UK

HUGE record if you're into disco, modern or just good fucking music and you probably don't own unless you work in the city or spend half you life looking for it. Frazelle is the party record that everyone wants, big support all round on this so don't be waiting around and then email us when they are gone. Licensed from Ken Frazzelle himself which always makes us happy.

The second release on the Excursions imprint, following on from 'A Soviet Disco Excursion Vol 1'; this time a trilogy of treats from French duo DJ Soulist and Fulgeance, aka Souleance. These guys have been busily producing a series of delectable releases for a decade now. Crafted primarily with the dancefloor in mind, Souleance weave together an assortment of grooves and genres to magnificent effect - disco, funk and beyond.'A Raw Excursion' proceeds to give you what you need, with something for all the family amidst this three-track EP. Setting it off, the heavily progged-out thump of 'The Ramble'; a solid mid-tempo floor-quaker, flipping the unmistakable weight of Jimmy Page and Bob Plant. This is followed by the 'C'est La Fête' edit of 'A Little More' - a cheeky flip of a classic late-seventies slow jam by Miss Brenda Russell, famously sampled by Big Pun. This one tried and tested over the past few years to crush a lot of dances, now available on wax for the first time for all you players out there.

First Word enters 2017 with a bang: a 28-track album courtesy of Eric Lau. This, his third instrumental album, is a veritable tapestry of vibes, ranging through Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz, Funk & Brazilian beats. A mere taste into the genius production skills of London's Mr. Lau, it's easy to understand why he's so revered by DJs, artists and producers across the world, including Rich Medina, 9th Wonder, Bobbito, Dam Funk, Gilles Peterson, James Poyser (The Roots), Phonte and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), amongst others.Eric has had previous outings for First Word as part of the Record Store Day beat-challenge trilogy, along with Tall Black Guy, Kidkanevil and Mr. Thing, and was recently initiated into Jazzy Jeff's star-studded annual Playlist Retreat. As a producer, he's worked with a host of artists, including Kaidi Tatham, Oddisee, Yussef Kamaal, Guilty Simpson, Dego, Tawiah, Rahel and Fatima, to name a few, whilst his DJ skills have seen him tour the globe with luminaries such as Erykah Badu, Robert Glasper and Questlove. Additionally to three instrumental LPs, he previously released his debut-proper for Ubiquity, 'New Territories', and the acclaimed 2013 sophomore album, 'One Of Many'.'Examples' really provides you with what it says on the tin - a mere taster of this man's talents, available digitally and on wax; black vinyl for the purists and limited edition yellow vinyl for the heads. Kicking off the new year with a bounce, it's unnecessary that we tell you that you shouldn't sleep on this.. Don't sleep on this.

'This is a journey into sound...,' These familiar words, accompanied by the rumble of a distant train, signal the opening of 'Let's Take A Trip', the sophomore album from Terrel Wallace aka Tall Black Guy. Since 2013's '8 Miles To Moenart' TBG has cemented his position as a standard bearer for the current hip-hop / beats scene. Born in Detroit and now residing in the UK, Wallace's signature style of incredibly clever sample flips and deft production chops has won fans across the globe including Gilles Peterson, Lefto, Jazzy Jeff and House Shoes.Since his debut release in 2011 (a daring and addictive flip of Fela Kuti), TBG has become revered for his unique take on soulful hip-hop production. The swing of the drums, the textures of the instrumentation as well as a fearlessness in taking on the classics (his Soundcloud page includes flips and chops of tracks from James Brown, De La Soul and Michael Jackson) have marked him out from the crowd. One of the best-kept secrets in the scene, his singular talent is now beginning to get the recognition it deserves. In the last 12 months he has remixed Little Dragon and been invited to take part in Jazzy Jeff's Playlist Retreat alongside the likes of Eric Lau, James Poyser, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Questlove and countless others.For this album Wallace had a simple inspiration: 'This album is all about taking a journey. As simple as that. Be it physical, emotional or spiritual. It's asking and answering personal questions from myself within some of the tracks and also touching on social issues i.e. racism, inequality and privilege...that have been at the forefront of my mind over last three years.' Sonically there is also a shift: 'Jazz has definitely been more of an influence in this project, as I have been really inspired by so many up and coming musicians who I've been blessed to connect with'. Some of these musicians, including Kenny Keys, Miles Bonny, Diggs Duke and Dee Jackson feature on the project as well as regular collaborators Ozay Moore and Mario Sweet and fellow Playlist alumni Daniel Crawford and Masego. But this is one man's vision, and for Tall Black Guy this trip is just the beginning...,.

Originally released in small numbers as a custom pressing in 1973, the compelling 'Dini Safarrar' by Senegalese drummer Mor Thiam has gained cult status around the world amongst enthusiasts of jazz, funk, hip hop & African music, and grail status among LP collectors. Here is the first official reproduction of this album, faithful to the original and made with the blessing and cooperation of Mor Thiam himself, as well as his son Aliaume Thiam, otherwise known as hip hop and R&B superstar Akon.Mor Dogo Thiam (pronounced 'Chahm') is a cultural historian, dedicated philanthropist and genius on the djembe. He began his career as a drummer while a young boy in his native Senegal, before moving to St. Louis, Missouri in the early 1970s, where his unique musical skills earned him the respect of the local jazz community. A fusion of the traditions of his Senegalese upbringing and the funk & jazz sounds of his new environs, 'Dini Safarrar' was entirely self-funded and was also conceived as a benefit album, with all the proceeds donated to famine relief in Africa.

Ekambi Brillant was born in the village of Dibombari in Cameroon in 1948. In 1962 he attended school in Yaounde and learned his musical craft. In 1971 he heads off to the big city lights of Douala. Here he finds himself in a French TV, music competition hosted at "Le Domino" nightclub. It is here where he brushes shoulders with other Cameroonian music legends such Manu Dibango and Francis Bebey.The music contest win gives him the break he needs and in 1972 and with the support of fellow troubadour JK Mandengue he finds himself with a record deal with Phonogram and his first hits in France.Its in 1975 where we pick up this merry tale. Because it is in 1975 when things start to get a bit funky. Which is just how we like it here at Africa Seven. In partnership with French producer, guitarist and all around hero, Slim Pezin he creates the "Africa Oumba" album. He goes on in the two subsequent years to record the Soul Castle and Djambo's Djambo's ?albums also with Slim.Our compilation focuses on the funkier end of Ekambi's music drawn mainly from the 1975 to 1978 period. Things open up with our theme tune "Africa Africa" (of course). It's tribal twisted psych funk is the perfect start to any album. We then move to "Aboki" possibly Ekambi's finest dance floor filler. Next it's the choppy disco strings and slap bass of "Nyambe" and the swirling African swing of "N'Kondo" and the pulsing chop-funk "Ekila".The flip side starts off with "Soul Castle" an ordinary day tale for our hero. "Massoma" and its funk boogie get things bopping next up before "Machine Ma Bwindea" gives us some punchy brass and low slung funk grooves. "Mother Africa" shows us the songwriting power of Ekambi while also managing to have one of the funkiest flange basslines we have heard in a good while. Things close off with swing-time of "Lambo Lena". Ekambi Brillant would go on to become one of the big name legends of Cameroonian music with nearly 20 albums to his name. He has contributed to the emergence of several Cameroonian artists such as Marthe Zambo, Valery Lobe, Aladji Toure and Africans. He now spends his time in Cameroon and Washington DC. Ekambi, we salute you sir.