Hip-Hop Novedades

In the late 1960s and early 70s, Reggie Saddler released a handful of 45rpm singles on four different labels. This re-release features his deepfunk bomb "Raggedy Bag" on the A-side and the fantastic northern soul-ish "Love Is Just Like A Baseball Game" on the flip. This is without a doubt a killer double-sider which shouldn't be missed.

The Mighty Mocambos' new album "Showdown" sets another cornerstone in their prolific career as a globally active instrumental funk outfit. While maintaining their organic approach of recording real musicians live on tape, the group has refined their trademark sound with a dramatic edge, a hard hitting production and ventures into less obvious musical territories. While highly enjoying themselves as the tight unit they are, The Mighty Mocambos invited an exciting list of guests to contribute to their musical "Showdown": German film composer icon Peter Thomas, hiphop godfather Afrika Bambaataa, rap legends Charlie Funk aka Afrika Islan (member of the original Rocksteady Crew) and Donald D (of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate), plus Nichola Richards, Shawn Lee, DeRobert from peer label GED Soul in Nashville, Zulu Nation MCs Deejay Snoop & DJ Hektek and organ genius Guillaume Metenier all joined the group for their new musical adventure. "Showdown" is released on vinyl LP by Mocambo Records and on CD and digital incarnations by Légère Recordings.

About the Mighty Mocambos:

The Mighty Mocambos and their many incarnations have released dozens of 45s and several albums on their own imprint Mocambo Records and other labels such as Kay Dee, Truth & Soul, Tramp, Légère and Favorite Recordings, to name a few. They have collaborated with musical legends such as Afrika Bambaataa, Lee Fields or Kenny Dope, put new talent like Gizelle Smith and Caroline Lacaze on the map, brought Caribbean steel drums to funk clubs with their alter ego Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, and have toured through all civilized parts of the continent and beyond for the better part of the last years. Their unique style and trademark sound are loved by peers, fans and critics alike and distinguishes them from mere retro-copycat-acts as well as overproduced plastic soul. The Mighty Mocambos continue to deliver their brand of funk with blazing horns, soulful guitars, driving drums and basslines combined with an extra bit of quirkiness. When not producing records for one of their many incarnations and collaborations, the band is touring steadily. Whoever witnessed a concert will tell you about the musicality, passion, energy, humour and joy that the band loves to bring to the people. Background What started out years ago as a take on "deep funk" and its associated vinyl culture has completely grown into its own oeuvre d'art. With the launch of their production studio and record label in 2006, things started to gain momentum. Apart from self-releasing the group's own recordings, Mocambo Records became a household name by putting out highly collectable vinyl 45s by today's best funk outfits as well as unearthing lost library funk treasures. The Mighty Mocambos however did not restrict themselves solely to their own label. Their interpretation of the Furious Five classic "The Message", released under a pseudonym on an obscure phantasy label without proper distribution, got picked up and remixed by Grammy- nominated producer legend Kenny Dope (Masters at Work, Bucketheads). Their first single with UK funk singer Gizelle Smith, "Working Woman", became an overnight smash and a prime-time club favourite of funk & soul DJs worldwide. Initially released on the Finnish private press imprint Old Capital, it got the remix treatment by Kenny Dope and a re-release on Kay Dee Records as well. After earning their credits through vinyl 45s, the band stepped up their game with the full- length "This Is Gizelle Smith & the Mighty Mocambos" in 2009. The album received rave reviews, got lots of airplay - and sold a bunch of physical copies too. Its success led to an extensive tour throughout Europe with club dates from Marseille to Oslo, performances at massive festivals such as the Printemps de Bourges in France and live radio appearances at respected FMs such as the BBC and Radio Nova. With the following album "The Future Is Here" (2011), the band stepped further into the spotlight and explored new sounds with features by hiphop legends Afrika Bambaataa and Charlie Funk, French singer Caroline Lacaze and German rare groove queen Su Kramer, while manifesting their unique raw funk sound and refining their unmistakable instrumental style that had long gained international reputation. The album was toured extensively, including a legendary performance with Afrika Bambaataa at Hamburg's Reeperbahn Festival (covered by ARTE TV), support gigs for Lee Fields and headline shows at renowned venues such as Amsterdam's Paradiso, Islington Assembly Hall in London, Paris' Bellevilloise, Tempo Club in Madrid, or at home at Hamburg's Mojo Club. After producing the critically acclaimed debut album "En Route" (2013) of French soul singer Caroline Lacaze, where their adapted their sound to deliver a stunning mix of French Beat, Soul & Psychedelic Rock, the band went on to record a full length under their moniker Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band. Their interpretation of 50 Cent's P.IM.P. had long become a cult classic and was often mistaken for the original sample. The group's approach in stretching the boundaries of funk by adding Caribbean steel pans caught the interest of Brooklyn's finest label Truth & Soul who signed the band for the album "55", an explosive mix of funk and hip hop cover versions as well as original compositions that showcase the band's singularity in today's funk circuit. The Mighty Mocambos' recent album "Showdown" (2015) sets yet another cornerstone in their prolific career as a globally active instrumental funk outfit. While maintaining their organic approach of recording real musicians live on tape, the group has refined their trademark sound with a dramatic edge, a hard hitting production and ventures into less obvious musical territories, with a diverse list of special guests ranging from German film composer icon Peter Thomas to hiphop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.

Limited edition ruby red colour vinyl reissue of the smashing album from Germany's finest funk ensemble to celebrate its 5th anniversary. 11 cinematic deep funk instrumentals, celebrated b-boy breaks and vocal dancefloor killers with special guests Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk, Deejay Snoop, DJ Hektek, Donald D., DeRobert, Nichola Richards, Peter Thomas, Guillaume Metenier & Shawn Lee.

Original note from 2015 release:

"The Mighty Mocambos' new album "Showdown" sets another cornerstone in their prolific career as a globally active instrumental funk outfit. While maintaining their organic approach of recording real musicians live on tape, the group has refined their trademark sound with a dramatic edge, a hard hitting production and ventures into less obvious musical territories. While highly enjoying themselves as the tight unit they are, The Mighty Mocambos invited an exciting list of guests to contribute to their musical "Showdown": German film composer icon Peter Thomas, hiphop godfather Afrika Bambaataa, rap legends Charlie Funk aka Afrika Islam (member of the original Rocksteady Crew) and Donald D (of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate), plus Nichola Richards, Shawn Lee, DeRobert from peer label GED Soul in Nashville, Zulu Nation MCs Deejay Snoop & DJ Hektek and organ genius Guillaume Metenier all joined the group for their new musical adventure."

First release of 2019 for Ice City and this one needs no special introduction. One of the ultimate "crossover" soul records - ever. Mid 70s Chicago masterpiece Pamoja written and produced by Keith Stevenson.

"Oooh, Baby" is an uptempo soul groover designated to light up any proper dancefloor. Due to its scarcity and overall demand, it has become a treasure hunt nightmare for cratediggers worldwide. Finally, the official reissue is here! And if that's not enough, flip the 45 over and go deep on the ballad "Only the Lonely Know", with the throbbing, shrill falsetto vocals from Keith himself.

The Pretenders 'Just Be Yourself' remixed from the original Multitrack 2" tapes. World class DJ Kon has been busy doing groundbreaking re-works and remixes of Chic, Michael Jackson, George Benson, T.S. Monk, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Gil Scott Heron, Willie Bobo, Pleasure + many others.

His 3-Volume Off Track "BBE" compilations with Amir of previously unknown Disco, Funk, Boogie & Jazz tracks have gone on to influence tastemakers Dimitri From Paris, Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, Mayer Hawthorne and a new generation of artists like Anderson Paak and Floating Points.

This remix of a legendary and highly in demand Modern Soul track on Carnival Records keeps in step with the original recording while breaking ground into new sonic territory. The sound is rich and full due to Analog mixing by Kamal Humphrey through Maurice Starr's SSL Board. ... simply a future classic.

CTHI Records is back again after a little pause given by the development of the Jaxx Madicine project started initially by the label founder Parker Madicine and Turbojazz. Through out this time the label has productively been joined by Veezo, italian pianist and producer, for the making of their Distant Classic album and various EP’s and remixes published on many different international labels as Local Talk, Visions Rec, Dirt Crew and Eureka. CTHI is now ready , after the recent Japanese tour as Jaxx Madicine Trio, to be again the front stream for the debut EP of Veezo ‘Monolith’. An 8 tracks EP playing the essential “manifesto" and inspiring heritage of the artist. Raw and dirty grooves made in 12bit res, tape delays and acid Ms20 arps on top of which you’ll appreciate afro elements, warm rhodes and pad chords allowing you to perceive the whole Veezo musical ambient creativity. Two singing tracks - unique featurings by David Shorty and the Technoir Duo - are providing deep house/boogie atmospheres and jazzy spiritual moods. There are various musicians participating into this project leading through bass, flutes and drums that will surely provide you the feeling of an orchestral setting guided and directed by a solo person inducting all those elements through an Akai taperecorder. The result: close to a mid 90’s forbidden cartoon enriched by the cover of the Japanese artist Tokio Aoyama.

During the seventies, the Kingdom of Morocco was not spared by the rock and funk wave that went through the world. From Casablanca to Tanger, from Marrakesh to Rabat, nightclubs and other concert halls have seen a good number of small groups, more or less amateur and definitely DIY, some of which have been catapulted onto the international stage like Golden Hands. Founded in 1969 by two brothers and a friend, this cult band brought their rock and funk topped with a Moroccan sauce to Europe after having experienced success in their homeland.

Sdban Records is very proud to release for the first time ever on vinyl Golden Hands' only album released in 1978 on cassette by Moroccan label Disques Gam, including the cult classic 'Take Me Back'.

During the seventies, the Kingdom of Morocco was not spared by the rock and funk wave that went through the world. From Casablanca to Tanger, from Marrakesh to Rabat, nightclubs and other concert halls have seen a good number of small groups, more or less amateur and definitely DIY, some of which have been catapulted onto the international stage like Golden Hands. Founded in 1969 by two brothers and a friend, this cult band brought their rock and funk topped with a Moroccan sauce to Europe after having experienced success in their homeland.

Sdban Records is very proud to release for the first time ever on vinyl Golden Hands' only album released in 1978 on cassette by Moroccan label Disques Gam, including the cult classic 'Take Me Back'.

Rescued from a haze of drugs, alcohol and questionable women comes a potent blend of heavy Chicago Funk, Modern Soul & Psychedelia. Influential recordings from the group's sought-after Funk classics have been sampled by Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Jim Jones, Raekwon & Leaders of The New School.

'Stash' is a previously unreleased 1976 album as mystical and mysterious as the great Rasputin himself. There is very little information available detailing where these recordings originated from or the reason why the album was never made available to the public.

This unusual release certainly breaks with the trend in this day and age of an overwhelming amount of reissues from an over-saturated & over-curated marketplace with liner notes that sometimes take longer to read than the length of time it takes to actually listen to the music.

Cut directly to vinyl from the recently found master tapes, this music presents material from the band at their artistic peak and the last recordings before Rasputin's Stash members went on to record Crystal Winds First Flight and Attitude, Belief and Determination.

Soia's Happy Place Is "where Magnolia Grows". This Is Where Her Paradise Lies, Where She Can Bloom And Blossom. Adorned With Playful Melodies, The Soundtrack Fuses Hiphop, R&b, Nusoul And Jazz Over Saturated And Ample Beats. The Downright Lyrics Offer Deep Insights Into Soia's Soul. Together With Her Producer Mez She Revives Her Musical Roots Of The Nineties. The Songs Range Between Sensual Soul And Expressive Contemporary R&b, Neatly Packed In A Shell Of Electronic Synths And Keys. Throughout The Nine Tracks The Beats Make Your Head Nod While Soia's Voice Makes You Close Your Eyes In Delight.

The First Track, A Boom Bap Tune Called Run With Wolves, Gently Introduces You To The Album. In Her Paradise World She Runs From Nothing And Determines Her Own Pace. Soia's High-pitched Vocals Are A Deliberate Alienation, A Stylistic Break From Her Two Predecessor Albums, Which She Also Uses In Hoe For Love And Looming Storm.

Vacant Paradise Employs Deep 808 Kick Drums And Rolling Hi-hats. In Pay For Pizza, Soia Not Only Shows Her Love For Hiphop, But Also Urges Everyone To Pay For Their Bills Them Damn Selves.

Released On Beat Art Department, A New Sub-label Of The Well-renowned Munich-based Record Label Compost Records, Where Magnolia Grows Is Soia's Third Solo Album. Her Two Previous Albums Mood Swings And H.i.o.p. Were Published By The Philadelphia-based Label Record Breakin' Music.

Her Pre-productions Have Been Nominated For The Austrian Music Award Amadeus Twice And Enjoy A Loyal International Fan Base. She Has Appeared Live At Festivals Such As Sxsw, Sonic Visions, Electric Spring, Waves Vienna Or Popfest Vienna, As Well As At Numerous Club Gigs From Cape Town To Vienna. Thanks To Nasom Programme (the New Austrian Sound Of Music) She Is Currently On Tour With Her Band Of Four.

Quotes:

- soia Delivers Sensual, Abstract Lyrics While Effortlessly Moving Between Spoken-word Rhymes And Melodic Singing. - Okayplayer / Usa

- soia & Mez Have Grown Immensely Over The Years Musically Pushing The Boundaries Of Soul & Jazz Within An Electronically Tainted Spectrum. Brilliant Album! - Jay Scarlett / Sound Supreme / Spacek

"soia And Mez Have Had A Unique Musical Vibe From The Start, But On This Record They Truly Came Into Their Own. Trusting Each Others Talents And Instincts Enabled Them To Expand Their Sonic Universe While Staying 100% True To Their Path." -trishes / Radio Fm4

Born in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) in 1975, Irene Nonis started playing the guitar at the age of 13 and wrote her first songs at 17. Her influences come from the American soul, with variations towards jazz and bossa (Sade, Paul Weller, Astrud Gilberto, Johnny Marr). Her voice shines in the two new tracks included in this 7'': "This Love" is a blue-eyed soul track that moves between Northern Soul and Motown, while "Night Stuff" has more of a 70's London nocturnal atmosphere, with a great bass line.

'Dancing With A Stranger' is a slice of sultry, R'n'B influenced pop from Sam Smith & Normani - via Capitol Records. The collaboration between the two artists came about through a chance encounter at a Los Angeles studio where Smith was writing with Stargate and Jimmy Napes. Normani was in the studio next door and, with both artists being long-time fans of each other, it seemed only natural for her to team up with Sam to create the new single. The single has already surpassed 1 million digital sales. 'Dancing With a Stranger' is the first new music from Sam Smith in 2019 and follows his summer 2018 global hit with Calvin Harris, 'Promises.' This limited edition 12" vinyl comes with a scented sleeve.

The man, the myth, the legend that is Aldo Vanucci is back with a small black disc of wax for the ages. Yes, it's the very same individual who supplies samples to Fatboy Slim, who was voted Plymouths 14th best DJ and who has undertaken marathon 36 hour DJ sets for charity. Exactly. Yes it's that Aldo Vanucci...

With a vast back catalogue of releases already to his name on respected indie labels including Tru Thoughts, Catskills, Good Groove and his own Good Living Records he has established himself as one of the producers you can trust when it comes to quality.

And this release ahead of his forthcoming album on Jalapeno Records is no exception. The soulful strutter - 'Ponderosa' could have been extracted from a Tarantino movie taking a Morricone-esque score sample and flipping it into a modern slice of driving pop. The powerful top line from Dena Deadly adds some colourful imagery to enhancing the already cinematic sounds.

Flipside 'Knew You Were Coming' fuses an 80's disco boogie groove with a memorable top line that really shows off Mr. Vanucci's DJ credentials. It's a club bomb with enough power to detonate any dancefloor.

DJ, producer, singer-songwriter, one-half of world-touring soul duo Myron & E (Stones Throw), founder of boogie outfit The Pendletons (Bastard Jazz), part of electro-funk duo Lucid Paradise, and an endless string of collabos. Over 2 decades in the game means multi-faceted artist Eric Boss knows his way around music. Having been there, done that, gotten the t-shirt and watched the fat lady sing, it's finally time for E to take center stage and deliver his finest effort yet with solo record "A Modern Love", an effervescent collection of raw funk, sweet soul, west coast vibes and classic hip hop, produced by Björn Wagner and Steffen Wagner (The Mighty Mocambos / Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band).

"A Modern Love" has all the ingredients of a future classic. High-profile guests Check: with Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious) rapping on "I Wanna Ride", a track with more bounce than a lowrider chevy on Santa Monica boulevard, and soul siren Gizelle Smith featuring on "Spiders", a spooky number that will get you jumping out of your seat like you've been attacked by giant 8-legged arachnids. Need some dancefloor action "Get Next To You" gets down to serious bizniz with crisp drums and a catchy hook guaranteed to get the party started. Something for lovers We've got it covered with "Is It Love", where Eric waxes lyrical about his sweetheart over a honey-drenched soul beat.

From reggae-flavored vibes being served in inspirational number "Your Life Is Up to You" to the slow-burning grooves of "Merry Jane" which features singer Ishtar, the 10 tunes on "A Modern Love" all attest to Eric Boss' talent and versatility. Judging by how quickly the limited edition 45 of album opener "Closer To The Spirit" sold out when it was released, it seems safe to say Eric Boss is a king Midas with the golden touch when it comes to providing fresh grooves for contemporary ears, and "A Modern Love" is set to prove so once again.

'The Loop' is the new LP by Los Angeles based polymath Shafiq Husayn, an epic project which saw its inception in 2012 through a series of studio sessions at Shafiq's home, including collaborations with the likes of Thundercat, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Bilal and Anderson Paak. Amongst a close knit circle of friends and family the golden tones of The Loop were created, deeply rooted in ideas of song, story, history, guidance and spirituality. The album bumps, jumps and jangles through progressions in jazz, hip hop, soul and funk, following on from his debut album 'Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka' and adding further to his rich history of timeless, unique music. On The Loop past, present and future are brought together through a psychedelic concoction of time traveling drum machines, celestial string sections and trails of synthesizer vapour. Inflections of Sly Stone, Pharaoh Sanders and Earth Wind And Fire traverse with Marley Marl and Dilla-esqe drums making for an organic yet LA-trifying experience.

Shafiq has brought together an impressive array of LA's musical royalty, enlisting the likes of Thundercat, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Kamasi Washington, Chris 'Daddy' Dave, Eric Rico, Coultrain, Computer Jay, Jimetta Rose, Om'Mas Keith, Kelsey Gonzalez, I-Ced and more to provide the backbone to his recording sessions. Drawing in features from an international cast of performers and artists like Erykah Badu, Robert Glasper, Hiatus Kaiyote, Fatima and Karen Be amongst others. Now complete and finally ready for release in 2019 The Loop is truly something to behold. The records is accompanied by a series of paintings by acclaimed Japanese visual artist Tokio Aoyama, who worked in tandem with Shafiq to create a painting for each song on the record.

The KBCS are:

Lucas Kochbeck - Drums

Nicolas Börger - Keyboards

Lars Coelln - Guitars

Daniel Stritzke - Bass

The KBCS were born in the northern hemisphere under the zodiac sign of snowman. They sound like Föhr and nicely topped pizza, tight as thinly folded pizza boxes and with drums dry as flour that would nearly make you cough. But hotter. Laughing is part of their ritual to get into the zone. Even though some of them prefer Ph without coriander, they still won't order it online because of plastic waste.

The moon shone happily while they recorded their spiced up cinematic, funky & atmospheric lowdown grooves album.And since the polar star was missing, they headed for Venus instead. Luckily, they didn't keep it four-dimensional but had old friend and funk head Mr Flo Mega himself on keys and good vibes - things got really wicked from there. Few people were present and those who were are not entirely sure how it all happened or where it began. Some people say it was Roy, others blame it on the sauna. Fact is that the session took its own course and most people were smiling during the recordings.

Nobody knew then about the flamingo on the cover or why the bird at least looks like one. Hailing from Hamburg, Germany the KBCS not only love to record but also play around Europe. Be sure to welcome them with a Ph in your city and they will surely return the favor by taking you on a ride utilizing a special horse: the (space) funk lama.

Big John K began singing in church at age five and taught himself to play piano. His performing career actually began in Dayton, Ohio around 1957 where he played with Ray Charles and several members of Count Basie's band. In the late 1950s he recorded around twenty different songs but only six singles were released. He then changed his name to Johnny K. and was signed to Epic Records in 1969. He played shows with Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, B.J. Thomas and opened for Jimi Hendrix but left Epic Records in 1971. "Poor Souls" and "Marching Home" were both released on tiny indie labels and remained unknown even in collector circles to this day. The Tramp crew is extremely happy to finally re-release these two cuts - 110% rhythm & blues dynamite!

Here comes another nasty piece of heavyweight funky soul out of Detroit. This tune certainly appeals to both northern soul as well as funk 45 collectors, especially the open drum break on the flip is a monster.

Record Store Day 2019, debut release on KingUnderground. Edition of 500.

RSD 2019 official release
Debut on KingUnderground
Edition of 500
For fans of funk, soul, library Records, James Brown etc
Russia's equivalent of J.B's but with a touch of krautrock, think 'Can' and some other flavours.Recorded live, in one take, a quiet storm on both sides of the 45 - some calm heat vibes on side A and lifted saxophone 'Sade'-ish vibes on the back.

'The Soul Surfers', are a Russian funk band formed by Igor Zhukovsky and his classmates. Their music crosses a lot of genres: deep funk; lowrider soul; psychedelic rock; and exotic music. With 45's released on numerous labels, 'Funk Night', 'Ubiquity', 'Spasibo Records' and a bunch of others, they have grown a loyal fanbase worldwide and have been doing shows in Europe, the US, the Middle East and all over the Russia. Their music has appeared on 20th Century Fox's 'Glee' and 'Let It Soul', a documentary about Shawn Lee. Following the doc they recorded an album together, titled; 'Shawn Lee & The Soul Surfers'.

LP,180g, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART

Released in 1976, Distinctive Themes / Race To Achievement is legendary arranger Nick Ingman exploring the two distinct ideas of 'impressive themes varying in style from 'Basie to Elgar'' and 'a study in the pressure and rewards of achievement'.Distinctive Themes is a veritable indulgence of variously-tempoed, full orchestra, big band workouts, from relaxed swing to more propulsive themes. The progressively building 'Expanding Markets' is a true highlight, with its rolling pianos, contemplative electric guitar solos and moody horns over skipping beats.
The dramatic 'Against The Odds' is another stand-out.
Race To Achievement is all rugged funk with stabbing chords and strutting horns and it's probably our favourite side. Of course we have to acknowledge the fantastic 'Tense Preparation', sampled by Prince Paul and Dan The Automator for Handsome Boy Modeling School's seminal 'Magnetizing' with Del Tha Funky
Homosapien. But the whole side's range from tense underscores to fast and punchy chase themes makes this is a gem of the KPM catalogue.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for Distinctive Themes / Race To Achievement comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current
custodian of KPM's brand identity.

The Moments' On Top is a perfect example of symphonic soul. Amongst true heads, this is considered the most valuable of all their albums; an original copy of this LP, if you can find one, starts at around $75. Alongside contemporaneous acts from the early 70s - The Chi-lites, The Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Futures, Blue Magic and The Main Ingredient - The Moments exuded all that was compelling about deep, harmony-drenched, string-laden soul. The standout here is undoubtedly 'To You with Love", a floating, tender ballad sung by Harry Ray that features the group's patented handclap-tambourine combo, sweetly repetitive strings, serene guitar and gentle piano. It was famously sampled by J Dilla for 'Last Donut Of The Night' - the gut-wrenching finale to his seminal Donuts. Concentrating solely on its sampled history would do The Moments a huge disservice, but its crucial appearance at the climax of Donuts directed fresh generations of pre-disposed soul fans to the absolute canon. Judged entirely on its merit, it's one of the most heart-breaking songs of any decade and worth the price of admission alone. It's the sweetest, most goose-bump inducing 3 minutes of aural bliss you're ever likely to be exposed to. If that wasn't enough, On Top spawned two minor R&B hits: 'All I Have' and 'Lucky Me", each featuring Billy Brown's ice-melting falsetto. Opener 'All I Have' is a sumptuous introduction to the album. With melancholic, understated guitar licks, twinkling keys and heartbeat drums, it's a gem.

* Five years have passed since the first release of Nowadays Records.Launched with Fakear's signature (seen on Ninja Tune), the label founded by oOgo and Chomsky from La Fine Equipe has seen the growth of many projects such as Clément Bazin, Everydayz, Phazz (who produced for Travis Porter, did remixes for Soulection, Interscope and Mad Decent), Leska, Jumo and many others, all of them carried by the irreplaceable quartet of La Fine Equipe.

Five years during which Nowadays Records released 75 EPs and LPs, toured in and outside of France, and generated several hundred millions stream plays.With its heart in the right place, its eyes on the emerging scene and its ears open on the world, Nowadays built itself a singular and racy identity through the time. Fed by inspirations like Stone Throw, Ninja Tune or Warp, the label places itself as an ambassador of a fast growing scene, defending it through its shows, releases, and events like the two Boiler Room shows in Paris and London.Without sticking itself to a musical gender, Nowadays keeps on widening its horizons by working with foreign artists and mixing the inspirations through its releases, driven by its sound and visual trademarks and aesthetics.

In order to celebrate those five years spent defending as many projects as musical crushes they had, and to thank its community made of more than 150 000 followers around the world, Nowadays unveils the 'Nowadays V', double album with a digital and physical release on November 30th.Through this compilation, Nowadays gathers on one side the tracks that marked its history and, on the other side, unreleased tracks that sometimes lead to collaborations such as the one between Clément Bazin and Leska, or the one between Fakear and La Fine Equipe.

Is good music good for anything Well, you are supposed to connect to it. Make you dance. Feel happy, sad, fearless, in love, jealous and righteous and so much more. And hit you like five coffees in the morning and a few shots of cognac at night. The Limboos just perfected the recipe on their new album, Baia (Penniman Records, 2019).

The Limboos do what they wanna do. They know what they like and they know what you like even though that might be two different things. They work in their own rhythm and it's proven you can move to that rhythm. Everybody lost a few bucks at the end of the night but nobody cares. Everybody woke up a little tired and achy and didn't feel like going to work. But they did and did it even harder the next three times that week. Lucky you caught them on a Monday night.

With Baia, their third album in five years, The Limboos will transport you, without asking, to a sweet and viscous spiritual ceremony that crosses paths between Chicago from Santiago de Cuba. This new one again produced by Mike Mariconda and with 100% of their own songs you get eleven new lessons in class and sweaty elegance. Check the single "Where Did She Go" and see. You'll just dance and maybe fall down from exhaustion and make you do things you swore you would never do. Ignoring this rotten postmodern world, they don't try to transport you to when the times were better. They are just making better times- show by show, record by record. So you got lucky and found something you can listen to in the car, the bar, the barn, at work and even on public transport. But if you choose the last one beware for pickpockets, it's worth more than the cash you are carrying.

The Limboos are: Roi Fontoira - Vocals, Guitar; Sergio Alarcón - Organ, Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals; Daniela Kennedy - Drums, Backing Vocals; Santiago Sacristán - Double Bass, Backing Vocals; Dani Niño - Baritone Sax

"As members of one of New Orleans' most esteemed soul/funk groups of the 60's and 70's (The Delltones) Roland Treaudo & Manuel Herrera Jr. made a name for themselves recording iconic albums and sharing the stage with the likes of Lou Rawls, The Commodores, Dorothy Moore, Etta James, Bobby Womack and Jackie Wilson.
As a duo, Roland & Manwell went on to produce some of the best electronic funk tracks of the time and this record is our effort to shine a light on these underappreciated masters.
The tracks on this new 12" are some of their home recordings from 1980-1985 which showcase their massive talent as composers, instrumentalists and vocalists. Truly a must-have record for anyone interested in obscure 80's Synth Funk."

Gratitude's rare Canadian disco 12" is well know to the heads, there is also a VERY rare 7" with a slightly alternate mix that is almost entirely unknown (not even listed on Discogs).

'We Are Here To Party' is a driving Deepfunk disco banger in the vein of King Tut. On the flip 'Loving You' is a Chic influenced disco production as strong as the A-side, always good when its a solid flip as well. We have taken the 12" Versions and put it on to 45, the forthcoming David Haffner compilation will have the even rarer 7" Version on it. Back into disco turf, loads more on the way.

First Word Records are thrilled to announce a brand new addition to the label - LA beatmaker and producer 14KT.

Known for his deft, soulful hip hop production, KT has broadened his palate for his FW debut to create 'For My Sanity', the first offering from his jazz-influenced project IAMABEENIE.

The album will be released in early 2019, but we couldn't wait that long to share this taster of what 14KT created as a form of escaping from his "normal" ways of making music. Case in point: the first single taken from the project - 'The Power of Same' feat. Muhsinah.

Strongly rooted in KT's spiritual practice, 'The Power of Same' is a bass and synth-heavy ode to consistency and unconditional love, laced nicely together by his signature drum lines, harmonious guitar riffs (played on the track by Stro Elliot) and the unmistakable sound of James Poyser (The Roots). Vocal powerhouse Muhsinah adds layers of emotion via her endearing delivery of the core message, and, deep in the background you can hear KT sharing a very personal routine with us all - giving thanks to God.

How much of a personal project this is, in 14KT's words "This was inspired by a bible study plan I was reading called The Power of Same. It spoke about the power of being consistent in our lives. I thought about how consistently God's love and my family's love have gotten me through my journey of life. Once I made a "skeleton" of the song, I reached out to the brother James Poyser who I was extremely blessed to work with. My brother Stro Elliot was living right down the street from me at the time. One night he walked over to my house, I played the record for him, he picked up my electric guitar and played the first thing that came to mind - which was perfect. I played the record for my brother Tall Black Guy, who suggested I reach out to Muhsinah to add vocals. I sent the record to her and two days later she sent me exactly what you hear. Amazing. That was definitely the spirit of God working. Huge shout out to my Playlist family. Love y'all."

To date, 14KT has released seven solo albums, as well as his collaborative hip hop album, 'Takin' Ls' with emcee Ozay Moore, R&B/soul album, 'Saturn Return' with singer/songwriter AB, and 'The Big Knock', together with Mayer Hawthorne as Jaded Incorporated.

Last year saw another duo collaboration album with Michigan rapper Ro Spit, entitled 'RSXGLD', a project held in high regard by the global hip hop community.14KT is also part of Jazzy Jeff's Playlist Retreat, alongside our very own Eric Lau, Tall Black Guy and Kaidi Tatham, who also turns out an unmistakably dope remix on this 7" single.

A very warm welcome to the family, KT!

'The Power Of Same' is available on 7" and all digital platforms on March 1st 2019.

BBC Radio Quotes:
Zoe Ball "Frippin LOVE LOVE it!" - It Just Goes
Craig Charles: "It's a tune!" - It Just Goes
Tracks taken from the album have so far received 7 Plays on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music from Zoe Ball and Craig Charles.
Regional spot plays on BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Jersey, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Somerset. Specialist plays on Jazz FM and Mi-Soul (Deadly's Mi-afternoon delight, Dave VJ,)
It Just Goes was Playlisted Delite Radio and Radio Krimi
Other spot plays on radio from RTE Pulse, KaneFm, Solar Radio, Eastside Radio, 1BTN, Dubmission Radio, Republic 100.3 Thessaloniki, Ketch A Vibe, WBAI 99.5FM, Milk and Chocolate Radio, Radio Pepper 96.6 Greece, AllFm Manchester.
DJ support comes in from Satin Jackets, Marc Hype, Mat the Alien, Basement Freaks, All Good funk Alliance and Noble & Heath

9th release from RBMB
Ian Wallace aka Sam Champ has been producing and DJ for quite some time.
Ian is also 1/2 odf the group Extra Medium with Buscrates 16-Bit Ensemble.
Participant of DJ Jazzy Jeff's Playlist Retreat

The Whole Truth is back after a small hiatus with a new collaboration with Eric Boss of Myron & E fame. Last seen together on Party Down, whose boogie stylings garnered support from the likes of Dam Funk, this time Eric takes the pitch-perfect 80s funk and gives his producer a theme tune, a calling card. This one is a real underground funk gem. Eric has been making waves on the boogie scene for sometime with his Pendletons releases.

Previous Whole Truth releases have had radio play from the likes of Monki(BBC Radio 1) and Nemone (6 Music). And this time, not only does the artwork come from Lewis Heriz (Sofrito) he also plays a mean guitar.

Our second volume of Jamaican doo wop & R&B records taken from the late 50s and early 60s. These records represent a period in which soundsystems were just starting to dominate the island, with Duke Reid and Sir Coxsone stepping up their rivalry by beginning to make and release their own records rather than rely on US imports for use in their dances. Many of these records are definitely more-or-less imitations of the American records, as the uniquely Jamaican ska sound was yet to take hold - however many of the future stars of ska, rocksteady and reggae were beginning to cut their teeth in the industry on these records, incl. Prince Buster, Derrick Harriott and more, and provide a unique view into the fledgling independent record industry culture in Jamaica that would prove to be unbelievably proflific and unparalleled for an island of it's size.

Limited Vinyl LP edition!

The second volume in a two-part collection of Jamaican doo wop from the late 1950s through to the early 1960 represents a period in which sound systems began to dominate the island, and were starting to step up their rivalry by beginning to record heir own platters rather than rely on imports to gain the competitive edge.

With the uniquely Jamaican ska craze yet to fully catch hold, these tracks are largely imitative of the sounds that had been reaching the island from American shores, albeit peppered with hints of what was to come ~ some of the future stars of ska, rocksteady and reggae are starting to cut their teeth here on these records, providing a unique view into the fledgling industry at a time of creative flux.

Der britische Songsschreiber und Künstler Maverick Sabre veröffentlicht sein drittes Album
When I Wake Up, unterstützt von seiner Headline-Tour durch Irland und UK. Sein neues Album ist
ein äußerst persönliches und ergreifendes Werk und enthält Features von Jorja Smith und
Chronixx. When I Wake Up markiert ein neues Kapitel für den britischen Rapper, der unabhängig
von großen Plattenfirmen genau die kreative Freiheit erlangte, die er dafür benötigte. When I Wake
Up ist reich an Geschichten, die die Welt um den Künstler herum kritisieren und erforscht Themen
rund um Gesellschaft, Glauben, Beziehungen, Hoffnung, Schmerz und viele mehr.
Maverick Sabre wurde u. A. durch Kollaborationen mit Musikergrößen bekannt. Darunter die
2018er-Hits Brother, Why You Gotta Love Her (mit Liam Bailey) und They Don't Care About Us
mit Rudimental und YEBBA.

Queen of Funk und 10-fache Grammy-Gewinnerin Chaka Khan ist zurück! Mit - Like Sugar' sorgte sie
für eines der größten Club-Anthems des vergangenen Jahres und begeisterte selbst DJ-Größen
wie Mark Ronson und The Magician. Pünktlich zu Beginn des neuen Jahres erschien ihre neue Single
- Hello Happiness', mit der sie nicht nur ihre gnadenlose Stimmgewalt, sondern auch den angesagten
Funk-Groove der 70er-Jahre zurück auf die Tanzfläche bringt.
Am 15. Februar erscheint nun Chaka Khans neues Album - Hello Happiness' - ihr erstes Album seit 12
Jahren! Das komplette Album wurde, wie auch schon die beiden Singles, von Major
Lazer-Gründungsmitglied Switch produziert, der Chaka Khans unumstrittenen Funk-Glam in ein
modernes Soundgewand packt und dabei für Tanzlaune sorgt.
Chaka Khan begeisterte in den 70er-Jahren mit Funk-Band Rufus und Hits wie - Ain't Nobody' die
Massen. Solo-Erfolge feierte sie u.a. mit - I'm Every Woman' und Prince's - I Feel For You', die beide an
die Spitze der Billboard R&B Charts gelangten.
Ab dem 15.02.2019 ist Chaka Khans Album - Hello Happiness" auf CD & LP sowie einer Ltd. coloured
Vinyl erhältlich.

Durand Jones & The Indications aren't looking
backwards. Helmed by foil vocalists in Durand
Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer, the Indications
conjure the dynamism of Jackie Wilson, Curtis
Mayfield AND the Impressions. Even with an
aesthetic steeped in the golden, strings-infused
dreaminess of early 70s soul, the Indications'
sophomore album, 'American Love Call', is planted
firmly in the present, with the urgency of this
moment in time.
The Indications' 2016 self-titled debut was the
product of friends who met as students at Indiana
University in Bloomington, In., recorded for
$452.11, including a case of beer. 'American Love
Call' is instead the record the Indications dreamed
of making, fleshed out with strings, backing vocals
and a newfound confidence in songwriting.
Blending a slew of influences from years spent
crate-digging, guitarist Blake Rhein says the
Indications approach songs in the same way hip
hop producers do - as likely to pull inspiration from
70s folk-rock or classic R&B as they are Nas'
'Illmatic'.
'Did I expect to do this shit once I got out of
college Hell no,' Jones relays, laughing. 'Totally
not. But this is what God is telling me to do - move
and groove. So I'm gonna stay in my lane.'
LP pressed on translucent orange vinyl.

The only "lost track" from the same session as Lucky Brown's critically acclaimed "Mesquite Suite", "Sweet Tea (With My Sweetie)" reminds fans of Lucky Brown's trademark deepfunk sound that he and his crew can still ignite a dancefloor - and keep it lit for almost 8 minutes! "Sweet Tea (With My Sweetie)" is a cool, refreshing swig of sweet instrumental soul to enjoy while watching the sun set over the pecan trees of the Texas Hill Country with your lover.

Belly-up to the bar and gitcherself a couple tall frosty glasses of Lucky's trademark production/sound swirled with a heady shot of his backing band The S.G.'s. Your thirst for funk will be quenched by a solid deepfunk 2-sider complete with a Texas barbecued guitar feature up front, and jalapeño spiced trombone to take out side one. Then, on the flip: a smoked-out saxophone solo, some cornbread trumpet, some super sweet vintage organ treats, and finally building energy to a tasty drum and horn break - Lucky's brand of Sweet Tea is good to the last drop!

The Tramp team is extremely proud to have been working with such a genius for so many years and hopefully for many more to come! We want to thank all of you who have supported us in the past - thank you so much!

So, go ahead, mix up some "Sweet Tea" this summer! Your listeners will be bobbing their heads, smiling, and feeling good while they holler out for another tall cool glass of "More Sweet Tea".

An album of compositions by Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita who are Ndioba Gueye (electric bass), Julius Heikkilä (electric, acoustic guitars), Antti Kujanpää (keyboards, synths and sequencer), Ilari Larjosto (drums) & Luiz Orlando Sá Do Carmo (percussion). Jimi Tenor appears on the title track My Soul Sensation on tenor saxophone.

Produced by Nicole Willis with Ilari Larjosto. Recorded by Ilari Larjosto with Nicole Willis at Suomenlinna Studio. Vocals recorded by Nicole Willis at Persephone Studio except Free (at Suomenlinna Studio). Mixed by Ilari Larjosto at Suomenlinna Studio. Mastered by Sam Irl & Daniel Pfitscher. Executive Producer: Nicole Willis. Persephone Records © 2018, 2019.

Rescued from a haze of drugs, alcohol and questionable women comes a potent blend of heavy Chicago Funk, Modern Soul & Psychedelia. Influential recordings from the group's sought-after Funk classics have been sampled by Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Jim Jones, Raekwon & Leaders of The New School.

Previously unreleased Rasputin's Stash from the forthcoming Stash album due out in April. 'Make Up Your Mind' is a contagious rhythm with Jimi Hendrix-style fuzzed out guitar riffs echoing sweet soul vocals and a brass section tight enough to please any Tower of Power fan. On the b-side is a slow-jam Soul-Steppers classic 'You Are My Everything'

Cut directly to vinyl from the recently found master tapes, this music presents material from the band at their artistic peak and the last recordings before Rasputin's Stash members went on to record Crystal Winds First Flight and Attitude, Belief & Determination