2017

Folamour has worked under a number of different aliases and makes poetic music. As a DJ he has lit up dance floors all over France, and he also runs the FHUO Records label. This new nine track LP is the start of a busy year that promises more music on Church and Defected, all after some fine outings on labels like Fauxpas Music and All City Records. The excellent album is an ode to his love of Japanese culture and mixes up beats and house samples, disco swing and future jazz in ways that work both in the club and your living room.The warm and musical ‘Night of Desirable Objects’ kicks things off with loose jazz chords, shuffling beats and welcoming moods that come from smart vocal samples. It’s a brilliantly heartfelt opener that makes way for the slowed down grooves of ‘Y’all Right.’ Trumpets, live drums and gorgeous chords all exude genuine soul and funk, and ‘Petit Prince Du Macadam’ is an exquisite hip hop beat that echoes the great Dilla.Elsewhere, ‘Ivoire’ is a big, afro-tinged cut with bouncy drums and vocals as well as party-starting percussion. ‘Look at Me or I'll Steal Your Eyes’ then pulls back to perfect loops of funky guitar, trilling chords and organic drum work. Like much of the music here, the loveably rough style of Moodymann is a big presence in this one. French filter styles characterise the sunny disco influenced grooves of ‘Devoted to U’, ‘Oyabun’ is a blissed out bit of romantic house, ‘Kickflipin’ That Stuff’ is another gorgeous hip hop interlude weighed down by hot soul and ‘Jah Love’ is a masterfully melodic piece with splashes of cymbal, brilliant key playing and jazz drums that find their way into your heart.

More hot-to-trot edits from Most Excellent Unltd's 7" series. As usual, legendary New York scalpel fiend Danny Krivit is at the controls (under the now familiar Mr K alias, of course). A-side cut "1 2 3" boasts Krivit's edit of an obscure, unreleased acetate mix by Walter Gibbons of a jaunty funk number rich in military style drum fills, mazy electric organ solos and bold bass guitar riffs. Over on the flip you'll find "My Sweet Summer Suite", a drum-heavy workout that seems to be built out of elements of a number of low-slung disco and funk tunes. The clipped, loopy groove - as previously used on a number of Krivit's other edits - is loaded with lots of extra percussion and some trippy, Amazonian flute motifs.

Kalita Records release their first in a series of coveted reissues, starting with the three choice cuts from NST Cophie's' 1980 private press Ivory Coast Afro-disco album 'Mon'Da Center'. After moving to Paris in 1976 and having played with other well-known bands such as N'Bamina, Osibisa, and with numerous artists including Jimmy Hyacinthe and Papa Wemba, 'Mon'Da Center' was Ernest's first solo album. Recorded at Studio Caroline in Paris's 20th sector over the space of one week, this self-funded ultra-rare album regularly exchanges hands for eye-watering prices. Pretty much unknown except to the most hardened of diggers, 'Bian Kou', 'E Clolo' and 'Mioukouna' are guaranteed to set any dance floor alight, with hypnotic Afro-disco grooves, killer drums and angelic female vocals.

REPRESSBack in the day, there was one artist that stood out in the underground, this person was admired and respected worldwide, his cuts we're played from Paris, London, NYC to Chicago & back again, he was - Olivier Portal AKA Playin'4 The City. This year, 2014 - Playin 4 The City is back, 3 brand new tracks released on the deeply respected US label - Plastik People. Side A delivers two soulful edged tracks with a reprise at the start of A1 which keeps the roots of P4TC from back in the day - both tracks include live bass by Slikk Tim. Side B "Good Groove" is a black & white track, It has the feel of the early Bouge & Shuffle track that came out on Olivier's Straight Up label, deep & groovy elements, 16 bit samples & keeping it four to the floor. Good Groove is sure to be a classic, one for the true heads & the P4TC collective.

Official reissue of a brazilian funk beast released in 1978 - 500 copies pressed!

Earth, Wind & Fire are obviously one of the greatest bands of all-time and both of these remixes are works of art in their own right.On the A side we have the much in-demand Blaze 'Shelter' remix of "Fantasy" which stretches this classic to 8.55 and finishes with an unbelievable Phillip Bailey acappella.As though that wasn't enough we've put the much sought-after Masters At Work remix of "Can't Hide Love" - a staple records since its debut in 2002.