Contemporary Funk 12 Items

Begin guitarist Masaru Shimabukuro is releasing his first solo album on analog vinyl in his 55th year of life, featuring a splendid lineup of guest artists! Guest artists include Mongol800, Orange Range, Kariyushi58, kiroro, Ken Yokoyama (crazy KEN Band), Sami-t (Mighty Crown), and more! Begin debuted in 1990 and was inclined toward blues-rock, but later began playing Okinawa folk music as a guiding light. Since then, they have released songs with rich and varied musicality. The cover art is drawn by Masaru Shimabukuro himself.

"To change your mood or mental state - change your Vibration" A fragment from the Kyballion has deeply resonated with the band in recent years. Everything is mental, as Above so Below. Balthvs deeply believes in these tenets, and their manifestation is through music. Melodies that try to resonate deep within and generate a different type of Vibration.

From the psychedelic experience arises a more balanced lifestyle, and from arduous and uncertain times arises the desire to have inner peace of mind. Music is medicine for the soul and the trio plays this music to wind down, relax, and be more present. It's music from the 21st century, a time when the world has deeply connected to one another via the digital realm, cultures are now free from geographic boundaries, they influence, mesh, and collide with one another. Turkish melodies meet Latin rhythms, from instrumental tunes to Spanish and English lyrics.

The band freely takes from all corners of the world, and it reflects on the global audience they have slowly amassed in the past 4 years. Third Vibration is a celebration of life; a deep respect for the power of music.

Jaraguá (haa-raa-WAH) noun - a tall forage grass known for its resistance to adverse environments.

From a melting pot of influences and cultures, Mestizo Beat takes the lead, offering the next wave of instrumental West Coast Latin Funk to come out of Southern California. Their sophomore LP, "Jaraguá," highlights the group's dedication and resistance to keep pushing many boundaries while paying respect to the generation that came before them. Blending the sounds of early 70s Funk & Soul, Latin-Jazz, and Afrobeat, Mestizo Beat takes musicianship and production to their highest level, offering a complete package of masterfully crafted recordings and original compositions into a brand new, hot off the press, 12" LP.

Entirely self-produced and written by Aquiles 'Lito' Magaña and Agustin 'Gus' Magaña (The Magaña Brothers) along with core group members Jose Castro, Pedro Flores & chief horn arranger Jesse Audelo. The band has also enlisted a diverse array of additional skilled players to enhance the sonic elements required of each track. Contributions from other band members Doug Organ, Fabio De Souza and Max O'Leary as well as collaborations with horn player Jason Cressey and featured vocalist Jamie Allensworth, have transformed this LP into the embodiment of Mestizo Beat's vision. A true collective of musicians, all united by the common goal of delivering high-quality funk music.

From the cinematic opening of the title track 'Jaraguá' and the Blaxploitation-inspired single 'She's A Rose' to the groove-centric cuts like 'The Jaguar' and 'Black Bag,' Mestizo Beat's musical exploration knows no bounds. Venturing further with soulful burners like 'The Jaguar' and 'Two Eleven,' the group unleashes their full potential on 'II The Deepcyde,' featuring the renowned guest vocalist Jamie Allensworth. The album is rounded off with the Nigerian disco-funk inspired 'Lotsapoppa' and a foray into the Cumbia genre with 'Cumbia de Jaraguá,' all offering a diverse and exhilarating musical journey. Recorded and produced at the band's hillside Topanga, CA studio, SPC 166, each song showcases the unique talents of the ensemble. Remaining true to their sound and recording techniques, 'Jaraguá' was tracked to 1/4" tape and mixed by Sergio Rios at Killion Sound.

A long-awaited analog version of the gem of Japanese mellow fusion, which has been receiving a lot of attention from the City Pop~Balearic side of the music scene! The album contains many masterpieces such as "Ka Ri Bu No Yu Me", a Balearic/light fusion song with the scent of the ocean, "Manhattan Blue," a popular number that she also arranged, and "Click My Heart," a techno-pop song with a lovely and catchy electric organ. This is a piece that overflows with a unique sense of floating and loveliness, fully showcasing the diverse charms of the electronic organ known as the "Electone". The cover illustration by Tom Akamine is also excellent!

From Soulcrap to The Soulclap. Popular songs from their 4th album "we're Rollin'" will be released as 7inch singles! In addition to "Thrill's Gone," which features the smoky Latin R&B melody and Taiki N.'s vocals, the album includes a swingin' cover of Ella Fitzgerald's "When I Get Low," which is well-known from the Determinations.

The long-awaited LP release of "sweet SPARE," the third album by I love you Orchestra Swing Style (ilyoss), a leading Japanese Jazz x Citypop band. The album features a danceable instrumental sound based on jazz and swing, and includes nine tracks featuring vocals from Hiro-a-key, Tamuraryo & Namichie, and Korean neo-soul sensation dosii.

Harvest is the first Balthvs album composed by all three band members and the name reflects where the band is currently. After 4 years of the industry grind they have seen massive growth in the digital sphere with over 15 million streams; as well as gracing theaters and festivals across North America and Europe. It is truly Harvest time.

Recorded in a villa amidst lush tropical hills in Colombia, Harvest is optimistic, groovy, and relaxing. The trio spent a month-long sojourn at a tropical summer house in La Mesa, Colombia to record. As the band recalls, “More than a studio we wanted to be inspired by nature. So we brought our recording equipment there and started working.”

The tropical landscape served as more than just a backdrop; it was the wellspring of inspiration for Balthvs. Unlike their previous albums, where Balthazar Aguirre took the lead in recording, composing, producing, and arranging, this time around, the music emerged as a collective effort, with all three members contributing equally to the creation of every song. It is a sonic testament to a period of profound artistic and personal growth. The band comments, “It defines our closure with this beautiful stage of our life and career as friends and musicians.”

The full album features vocals that harmonize like instruments, weaving lyrical poetry into a tranquil groove. Most evident in songs like “Like Coconut Water,” an effervescent song that captures the essence of a tropical escape. “Anouk” is a gorgeous groove dedicated to the house cat at La Mesa, the sphinx-like guardian who set watch during the recording sessions. “Mango Season,” a laid-back, funky, and soulful instrumental groove perfect for relaxing, skateboarding, and looking at clouds. “Aguacero” is one of the few compositions with lyrics and sung in Spanish by bassist, vocalist Johanna Mercuriana. “Lovin’” and “Sun & Moon” were released during the band's first North American tour where they were greeted by sold-out shows and critical accolades from their Sxsw sets.

Limited Edition for Record Store Day 2019! Montreal’s finest Dave Allison aka Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee has been delighting dancefloors around the globe since 2009. With his signature brand of chunky disco dubs infused with hip-hop flavours and a slow mo house feel. “Funk Wit Me” is classic Ed Wizard and features the talents of Nebraska on the remix. LTD Edition Green Vinyl.

2nd Album by talented Janelle … some nice popish soul stuff feat. Big Boi. Just right for summertime!

produced by Erykah Badu, 9th Wonder, James Poyser, Shafiq Husayn, Kariem Riggins, J Dilla, Madlib, Georgia Anne Muldrow. The Ankhh is backck!

The Los-Angeles-based band’s reputation amongst the funk and soul fraternity is backed-up by an impressive and quickly growing resume that is expanding their reach. This includes landing a spot in an adidas campaign, touring with major-label crew Little Brother, and going out as backing band for The Pharcyde, Plantlife (including a BBC performance for Jools Holland), Tone Loc, and New Orleans funk legend Eddie Bo at the Hurricane Katrina benefit. Members of Orgone also feature in the make-up of Ubiquity acts Connie Price and Breakestra and perform regularly at the Root Down in LA.

Psychedelic Afro Funk featuring members of the mighty Dap Kings and Antibalas !