A sweetly laidback bit of funk from Dojo Cuts – a tune that slow-steps its way along with congas next to the drums, a nicely watery guitar, and deep soul vocals from Roxie Ray – almost giving the whole thing an old school Memphis vibe! The flipside is equally mellow and funky – a great soul song, with lyrics from Roxie that could make the whole thing a hit, if there were any justice in the world at all! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A lost Ohio soul treasure – the initial effort by a singer with a hell of a voice, but one who languished in obscurity after the poor response to this debut LP! Barbara Howard really knocks it out of the park here – singing like a deep soul diva with a hell of a lot of power and focus – but also moving effortlessly through material from a variety of modes, often given a bit of a jazzy twist in the backings – almost as if Howard's trying to be the southern soul answer to Nancy Wilson on Capitol Records! There's maybe a Spanky Wilson vibe to the whole thing – with a similar punch in the arrangements – and titles include "The Man Above", "Save Your Love For Me", "Light My Fire", "My Song", "I Need You", "Welcome Home", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "For Once In My Life". CD

It's hard to imagine these kings being left behind, as the sound of Ikebe Shakedown just keeps getting bolder and more majestic with each new release – a very special strand of deep funk, with a blend of horns that you might find in a more Afro-styled band, mixed with tighter rhythms at the core – and dosed throughout with a really cool, very twangy guitar! The mix of elements is great – almost as if a chicha guitarist wandered into sessions for an Afro Funk record, and convinced the rest of the guys to work in more small combo modes, in a way that allows the guitar a great presence in the sound, as it washes over most of the tunes with a strong sense of color! Titles include "Hammer Into Anvil", "Horses", "Mary's Corner", "Not Another Drop", "Unqualified", and "No Going Back". CD

Man, these guys just keep on getting better – and this time around, Durand Jones & The Indications deliver a record that's way more than just another funk band with a lead singer! Instead, there's a depth and complexity to this set that takes us back to our favorite indie soul albums at the start of the 70s – particularly ultra-hip work from the Philly and New Jersey scenes, where sweet and funky soul modes could exist in equal space – and come up with results that are every bit as great! The core funky instrumentation from the group is still in place - but there's also larger arrangements with a bit of strings and vocals – really opening up the tunes, and somehow underscoring their more righteous currents in a way that smaller instrumentation would never do. Jones sounds better than ever – as if he's been waiting for a chance like this to really take off – and titles include "Morning In America", "Circles", "True Love", "Walk Away", "Long Way Home", "Sea Gets Hotter", "How Can I Be Sure", "Listen To Your Heart", and "Court Of Love". CD

Wicked guitar and equally wicked Hammond – the kind of cut that reminds us again why the Delvon Lamarr trio are one of the hippest instrumental groups working today – able to equally bridge the worlds of 70s funk and 60s soul jazz! "Fo Sho" is a sweet instrumental from the group – and they also do a nice job with "Inner City Blues" on the flip – echoing some of Reuben Wilson's take in their rhythmic approach! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Deep funk, but with a compelling twist – bits of South American styles filtering into the mix from time to time, but in subtle ways that never lose the groove! The album's a soundtrack, but works more like a funk album on its own – and is a great full length follow-up to some of the hip 45 work we've heard from the Colemine label – showing that they may well be on the deeper path of a label like Daptone! The added elements make for some hip exotic inflections from time to time – almost echoes of El Michels, but in a different way – and titles include "Pablo's Dilemma", "High Noon", "Sigamos El Sol", "El Conquistador", "Nadie Puede Escpar", "Andean Folk Song", and "Mirror Door". LP, Vinyl record album

The Monophonics sound better here than ever before – as if the group's gone through some great mutation that's got them coming across with a richer, more mature sound than we ever might have expected a few years before! Things are still pretty darn funky, but there's also strong currents of deeper 70s soul – both a fragile east coast harmony vein, and some fuller arrangements from time to time – almost as if All-Platinum Records were co-producing a set with Curtom – although with some of the sunnier Cali elements we've always heard from the group. Kelly Finnigan produced, and handled lead vocals and plenty of keyboards – but the set's definitely a group affair, and sounds different than Finnigan's other work – and has a sublime sound that's right at home on the Colemine label. Titles include "Tunnel Vision", "Last One Standing", "It's Only Us", "All In The Family", "Run For Your Life", "Day By Day", and "Suffocating". CD

Damn! Orgone just keep getting better and better – to the point where we might almost say that there's no difference between the strength of the group's sound and all the funky 70s acts that have inspired their music! The instrumentation and production are right on the money throughout – and speaking of inspiration, the group pay tribute to some of their heroes – by taking on tunes by The Meters, Funkadelic, Rufus Thomas, Booker T & The MGs, and many others – but all at a level that makes the tunes completely their own. With Colemine on hand to co-present the record, there's a definite love of heavy funk in the whole production – both on the soulful vocal cuts, and the album's great instrumentals. Titles include "The Black Five", "Cynthy-Ruth", "Think", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "Breakdown", "Melting Pot", "It's Serious", "It Ain't No Use", "Cosmic Slop", and "Let Me Be Your Love Maker". CD

Damn! Orgone just keep getting better and better – to the point where we might almost say that there's no difference between the strength of the group's sound and all the funky 70s acts that have inspired their music! The instrumentation and production are right on the money throughout – and speaking of inspiration, the group pay tribute to some of their heroes – by taking on tunes by The Meters, Funkadelic, Rufus Thomas, Booker T & The MGs, and many others – but all at a level that makes the tunes completely their own. With Colemine on hand to co-present the record, there's a definite love of heavy funk in the whole production – both on the soulful vocal cuts, and the album's great instrumentals. Titles include "The Black Five", "Cynthy-Ruth", "Think", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "Breakdown", "Melting Pot", "It's Serious", "It Ain't No Use", "Cosmic Slop", and "Let Me Be Your Love Maker". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little soul set by a singer we're betting will have a long run in the funky underground – a relative newcomer, but one who comes across with a power that really belies his time in the studio! Ben Piriani's music has this righteous, full-on groove that reminds us a lot of that moment when Chicago soul was cusping at the end of the 60s – hitting more progressive themes, and really exploding with power – which is definitely what Ben and the group do here, thanks to sharp, soulful backings – and lots of backup vocals that almost put Piriani's lead in the company of groups like The Artistics or Lost Generation. Unlike other singers who try to go back, but usually just go for the easy marks, Ben's really got his sound just right here – and is one of the best blue-eyed soul singers we've heard in years. Titles include "How Do I Talk To My Brother", "Light Of My Life", "Try Love", "Not One More Tear", "Can't Get Out Your Own Way", "You Brought The Rain", and "Dreamin's For Free". CD

A great little soul set by a singer we're betting will have a long run in the funky underground – a relative newcomer, but one who comes across with a power that really belies his time in the studio! Ben Piriani's music has this righteous, full-on groove that reminds us a lot of that moment when Chicago soul was cusping at the end of the 60s – hitting more progressive themes, and really exploding with power – which is definitely what Ben and the group do here, thanks to sharp, soulful backings – and lots of backup vocals that almost put Piriani's lead in the company of groups like The Artistics or Lost Generation. Unlike other singers who try to go back, but usually just go for the easy marks, Ben's really got his sound just right here – and is one of the best blue-eyed soul singers we've heard in years. Titles include "How Do I Talk To My Brother", "Light Of My Life", "Try Love", "Not One More Tear", "Can't Get Out Your Own Way", "You Brought The Rain", and "Dreamin's For Free". CD

A great little soul set by a singer we're betting will have a long run in the funky underground – a relative newcomer, but one who comes across with a power that really belies his time in the studio! Ben Piriani's music has this righteous, full-on groove that reminds us a lot of that moment when Chicago soul was cusping at the end of the 60s – hitting more progressive themes, and really exploding with power – which is definitely what Ben and the group do here, thanks to sharp, soulful backings – and lots of backup vocals that almost put Piriani's lead in the company of groups like The Artistics or Lost Generation. Unlike other singers who try to go back, but usually just go for the easy marks, Ben's really got his sound just right here – and is one of the best blue-eyed soul singers we've heard in years. Titles include "How Do I Talk To My Brother", "Light Of My Life", "Try Love", "Not One More Tear", "Can't Get Out Your Own Way", "You Brought The Rain", and "Dreamin's For Free". LP, Vinyl record album

Sure Fire Soul Ensemble are tighter than ever, and have really perfected a trademark sound – a style that's got the breaking drums of a vintage funky 45, the moody horns of an Ethio funk group, and the kind of organ and keyboard lines that would be right at home on a vintage album by The Meters! The blend is wonderful, and carried off to perfection here – touched with some added percussion and other surprises over the course of the record – but all with this lean, sharp instrumental style that never needs any vocals, nor any other added elements to hold our interest! The set begins with a cover of the Roy Ayers tune "Aragon" – then moves through originals that include "Build Bridges", "Roxy Funk", "Gloria's Anthem", "El Nino", "Sucker Punch", "Costa Blues", and "Campus Life". CD

The Honeydrippers first recorded the tune back during the years of Nixon – but "Impeach The President" is a cut that maybe matters more now than ever – given a tight reading by the Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, and topped with vocals from Kelly Finnigan! The monstrous drum break of the original is right in place here at the start – which might make it one of Kelly's funkiest records ever! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The fantastic full-length group of The Harlem Gospel Travelers – a quartet trained on the male group gospel modes of older acts like the Soul Stirrers or Violinaires – but one who really shine strongly with a voice of their own, thanks to a set of all original material, and some nice funk-based currents in the instrumentation! The album's definitely a gospel record, but it resonates with those rare efforts on labels like Stax or Jewel, which could bring in musical currents from the secular world, to really help shape the spiritual message – opening things up way past the doors of the church, so that the positive spirit and sense of rebirth can spread out and touch the rest of the world. These guys are still very young, and we expect that we'll be hearing great things from them in years to come – but we're already plenty pleased with the results here, on tunes that include "Am I Doing Enough", "Oh Yes He Will", "Motherless Child", "Shine On Me", "Brighter Day", "Wash Me Lord", "On The Right Road", and "If You Can't Make It Through A Storm". LP, Vinyl record album

An organ trio, and one with plenty of soul – romping drums, riffing guitar, and some mighty sweet work on the Hammond by Delvon Lamarr! This is the first we've ever heard of the group, but they're rock solid and right on the money – working with a lean, hard style that's completely classic, but also a bit contemporary too – maybe swinging in the best sort of space between the Jack McDuff Quartet of the 60s and the Sugarman Three group of Desco Records fame! David McGraw handles the drums with a clear love of funk, and Jimmy James is wonderfully wicked on guitar – never trying to dominate too much, as there's no need – given how much he brings to the overall groove. Delvon's a hell of an organist too – the kind that knows that a little can often go much farther than a lot when handling the electric keys – which he does to set up some sweet solos on cuts that include "Ain't It Funky", "Al Greenery", "Can I Change My Mind", "Walk On By", "Between The Mustard & The Mayo", "Raymond Brings The Greens", and "Little Booker T". CD

An organ trio, and one with plenty of soul – romping drums, riffing guitar, and some mighty sweet work on the Hammond by Delvon Lamarr! This is the first we've ever heard of the group, but they're rock solid and right on the money – working with a lean, hard style that's completely classic, but also a bit contemporary too – maybe swinging in the best sort of space between the Jack McDuff Quartet of the 60s and the Sugarman Three group of Desco Records fame! David McGraw handles the drums with a clear love of funk, and Jimmy James is wonderfully wicked on guitar – never trying to dominate too much, as there's no need – given how much he brings to the overall groove. Delvon's a hell of an organist too – the kind that knows that a little can often go much farther than a lot when handling the electric keys – which he does to set up some sweet solos on cuts that include "Ain't It Funky", "Al Greenery", "Can I Change My Mind", "Walk On By", "Between The Mustard & The Mayo", "Raymond Brings The Greens", and "Little Booker T". LP, Vinyl record album

A great combo, in a really great setting – the trio of organist Delvon Lamarr, captured in a sweet live radio performance! The tunes are long and open – very much in the group's killer blend of soul jazz and deep funk – with plenty of room for Delvon to soar out on the keys of the Hammond, and remind us again what a massive younger talent he is on the instrument! If you like the group's funky 45s, you'll find yourself really loving this live set – and the whole thing's only got us eager to keep on following the great growth of this group. Titles include a sweet remake of the Curtis Mayfield tune "Move On Up" – plus "Concussion", "I Don't Want To Play That", "Tacoma Block Party", "South Leo St Stomp", and "Memphis". CD

Beautifully heavy sounds from Black Market Brass – a group who started out with more of a global funk approach, but who emerge here with the intensity of some lost funky soundtrack – all with the sort of edge you might expect from the cover! The style here is really revolutionary – unlike anything else we've ever heard from a group with "brass" in their name – in part because the group has some very cool distortion on the keyboards and guitar, which gives those electric elements a very sinister sound next to the straight ahead fire of the horns – served up with really hard-driving rhythms throughout, in a way that seems to pull together older traditions of Afro Funk, Nola Brass, and even some of the southern college bands – but all with a very 21st Century vision. Titles include "So Who (parts 1 & 2)", "Into The Thick", "War Room", "Cheat & Start A Fight", "Undying Thirst", and "NBT". CD

Beautifully heavy sounds from Black Market Brass – a group who started out with more of a global funk approach, but who emerge here with the intensity of some lost funky soundtrack – all with the sort of edge you might expect from the cover! The style here is really revolutionary – unlike anything else we've ever heard from a group with "brass" in their name – in part because the group has some very cool distortion on the keyboards and guitar, which gives those electric elements a very sinister sound next to the straight ahead fire of the horns – served up with really hard-driving rhythms throughout, in a way that seems to pull together older traditions of Afro Funk, Nola Brass, and even some of the southern college bands – but all with a very 21st Century vision. Titles include "So Who (parts 1 & 2)", "Into The Thick", "War Room", "Cheat & Start A Fight", "Undying Thirst", and "NBT". LP, Vinyl record album

Mellow soul from the Windy City – served up by a group we first discovered on a Colemine funky 45, and who sound even better here in the space of a full length album! The group clearly have an influence from sweet soul of the 70s – but their presentation is more contemporary too – both at an instrumental level, where they seem to have winnowed down the best sonic elements of larger orchestrations – and at a vocal level, where they never try to push too hard for their range, or overstate their case too much. We really appreciate that subtle balance – and it resonates strongly throughout, on titles that include "Love Me", "Honest Man", "Long Weekend", "Telephone/Good Place", "Heart", "Life For Each Other", "Special", "Wander", "Alone In Love", and "Fat Night's Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

The much anticipated full length debut of Brooklyn Afro Funk and psych soul-influenced combo Ikebe Shakedown – following up their tight, promising EP on the Colemine label with an excellent self-titled set on Ubiquity! One of our favorite things about Ikebe Shakedown's style is the way they blend signature elements of classic Afro Funk and soul with more broadly influenced grooves. Heavy horns and pummeling drums, vamping guitar licks and elastic basslines are prominent and funky – but they work with more measured and spaced out material, too. It's roomy enough to let the individual musicianship shine, and the production is really great. Includes ""Tujumba", "Kumasi Walk", "No Name Bar", "Tame The Beats", "Don't Contradict", "Refuge", "In Circles", "Asa-Sa", "The Hold Up", "The Viking" and "Five Points". 10 tracks on the vinyl. LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album from the Greboy Allstars – a live group, and one that works in contrast to the funky beats that Greyboy was producing on his own – but at a level that still shares an equally strong love of the best sounds of 70s funk! These guys were very early in the deep funk game – before Daptone, Colemine, Soul Fire, and all the other labels that would issue material of this nature in yars to come – and they're joined here by the legendary Fred Wesley on trombone – who gives their music just the right sort of touch! Tracks include "Let The Music Take Your Mind", "Tenor Man", "Fire Eater", "Soul Dream", and "Fried Grease". LP, Vinyl record album