Archives: Features

Two years in the making, The Haggis Horns return with their 5th album in the shape of ‘Stand Up For Love’. Horn man Malcolm Strachan impressed s with his superb solo album a few months back and he’s back with the band for this tough nine-track soul/funk album. John McCallum returns on vocal duties on a set heavily influenced by the likes of Kool & The Gang, Fred Wesley & The JB’s, The Blackbyrds, The Fatback Band, and more. The instrumental burner ‘Haggis Express’ is a killer with wiry keys, sharp horns and a driving groove, ‘Suzy Traffic’ bounces while...

The Soul Searchers’ second album from 1974, like their debut ‘We The People’, was originally released by the revered Sussex label. By this time the Washington DC based band had fully developed their brassy sound and this album included the funk hits ‘Blow your Whistle’/’Funk To The folks’, and ‘If It Ain’t Funky’, along with the heavily sampled ‘Ashley’s Roach clip’. The album also includes their interpretation of Bacharach and David’s ‘Close to You’, showing a mellower side, which has become popular on the rare groove/two step scene. At this point they were an eight piece band with a full...

Originally released in 2008 ‘In Search of Hope’ was the second solo album from Kaidi Tatham and the first under his own name. Recorded in his flat in South London, it initially came out on the Japanese label Freedom School and gained grail like status, so much so that original copies command sky-high prices. This new issue finally brings it back to the masses and reminds us what a forward thinking talent Kaidi was: the sounds here are timeless blending all of his influences and loves into a perfectly rounded eleven-track gem of a record. ‘Swift Inspiration (Quick Kid) is...

Willie Hutch’s 1975 Motown album ‘Ode To my Lady’ is probably his best ever. It includes two of his biggest single hits ‘Love Power’ and ‘Party Down’. The 2-steppers will delight in the brilliant ‘Love Me Back’ and his version of ‘The Way We Were’. ‘Just Another Day’ and ‘Talk To me’ are great mid tempo soul tracks. Willie reached his creative peak with this album , one of the greatest soul albums of all time. Absolutely essential classic 70’s soul. CD See all by Willie Hutch here Listen to tracks Party Down The Way We Were...

Rightfully a perennially in-demand set, this 1976 album cut for Atlantic was the group’s only offering (a solitary 7” aside) and only hints at what could have been had they continued to produce music of this calibre. The classic ‘Gonna make You Mine’ kicks off this fine set followed by the 2-step ‘Straighten It Up’ and the funky ‘ASB Theme’. ‘The Grizzly’ and ‘Disco Music’ are aimed at the dancefloor while ‘The Man I Love’ is a sweet, mid tempo ballad, the finger clicked ‘Call On Me’ is a wonderful slice of Philly soul while the lush ender ‘I’ll Keep...