Quite possibly one of the best rerubs ever! The classic Cypress Hill hip hop evergreen gets the reggae treatment from the wonderful Prince Fatty. This is not some dodgy sample booty remix but a version in the truest sense, and something I expect Cypress Hill would be very much into. Rubbery bubblin' dancefloor reggae that is a sure fire party starter, BAM!
Unifairfly 'Rock To The Rhythm' 45
(Funky Mamas And Papas)
Next up on FMAP out of Poland comes this deadly 2 track midtempo funk breaker.
4 1/2 minutes of jazz and funk breaks, riffs and melodies on each side underpinned by rock solid drums. FMAP are building an impressive collection of releases and this one is a creamy addition! it's all about the grooves baby...
Release date: Download available now, vinyl soon.
'Keep The Breakin'
'Rock To The Rhythm'
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BadboE 'Shine Like A Halo' 12"
(Bomb Strikes)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, BadboE ROCKS! Time after time Badboe
proves why he is one of the best nufunk/breakbeat producers out there with yet another masterclass in creative mashery! The thing about BB is his feel, always laying down a sweet arrangement that flows so smoothly, with much warmth too. Expect to hear this all over the bloomin' shop on the planets funkiest dancefloors.
Release date: Out now
'Shine Like A Halo'
'Masterpiece'
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Whiskey Barons 'Tumbao'
(Bstrd Boots) USA
The only reason this is not Top Choice Rekkid is because it's not out yet! The latin/cumbia/tropical wave continues to break on the shores of club culture, adding much needed warmth and good vibes which is quite frankly needed in a sea of synth darkness! There are plenty of amazing tropical rediscoveries in the compilation market at the moment, (check Soundway and Vampisoul) but there are also lots of re-edits, remixes and re-rubs which is where this baby comes in. I can't tell you what the samples are from, and it matters not. This is 4 tracks of tropical dancefloor perfection with added beats, breaks and bang up to date production. It will certainly be hammered at Jelly Jazz!
'Tumbao' 'Gordo Y Sabrosa' 'Esperanza' 'La Murga Skank'
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Colm K & The Freestyle Mellowship 'Dancing Skulls'
(Bstrd Boots) USA
NYC's Bstrd Boots recordings have come up with another 10 inch slice of summer lushness from Irish producer 'Colm K and the Freestyle Mellowship'. The track's name is inexplicably 'Dancing Skulls' although it's a rework of a dancehall classic by Delroy Wilson. This release is one of those universal bombs that could get your granny up on the floor shakin' it. No fashion victim 'for the sake of it' dubstep bass wobbles, no inpenetrable broken beat rhythm mangling. Just a great sensitive rework of a classic to make any modern dancefloor radiate with happiness.
'Dancing Skulls'
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Delta Rhythm Section 'In The Bag'
(Mocambo) Germany
The thing about this reviews page is that it is always a one way street, it's not meant to be 'critical', it's all about music we LOVE! Why waste time and space reviewing a record that we think is rubbish? We want you to come to this page and trust that our recommendations are ALWAYS on the money. Which brings us to the brand new album from the ridiculously talented Delta Rhythm Section, 'In The Bag' is so utterly brilliant that if you don't like it I will have to assume that you are insane and need to be admitted to an asylum pronto.
The band, led by Jay & Dominic Glover and Gary Crocket, feature a who's who of the UK funk cognoscenti. Players from bands like NMS, Jamiroquai, JTQ, Brand New Heavies and Snowboy lay down what could be one of the strongest funk based LPs of all time. Yes I know that's a bold statement, but you have to search hard and deep to find funk albums as consistantly powerful and rockin' as this. From the outset with 'Get It On' through to the closing 'Home Cookin', the album obviosuly draws upon 40 odd years of the best funk and jazz and a touch of latin. Each player has brought to the table the top of their game, they've also brought some kind of pinnacle of their instruments use within the funk/jazz genres as every track has a feeling of something you've heard before. All the way through you'd be forgiven for thinking that this sounds like a Jack McDuff groove, or Ramsey Lewis, or Stevie Wonder, or The Meters, or Mongo and so on. But there are no covers here, there are homages aplenty, respectful and breathtakingly well executed. ALL the tracks are gritty, raw and unbelievably funky and it's straight into my record shelf that's reserved for the very best vinyl that I own. A classic right NOW, and you'd be a fool for not getting this while you can. If this is a limited edition pressing I can guarantee that prices will be huge for this in the years to come. BUY BUY BUY!
Release date: Out now
'Funkmighty'
'Latin Soul Strut'
'Get It On'
'Smoking The Keys' 'Caught Stealing'
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Various 'Palenque Palenque!'
(Soundway) UK
When it comes to being educated musically, Soundway Records surely must be the master, and we should take an apple to put on their desk each morning. Yet again they deliver a stunning album that is born out of their dedicated and obsessive musical spotlight. This time focusing in on the north coast of Colombia, we get to experience the soundclash that is Champeta, the psychedelic afro latin sound popular in the early 70's and beyond. Made up of utterly obscure artists (many record 1 or 2 songs before disappearing) and a few recognisable names like Wganda Kenya, La Tromba and Banda Los Hijos de la Nina Luz (at least to this reviewer anyway!), it's an engrossing and evocative selection, quirky and somewhat insane in places. One for serious music buffs as well as for an excellent soundtrack to your summer BBQ tropical rave up!
Release date: out now
Banda Los Hijos de la Nina Luz 'Dejala Corre'
Wganda Kenya 'El Lobo'
Quantic Presenta
Flowering Inferno 'Dog With A Rope'
(Tru Thoughts)
With such a prolific output crossing many musical boundries, one can simply not say that this or that is Quantics best sound. He has a masterful touch, even a Midas touch on everything he explores, eaking out an extra level to a genre and adding a 'quantic' flavour which is recognisable. It's that laid back shuffle, attention to the groove, the apperance of a jam session but all solid, beautifully arranged and without fail, something you have to have. Back in 2008 Quantic dropped the reggae and dub album 'Death of A Revolution' on us, it came out the blue and surprised many people. It is an excellent album and personally could well be the album of his I listen to most regularly at home. So being aware that there was a follow up album in the pipeline has meant a great deal of musical excitement for this reviewer!
And at last, on 7th June 2010, the first single from the new Flowering Inferno LP will be upon us. And what a gem... Recorded at his 'Sonido Del Valle' studio in Colombia, 'Dog With A Rope' oozes summer vibes, it's also a respectful roots reggae track that has a South American flavour which gives the whole a unique and beautiful sound. The new LP coming soon will be a continuation of this, encompassing heavy bass and reggae alongside the Tropical dance-orientated music from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia.
Yet again Quantic completes something special, the man is a freakin' genius.
Przasnik's debut LP finally drops and what an absolute corker! This is a DJs dream, track after track of highly playable dancefloor gems, ranging from swing jazz sampled mid-tempo hip hop groovers to up-tempo afro bangers and beautifully concocted and arranged jazzysoufulbreakbeat joy. The whole thing is a masterclass of production, the sonics are rich and warm and the breadth of their musical ideas and their delivery is top notch. Basically what we're saying is this is bloomin' brilliant!
I remember the Acid Jazz period in the early 90's where there were a handful of funk revival acts desperately trying to get that vintage sound, but alas failing. Whether that was due to studio limitations, lack of understanding of the genre, instruments or basic song writing the 'sound' was often missing. Now of course we have many many bands all over the world that have got the mix of technology, songwriting and attitude spot on. Think Deep Street Soul, QSO, The Soul Investigators, Poets Of Rhythm, Dapkings, NMS, Dionne Charles, Osaka Monaurail, etc etc all producing funk/soul music that rivals classic funk from the 60's and early 70's and gives us a perfect continuation of the genre like it never went away!
Which brings us to the brand new LP from Japanese funk outfit Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro. Now we at Jelly Jazz rate these guys as one of the very best bands in the world right now pushing chicken scratch guitar, throbbin' basslines, snappy breakbeats and tootin' horn riffs otherwise known as funk. The new album has a fabulous selection of mid tempo instrumentals and a clucth of dancefloor scorchers that are as good as any seriously heavy funkers you could possibly hear. Just Check 'Just A Rambling Man' for the real deal which is also available as a 45. KICK ASS
funk, get it.
Release date: out now
' 乱暴' 'Sympathy'
'Just A Rambling Man'
'Super Jock Strut'
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Various 'Afrosound of Colombia'
(Vampisoul) Spain
Vampisoul certainly know how to put together a compilation, and this new one focusing on the heavy Afrosound of Disco Fuentes features a massive 43 tracks over 2 cds or triple vinyl! This is a monster set of descarga, cumbia, Colombian afrofunk, bomba, salsa and tropical wonder.
Soundway Records in the UK have been championing and trailblazing along with Quantic the joys of Colombian music for a few years now, and thank heavens. My own experience of afro latin based music was pretty much centred on the NY sound of the early 70s, now as brilliant as that is, the music being unearthed by Quantic, Soundway, Sofrito, Vampisoul and so on is very exciting. The rawness of this music is utterly compelling, it is incredibly atmospheric and suggestive, grabbing at parts of your inner being you didn't know existed. Damn, I want to go to Colombia and dance!
Now I don't mind admitting that I can't talk as knowledgeably as I'd like to on the subtle differences in the various rhythm structures and regional variations of cumbia, Paseaito, Bomba etc, but what I can say is there are tracks on here, like Fruko's 'Descarga Espectacular' that will you leave thoroughly knackered on the dancefloor! A deeply varied selection, almost an education, and this is just Vol. 1. If I know Vampisoul then they will go to Vol. 3 at least, and that my fiends, is something to look forward too.
Release date: out now
Fruko Y Sus Tesos 'Descarga Espectacular'
Los Corraleros De Majagual 'Los Sabanales'
Quantic Presenta
Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro
Prince Fatty
Unifairfly
BadboE
Whiskey Barons
Colm K & The Freestyle Mellowship
Delta Rhythm Section
Various
PRZASNIK
Various
