UK

Profusion (noun): an abundance of something rich. What a deftly fitting description for the collaborative project between K15 and Emeson.This talented duo hooked up back in the days of MySpace. A future of combining their skills was always inevitable, and in 2017, it's finally time to unleash their united sonics out into the ether.The solo-projects of Tottenham-raised Kieron Ifil (aka K15) date back a decade, but were truly kick-started on labels such as Kyle Hall's Wild Oats and also on WotNot Music, with an abundance of genre-crossing releases dropping ever since, taking in sounds from jazz, soul, hip hop, house, techno and broken beat. Additionally to his production work (also releasing under the moniker Culross Close), he has established himself internationally as a DJ, with prior residencies at the world famous Jazz Cafe, and his WU15 project (along with Yussef Kamaal's Henry Wu) on Alex Nut's Eglo Records, cementing his rightful status as part of London's now-school.Partner in Profusion, Emeson, has many skills to his bow - singing, songwriting, producing, promoting, DJing (under the alias Ed Nice) and acting, appearing across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, to name but a few. As a musician, his varied skill-set has seen him work with Chico Hamilton, Carla Duke, Karmasound, Uzo Madu and Chris Jerome. A frontman for soul-jazz groups LifeSize, The One and Saturn's Children, he has featured on releases for BBE and Tokyo Dawn, and appeared live on stage at the likes of Ronnie Scott's. A truly formidable talent.We set it off with this double-header of heat; 'Flying' and 'Where Do I Begin'. Sun-soaked synths drift across the warmest of basslines and neck-snapping beats. Emeson's rich vocals gracefully ride atop of K15's delectably bruk twist on neo-soul sonics, this is seriously classy contemporary London soul music. As highly suited for laidback cruising as they are for heads-down sweaty dancefloors, as proven triumphantly when debuted at the closer of the recent Co-Op 'Selectors Assemble' dance. Both tracks are killer and we hope give you a good flavour of what's to come.Profusion - an abundance of something rich indeed. A project that embodies an array of everything that is great about British black music. Be ready.

Following on from the Pasteur Lappe compilation "African Funk Experimentals" LP, we are really pleased to be re-visiting Pasteur with a repress of his second album from 1979, "Na Man Pass Man". The story begins in the 60s with a charming 19 year old Nicolas "Pasteur" Lappe becoming a sensation on Radio Adele in Douala, Cameroun. He goes on to become the editor of the Douala Gazette newspaper and become friends with other African music stars such as Tala AM, J Moboule and Fela Kuti. He also works tirelessly promoting new and upcoming local Cameroonian talent. After moving to Paris, a stint in journalism school and publishing a book of poems "Chansons Negres" he finally settles into a new life of music in Paris. His second album "Na Man Pass Man" is made in 1979 with the backing band and production collective called the Zulu Gang, which include Douglas Mbida (who went on to release several top flight albums himself) and Jacob Desvariaux (who went on to form Kassav). The album is full of diverse sounds; from driving funk, sweeping disco grooves, syrupy ballads, reggae, Jackson-five-esque pop to finger-lickin' soul. At its core though is the custom "Sekele" groove... a movement to encompass the dance, grooves and vibes from his native Douala. The album opens with Africa Seven favourite "Na Real Sekele Fo' Ya" which takes stabby moog bass synth to a whole new level of grooviness. "Follow Me To My Dreams" takes proceedings on a reggae tip as the Zulu Gang show us just how Reggae they can go. Its sleezy Rhodes and sax led jazz funk of "Mbale". Followed by "Missosi" a cautionary tale from our hero. Side B opens with another slice of slick African Reggae with "Babette D'O (Rastawoman)" – the Caribbean chops of Jacob Desvariaux getting a full exercise here. Its then "Back To Funky" with some dance funk. It features Maryse Lappe guesting on vocals too. The "Lead" track from the album "ABC" is next with its stomping afro, pop funk delightfulness. A 12" version was actually released in 1979 with a fine painting of our hero on the front cover. We close off the LP with the title track "Na Man Pass Man (Na Iron De Cut)". This features Pasteur singing and professing his tale of the trials of Africans and African Music over a rolling bass guitar groove. The nostalgic poet, with Africa at his essence Pasteur Lappe, we salute you.

Following the recent release of Azymuth's new album Fênix, Far Out Recordings announce the release of a 12" reissue of two of the Brazilian mavericks' heaviest dance cuts, remastered from the original Outubro tapes.Alex Malheiros' earth-shaking slap bass in the first few seconds of 'Dear Limmertz' makes up an iconic moment in jazz-funk history. Next to their groundbreaking disco hit 'Jazz Carnival', it's one of the heftiest of Azymuth’s dense and still growing catalogue of floor fillers, along with being one of the trio’s most recognized tunes. The flip is home to the equally club ready ‘Maracana’, another super-heavy jazz-funk belter encompassing Ivan ‘Mamao’ Conti’s signature swing, backing Jose Roberto Bertrami’s effortlessly slick keyboard harmonies. Both tracks were classics on the London Rare-Groove scene in the 80’s and remain as relevant today as ever.Now re-mastered from the original tapes and pressed onto heavyweight 12” vinyl, the sole purpose of this release is to make these career defining tracks sound bigger and bolder than ever before, and we honestly can’t believe how PHAT these new remasters sound.

Record Store Day 2017 release.

From the age of 13, Jullian Gomes secretly gambled every cent of his school lunch money on buying deep-house records; no doubt with the unknown knowledge that someday, these records would change his life forever. Only a few people know this but Jullian used to sneak, yes! sneak into local clubs in and around Pretoria / Tshwane from a very early age. At this time nothing could stop this young man being 'in the moment' to enjoy the music that has now, amazingly, become his full time career. Maybe his parents will be ok with the knowledge of his secret nightlife now knowing how incredibly skilled and loved their son has become throughout the world of dance music.Jullian Gomes is truly a very dedicated individual, and this young musical maestro has in just a few years leaped forward and galvanised a career for himself in a very competitive industry. From his brief visit to London for the Red Bull Music Academy in 2010, to releasing his debut album 'Late Dreamer' in 2017, Gomes, with a lot of hard grafting built up his relationships and very quickly covered a lot of very bumpy and obstacle-ridden ground to get him to where he is today. To say this man is 'Here To Stay' is a massive understatement.Late Dreamer is unmistakably the sound of 'Jullian Gomes' - wonderfully laid back, thick chunky beat-ridden soulful house music featuring some incredible talent, that together make a warm and attractive addition to the world of electronic soul music.