Posts from — November 2008

The people at Etch Shop/TruThoughts was kind enough to send me a few records to share with my readers. So the next ten days you have the opportunity to win a copy of Kylie Auldist’s debut album “Just Say” or the brilliant live album from the Bamboos – “Listen! Hear! The Bamboos live!“. Both are personal favorites that keep providing the funk and soul scene with a fresh sound whilst staying true to the genre. If you like artists like Alice Russell, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, or even Amy Winehouse and Duffy, you will love both of these records!

All you have to do is leave a comment on any post I have written on the blog saying why you like the song, what kind of emotions it creates when you listen to it, any special moments it makes you think of, if it made you curious to discover more new music, if you know any songs/labels you think I should listen to, or simply why you like my blog. Anything goes really…

I always appreciate your feedback, so keep it coming!

I have known this for years, but now finally scientists are catching up and provides some hard evidence.

Scientists have discovered that joyful music is not only good for the soul, it’s also good for the heart. Listening to a cheerful favourite tune has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, widening them and protecting them against heart disease. Stressful or disturbing music, on the other hand, narrows the arteries and may be bad for the heart. The benefits of light music and love songs were even greater than that of laughter, the investigation showed.

After listening to joyful music, volunteers’ arteries opened 26 per cent wider on average during the cuff test than they did when no music was played. Playing music that participants said made them “anxious” caused the blood vessels to narrow by six per cent. In another phase of the study, laughing at comedy videos led to a 19 per cent increase in dilation, while “relaxation” sounds raised it by 11 per cent.

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions meeting in New Orleans. Joyful music was thought to trigger the release of endorphins, brain chemicals linked to emotion that are known to induce feelings of well-being.

So there you go, another good reason for stopping by this site regularly!

Released: 04/06/2007

Bulljun is an exile Japanese living in El Barrio, New York. After settling down at a record dealers house, and was naturally influenced by the owners passion for music. He returned to Japan for a while and participated in the release of Dj Lark and the Funk Messengers’ “Baddest EP” on Assign Note.

He soon created Flatrock Records and released a mix cd that was well received in Japan. The label has later released cuts by amongst others A.Y.B Force and Dj Format.

“Bulljun and El Barrio 2016″ combines a good, positive hip-hop vibe, with soul, funk and beats. It also has some stellar downtempo beauties for your late night chills. 12 quality tracks pressed on a set limited of 2×12″. My favorite is “Theme from full time playboy”. One of the most cheerful tunes I have in my archives. It never fail to put me in a good mood. Listen to it! you  can do nothing but smile and dance!

YouTube | Juno Records | Bulljun.com | Flatrock Records | Fat City

Released: 1970s

“Didn’t I” is an amazing soul ballad from a relatively unknown artist. It is a a much loved gem among soul collectors around the world, but mostly a tale of what could have been (the next Curtis Mayfield, Al Green or Sly Stone). In the end even the artist’s name was spelled wrong on the release (Dorando).

He opened-up for James Brown and lived a colorful lifestyle hanging with folks like the notorious Fillmore Slim. Apparently the artist used to cruise around New York, all dressed up, in a white Rolls Royce with a licence plate that spelled “Darondo”. High times for an artist that only put out a couple of singles. “Folks would say ‘Daron got that dough…Daron Do…that’s how I got the name” he later explained.

Ubiquity put out a collection of old and new material in 2006, called “Let my people go”. Decent stuff, but “Didn’t I” would be my pick any day. A beautiful, fragile soul ballad about being dumped after trying your best to treat the girl perfect. So much love coming through the speakers when you put this one one.

YouTube | YouTube | MySpace | Ubiquity |

Released: 10/11/2008

The king of the edit, Greg Wilson returns with more edits. This release includes two of Greg Wilson’s best-loved edits of recent times reactivated on one indispensable 12″.

“I was a teenage dj” is all about those old school boogie and disco breaks. It was first issued back in 2005, and has become a collectors item. Do you spot the the intro section of KC & The Sunshine Band’s 70s hit, “I’m Your Boogie Man” ?

“Gotta keep workin’ it” is a perfect mash up of Imagination’s 80s classic “Just an illusion” and Missy Elliots “Work it“. It is more than a straight mash though, with odd pieces thrown in for good mixture here and there. It was originally pressed on vinyl in 2006 via Young Dog Alien.

Fat City | Juno Records | Electro Funk Roots | MySpace

Released: 14/08/2008

Another huge cover from french riddim makers, dj’s and producers Matthieu Bost & Jérémie “BIM” Dessus aka The Bombist! Together with Californian singer Brisa Roché and Dj Lone Ranger they have made a Jamaican take on Estelle and Kanye West’s “American Boy“.

I loved the original as well, a fresh breath of soulful and happy hiphop. However, this adds the Jamaican feel and that pleasant surprise element that makes it go down well on the dancefloor. Apparently this time they are proud to present their first “official” release. This one is pressed in limited numbers, so get your copy asap. The song also appeared on Nova Tunes 1.8. Listen here!

Fat City | MySpace | Official Site | Beatsource 

I know it is still about 8 months to go, but a limited number of earlybird tickets are now available for the Lovebox Weekender festival 2009. It all goes off 19th and 20th of July in Victoria Park. The festival was just voted “Best Medium Sized Festival” at the UK Festival Awards 2008.

The line-up for the event is not assembled yet (still 8 months to go), but based on its proud history I promise you that the Groove Armada guys will assemble a quality set of djs and artists. The Guardian previously described the festival “not just one of the most authentic festivals of the Summer, but an annual love letter to the capital”. Are you joining me under the sun in London this summer?

Click here to book your tickets!

Released: 26/05/2008

After impressing A&R man Robert Luis while on tour with Australian funk group The Bamboos (she provided the vocals on their album “Rawville”), Kylie Auldist signed a record deal with TruThoughts Recordings last year. Her performance on “I don’t wanna stop” made it an instant classic and personal favorite. 

“Just Say” is her debut solo album. It is co-written and produced by Lance Ferguson of The Bamboos and Lanu. If you have enjoyed the music from the likes of Alice Russelll, Sharon Jones and Nicole Willis (posted on this blog) you will definitively love this one – Fresh, happy and soulful funk. The album showcases Kylie’s vocal talents as fierce and powerful on the one hand and fragile and tender on the other. There is even a slow soul cover of Jeff Buckley’s “Everybody Here Wants You”. 

PS! Kylie also provided the vocals for Simon Grey‘s debut single “One” back in 2002.

Official | MySpace | Last FM | Etch Shop | TruThoughts | YouTube |

After posting a review of Flow Dynamics’ debut album on sunday, I have the pleasure of linking you up with an hour live dj-mix form Dave McKinney recorded in Barcelona as part of the Gold Diggers Festival at the Sala Apolo on 25th October 2007. 

I’ll let him describe the set in his own words: “This is a live Flow Dynamics mashup DJ set of funk, soul, hip hop, latin, disco, beats, and breaks. I wanted to do something a little different with my dj sets on tour, so I basically had a pile of loops, grooves, songs, acapellas, and song snippets, and then used midi controllers and computer gear to trigger bits and pieces in and out. It means I could do a pile of live remixes and re-edits and make improvised mashups on the fly. Lotsa fun You can expect to hear lots of exclusive edits, live remixes and general mashup madness including Flow Dynamics favourites, old school dusty funk classics, and the latest tunes from around the globe. Funk, soul, hip hop, latin, disco, beats, and breaks. Feel good party styles all the way…”

Download the live set here!

Dj Mujava‘s “Township funk” has put South Africa firmly on the map that is house music. Now the amazing Crazy P has done a remix that really compliments the original – adding their trademark organic funk and soulful house grooves. They have been kind and put it out on their MySpace site as well, so check it out and let me know what you think about it!