All Categories — 7-inch  

Uncategorizable coolness from Amazing Ghost – a Richmond, VA group that features members of Bio Ritmo. Both tracks bring a lot of sounds to a dancefloor ready, insistent groove – bits of Latin inspired percussion, electro, synth rock and more.

Brooklyn's CSC Funk Band delivers a solid little tribute to Gang Starr – contemporary funk instros inspired by DJ Premier's benchmark productions for that most legendary of duos! "A Little Weight" is inspired by "Who's Gonna Take The Weight", and it's a creative interpretation that's faithful to Premier's tightly-punctuation beatcraft, though the CSC brings plenty of their own adventurous style to the table. "A Little Planet" has a lot of psych funk elements – some rubbery guitars, oboe and synth grooves – though it still keeping a tight, drum-heavy backdrop.

A really cool avant single that's unlike anything else! It's from Sierra Leone-born vocalist Sahr Ngaujah and collaborator Stuart Bogie of Antibalas – both of whom work in the Broadway production Fela! – but Sahr Ngaujah Vs Superhuman Happiness has in otherwordly approach that's more of a cosmic creation than you'd expect given their "day job". Tripped out avant dancefloor atmosphere that's also a great headphones listen. The Superhuman Happiness players bring bits of sax, trumpet guitar, bass, bongos and synth.

A haunting, funky samba instrumental, a sweeter vocal tune and spacey bonus track to close – cool stuff from Os Magrelos! "Luz Negra" is quite killer – with funky drums and heavy bass, plus a really thick layer of organ! "Seja Como For" is shows a different side, with lovely vocals by Laura Ann Singh and trombone by Bio Ritmo's Tobias Whitaker! The closing bonus track is the spacey, synth flavored instrumental "Canada Drive" credited to Magrella Rose.

Funky Latin grooves from Bio Ritmo! "Diana's Mambo" has timeless mambo flavor bubbling underneath – sweet percussion, brass up front in the mix and taking to another level via some otherlwordly electric organ. The flip shares the slightly tripped out organ vibe, otherwise a nicely stripped down percussion & rhythm number.

A plenty cool split single – with great work on both sides! CSC Funk Band sound better than ever on "Catcher's Mitt" – a tune that has a nice sense of color in its main funky riff – almost a soundtracky level of funky expression! "Ogun" is on the flipside – a mighty nice number from the Grant Phabao Afrofunk Arkestra – rompingly tight, and with some great percussion and organ!

Chicago's brass-heavy Mucca Pazza – remixed by Greenwood Rhythm Coalition and Jon Kennedy! GRC's remix of "Tube Sock Tango" is very nicely reworked here – given some tropical percussion flavor – with some otherworldly keyboards adding kind of an eerie vibe, without messing up MP's playful charm. Also includes Jon Kennedy's beathead funk take on "Boss Taurus" and the brief closing cadence "Coolashell".

Modern funky Latin Soul from Spanglish Fly! "Think" is a cover of the old school R&B staple best remembered for the killer James Brown version from the early 60s – masterfully remodeled here as a fresh live Latin Soul with vocals by Erica Ramos and a great mix of Latin percussion and horns. "Let My People Bugalu" on the flip is just as great, a lively boogaloo from the NYC combo.

On flexidisc recording made from an old Edison cylinder!!

They say slavic, we say funky – a wicked brassy groove that never lets up through throughout "Jackson" – with bumping horns on the bottom, blasting horns on the top, and a chunky rhythm that would be right at home in the ninth ward! "Gangsta" has a very similar groove – wonderfully tight horns, and a rhythmic punch that opens up to some creative flourishes right in the middle!

Brooklyn boogaloo from Spanglish Fly – a joyous couple of numbers for their second funky 45 for Electric Cowbell – recorded at Truth & Soul! "Me Gusta Mi Bicicleta" – kind of a Latin party soul love letter to urban cyclists! Female lead vocals and chorus backup with killer percussion and cool horn arrangements. The groove changes halfway through, too – it's almost modern boogaloo suite unto itself. "The Po-Po" is another winner – sirens sound out of horns and percussion and some playful back & forth vox. We sure love what we've heard from this combo thus far!

Modern funky Latin Soul from Spanglish Fly! "Think" is a cover of the old school R&B staple best remembered for the killer James Brown version from the early 60s – masterfully remodeled here as a fresh live Latin Soul with vocals by Erica Ramos and a great mix of Latin percussion and horns. "Let My People Bugalu" on the flip is just as great, a lively boogaloo from the NYC combo.