Deep Funk — 7-inch  

Dubby funk with plenty of Jamaican undertones, but not exactly a reggae set – and instead the sort of wonderful criss-crossing of modes we've come to expect from The Lions! The group definitely owes a lot to the sound of 60s and 70s Kingston – yet their approach is different, too – a bit sharper and maybe more soul-based than the usual reggae group – in ways that belie some of the deep funk associations of the group members! Yet from a reggae perspective, the set's right on the money too – played at a level that easily rivals the Studio One sound back in the day, yet served up with production that's even sharper overall – thanks to work by Connie Price in the studio. Titles include "Birds On A Wire", "This Generation", "Picture On The Wall", "New Girl", "Pieces Of A Man", "Let's Go Out Tonight", and "Be Easy".

A 12 X 7" box set version of Mayer Hawthorne's breakout How Do You Do – with each track from the album paired with its own previously unreleased instrumental version – in individual photo sleeves that lay out as a full mosaic! The Mayer Hawthorne story was a strange one from the start – white producer/DJ crafting real-deal, moody, sultry throwback soul under a pseudonym that gets him signed to Stones Throw. The best news, really, is that he's still doing what we loved on the Stones Throw record and singles. Skirting both throwback Motown AND indie soul conventions, but winking ever so slyly at them, making strings sound scratchy, warm and well-worn, subtle horns to sooth and stir, his own vocals layered for a group-like effect. Bonus points for his use of the superstar cameo – he brings Snoop Dogg in to SING, not to serve as an obligatory rhyme cameo. Well played, Mayer Hawthorne! Includes "Get To Know You", "A Long Time", "Can't Stop" with Snoop, "Finally Falling", "Hooked", "You Called Me", "No Strings", "Dreaming", "The Walk" and more. Comes in a heavy duty box – which also includes a custom display sheet that can hold all 12 singles. Beautiful!