The Sunburst Band is a collective born out of Dave Lee aka Joey Negro’s passion for boogie, funk, disco and jazz.The band are taking the live circuit by storm playing sell out venues across the UK and Europe with a highly polished and unique live sound that is missing from much of today’s dance music. In Dave’s words; “It’s not like I’m the guy who harps on that it was so much better back in ’78, but at the same time I’m a bit of a polar resistor who goes against the flow. So many dance acts are making electro I’ve gone the other way with this project. I’ve missed the performance thing, the intensity of a band playing together.”

Indeed, house music needs to rediscover the live performance. Seeing seven talented musicians play off each other, the vocalists, the saxophone, the bass, the drums, the guitar, the keys and the electronic elements all blended together with enthusiasm and joy – It certainly was a great experience.

As always, I highly recommend you to visit the Jazz Café if you are in London.

This an absolutely massive cut – so happy you can’t help smiling. From the very start the horns lead you into a cheerful vibe, the chorus just brings you along and then it breaks down into psychedelic rock guitars and classic drumbreaks. Add some sax and you’ve got a feast! What a track to end the night with.

The original was released on Shadybrook Records back in 1976 and was produced by Gene Russell. Cheyenne Fowler is the name of the vocalist and her records also go under the name “Cheyenne”. The track was part of the album “Cheyenne’s coming”  - and judging by the the few cuts I’ve heard from it, it’s a brilliant record. If you have the full album, let me know as I want a copy!

I don’t know whether it also was released as a single back in 1976, but it was re-issued ten years ago as a 7″ vinyl on Dom Servinis excellent label Wah Wah 45s.

However, it was the recent re-release on Black Cat with “Hanson – Take Me To Your Home” on the B-side that brought the song to my attention. “Take me to your home” is a rhodes-driven, psychedelic funk-rock cut from their obscure LP on Emerson, Lake & Palmers’ Manticore label. Sweet downtempo, smokefueled funk for the late hours. Both tracks are quality and obscure, so don’t miss out on this release.

You can get your copies from Fat City, Juno and Phonica.

Listen to “Come back to me on YouTube |

If your new to the Bubblers series, then this will give you a taste of what they are all about. If your a seasoned Bubbler then this mix is sure to push all the right buttons and set you up nicely for BB4.

The Tracklist is as follows:
1. Soundspecies – Can We Call It Love (with Ahu) [BB4]
2. Simbad feat. Steelo – Soul Fever [BB1]
3. Bullion – Get Familiar [BB3]
4. NSM – The Hype [BB2]
5. Katalyst feat. Steve Spacek – How Bout Us [BB3]
6. Cornish Waters feat. Duchess – Walking [BB2]
7. Ayak & First Man – Can We Go Back? [BB1]
8. DJ Day – A Place To Go [BB3]
9. Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No [BB4]
10. Iman – Who Was I Trying To Fool [BB1]
11. Flying Lotus – Tea Leaf Dancers [BB2]
12. New Look – Everything [BB4]

For me, the label have provided quality from day one, including compilations, singles and albums. If you haven’t checked out the label yet, I suggest you do!

Download the mix HERE

There is usually a few albums that stand out of the pile of records and end up being the soundtrack of the summer. Albums by Just Jack and Plantlife have previously created the perfect summer vibe for me. This year it will be Kero One. 

“Early believers” creates a joyful spirit of optimism. Hip-hop, jazz and soul perfectly blended together in well balanced arrangements, with strong lyrics sung by great vocalists such as personal favorites Ben Westbeech and Tuomo. 

The soundscape is truely organic – honest, personal stories accompanied by fender rhodes, beats, strings and acoustic guitars that gives the sound a live presence. You get that feel good vibe of an intimate concert for just you and your best friends barbecuing on a blanket in the park. My favorite is “When the sunshine comes” one of many examples of how Kero One captures this atmosphere.

“Early Believers” is the San Fransisco arists second album after “Windmills of the soul” (2005), a release that was successfull first in Japan. And if you are familiar with the new jazz and hip-hop coming from Japan you will easily understand why Kero One struck a chord with that audience. “Windmills of the soul”  gave him the opportunity to work with Talib Kweli and tour with KRS-One and EPMD.

A true DIY artist that have worked ever so hard to get the recognition his music deserves, both albums have been put out on his own Plug Label imprint. He has got his hands on most elements of the process, including vocals, production and instrumentation, art design, promotion, and web design. The DIY attitude and determination is expressed through the lyrics, exemplified in the words of “Keep Pushin” – And most these critics, That’s dissin’ or said I’m trippin’, Thank you for picking me up, I ain’t quitting or giving it up”. 

As Kero proudly proclaims he’s bringing “hiphop with a signature sound” yet  ” not saying I’m breaking ground”. Critics will point to the lack of hidden themes and literary mechanisms – but I think the straight forward, no nonsense storytelling is portrayed with real charm and character. No hard stereotypical hip-hop clichés about women, money and violence. 

Get yourself a copy!

Kero1.com | MySpace | YouTube | Amazon |

I just discovered this label, and found out that I missed the release by Will “Quantic” Holland. Well, never to late is it? Got to mention the  release schedule – Two releases in the summer of 2006, then almost two years until it reappearad last summer.

Anyway, Marula Soulfood caters for a feast – bossa, soul, funk, blues – “Feeling alright” is the fourth release, and it is brand new. The track it is a fast, flute fueled funk monster with a massive vocal. Chip himself is playing both flute and sax on the track, while he  is assisted by Dominic Buckley on drums, Dan ‘Bootsy’ Broad on guitar, Morgan Pugh on bass and the wonderful Emma Ellis on vocals. 

Chip was originally based in Manchester before moving out to Madrid. He has written, produced and re-mixed for labels such as Freestyle, Kingstreet, Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, Mr Bongo, Universal, Sony and Soulfuric. His sax and flute credits include Nightmares on Wax, The New Mastersounds, Aim, Rae & Christian, Roy Ayres, Badly Drawn Boy, Jimpster, Grupo X, The Resin Dogs, The Sweet Vandals and the soundtrack to the Guy Ritchie movie “Snatch”. He is also one third of the Malena outfit signed to Freestyle Records.

MySpace | Soul Seduction | Juno Download |

Once known as Platinum Pied Pipers, Waajeed and Saadiq reinvent themselves with more than a name change. On their second album for the magnificent Ubiquity label, the group delivers a contemporary twist of old Motown influences, creating a brilliant and distinct collection of funk and soul. 

While Detroit seems doomed in most of the media due to its dependence of its automobile industry, the motor town’s hip-hop scene has more positive vibes at the moment. 

Wajeed first started producing back in 2000, when he was given a broken piece of equipment by J Dilla, which he was told he could keep if he could fix it. Just years later, he released the seminal Platinum Pied Pipers debut album “Triple P” together with Saadiq back in 2005. The combination of funk, soul, and hiphop struck a chord with audiences worldwide and established the duo as sought after producers, while launching the career of vocalist Tiombe Lockhart. 

The first single, “On a cloud“, is a good starting point when getting to know this album. With organic drums, full band and powerful soul vocals – it could have come straight out of Brighton. Another song I love is “Pigeon hole”, a slow soul number that is perfect for those slow dances. To showcase the albums diversity, I would also like to pull out “Sanctuary”, a song that is along the same the same lines as 4 Hero, with lots of strings and slow beats. ”Abundance” a full package that is organic enough to feel spontaneous, yet sophisticated enough without loosing the over-produced. 

Vocalist Karma Stewart is a new acquaintance, and one I will be keeping tabs on in the time to come. Her vocals are all over this album, and along with Coultrain both vocalists sound truely at home in Wajeed and Saadiq’s productions. The duo has also returned the favor and produced her debut EP (Coultrain have written the lyrics). The 4-track CD was originally sold at PPP shows all across Europe last fall – but now Karma & PPP have decided to give the EP away for free as a preview of both Karma’s upcoming (you get some bonus material as well!).

Ubiquity | MySpace | Juno | Amazon |

Originally a prolific club night deep in the south west of England, Good Groove was known for serving up a unique mash up of disco, funk and breaks. Naturally, when the guys behind started their own record label it was going to revolve around that sound – with the ambition that their releases never would leave a dj’s record box!

This EP is the eight release of the “Regrooved” series (the label’s 12th release), and it continues to deliver a good blend of funky house, disco, latin and breaks – all made for the dancefloor. 

My favorite is the Breakbeat Junkie’s “Here’s the funky beat” which is a soulful house number with those lucid and funky little piano lines, old school rhymes and good grooves. This is definitively going to be a hit with a lot of dj’s out there – including me. One the same side, the Sly Players turns the funk and tempo up with “Turn you one”, combining the breakbeat and disco elements neatly. One the flip, Calagad13 joins in with a re-work of an old disco classic, while DJP goes into latin territory. A decent package for several occasions, but prominently lead by the Breakbeat Junkie.

PS! Check out my review of “Featurecast – Take a ride” on the same label.

Fat City | MySpace | Juno |

When Mark Rae started Grand Central back in 1995, it was in response to the bustling hive of activity that his Manchester record shop Fat City had turned into. The likes of Aim, Only Child, Rae & Christian, Boca45 and Riton constantly in the shop looking old records and new beats. At some point, probably whilst looking out over a rain-soaked Oldham Street, it occurred to him that he had established a breeding-ground for talent. Unfortunately, the label ceased to exist back in 2006 – but the artists and their music still lives on.

Taken from the album “Satellites & Constellations” the record I have picked out was engineered and mixed by Mark Rae’s partner in crime – Steve Christian. Kriminul lay down the vocals. There is also a Nextmen remix of “I’ve got a right” out, but my copy is “part two” of the release and includes the LP mix of “I’ve got a right” along with “Space disco latino” and the Aquanote remix of “Getting it on”. All good tracks that I have been playing a lot though the years. 

“Getting it on” is a soulful slow groover, with a lovely little piece of vocal, while “Space disco latin” takes the sound into disco territory, with just the right amount of filter, strings and funk fueled guitar – It slowly builds without the need to lift off. Perfect for those afterhours where you don’t really know if you wanna chill or continue to dance. But it is the title track that never really left my mind. It brilliantly samples Sarah Vaughn’s “I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues” and “Coming Soon” by Slave, and Kriminul laying down some great vocals that adds the hiphop element to accompany the beats. Love it!

Searching for the track online, I couldn’t find any of the tracks, or even Sarah Vaughn’s original. I find that amazing – someone sort it out! This is too good to be left in some dusty discography!

Grand Central | MySpace | Fat City

Off the magnificent “Powers & Oils” album, this new 12 from Johnson & Jonson (aka Blu & Mainframe) is dope. ’Mama Told Me’ is a big band sampling floorfiller with old school rhymes and tons off quirky funk. A very good track for all occasions. 

But for all its qualities, it is still ‘Hold On John’ that the production of choice on here. It was also included on the album, as a hidden bonus track. A great piece of moody, indie hiphop and brilliant sampling using John Lennon’s brilliant ”Hold On” with backing from the Plastic Ono Band with fellow Beatle Ringo Starr on drums and Klaus Voorman on bass. The touch of optimism in Lennon’s voice is the perfect antidote to the rhymes describing a low point in life. 

Fat City | Underground Hiphop | MySpace | Juno | Tres Records

I am a longtime Beatles fan and grew up with their music. As an artist you need a solid portion of confidence to attempt to do a remix or a cover version. Every now and then I discover someone that have manage to add something fresh and different to the classics, as when the Dj Nu-Mark re-touched John Lennons “Imagine”.

This time it is Japanese drummer Jimmy Takeuchi who deserves credit. Famous in Japan for doing covers of western hits delivered in his inimitable funky style, this track is his finest moment by far. Takeuchi shows his skills with an amazing drum break and adds a psychedelic, slow and funky melody. Beautiful. The 7″ single is taken from the much sought after Drum Drum Drum LP.

On the flip side, Jimmy Pryde re-edits the obscure 1976 Polydor album Pipe Dreams. I am no fan of bagpipes, but this is actually quite decent. A folk inspired number.

I highly recommend you buy this 7″, but it can be downloaded from here as well.

Fat City | Phonica | Hum Records