Author Archives: Andy Allen

After years of production and remix work the nine strong collective finally deliver their debut album. As you would expect it’s largely a broken affair and features a whole host of guest artists such as Bembe Segue, Sharlene Hector, Vanessa Freeman, Michelle Escoffery, Yolanda Quartey, Alex Lattimore, Izzi Dunn, I.G. Culture, Colonel Red and Mark de Clive-Lowe. The singles ‘Booty La La’ and ‘Sounds Like / Once Twice’ are present along with the monster ‘Redhanded’ with Bembe and Don Ricardo on vocals. The vocal hook, "I caught ya you stupid motha f**ka" is absolutely devastating. Other highlights include the Vula fronted ‘It Don’t Work Like That’ and ‘Consequences’ both of which have an 80s boogie flavour, the P-Funk influenced ‘Knocks Me Off My Feet’, ‘Happy Days’ and the conscious message of ‘Worla Hurt’.

Andy Allen

Hitop bring together a selection of ten recent Spanish nu jazz cuts for the second instalment of ‘Spain Is Different’, including ‘En La Calle, On The Street’ by Gecko Turner, Mojo Project’s ‘Nana For Child’ (instrumental) and ‘Cabo Verde Strut’ (Wagon Cookin Mix) from Casbah 73. Better though are Pablo Sanchez’s ‘Umba’ where afro-beat meets broken-beat, the bright and breezy ‘Summertime’ by Soul Dynamics featuring Wanda Felicia and JP Duet’s ‘Charanga Pa Gozar’, a more traditional Latin offering.

Andy Allen

Out of Moers, Germany comes the third in the compilation series ‘Fantastic Freeriding’ which showcases music from Kabanjak, Protassov, Deela, Subrok Mission and Ancient Astronauts. The beats are heavy throughout with touches of soul, funk, hip-hop, dub and electronica all thrown in along the way. The set’s opener, ‘The Rain’ and ‘Night People’, both from Kabanjak along with Ancient Astronauts’ ‘Until The Stars Go Out’ all beautiful atmospheric outings but also check out the funky fusion sound of ‘Makulu’ by Deela. This one could go massive if given the right exposure.

Andy Allen

Compiled by DJ Floro, ‘Republicafrobeat Vol. 2’ further explores the sound of modern Afro-beat. From it’s West African roots this music has truly spread worldwide particularly during the past decade and this disc draws together fine examples from Spain, France, US, UK and of course the motherland. ‘Elephants’ by Karl Denson & Tiny Universe featuring Fred Wesley, Raw Deal’s ‘Afro Rainbow’, the Hi-Perspective Remix of Franck Biyong’s ‘Power Brain’ featuring Wunmi and Bukky Leo’s take on Timmy Thomas’ ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’ all hit the spot. Al Green is not a name you would normally associate with Afro-beat, but the rare 1989 Bwana Mix of his 1975 cut ‘Love Ritual’ works perfectly. This album is worth the purchase price for this track alone.

Andy Allen

More boogie business this month from Soul Brother and their 2nd volume of ‘Groove On Down’. Classics of the genre are present and correct; Cheryl Lynn’s ‘Got To Be Real’, the Larry Levan remix of ‘Seventh Heaven’ by Gwen Guthrie and Carol Williams’ ‘Can’t Get Away (From Your Love)’ which was recently covered by Only Freak on Freerange Records. Also included are Brooklyn Express’ version of Eddie Kendricks’ ‘You Need A Change Of Mind’ and ‘Help Is On The Way’ by The Whatnauts which Fat Larry’s Band lifted the groove from for their ‘Act Like You Know’ a year later (1982). The real winners here though are Mandrill’s intoxicating ‘Stay Tonite’, ‘Bizzaar’ by Rhyze which has more than a hint of the Spinners’ ‘Ill Be Around’ and the super slick production of ‘Our Hearts Will Always Shine’ from Ozone.

Andy Allen

This latest edition of ‘The Great Collectors’ features a further 12 early to mid 80s independent boogie cuts. As is often the case with tracks from this period, not all of the productions have stood the test of time. However there are some real gems contained within, such as the gospel flavoured ‘Lovelight’ by Love Light, Eddie Cornelius’ ‘Release Yourself’ plus Gift Of Dreams’ ‘Better Day’ and ‘Hold On For Love’ from Sho Nuff, both of which have been on my wants list for some time. Takes me back to the good old days of curly perms and formation dancing!

Andy Allen

Joey Negro and Sean P are back with another selection of disco delights. The sleeve notes estimate that to buy the originals featured here would set you back over £2000! With the likes of the northern soul favourite ‘How Can I Tell Her’ by Curtis Anderson, Sparkle’s funky New York styled ‘Let Yourself Go’, the awesome ‘Can I Take You Home’ by Mel Shepperd and Sabatta’s George Kerr produced ‘Man For My Lady’ you know this is the real deal. As if that wasn’t enough you also get the remixed version ‘Movin On’ from GD & The Big J, here credited as ‘Summer Groove’ by The Joneses, Charles Mann’s ‘Sho Nuff No Funny Stuff Love’ and a great version of David Bendeth’s ‘Feel The Real’ by Adrenalin. The standouts for me though are the killer groove of ‘We Had Enough’ from Arnie & The Lovlettes and Vance & Suzzanne’s ‘I Can’t Get Along Without You’ as sampled on the house track ‘Eyes Of Love’ by Brother Of Soul (Guidance 2000).

Andy Allen

‘Early Morning Hush’ continues where ‘Gather In The Mushrooms’ left off and further explores the music of the British acid-folk scene of the late 60s, early 70s. Simple but beautifully crafted songs such as the string laced ‘Peacock Lady’ from Shelagh McDonald, Pentangle’s ‘Sovay’, ‘Sheep Season’ by Mellow Candle and John Renbourn’s ‘The Cuckoo’ featuring some wonderful sitar work, all standout. I’m currently hooked on Keith Christmas’ ‘Forest And The Shore’ though, an orchestrated folk-funk trip with haunting yet alluring backing harmonies.

Andy Allen

Compiled by Richard Searling, the 2nd instalment of ‘You Better Believe It’ features 23 (22 on vinyl) rare and modern soul gems from the vaults of Atlantic, ATCO, Cotillion, Reprise and Warner Bros. 1967-1979. It opens in fine style with Al Hudson & The Soul Partners’ up-tempo ‘I’m About Loving You’, before moving through to Darrow Fletcher’s version of ‘Rising Cost Of Love’, Johnny Bristol’s ‘Strangers In Dark Corners’ and ‘You’re All I Need In This World’ from Prince Phillip Mitchell. The Chicago soul sound is represented by Frankie Newsome’s ‘We’re On Our Way’ and Windy City’s ‘Hey It’s Over’ which are both pure class. Other standouts include the haunting ‘Signed, Miss Heroin’ by the legendary Sam Dees, presented here with an alternative mix, the heart wrencher ‘I Want Sunday Back Again’ from Bettye Swann, and Betty Lavette’s ‘Waiting For Tomorrow’, both of which are previously unreleased recordings. Further evidence, should you need it, of why after all these years Searling is still held in such high regard on the soul scene.

Andy Allen

Kindred Spirits launch their new imprint, Free Spirits Series, in fine style with this much sought after rarity. ‘Alborada’ was originally released on Trova Records in 1976 by The Prime Element, a band formed by Argentinian musician / composer / arranger, Carlos Franzetti shortly after his move from Buenos Aires to New York. It fuses spiritual and modal jazz with soul and a heavy dose of Latin, to take us on a truly satisfying musical journey, with delights such as ‘Southamelodic’, ‘In The Dawn Of Time’, ‘The Prime Element’ and ‘Lola’. One not to be missed!

Andy Allen

Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi together with Schema’s co-founder Luciano Cantone are The Invisible Session. There are no real surprises here just the type of solid Italian jazz we have long come to expect from Schema. Jenny B handles most of the vocal chores throughout this set and particularly shines on the stunning mid-tempo groove ‘Til The End’ and the single ‘To The Powerful’, a deep and mystical affair.

Andy Allen

Nomo’s 2nd album continues the heavy percussion and horn laced Afro-jazz vibe established on their 1st self-titled outing from 2004. ‘New Tones’ is a consistently good set throughout but pay special attention to ‘Hand And Mouth’ and the title track (spelled ‘Nu Tones’ for some reason) which has a bass line reminiscent of that on Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘Expansions’. This one is destined to mash up the dance floors in the coming months. Also look out for the recent 12" on Kindred Spirits which features 4 tracks from the 1st album.

Andy Allen

As the subtitle suggests, Harmless’ latest compilation selected by Bill Brewster focuses on the influence of black American funk and soul on the rock scene. There seems to have been a growing interest in this genre, folk-funk, funk-rock etc over the past few years and I for one am slowly but surely opening my mind to it. Not all here is to my tastes but it’s nice to see the inclusion of Chicago’s percussive ‘Happy Cause I’m Going Home’ along with Odyssey’s infectious horn driven soul sensation ‘Battened Ships’. Other standouts are the album’s opener, a great version of ‘Spooky’ by Classics IV, the Steely Dan influenced ‘Hesitation’ by Honk, the crossover soul sound of Elkie Brooks’ ‘Spiritland’ and the one I’m currently playing, Gino Vannelli’s ‘People Gotta Move On’, which comes off like a Stevie Wonder track. The CD features a bonus disc mixed by Brewster under his Fat Camp guise and includes some tasty re-edits.

Andy Allen

Following on from last year’s brilliant ‘The Soul Of Disco’ compilation, Joey Negro and Sean P again put their heads together, this time coming up with a selection of 20 boogie rarities. To these ears some of the tracks really haven’t aged well and suffer from the crashing drum machine and synth effects so prevalent during the 80s. However there are some real delights contained within, namely Mid Air’s ‘Ease Out’, C Brand’s epic ‘Wired For Games’ and Lowrell Simon’s sought after masterpiece ‘Love Massage’. Other worthy inclusions are Vera Brown & The Rich Girls’ ‘Living Too Fast’, ‘Am I Gonna Be The One’ from Colors, Samson & Delilah’s ‘I Can Feel Your Love (Slippin’ Away)’ and the gospel flavoured ‘I Am Going To Love Him’ by Sanctuary. Takes me back to the days of wet look perms, headbands and formation dancing!

Andy Allen

These latest offerings from Ryota Nazaki follow a similar path to that walked on his previous sets, seamlessly fusing elements of jazz, Brazilian, house, broken beat etc. The Flora Purim fronted ‘Dentro De Mim’, ‘Dentro Mi Alma’ featuring Sonia Santana and the title track on ‘Cannibal Rock’ all shine brightly, as does the twisted broken cut, ‘Beeping’. ‘En:Code’ opens with the spiritual vibes of ‘Pathways (Jazztronik Theme)’ with Valarie Etienne and Rob Gallagher, a track 4 Hero would have been proud of. It then passes through the Marcos Valle blessed ‘Rio. Sol E Mar’, ‘Little Tree’, a violin led waltz and the epic tech-jazz title track. I hear through the grapevine that Pantone are soon to release the best tracks from this pair on a single CD album for the UK market.

Andy Allen