Mr Scruff : Feel Free (Scruff's 12" Re-Tweak)

Scruff turns his attention to 'Feel Free' from his album 'Friendly Bacteria', re-tweaking the Afro-tinged jazz excursion for the dancefloor. With Matthew Halsall on trumpet, Denis Jones on guitar and The Cinematic Orchestra's Phil France double bass take centre stage at the outset before the track morphs into a svelte, sweetly-swung machine-like dance jam.
 

Ephemerals : Easy Ain't Nothin

Ephemerals are a London based soul family featuring an allstar cast of musicians. Founded by Hillman Mondegreen, writer-producer and founder member for Hannah Williams and The Tastemakers, he felt instantly that Franglo-American singer Wolfgang Valbrun was the perfect voice to deliver a debut album that is fresh and soulful and will command some serious attention. Wolf, originally from New York but who has been living in Paris since the age of 14, only began singing in public three years ago, but has quickly established himself as a continental star with his band Marvellous. Next is Damian, who also plays trumpet for Kalakuta Millionaires and is in Hillman’s afrobeat supergroup Keke Mokoro. Then Char, who plays baritone sax for Dakhla, a band with a unique afrobeat/gypsy styling. Also James, who plays organ for Hannah Williams, and Jimi Needles, who has been Hillman’s drummer of choice since they met at university in 2008. Rob Jones was the final piece of the puzzle, recommended to Hillman by WahWah45’s boss Dom Servini. He played every instrument on the epic Gene Dudley Group album and was brought in to play bass with his trademark tone and casual style.
 

Charles Bradley & LaRose Jackson : Luv Jones/Change, Change, Change

It was the annual Charles Bradley memorial day BBQ throw down, when Charles finally introduced LaRose Jackson to Tommy. "Tommeyy! This is the lady I was telling you about. You gotta hear her sang!" To which LaRose said, "This is the guy you were talking about? He don't look like no funky producer to me. He look like one of them rock &amp rollers." Well, our friend TNT invited LaRose and CB back to the old Dunham Sound Studio and set out to prove just how funky he could be. "What if I told you that curly haired dude over there was the baddest drummer you ever heard?" asked TNT to Rose. "Him? You guys are weird." The duets that unfolded that night are on this seven-inch piece of wax: Two instant funky pizza party classics. Dig it
 

Timo Lassy : Teddy The Sweeper

A relaxed effort in the vein of the classic ”cooking session” tradition of modern jazz. That is, the band came in, took hold of the new tunes penned by Lassy and his trusty drummer/producer Teppo ”Teddy Rok” Mäkynen, and fired on all cylinders. The result? Some of the most swinging no-nonsense in your face and under your feet jazz, no gimmicks needed here, this jazz is cooking.
 

The Brothers : Under The Skin

Another great re-issue on Groove Line Records. The Brothers’ promo 12” for the 1976 album Don't Stop Now. This features one of the most sought after instrumental tracks of the 1970's, Under The Skin. A luscious disco orchestration with full horn and string sections playing alongside an infectious conga groove played and arranged by Warren Schatz and his band, The Brothers.
 

Bileo : You Can Win

Written by Elijah Williams Jr. and R.K. Wynn, this is an extremely rare and dj pleasing record from 1979. Now re issued by Athens Of The North !
 

Fabulous Four : If I Knew

Rare funk and soul gem written by Charles Warren and Homer Wells.

 

Marlena Shaw : Woman Of The Ghetto

Marlena Shaw has endured decades of singing in the shadows, and she has only now finally found her niche, thanks to Ashford & Simpson, who've written the two songs that became popular on the U.K. rare groove scene.
"California Soul" is probably the most enduring and well-known of her many songs, but just a few seconds listening will tell you that it is much more than that. Both already a classic amongst those who have already seen the light and have danced and swayed to their timeless swing.

 

Tony Allen : Go Back (feat. Damon Albarn)

Tony Allen is a Nigerian drummer, composer and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. As drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa 70 from 1968 to 1979, Allen was one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. Fela once stated that, "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat." He has also been described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived."
Offering an exciting sneak preview of "Film of Life", the new album from Tony Allen due for release October 20th on Jazz Village, the poignant ballad “Go Back” was written with Damon Albarn, who features on vocals and keyboards. Set to a sensual and hypnotic beat, the two musicians have created a homage to the African refugees who ended up on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Gwen Mcrae : Keep The Fire Burning

This is Gwen Mcrae on top of her game surrounded by the best producers and songwriters. 1982 saw the release of the album 'On My Way', containing the excellent, Willie Hutch penned, Webster Lewis produced 'Keep The Fire's Burning'.
      

Saint Motel : My Type Ep

Saint Motel is a relatively new American four piece band from Los Angeles, whose music has been described as everything from "dream pop" to "indie prog". The band consists of A/J Jackson (lead vocals/guitar), Aaron Sharp (lead guitar), Dak (bass), and Greg Erwin (drums).
With sprinkling fresh melodies and exotic rhythms and a certain jazziness throughout, they manage to wrap the cold cold man in a happy song.
"Cold Cold Man" is the third song on the forthcoming "My Type" Ep. "My Type" takes off with funky and disco styled horns, a wall of sound where the bassline emerges silk smooth and takes us on a poppy ride where I'm happy to be on. Top songs !
 

Quantic : You Will Return (feat. Alice Russell)

“You Will Return” is a bittersweet dose of soulful psychedelic folk that sees Tru Thoughts label-mate and long-time collaborator Alice Russell giving a beautifully wistful and potent vocal turn among Holland’s glistening layers of banjo, accordion and guitar, and a subtly driving beat. With an exquisite lacework of harmonies, and string arrangements (courtesy of world-renowned Miguel Atwood-Ferguson) this sliver of timeless perfection with a twist calls to mind the last time Quantic and Alice Russell joined forces, on 2012’s full collaborative album and BBC 6Music Playlisted title track “Look Around The Corner”. Testament to this song’s popularity, an alternative upfront version of “You Will Return”, released on an exclusive Record Store Day 7”, sold out in rapid fashion.
 

Crown Heights Affair : Use Your Body & Soul (Scratchandsniff re-rub)

Originally known as Ben Iverson and the Nue Dey Express on Britne Records, founded by then-bassist Donnie Linton, the group was renamed for a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The line-up consisted of Phillip Thomas, William Anderson, Howard Young, Bert Reid, James Baynard, Raymond Reid, Arnold 'Muki' Wilson, Julius Dilligard Jr., and Raymond Rock. Under contract to RCA they recorded their self-titled first album in 1974, featuring their first single "(You Can't Bend My) Super Rod". 

Personnel changes followed, along with a shift in 1975 to De-Lite Records. The record label's subsequent liaison with Polygram Records saw the group gain worldwide audiences for singles such as "Dreaming A Dream", "Every Beat of My Heart", "Foxy Lady" and "Dancin'". "Dreaming A Dream" reached Number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1975, and they topped out at #2 on the Dance chart later that year with "Every Beat Of My Heart".

In the UK they made the Top 40 in 1978 with "Galaxy Of Love", and #10 in 1980 with "You Gave Me Love". On 22 June 2013 they reunited to play at the Coronet in London as part of the Streetsounds Summer Ball.
 

Change : The Glow of Love (Leroc Sportif Edit)

The Glow of Love is the debut studio album by the Italian/U.S. ensemble Change. It was released in 1980 and reached number twenty-nine on the US Billboard Album Chart and ten on the US Billboard Black Albums chart. The Glow of Love includes the singles "A Lover's Holiday", "Searching" and "The Glow of Love". The band recorded the songs for album at Fontoprint Studios, Bolognia, Italy.

The songs were then taken to Power Station Studios, New York City for the recording of the vocals. "Searching" and the title track were recorded and mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York. The sessions were then mastered at Sterling Sound Studios. Receiving positive reviews the album was originally released as an LP in April 1980. The artwork was designed and illustrated by Greg Porto.
 

The Clash : Casbah Breakdown (Soul Motion Dj Edit)

Simple Cut 'n Paste edit with the original and the fabulous Joey Negro Edit.

Souleance : Segredos Do Samba

Soulist and Fulgeance have reached into the extensive Brasilian collection of Alice Dufay, the lady behind the fresh and distinctive artwork of all Souleance releases, to bring us the 'Jogar EP'. With the World Cup, the sounds of South America are a natural choice for summer 2014 and Souleance's offering is as funky as you'd expect.
 

Los Issifu & His Moslems : Kana Soro

Voodoo Funk managed to track down Los Issifu himself in Kumasi, Ghana, and are releasing this killer 45 licensed directly from the artist himself. The clip has not been restored, the 45 sounds much better, according to the Voodoo people.