Very joyous sounds from Konkolo Orchestra – an Afro Funk group, but one with a really uplifting vibe – a really special approach to the music that definitely sets them apart from the rest! Part of the music's charm lies in the vocals – often sung by lead singer Nongoma Ndlovu, a vocalist with a quality that's instantly endearing, and often echoed by other members of the group in a very joyous way! Vocals are by a few others at points, and the album also has a few instrumentals – with a small tight mix of one sax and one trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums, and some great percussion as well. Titles include "Cover Up The Bruises", "How We Got Here", "Blue G", "Count Your Blessings", "Future Pasts", "That Good Thing", and "Yese Yese". (Global Grooves, Deep Funk) LP, Vinyl record album

Easily the best collection so far in the Let's Boogaloo series – and one that's overflowing with great older work from the 60s and 70s! We've liked the other Let's Boogaloo sets plenty, but this one's even more deep funk oriented than before – and not only features some great rare funky 45 material, but also a few great sound library rarities – mixed in alongside the newer cuts that Record Kicks always champions, done in a mix of funky and mod styles overall! Previously unreleased titles include "Funky Skunk" by Pete Thomas, "Beatcoma" by Alan Moorehouse, "Jazz Cat" and "Latin Soul Strut" by D Glover & G Crockett, and "Miss Augusta" by Minivip – and other cuts include "Hot Pants Party" by Guy Morris, "Look What You Can Get" by Funky Nassau, "Don't Let This Happen" by Fred Hughes, "Say Yeah Yeah" by Yvonne Fair, "Getting Down" by Brand New Rhythm, "Ain't Gonna Tell No More" by Stoned Soul Picnic, and "Oh My" by The Dansettes. 12 tracks in all! (Funky Compilations, Deep Funk) CD

Very joyous sounds from Konkolo Orchestra – an Afro Funk group, but one with a really uplifting vibe – a really special approach to the music that definitely sets them apart from the rest! Part of the music's charm lies in the vocals – often sung by lead singer Nongoma Ndlovu, a vocalist with a quality that's instantly endearing, and often echoed by other members of the group in a very joyous way! Vocals are by a few others at points, and the album also has a few instrumentals – with a small tight mix of one sax and one trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums, and some great percussion as well. Titles include "Cover Up The Bruises", "How We Got Here", "Blue G", "Count Your Blessings", "Future Pasts", "That Good Thing", and "Yese Yese". (Global Grooves, Deep Funk) LP, Vinyl record album

Badbadnotgood have always been pretty damn great, actually – and never better than on album IV – a remarkable step forward for the group! As ever, they take inspiration from some of the best prog, jazz, funk (and proggy jazz funk...they blend) of the 70s and beyond, but weave it into fairly distinctive and genuinely fun modern sound. It's built to last, too –we're sure be able to come back to their work in a couple decades and it'll still work! IV finds them with the confidence to trade in some fairly subtle, smoothed out moments between to more boisterous ones, and they're more dexterous in the instrumentation – especially in the horns, keys and percussion – but some great vibes, strings, flute and more when the mood calls. Includes the great vocal track "Time Moves Slow" with Sam Herring of Future Islands, "And That, Too", "Lavender", "IV", "Chompy's Paradise", "Structure No. 3", "Cashmere", "Hyssops Of Love" and more. (New Grooves, Deep Funk) LP, Vinyl record album

The Soul Motivators have always been great, but this record really sends them over the top – stepping out with a force that's really well-conceived – and a richer soul vibe than just the usual sort of funk combo with a female singer! There's all these great touches in the instrumentation, arrangements, and production that really keep things interesting – almost future funk, but still very true to the roots – yet at a level that provides a wonderfully fresh showcase for lead singer Shahi Teruko – whose presentation of the lyrics really takes off and soars! The record is definitely a cut above – and titles include "It Is What It Is", "One For The Heads", "Raise A Glass", "Power", and "Let's Do It Together". LP, Vinyl record album

A stripped-down take on the debut album from this excellent group – almost like finding a stack of sweet soul 45s that all have instrumental b-sides! The great vocals of the group are gone, but that also brings the spotlight on the wonderful grooves that set the whole thing up – slow-stepping rhythms with the hardness of funk, but a more laidback approach – warmed up by horns in just the right way, but never dominated by them. Production is nice and lean, in the best Daptone style – tuned towards moodier, late nite material than some of the company's funk – on titles that include "Sorrow For Tomorrow", "Lady Love", "Can I Call You Rose", "Easier Said Than Done", "Overflowing", "Future Lover", "Happy & Well", and "Love Comes Easy". LP, Vinyl record album

Mildlife serve up a very classic groove, but one that's maybe got more 80s elements than their previous work – in part because the vocals often use processing to come across in a very cool way! The music is funk, but with some nice tightness too – almost a leaner take on the wider ambitious modes of 70s AOR, filtered through an 80s cosmic club aesthetic, all with a sound that's sparkling and spacey all the way through! The basslines and keyboards are great – and titles include "Musica", "Sunrise", "Forever", "Yourself", "Return To Centaurus", and "Future Life". CD

Moodymann takes a far deeper path on this addendum to his Black Mahogani set – introducing a heady soul jazz approach! The big surprise here is the mammoth, 18-minute "When She Follows" – a track that's anchored by the solid bass and stuttering house beats we'd expect from Moodymann – but the groove shoots skyward from there! It's a languorous, hypnotic blend of those primary elements, plus some sweet live drums, vibes and sporadic vocals that recall Sun Ra as much as they do the soulful house groove we were expecting! The soul jazz vibe continues on the flip, which features the far shorter but similarly jazzy groove on "Rectify", plus some bonus beats and a "When She Follows" reprise. The track list can be counted on one hand, but the sound is as spacious and fulfilling as can be – a big step for Moodymann, whom we hope will follow similar terrain on future releases! (New Grooves, Deep Funk) CD

A brilliant record from future groove beacon Mr Chop! Now billed simply as Chop, having chopped off the honorific title, the man otherwise known as Coz Littler delivers his tightest and most compelling work to date! His past few releases recast classic synth funk, Krautrock and spacey soundtrack grooves and electronic experimentalist influences into fresh soundscapes that are distinctly his own – which was plenty exhilarating, but a lot to take in all at the same time. The biggest difference on Illuminate is that he's now got all so finely-honed. Thick waves of Moog, modular atmospherics, vocoder and otherwise effected vocals – perfectly paired with live bass, guitar and positively killer drums, courtesy of frequent collaborator Malcolm Catto and others. Cosmic funk rock of the finest caliber! Includes "Building Blocks", "Illuminate All Voltages", "Picture Box", "Airhead", "Re-Program The man/Illuminist Garden", "Sleeper", "Feedback", "Rendevous", "Bow Down To The Mutant", "Arcane Future", "You Want More Life", "The Electronic Brain" and more. CD