Super Elcados – Togetherness Is Always A Good Venture: Tambourine Party Vol. 2 [MRBLP163]

July 15, 2018August 30, 2023 hipodromeafrican, afrobeat, album, disco, funk, jazz, mr bongo, outernational, re-release, reissue, super elcadosLeave a comment

Mr Bongo’s latest full-length reissue is something of a gem: the near impossible-to-find 1976 debut album from the Super Elcados. It first appeared on EMI Nigeria, though in recent years original copies have become more rare than the hen’s teeth and a coherent government policy on Brexit. Listening to this fine re-mastered reissue, it’s easy to see why the album is so beloved by African soul, funk and disco collectors. While it does boast a clutch of tracks that wear their Afrobeat influence with pride, the majority of the album is far more funk and soul-fired in tone. Throughout, the playing and production is spot on, with plenty of killer percussion breaks dotted throughout for good measure. Nigerian fire!

Magic In Threes – Return Of [KU050]

July 7, 2018July 5, 2018 hipodromealbum, funk, g.e.d. soul records, jazz, king underground, magic in threes, psychedelic, re-release, reissueLeave a comment

Originally released in 2015 on cassette by G.E.D. Soul Records. Now for the first time on 12″ LP vinyl on King Underground. The album is a collection of delightfully smoked out, library inspired instrumentals. Following in the footsteps of their highly enjoyable 2011 debut. ”Return Of” combines many shades of many moods into a tight record that finds a nice balance between strange hype arrangements and super chill ”couch-lock” inducing slow jams. It embarks on a cinematic soul journey from the opening note, through the interlude, straight to the closing credits.

Kamal Keila – Muslims & Christians [HABIBI008]

July 7, 2018August 30, 2023 hipodromeafrican, album, arabic, funk, habibi funk, jazz, kamal keila, outernationalLeave a comment

Songs about the unity of Sudan, peace between Muslims and Christians and the fate of war orphans, backed by grooves equally taking influence from Arabic sounds, American funk as well as neighboring Ethiopia. Habibi Funk serves up an album of previously unreleased material by veteran performer Kamal Keila. The music contained on the album comes from two reel-to-reel tapes of session recordings made by Keila and his band for Sudanese radio in 1992, though many of the songs and arrangements date back to the 1970s. During his ’70s peak, Keila was often described locally as “Sudan’s answer to James Brown or Fela Kuti”. Although the influence of both is present on both tracks, you’ll also hear Sudanese blues, fifties-style R&B, hazy funk influenced by the Ethiopian music scene and sweet, horn-heavy, breakbeat-powered sing-alongs.

James Stewart – Cotounou EP [ANR004]

July 7, 2018February 15, 2022 hipodromeafrican, afrobeat, alma negra, alma negra records, funk, jacob mafuleni, james stewart, martha thomLeave a comment

James Stewart is the host, resident DJ and co-promoter of monthly night ”Black Atlantic Club” at Le Sucre in Lyon. Borrowing the term ”Black Atlantic” from renowned scholar Paul Gilroy’s 1993 book, Stewart presents ”black music” as a transnational, incredibly diverse cultural exchange. An avid lecturer on the subject and founder of the Blog Afrosouldescarga, he merges an intellectual approach with the musical and creative side of things: as an active conga player and percussionist, member of Voilaaa Sound System and showhost at Radio Nova. This EP is the work of of a mature and thoughtful musician, combining different musical influences at a high level of production.

VA – Napoli Segreta Vol.1 [EAS018/NG02]

June 23, 2018May 12, 2023 hipodromecompilation, disco, donatella viaggiano, donn anna, early sounds recordings, funk, ng records, oro, pino amorosoLeave a comment

Early Sounds announce, in collaboration with NG Rec, first volume of Napoli Segreta, a meticulous selection of the rarest and most sought after compositions of the 70’s and 80’s Napolitan disco and funk scene.” Everybody is haunting for the essence of the city and its sound. Such a haunting is so cruel that originality risks the extinction within the goat of fake authenticities, being them musical, cultural or artistic authenticities. Enough is enough! It is time to react. It is time to give back to the city what somebody wish to be steel forever. Time before samplers colonized the global acoustic imagery, here, in Naples, for Naples, throughout its metropolitan spaces and rhythms, such beautiful tracks have been recorded that once you listen to them they remain indelible. And after years spent following the footprints of legendary characters beneath a urban underground that crawls with anecdotes and passion, immersed in bloody quests into oceans of vinyl records, dusty tapes, in the midst of emotional vicissitudes, parties, sea, recording studios and seagulls…

Conjunto Jovens Africanos – Nhu Djon / Volta Pa Terra [OST4502]

June 23, 2018June 21, 2018 hipodromeafrican, cape verde, conjunto jovens africanos, disco, funk, ostinato records, outernational, ze orlandoLeave a comment

Continuing Ostinato’s series of Cape Verde 45s showcasing diasporan bands that are staples in Europe’s Cape Verdean communities, Ostinato Records presents timeless dance music for the summer by Conjunto Jovens Africanos, founded by Ze Orlando, a respected producer originally from São Tomé. Formed and originally based in Lisbon, the band fused raw Funaná rhythms from the Cape Verdean island of Santiago with syncopated electric guitars, raucous synthesizers, relentless percussion, and addictive vocals that kept their compatriots on their feet across little known Krioulu nightclubs in Europe’s major cities. First released in 1984, Conjuntos Jovens Africanos’ ”Nhu Jhon” and ”Volta Pa Terra” are stellar representations of modernized Funaná’s endless energy.

Örtmek – Örtmek 02 [ORTMEK02]

June 16, 2018August 30, 2023 hipodromedisco, edits, funk, ortmek, outernational, psychedelic, turkishLeave a comment

Örtmek comes back round, presenting another vinyl only pressing of three invaluable edits of vintage Turkish funk, rock and disco delicacies. Following the raw, percussive experiments of the first release. Opening track ‘Özil Dans’ rains down crashing cymbals and freak-out-worthy wah guitars, maintaining an irresistible and authentic groove that doesn’t falter for five minutes of Eurasian hypnosis. ‘Dokuz Sekiz’ weaves traditional string elements alongside bursts of wild chanting. Finally, ‘Mozart’in Davul’ stitches a frantic, dense rhythm from the fuzz and feedback of an unknown slab of Turkish psychedelia.

Ernie Hawks & The Soul Investigators – Cold Turkey Time [TR723]

June 16, 2018June 15, 2018 hipodromeernie hawks, erno haukkala, funk, jazz, soul, the soul investigators, timmion recordsLeave a comment

“Cold Turkey Time” from Ernie Hawks’ debut album gets a single treatment here arriving back to back with the 45 only track “Tracking Down”. The latter should make the b-boys move even if heard in the relaxing steams of a Turkish bath, where its breezy melodies eventually point at.

Stefano Torossi & Giovanni Tommaso ‎– Echoing America [SP130-45]

May 27, 2018May 25, 2018 hipodromecometa edizioni musicali, funk, giovanni tommaso, jazz, psychedelic, stefano torossiLeave a comment

A record that definitely lives up to its title – an obscure Italian sound library session that blends instrumental touches that evoke an America at the start of the 70s with some of the hipper, deeper currents you’d expect from the team of Stefano Torossi and Giovanni Tomasso. There’s plenty of expected sound library funk in the mix here in a way that makes for one of the most unique sound library sessions we’ve ever heard.

Horton Jupiter – BAH044 [BAH044]

May 15, 2018May 14, 2018 hipodromebahnsteig 23, disco, funk, horton jupiterLeave a comment

Horton makes the scene. The caped rave wonder, alive and spitting since ’88. Pyschedelia set for anthemic mind expansion. ‘Eclectic Day’ a journey to the centre of Jupiter. ‘Smokin’ Roachin’ si bella bella. ‘The Box’ drummers gonna work it out.

Nu Guinea – Nuova Napoli [NG01]

April 29, 2018May 12, 2023 hipodromealbum, disco, funk, jazz, lucio aquilina, massimo di lena, ng records, nu genea, nu guineaLeave a comment

After touring the world looking for sounds suitable for their vibrations, Nu Guinea decided to go back to square one, Napoli, where Massimo Di Lena and Lucio Aquilina were born and raised. They watched their city from a distance reconstructing its energy from their studio in Berlin, calibrating the synths on the meridian of Vesuvius, the volcano that has always protected and threatened Napoli. ‘Nuova Napoli’ is the result of a long musical research that has become a historical investigation on the sound that shaped Napoli during the ‘70s and ‘80s, starting from the contamination of genres (disco, jazz-funk, African rhythms) which ended up in Nu Guinea’s DNA. In this album the synthesizers fill the spaces between the past and the future, tightening in a single body acoustic instruments, electronics and voices in Neapolitan dialect. It is the first time that the duo has worked with such a large group of musicians, some of whom are exponents of the contemporary Neapolitan scene.

Jimi Tenor – Quantum Connection [PH45015]

April 29, 2018April 27, 2018 hipodromefunk, jazz, jimi tenor, philophon recordsLeave a comment

Jimi Tenor is a multi-instrumentalist and music master in general. ‘Quantum Connection’ is Jimi’s contribution to the recent Kraut-Life craze of the Berlin underground. Kraut-Life is the brand-new hybrid of Ghanaian Highlife and German – here extended to Northern Europe, as Finnish kitchen is also kraut-based – romantic melancholy. A heavy and driving Highlife beat, screaming psychedelic sound-fragments and a sung desire for a subatomic love affair makes the song another undoubted original by Jimi.

VA – Esterno Notte Jazz [FLIES031]

April 28, 2018April 26, 2018 hipodromeamedeo tommasi, armando trovajoli, compilation, four flies records, funk, jazz, piero piccioni, piero umiliani, robby poitevin, romano mussolini, silvano d’auriaLeave a comment

A volume entirely dedicated to the jazz atmospheres of the Italian movies from the ‘60s, including genres such as noir, melò, giallo, dark comedy and crazy ‘musicarelli’. With a great variety of styles and moods, jazz represented the perfect soundtrack for the Italian “nouvelle vague” season: an element of great innovation that radically disrupted the way traditional scores were conceived. No longer entrusted to cumbersome orchestras but light combos, with a fresh and dynamic sound. This record is the result of a research that focused on the soundtrack archive of RCA Italy and consists of songs that have remained unpublished until today. It demonstrates how Italian jazz benefitted from its relationship with the film industry, which provided a fertile ground to experiment and create to great musicians such as Piero Umiliani, Romano Mussolini, Amedeo Tommasi, Robby Poitevin, Piero Piccioni or Armando Trovajoli.

VA – Esterno Notte Volume 2 [FLIES030]

April 28, 2018April 26, 2018 hipodromealessandro alessandroni, compilation, Ferrio, four flies records, funk, jazz, piero piccioni, sandro brugnolini, silvano d’auria, soundtrackLeave a comment

A new stunning chapter of the Esterno series, dedicated to the rediscovery of rare and unreleased soundtracks and library music from Italy. While the previous volumes consisted of unreleased material from the mythical RCA Italy archive, the research has been extended thanks to some new mysterious sources, unveiling some of best kept secrets from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The result is a deep journey into the secret history of Italian Library music, dedicated to sounds that were designed for a cityscape pervaded with action, car-chases, and hightension scenes set in smoky nightclubs. Jazz-funk, deep breaks, prog and psych flavors from some of the most hip names from the Italian scene: Alessandro Alessandroni, Piero Piccioni, Carlo Pes and I Marc 4, Sandro Brugnolini. This all-star cast is completed by Silvano D’Auria, here with another terrifying unreleased track after the shocking ‘Sortilegio’, presented for the first time in volume UNO.

Tsvia Abarbanel – Eastern Soul [FTN008]

April 1, 2018March 12, 2020 hipodromefortuna records, funk, israeli, jazz, tsvia abarbanelLeave a comment

Fortuna Records brings some soulful Middle Eastern jazz cuts by Yemenite-Jazz legend Tsvia Abarbanel. This is one of the first ever attempt at combining traditional Yemenite compositions with funk and jazz.

Tommy Stewart / Bridge – Mukatsuku Presents First Time On 45 Classics Volume 2 [MUKAT057]

April 1, 2018March 29, 2018 hipodromebridge, funk, jazz, mukatsuku records, soul, tommy stewartLeave a comment

Seems strange that Tommy Stewart’s seminal rare groove funk anthem ‘Bump And Hustle Music’ has never had a 45 release but Mukatsuku has set out to re address this issue with volume 2 of their First Time On A 45 Classics series. On the flipside we find the sublime version of Stella ‘ from Bridge via the originally unreleased album ‘Crying For Love’ recorded in Boulder, Colorado in 1981. First Experience reissued that album in 1999 but this is the first time ‘Stella’ written by Paul Tillman Smith has been made available as a 45.

Ernie Hawks & The Soul Investigators – Scorpio Man [TRLP12005]

March 25, 2018March 22, 2018 hipodromealbum, ernie hawks, erno haukkala, funk, jazz, soul, the soul investigators, timmion recordsLeave a comment

A new colossal star rises in the twilight of funky soul jazz as Ernie Hawks aka Erno Haukkala releases his debut album ”Scorpio Man” on Timmion Records. The impressive trombonist/flutist, is known to hold no punches, when performing live in the ranks of The Soul Investigators. Here he delivers a fierce selection of S.O.U.L. and Cymande flavored instrumentals that also bring to mind some of the finest sample-fodder library music. The album’s name, ”Scorpio Man” might come from the stinging and slightly intimidating style Hawks handles the trombone slide, known to pierce the hearts and souls of the ladies in the front row during his live performances. On this album, Ernie rides to battle equipped only with the flute, but this does not mean we will be exposed to some smooth jazz snooze fest. Rather Ernie handles his instrument with muscular rawness at times and moody ambiance at others, sliding with ease into any groove that the extended Soul Investigators band lays down. ”Scorpio Man” is no one trick pony, and the listener will be shifted around from the exhilarating psych funk of ”Scorpio Walk” all the way to the airy moods of ”Street of Tears”. Take a chance with the Scorpio Man, his sting will give you a funky high much better than what they sell in the streets.

Deke Tom Dollard – Na You [HC54]

March 25, 2018August 30, 2023 hipodromea&s records, african, afrobeat, afrobrazilero, deke tom dollard, djamel hammadi, funk, hot casa records, outernational, war recordsLeave a comment

Afro-Soul music from Ivory Coast served up by Deke Tom Dollard, an obscure artist who only recorded two albums in 1979 and 1981 but who created an original funky fusion with Bété langage. A selection of four amazing tracks recorded in Abidjan on two different records label called War Records and As Records. The music here is a mixture of Funk with heavy basslines, traditional percussions, funky guitar riffs, nice horns section and lyrics in Beté. The song ‘Demonde’ is inspired by harmonies of the famous ‘Dance to the Drummer Beat’ by Herman Kelly. Those two rare records were found by Afrobrazilero (aka Djamel Hammadi) and never appeared on the vinyl market. It’s almost impossible to have info about this singer and composer neither the musicians involved in the recording sessions and most of the traces of the recording session were lost by the labels.

Örtmek – Örtmek 01 [ORTMEK01]

March 11, 2018March 8, 2018 hipodromedisco, funk, ortmek, psychedelic, turkishLeave a comment

Three expansive edits of Turkish funk and psychedelia, each dubbed out through tape delays and spring reverbs, as well as carefully EQ-ed and mastered for an enhanced sonic experience. Side A kicks off with the low slung funk of ‘Ayçiçegi’, featuring an infectious bassline which weaves between subtle flashes of spring reverb, whispered vocals, each underpinned by pounding drums. Side B begins with ‘Biz Burdayiz’ , a relentless drum loop and singular vocal hit looped around and manipulated with tape delays, and the record closes with ‘Günesi Kesin’, a tense funk break which builds before reversing inside of itself.

Eko – Funky Disco Music [ASVN052]

February 25, 2018August 30, 2023 hipodromeafrica seven records, african, album, disco, eko, eko roosevelt louis, funk, outernational, riccioLeave a comment

Eko Roosevelt Louis has had a music career spanning over forty years, born the grandson of a Kribi tribal chief, his musical persuasion beginning humbly with his village’s local church before his formal education at the Senegal conservatoire and Paris’ École Normale de Musique. EKO made a number of jazz funk and disco records in the mid seventies during a stint recording and touring in and around France before returning to Cameroon to take over his grandfather’s tribal chieftaincy, a role he still holds today. Alongside this position of office EKO has continued to work with music, performing, teaching and even leading Cameroon’s national orchestra. The tracks selected for this reissue are all taken from EKO’s third album, Funky Disco Music which was recorded in Paris and released on his own Dragon Phenix imprint. Sung in a combination of English and EKO’s native tongue we’ve lined up a real excursion in feel good afro-jazz, funk and soul made purely for dancing feet and boogying butts.