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Amazing sounds from one of the best funky combos anywhere – ever! Antibalas have certainly risen to fame in the years since we first heard their Afro-styled grooves – working famously in the Fela musical, and reaching generations of ears with their own brilliant records. Yet... read more

Amazing sounds from one of the best funky combos anywhere – ever! Antibalas have certainly risen to fame in the years since we first heard their Afro-styled grooves – working famously in the Fela musical, and reaching generations of ears with their own brilliant records. Yet... read more

Two stormers from Antibalas! "Dirty Money" is one of their boldest cuts in years – a tune that leaps right out of the grooves, right from the start – thanks to plenty of searing Afro Funk rhythms, and even moreso to a wicked Hammond part that burns beautifully for the first... read more

The most outwardly political album to date from Antibalas – and quite possibly the funkiest one too! The set's got the group really grooving hard in their 70s Afro Funk-inspired vein – jamming at a level that would make Fela Kuti blush – working together with a fierce array of... read more

Massive work from Darrell Banks – two tracks from his rare album for Stax Records – both of them a perfect example of his unique talents! Banks was one of the deepest soul talents working on the Detroit scene of the 60s – a singer who could hit a motor city groove like the best... read more

A beautiful single from Bob & Gene on a funky 45 from Ever-Soul/Dapton ! "It's Not What You Know (It's Who You Know)" and "These Lonely Nights" are both apparantly from the Bob & Gene vaults, which gives us hope that there may be another album's worthy of great... read more

A sweet Jamaican-tinged take on this tune by Bob & Gene – one that features the duo's vocals set to grooves from the Inversions, a group led by Ticklah – all in a style that turns the soul track into a lost rocksteady number! The approach is mighty nice – strange at first,... read more

A pair of numbers by Brooklyn soul great Charles Bradley backed by The Menahan Street Band – including a wonderful take on Neil Young's classic "Heart Of Gold"! The cover works incredibly well, with Bradley's gravely vocals carrying the emotion of Young's lyrics in really moving... read more

Gritty, powerful raw soul from Charles Bradley – the full length debut from the 62-year-old Brooklyn singer – backed perfectly by The Menahan Street Band! It's incredible, a record that sounds just as rawly emotional and impeccably soulful in 2011 as it would have in 1971 – much... read more

Gritty, powerful raw soul from Charles Bradley – the full length debut from the 62-year-old Brooklyn singer – backed perfectly by The Menahan Street Band! It's incredible, a record that sounds just as rawly emotional and impeccably soulful in 2011 as it would have in 1971 – much... read more

Gritty, powerful raw soul from Charles Bradley – the full length debut from the 62-year-old Brooklyn singer – backed perfectly by The Menahan Street Band! It's incredible, a record that sounds just as rawly emotional and impeccably soulful in 2011 as it would have in 1971 – much... read more

Pure wonderfulness from Charles Bradley – two killer cuts that really sum up his contemporary genius! "Strictly Reserved" has this slow funk groove that's nice and sinister – a stepping guitar riff that really sets up the groove right from the start – topped with these... read more

Damn amazing work from Charles Bradley – an instant soul classic for all generations, as you'll hear from the very first note! Not only are Bradley's vocals incredible – the kind of once-in-a-long-time approach he brought to his debut – but the backings and production are... read more

Damn amazing work from Charles Bradley – an instant soul classic for all generations, as you'll hear from the very first note! Not only are Bradley's vocals incredible – the kind of once-in-a-long-time approach he brought to his debut – but the backings and production are... read more

One of the funkiest tunes we've ever heard from Charles Bradley – thanks to some killer drums on the intro, and this wild psychedelic guitar as well! These instruments set a perfect scene for Bradley to really let loose on "Stay Away" – with these blistering vocals that have... read more

A funky funky riffer from Charles Bradley and his Bullets! "Now That I'm Gone" is one of the best pieces of new deep funk we've heard in a long time – with searing guitars that rip through the whole thing, and give the tune a really sinister edge that seems to push Charles' vocals... read more

Bang! This one starts like a mofo – hard drums rattling in a monster break, and really setting the scene for Charles stark and soulful lyrics. The tune rattles along with some super-tight guitar – riffing away next to the bass in a double-time groove that's immediately gripping –... read more

All new funky soul from Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band – a killer cover of Joe Quarterman's "No Time For Dreaming" and the groover "Golden Rule"! "No Time For Dreaming" wastes no time in getting to the good stuff – that tracks in full... read more

Classic style funky soul from Daptone supergroup the Menahan Street Band – featuring members of the Dap-Kings, El Michels Affair, and Budos Band – and a killer guest vocal by Charles Bradley! "The Telephone Song" sounds like a lost soul nugget, from the gritty 70 style... read more

Scorching raw soul from Charles Bradley – backed by the tight Menahan Street Band! "World (Is Going Up In Flames)" might be the best track yet from Bradley – an incredible groover with a heavy theme – but the apocalypse never sounded so sweet! The groove is raw and... read more

A brilliant mix of Afro and deep funk styles – the kind of grooves you'd get if Fela Kuti hung out with The Meters in the late 60s! Budos Band recall the genius of 90s deep funk combo The Daktaris – and have a similar love of older African rhythms touched by a newer indie funk sound... read more

One of the hippest groups going in the deep funk underground – a combo who play way more than just conventional funk – and who manage to embrace a whole host of classic influences at once! Echoes of older Latin, African, and soundtrack-styled grooves sift together beautifully in this... read more

One of the hippest groups going in the deep funk underground – a combo who play way more than just conventional funk – and who manage to embrace a whole host of classic influences at once! Echoes of older Latin, African, and soundtrack-styled grooves sift together beautifully in this... read more

Previously-unreleased work from the Budos Band – recorded a few years back in Brooklyn, and finally seeing the light of day on this sweet vinyl-only EP! The grooves here are wonderful – and show the group really picking up a lot of global elements in their funk – some key... read more

A great third album from Staten Island instrumental funk titans The Budos Band – who've brought eclectic inspiration all along and have always colored from a much broader palette of styles than most of their peers – going even further this time out and delivering their best yet! The... read more

A great third album from Staten Island instrumental funk titans The Budos Band – who've brought eclectic inspiration all along and have always colored from a much broader palette of styles than most of their peers – going even further this time out and delivering their best yet! The... read more

Love the drums on this one – all skittish and snapping at the beginning – really setting the scene perfectly for the Afro Funk-styled horns that top off the tune and really set the tone! The track's like some lost Nigerian 45 from the 70s – and given excellent production to... read more

The first funky outing we've ever heard from The Budos Band – but a really tasty funky set, with a raw and stripped-down feel! "Up From The South" is a chugging, churning mass of snapping drum breaks and scratchy guitar – topped by a well-crafted horn part that comes in as... read more

A rarity from the early 90s funky underground by Bus People Express – who were alternately working as Soul Saints during this period – and they would soon trailblaze the contemporary funk scene as Poets Of Rhythm! "Augusta Georgia (Here I Come)" starts out with stripped-down... read more

Rootsy gospel from The Como Mamas – a tremendous trio of female singers, working here in an all-acapella mode that's completely sublime! The set's an offshoot of the Como Now project done by Daptone a few years ago, and has the same timeless feel – quite a difference from the heavy... read more

Rootsy gospel from The Como Mamas – a tremendous trio of female singers, working here in an all-acapella mode that's completely sublime! The set's an offshoot of the Como Now project done by Daptone a few years ago, and has the same timeless feel – quite a difference from the heavy... read more

One of the greatest grooves from the legendary Desco Records years – a brilliant album of modern Afro Funk done by The Daktaris – in a groove that's just as hard-hitting as any of Fela's work from the 70s! The album was one of the first to bring back an older African style to current... read more

One of the greatest grooves from the legendary Desco Records years – a brilliant album of modern Afro Funk done by The Daktaris – in a groove that's just as hard-hitting as any of Fela's work from the 70s! The album was one of the first to bring back an older African style to current... read more

Two great soul sides from Eddie & Ernie – heavy hitting work that's really beyond compare! "Bullets" was recorded in 1972, but never issued at the time – and is a tightly funky number with a really romping groove – one that seems to make the duo's vocals cook even... read more

Monumental Afro Soul from El Rego Et Ses Commandos – El Rego's best recordings from the late 60s to early 70s – a beautifully done compilation put together by Daptone and Frank Gossner, the deep digging West African music expert behind Voodoo Funk! Theophile Do-Rego is a legend in his... read more

Wow! Straight up incredible Afro Funk from Benin's El Rego Et Ses Commandos – the pummeling, yet soulful "Vimado Wingnan" and the slower, more hypnotic "E Nan Mian Nuku" – rare early 70s numbers on Daptone! "Vimado Wingnan" is one of those tracks that's... read more

Funky Lee Fields – burning stronger than ever these days, it seems! "You Don't Know" is a fierce-romping little track that starts with some cool guitar getting all wangly over snapping beats – setting up a hip mod groove before Lee comes in, and belts out a catchy lyric that... read more

An uptempo funk gem from Binky Griptite – guitarist for the Dap-Kings, so you know he has true school funk & soul in his blood, but he's also a pretty effective vocalist – totally driving it home on "The Stroll"! "The Stroll" is straight up, unambiguously about... read more

A killer new Holiday soul single from Daptone – an instant classic that stands right up there with James Brown's legendary Christmas material from the 60s! "World Of Love" is a very righteous little soul tune – slow-building and hard-burning, with a message of togetherness... read more

James Hunter at the Daptone Studios – working here with Bosco Mann production, and a sound that's much rawer than before! James has always had one hell of a voice, but this time around he also gets a bit more bite in his music too – a funky undercurrent that's more late 60s soul than... read more

A pair of the best tracks from the instant classic, mainstream attention seizing I Learned The Hard Way – "Better Things" and "Window Shopping on a 45 – as they should be, because these are neo jukebox classics of the highest caliber! "Better Things" is a... read more

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A very cool remake of this cut from Sharon Jones – produced by Ticklah here with a sweetly dubby vibe! "How Long" still has plenty of soul here, but it also takes on a bit of a Kingston groove too – stepping along with a 60s rocksteady vibe that supports Sharon's vocals... read more

Sharon Jones does a wonderful job with this classic – getting some hard funky backings from The Dap-Kings, and soaring out over the top with the best reading of the lyric we've ever heard! There's a tasty sax solo in the middle of the track – and the instrumental flipside offers even... read more

The long-anticipated second album from Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings is a stunner – undoubtedly stronger than the group's fantastic debut – and a record that not only transcends the late model funk revival genre, but stands on footing as solid as the best hard funky soul of the late... read more

Damn damn damn – maybe the funkiest album ever from Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings! The group have always been great, but there's something here that goes even farther than usual – an especially funky snap on the drums at the bottom, even on more laidback tunes – and a stone... read more

Damn damn damn – maybe the funkiest album ever from Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings! The group have always been great, but there's something here that goes even farther than usual – an especially funky snap on the drums at the bottom, even on more laidback tunes – and a stone... read more

They might be borrowing her band, but they sure can't dampen her soul – because Sharon Jones is strongly back in action, and sounding funkier and more deeply soulful than ever! Given that Sharon wasn't singing back in the 60s, it's hard to think we'd be calling her the real deal – but... read more

The fourth album from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – solidifying what we learned pretty early on from the indomitable soul spirit that is Sharon and her impeccable combo the Dap-Kings – it's that this is not some retro soul revival novelty act, what they are is the greatest active... read more

Sharon's got her political agenda straight on this one – working with heavy heavy backings from the Dap-Kings on a hip message-oriented cut that ranks with the best of the early 70s! The groove's overflowing with tight wah wah guitar, topped off by some nice chromatic Willie Hutch-like work... read more

Sublime work from one of the coolest funky combos around – a group who aren't content to just hit the same funky styles as other outfits – and one who really stretch strongly in their pursuit of new sounds! The set's definitely funky – especially on the drums – but there's... read more

Sublime work from one of the coolest funky combos around – a group who aren't content to just hit the same funky styles as other outfits – and one who really stretch strongly in their pursuit of new sounds! The set's definitely funky – especially on the drums – but there's... read more

A sweet little single from Menahan Street Band! "Lights Out" has this slow funk brilliance that's almost lifted off a rare 70s soundtrack – beats that are hard, but mellow too – topped by these snakey horns that really bring in a blue sort of feel to the music – almost... read more

A bold slice of work from the Daptone musical universe – a hip project that features work from members of The Dap Kings, El Michels Affair, Budos Band, and Antibalas – all put together with a range of sounds that really show the full spectrum of their styles! The groove's quite unique... read more

Madly tripped-out grooves from the Menehan Street Band! "Wolf" is a number with a lot of Ethiopian elements in its groove – a cut that feels like it came from one of Mulatu's famous albums of the 70s – with lots of odd-stepping rhythms, offbeat horn parts, and this spacey bit... read more

Super-heavy funk from late great Desco Records scene! The Mighty Imperials were one of the best funky 45 groups to record for mighty deep funk Desco label – and their first album never properly saw the light of day, thanks to some pressing and distribution messups before the demise of the... read more

Tight-stepping soul from the well-named Hank "Soulman" Mullen – a great groover that moves at a Northern pace, but has a deeper soul feel overall! Hank's vocals are totally great – warm and raspy, almost in the best Memphis tradition – and the rhythms of the track are... read more

An Afro Funk treasure from the 70s – a rare album recorded by Pax Nicholas, a singer and percussionist who was part of Fela's legendary Africa 70 band! The album's got a sound that definitely echoes that heritage, but with a groove that's pretty weird too – more stripped down than most... read more

Deep deep funk from The Poets Of Rhythm – and a record cut at a time when all the world thought classic funk was dead! Apart from a few revivalist albums by older artists at the time, deep funk was plenty hard to come by at the start of the 90s – and often mis-recorded or badly mixed... read more

Sugarman Three take on The Standells – and serve up a killer Hammond/tenor version of their classic "Dirty Water"! The tune's got all the grit of the vocal original – but cooks in a really different way – a soul jazz gem we wouldn't have expected! "Bushwacked"... read more

These guys know how to use the word funky! Funky drums, funky guitar, funky organ, and funky bass – all jumping together in a monster groover that's even harder and heavier than any previous work by Sugarman Three! The cut's a killer – the kind that will make your jukebox jump right... read more

The greatest album to date from Sugarman 3 – one of the funkiest combos of the past 50 years! The group's organ/sax sound has never sounded so great – and it's pumped up even further here from some added guest instrumentation, including drums from Bernard Purdie, plus vocals on a... read more

Whomp! It's a stormer! Killer killer killer! No kidding, this album's a monster – and it's one of the heaviest slices of funk we've heard in ages! Pardon the exclamations, but we're telling the truth – and this classic by the Sugarman Three is a must-have for any fan of funky jazz... read more

The return of the great ones – and quite possibly the funkiest album ever from The Sugarman Three – a crowning achievement for this funky combo that we've loved for years! The core trio is still in place – soaring Hammond, tight tenor, and heavy drums – but they've also... read more

The return of the great ones – and quite possibly the funkiest album ever from The Sugarman Three – a crowning achievement for this funky combo that we've loved for years! The core trio is still in place – soaring Hammond, tight tenor, and heavy drums – but they've also... read more

A killer compilation of Daptone Gold – a funky and soulful collection that's a perfect snapshot of the sounds coming out of Daptone's House Of Soul recording studios in the aughties! The Daptone sound spins from a tight community of players with the deepest love and respect for the classic,... read more