Archives: Features

Coming five years after 2015’s ‘Sound Of Sinning’, Bay area combo The Monophonics (featuring lead singer Kelly Finnigan) hit pay dirt with what has to rank as their best! An unashamedly political, social and personal album, ‘It’s Only Us’ is a somewhat self-depreciating title for a body of work that has such universal scope. The catchy, uptempo ‘Chances’ is brilliant opener that has a heavily bittersweet vibe while the emphatic dancer ‘Last One Standing’ sounds like we’re hearing both sides of a 45, with the first 3:18 mins a full on northern soul mover while the second half is more...

The controversial ‘Bitches Brew’ still divides opinion fifty years after its release. Some regard it as the work of genius others as an aberration. It built upon the controversy that his previous album ‘In A Silent Way’ had stirred up. Incorporating elements of Rock and Funk, like ‘In A Silent Way’ it strengthened the rhythmic intensity that was such a bold departure from Miles’ work with his second great quintet. This double album was recorded 19th through 21st August 1969 and released in 1970. It features three keyboard players – Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul and Larry Young, two bass players...

One-time member of Aquarian Dream and Eighties Ladies, Sylvia Striplin was part of Roy Ayers’ Uno Melodic set up and it was on that imprint that this classic album was issued. The title track ‘Give Me Your Love’ is a huge soulful disco number that bears the hallmarks of the Eighties Ladies sound, the lazy slink of the stepper has Roy Ayers’ stamp all over it while the sparkling ‘Look Towards The Sky’ is an irresistible dancer. ‘Toy Box’ and ‘Searchin’ both superb, angular boogie number that are soaked in that Roy Ayers magic while the mid tempo ‘You Said’...

The Skull Snaps originally started life as The Diplomats (one of several groups under that moniker) but when they released their one and only album in 1973 on GSF they had fully re-emerged as the group that would lay down one of the most in demand albums ever. The thumping ‘My Hang Up Is You’ is rightfully a northern soul classic, the much sampled break of ‘It’s A New Day’ is a funk staple while the stunning crossover ‘Didn’t I Do It To You’ is a sublime slab of soul with a beat. The menacing chase-funk of ‘All of A...

‘This is Eleanore Mills’ was her debut and only album, recorded for the Sylvia Robinson’s All Platinum subsidiary Astroscope in 1974. The album was produced by Harry Ray and Al Goodman of the Moments and Tommy Keith of The Rimshots. It includes some great Crossover and Modern Soul cuts; including the in-demand string laden early Soul/Disco ‘Same Routine’ a popular killer cut and ‘I’m Gonna Get You’ another superb up tempo Soul cut. ‘Fascinating Devastating Man’ is a lovely mid tempo track. The album includes some beautiful Soul ballads ‘He Said Goodbye’, ‘How Can I Love You’ and the heavily...

Brit jazz funk legend James Taylor returns with a solid set of UK flavoured tunes that mix soul with jazz funk, latin, boogie and more. Noel McKoy and Natalie Williams guest on several cuts and their contributions are tailormade for the sounds the band cook up. The cinematic sounding ‘A Giant Leap’ has a space thriller feel to it, the wiry boogie of ‘People Get Ready (We’re Moving On) has a breezy late 70s feel while the bumpin’ bus stop vibe of ‘Get Out And Walk’ is a throwback slab of street funk. The slight nod the disco on ‘Boogie...