France

Voici la deuxième sortie de “Pura Vida sounds”, le nouveau label au sein de Heavenly Sweetness. Guts en assure la direction artistique et sortira régulièrement des artistes qu’il a découvert, produit ou des nouvelles compilations.“Change” (PVS004)K.O.G pour Kweku Of Ghan, iZem pour In Ze Early Morning.La rencontre entre le chanteur ghanéen et le beamaker français n’est pas une histoire d’acronymes mais plutôt celle d’une collaboration fructueuse entre deux expatriés qui, depuis leurs nouvelles bases, captent mieux les vibrations alentours.Chanteur et multi-instrumentiste, K.O.G se dédouble à chaque fois qu’une nouvelle ambition musicale le nécessite. K.O.G. and The Zongo Brigade, K.O.G and The Allstar Revolution, Onipa Project, il opère aussi en solo, irriguant funk, dancehall, reggae, jungle ou house de sa furieuse sève afro qui désormais érupte depuis Sheffield.Parti guitare en bandoulière en Espagne, c’est au Brésil puis en Argentine que iZEM collaborera à de nombreux projets avant d’aller se poser à Dublin, derrière deux platines et une mixette, pour finalement prendre la direction de Lisbonne. Un premier album, Hafa, paru chez Soundway Records mais surtout une connexion permanente avec les musiques lusophones émises depuis l’amérique du Sud et l’Afrique.We are happy to continue the adventure with our in-house label, *Pura Vida Sounds.*Our very own *Guts* is the art director of this new imprint.*"Change*" is the second release of Pura Vida Sounds (PVS004)K.O.G - Kweku Of Ghan, iZem - In Ze Early Morning. The meeting between the Ghanaian singer and the Moroccan/French beatmaker is not a story of acronyms, but rather a fruitful collaboration between two expats, better to capture the surrounding vibrations.Singer and multi-instrumentalist, born in Accra (Ghana), résident in Sheffield (UK), K.O.G is constantly innovating. Leader of hs own monstrous afro funk band K.O.G. and The Zongo Brigade(see them at Transmusicales 2018 and album on Heavenly Sweetness March 2019), lead vocalist for Onipa, he is a creative force, relentlessly touring and collaborating across a range of styles, from afro funk to house, dancehall and reggae to jungle, with forthcoming releases with Afriquoi (UK), Umoja (Netherlands), Jus Now (Trinidad/UK), Congo Natty (UK/Jamaica) and more.Guitar-schooled in Spain, it is in Brazil and Argentina that iZEM collaborated on many projects before landing in Dublin, behind two turntables and a mixer, finally ending up in Lisbon. A first album, released by Soundway Records but above all a permanent connection with Portuguese-speaking music from South America and Africa.

Remastered from the original master tapes by Frank Merritt at the Carvery, London

Word of advice to funk lovers; there is not a minute to lose. Get on board of the Big Hustle’s spaceship. Before we take off, let's do a little history. The band was founded in 2014 by bass player and composer Sébastien Levanneur and its aim is to bring together 70's old school funk with the hippest actual sound laced with influences spanning from Steely Dan and Headhunters, to Snarky Puppy and Soulive. With mighty horn players, a rock and funky rhythm section, the Big Hustle's music has a very large variety of soundscapes.The first destination takes us to the Washington, D.C. area with “Turn Up”. The groove is clearly go-go music flavored with the trademark sound of cowbells and of course it reminds us of Zapp by the use of the talk box on lead vocals, performed here by Saad El Garrab. And don't miss out Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy, Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin amongst others) as a very special guest performing the talk box solo! Second stop is “A Curse, A Blessing”. It’s an instrumental very much in the Freddie Hubbard vein during his CTI years. The last leg of the A side ends with an instrumental interlude titled “Flying Donut”. Double tribute to Jay Dee and Flying Lotus, the music is a simple hip hop loop based on samples.The B side takes us back into the past with two brilliant covers, involving Rod Temperton the late great British songwriter who scored some of Michael Jackson's biggest hits. Now the idea for this B side is to do the opposite approach from the A side. Taking 70's and 80's original music and make them travel into time to 2018. We first land with a Heatwave song named “The Star Of A Story” from their 1976 Central Heating album. Track 2 is a Herbie Hancock song named “Gettin' To The Good Part” from his 1982 Lite Me Up LP. This Time Traveler EP journey ends with an interlude. Called “Gimme Dat”, the song deals with the need of new music, new sound.Again, this blend of deep rooted funk laced with a contemporary edge is to be consumed without moderation. And do not forget that E.P. also stands for extended pleasure.