UK

Odion Livingstone present another essential reissue from the Nigerian archives, the frst ever international release of The Apples’ essential Afro-funk LP rarity ‘Mind Twister’. As part of the St Gregory’s student band scene in Lagos during the late ‘70s alongside Ofege, Grotto and more, Apples were picked up and produced by legendary EMI Nigeria producer Odion Iruoje who added overdubs to the album at Abbey Road in London with Curved Air keyboardist Francis Monkman.The band met and formed in Lagos. Bandleader Frank Ikpefuran teamed up with Georges Vieira from the American School and brothers Clifford and Gerard Nagi who were studying at “St Greg’s” in Lagos, and remembers, “I must have been 19 years old when I met Clifford. We used to hangout on Victoria Island, watching bands play and jamming with them. That’s how we met Georges. We all listened to Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Idris Muhammad and the Beatles.” “We started jamming with Clifford on the guitar, his brother Gerard on the bass and Georges on the guitar. We chipped in with song ideas, with the group contributing arrangements and refning things until we were satisfed. The band had a natural sound, which stemmed from the chemistry we had. It was a strange chemistry, we were an odd combination from different backgrounds but when we played, something happened…”After landing a residency at Tee Mac’s club in Surulere, Apples auditioned for Odion Iruoje who arranged recording dates and cut the record. For a young band, Iruoje was surprised by the quality of the band, adding in extra keyboard parts from Lemmy Udofa and Francis Monkman, founder of Curved Air and session man for Kate Bush, Sky and music libraries like BBC Music, Bruton and KPM. Iruoje remembers, “their playing added a layer of sophistication and sheen without encumbering proceedings.” This defnitive edition of Apples’ ‘Mind Twister’ features new interviews with bandleader Frank Ikpefuran and producer Odion Iruoje and has been fully remastered by The Carvery.- First ever offcial reissue of rare Afro-funk LP from 1978- Restored by See Why Audio and remastered by The Carvery- All formats include rare photos and a new interview with bandleader Frank Ikperfuran + producer Odion Iruoje- All formats include full original EMI Nigeria artwork- 1LP IN SINGLE SLEEVE, 12” INSERT SHEET

Sometimes you have to put out a recdord for yourself. I first heard the East of Underground LP from Malcom Catto in the Jazzman Records office in around 2000, after a couple of years i managed to pick one up for $100 from a soundtrack dealer who did not know what he had. Now there is a few bangers on the LP but i have always thought is was the ballads that deserve the shine, so after a chat with Egon at Now-Again i managed to sort out putting my two favorites on 45 for that end of the night slowy. hopeflly a few of you will enjoy this one also.

Letherette step back up with a new release on their own imprint Wulf records with EP4. Letherette has released music on labels Ho-Tep and more recently Ninja Tune, but after starting their own label Wulf at the end of last year have already released EP's 1,2,3, Brown lounge Vol 3 and now EP4.Letherettes signature chops can be heard throughout EP4 from the disco cuts of Flowatch to the piano slices of Feel It. All mastered to cassette this EP centres around the dance floor but stays true to Letherettes sound and melodies.

A sublime slice of boogie-funk, Alec Mansion has steadily gained the status of a "crate-digging classic". Accordingly, it has been near-impossible to unearth a physical copy in good condition for many years. Be With is delighted to present the first ever vinyl reissue, remastered in time to grace the discerning terraces and boat parties of the coming summer months.Originally released in 1983, the LP arrived with impeccable credentials; programming duties were handled by Dan Lacksman (the brains behind Telex, the "Belgian Kraftwerk") whilst production came from Marc Moulin (of jazz-rock fusion heroes Placebo). At the time its merits were mainly praised by radio and studio heads. Today, Mansion's masterpiece is lauded by boogie aficionados from Liege to Los Angeles.It was during a stay in Chicago that the Belgian took inspiration from the communal spirit and sheer power of black American funk. In a recent interview with Vice's Noisey, Mansion cited The Whispers, Prince and Chic as key touchstones in his quest for his desired sound. Upon finessing his idiosyncratic European style of funk for his self-titled sophomore LP, Mansion flirted with perfection.Showcasing a staggering run of instant (non)-hits, this sonically stunning album can be viewed as both of its time and, yet, aeons ahead of it.Amongst the myriad highlights, "Ou Es-Tu" recalls neck-breaking G-Funk roughly a decade before it was ubiquitous. Its swagger conjures the fantasy sound of Dam-Funk producing fellow Francophone masters Phoenix, circa United; all buzzing synths and snapping drums underpinning vocals that ooze European style.The glorious synth-workout "Dans L'eau De Nice" boasts an inordinate amount of instrumental flourishes. Augmented by Mansion's vocal class, it still feels tight and perfectly formed like all timeless pop music, and it has since become infamous as a joyous end-of-night singalong hit for house parties.The startlingly confident "Marche" borders on the arrogant; its sun-drenched cool inviting both awe and irresistible movement. "Quand Je Serai Grand" blasts lazer-guided synth washes over an undeniable groove that would've made Nile Rodgers swoon as he prepped Like A Virgin.The acid squelch that propels the strutting "Laid, Bête, Et Méchant" delivers infectious bounce with enviable abandon whilst the fantastically wonky "Trop Triste" garnered renewed attention after featuring on Zaltan's beloved Quartier Choc mixtape.On the rare occasions it appears on the secondary market, it commands eye-watering figures. A record that has eluded even the most seasoned of vinyl freaks, this officially licensed reissue enables a wider audience to now discover its undoubted genius. Dovetailing neatly with the recent interest in forgotten boogie and obscure Euro-pop, this timely reappearance of a certified lost treasure is sure to be one of the summer's essential releases.As sophisticated and multi-layered as the best of the genre, this is highly recommended if you dig for analogue boogie/synth-funk as well as the more leftfield elements of slick 80s pop. The original artwork of both jacket and sumptuous, full-colour inner sleeve has been faithfully restored; the latter featuring Mansion's memorable lyrics emblazoned across the pleasing jazzy early 80s design. Sonically, Simon Francis' deft mastering adds clarity and muscle throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g.

Banoffee Pies Records launches its first white label to date, and it's a three-pronged collaboration by new and exciting faces in the scene. First up is Philou Louzolo and his excellent ''Afrofuturism Dance'', a solid house jerker with lively tribal influences, folloed siftly by Wendel Sield and his moodier, jazzier piece entitled ''History Of Black People''. On the flip, Huntleys & Palmers MMT proceeds to drop some Gipsy King house in the form of ''Ton A Ton'', backed by the more funky disco shades of ''Pangae Flute''. Nice and diverse for ya!

The third installment of the Church's Marble series comes from Folamour.