Funk | Soul 27 Items

Numero's second bundle of cover 45s isall things soulful. The Rotterdam-basedAnother Taste electrifies Maxx Traxx's1984 Chicago boogie grail "Don't TouchIt," which makes its debut on the 7"format here. Colemine Records' Say SheShe delivers a glamorous rendition of JimSpencer's yacht-disco hit "Wrap Myself UpIn Your Love." Columbia Recording artistLeon Bridges effortlessly transforms PastorT.L. Barrett's "Like A Ship," updating the50 year old gospel soul classic for the 21stcentury. All three are housed in a newlyimagined Numero custom sleeve, reflectingthe many shades of our ongoing EccentricSoul 45 imprint.

Great music is often about chance meetings and impromptu creative sessions and so it is that Hell Yeah proudly serves up Sensory Blending, a new collaborative album from Italian collective Aura Safari and Finnish musician Jimi Tenor. The nine-track record is a lush and luxurious fusion of jazz-funk styles.

This glorious record came about after Tenor was playing a Hell Yeah party at Tangram in Perugia. Aura Safari were local and, in some free time the day before the gig, everyone jumped in the studio together. They had never met before but soon found plenty of free-flowing common ground and the result of that one-off session is now served up on this vibrant new album that brims with musicality, indelible melodies and subtly uplifting vibrations.

Tenor has toured the world and previously collaborated with the likes of Japanese master Calm. He is a psychedelic space-jazz-funk king, skilled musician, composer and producer who, since the mid-nineties, has released more than 25 albums and 45 EPs. Aura Safari is made up of bass, synth, guitar and keys players Lorenzo Francioli, Ruggero Bonucci, Nicola Pitassio Andrea Moretti, Lorenzo Lavoratori, Daniele Melloni and Nicholas Iammatteo, and they are label regulars who served up their sublime Island Dreams album here last year.

Says Jimi, who enjoyed his time in Perugia and adds that 'the studio session was 100% efficient. I showed up and we started to play. Almost all that was made was material that we could use for the album. I love to work fast. Quick brushstrokes. Finish! I was amazed at how intuitively the Aura Safari guys could come up with new parts for songs. I mentioned some feeling or approach and they seemed to find it just like that.'

'Bodily Synesthesia' is the seductive opener with steamy sax notes and gentle grooves that are topped by aloof vocal whispers. 'Lunar Wind' is another slow and steamy mix of jazzy keys and soulful vocal hooks, 'Bewitched By The Sea' is a more tropical and percussive number with majestic melodies and 'My Bluebell' picks up the pace with jazz-funk grooves and hustling chords. 'Last Waltz In Perugia' has freeform sax lines soaring over meticulous drums that ebb and flow and 'Gimlet' brings a playful, samba-tinged rhythm and sunny flute leads straight from South America. There's a laidback, carefree mood to 'It's Too Easy To Love You' while 'Your Magic Touch' is a dancey number that exudes melodic joy, and 'Indigo' closes in dramatic fashion with a conversational sax that sticks long in the memory.

Sensory Blending is a seamless fusion of collaborative minds from Aura Safari and Jimi Tenor and it could well be performed live at some special select shows later in the year.

During the weekends, we used to drive a 131 "caffellatte" for a trip out of town towards the South. Family adventures from a distant time, the cassettes carefully chosen long before the departure, all around us the scent of the sea and in the background the Vesuvius.

In a kaleidoscope of memories and Mediterranean influences, Baffone recount in their own special way that Golden Age between the 70s and 80s. An era full of dreams, passions, unresolved issues and dizzying grooves. Mixing Napoli Soul, Funk, Disco and songwriting, Baffone gives us a profound investigation of the human soul, performed with an original and authentic language.

A tribute to primordial forces, the sea, the lava earth and the childhood that slips away.

Grand Soleil is an ode the awakening. Composed for Organ and Piano, this 7 tracks album is a soul trip with gospel accents. The great french soul singer Lynn is blessing this record with her airy vocal layers and a dope song: Clouds. Blackjoy closest partner, Blundetto is rocking the drums over minimal drum machine paterns. This record is recommended for the best morning routing.

Acclaimed UK electronic music producer, DMX Krew has announced a brand new album, "Unlikely Seeming", on the Byrd Out label. The8-track album showcases his blend of joyous, melodic synth hooks, textured pads and analogue drum machine rhythms. Leaving to one side pummeling sounds, the focus of this album is on sonic fun, mining the 80s pop vibe DMX Krew does so well. BBC 6 Music"s Tom Ravenscroft describes the trailing single "Wednesday Memory" as "the funkiest thing ever ... it"s almost too joyous".

Straight from Rio de Janeiro, Dippin' Records introduces the studio album 'asa', by the sizzling hot modern Brazilian Multi-instrumentalist/Producer Fabio Santanna. Flyest modern Brazilian tropical disco-boogie you'll find in the market! Following up on his most recent collaborations with JKriv and Joutro Mundo, Fabio modernizes the MPB vibes of Joao Donato, Marcos Valle, Ed Motta for the current dance music lovers.

ASA: Dia (Day) evokes a sunny Balearic boogie 'day time' feels just in time for the Brazilian summer skies opening up. So sit back, put on your shades and sip on your tropical drinks and press play to vibe with the fabulous Fabio sounds.

Formed by Roland Treaudo and Manuel Herrera Jr, the Family Underground emerged from the rich musical tapestry of New Orleans. Despite their distinct upbringings in Baptist and Hispanic congregations, the band achieved widespread popularity. Securing a coveted Sunday residency at Whitey’s Devil’s Den, located in the heart of New Orleans, the band's dynamic performances led by Manuel on the grand piano and Roland on the mic drew in crowds that exceeded the 400-person capacity. Remarkably, this energetic scene continued until 4 am every Monday for over 250 consecutive weeks, all without the need for promotion or flyers. Amidst frequent tours and a bustling schedule across the Southern states, the band had limited time for recording. In 1975, at 'Cos' Matassa’s Warehouse Studio, they produced the single 'Everybody Knows'. The following year, their rendition of the Isley Brothers’ 'For The Love Of You' became a stripped-down classic, surpassing the original. Until now anyone wanting to own this piece of rare New Orleans funk and soul had to pay out nearly £150 for the pleasure, but for the first time in 49 years, the release has been officially licensed and lovingly reissued on heavyweight 7 inch vinyl, exclusively for RSD. An essential purchase for any lovers of rare soul and funk from the Deep South!

“Mr. Big Shot” by Gene ‘Duke-of-Earl’ Chandler was recorded in Chicago in the golden year of soul music, 1966. It was Chandler’s final 45 for Constellation Records completing an incredible run of outstanding releases that have powered the Northern Soul scene ever since including “Nothing Can Stop Me”, “Bet You Never Thought”, “(Gonna Be) Good Times” and “I Can Take Care Of Myself”. But, it’s “Mr. Big Shot” that has consistently filled the dance floors and is now possibly the “biggest” oldie of all-time.

Dee Clark is best known for his American #2 power-ballad hit “Raindrops” in 1961 for the Vee-Jay label. However, it is his 1964 non-hit “That’s My Girl” that caught the attention of the UK DJ’s and went on to become one of the key records during the Nineties resurgence of the Northern Soul scene.

Featuring two stunning crossover classics from the 1978 ‘Time Wounds All Heels’ penned and performed by Los Angeles soul singer Gene Townsel’.

Danish popstars Gitte and Inger bring forth 'Ud Af Buret', their 1978 high energy cover of Creative Source's hit, 'Can't Hide Love.' Gitte and Inger infused their unique style into this timeless classic, an electrifying experience that captures the soul of the original and bringing their own energy.

ZZK Records presents TORNA, a new series of releases exploring electronic music from a Latin American perspective. With these DJ-level vinyl editions (12" and 45 RPM), we're aiming for the global dancefloor, bringing fresh and challenging tracks. The name is inspired by the concept of "La Torna," an economic institution formed by indigenous Atacama Lickan-Antay, Aymara and Diaguita peoples (in territories now occupied by Argentina, Bolivia and Chile), involving working together for the common good, for the benefit of the whole community. Just as we decided to found ZZK Records in 2007 at the height of the crisis in the recording industry, releasing Latin American electronic material on vinyl records of 7 to 9 minutes per side (in some cases with just two tracks) is also a leap of confidence today. This is our humble contribution in synergy with the community of music artists and fans, who we hope to keep running into on the dancefloors of the world. Colombian-born, Argentina-based producer Hermetics heads up the first release, setting the tone for the series with two fresh and challenging tracks, aiming for the global dancefloor.

Nashville soul brother Jimmy Church joined John Richbourg’s Sound Stage 7 label in 1966 under the guidance of his manager “Hoss” Allen who had just opened with his TV soul showcase ‘The !!! Beat’. Church regularly appeared on the show as part of the house band. At Sound Stage 7 he released only two singles but left a, largely unheard and forgotten, legacy of studio recordings including our chosen cuts, finally making their much deserved vinyl debut.

Bewilderment - the feeling of being perplexed and confused - is the inspiration behind Pale Jay's new album. It's a soulful exploration of a family's gradual disintegration due to years of avoidance and miscommunication. During this difficult time, Pale Jay began to question the stories he had always lived with and re-examined his identity. The resulting work, Bewilderment, is his first full-length album, which strives to find answers to these questions and more. The album is set to release on 8/18/2023 on Karma Chief Records, a subsidiary of Colemine.Pale Jay is a trained jazz vocalist and pianist, and he wrote, recorded, and produced all songs on the album, except for 'By The Lake', which is a collaboration with labelmates Okonski - Steve Okonski, Aaron Frazer, and Michael Montgomery. Pale Jay's music is influenced by a wide range of songwriters, including Labi Siffre, Carole King, and William Onyeabor. 'Bewilderment' is a seamless blend of Pale Jay's trademark dusty soul, slow disco, and Afrobeat, with string arrangements by Raven Bush adding an extra layer of magic to the beat- heavy productions.Pale Jay's debut LP is a captivating journey of self-discovery. Each song on Bewilderment tells a unique story, but they all share a common theme of personal growth and self-understanding. Grab a copy on 8/18/2023 to dive in and experience the new album.

After their debut album "Hoa Am Xua" (2019), which was nominated for Songlines Music Award 2021, featured as Record of the Month on Radio FIP in France and celebrated by Iggy Pop on Bbc6, among others, Saigon Soul Revival returns with their latest record, "Mối Lương Duyên". Descending out of the southern night sky through a turbulent cloud of dreams, memory, longing and psychedelia, Saigon Soul Revival’s second full length album — Mối Lương Duyên — represents the latest act in the group’s resuscitation of the raw, heavy and subversive sounds of 1960s and 70s Saigon.

Roughly translated to “destiny”, Mối Lương Duyên is a journey through eight original compositions and three soul-stirring reinterpretations of Saigonese nhạc vàng or golden music: the soundtrack to a Saigon once thought lost to history and amnesia. Driven by Western influences rock, bolero, soul, jazz and the rich heritage of Vietnamese ballads, Mối Lương Duyên delivers a seamless blend of genres and traditional instrumentation (Đàn Tranh, Đàn Bầu & Đàn Nguyệt) with themes from across time and space. Nguyễn Anh Minh's seductive vocals glide through this multi-stylistic tapestry of sound, going beyond the universal concepts of love and heartbreak to explore how destiny can be forged through individual experiences... or as she puts it in her own words:

Anything and anyone that comes into your life, every occurrence, whatever comes and whatever goes. It all happens as it is meant to. Saigon Supersound! Whatever you have to face, whoever you love or lose - we must accept it. We can’t choose our physical body, family, happiness or misery, our place in the world, in the universe…but we have the power to embrace and welcome our destiny. In Vietnamese "Mối Lương Duyên" means destiny but it doesn't only refer to love. It can mean many things, for example: How we all came together to form this band. In this way - by being part of the unfolding story - the album also attempts to musically connect the past with Vietnam's evolving future.

And the fact that Saigon Soul Revival seems to succeed in this is perhaps also the reason why the song ĐÁM Cưới NHÀ EM will be featured in the upcoming HBO Mini-Serie „The Symphatizer“ (directed by Par Chan-Wook (Oldboy) / Robert Downey Junior producer and actor), which is based on the novel of the same name (Pulitzer Prize 2016) by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

Please see below info for the next release on Les Disques Magnetiques continuing their exploration of the Geneva underground. This time with Sid Spada"s album STELLAGONY. The album"s atmosphere dances between melancholy and the fantasy permitted by hyperpop, drawing from Latin and club sounds. A skillful balance between dark emotions and avant-garde energy is established.

Family Circle’s 1973 LP draws a tight ring around the most beguiling soul tropes of its era, with its full house of ambitious players and hook-laden originals. Newark, New Jersey’s Simmons siblings—George, James, Mary, Don, and David—rallied around journeyman arranger George Andrews and business maven/producer Randy Irwin, whose industry ties brought studio luminaries into the Simmons orbit: session guitar giant Cornell Dupree, guitarist/songwriter Billy Vera, and the inimitable Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on drums. Charles Simmons’ “Well Runs Dry” dipped several toes into Jackson 5-saturated waters, while “I Hope You Really Love Me” stayed together with the Al Green ethos. Where the bowling, basketball, and karate-obsessed Simmons fivesome was hitching to—thumbs unfurled and dressed to impress in Central Park on Family Circle’s back cover—is anyone’s guess, but their sparkling, layered sound, gospel-honed vocal chops, and instantly relatable melodies should’ve dropped them off on everybody’s turntable. Give Family Circle a lift, drive ‘em around awhile.

For its second release, following SALO"s feverish self-titled debut album, Berlin-based platform Kuboraum substantiates its musical perspective, bringing together an eccentric set of tracks from friends and family. Each artist was invited personally by the platform to write a piece of music inspired by Kuboraum"s philosophical and aesthetic principles. This Kuboraum Editions compilation that features tracks from Space Afrika, LABOUR, Moin, V/Z, o-Ziq, Lucy Railton, Alessandro Adriani and many more.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the world’s No.1 disco – the high temple of Northern Soul – the legendary Wigan Casino, Lancashire.

Set against a backdrop of rampant inflation, the 3-day working week and national power cuts, Northern Soul emerged as an escape, a secret society, a haven for like-minded teenagers. Every Saturday night, for eight years, the faithful made the pilgrimage to the desolate mill town of Wigan to a broken down, pre-war dancehall on Station Road. It was a sanctuary, a special place of togetherness, elitism, and the catalyst for the music scenes longest enduring sub-culture… Northern Soul.

Our exclusive playlist highlights key records from the thousands played at the famed all-nighters by its original, founding, deejays, Russ Winstanley, Kev Roberts and Richard Searling.

If Tel Aviv's, The Flavors is the Funk and Soul supergroup of that cities vibrant Mediterranean Coastline music scene, then the even more obscure VuVuVu, comprised of some of the same musicians, is the instrumental stoner-rock gang of psychedelic bandits skillfully and sonically meandering in Israel's nearby deserts. A laid back, and welcoming intervention of hallucinating audio imagery awaits.