Released: 01/12/2008

Another powerful soul voice, best packed in the same bag as Alice Russell, Nicole Willis and Sharon Jones. Filed under funk. I first heard about Gizelle Smith with the release of “Working woman“, and she has kept up with quality standards on this new single. 

Both cuts provide something different. The title track “Snake charmer” being downbeat, psychedelic and spaced out soul. “Out of fashion” is a modern dancefloor funk classic. It has got gospel-inspired powerful vocals, funky riffs, horns and slow and bouncy bassline.

Called the golden girl of soul – the label is just that – golden.
BTW, check out how Kenny Dope reworked “Working woman”

MySpace | Tunes.co.uk | Fat City | Juno Records

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!

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: 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!

Released: 30/04/2007

Flow Dynamics is Australian Dave McKinney. He released his first album last year, and what a debut! It is all about catchy dancefloor funk, full of jams, old school party breaks as well as soul and more downtempo grooves.It is really the complete package.

As the sleeve notes says, it was recorded with real musicians rather than samples. This makes it able to keep that organic funk vibe from the 70s while upping the stakes production wise without sounding overproduced. It is 70s funk reincarnated – with all the obligatory heavy drums, funky basslines, tight horn sections, sharp cuts, and cathcy funk vocals. 

I read an interview with Dave the other day, and noticed the quote “Music makes me happy”. Well, his music makes me happy as well, and with support coming from the likes of Fort Knox Five, Dj Spinna, A.Skills, Quantic, Flevans and the Wiseguys Mr. McKinney has done alright. 

Dave also records under the alias Soul Harmonics where the soundscape turns towards house and nujazz. 

MySpace | Last FM | Amazon | Freestyle Records | Official | Beatsource

Released: 06/09/2008

I love the sound of Parov Stelar, a true unique sound based on the jazz sounds 1930′s and modern house music. The result is swinging nostalgic grooves that always put a smile on your face and the groove back into your hips. I like the quote on his official site explaining that “Like life, music must move on and progress. But like life, we must remember to reminisce and recall the past at times”. His soundscape stays true to this vision.

Behind the moniker is Austrian dj and producer Marcus Füreder, who is also the head of the label Etage Noir. Previous releases include sngs like ”Sugar“, “Matilda“, “Kiss kiss” and “Chambermaid swing“. ”Libella swing” is taken from Parov Stelar’s third album “Shine”. All tracks are good, but my pick is “Blind ally” with a killer piano line, bouncy bassline and jazzy vocals from Lylit. 

Somebody needs to bring this guy over to Norway, check out this video from this years Sziget festival and you will understand why. 

Parovstelar.com | Beatport | MySpace | Etage Noir | Ringtones |

Released: 14/05/2007

Amp Fiddler has been a lot of good stuff over the years. I am particularly found of “I believe in you” that was released with a cracking Bugz in the Attic remix back in 2004. “If I don’t” is a brilliant soul ballade with Corinne Bailey Rae providing the vocal.

Amp Fiddler was part of George Clintons legendary Parliament and Funkadelic groups until 1996. The Detroit keyboardist is both a good vocalist and a great producer. His first solo album “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly” was released in 2004, and his second album “Afro Strut” came in 2006. If you haven’t checked them out yet you have something to look forward to. 

Corinne Bailey Rae is already a star on the soul heaven, and if you have been reading my posts it should come as no surprise that she is from the UK. Her self-entitled debut album was released back in 2006, and has sold to triple platinum in the UK. She conquered the US and entered Billboard at number 17 – the highest ever chart debut for a UK artist in the US.

“If I don’t” is a ragtime jazz inspired number. It is a rich sound where the instruments flirts in and out to create a feel good sound. The original is accompanied with a strong set of remixes. Wookie takes it into bouncy house territory, Foreign Beggars smokes it down to a druggy, trippy vibe, while Taylor McFerrin delivers his broken beat treatment.

Check out the video on YouTube – A “Monsters Inc.” inspired animated show featuring lots of aliens, as well as Amp and Corinne in character. 

Fat City | MySpace |  YouTube | DjDownload | Juno | Wall of Sound |

Released: 22/09/2008

I can’t think of any reason not to love Jimi Hendrix. “Foxy lady” was definitively one of his finest moments, and I have picked up some good interpretations of that song over the years. The 1967 original is still a masterpiece, but you always appreciate remixes and covers that stay true to the original but manages to add a little twist to it.

This release does just that. It takes it down with a heavy, slow beat while still managing to keep the funk of the guitar. Behind the 7″ is Rob Tex from the same French community as Taggy Matcher and Mato, both of which have provided us with cheeky reworks before. I prefer the main cut, but the reggae version is not to bad either. Jimi for all occasions really.

Fat City | Juno Records |

Released: 25/09/2006

The global nu-funk scene has really been growing over the last few years. Lots of good stuff coming out, especially from the UK, but the scene is truly global. There is no better example than Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators – a Finnish funk band!

Nicole Willis’ career spans across the world. Her voice tells you she is indeed American, born in Brooklyn in fact, back in the great days of soul music. Already, she has managed to be part of one of the earliest line-ups of Deee-lite (Groove is in the heart), has collaborated with Curtis Mayfield on “Let’s do it again”, supplied the vocals on Leftfield’s “Swords” and collaborated with husband Jimi Tenor and Maurice Fulton. Before joining forces with The Soul Investigators she recorded two solo albums worth checking out (“Soul makeover” and “Be it”).

“Feeling free” is like a Motown record that never was released. It has got that great authentic 60-70s soul vibe that you thought was lost forever. Cheerful and uplifting, funky and beautiful. I never get tired of playing it, and it always goes down well on the floor. The song is taken from the great “Keep reachin’ up” album, an album you definitively should add to your collection. I can’t praise it highly enough!

Nicolewillis.com | MySpace | LastFM | Juno Records | Timmion |