funk/soul
Album review: Ashford & Simpson – Gimme Me Something Real (expanded edition)
Ashford & Simpson made their name knocking out tunes for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Aretha, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan before joining a long list of songwriters who one day decided to put their own names on the sleeves. Their debut album from this husband and wife team takes its cue from the pop …
Track: Alissia – New Single – Take Off
Geneva born bass player Alissia and her band The Funketeers (stay with me here) have had over 2 million YouTube views (yes, the Funketeers, but let me carry on) and have also been a support act on Talib Kweli’s latest tour (see, doesn’t seem too bad a name with that endorsement eh!). ‘Take off’ is Taken …
News: Fun Lovin Criminals release 20th anniversary of Come Find Yourself, plus UK tour dates
Has it really been 20 years since those New York scamps the Fun Lovin Criminals, aka Huey Morgan, Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser and Frank Benbini released ‘Come Find Yourself’? Well, judging by the fact they’re about to release a 20th anniversary collectors edition, through Edsel/Demon on February 19th, then yes. Available as a 3cd edition, the …
Track: Rathborne – Losing It
If his last LP, ‘Soft’ peeked interest, then ‘Losing it’, the new single from New York City based singer songwriter Luke Rathborne will knock you to the (dance)floor. It’s taken from his upcoming long player ‘Again’, due out in march on his own label True Believer, and he’s drafted in Ted Young (Kurt Vile, Sonic …
Win: 2 Tickets for Akua Naru @ Rich Mix
If you missed Akua Narus debut album “…the journey aflame”, you missed out on not only someone with a sense of poetry and drama in her rhymes and story telling, or someone who’s jazz/funk infused hip-hop brings to mind the likes of the Roots, Erykah Badu and Lauren Hill, but someone who is right now …
Not Forgotten: Aretha Franklin – Spirit in the Dark
Something of an overlooked gem among the albums Aretha Franklin recorded during her creative peak, Spirit in the Dark is an album that is overshadowed by albums that are considerably lighter in tone. This gradual swing towards a more serious vibe was well timed, as Franklin had worked hard to establish herself as a commercial …
Album Review : Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – It’s A Holiday Soul Party
The last few years have seen an explosion of Christmas music, the disposable nature and large numbers of traditional songs immediately available means the genre is ripe for releasing downloads in time for the holiday season. But here’s a whole album of unashamedly retro Christmas music! Funk and soul from perhaps the finest soul band …
Track: Jodie Abacus – Halfway to Mexico
Following on from his debut single ‘Good Feeling’, London based soul singer Jodie Abacus has released a new track, Halfway to Mexico. He’s already won support from the likes of BBC1Xtra as he marries R&B with golden age funk for something that sounds fresh and relevant. Produced by Royce Wood Junior, Halfway to Mexico opens …
Track: Kirin J Callinan – The Teacher
Its been a successful year so far for Australian singer songwriter Kirin J Callinan, after opening for both TV on the Radio and Tame Impala, dueling guitars with Mark Ronson & Kevin Parker as well as taking a park in the International production of “In Dreams – The Music of David Lynch”. He’s back with …
Not Forgotten: Aretha Franklin – Aretha Now
I have no wish to put the cat among the pigeons, but I have to confess that I marginally prefer Aretha Now above the more widely celebrated I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. As great as Aretha Franklin’s debut for Atlantic is, Aretha Now boasts a measure more lightness of touch …