Funk | Soul Sale 380 Items

First new album in five years from Kiwi musician and producer Andrew Spraggan, aka Sola Rosa, spanning the genres of soul, funk, R&B, nu-jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music. The album features a heavy hitting line-up of vocalists, including regular collaborator and Streets singer, Kevin Mark Trail, Basement Jaxx’ long term collaborator Sharlene Hector and genre-defying, rising UK reggae star Kiko Bun. Other collaborators include London singer/songwriter Josh Barry, London’s eclectic Neo-Soul singer Jerome Thomas, British reggae and dub MC vocalist Eva Lazarus, plus up and coming Australian vocalist Thandi Phoenix. Closer to home, ex-pat Kiwi vocalist Wallace and Aotearoa’s own musical maverick, Troy Kingi add their talents to the mix.

Lost soul phenomenon Lewis Taylor's Numb finally arrives on double vinyl! One of UK soul’s most fascinating artists, most enigmatic figures and most under-appreciated talents, Andrew Lewis Taylor is a prodigious multi-instrumentalist and eclectic polymath. He enjoys a fiercely loyal following which, over the years, has included celebrity champions like Bowie, Elton and D'Angelo. Numb is Taylor's sixth album, initially released on his own label Slow Reality (an anagram of his name) and licensed to Be With for this long-awaited physical edition. It captures Taylor's wholly unique, intoxicating take on lush, late-night psychedelic soul music.

Lewis wrote and recorded these 10 brand new tracks after a 17 year break from making music, although the album came together over a two-year period. The years away have done nothing to dull Taylor's unique musical vision. He still astounds. The lyrical themes, however, have shifted. Understandably, more than a decade and a half of soul searching and unflinching self-examination cannot fail to influence this most honest of songwriters, and boy does it show. Numb marks a return to the darker, more mysterious side of his output: "Brian Wilson-channels-Smokey Robinson atmospheres", as Mojo put it recently.

After playing a rapturously received gig at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC in 2006, Lewis unceremoniously walked away from music and disappeared completely. An interview in 2016 shed light on some of the reasons for Taylor’s withdrawal from the business, but there was no hint of a return anytime soon. Then in June 2021, news emerged out of the blue that he was readying new music alongside Sabina Smyth with whom he had worked first time around.

On Numb, Lewis deftly balances stark, soul-bearing lyrics with moody mid-tempo pop-soul sheen. He deals candidly with depression, mental turmoil, even thoughts of suicide - clearly more personal than Taylor's earlier songs. The music is rich, warm and layered, with infectious melodies and hooks that stick with you. A true grower of an LP, it really does reward repeated listens. As Jim Irvin in Mojo reflected, "despite the depths these plumb, it's a curiously uplifting experience, unfurling like a concept album about life's challenges with an optimistic beauty at its heart."

Triumphant dubwise horns ring out yet, almost instantly, “Final Hour” takes on a dark, downbeat vibe. With lyrics that confront (and, seemingly, confound) death head-on, Lewis ensures the groove is still there, the beats still swing and your head still nods, strings glissade. Woven around delicate yet insistent piano and subtle strings over a killer bassline, the title track “Numb” is a good example of the lyrical themes throughout the album. As Taylor reflects, "So removed I feel no pain / And for all I know I could be having the time of my life" with a coda that feels very much in conversation with Brian Wilson's finest harmonies. "Feels So Good" is sophisticated 90s-sounding soul of the highest order. The music and vocals feel simultaneously optimistic and despondent. Downlifting. A neat trick, and one Lewis has been so adept at over the years. "Apathy" is a mini-epic, a symphonic-soul gem which builds and glides and, eventually, soars. “Worried Mind" is another slow-builder, creeping out the gate in a sketchy, discordant fashion before climbing to half-crescendo but never quite breaking free of its disorientating restraint.

The brighter "Please" presents a more hopeful mood, with the refrain "I still believe" ringing out as Lewis harmonises with himself. "Brave Heart" quietly struts from step one, as Lewis's falsetto swaggers over a downtempo backdrop with ace echoey drums, beautiful strings and serene electric guitar. Closing out Side C, "Is It Cool" answers its own (non-) question with a spellbinding five and a half minutes of swoonsome deep soul that oscillates between a restrained, barely-there backdrop and a lushly full musical accompaniment of acoustic and electric guitar and organ over bass and slick drums. The penultimate track "Nearer" is a magical, soul-stirring ballad in which Lewis sings of reaching a sweet salvation and achieving a peace of mind. If the hairs on the back of your neck aren't standing up by the midway point, you might need to check your pulse. Album closer and true tear-jerker "Being Broken" places Lewis's gorgeous voice high in the mix and the wordless falsetto and melodies invite you to ponder what Pet Sounds might sound like if it were refashioned as a dubby 21st Century electronic soul album. Astonishing.

Simon Francis’s vinyl mastering spreads out the ten tracks over a double LP so, as ever, nothing is compromised. And as usual, the records have been cut by Cicely Balston at Air Studios and pressed at Record Industry. Turn it up and let the Lewis Taylor sound envelop you.

Black Market Brass Is A Minneapolis-Based Group Performing Their Own Brand Of Originally Composed Afrobeat/Afrofunk Music, As Well As Completing Authentic Renditions Of The Classic 1970's West African Sound. Taking Their Cues From The Godfathers, The Band Draws On Complex Polyrhythmic Percussion, Driving Bass Lines, Dizzying Guitar Interplay, Rollingkeyboards, And Room-Commanding Brass. The Result? An Eclectic Blend Of Cool Deep Funk And Driving Afrobeat Grooves That Will Lure You To The Dance Floor And Never Let You Leave.

The second 7inch single from the new project of Nautilus, a new generation of rare groove band, will be released on Record Day 2023!! It features the original funk featuring vocoder "A Story About You", and a cover of James Mason's "Sweet Power Of Your Embrace"!! The A-side features "A Story About You," an original funk song featuring vocoder performance by Mariko Nakabayashi (key), which was featured on "We Gettin' Down" last year. Nautilus-style cover of James Mason's 1977 classic "Sweet Power Of Your Embrace" is featured on the flip side. Recording for a full-length album to be released this winter is also underway! Expect the full picture of this new project to be revealed at last.

It’s not often that a cover version of a stone Soul Classic gets the approval of the cognoscenti. It’s even more unusual when that cover is itself a “lost and found” in-demander. The story starts with Beloyd “Get Into Your Life” released on a single on the 20th Century label. This 1970s Modern Soul masterpiece commands £200 a time, but more importantly is one of those records that sets your pulse racing and your spirits soaring.. Moving on - 7 years ago UK songwriter and record producer Vince Garcia - the creator of those Drizabone anthems “Real Love”, “Pressure” and “Brightest Star” - woke up one day and decided to end his self imposed exile from making music. He was persuaded to add a cover version to the album of self-composed songs he set about making - and “Get Into Your Life” perfectly suited vocalist Vince Durrell. The album was duly completed and despite being acclaimed by the select few lucky enough to hear it as an instant timeless classic somehow never got released. A few of the tracks, including “Get Into Your Life) filtered out to leading UK Souk DJs and created a huge buzz and demand. Now, Soul Intention are delighted to be able to announce the album is finally set for release this summer, it’s no longer “lost”, and has been well and truly “found”. As a taster “Get Into Your Life” has been remastered and following massive pre-release plays on specialist radio is finally released. The biggest Modern Soul collectable release of 2021? You decide...

Chicago's Magic Touch label gets the Numero treatment. Legendary rare groove selector & DJ Red Greg's edit of Disco Holy-Grail "Why Do I Love You" is now available on 7" for the first time and housed in official Magic Touch Double Disco Smash 7" Company Sleeve. This tune has been making waves in the DJ community for years only after Red Greg introduced his crucial edit eliminating the studio fluff and dialing in the raw disco meat. Certified Floor Filler with a groove guaranteed to answer all questions on love.

From sweet soul to groovy disco, Spice’s Let There Be Spice had it all! We’ve taken two tracks from that crate digger jewel and issued it as a 7-inch 45rpm single! A-side “The Last Time” features intricate chorus work, and one of the finest vocal performances in the history of underrated vocal performances! B-side “I’m So Glad To Say” is the zenith of modern soul, with staccato rhythm guitar, a gentle bassline, and exhilarating drum patterns making for a perfect mellow groove. Released in a flipback jacket for the first time ever, this limited edition 7” is a must-have for all of you soul fans!