MINT

Bluestaeb is one of the key figures of the new generation of up and coming beat producers from Germany. Equally influenced by Pete Rock, J Dilla and Kaytranada, he shouldn't be labelled. Neither as "future" nor as "oldschool", since he maneuvers in between those sounds effortlessly. His production is an unusual display of versatility, ranging from classic BoomBap to synth to 808-based beats.The 24-year-old was born and raised in Berlin and started making his own music at a very young age. Ironically, a birthday present his dad received dragged him into producing instrumental HipHop: Madlib's "Shades Of Blue". Soon after, the entire catalogue by the L.A.-legend and naturally Dilla, too, had formed his idea of aesthetics and grooves. Aside, he spent years studying African drum techniques such as Djembé and Daruka. Gradually, he found his sound identity and began to release his music plus producing beats for various MCs, such as Juju Rogers or Teknical Development. After forming Oldschool Future Tribe collective alongside his mentor Figub Brazlevic and a group of international producers, he released his debut LP "1991 Extraterrestrial" in 2013. This year, he dropped his experimental EP "B.L.U.E. Friday", a song series featuring a broader scale of styles. On November 6th, Bluestaeb releases his sophomore album "Rodalquilar" via Jakarta Records, still carrying his distinctive concept of diversity. The work is dedicated to a Spanish village going by the same name, where Bluestaeb spent most of his summers since early childhood. In his parent's summer cottage, he was enabled to evolve and concentrate on his music, mostly influenced by surrounding nature and light. "Rodalquilar" LP aims to embrace this atmosphere by including sound drafts, samples and ideas collected throughout last summer's stay in Rodalquilar. The vinyl version comes with a photo booklet including the complementing visuals to the said journey that initially began in the mid 90s.

Tala AM (or Tala Andre Marie to give him his full and proper name) was born in Bandjoun in Cameroun in 1950. Talas life initially wasn't easy, he becomes blind at an early age and has lost both his mother and father by the age of 12. He then went on to make his first guitar by hand and form his first band "The Rock Boys" by the age of 17. Shortly after he meets the powerhouse of Camerounian music at the time Manu Dibango, a pivotal moment. With help, he re-locates to Paris and signs a contract with Fiesta Records. The first fruit of those labours is his debut album "Hot Koki".The lead track (and highlight of this compilation) is "Hot Koki" it is a powerhouse of funk guitar, soul and infectious afro rhythms. Fast forward to 1974 and the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The story goes a little something like this... At an accompanying musical event we find James Brown and Tala AM. JB Hears Hot Koki and creates a remarkably similar sounding track "The Hustle" (check it out side by side if you have the time).Fast forward another 40 years. Time to take a look back on the funkier moments of Tala. This is not a "best of" Tala, that has already been done. Want to get into Tala's famous Tchamassi sound or do some "bend skin" beats... well check out the other compilations. Here at Africa Seven (and in this case) we are headed for destination funk. The musical topic inevitably leads us to the 70's and we borrow our super slick source material mainly from the albums Tala made for Fiesta Records from 1973 to 1978.We open up the bombastic brass, swinging basslines and all out groove of Hot Koki (well after a little intro ditty gem). Then its on to the one of the highlights of "Arabia" album "Black Gold". This track swoons groove. Layers of picked and choppy guitar and on point drumming. "Sugar Lump" is next which sticks to the formula of the previous track but adds in catchy vocals.Mining into the cave of delights that is the 1978 "Black Woman" album we then follow up with the driving afro beat grooves and stabby brass of "Gotam" and the boogie flowing grooves of "Black Woman" and the frenetic and driving grooves of "Ma Ka La". We round things off with the stabby clavi-funk of "Nom Te Ma" and the ultimate groovy funk-riff closer (and ear worm) Tcham Tcham.So there you some slices of pure funk from a master. Tala's role of awards and achievements is long and impressive (check his Wikipedia), Knight of Valour of Cameroun, SACEM awards and his opening of a music school in Douala... However.. we feel these musical masterpieces are right up there with his finest achievements.. A true man of music.

Rhythm & Soul is back on Organic Music for his second vinyl release.Right after his solid EP on Djebali, he serves another 3 groove infected tracks coming up with a wild remix from Diego Krause.

Incarcerated funk has no right to feel this free. Musical convicts and actual convicts from across the Commonwealth, The Edge Of Daybreak's membership wrote and recorded Eyes Of Love while serving out sentences of six to sixty years. Set to tape inside Powhatan Correctional Center on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia, these intimate 1979 sessions unlock the prison gates and peer into a collective consciousness concocted by a core of four confined artists. Assembled from distant love ballads and fanciful odes to freedom, Eyes Of Love is a prison letter composed by committee, recorded hastily, and circulated regionally amongst adventurous clientele willing to take a chance on these felonious talents.

Limited 1-sided 12" RepressTom Noble teams up with Mystic Pleasure on this must have Superior Elevation 12" issued with the assistance of Peoples Potential Unlimited. If you were one of those that indulged in the Tom Noble edits of "Africa Bump" and "Party Together" for PPU back in 2009, then you know this combination of artist and label equates to dancefloor gold and will need little further wooing to indulge here (PPU have just repressed that 12" for those didn't btw). Everything Noble touches drips with disco authenticity and that's the case here with "Back Door (Gettin Down)" a sublime funk addled floor burner of the highest quality. One Sided and comes hand stamped with the PPU logo.

Chicago’s own Specter of Tetrode fame joins the Sounds Familiar family and series of 45s with a double A-sider. ‘Circus Time’ is an hipnotic disco stomper, while ‘Concrete Jungle’ will please all the afro-funk headz!

NYC house legend DJ Basil teams up with Ron Trent and creates "Are You House" a pure dance floor track on Ron's own Future Vision label. TIP! DJ Basil returns to the dance scene once again. Best remembered for his house classic "City Streets" (Nu Groove) as well as "All True African" and "Time To Be Free" (King Street Sounds), Basil adds a brand new gem to his catalog of music.

The subject of Music From Memory’s latest compilation release is the elusive and mysterious Philadelphian musician Napoleon Cherry (aka Cool Waters). Oddball funk biz TIP! In the late 80’s and early 90’s Cherry privately released two LP’s and an EP which form the basis of this retrospective, alongside an unreleased cut ‘When You Had The Chance’ which was recently released on 12” in collaboration with US label PPU.Recorded with a very DIY aesthetic and a strong presence of gospel and RnB, Cherry’s unique take on soul and funk music, reflect a rawness that stands in contrast to the slick, over-produced soul of that era. With appearances by jazz musicians such as the late celebrated saxophonist Byard Lancaster, who coincidentally played with MFM’s previous compilation subject Vito Ricci, Napoleon’s music seems to defy any clear categorisation.From cocktail jazz funk to intergalactic synth workouts to melancholy bedroom soul, Napoleon’s use of synths and drum computers, though perhaps unknowingly, also seem to strongly echo elements of early house music.

Utterly magnificent, sublimely soulful survey of the Gospel Roots label, subsidiary of the mighty TK Records at the height of the Miami Sound.A&R was co-ordinated by Gospel legends Ira Tucker — from the Dixie Hummingbirds — and Ralph Bass, veteran producer with Savoy, King and Chess. The label was run by Timmy Thomas, who had recently smashed with Why Can’t We Live Together, for another TK spin-off, Glades. Operations were overseen by Henry Stone himself, unlikely King of Disco, who had recorded a young Ray Charles, and pushed forward James Brown. They drew in artists from all over the US, from St. Louis, Columbus, Memphis, Brooklyn, Cabrini Green in Chicago: unknowns like Camille Doughty, reluctant to jeopardise her job at GM (‘Generous Motors’) in Detroit, and huge-sellers like the revered Brooklyn All Stars, who started out on Peacock in 1958.Choral belters, deep ballads, harmony quartets, epic city-blues, gritty funk, powerhouse female soul… Killer-diller Philly like a scorching version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ Wake Up Everybody; and Jean Austin’s raw Spirit Free, co-written by Ronnie Dyson, produced by Jesse James at Future Gold. Chicago Sound like The Fantastic Family Aires — named after the family’s furniture store on North Cicero, but reminiscent of the Staple Singers at their best — through to the full-blown glory of The Fountain Of Life Joy Choir, led by Marvin Yancy from The Independents, and featuring Natalie Cole… Singers like Versie Mae Gibson, from the Jordans, by rights up there with Irma, Etta and Ree… Bangers 100%-guaranteed to find their way into Theo Parrish sets; and mortal delirium for the prissiest of soul and gospel purists.Beautifully presented, with a 12”-square, full-colour, sixteen-page booklet of photos and original artwork — and truly outstanding notes, including insightful new interviews across the board; mastered at Abbey Road.