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Green vinyl edition of the new album by Zackey Force Funk (previously appearing in the hit+run 777 series.) Huge tip!! "Zackey Force Funk was born into this wild world in Tucson, AZ in 1974. In and out of prison since the age of 17, ZFF began producing on pirated software his brother gave to him once he had given up a life crime to focus on writing tunes and raising his family.First discovered by Kutmah back in the golden era of Myspace, Zackey's signature "Force Funk Sound" swiftly grabbed the attention of a number of formidable producers. Collaborations followed shortly after with the likes of Salva, Lazer Sword, Lorn, Baron Zen, Daedelus and B. Bravo, as well as forming the group Demon Queen with Tobacco. As these tunes were scattered across various labels, finding their homes on their respective collaborator's projects, ZFF continued to hone his style, delving deeper into the psychedelic future funk realm of which he has created for himself. The fruits of his discipline all add up to his forthcoming debut LP entitled 'Money Green Viper", to be released in July of 2014 on LA based collective Hit+Run.'Money Green Viper' plays as a scrapbook of late night joyrides, fast women, demonic visions, real rap rituals and the ever-present pursuit of infinite paper. All of these tales are woven over dust ridden, boogie and funk influenced beats with Zacky's beautifully haunting vocal stylings as our tour guide. Productions are laced from an appropriate cast of sound architects from across the globe, including Max Kane and Teeko, XL Middleton, Jellphonic, Cupp Cave, Tom Noble, Mike Gao, and of course ZFF himself. Having recently transplanted from Tucson to LA, it seems only natural for the year of the Force Funk Sound to be upon us. 'Money Green Viper' serves as the initial full length transmission of a fantastical mind that has many more stories to tell. We await the dark doctrine with open eyes, ears and hearts."

Having been one of the bands that has spearheaded the resurgence in deep, gritty funk and soul for over 10 years, and having collaborated with luminaries like Eddie Bo, Marva Whitney, Sharon Jones, Billy Wooten, Sir Joe Quarterman and most recently ex James Brown vocalist Martha High, Speedometer enjoy a worldwide reputation as a class act.And now in 2015, band leader Leigh Gracie and the group bring a welcome spotlight to a fresh vocal talent - James Junior.James has been part of the UK soul and gospel scene mainly as an in-demand session vocalist and arranger. He has generally stayed of out the limelight until now. Having grown up on a diet of classic soul and Motown, his collaboration with Speedometer on this album brings together the band's heavy grooves with James' rich vocal tones to produce an authentically old school sound - yet totally fresh.You only have to listen to the album opener Don't Fool Yourself to immediately grasp that this young man's voice is the perfect choice to grace this new Speedometer collection. Likened to a young Donny Hathaway or Stevie Wonder, James has all the perquisite tone, phrasing and soul to make a big impact on a world awoken to genuinely soulful sounds by acts such as Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, but is also fully adept to adapt to the varying genres Speedometer specialise in - the latin/bossa nova groove of the title track No Turning Back, the deep, funky afrobeat of Troubled Land and the stomping Northern Soul style track Homebreaker.James Junior gives the band an extra dimension and purpose but more importantly gives James the spotlight which he deserves. And No Turning Back is just the beginning...

Zinedine Zidane has never been to Leamington Spa. TIP! Perhaps the most complete footballer of the modern era, the man nicknamed ‘Zizou’ won everything there was to win with France and Real Madrid. “Football was the easy part”, he stated, when asked about his childhood in the ghettos of Marseille. “Music was important”.If Zizou were ever to grace this English spa town in the West Midlands, he might find two young men chipping (or ‘dinking’) a football back and forth with a set of goalposts between them. They are trying to land the ball on the crossbar. For one of those men, football is important. Music is the easy part.Bastien Keb is a prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist, who makes a living writing music for TV and film. A guitarist first and foremost, you’ll hear him play trumpet, bass, drums, flute and more on this debut record, as well as layering his voice to strangely moving effect. His music belies a love for Curtis Mayfield and Sun Ra, though his voice might suggest Bon Iver - a world away, but here it makes perfect sense. He channels 80s soul with his bass, the New Orleans of The Meters with his drums. He looks to Broadcast and Flying Lotus for direction: how do you assimilate such diverse influences, and come up with something wholly modern, and wholly your own?Bastien Keb tries to hit the bar one more time before sunset calls time on the game. He senses movement from the corner of his eye. There’s a man at the other end of the pitch. Tall, graceful, with a shaved head and flawless control, the man dinks the ball against the bar, time after time. It can’t be...can it?

It's been six years since Nosaj Thing, the producer born Jason Chung, appeared among the vanguard of Low End Theoryaffiliated producers from Los Angeles. His debut LP Drift, a sleek and futuristic record shot through with a sense of melancholy, was hailed as a landmark record for the "beat scene", both embodying its aesthetic and transcending it with its focus on mood, texture on tone as much as on beats. Pitchfork called it "gorgeously haunted", and Resident Advisor said it "exists in its own dimension."If Drift was an impressive full-length debut, then Home, its 2013 follow-up and Nosaj Thing's first record for Innovative Leisure, consolidated that potential. Now, Fated is the sound of an artist whose sound has had time to mature. By stripping away anything he didn't deem strictly necessary, Chung harnessed a sound notable for its directness and emotional potency. Guest appearances are rare, save for vocals from Chicago rap phenomenon Chance The Rapper on 'Cold Stares', his unusually grave cadence deepening the paranoia of the already tense track, and Whoarei on 'Don't Mind Me'.

Music From Memory's fourth release sees the Amsterdam based label taking an exciting sidestep with the release of “Clouds”, an album of contemporary music recorded in spring 2014. “Clouds” is the debut album of Gaussian Curve, a collaboration between Italian ambient pioneer Gigi Masin, Land Of Light’s Jonny Nash and Marco Sterk (also know as Young Marco).Each of them established in their own rights, the three musicians from Italy, UK and the Netherlands, came together during a weekend long recording session in April of this year.Without preconceived ideas and developed around often purely intuitive improvised jams, the eight tracks on the album are all 'one take' live recordings. With Gigi Masin on Rhodes and piano, Jonny Nash on guitar, melodica, synths and trumpet and Marco Sterk on synths, rhythmic structures and production duties, the three of them succeed in developing a musical language all of their own.Recorded in the heart of Amsterdam's Red Light district, the album reflects the unusually warm Spring and the buzz from the open windows that filled the derelict downtown studio space during that particular weekend. Whilst on the more introvert late night compositions the music quietly soars, reflecting the brooding melancholy of an evening in that particular part of the city. With a heartfelt simplicity “Clouds” is a record of an inspired meeting of unique souls and unique surroundings.

London native Sven Atterton electrifies us with his debut eight song instrumental EP, 'The Cove'! This deep composition and delicate arrangements are a intimate introduction to a dialogue that is unique to Sven Atterson alone. The sophistication of his funk baptizes you from the very first bar, to the point where you can almost feel the ocean mist on your face.

Riding high on the crest of the global love for Hawaiian 'Island Funk', Be With Records team up with Aloha Got Soul to present a timely vinyl reissue of Nohelani Cypriano's Nohelani. Sure to be one of the year's essential reissues, the album's irresistible blend of tropical-tinted soul, funk and rare groove sounds every bit as fresh today as it would've in 1979.Perhaps the most sought-after record of its type, locating a vinyl copy of 'Nohelani' would previously have set you back a small fortune. Her records are something of a Balearic holy grail, with this album the holiest of the lot. Original copies are in such short supply - trading for upwards of £100 on secondary markets - it's easy to see why news of this first ever reissue has been welcomed by so many.This release is officially licensed and has been lovingly mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis (Claremont 56 mastering engineer) It has been pressed on audiophile 180gram vinyl for the first time and features the original artwork.A record to surrender to in full rather than consume in pieces, it pivots around centrepiece 'Island Boy'. A record of many colours, the LP is at once spaced-out boogie and sweet soul. The legendary 'Lihue' is worth the entry fee alone. A gloriously carefree showcase of a uniquely Hawaiian musical hybrid, this reissue provides a vital reminder of just how beautiful and important Nohelani is.