ace Records are honoured and delighted to finally release that Paul Weller curated collection which he has aptly titled, “That Sweet Sweet Music”.

This 2-LP set and CD open the curtains on 26 tracks that are some of Paul’s favourite soul records most of which nestle on vinyl in his own collection. He can still recall paying £70 for his copy of Jon Lucien’s 1971 ‘Search For The Inner Self’ 7” at a record shop in Leicester in the 90s. Some of these tracks are soul classics like James Carr’s 1966 ‘Pouring Water On A Drowning Man’ and Brother to Brother’s brilliant take on Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson’s ‘In The Bottle’ from 1974. Others are deliciously obscure wonderous gems like the A-side of Blackrock’s sole 1971 single ‘Blackrock “Yeah, Yeah”’, ‘Life Walked Out’ from the same year by the Mist or Syl Johnson’s ‘Black Balloons’ taken from his 1970 album “Is It Because I’m Black?”.

There are plenty of big vocal hitters such as Darrell Banks, Spinners, Joe Simon, O.C. Smith, the Dells and Betty Davis. Whilst the core is vocal soul the music does branch out with Paul selecting a wicked instrumental from the flipside of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Twist & Shout’ from 1962 and the funky jazz of the Headhunters ‘God Made Me Funky’, the A-side of their first 1975 seven-inch.

Transport yourself to the vibrant streets of Havana with the Buena Vista Social Club's eponymous album, a captivating journey into the heart of Cuban music! Recorded in 1996 by acclaimed producer Ry Cooder, this timeless masterpiece celebrates the rich tapestry of Afro-Cuban rhythms and soulful melodies that have enchanted audiences for generations.

Buena Vista Social Club is both the name given to this extraordinary group of musicians and the album, recorded in just seven days in 1996 in Havana's 1950s vintage EGREM studios. From the infectious energy of "Chan Chan" to the heartfelt nostalgia of "Dos Gardenias," each track immerses listeners in the intoxicating blend of son, bolero, and guajira styles. Led by legendary musicians such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo, the Buena Vista Social Club ensemble delivers performances that are as exuberant as they are intimate, capturing the essence of a bygone era while igniting a passion for Cuban music that knows no bounds.

The acclaim of the original album has elevated the artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González and Omara Portuondo) to superstar status, inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders, and has contributed to popularizing Cuba's rich musical heritage. Produced by Ry Cooder for World Circuit, the timeless quality of the music and the sheer verve of the veteran performers have ensured that this will go down as one of the landmark recordings of the 20th century.

This 45 RPM Analogue Productions reissue pressed by Quality Record Pressings on four dead-silent LPs makes every note a transcendent experience. Meticulously crafted using the finest materials and exacting standards, this reissue pays homage to the golden age of vinyl, capturing the warmth and depth of the original recording in stunning detail. The package includes a 12-page booklet with lyrics and stunning studio images, topped off by a tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jacket made by Stoughton Printing.

Embark on a musical odyssey filled with warmth, joy, and the irresistible allure of Havana nights!

The complete album - pressed on limited edition 180g vinyl

Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster (1909 - 1973) had already enjoyed a long and fruitful
career by the time this 1957 session was recorded. However, as Bob Blumenthal
explains in the original liner notes, he still wasn't known for the sensual ballad feeling
that became his trademark during the last two decades of his life. At that time, he was
still recognized for the hard blowing fast tenor sax style he played with both the Duke
Ellington Orchestra and his own multiple small groups.
Even though his repertoire was generally linked to that of Duke Ellington, this classic
Norman Granz produced session presents Webster playing four popular ballads and
two of his own bluesy compositions, Soulville and Late Date. On hand in support are
the incredible Oscar Peterson Trio (Herb Ellis, Ray Brown), and drummer Stan Levey.
"The by turns grizzled and vaporous-toned Webster really hit his stride on the Verve
label. This 1957 date with the Oscar Peterson Trio is one of the highlights of that
golden '50s run. After starting off with two bluesy originals, Webster gets to the heart
of things on five wistful ballads. Providing sympathetic counterpoint, Peterson
forgoes his usual pyrotechnics for some leisurely compact solos; his cohorts -
guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Stan Levey - are equally assured
and splendid. Newcomers shouldn't hesitate to start here." - ***** Stephen Cook,
AllMusic

Blend Mishkin & Soul Sugar - Theory of Mind
Cultural Collaboration Sparks New Sound:
Athens and Paris Unite for Soulful Jazz-Reggae Fusion Album.

A collaboration between two creative musical minds, Blend Mishkin from Athens meets Parisian Soul Sugar to co-create a genre-bending album titled “Theory of Mind”
This album features nine compositions which uniquely fuse vibes of jazz, soul, reggae, afro-beat and even some 70’s b-movie soundtrack all brought to life through the warm tones of vintage keyboard instruments such as the Hammond Organ, Clavinet and Fender Rhodes electric piano, played by virtuoso keyboardist Soul Sugar aka Guillaume Metenier paired with flawless orchestration, arrangements and production by Blend Mishkin.

Soul Sugar, a disciple of jazz master Dr. Lonnie Smith on the Hammond organ, known for his
intricate reggae-jazz masterful improvisation, brings a distinctive mellowness and complexity to the album. His use of the Hammond organ, Clavinet and Fender Rhodes electric piano adds a layer of depth and authenticity that transports listeners back to the golden age of soul and reggae. Blend Mishkin, a versatile artist, who has mixed and moved across reggae, dub, soul, as well as world music, introduces elements of funk and reggae rhythms to the mix. His production techniques, combined with the rich, analog sound of the vintage instruments, creates a sonic landscape that is both timeless and inspired.

Guest vocalists are featured in four out of nine tracks. Greek-French funk powerhouse Georges Perin delivers a heavy soul tune called “I Miss Those Days” , Fae Simon from London lays a velvety vocal on an old school steppers groove, Thaliah from Athens brings her smokey jazz flavour with “Moonlit Letter” and Jeffrey Diop from Senegal adds the perfect chant in “Big Boss in a Small Town”.

The recording sessions, split between Athens and Paris, were as much about cultural exchange as they were about musical experimentation. The result is a collection of tracks that resonate with the energy of live performance, while also echoing the rich musical background of both artists.
"We wanted to create something that felt organic and real," says Guillaume. "Using these incredible vintage instruments allowed us to tap into a sound that feels both timeless and brand new."
Blend adds, "This album is about mixing our roots, our sounds, and our experiences. It's a celebrationof music that transcends borders and eras."

“Theory of Mind” it's a cross-cultural journey. The project emerges from the vibrant, sun-soaked melodies of Athens with the sophisticated, urban grooves of Paris, resulting in a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.

Since the first release 5 years ago, Jazz Room Records has released an eclectic and interesting selection of releases.

From the Jazzy commercialism of the Take Vibe version of The Stranglers "Golden Brown" (5,000 vinyl single sales) to the 1960's Headshop Sounds of West Coast Fluteman Eric Ghost.

Other notable releases on Jazz Room include the critically lauded album by Vibraphonist Khan Jamal "Infinity", a compilation of Japanese tough funk fusionists indigo jam unit put together by DJ Colin Curtis, Nuyorican Latin House from Tata Vasquez, Jazz Dance Madchester Rave from Cruisic and some South African Holy Grail grooves from Abacothozi! The latest release is the Underground Latin J-Jazz of Copa Salvo, first introduced to London by DJ & Music Legend Jean-Claude.

Next up is an in demand Jazz Funk Obscurity from Educator and Trumpet Player John Lamkin whose self released album "Hot" saw the light of day in 1984 then disappeared into the Rare Jazz ether.

Currently changing hands for €300 and upwards it's again about to see the light of day in 2025!

This is an album that is aptly named with all the elements we love: Latin, Funk, Soul, Jazz and all round Double Hipness. What a Hot item it is too. From the Funky as it gets opening bars of "Ticket" through the Rio bound flight "722", taking in a visit to Wonderland with some Soul Jazz Vocal stylings on "Flower Power" and the Funkiest 17 minute Journey to Trumpet Enlightenment in the Title track "Hot" which is, true to its name, Scorching by the finish line is reached.

Already getting Big Ups on UK Jazz Funk Scene Founder Colin Curtis's Cult Radio Show "Jazz Dance Fusion" it's gonna be getting plenty of plays worldwide at the "Hottest" radio stations and funkiest jazz dance nights near you soon!

Ross Allen: It's brilliant!! Perry Louis: Massive! Dr Bob Jones:I Love Big Time!Colin Curtis: Killer!

2LP - 180 Gram Vinyl Jazz Standards Live is a remarkable collaboration between two iconic jazz musicians: Kenny Wheeler, a legendary trumpeter and composer known for his versatility, and Rain Sultanov, a saxophonist celebrated for his rich tone and innovative style. This album captures an unforgettable performance that has never before been released physically. Blending the expressive power of Wheeler's trumpet and Sultanov's saxophone, the quintet delivers a warm and resonant sound that harks back to the golden era of jazz in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fans of Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. quintet will recognize the vibrant interplay reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. This double vinyl LP is a treasure trove for jazz enthusiasts, featuring a mix of beloved standards and original compositions by Wheeler. Adding depth and character to the performance is Shahin Novrasli's masterful piano work, which infuses the album with a distinctive mood. Meanwhile, Paul Clarvis on drums and Ruslan Guseynov on bass provide a dynamic and cohesive rhythm section that elevates each track. Jazz Standards Live is not just an album; it is a testament to the boundless creativity and artistry of two jazz maestros, uniting their talents to create an experience that is both timeless and fresh. Whether you're a longtime jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to captivate and inspire.

2LP - 180 Gram Vinyl Jazz Standards Live is a remarkable collaboration between two iconic jazz musicians: Kenny Wheeler, a legendary trumpeter and composer known for his versatility, and Rain Sultanov, a saxophonist celebrated for his rich tone and innovative style. This album captures an unforgettable performance that has never before been released physically. Blending the expressive power of Wheeler's trumpet and Sultanov's saxophone, the quintet delivers a warm and resonant sound that harks back to the golden era of jazz in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fans of Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. quintet will recognize the vibrant interplay reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter. This double vinyl LP is a treasure trove for jazz enthusiasts, featuring a mix of beloved standards and original compositions by Wheeler. Adding depth and character to the performance is Shahin Novrasli's masterful piano work, which infuses the album with a distinctive mood. Meanwhile, Paul Clarvis on drums and Ruslan Guseynov on bass provide a dynamic and cohesive rhythm section that elevates each track. Jazz Standards Live is not just an album; it is a testament to the boundless creativity and artistry of two jazz maestros, uniting their talents to create an experience that is both timeless and fresh. Whether you're a longtime jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises to captivate and inspire.

The Dutch band Time Bandits, formed by Alides Hidding, had national and international success. In 1981 the Time Bandits scored a big dance hit with “Live it Up”, which ended up in the number 1 spot of the American Dance Charts.

Characteristic of the Time Bandits is the professional sound of funk, disco, soul and rock and the unmistakable voice and guitar sound of Alides Hidding. In 1983, the song “I’m Specialized In You” came in second in the dutch top 40. It was a monster hit with more than 90,000 copies sold in the Netherlands and 450,000 in France. The following single “Listen To The Man With The Golden Voice” also made it to the top 10.

In October 1983 the single “I’m Only Shooting Love” reached the top 10 while the band also continued to break through internationally. The single did very well in France, Portugal, America and Australia and reached the number 1 spot in the New Zealand single charts. The Time Bandits went on tour to Australia and New Zealand and another string of hits followed.

The “Endless Road” music video was filmed in Australia during the band’s 1985 tour. The video has been viewed over 2,5 million times on Youtube.

The vinyl edition of Greatest Hits features all their hits, various remixes and 3 fan-favorite bonus tracks; “Reach Out”, “Dancing On A String” and “Endless Road (High Energy Dance Mix by Ben Liebrand)”.

This is limited edition of 500 copies, pressed on transluncet pink coloured vinyl. This 2-LP set includes an insert.

DJ Support: Carlita, Dar Disku, Disco Arabesquo & Moving Still

Melbourne-based producer Rami Imam unveils Safara, the latest release on his own label, Ponda Records, which he founded in 2020 as a platform for his cross-cultural sound explorations. Drawing from the rich traditions of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, Safara is a six-track odyssey of energetic and euphoric house and disco house, deeply rooted in both nostalgia and innovation. Safara is the culmination of Imam's immersion into the golden eras of global music, channelling the soulful rhythms and melodies of Afro-Funk, West African Highlife, Arab Disco, Bollywood, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Libyan Reggae, and Algerian Rai. By blending these timeless influences with a modern, dancefloor-oriented focus, Imam creates a sound that is both steeped in history and refreshingly new.

With a sonic palette that includes iconic synths such as the Juno 106, Super 6, SH 101, Moog Model D, and the 303, Imam weaves the analog warmth of these instruments into lush, modern productions. Piano and strings—his favourite classical instruments—add an organic layer of emotional depth, connecting the pulse of the dancefloor with the timeless elegance of traditional composition.

Safara is more than a collection of tracks; it is a journey across continents and eras, where the pulse of the past meets the driving force of the present. Recorded in Melbourne but influenced by sounds from around the world, Safara invites listeners to traverse vast musical landscapes—from the hypnotic grooves of North African rhythms to the sun-drenched melodies of Mediterranean shores—culminating in a transportive experience that lingers long after the final beat fades.

By balancing the ancient with the futuristic, Imam has crafted a record that feels both comfortingly familiar and daringly innovative. Safara is a testament to the endless possibilities of blending cultures, genres, and eras into something that is not just heard but felt—music for the soul as much as for the dancefloor.

First Word Records is extremely proud to welcome aboard Takuya Kuroda.

A highly-respected trumpeter born in Kobe, Japan, Takuya is a forward-thinking musician that has developed a unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop music.

After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz & contemporary music at The New School in Union Square; a course he graduated from in the mid-noughties. It was here that Takuya met vocalist José James, with whom he worked on the 'Blackmagic' and 'No Beginning No End' projects.

Following graduation, Takuya established himself further in the NYC jazz scene, performing with the likes of Akoya Afrobeat and in recent years with DJ Premier's BADDER band (also including acclaimed bass player, Brady Watt). Premier said "The BADDER Band project was put together by my manager, and an agent I've known since the beginning of my Gang Starr career. He said, 'What if you put a band together that revolved around a trumpet player from Japan named Takuya Kuroda? He's got a hip-hop perspective and respect in the jazz field…"

Takuya Kuroda is already incredibly prolific, releasing five albums in the past decade and fortifying a solid reputation in the global jazz scene. 2011 saw the release of Takuya's independently-produced debut album, 'Edge', followed by 'Bitter and High' the following year and 'Six Aces' on P-Vine in 2013. Takuya was signed to the legendary Blue Note Records in 2014 for his album 'Rising Son', as well as appearing on their 2019 cover versions project, 'Blue Note Voyage'. He released his 5th album 'Zigzagger' on Concord in 2016, which also featured Antibalas on a reimagining of the Donald Byrd classic 'Think Twice'.

Late Summer 2020, Takuya Kuroda returns with his sixth album 'Fly Moon Die Soon'.

In his words, "this album is about the irony between the greatness of nature and the beautiful obsceneness of humanity. Melodies and grooves fly back and forth from being spiritual to being vulgar."

It took two years to make this album. In 2018, I decided I just couldn't make albums the same way I had been in the past anymore. As a birthday treat to myself, I booked a studio in Brooklyn for two days, with only myself and an engineer, Todd Carder. I brought along some tracks I'd been building at home to see if we could complete them within that time. We began replacing sounds and adding texture, sampling noises from all over the studio; me sipping coffee, hitting a 26" kick drum, speeding up snares. At the end of the two days we were like "wow, I didn't know we could make tracks this good in this way". This is how the process of the full album started. Everything was based on my beats I made at home, inviting musicians in one by one, adding or replacing parts. I was very careful when developing these tracks; just note by note, part by part. I wanted to make the music effectively from a blend of two different recording methods; one very slickly produced part and one very organic part played by live musicians. I remember mixtapes from when I was kid, and wanted to make an album that wasn't just a bunch of flashy singles, trying to catch people's attention in the first 30 seconds, or full of guest features. Instead, I'm essentially just trying to let the grooves breath."

The album consists of nine tracks of excellence. The uptempo jazz-funk of 'ABC' and 'Moody' sit alongside soulful jazz cuts like 'Fade' and 'CHANGE', also featuring Corey King on vocals. The title track is a downtempo groove lead by a heavy Moog bassline, whilst 'Do No Why' contains an infectious piano riff throughout. Aside from Takuya's original compositions, he revisits two classics from Ohio Players ('Sweet Sticky Thing' featuring Alina Engibaryan on vocals) and Herbie Hancock ('Tell Me A Bedtime Story') whilst the album closes with the epic 'TKBK'.

Takuya adds "this special cover was inspired by the Golden Moon I saw during a photoshoot in Death Valley with my homie Hiroyuki Seo".

Takuya Kuroda is a truly unique talent, and this album is a realisation of the evolution of his sound.

'Fly Moon Die Soon' is released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label First Word Records on vinyl & digital in September 2020.

Bronze, Silver & Brass swing in horns blazing with their electrifying second 7" vinyl single on Timmion Records. "Renard's Groove" and "Brass In Motion" expand the musical range that can be distilled from a brass band mixed with guitar and funky drums. You are in for a cinematic ride through funk, soul, and jazz-inspired terrain. On the A-side, "Renard's Groove" delivers fast-paced, library soundtrack style funk. Driven by a tight guitar riff and solid breakbeat drums, this instrumental gem stages a high-speed chase though the grimy alleyways of a nameless 1970s metropolis. Flipping the record reveals the B-side, "Brass In Motion", a mellow mid-tempo instrumental that once again tips its hat towards the golden age of independent jazz funk. While maintaining the funky soundtrack mood, its lyrical chorus and unhurried pacing make "Brass In Motion" a perfect pairing for the frenetic energy of its counterpart. With their second release, Bronze, Silver & Brass continue offering fresh sounds for those who have an ear for uncomplicated funky instrumentals. The digital package of the group's singles comes with a digital only bonus track "Boondocks", that reveals another sweaty street funk workout for getting your dance on.

Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago is revered among jazz aficionados as an essential document of late 1950s hard bop

It captures two of the greatest saxophonists in jazz, Adderley and Coltrane, at a time when they were both at a creative peak. The album is a vital recording from a golden era in jazz, featuring a rare and electric partnership between two saxophone giants. Its hard bop foundation, infused with hints of modal jazz, places it among the most important recordings of its time. The album was recorded the February 3, 1959 during a time when Adderley was playing as part of Miles Davis' group, and it captures the quintet during a pivotal moment in jazz history. On Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago, you can hear Coltrane at a transitional stage, balancing between his earlier bebop style and the modal, more avant-garde approaches he would later pursue. His interaction with Adderley is fascinating because it blends his dense harmonic language with Adderley's more traditional, bluesy approach.Cannonball Adderley had been recruited by Miles Davis in 1957, joining what would become one of the most influential jazz groups of all time. Adderley's style was deeply rooted in the blues, and he brought a strong sense of soulfulness and swing to the Davis group. While Davis' style was often cool and restrained, Adderley's alto saxophone was the opposite: robust, fiery, and emotional. Adderley's command of the instrument was remarkable, and his ability to balance technical prowess with a highly accessible, bluesy feel is on full display throughout Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago . His solos are expressive and lyrical, often imbued with a sense of joy and exuberance. This makes for a perfect contrast to Coltrane's playing, which at this point was becoming more dense and harmonically complex

Homer Steinweiss has an incredibly storied career in music that started when he was just a teenager. He's drummed for nearly every "retro soul" group that mattered and his distinctive stickwork helped blend the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream via the likes of Amy Winehouse & Sharon Jones. He's now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with Jonas Brothers, Clairo, Solange, Adele, and Bruno Mars to name a few.

With his debut solo release Ensatina, Homer is stepping to the forefront as both musician and producer. His new record is a re­ection of who he is now and a testament to how struggle often brings about a needed change. In 2020 Homer had to reckon with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a personal relationship of 20+ years fell apart putting Homer in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was signi‑cant enough for him to seek professional help. "I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows," Homer describes. "And being in all that, it's just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it'll be ok." But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life. The ‑rst song from these sessions, "Now That It's Over" perfectly sums up Homer's triumph through those tough times. It's a song of changing perspective and contemplation with haunting vocals from Hether and Flikka. "Paul (Castelluzzo_ aka, Hether), as a friend, saw me through these highs and lows," Homer points out. "I only had the one line, 'Now that it's over, I'm alright,' but he felt that lyric so much that he wrote all these sections and lyrics and basically completed the song. It was like he was writing to me." Hether also features on album standouts "Deep Sea", a modern love song, "Start Select", a juxtaposition of inspiration and melancholy, and "Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever" which is an incredible contemporary take on the B side soul ballad. Homer uses his innate gift for bringing seemingly opposing energies together on "Racecar Driver", pairing the vocals of Hether & long time friend and collaborator KIRBY to make a genre challenging banger. KIRBY also graces the album opener "Rollin'", an airy, warm-weather invoking song that her raspy voice perfectly compliments. He puts his drumming front and center on "So Get Up!", a bottom heavy infectious track that MINOVA's vocals turn into an instant hit that is sure to smash speakers. On "Wishing Well" & "Hide It Behind the Light I'm Shining Through" Homer is joined by girl named GOLDEN, who's unique voice effortlessly ‑nds the pocket in each tune. The man on trumpet, and fellow Big Crown label mate Dave Guy, puts his incomparable playing on the album closer "Goldie" which Homer says is the part of the movie where the credits roll.

Making this album was a refuge for Homer and it put him back on track. Ensatina is a glimpse into the different energies and in­uences that make Homer tick. To say he was always much more than a drummer would be an understatement, and this ‑rst solo offering is just the beginning of his next chapter.

Over 19 tracks, Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music mines gold from dollar bin country-rock detritus to reconstruct events as seen from the genre's wild west - Americana's vast private press substructure. As progenitor and contemptuous poster boy for the music that came to be Cosmic American, Gram Parsons found himself mired in a recording career spent mostly in scouting the perimeters of chart success. "He hated country-rock," Parsons collaborator Emmylou Harris would later reflect. "He thought that bands like the Eagles were pretty much missing the point." Parsons had been orbiting the idea of Cosmic American Music for some time. In 1968 he'd parted ways with the Byrds and was looking to take air with a new project. "It's basically a Southern soul group playing country and gospel-oriented music with a steel guitar" he told Melody Maker, on the subject of The Flying Burrito Brothers. So it was that when A&M's Burrito Brothers debut The Gilded Palace of Sin made it to shelves in February of 1969, early adherents to the Cosmic American gospel were already echoing its message from areas flanking Gram Parsons' Southern California hills and canyons. There was F.J. McMahon in coastal Santa Barbara, Mistress Mary further inland in Hacienda Heights, and Plain Jane of Albuquerque, New Mexico, each responding by committing their own private readings to tape before day one of the 1970s. Parsons himself might've disdained them, had he even been aware of such minor ripples, shimmering at the edges of his desert oasis. But these were true believers all the same, given over fully to his roots music concept, each filling vinyl grooves with non-rock instrumentation like fiddle, banjo, and pedal steel guitar, the last undoubtedly Cosmic American Music's most distinguishing stringed signifier. Only too predictably, big labels did the grunt work of confining and defining the movement, as ABC, United Artists, RCA, and more played catch-up with Asylum's raptor rock juggernaut, via backwoods crossover also-rans with names like Gladstone, American Flyer, and Silverado. Twang reigned, the shitkickers kicked shit, and the vaguely western-sounding guitar records piled up. Country-rock became "the dominant American rock style of the 1970s," as Peter Doggett's comprehensive Are You Ready for the Country put it much later. Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music picks up and dusts off golden ingots from the dollar-bin detritus of that domination, to reconstruct events as seen from the genre's real Wild West-America's one-off private press label substructure.

Ein weiterer außergewöhnlicher Release in der hochgelobten WaJazz-Reihe ist dem Leben und der Musik eines der berühmtesten japanischen Jazzmusiker der letzten 60+ Jahre gewidmet, dem legendären Saxophonisten Jiro Inagaki mit seiner Soul Media-Band und ihrer goldenen Ära 1968-1980. Diese ultimative Kollektion erscheint auf goldfarbigem 180g Doppelvinyl im Gatefold mit detaillierten Linernotes von Yusuke Ogawa (Universounds), Kommentaren von Jiro und exklusiven Fotos. 16 mal pures Gold aus Jazz, Jazz-Funk und Jazz-Rock, darunter eine unveröffentlichte Version des Tracks 'Express' – erstmals auf Vinyl!

Sfere Luminose is a rare and breathtaking masterpiece that stands as a pinnacle of Italian Library music. Featuring the mesmerizing vocals of Nora Orlandi and the legendary jazz drumming of Franco Tonani, this album is an essential gem from the cult label Record TV - Firmamento, a name revered for iconic releases from the late 1960s to early 1970s. The album is produced by maestros Giancarlo Gazzani and Roby Poitevin, with contributions from the acclaimed studio group I Marc 4 and Alessandro Alessandroni.



This stunning work encapsulates the very essence of Italian Lounge music, offering a rich and diverse musical landscape. From cinematic soundscapes and Hammond organ-driven grooves to soft psychedelic arrangements, the album flows with impeccable soul-jazz and bossa nova influences, reminiscent of Piero Umiliani’s finest creations. The signature style of I Marc 4 shines through captivating drum work, while the enchanting interplay of scat vocals and choral harmonies adds a touch of ethereal beauty.



With its refined blend of jazz, lounge, and Morricone-esque beats, Sfere Luminose is an unmissable listening experience for aficionados of the genre. It's a collector's grail and a timeless treasure that captures the magic of Italy’s golden age of music, and we're proud to bring this back on vinyl, remastered from the original mono sessions, including 4 bonus tracks and artwork restoration by Luca Barcellona.

Has it really been two whole years since the last Stank Soul Edits vinyl 45? There wasn't even the excuse of a pandemic this time! True, but Mako & Mr Bristow think you'll agree this one has been worth the wait with its double A-side payload of two soul-drenched sister-funk edits.

First up is One Sweet Bomb – which subtly tweaks the source material's arrangement and applies extra bass and additional drum leverage so it can go head-to-head with the best of the golden age of soul.

On the flip, Why Do You Bass Me Up? is an uptempo funk dancer that was released in its original form with no bassline whatsoever! If only it had had one though - what might that have sounded like? If only Mako knew a bassist who knew sixties-style soul basslines. Wait a minute...of course! Former Big Boss Man bassist and Mako's sparring partner before Mr Bristow - The Hawk - a man steeped in the playing and creation of sixties-style basslines! A quick phone call later and Hawk was sent a tweaked arrangement of the source material to 'sit in' with on his bass and see what he could come up with. The results are conclusive – it's another banger!

The Holiday Album That Turned Mariah Carey into the Queen of Christmas: Featuring the Standard “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the Singer’s Blockbuster Merry Christmas Exudes Joy, Spirituality, and Conviction
Sourced from the Original Master Tapes, Presented in Audiophile Sound for the First Time, and Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies:

Mobile Fidelity’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP Set Plays with Superb Detail, Openness, and Definition
1/2" / 30 IPS / Dolby SR analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe

Mariah Carey didn’t become the Queen of Christmas just because of her fervent love of the holiday. Or as the result of a brilliant marketing plan. The iconic singer earned her title by way of her blockbuster Merry Christmas, a 1994 album that quickly joined the likes of Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song as an all-time holiday vocal classic. Featuring a balanced mix of inspired originals and well-chosen covers, Carey’s fourth studio record has only grown in stature as new generations discover its magic. Mobile Fidelity’s 30th anniversary edition reissue of Merry Christmas makes her spellbinding performances and upper-tier register come alive like never before.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, the pioneering label’s UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33RPM LP set of Merry Christmas plays with superb detail, depth, and dimensionality. Available in audiophile quality for the first time since its original release three decades ago, and featuring the bonus track “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” the nine-times-platinum set breathes with a newfound openness and transparency that enhance the spirituality, passion, and festive tenor of Carey’s singing.

Benefitting from superb groove definition, a nearly inaudible noise floor, and dead-quiet vinyl surfaces, the music takes on a heightened energy and anticipatory emotion synonymous with the holiday season. Carey’s signature vocals explode with liveliness and dynamics, the full scope of her acrobatic range presented in clear, transparent sound that practically places her on a small stage in your listening room. This collectible version also breathes with the kind of warmth, intimacy, and coziness you want from a landmark vocal album.

Recorded when Carey helped put “diva” back into everyone’s vocabulary, Merry Christmas gave the New York native another smash right out of the box. What nobody knew at the time was the degree of the album’s staying power — and how, many years removed from its initial promotion cycle, its legend would still grow and even spark a 2010 sequel. Having re-entered the Top 200 charts every year since 2019, Merry Christmas ranks as one of the three most commercially successful holiday LPs ever made and, in due time, will likely earn the top distinction in that class. A global blockbuster, it seamlessly ties together Christian, gospel, and secular threads and speaks to a boundless audience, independent of denomination.

Most obviously, the record remains inescapably connected to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” an uptempo anthem that towers as a holiday standard and one of the biggest-selling singles in history. Punctuated with celesta chimes, sleigh bells, springy keyboards, and joyous beats, the song echoes the simple albeit engaging melodies and doo-wop style of beloved holiday classics of yore — and blends such elements with contagious dance-pop rhythms to create an atmosphere rich in joy, wonder, and excitement. Radiant with golden soulfulness and sincere conviction, Carey’s exuberant singing and on-point phrasing put it all over the top. And how.

The song stands as the only effort in Billboard history to top the Hot 100 chart during at least three separate runs. Carey’s blockbuster has already hit No. 1 during five runs, spanning every year between 2019 and 2024. That’s just one of the many records the singer holds — and only one of the multiple highlights from Merry Christmas, which includes two other Carey-penned originals, “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)” and “Jesus Born on This Day.”

Though slightly lesser known, Carey’s remarkable rendition of Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” further links her album with the big, lush, Wall of Sound heritage that helped inspire its production. Carey’s heartfelt take and transformation of the traditional “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” into an animated tune that even adults can believe, as well as her clairon reading of “Joy to the World” — cleverly augmented with bits of Three Dog Night’s 1971 hit of the same name — further reinforce her status as Queen of Christmas.

At the peak of her powers, Carey finds equivalent success when tapping more spiritual veins. Witness the reverence she brings to the timeless carol “Silent Night,” the piousness she invests in “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child,” and the sacred feeling she conveys throughout “O Holy Night.” You’ll also never think of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” the same way again after hearing Mimi pour her heart and soul into them, and pair the songs together.

Indeed, it’s Carey’s pliable voice, melismatic technique, and five-octave range — on display here in definitive fashion — coupled with her undeniable love for Christmas and understanding of the religious significance of the season that make Merry Christmas a must-have holiday staple. And on Mobile Fidelity’s LP, something you better add to your wish list.

The first vinyl release by the Melbourne Soul / Funk trailblazers The Bamboos in over a year since their 'This Is How You Do It' album and UK / EU tour (which included two sold out nights at London's iconic Jazz Café) is something that guitarist / bandleader Lance Ferguson has wanted to do for many years: a Christmas EP!

This limited edition 7" comes in custom printed knitted Christmas sleeve that will rival even the most garish seasonal woollen jumper.

A side "Wrapt In A Beau" is classic Sweet Soul Bamboos style, recalling fan favourites such as "I Don't Wanna Stop" and "Golden Ticket", with a perfect vocal by The Antipodean Queen Of Soul, Kylie Auldist.

On the flip is the string drenched Funk instrumental "The Bells Of Holly Hill", which kicks off with a crisp breakbeat plus sleigh bells intro.

Paid promo service to Soul / Funk DJs w/wide for radio, club and online incl presenters on key radio stations such as BBC6, FIP France, KCRW.

LANCE FERGUSON "I'm never going to make an Xmas track without putting some sleigh bells in the mix, and you should see some of my yuletide knitwear...but for everyone who celebrates Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere it's something that falls right in the middle of Summer, flying in the face of much of that iconic festive imagery.

With these songs we thought we'd lean into some of those unique things that make a sun-drenched, snow-less festive season special."

Previous Bamboos seven inch pressings sold out straight away, so don't sleep on this.

Riccardo Teri, Also Known as Quasar, Is Set to Make a Triumphant Return to Skylax Records With an Exciting New Ep That Pays Homage to the Golden Era of 90s Uk Garage. This Forthcoming 12-Inch Release Comprises Four Mesmerizing Tracks, Each of Which Carries the Distinct Imprint of Quasar's Signature style.

The Ep Kicks Off With "Told You Once," a Track That Immediately Transports You to the Halcyon Days of Uk Garage, With Its Infectious Beats and Soulful Vocal Samples. "For Your Love" Follows, Seamlessly Blending Classic Garage Elements With a Modern Twist, Demonstrating Quasar's Mastery of the Genre's Evolution. as You Move Further Into the Ep, "Morning Bells" Beckons With Its Entrancing Melodies and Rhythmic Grooves, Drawing You Deeper Into Quasar's Sonic World. Finally, "Inside My Love" Completes the Quartet of Tracks, Delivering an Exceptional Experience With Its Lush Harmonies and Finely Crafted beats.

What Sets This Ep Apart Is the Remarkable Cohesion Between Its Tracks. Each Piece Contributes to an Exceptional Whole, With No Single Track Standing Out as a Weak Link. Every One of Them Stands Alone as a Dancefloor Banger, but When United, They Form a Remarkable Sonic Journey That Will Undoubtedly Leave a Lasting Impression. in an Era Where House Music Often Leans Towards Various Sub-Genres and Experimental Directions, Quasar's Work on This Ep Serves as a Refreshing Reminder of the Classic Uk Garage Sound. It Harkens Back to the Days When the Genre Was at Its Peak, and Yet, It Feels Contemporary and Relevant. This Perfect Fusion of Nostalgia and Innovation Is a Testament to Italy's Enduring Love and Respect for the Pioneers of the genre.

In "Told You Once," Quasar Brings Us a Release That Exudes Absolute Class and Authenticity, Showcasing His Profound Dedication to the Essence of Uk Garage. With This Ep, He Not Only Pays Homage to the Masters of the Genre but Also Cements His Own Place Among Its Contemporary Torchbearers. It's a Must-Listen for Anyone Looking to Relive the Magic of 90s Uk Garage While Embracing the Evolution of the Genre. Skylax Records Welcomes Back Quasar With Open Arms, and Fans of Quality House Music Have Reason to Celebrate....

Paul Carrack is known for his role in the bands Ace, Squeeze (replacing Jools Holland on piano), and Mike & The Mechanics (a side project by Mike Rutherford of Genesis). Next to this collaborations, Carrack has forged a successful solo career in the process. All the songs from his impressive career are now bundled under the Collected series.

Dubbed by the BBC as the "The Man with the Golden Voice" Carrack sang some of the most important songs from bands like Ace (“How Long”), Squeeze (“Tempted”), Mike + The Mechanics ("The Living Years" and "Over My Shoulder") . As a solo musician he recorded hits such as "Don't Shed a Tear", "When You Walk in the Room" and "Don't Dream It's Over". He has served as a session and/or touring musician for the likes of music greats like Elton John, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and The Smiths.

Collected by Paul Carrack, released 8 March 2024, includes the following tracks: "Don't Shed A Tear ", "Love Will Keep Us Alive", "Over My Shoulder ", "Satisfy My Soul " and more.

This version of Collected comes as a 2xLP. This release comes with (a) Insert(s).

Celebrated producer Shuko returns with his latest album, Jazzterfield 3, a captivating fusion of hip-hop, soul, and jazz that continues to showcase his signature sound. The third installment in his critically acclaimed Jazzterfield series, this album is a sonic journey that bridges classic jazz influences with modern beats and soulful rhythms. Known for his collaborations with major artists and his standout solo work like Anderson Paak, Kanye West or Chance The Rapper, Shuko’s latest release delivers tracks that feel at home in both intimate listening sessions and vibrant playlists. Whether you’re a fan of golden-era hip-hop, rich jazz textures, or soul-soaked beats, Jazzterfield 3 brings these worlds together in a cohesive, organic sound.

Presented for RSD Black Friday as a double lp in a tide pod colored vinyl pressing housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket with a full-color OBI strip. 1995 saw Oakland crew Souls of Mischief follow up their stellar debut release with No Man’s Land, an all too often overlooked gem from the golden era of hip hop. The release landed in the Billboard Top 200 - peeking at a respectful No. 27 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart. No Man’s Land was not commercially released on vinyl in the US when first issued, in fact the record has never seen an official US reissue. Get On Down now presents No Man’s Land as a double LP in a gatefold jacket with an OBI - and of course in a colored vinyl run exclusively for RSD Black Friday.

Indulge in the smooth vibes of Luke Beats' latest album, 'Cream', dropping now on Little Beat More.
Inspired by the Italian saying 'ci sta una crema' ('as good as cream'), which indicates the utmost satisfaction, this work is the perfect dessert for your musical gluttony, kneaded by the skilful hands of Luke Beats for all hip hop lovers. In a world where the saying 'Cash rules everything around me' (once again: C.R.E.A.M!) still resonates loudly from the days when Method Man and the Wu-Tang rapped it, the love and passion for music can continue to shine.
With nods to sounds that have defined this genre in its origins, especially in the melodic and synthesiser parts, 'Cream' blends tradition and novelty, love for the classic and curiosity for the contemporary, creating a dreamy, mellow atmosphere that takes listeners on a creamy journey.
The 18-track album features the collaboration of drummer Federico Romeo on '404 Fun 4 Days' and guitarist Danny Bronzini on 'JamDilla', while Luke Beats himself played bass parts on 'P.T.H', 'JamDilla', 'Cookin' and 'The D'.

Once again, Matteo Baracco's artwork adorns the EP, with a closed but squashed tube of tempera, which perfectly complements the nostalgic yet fresh sounds within, telling of an approach to production and beatmaking still anchored in the “old school” sound craft principles in which getting one's hands dirty is the prerogative needed to shape a sound that is personal and respectful of its history.

A further tribute to the golden era of hip hop is provided by the format of the release, in an iconic timeless audio cassette to dust off your ghettoblaster!

Auf seinem neuen Album "Golden Age" bewegt sich der aus Brooklyn stammende, in New Orleans lebende Gitarrist und Grammy-nominierte Produzent Gitkin zwischen Surf, Psychedelia und Worldbeat-Einflüssen aus Lateinamerika, Nordafrika und Nahost. Gitkin ist Frontmann der Soulband The Pimps of Joytime aus New Orleans, seine Produktionscredits reichen von Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet über Bernard Purdy bis zu Cyril Neville und Cedric Burnside, für dessen Album "Benton County Relic" er bei den 61. Grammy Awards mit einer Nominierung für das "Beste Traditionelle Bluesalbum" geehrt wurde.