Modern-Soul-Funk

With their third album ‘Fluid Motion’, Melbourne’s 30/70 are set to soar into higher territory as the face of Australia’s newest wave of soul-influenced brilliance. From the swirling opening pads of “Brunswick Hustle” all the way through to the sax-laden shimmer of “Flowers” at its close, ‘Fluid Motion’ is an instant classic, effortlessly shifting between neo-soul and languid, astralfacing jazz textures and authentic vignettes of UK club music history. It’s a formula that those already caught in 30/70’s celestial web are fully aware of; first defined on the local heat of their 2015 debut ‘Cold Radish Coma’ and majestically expanded upon with their critically acclaimed 2017 release ‘Elevate’ on Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section INTL (mixed by Hiatus Kaiyote’s Paul Bender). ‘Elevate’ did exactly that - elevating both the scope of the band’s sound as well as their standing in the local and international community. Since the last record was released, the music has brought the band on world tours and to the attention of the wider public and key tastemakers alike. Strongly supported by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, Jamie Cullum, Matthew Halsall and Bradley Zero, the UK has become something of a second home for 30/70. London in particular has openly embraced the soulful sounds of Melbourne, as evidenced by Gilles’ latest Brownswood compilation ‘Sunny Side Up’ which features three tracks from 30/70 members: Ziggy Zeitgeist, Horatio Luna and Allysha Joy. The record is a follow up to his era-defining survey of the UK Jazz scene ‘We Out Here’, the compilation that kickstarted a whole generation of London’s under-the-radar Jazz kids to global headlining heights. It would appear we’re about to witness this same effect take place for the Melbourne contingent, of which 30/70 lead the charge. The city’s invasion is well and truly upon us. While London is undoubtedly in love with what’s happening in Melbourne right now, this is no one way love affair. The 30/70 collective have had their ears to the ground and plugged into the sound of the UK underground. This new album takes inspiration from the syncopation of Broken-Beat, the immediacy of Grime’s and Dub’s sonic aesthetic to create something that is a truly global amalgamation of local sounds, finessed by Allysha Joy’s instantly recognisable vocals; the rawest and realest of voices.

Reginald Omas Mamode IV is set to release his third album ‘Where We Going?' via Five Easy Pieces on 10th May 2019.The album was partly recorded on a journey to the Mascarene Islands in search of family roots. 'Where We Going?' is reflective of the search for this lineage, which branches from ancient Mauritian Maroons - whose rich heritage, music and culture includes an unrecognised, undocumented resistance to colonialism - though Swahili and Malagasy to sugarcane plantation Creole slave decent. Influenced by golden era hip-hop, jazz, soul, Afro, funk, Sega and Maloya, and music from Africa, the Caribbean, South London and US; it is in part an attempt to evoke feelings of universal love and compassion. Mamode recorded the album using various drums and drum machines, percussion instruments, Fender Rhodes, and Roland and Korg synthesizers. His two earlier albums - 2016's s/t debut and 2017's 'Children of Nu' - were warmly received, collecting critical success from Mojo (“A brand-new-retro delight”), Mixmag (“Peckham beat brilliance”), Record Collector (“Equal parts D’Angelo to J Dilla”), The Wire (“Soul music turned all the way inward”), DJ Mag "A masterpiece") and Bandcamp (“Lifeforms that are equally steeped in hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz”). He was also nominated for ‘Album of the Year’ at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards 2017. Along with Mo Kolours, Jeen Bassa, Henry Wu, Al Dobson Jr and Tenderlonious; he’s helped forge in the 22a co-operative that The FADER calls “a kaleidoscopic patchwork of hip-hop, house, and groove investigations bound by one thread: a timeless belief in rhythm as a universal language”.

With his roots in Assam, northeast India, and his hustle now based in Brooklyn, the psychedelic soul-savant known as Jitwam. will officially drop his second album on the Copenhagen-based label Tartelet Records in May 2019.

Los Charly's Orchestra feature Neo Soul legend: Omar for their latest collaboration: FIRE.The two London outfits get together in order to come up with the testiest Neo Soulful Disco cake, cooked just to the right point for those who like their stuff groovy N funky.

Daptone Records is overjoyed to present All My Relations- the debut solo album from long-time Dap-Kings saxophonist, Cochemea Gastelum. Cochemea’s electro-sax leads an ensemble of percussive giants (members of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Antibalas) on a psychedelic, spiritual journey, exploring his ancestral roots through melody and rhythm. As a body of work, it is an acknowledgement of oneness and harmony with all forms of life: people, animals, insects, plants, trees, and even rocks, rivers, mountains and valleys. It celebrates the sublime beauty of existence and beginnings of such. Some of the tunes were drawn from memory, imagined from a time and place Cochemea has never been, such as “Sonora" (the home of his Yaqui ancestors), and “Mescalero" (an Apache tribe from the South Central region of Mexico - ancestors of his great-grandmother). Others were born from the Musical impression of ritual, like “Mitote" (an ancient, secular round dance of the Aztecs and other tribes of the Sierra Madre Occidental - which in certain cultures can be associated with Peyote ritual). The track “Asatoma" (The Asatome) is an ancient prayer from India. In Sanskrit, it prays for guidance to grow from darkness to light, to distinguish the real from the unreal, and to be guided from death of the physical to the immortality of the Spirit. It is a celebration of life.The musicians on the record also bring a piece of themselves and their heritage, creating a cultural cornucopia of sonic expression that allows Cochemea's vision and spirituality to flourish. All My Relations, in a sense, is a musical prayer to the world to help recognize our one true source, our shared identity. We are one.- Translucent Teal LP available- Debut album from long standing Dap-Kings saxophonist.- Performed / recorded with Amy Winehouse, The Roos, Beck & Antibalas.- 2019 touring planned

Border-breaking album by international collective featured Shawn Lee - London based American Producer/Composer/Musician - and The Soul Surfers - heaviest Russian soul/psych funk band. The result is boundless soul and psychedelic funk music from the future. Deep in raw grit and musical exploration. This album crosses both: genre, age and world politics. It proves that music is truly the international language and it’s not where you’re from, but where you’re at.

New 45t from Altin Gun Turkish psych heroes: A side features the killer first song of their album Tatli Dile Guler Yuze B side features the unheard yet instrumental track Hababam