Mercoledì 13 Ago 2008, 7:45

I thought I'd do a small recap of upcoming releases on the modern funk front that I know of. Below is everything I could find for now, but I want to ask upfront, please tell me if you have additions.

So, about that small recap? It's not going to be small. It appears there is a lot of good stuff on the horizon and this list doesn't even include some of the bands I reported on earlier.

Ok, here it goes. First off, coming soon on Freestyle:
- Diesler 'Tracks On The Rocks' Sampler (7") & "Tracks on the Rocks" (CD/LP?) -> preview the two 7" tracks @ Diesler's myspace , news via his homepage. Hopefully more tracks of the 14 track CD compilation (hand picked by Freestyle boss Adrian Gibson) will appear soon on the myspace and/or Kudos. Album release date: Autumn 2008 on Freestyle Records.
- The Grits "The Grits" (CD) Tracklisting already @ Kudos, but no previews yet. Listen to some tracks @ their myspace, buy the 7" now!
- Various Artists "Stay On The Groove vol 4" (CD) Just listed on the page, no further info available. All previous releases were top notch funk so I expect this one to be too.
- The Perceptions "Introducing The Perceptions" (CD/LP) Preview tracks @ Kudos. Release date: October the 27th.

Second label up, Tru-Thoughts. Although their main focus is not modern funk as such, it has some ace artists, who sure know how to funk and grit it up.
- Tm Juke and The Jack Baker Trio "Boto And The Second Liners" (CD/LP) -> Huge deep brass sounds on this free track, promising an interesting combination of Jack Baker Trio's funk/jazz stylings laced with TM Juke's electronic expertise and vice versa. You might also know Jack Baker from the Baker Brothers.
- The Bamboos 'King Of The Rodeo' (7") & "The Side Stepper (CD/LP) -> video @ youtube & press release @ the myspace. Australia's finest modern funk/soul outfit, just released a live album & produced Kylie Auldist's CD. Release date: King of the Rodeo 7" on september 1st. Album tba.
- Hot 8 Brass Band "Hot 8 Remixes" (Digital?) -> From good boy Diesler's releases page this promises to be a nice set of remixes. No samples yet though.

Third label in this to-be-released-madness is Record Kicks:
- Baby Charles 'Hard Man to Please' (7") -> Record Kicks news & preview @ Kudos. The A-side is from the album, but there's a brand new grooving B-side 'Jackson Fingers'.
- Diplomats of Solid Sound featuring The Diplomettes 'If you're wrong (Lack of Afro Remix)' (7") -> Record Kicks news & preview @ Kudos. I find it hard to get from the sample what to expect exactly, but the rolling drums and wobbly bass line are no doubt going to light dance floors on fire with the same heat the previous LOA remix of a DOSS track did.
- Kokolo 'soul power (Lack Of Afro Remix)' (7") & "Hevy Hustling" (CD/LP) No news or previews of the upcoming Kokolo stuff, but they are already listed in the Kudos store, but I expect sample tracks to turn up there soon for both the LOA remix 7" & the Hevy Hustling album.
- Various Artists "Soul Shaker vol. 5" (CD/LP) Same goes for the new compilation, which is listed @ Kudos, but no samples or tracklisting yet. Together with Freestyle's "Stay on the Groove" series this is the best compilation to buy to stay up to date on modern funk, soul and jazz. They are all in the RK catalog to browse and buy. (go for the vinyl!)

Then, from various myspace 'friend status updates':
- The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker "Kaboom" (CD) -> listen to some tracks @ their myspace. They have a CD out but I never heard of this until I ran into a poster for their concert in Valencia. Is it just me or is a lot of the funk these days produced to smooth (I have this problem with the Bamboos too).
- Cookin' on 3 Burners 'cook it (choi remix)' -> listen to this remix @ myspace. Ivan ('Choi') told me a while ago they were working on a new album. No release info yet, so this is just to keep these guys on your radar. I guess now that The Sidestepper is finished, Lance (aka Lanu, also in the Bamboos) can turn his attention to this project again?
- The Fantastics! (or the fantastics?) 'have nearly finished it' -> All I was able to track is this myspace status update from august 2nd. Release info is unavailable, but 'it' probably will be released on freestyle.
- 6ix Toys - 'Voodoo People' (7") -> Some info on their myspace blog. Listen to tracks there too. Excellent cover of the well known the Prodigy track. I can't wait for their album to drop, I like this band very much from the logo to the music (funk & turntableism), it's all good. Release info: 7" in september, with the album to follow in november.
- Drawbar "Flight Of The Tempest" -> Listen @ myspace. Another band not afraid to incorporate turntableism and electronics with vintage sounds. Previously reported on the excellent 7", the album release is scheduled for october.

Woah, that turned out to be quite a list. Finally I want to point anyone who reads this to the set of gigs the New Mastersounds will be doing in the Netherlands (and elsewhere too), featuring Dionne Charles of Baby Charles. The gigs are part of the tour to support the release of the excellent plug & play album and I would especially appreciate everyone coming to the one in Utrecht!