Contemporary Funk 469 Items

In 2020 Brooklyn's Holy Hive introduced us all to something we didn't know we needed. Homer Steinweiss' thickly pocketed drumming paired with Paul Spring's floaty falsetto vocal produces a sound that's like a salve. It's been dubbed Folk Soul and Holy Hive not only expertly overlay the more apparent musical aspects of folk and soul-but they also draw from the more profound: being able to pull traditions from the past and make them their own. When Homer wasn't playing drums for Lady Gaga or Adele or Bruno Mars, he'd produce Paul's solo folk records. Along with original bassist and frequent collaborator Joe Harrison, these sessions proved to be Holy Hive's foundation. And their fi rst record, Float Back to You, expertly combined what each musician does best: Paul's heady, reflective approach to folk with Homer's universal classic soul sound. With their new record released on Big Crown, Holy Hive's beautifully simple-and-sparse Folk Soul sound is back-but updated. With new influences and the challenge of creating and capturing music during a global pandemic, this new self-titled album, is more personal, more reflective. They describe three distinct phases when piecing together Holy Hive: this first stage was pre-pandemic in California while traveling as a group, then-like the rest of us-they were separated, creating together but apart, and lastly an explosion of output once they reunited in New York. There is a natural but subtle evolution for Holy Hive on this record. Homer and Paul drew from new and maybe more obscure-yet-honest influences. It's still very much Folk Soul-how could it not be. But, like all artists, they've taken in what they've made and how they've made it, only to push it into new places. We know of Holy Hive's ability to lyrically convey the abstract and complex in poetic and palatable ways. But where the first record was soulfully silver-tongued with chill songs about love and affection, Holy Hive widens the lens with these novel influences, reflecting the points both Homer and Paul are in their own lives. Featuring musical contributions from Mary Lattimore, Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes), Anant Pradhan, Nick Movshon, Leon Michels (El Michels Affair), Shannon Wise (The Shacks), Dave Guy (The Roots), and Elliot Skinner.

The release comes on 180g. After a twenty-year search for the man behind the cult 70s jazz-funk group Opa, Far Out are honoured to present Barrio Opa: a new work from Fattoruso and his team of world-class musicians, including the sensational Candombe drumming ofthe renowned Silva Brothers. Recorded at Sondor Studios, Montevideo, the album is the natural development of the original Opa sound, fusing Afro-Uruguayan rhythms, jazz harmony and heavy funk attitude, under Hugo's unique musical vision.

Almighty duo Hyperculte strikes back with a tremendous third album, La Pangée. More than a band, Hyperculte is a superband (!) reuniting two figures of the Geneva subculture scene: Vincent Bertholet (Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp) and Simone Aubert (Tout Bleu, Massicot). If you"re not familiar with the band expect some angry krautrock, high-energy post-punk and etheric voices.

Somewhere along the way, I got the idea that Richard Youngs's `Sapphie' was all about a dead dog. I don't know if someone insinuated this idea in front of me or if I psychologically tethered the title to the tenderly printed dog paw on its cover. Either way, I've gone over a decade thinking this remarkable, windswept album of torch songs was about a dearly departed pet. And yet, as we approached a reissue of this Jagjaguwar classic and a new, reimagined version by artists Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Moses Sumney, Sharon Van Etten, and Perfume Genius, Richard Youngs was straightforward and unsentimental about its meanings. "The lyrics are not about anything in particular," Youngs wrote. The paw prints on the cover are, in fact, that of a friend's dog ("The first dog I ever loved," Richard said.), but there is no devastating loss at its center. And so, I want to tell Richard how this album has become a centering album for a great many of us, a transcendent and meditative piece of art. "What does `the mindfulness drill' have to do with it?" Richard asks dryly me in a note. It's about being relentlessly present, Richard. It's how when we listen to your album, we feel like a lonely traveler in a foreign country. How everything has a newness to it and there's no one to share it with but the you inside of you. And that fine, fine line is where `Sapphie' lives, Richard. Thank you for this, Richard.

NBN Archives’ second reissue is the debut - and sole - LP of Bay Area group – i.f.A aka International Family Affair. A lethal fusion of G-Funk and R&B, this self-titled album was first released on Rollin Record Enterprises in 1997. After having dropped their first single on Capitol in 1996 and being shelved right after, band-leader Derrick Shaw had the plan to start over his i.f.A project independantly. With roots in and around Oakland, East Palo Alto and Stockton, it was only a matter of time before these musical minds would meet to form their own “Family Affair.” Derrick Shaw aka D-shoot was a vocalist and musician with a well-known band called Kashmir before he met the self-dubbed Godfather. After an introduction on the basket-ball court, the two became friends and immediately went to work flushing out many of D.’s musical concepts. In stepped Bias, a rapper born into the game. His versatile rap styles blended perfectly with i.f.A.’s old school Funk and R&B vibe. SOS, a rapper from the streets of Oakland with a unique cadence, added his “gangsta rap” and “rough edge” background which compliments the style of i.f.A. Produced by D-Shoot and Ivan Johnson this LP is loaded with rapping and singing backed with smoothed-out instrumentals that gives off that "laid-back/bumping" vibe with that "something for the ladies". “It’s so different you can’t help but like it. We will appeal to a wider fan base because we’re not trying to sound like every other act coming out.” - D-Shoot.

Limited to 500 Copies!

20 years HHV: our team has selected an album from each of these years that is particularly relevant and precious to us. On a monthly basis we release exclusive and limited pressings of these records in collaboration with some of our favorite labels.

Originally released in 2011 with a limited pressing and repressed once a few years later in 2016. “Right now in cities across the globe, there are plenty of great Afrobeat revivalist bands aping the sound and groove of Fela Kuti’s legendary sound. Yet, surprisingly few of the new groups have strayed from an orthodox interpretation of the genre or done much real innovation. ..Ikebe Shakedown is here to change that. The band takes signature Afrobeat elements—big unison horns, slinky bass lines, tight little guitar licks—and blends them with tasty grooves culled from '70s-style horn-driven funk”. -Marlon Bishop, Wnyc

Ikebe Shakedown, the self-titled album and Ubiquity Records debut from the Brooklyn-based band, plays with elements of Cinematic Soul, Afro-funk, Deep Disco, and Boogaloo in all the right ways. Pushing their globally-informed sound and eclectic approach to tune-writing into new territory, “Self-titling the album is a way to introduce the audience to the many facets of the band -- to provide a more complete understanding of what we do,” bassist Vince Chiarito says. “Our sound has grown to incorporate our influences without overtly representing any one in particular. It just sounds like us," he adds.

Debut 45 from the San Diego’s In Motion Collective. Heavy, danceable Afro-beat in the same vein with groups like Ikebe Shakedown, Budos Band, and Antibalas. Tip!

The Sleepers RecordZ is proud to introduce Jolie Davenport to the world of modern funk music. The Austin, TX-based vocalist brings you two synth-centric hitters, both produced by the backbone of the Sleepers label, Ivan Makvel. In the course of just two tracks, Davenport covers all of the prerequisites for a well-rounded modern day boogie excursion. "Runaway" is made for the dance floor and isn't shying away from its polished, pop sensibility. The chorus is an earworm waiting to get pleasantly stuck in one's mind, gliding perfectly over frenetic bass notes and synth brass chords. "Like That," penned by modern funk mainstay Moniquea, balances the party by taking it to the streets. Makvel's production here is better suited for a cruise down the boulevard in a 60's-era Chevy rather than the club, yet it's also certain to incite involuntary movement the moment you press play. As always, Sleepers brings you these two tracks in physical form via limited edition color vinyl 7" - only 150 copies pressed.

Ivan Makvel & Maya Killtron join forces to create two fresh powerful Nu-Funk anthems with Like Water & Step It Up. The music in Like Water takes influences from the best funk songs of the early 80's 'till the more modern funk of Bruno Mars, with strong edgy bass lines, synth brass and real horns mixed to the elegance and power of the voice of Maya Killtron. Step It Up, is a tribute to the electronic funk of the 80's that will make you dance all night.

We are confident that she is the soul queen of a new generation! Berlin-based singer "J.Lamotta Suzume" went through blues, jazz, hip-hop, soul, self-produced beat making to her latest RnB feel. These 2 songs had been exclusively included as bonus tracks in Japanese edition of her 2nd album [Suzume] and now P-vine presents these as a 7 inch EP for the first time!

Best DJ in the world J Rocc gives you six bootleg bangers of electro ecstasy as Flaunt Edwards channeling legendary party people like Ron Hardy, Larry Levan, DJ Harvey, and Kraftwerk.

Time to hit the accelerator! Released in association with the classic label KPM, Jaguar Skills has produced his own film soundtrack, 'The Man In The Jaguar Mask', released on his label Nope23. Using the same equipment and recording methods of the classic ‘70s film soundtracks, Jaguar Skills & his orchestra, have channelled the sounds of the great action film composers into this project. With intricate detail, Jaguar Skills made sure, every step of the way, that this project was going to be as authentic as possible, so he invited some of the very best session musicians in the world to work on the record. The all-star players on the album include; Simon Katz (Gorillaz, Jamiroquai) on guitar, Drew Horley (Stevie Wonder Band) on keys, Zoltan Renaldi (Funkadelik) on bass, Bill Ware (Steely Dan) on vibes, conductor Jonas Peterson (Marvel Soundtracks) on strings, Patrick Gorce (Tony Allen Band) and Andy Findon (Lala Schifrin Band). Each track instantly takes the listener through a different scene in the movie, 'The Man In The Jaguar Mask' is a love letter to the b-movies and kung-fu flicks Jag Skills grew up on.

In classic Jay Bishop style, he once again perfectly blends R&B and Funk on this whimsical release. Call Me When You Want My Love is a fun, upbeat number that's reminiscent of groups like Tuxedo and features a remarkable instrumental solo that's bound to get you dancing and clapping along. We Got Club At Home present a bit more of a laid back vibe. Playful production is teamed with fun tongue in cheek lyrics that evoke Chromeo vibes. The prefect track to get a house party going.