When you hear the name Al Kent, one can only think of rare Disco gems that we’ve completely forgotten or never knew existed.  At first I was afraid that Disco Love Vol.3 would be filled with abundance of glossy dance tracks but I was very pleased by the quality of recordings here that are soulfully deep and funky. There are several highlights to nod your head to like the Al Kent edit funky bass grooves of “Mighty Gents”. “Hustle On Down Pt.3” features funky horns and wah wah guitar licks. “Human” by the Neo Experience is reminiscent of a Philly Soul recording. Overall Disco Love Vol. 3 covers all the bases to allow you to step back in time and get your groove on.

Reg Dancy

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As the drummer for Electric Wire Hustle, fans have been hypnotized by the Futuristic beats and rhythms generated by Myele Manzanza. Now with his solo debut "One", Myele reaches into his roots and various other influences to deliver an authentic blend of soulful beats ranging from African to Future rhythms with amazing results. Among the highlights are "Absent", a hip-hop flavored track with wicked rhythms augmented by Bella Kalolo on vocals. "City Of Atlantis" is another worthy pick that starts out with Philly rapper Charlie K rhyming over a thick beat. At this point the groove shifts with the help of a jazzy flute riff followed by the organic soulful vocals of New Zealand native Ladi 6. "Me I Know Him" is a stomping soulful house track with Sam Manzanza, Myele’s father on Congas and Canadian vocalist Amenta. Myele has paid his dues to hone his craft and "One" displays the fruits of his labor with outstanding results. This is a superb record worthy of repeated listens. You won’t be disappointed.

Reg Dancy

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On "The Heroes" (A Tribute to a Tribe) Simba & Milton Gulli visit the songbook of A Tribe Called Quest. While no doubt a daunting task, they take the wise route by maintaining the core ingredients of the classics while infusing the flavors of their Mozambican heritage. The producer MiltonGulli is well aware of jazz undertones that permeates ATCQ’s music and that is evident throughout, especially on their cover of "Bonita Applebum", where they transform the original into a sublime melodic gem. The same can be said for "Electric Conversation" aided by the jazzy guitar rhythms and harmonic approach displayed throughout. Simba displays a laidback delivery to his rhyming skills that are similar to Q-Tip’s but the comparison ends there. He definitely has his own voice and he holds his own with impressive results. The highlight here arguably is "God Lives Through" (I Love my God) which at first hints as a cover but morphs into a harmonic gospel lullaby that is simply irresistible. Overall Simba & Gulli demonstrate that their talent is primed for the long haul and in the process do justice to the songbook of one of hip-hop’s most treasured groups. Take a trip down memory lane and in the process get introduced to Mozambican soulful hip-hop.

Reg Dancy

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It’s not enough to crown Omar as the King of UK Soul for his unmistakable voice is recognized and cherished worldwide. With his seventh and easily one of his strongest lps entitled “The Man”, his star should shine even brighter. The thirteen track disc hits hard and often with a myriad of musical styles enhanced by edgy grooves and crafty production that we’ve come to expect from him. The first single “The Man” finds Omar singing about his maturation from a young man to family man, highlighted by a tasty bass clarinet and flute melody. “High Heels” is a funky soul jazz tune that features the Hidden Jazz Quartet”. Pino Palladino transforms the 1990 classic “There’s Nothing Like This” into a chilled out mellow gem. The disc wraps up with Latin flavored “Ordinary Day” that is a tribute to the additions of his twin daughters to his family. Overall “The Man” is filled with so many superb tracks that it will be hard to pick a favorite. It will not be hard at all however to recognize this as one of the best records of the year.

Reg Dancy

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Personal Life is the London soul collective formed by Robert Strauss. Their debut “Morning Light” is a superb collection of sweetened soul with funky grooves surrounded by jazzy horns and strings. Each track features warm sophisticated arrangements highlighted by the silky smooth voice of Stuart Lisbie.  Among the highlights are the mid-tempo dance floor friendly tracks like “Classic Lady” and the socially conscious “One Step Closer”.  “I remember” a nice ballad filled with lush romantic arrangements and simple yet enchanting funk. Strauss, who wrote and produced, has captured the essence of quality soul music that was a staple from the late seventies and throughout the eighties. What’s impressive is that “Morning Light” isn’t a throwback record; it’s a refreshing record that fills a gaping hole in the RnB soul genre. Could this be a renaissance? You certainly hope so if they sound as good as this one.

Reg Dancy

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“The Djoon Experience” is an experience in dance culture of great proportions. The infamous club located in Eastern Paris captures the spirit of good vibes and soulful house music. The latter of which is in large supply thanks to acclaimed DJs Joe Clausell and South Africa’s own Black Coffee. If your feet and hips aren’t moving within minutes of “The Djoon Experience” compilation then I suggest you check your pulse. Joe Clausell and Black Coffee blend infectious house music that lifts your spirits and transports House music enthusiasts to a place filled with peace love and harmony. Like all the great DJs, Clausell and Coffee capture the mood of party people that frequent the club and propel them to greater heights with a tasty assortment of past and future classics. Among those treats are Gregory Porter’s “1960 What!”, Hugh Masekela’s “We are One” and Ian Friday’s remix of “My Love Song” featuring Nickson. Other highlights include “All Alone” featuring Vikter Duplaix and the DJ Kent Club mix of “Sunrise” featuring Zaki Ibrahim. There’s much more to savor but believe me, “The Djoon Experience” is a highly recommended purchase that will remind you why you love House music so much in the first place.

Reg Dancy

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Over the past Ten years, with over a hundred releases under their belt, Record Kicks has firmly established itself as the premier label of vintage funk, gritty soul and so much more. This release has compiled 21 selections that represent some of the premiere soul, funk and reggae acts that call the label home. Among the label mates is Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers with their stirring single “I’m a Good Woman”.  Other tasty treats are “Your Love is Mine” by The New Mastersounds with featured vocals from Corrine Bailey Rae. The Baker Brothers are another funk band whose 2011 lp “Time to Testify” received critical acclaim. They follow that up with their new single “Dancing with my mates Til Dawn”. And then there’s Nick Pride and The Pimptones, who provide a crackling summer party jam with “Everything is Better in The Summertime”. Thanks to Record Kicks and other similar labels, funk and soul have a home for years to come.  Treat yourself to a superb disc, not to mention a few more gems from their catalogue.

Reg Dancy

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It’s hard to believe that eight years has elapsed since “Keep Reachin’ Up”; the fantastic debut by Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators first hit the scene and quickly became a favorite of DJs and classic soul aficionados worldwide. Their sophomore release, “Tortured Soul” picks up right where they left off with a sizzling selection of hot buttered gritty soul. Highlights include “Light Years Ahead” a vintage deep soul hip shaker filled with a thumping bass and strings. “On the East Side” is an achingly slow burning dim the lights groover. “Tell Me When” is another soul gem with thick bass lines and funky horns. Nicole and The Investigators once again strike the right balance between hard rhythms, soft vocals and emotive compositions. It all adds up to a deeply satisfying dose of soul music that you shouldn’t miss.

Reg Dancy

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Tasty hip hop beats and soulful samples have become synonymous with Detroit native Terrel Wallace aka Tall Black Guy”. “8 Miles to Moenart” is a tribute to his roots and of the lineage of the musical Detroit landscape that runs deep. That’s evident throughout this disc that features a touch of electro soul laced with hip hop and Jazz rhythms. Among the highlights are “The Dark Streets” an infectious down-tempo house track with a wicked beat.  “There’s No more Soul” is a warm down-tempo soul gem that is complemented by the wordless phrasing of Diggs Duke. Ozay Moore’s lyrics on “Mon Amie De’ Troit” combined with the laidback hip-hop beat captures the spirit of a day in the life of Detroit. A bit disappointing that there’s eight tracks here but an otherwise superb disc that will keep your head nodding with each listen.

Reg Dancy

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For those already familiar with Martin Iveson aka Atjazz, “More than a Remix”, filled with over thirty tracks ranging from 1997 to 2013 is the gift that keeps on giving. There are so many superb tracks here past and present that define the crisp production and percussive rhythms that we’ve come to know and love from Martin and this just scratches the surface of timeless classics that rest inside the Atjazz vaults. One of his strengths is taking a great record and adding a fresh new element to it. That’s evident on classics such as Jazzanova’s “Dance The Dance” as well as Kerri Chandler’s Deep House crowd pleaser “Rain”. He also breathes new life into recent releases such as the lush recording of Boddhi Satva’s “Who Am I” and Maddslinky’s “Special” featuring Omar. Loyal admirers will simply love this disc while newcomers will delight in sorting through the rich catalogue.

Reg Dancy

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