Thursday, January 21, 2016

NEW RELEASES: ALEX PUDDU – IN THE EYE OF THE CAT FEATURING EDDA DELL'ORSO; ADRIAN YOUNGE & VENICE DAWN - SOMETHING ABOUT APRIL; DISCO LOVE 4: MORE MORE MORE DISCO AND SOUL UNCOVERED

ALEX PUDDU – IN THE EYE OF THE CAT FEATURING EDDA DELL'ORSO

The world of Alex Puddu just keeps on getting bigger and bigger – and so do the wonderfully funky sounds on his records! Puddu's always been a real up-and-comer in the global funk underground – an artist who gets just the right 70s vibe in his instrumentation, arrangements, and production – not in a small group funk style, but in the best modes of the soundtrack and sound library scenes – especially the groovier artists working overseas at the time! And while his other music has always been great, this record really blows us away – with a mixture of complicated tones and catchy grooves that surpasses anything we've heard from Alex before – not just an attempt to be retro, but a move that goes beyond into territory that's all Puddu's own – even when famous Morricone collaborator Edda Dell'Orso brings her marvelous vocals into play on some of the album's tracks. Genius material throughout – with titles that include "Immersioni", "Il Sogno La Luna", "Terra E Fuoco", "Una Donna Allo Specchio", "Mood Psychedelico", and "The Bull".  ~ Dusty Groove

ADRIAN YOUNGE & VENICE DAWN - SOMETHING ABOUT APRIL

A record that hardly needs to be called a "part 2" – because this sweet little set knocks it out of the park even more than the first project issued under this title – all as a mighty tribute to the evolving studio genius of Adrian Younge! Like the first record, this one works as some sort of faux 70s soul album – but of the funky, deep-grooved sort – more badass soundtrack, with some heavy blacksploitation elements in the music – which Younge crafts from strings, beats, and a range of other great instrumentation that includes Hammond, electric piano, vibes, and even a bit of sitar! Yet the grooves here are also more expansive – surprisingly tuneful at times, especially on some of the numbers which feature surprising guest work from Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab – whose vocals appear on the album alongside some of the more soul-styled leads from Loren Oden. The whole thing's great – as heavy and funky as anything Adrian Younge's ever done, but better too – and titles include "Winter Is Here", "Sea Motet", "Sittin By The Radio", "Memories Of War", "Hands Of God", "Ready To Love", and "Magic Music".  ~ Dusty Groove

DISCO LOVE 4: MORE MORE MORE DISCO AND SOUL UNCOVERED

There's plenty to love here, and the groove is way more than just the disco promised in the title – and instead this sublime array of funky soul, modern soul, and lots other soul styles too! The tunes are definitely upbeat, but they're not slavishly tied to disco – and instead really represent the great array of groove-centric work that was bubbling in the American underground in the late 70s and early 80s – as soul singers worked with a variety of different rhythms to come up with the kind of cuts that still sound plenty fresh all these many years later! Legendary collector/DJ Al Kent put the package together – and also contributed a few re-edits to a few tracks, to help extend their best elements. Titles include "I Found Love" by Lee Edwards, "Call Me" by Symbol 8, "If It Feels This Good" by Barbara Jean English, "Things Got To Get Better" by Genobia Jeter, "I'd Rather Leave On My Feet" by Emanuel Lansky, "Prophesy" by Betty Everett, "A Slong For You" by Fresh Fruit, and "Looking Over My Shoulder" by Marva Hicks – and the set also features Al Kent re-edits of "Equal Love Opportunity" by Clear, "Love Is Gone" by Mary Mundy, "I Wanna Give You Everything" by Hazel Rambaransingh, "Running Away From Love" by Skip Mahoaney & The Casuals, and "Keep On Loving You" by Perfect Touch.  ~ Dusty Groove


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