Hip-Hop News

Deluxe edition of the bestselling Christmas album, on opaque red vinyl

Inna De Yard Production presents brand new 7" from Autarchi, son of artist and producer, Donovan Joseph. Purely grown at Inna De Yard, Autarchi spontaneously covers his father's song on melodious one drop based on China Smith' real ability, melancholic guitar sound. On the flip is a combination by Bermudian Roots singer Magma and the female artist Ruffi-Ann who has been know with her hit "Save The Juvenile".



Autarchi

Ruffi-Ann & Magma

Limited to 250 ! 12" colored vinyl - 2 tracks : 2 tracks :

An atmospheric return" -Clash Music
Between the latest incarnation of Arctic Monkeys and a soulful Paolo Nutini" -Gigwise
Radio support from Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (XFM).
The Milk's second album, their first signed to London indie Wah Wah 45s
New direction influenced by band's love of 70s soul and RnB
Produced by The Bees' Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, Devendra Banhart)
UK tour in October & November
Our second record, like many others before us, has been a life affirming but at times painful experience. For all the good we did on our first record, we felt that there we're many unanswered questions. It was important that this album put the record straight, not just for our fans and peers but for ourselves."
Dan Legresley
Fuelled by a rediscovery of the music and artists that originally inspired their formation, the four walls of their studio were ablaze with a soundtrack of Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes and the Isley Brothers throughout the songwriting process for their new album.
From the swagger of symphonic opener 'Wanderlust' to heartfelt ballad 'Lose That Way' to the thunderous blues of the closing title track, The Milk's confidence in these songs and their execution is clearly audible. Captured in a tireless outburst of creativity at the end of 2014, 'Favourite Worry' is The Milk at their soulful, honest and engaging best.

An atmospheric return" -Clash Music Between the latest incarnation of Arctic Monkeys and a soulful Paolo Nutini" -Gigwise Radio support from Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (XFM). The Milk's second album, their first signed to London indie Wah Wah 45s New direction influenced by band's love of 70s soul and RnB Produced by The Bees' Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, Devendra Banhart) UK tour in October & November
Our second record, like many others before us, has been a life affirming but at times painful experience.

For all the good we did on our first record, we felt that there we're many unanswered questions. It was important that this album put the record straight, not just for our fans and peers but for ourselves."

Dan Legresley Fuelled by a rediscovery of the music and artists that originally inspired their formation, the four walls of their studio were ablaze with a soundtrack of Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes and the Isley Brothers throughout the songwriting process for their new album.

From the swagger of symphonic opener 'Wanderlust' to heartfelt ballad 'Lose That Way' to the thunderous blues of the closing title track, The Milk's confidence in these songs and their execution is clearly audible. Captured in a tireless outburst of creativity at the end of 2014, 'Favourite Worry' is The Milk at their soulful, honest and engaging best.

These recordings have been painstakingly sought-out and unearthed from as far away as Hawaii, Canada, and Jamaica (in addition to the usual Texas, Ohio, and Georgia). This music has been carefully transferred (in some cases form the sole known copy) and remastered to the highest standards of audio quality. Finally, through a determined and diligent research effort leading to interviews with the owners of the rights to the original masters, Feeling Nice Volume 3's detailed liner notes offer you an enlightening window into the lives of the musicians, producers, and independent record labels responsible for some of the deepest music on the planet. All of this in addition to full color label scans and never before seen publicity photos.

Of course, to friends and fans of Tramp Records, none of this is a surprise as you have come to expect consequential projects promoting cultural and historical significance delivered with the love of a fellow record digger and the science of a musicologist. Tramp Records remains one of the champions of rare deep funk soul and jazz on vinyl, uniting thorough research, respect of the original artists and art form, and thoughtful curation of great singles, albums and compilations.

Some of the highlights of Feeling Nice Volume 3 are one of the rarest 45s on the Alston label and in our opinion also one of the best, Clarence Reid's "I Get My Kicks". A James Brown influenced wah wah funk monster, 'Stand-Up Baby' by Canada's Saint John. 'The Jack Mod Kick' by Jake, Ricky and Jack Townshend AKA Jack & The Mods, ranging in age from 6 to 18 and discovered almost accidentally while rehearsing in a rundown shack in rural Virgina! We've got Rickey Andrews taking us on a late 60s dance-move tour of the U.S. with 'Chances Are Your Dance is Mine'. A rare sister funk masterpiece called 'Leave Me Alone' by Nadine Brown from 1977. Leroy & The Drivers' critical track, 'The Sad Chicken', produced in under 30 minutes with their last remaining studio time in 1970 and still ringing loud across the land. One of the nastiest versions of The Iselys' 'It's Your Thing' coming out of Jamaica and so much more!

Milk & Green - The future of Soul.. Memphis soul diva and former Hi Records star Toni Green and Malted Milk, the grooviest funk combo on the European scene today, join forces on this explosive collaboration. Together, they deliver a staggering album chock-full of bluesy and funky overtones.

Once an active member of the Isaac Hayes traveling show, Memphis-born Toni Green got her start at an early age: "My father was a musician and everybody came to my home to rehearse. The Bar-Kays, the Mad Lads, everyone." After a stint with vocal quartet Imported Moods, she joined the roster of legendary producer Willie Mitchell, alongside Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay and Syl Johnson on Hi Records.

Toni was thrilled when she was offered the opportunity to work with Malted Milk on this project by producer Sebastian Danchin. "This guy from Europe came to visit me. He'd been wanting to work with me for fifteen years, just waiting for the right moment. First thing I asked him was: 'What took you so long"

After several months of intense preparation, Milk & Green met in the studio in March 2014. Recording took place over ten days at the Bonison studio, a first rate facility in the French countryside, near Nantes. On the supergroup's agenda was a mix of covers borrowed from people as diverse as southern soul songsmith Tommy Tate, R'n'B diva Mary J. Blige, Philadelphia's own Garnet Mimms, as well as Hi Records luminaries Syl Johnson and Ann Peebles. "We decided to record a version of Ann Peebles's Slipped Tripped and Fell in Love, in order to show where our inspiration came from, says Malted Milk leader and singer Arnaud Fradin. We also wanted to showcase our own work, and half of the album's repertoire are originals written and arranged in the studio with Toni."

The end result reflects Milk & Green's vision of 21st century soul, a funky and bluesy mix that takes the ball rolling way beyond the retro soul sounds that have been the norm for the past few years.

Milk & Green - The future of Soul.. Memphis soul diva and former Hi Records star Toni Green and Malted Milk, the grooviest funk combo on the European scene today, join forces on this explosive collaboration. Together, they deliver a staggering album chock-full of bluesy and funky overtones.

Once an active member of the Isaac Hayes traveling show, Memphis-born Toni Green got her start at an early age: "My father was a musician and everybody came to my home to rehearse. The Bar-Kays, the Mad Lads, everyone." After a stint with vocal quartet Imported Moods, she joined the roster of legendary producer Willie Mitchell, alongside Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay and Syl Johnson on Hi Records.

Toni was thrilled when she was offered the opportunity to work with Malted Milk on this project by producer Sebastian Danchin. "This guy from Europe came to visit me. He'd been wanting to work with me for fifteen years, just waiting for the right moment. First thing I asked him was: 'What took you so long"

After several months of intense preparation, Milk & Green met in the studio in March 2014. Recording took place over ten days at the Bonison studio, a first rate facility in the French countryside, near Nantes. On the supergroup's agenda was a mix of covers borrowed from people as diverse as southern soul songsmith Tommy Tate, R'n'B diva Mary J. Blige, Philadelphia's own Garnet Mimms, as well as Hi Records luminaries Syl Johnson and Ann Peebles. "We decided to record a version of Ann Peebles's Slipped Tripped and Fell in Love, in order to show where our inspiration came from, says Malted Milk leader and singer Arnaud Fradin. We also wanted to showcase our own work, and half of the album's repertoire are originals written and arranged in the studio with Toni."

The end result reflects Milk & Green's vision of 21st century soul, a funky and bluesy mix that takes the ball rolling way beyond the retro soul sounds that have been the norm for the past few years.

One of the most widely travelled, widely heard unknown groups in the world. A band of serious Funk musicians who have shared the stage with the elite of the elite. They have shared the stage with Jean Carne, Boston, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Shalamar, Tavares, Rufus Thomas, Tyrone Davis, Barbara Lynn, Millie Jackson, The Brothers Johnson, B.T. Express, Brick, Frank Lucas, The Drifters & Blue Magic. They won equal acclaim when they played alongside Earth, Wind & Fire at The CBS Family Affair. They performed at New York's Rialto Theatre, The Apollo, and toured East and West Germany. They performed for the movie premier of Rudy Ray Moore's, Petey Wheatstraw - The Devil's Son-In-Law at Chicago's Regal Theatre.

The original name of the group was THE SIX DEGREES SOUTH (A Very rare funk45 I released when working at Jazzman Records) based out of Lawton Oklahoma. A nomadic group, they completed a 3 year trek primarily booked at military bases across the nation. They also played a variety of college and university towns, ski-lodges, various clubs and hotel ballrooms. They initially dabbled in recording producing a vinyl 45' single entitled, Loving You Is Too Far Out. Upon returning to home-base the group met the legendary soul singer, Joe Tex. Being into funk, we were not all that familiar with his soul sound. He explained what he wanted to do and the end results of what could be accomplished. The band, already being self-contained and autonomous seized the opportunity to utilize not only Tex's fame in the music/radio world but his label connections. Unknowingly, this group almost single-handedly launched Tex's career back into the spotlight allowing him to re-emerge and re-invent himself after a 5 year sabbatical.

They played, wrote and produced-in-part Joe Tex's Bumps & Bruises album containing the mega-hit, Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman. This culminated into Tex's first gold album, won a Grammy nomination and was #86 on Billboard's 1978 year-end chart.

On the flip side the bands own LP was shelfed after the single "Smoke in the Disco" did not live up to Stansons Records expectations, as these things go it later became a huge modern/northern soul record and is coveted by collectors all over the world, so lets share a bit more of the Lost LP...,.

First time I heard this track out was D.Jing with Adrian Gibson, booker/manager for the London Jazz Cafe in its hay day in the early 2000s, i thought it was some crazy obscusre early Jacksons 45. I had no idea what it was but i liked it and it stuck with me. As my eyes were on 45's at the time it passed me by until Numero Group reissued it on their fabulous 'Soul Messengers' compilation (essential purchase if you don't own). After quite a bit of badgering Rob Sevier, Co-owner of Numero Group, let this grace my format of choice, so here we are, both sides first outing as a single. Essential

After releasing countless collectable and in-demand 7in singles and making a name for themselves in the contemporary "raw funk and soul" scene, The Soul Surfers drop their debut album "Soul Rock!"; a magnum opus of raw, gritty soul and greasy funk featuring eminent guests from the aforementioned scene that birthed their sound. Soul crooners Myron & E break out of their "smooth" vocal personas and deliver a decidedly more stripped down and visceral performance in the lead-off single "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) From My Love that also promises to be a dance floor filler. Co-collaborators JJ Whitefield from The Poets of Rhythm and Malcom Catto of the Heliocentrics add their signature touch on two of the album's "heavier" cuts "Raw" and "Stop Fooling Around." Label-mate, multi-instrumentalist and studio genius Shawn Lee lends his vocal, guitar and mixing board talents to "Time Is A Gun" while noted producer Didier from the Soul Investigators gets in on the mix, vibes, and percussion on the heavy slow-burner "Astra". Smoove & Turrell round out the album with the blue-eyed soul stomper "Straight Up".

Formed while still in highschool and eventually releasing 20+ singles on Detroit's "Funk Night Records" starting in 2011, The Soul Surfers are just getting started, led by Igor Zhukovsky who has this to say about their debut album, "we had a chance to collaborate and make this international album with so many cool guests from the best groups in the game all over the world. And there is no barriers with people worldwide - everybody can do what they love together, don't believe the shitty words of politicians!"

After releasing countless collectable and in-demand 7in singles and making a name for themselves in the contemporary "raw funk and soul" scene, The Soul Surfers drop their debut album "Soul Rock!"; a magnum opus of raw, gritty soul and greasy funk featuring eminent guests from the aforementioned scene that birthed their sound. Soul crooners Myron & E break out of their "smooth" vocal personas and deliver a decidedly more stripped down and visceral performance in the lead-off single "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) From My Love that also promises to be a dance floor filler. Co-collaborators JJ Whitefield from The Poets of Rhythm and Malcom Catto of the Heliocentrics add their signature touch on two of the album's "heavier" cuts "Raw" and "Stop Fooling Around." Label-mate, multi-instrumentalist and studio genius Shawn Lee lends his vocal, guitar and mixing board talents to "Time Is A Gun" while noted producer Didier from the Soul Investigators gets in on the mix, vibes, and percussion on the heavy slow-burner "Astra". Smoove & Turrell round out the album with the blue-eyed soul stomper "Straight Up".

Formed while still in highschool and eventually releasing 20+ singles on Detroit's "Funk Night Records" starting in 2011, The Soul Surfers are just getting started, led by Igor Zhukovsky who has this to say about their debut album, "we had a chance to collaborate and make this international album with so many cool guests from the best groups in the game all over the world. And there is no barriers with people worldwide - everybody can do what they love together, don't believe the shitty words of politicians!"

The Queen of Soul herself on this, 'Wonderful' previously a 7' single but extremely rare and sought after with copies exchanging hands from upwards of £50 each. 'Wonderful' has become a modern soul room dancefloor classic, originally recorded and released in 2003.

2 quality re-edits from Fingerman, A1 track 'Never Survive (Fingerman Edit)' re-works Seal 'Crazy', B side re-edits 'What A Fool Believes' by The Doobie Brothers

Neither of these tracks have previously be available on 7' singles but both massive modern soul room dance tracks previously played from old albums and CD. Gladys Knight needs no introduction, she is one of the greatest soul vocalists of all time, 'Baby Baby Don't Waste My Time' written and produced by Ashford & Simpson.

Both tracks here never previously on vinyl, 'Forever With You' a modern soul dancer, both tracks originally on Philadelphia International CD with productions from Kenny Gamble, Dexter Wansel and Bunny Sigler.

2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the production of the Black Fairy album. We began on the journey in 1975 to produce the album following the successful production and tour of the jazz funk musical. My first call for consultation was to one of my mentors, the late, legendary Oscar Brown Jr., for his advice. My second call was to the late Paul Serrano, owner of P.S. Recording Studios. Paul, a former trumpeter with Count Basie, agreed to personally engineer the album. I was also able to assemble great musicians such as the amazing Chico Freeman, Anthony Llorens and Jerry "Jami" Johnson to support the incredible singers from the original cast of the play. I must mention Patricia Crawford the Black Fairy; Masequa Myers the Queen Mother; Denise Llorens as Black Bird; Vincent Hardman as Johnny; Barry Ray as Uncle Remus and the vocals of Gregory Curry. The continued positive impact of the songs after all these years on so many generations are testimony to the extraordinary talent assembled for this project. "Black Fairy" is a fairy tale, but not in the traditional sense. When writing this play, I did not want to re-create the types of fantasies which are so common in children's theater. There is no kind of magic that can relieve Black children from the oppression that retards their development. However, I do feel giving them a better understanding of their heritage can help them achieve their true potential. And those of us who are concerned with their development should try to expose them to knowledge that gives them a positive sense of identity. Although I do feel a children's play should be entertaining, I also feel it should be educational. Also, because there are so few children's plays which reflect the Black Experience, I wanted to write a play that Black children could identify with. "Black Fairy" is a musical drama about a Black Fairy who lacks pride in herself and feels she has nothing to offer Black children. But when she meets Black Bird and Queen Mother (who take her to ancient Egypt, East Afrika, a southern slave plantation and the streets of Harlem) she begins to get a better understanding of her heritage. Her journey through the past enables Black Fairy to meet Aesop, Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Uncle Remus, Stag-o-lee, Leadbelly, and many other characters in Black folklore and Black history. At the end of her journey, Black Fairy realizes that "being Black is nothing to be ashamed of" and is then able to share her knowledge with other Black children. Even though Black Fairy doesn't completely resolve her dilemma, having a knowledge of her heritage does give her more confidence to cope with the future. It is only fair to mention that "Black Fairy" would never have come to life if it were not for the creative directorship of Pemon Rami and the music composed by Tony Llorens and Jerry Johnson. These people, more than anyone else, have made Black Fairy the success it has become. I also feel that without the full support of Better Boys Foundation and its Board of Directors, the production and this album would not have been possible. "Black Fairy" was the second play at the LaMont Zeno Community Theater, a cultural program of the Better Boys Foundation, a family agency located in North Lawndale in Chicago. Many of the youngsters who perform in the play are members of our Youth Theater Development Program which is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Under the capable guidance of Pemon Rami and his staff, we were able to take youngsters who had no previous theater experience and train them to become competent performers and also to teach them other technical theater skills. The result of this effort has made "Black Fairy" a favorite among both children and adults who have had an opportunity to see it. During the summer of 1974, "Black Fairy" was performed for over four thousand children in Chicago. And in April 1975, it played to over two thousand children in Detroit at Mercy College. "Black Fairy" is only the first of many children's plays we hope to produce at the Better Boys Foundation. There is an Afrikan proverb which says: "Children are the reward of life". We at Better Boys Foundation are dedicated to this belief, and feel that helping children to appreciate their heritage is one means of showing our concern for their development.

The UK's favourite funk/soul brothers release their long awaited third album "What Comes To Mind" worldwide on the 2nd Oct 2015. This one drops on their own independant record label Haggis Records and features a host of special guest artists including vocalists Lucinda Slim (Zap Mama), John McCallum (Corinne Bailey Rae band) and John Turrell (Smoove & Turrell) plus New mastersounds bass player Pete Shand and UK conga/percussion legend Snowboy.

The Haggis Horns first hit the music scene in 1999 as both a band and brass section, the Horns making their first recorded appearance on The New Mastersounds debut album that year. Featuring some of the finest brass and rhythm section players in the UK, Haggis Horns musicians have played live and recorded with a host of major music artists including Mark Ronson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lou Donaldson, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Martha Reeves, Jamiroquai, John Legend & The Roots, The Cinematic Orchestra, Morcheeba, Roots Manuva, Finley Quaye and Nightmares On Wax.

With five singles on UK independent label First Word Records plus two albums ("Hot Damn!" in 2007 and "Keep On Movin'" in 2010), they released their first title on their own Haggis Records in summer 2015, the aptly titled "Return Of The Haggis EP".

"What Comes To Mind" is packed full of feelgood funk, soul and boogie that pays homage to the band's musical heroes of the 1970's - Kool & The Gang, Donald Byrd, The Blackbyrds, The Mizell Brothers & Earth Wind & Fire. There's plenty of dancefloor filling funk for the clubs - "Outta My Head", "It Ain't What You Got", "I Can't Stop The Feeling" - plus heavy funk instrumentals like "Return Of The Haggis" where the band get the chance to stretch out and cut loose on the solo sections. For deep soul heads, check the slower tempo gospel tinged vocal track "Give Me Something Better". British soul past or present doesn't come much better than this!

New label. New album. The Haggis Horns have well and truly returned...

The UK's favourite funk/soul brothers release their long awaited third album "What Comes To Mind" worldwide on the 2nd Oct 2015. This one drops on their own independent record label Haggis Records and features a host of special guest artists including vocalists Lucinda Slim (Zap Mama), John McCallum (Corinne Bailey Rae band) and John Turrell (Smoove & Turrell) plus New mastersounds bass player Pete Shand and UK conga/percussion legend Snowboy.

The Haggis Horns first hit the music scene in 1999 as both a band and brass section, the Horns making their first recorded appearance on The New Mastersounds debut album that year. Featuring some of the finest brass and rhythm section players in the UK, Haggis Horns musicians have played live and recorded with a host of major music artists including Mark Ronson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lou Donaldson, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Martha Reeves, Jamiroquai, John Legend & The Roots, The Cinematic Orchestra, Morcheeba, Roots Manuva, Finley Quaye and Nightmares On Wax.

With five singles on UK independent label First Word Records plus two albums ("Hot Damn!" in 2007 and "Keep On Movin'" in 2010), they released their first title on their own Haggis Records in summer 2015, the aptly titled "Return Of The Haggis EP".

"What Comes To Mind" is packed full of feelgood funk, soul and boogie that pays homage to the band's musical heroes of the 1970's - Kool & The Gang, Donald Byrd, The Blackbyrds, The Mizell Brothers & Earth Wind & Fire. There's plenty of dancefloor filling funk for the clubs - "Outta My Head", "It Ain't What You Got", "I Can't Stop The Feeling" - plus heavy funk instrumentals like "Return Of The Haggis" where the band get the chance to stretch out and cut loose on the solo sections. For deep soul heads, check the slower tempo gospel tinged vocal track "Give Me Something Better". British soul past or present doesn't come much better than this!

New label. New album. The Haggis Horns have well and truly returned...
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The New Mastersounds rank among the most preeminent modern soul and funk bands of their time. Having started out in Leeds, UK, the quartet tour the globe regularly, bringing their hard-charging, delectably greasy jams to all corners of the globe, to feed a hungry fan base that stretches from New York City to Tokyo, San Francisco to Amsterdam and all points in between. In 2015, they return with their tenth studio album "Made For Pleasure", their most sprawling and ambitious record to date.

The band's core four-guitarist Eddie Roberts, drummer Simon Allen, bassist Pete Shand and organist Joe Tatton-are joined on the 11-track effort by guests including super fabulous soul chanteuse Charly Lowry, revered percussionist/vibraphonist Mike Dillon and the North Cali-based West Coast Horns, featuring tenor saxophonist JoeCohen and trumpeter Mike Olmos.

Recorded in New Orleans, The New Mastersounds high-step through the humidity and heat leaving no soul or funk touchstone unturned. Both the title track and "High & Wide" are drenched in The-Meters-meet-Lee-Dorsey Big Easy funk, while tracks like "Enough Is Enough," "Joy" and "Just Gotta Run" are firmly rooted in classic soul sister rhythm & blues tradition, think Tina Turner, Ann Peebles, Bettye LaVette. Super-charged by Eddie Roberts' stinging guitar leads, "Cigar Time" and "Sitting On My Knees" take a decidedly soul-jazz turn, diving headlong into Grant Green grit and groove.

Capping off "Made For Pleasure" and further validating its title is a dubbed out reinvention of Iggy Azalea's smash hit "Fancy" that cleverly turns the pop artist's ode to materialism into a 21st century stoner anthem with the repurposed refrain, "I'm so irie."

The New Mastersounds know what feels good and deliver it in spades on their latest long player, and rightfully so, as it was after-all...Made For Pleasure.

"Made For Pleasure" is released as LP, CD and digital download on Legere Recordings.

This Autumn, Nicole Willis rolls out with her third album made together with The Soul Investigators: Happiness In Every Style. It is bound to send shivers down backs all around the world. As the name suggests, the new album will offer variety and tilt towards a more positive note after the murky Tortured Soul from two years back.

This means Nicole and the boys have made things a bit more soothing for the listener, offering upbeat modern soul and even embracing more sophisticated melodies alongside their highly evolved raw funk sound. To get a taste of this, one only has to put on 'Let's Communicate' or 'One In a Million' to get their hands clapping and toes tapping in no time, or respectively, witness the dance floor explode. From minor key ballads such as 'Thief In The Night' to the unapologetically poppy 'Angel', the new album is bound to bring to the hearts of humans in every shade and style.

Whether you know Nicole Willis from before or not does not hold any weight here. After hearing her with The Soul Investigators on this new album, you will know they are for real, and out to offer you everything you need to fill up your soul supply. With Nicole's insightful lyrics and the band's hard-hitting music you are in good care.

Andre-Marie Tala is one of the father figures of African music. Born in the western Provence of Bandjoun, Cameroon, his early years were plagued with tragedy. He lost his mother at 4, his father at 12 and then when on to lose his sight 15. Thankfully, the love of music stayed with him throughout his career and with the help of Manu Dibango he made his first recordings in 1972 and had two hits in Cameroon with Sikati and Potaksima.

He created a group, the Rock Boys, later the Black Tigers, with Sam Fan Thomas as guitarist. At this time, Africa was immersed in music from overseas and many American acts toured all over Africa. Whilst touring Cameroon, Tala handed James Brown a demo of his song "Hot Koki". Seemingly, the Godfather liked it a lot, he actually re-recorded it and released it as his own song, entitled 'Hustle'. In doing so, he took all credit for composing, which meant Tala had to sue Brown and luckily he won the case!

The Cactus Channel and Chet Faker announce a 7inch two-track recording out September 18.

Funk/soul band, The Cactus Channel, have collaborated with ARIA Award winner Chet Faker for two tracks, 'Kill the Doubt' and 'Sleeping Alone' on a 7inch set for release via HopeStreet Recordings.

The recording, two years in the making, is a fine example of the depth of Melbourne's music scene. It features Chet Faker's seasoned songwriting with The Cactus Channel's ear for musical instrumentation, resulting in a dose of classic soul and funk seen through a uniquely Melbourne perspective.

Chet Faker appears courtesy of Future Classic

Hot on the heels of their smashing album 'Showdown', the Mighty Mocambos bring a vinyl 45 exclusive that shows yet another side of band's musical versatility. For the heartrending 'Where Do We Go From Here', no other than soul legend Lee Fields takes over the vocal spot, confirming that he is "the coolest motherfucker to ever sing words into a microphone". On the flip side, the Mocambos are back on the dancefloor with a breakdance DJ-edit of 'Locked And Loaded' and 'The Showdown', aptly named 'B-Boy Suite In B-Flat Minor'. Both cuts are onyl available on this format.