Sophisticated sounds, indeed – pulled from a time when the British sound library scene was really moving to the next level – and finding a strong identity that was all their own! There's plenty of sound library funk in the mix here, but there's also some deeper sophistication too – a shift that's almost like the change that CTI brought to jazz funk in the 70s – collected from some of the best Bruton Music library albums of the late 70s! Keyboard lines abound, and the horn passages are pretty darn great too – often cool and compressed, and soaring out nicely with the music. Composers include Keith Mansfield, Steve Gray, Robert Folk, Johnny Pearson, David Lindup, and others – and titles include "Night Games", "Sunshine Drive", "Hazy Days", "Golden Groove", "Flying Bird", "Vacation", "Honeymoon", "Early Riser", "Billowing Sails", "Chique", and "Voulez Vous". CD

A killer collection of sound library funk from the UK – a scene that served up some of the rarest grooves of the 70s! The music is every bit as funky as American work from the early 70s – like records from CTI, or blacksploitation soundtracks – but most of it was never issued on vinyl at the time, as it was circulated only for use in film and television – recorded by an elite group of players for very limited use. The rarity is only part of the appeal, though – as the overall vibe is great – and the record has the same instantly appealing feel as other jazz, funk, and soul collections from the always-great Soul Jazz label. This time around, they do a great job of turning their ear towards the rich sound libraries of companies like KPM, DeWolfe, and Conroy – and come up with a double-length batch of funky instrumentals that includes "The Hell Raisers" and "Danger Musicians At Work" by Syd Dale, "Fuel Injection" and "Crossflow" by Ernest Copley, "Superformance" and "Men Of Action" by David Lindup, "Cross Talk" and "Funky Chimes" by Francis Coppieters, "Theme From New Scotland Yard" by Norrie Paramour, "Come One Come All" by Brass Incorporated, "Sparks" by Peter Reno & Barry Stoller, "Gotta Getaway" by Dave Richmond, "Transit" by Clive Hicks, "The Ratcatchers" by Tilsley Orchestral, "Grand Prix" by Johnny Pearson, and "Conveyer Belt" and "Workshop" by Johnny Hawksworth. CD

Really great sounds from an artist with "moog" in his name – and a fair bit in his music as well! Emilio Aparicio Moog recorded these tracks on the Guatemala scene in the 70s – and the titles were mostly issued as ultra-rare 45s, but are brought together here in one heck of a great album of moogy madness – a set that rivals all the late 60s brilliance of better-known artists like Mort Garson or Jean Jacques Perry – with equally groovy results! Like the best of the moog purveyors of his time, Emilio Aparicio works at a level that's very unique – not just moogy covers of familiar pop hits, but new tunes that really make the most of the space age instrument – at a level that's filled with upbeat, very rhythmic tunes that have the keyboard exploding with analogue charms at every twist and turn. Titles include "La Ceremonia", "Expansion Galactica", "Brujeira", "Bo Bo Bo Beau", "Transfiguracion Del Iniciado", "Paren La Contaminacion Del Aire", "El Misterio De Tiahuanaco", and "Los Visitantes De Sirio". CD

Two great albums from Ray "funky trumpet" Davies – not the lead singer of The Kinks, but a heck of a groovy British bandleader from the 70s! First up is an album of Themes From The Exorcist and other films – all familiar movie themes from the early 70s, penned by artists like Michel Legrand and Lalo Schifrin – but served up here by Ray's Button Down Brass in a very cool style – compressed funk, ala the best crime/cop modes of the time – but with lots of individual touches that make the songs very different than the original versions! Titles include "Point Blank", "Enter The Dragon", "Klute", "French Connection", "Tubular Bells", "Cops & Robbers", and "Beyond Tomorrow". Flashpoint continues with some great film themes again served up in the magic Ray Davies mode – a funky big band approach that makes the record every bit as compelling as the American Cop Shows album from Henry Mancini – but maybe groovier, too. Titles include "Kojak", "Big Boss", "Man With The Golden Gun", "Mr Majestyk", "Magnum Force", "Fist Of Fury", and "Airport 1975". (Now Sound, Sound Library) CD

A fantastic set of Fender Rhodes from the Italian scene of the 70s – not a record that got the kind of mainstream play as American classics by Bob James and Ramsey Lewis – but a set that definitely shares their spirit! Cabildos Three were a studio group as much as a jazz combo – a trio with Cabildo on Fender Rhodes, working alongside tight bass and percussion – on jazzy tunes that were originally only done as a sound library session, but which have attained legendary status when pulled together in this full length album. The whole thing is every bit as great as the words "Fender Rhodes", "Italy", and "percussion" might suggest – and titles include "Castenada Drive", "Yuxtaposicion", "Collection Samba", "Two Types Of Complexion", "Jesus Maria District", "African Penta Song", and "Akorin". (Jazz, Sound Library) CD