2015

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.

New Robert Owens release! Written by Robert Owens, produced by Ron Trent and Jerome Sydenham.

Seven Davis Jr recruits two close friends and kindred spirits to rework cuts from his debut album Universes: house music titans Karizma (aka Kaytronik) and Osunlade (aka Yoruba Soul). Basement Boy Karizma takes on "Sunday Morning" delivering a high octane "Ruff Kut" dub and a choppier Baltimore Club tinged "Love Break" dub. On the flip, Osunlade gives "Welcome Back" his trademark exquisite touch.