Fresh From The Crates

J-Live - Reveal The Secret

2007-11-14T08:45:00.001-08:00

People not in tune to the fine true-school stylings of J-Live would be wise to check him out. His first album, The Best Part, was recorded between '95 and '99 suffered from many distribution problems and was shelved twice. Bootlegs were available in early 2001 and by the autumn the full album was released by J-Live himself on his own label, Triple Threat Productions. It's a fantastic album and features the tempo-bending 'Them That's Not', a track with Asheru called 'Kick It To The Beat' and features production from Premier, Pete Rock and Prince Paul. Listening to it makes you wonder why the hell it was ever shelved, and it's definitely one of my favorite records from that era. The official release has a bonus track called 'Epilogue' - an amazing tribute to the intelligent hip hopper and a lesson to the uneducated.

Since then, J-Live has collaborated with a host of heavy weights including Handsome Boy Modeling School, DJ Spinna, J. Rawls, Soulive, Rob Swift and R.A the Rugged Man on the 'Wu-Tang meets the Indie Culture' album, as well as releasing a couple of EPs in 2003 ('Always Has Been' and 'Always Will Be') and two albums ('All of the Above' in 2002 and 'The Hear After' in 2005). All of them are as dope as they come and well worth the money, especially the two EPs. In 2006, heads turned when relatively unknown beatsmith King E from Pennsylvania took 'the Hear After' and mashed it up with tracks from the legendary Roy Ayers. In October this year, his newest EP ' Reveal The Secret' was released on BBE records.

Taking up production duties are Jazzy Jeff, Da Beatminerz, Marco Polo and previous collaborators, DJ Spinna and Odisee. All the tracks bounce along and provide more than enough backbone for J-Live to open up on. Although only six tracks it encompasses story raps, party jams (including a rework of Let Me Clear My Throat) and political insight while still maintaining a sense of whole.

J-Live's working on a new album at the moment, once again collaborating with DJ Spinna. Until we can get our grubby little paws on it let this tide you over.

Tracklisting:

The Incredible
Once Upon A Mic
Practice (Magnificent Mix)
Feel Like Spittin'
Red Light Green Light
Practice (Spaghetti Bender Mix)

Purchase:
You can buy the album from Amazon, Juno or BBE.
You can download the album from iTunes, Dancetracks Digital and eMusic.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

2007-11-14T05:39:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings by now, you have been seriously missing out. With two albums under their belt already (Dap Dippin' with... and Naturally) they have established themselves as heavy hitters in their field. In April they released their third album on Daptone, titled '100 Days, 100 Nights' they show no sign of compromising their deep funk/northern soul sound.

Sharon Jones originally released on Desco records, collaborating with producer Bosco Mann and Gabriel Roth (who operated under the moniker the Soul Providers) and is responsible for some very fine 45's, incluing 'You better think twice' and 'Damn it's hot' as well as a fantastic cover of Eddie Bo's 'Hook and Sling'. After the Soul Providers split in 2000 Gabriel Roth went to form the Sugarman 3 and founded Daptone records, where he brought some of the old members of the Soul Providers together again to form the Dap-kings with Sharon Jones leading the way.

This is the video for the title single from the new album, and was shot by Adam Buncher using vintage cameras and mirrors the authentic 60's feel of the music and proves (contrary to popular cliches) that they DO make them like they used to. The Dap-kings were also hired as Mark Ronson's studio group for his most recent album Version, which has given the band some much needed exposure. Hopefully with this release they will expand their fanbase from funk circles and into more mainstream playlists, after all, funk is becoming *cool* again (as if it never was).

The band have recently released a new single which doesn't feature on the album, called 'I'm Not Going To Cry'. The song is a pure JB's groove and epitomizes the strong, feminist vibes Sharon Jones is famous for. On the flip side is 'Money Don't Make the Man', an instrumental cut with a tearing sax tenor sax melody from Neal Sugarman that should tear down any dancefloor.

There's not much more to be said really. This band defines the modern-funk sound whilst remaining authentic to the era that started it all. Buy it, buy it now!

Tracklisting:

100 Days, 100 Nights
Nobody's Baby
Tell Me
Be Easy
When the Other Foot Drops, Uncle
Let The Knock
Something's Changed
Humble Me
Keep On Looking
Answer Me
Settling In

Purchase:
The album is available to buy from Jazzman, Juno and from Daptone themselves.
You can download the album from iTunes, and eMusic.

AIFF - Afro Soul System

2007-11-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

The Dutch have always had a good handle on the funkier side of music, with acts like Pete Philly and Perquisite, Lefties Soul Connection and the Soul Snatchers. Fans of the latter will be pleased to know that the bassist, Ton van der Kolk has teamed up with DJ/producer Phil Martin and a host of musicians to create the fantastic Afro Influenced Funk Federation (or AIFF for short). As the name implies, afro-funk is the dish of the day here, and it smells good.

This Ubiquity release follows remixes for luminaries such as the Jazz Invaders, the New Mastersounds and Praful as well as the 7" and 12" of 'Akwaaba' ('Watergirls' on the flip of the 7", Diesler remixes on the 12"). Featuring eleven tracks in total it has been in heavy rotation since it's release in September this year and it's easy to see why. With tracks such as 'Circles' and 'Let It Roll' the album has real dance floor potential. In my experience, both tracks on the 7" smashed any dance floor, so there inclusion here is handy if you missed the single. The album explores the well trodden path Fela pioneered, but does it extremely well and experiments with arrangements and influences, such as the disco vibe of 'the Seduction' or the dub-wise bass in 'Afro Riddim'.

As well as the dance floor appeal of this album, it's grooves can be enjoyed in a more relaxed atmosphere and will appeal to more traditional jazz heads. Tracks like 'Mission L'Afrique' juggle solid and bouncy brass with twisting piano solos and syncopated drum breaks, while 'Life' features a fantastic flute and some very 60's vocals from Linda Bloemhard. I feel the only place the album fails to deliver is the hip hop track 'Ugly Duckling', where the band team up with Travis Blaque. The band do a fine job, but the flow of the verses doesn't really sit right in my ears, although. I'm probably just being picky. Also on vocal duties is Crucial T, Phil Martin takes drums and percussion duties, Marco Hill plays sax and flute, Rob van de Wouw plays trumpet, Peter Broekhuizen takes on the Baritone and Ton van der Kolk plays bass, rhodes, guitar, horns (and anything he can get his hands on from the sound of it).

This is a great album, a worthy addition to any DJ's crate and or any aficionado's collection.

Tracklisting:

Circles
Afro Riddim (feat. Crucial T)
Watergirls (Album Version)
Life (feat. Linda Bloemhard)
Mission L'Afrique
Don't Stop
Ugly Duckling (feat. Travis Blaque)
Dare
The Seduction
Let It Roll
Akwaaba (Album Version)

Purchase:
The album can be purchased from Juno, Dusty Groove or from Ubiquity themselves.
You can download the album from iTunes and DanceTracksDigital.

Tumi & The Volume - Tumi & The Volume

2007-11-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

Tumi and the Volume hail from Johannesburg and their first studio album (released in 2005) is one of my favourite records from the last five years. Comprising of seventeen tracks, it's an melodic soundscape of afro-centric hip hop and funk in the same vein as the Roots and Blackalicious. Touching on many issues from the political to the personal, it plays out like a Jim Jarmusch film set in a dusty South African jazz club.

The core members of the band are made up of Paulo Chibanga on drums, David Bergman on bass, Tiago Paulo on guitar and are fronted by vocalist Tumi. The instrumentation on the album is full of energy and creativity, but what stands out the most is the lyrical ability of Tumi. I think this is where the similarity with Blackalicious is most apparent; Tumi shares Gift of the Gabs ability to effortlessly drift from quick-fire party raps to hypnotic tales of the common man.

The production values on the album really shine through, with strings, horns and cuts brought in to give a rich texture to each track and female backing vocals to add even more soul to the mix. The album touches on many styles and manages to accomodate them without compromising, from the frantic boogaloo of 'Afrique' to the psychedelic synths and guitars on 'Ladies & Gentlemen Up Next it Be the Raw, the Live, Known Affectionate'.

This really is an amazing album and will appeal to just as much to jazz fans as it will hip hoppers, which makes me wonder why they don't have greater international exposure. They have released a live CD previously and I've heard a Tumi track on a C-Side Trax sampler called 'The Inner View' (the record also features a heavy Plutonic Lab track), but they are relatively unknown in England and it's probably not much better in America. Which is criminal, because they're sublime. Buy it and tell everyone!

Tracklisting:

Ellof 17:45
Floor
Bus Stop Confessions
Johnny Dyani
Whats It's All About
Smile, You On Camera
Afrique
The Story Behind The Beat
Signs
Oslo
Basement
Ladies & Gentlemen Up Next it Be the Raw, the Live, Known Affectionate
Learning
In A Minute
Bergman's Theory
Sticks & Stones
These Women

Purchase:
The album is available to buy from Amazon.
You can download the album from Calabash Music, iTunes and from Juno.

Orgone - The Killion Floor

2007-11-01T09:33:00.001-07:00

Orgone have been making it funky since 2001, and deserve far more acclaim than they currently receive. Their achievements include collaborating with Jack Splash for the Plantlife project (which resulted in Maida Vale sessions, a slot on Jools Holland's TV show and winning Giles Peterson's worldwide album of the year). They have been the Pharcyde's live band, done percussion for Breakestra, remixed Prince and backed numerous acts, including Eddie Bo, Tone Loc, Little Brother and Connie Price and the Keystones. Following a number of releases on Nuff Rope and a couple of singles on Ubiquity, they have finally released their debut full length album, titled The Killion Floor.

Anyone who has heard any of their previous singles will know what to expect - a smooth blend of afrobeat and deep funk with a splash of northern soul thrown in. The album manages to provide for both the armchair funkologist and the b-boys and b-girls, with some fantastic up-tempo songs that demand you either shake what your mother gave you or mellow out with a fatty. What really stands out on the album is the fantastic three piece horn section comprising of Darren Cardoza on trombone, Devin Williams on trumpet and Joel Bowers on Saxophone. When the horns blare into the arrangement on 'Funky Nassau' it's like listening to Fela Kuti being played by Booker T and the MGs. Holding it together on drums and base is Sean O'Shea and Ethan Phillips, providing a crisp, energetic and undeniably funky backbone.

Stand out tracks on the album have to be the frantic disco-shakedown of 'Hambone', the sweet Northern Soul of 'All Said and Done' and the aforementioned 'Funky Nassau', although it's really worth listening to whole thing to get the full Orgone experience. Buy this and 'The Return of Jack Splash' by Plantlife, you won't be disappointed.

Tracklisting:

Easin' (Introlude)
Who Knows Who
Sophisticated Honky
Do Your thing
A Wot
It's What You Do
I Get Lifted
Hambone
Dialed Up
Justice League
Funky Nassau
Lone Ranger
Prism Break
Said And Done
Duck And Cover
Crabby Ali
Easin' (Outrolude)

Purchase:
The album is available to buy from Jazzman and Dusty Groove.
You can download the album from iTunes, DanceTracksDigital and eMusic.

Lack of Afro - Press On

2007-11-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Funk heads across the globe have been turning following a string of superb releases from Adam Gibbons, more commonly known as Lack of Afro. Dubbed 'the next Quantic' by many, LoA has carved a very comfortable seat for himself in the Funk scene over the past year and shows no sign of slowing down. Having remixed some of the new funk don's (the New Mastersounds, Diesler etc) he now brings us his debut album, released on Freestyle Records.

Highlights include the blistering 'Wait a Minute' (one of the labels fastest selling singles), the spaghetti-western tinged 'The Outsider' and his latest single, a cover of the Arctic Monkey's 'When the Sun Goes Down'. All the tracks on the album are top notch and if you're listening on CD you can forget the skip button even exists. LoA's album reeks of class, with production values worthy of vintage funk combined with the best innovation contemporary funk composers have to offer.

This could very well be a contender for Funk release of the year, with booming tight-as-you-like drum breaks throughout, deep rolling bass lines and schizophrenic guitars exploding left right and center. If you're living in the Southwest, you might just catch him at the Root Down in Exeter a night he frequently plays at, although I'm sure you'll be able to catch him in and around the usual funk spots across the country. At the moment he is working on remixes for northern soulstress Nicole Willis as well the Brighton based hip hop outfit Flevans and rumoured to be producing an album for the Diplomats of Solid Sound (check these guys out - heavy!).

If you consider yourself any sort of fan of funk, you need this album. You won't regret it.

Tracklisting:

Intro
The Outsider
Rusty
Touch My Soul
For You
Pure Filth
Wait A Minute
Live At The Club
Mongrel Strut
When The Sun Goes Down
Roderigo
Where It's At

Purchase:
The album is available to buy from Jazzman and Dusty Groove.
You can download the album from iTunes, DanceTracksDigital and eMusic.

Kutiman - Kutiman

2007-11-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

I first came discovered Kutiman when I came across a 7" of his released on Afro-Kats. I was looking for some afro-funky kind of stuff and this guy was pressing all the right buttons. 'No Groove Where I Come From' was a straight up hip grinder, with some infectious vocals by Elran Dekel (from Israel's Funk'n'stein) and every time I pulled it out of the crates I know it would go down well. On the flip, 'Chaser' is a similar affair with a stonking horn line from Shlomi Alon,Yair Slutzki & Sefi Zisling (also from Funk'n'stein) and a seriously funky guitar riff that sounds straight out of the early 70's.Since then, Kutiman has been signed to Cologne based label Melting Pot Music and has released a couple of singles (one of which, 'No Reason For You' features a remix of 'No Groove Where I Come From' by long-time collaborator Sabbo on the b-side) as well as his debut, eponymous Album. The album is a real tour-de-force and mixes many different genres subtly and tastefully, touching on afro-beat, psychedelic rock and West Indian grooves. It's one of those albums that you can always find space for in a DJ set, an album where each track is strong enough to stand on its own but really shines when together with the rest of the album.

Most of the instrument duties are taken up by Kutiman himself - playing drums, guitar, bass, keys and percussion he really shows his understanding of the music he plays and the relationship between the different parts of a track. As an Israeli national who came of age in Tel Aviv, Kutiman took the opportunity to showcase some of the talent from the small (but flourishing) groove scene in his home town. As well as the aforementioned members of Funk'n'stein, the album also features vocals from Chaka Moon and Karolina (from Karolina & Funset), percussion from Dotan Segal and Idan K and co-production duties from DJ Sabbo.

The album has received critical acclaim from (among others) Straight-No-Chaser (R.I.P), Giles Peterson, Dusty Groove and Roskow Kretschmann and should be a must for any music lover.

Tracklisting:

Bango Fields
No Reason for You (feat. Elran Dekel)
Take A Minute
No Groove Where I Come From (feat. Elran Dekel)
Losing It (feat. Karolina)
Skit
I Just Wanna Make Love To You (feat. Chaka Moon)
Chaser
Once You're Near Me (feat. Elran Dekel)
Escape Route
Trumpet Woman (feat. Karolina)
Music Is Ruling My World (feat. Karolina)
And Out

Purchase:
The album is available to buy from Juno, Groove and HHV.
You can download the album from iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Juno, Virgin Mega, Musicload and MP3.