MINT

What initially started as idea for a DJ-duo project quickly turned into a new production outlet for German producer David Hanke. He is well known for his Northern Jazz, Funk and Afrofunk productions under various monikers ever since his first release back in 2008 of which the most recognized surely is his Renegades Of Jazz-alias.After starting to fully embrace the Afrofunk vibe with his 2016-released Renegades Of Jazz album 'Moyo Wangu' as well as two Dem Juju Poets singles in the same year it's now about time to release 'Liberated Thoughts' - the longplay debut for Dem Juju Poets which is scheduled for April 2017.Having spent an influential part of his childhood in Arusha, Tanzania and engrained the music of East Africa, his sound combines these influences with modern, more club-orientated electronic Afrofunk productions which defines the core sound of Dem Juju Poets.With 'Liberated Thoughts' Hanke refines his Afrofunk vision for 2017 informed by his experience as a DJ in venues all over Europe which naturally led to a more floor functional production approach.The opening title 'At The Jubilee Gardens' serves a sweet equatorial coast sound combined with heavy drums and a seductive bassline followed by 'Stonetown Shakedown' with a positive and energetic theme, chants and a busy brass section to set the dancefloor in motion.'Bagamoyo' has a distinctive sound with it's electronics and a laid back character followed by 'Juju Chant #1' which samples 'Mantis Revolver' by Seattle based trio 'Afrocop' whilst the title track 'Liberated Thoughts' with it's raw but floor friendly combination of drums and vocals leads back to the center of the dancefloor.The title 'Mala Mali' describes the curse of money, whether you have much of it or even nothing. Fusing a cinematic, widescreen trumpet arrangement with vintage synths and rolling drums - a digression into slightly more psychedelic Afrofunk territories. Furthermore, 'People's Republic' is built on a more Soul based idea with Jazz flutes and a vibrant horn section.'Fubica', a peculiar theme for bumpy streets, provides broken beats, a mellow Jazz guitar and leaping sax followed by the second interlude 'Juju Chant #2'. The following 'Barabara' was released as a prequel single to 'Liberated Thoughts' and perfectly complements the albums flow.With 'Poacher's Lookout' the psychedelic touch is revisited again, this time creating a tense overall atmosphere, with additional hypnotic scats and some darker electronics. The album closes with the Dub-inspired slow groove of 'Flowers For Lions', a beautiful ending for 'Liberated Thoughts'.

New First Time On A 45 series from Mukatsuku which will focus on tracks which never made it to a 7 inch single in their own right. First up The Three Pieces with a sublime track taken from the 1975 Fantasy album Vibes Of Truth. On the flipside also from 1975 Johnny Hammond delivers the much sampled club favourite 'Tell Me What To Do' from the legendary 'Gears' album from Milestone which also gave us 'Shifting Gears', 'Los Conquistadores Chocolates' & 'Can't We Smile'. Two classics on a dinked friendly format. Limited pressing. Don't sleep !

Head an hour east of Los Angeles and you'll find yourself in the Inland Empire of San Bernardino / Riverside, where a thriving Latinx DIY music and art scene is on display to a melting pot community and audience. It is out of this grassroots local scene that QUITAPENAS developed their unique rhythm and following. At the heart of the group is a tropical Afro-Latin combo, brewed under the warm California sun with a certain liberation in their sound as summed up in the meaning of their name: QUITA (remove) PENAS (worries). With this carefree openness the crew has honed a distinct and hypnotic take on the influential guitarra / tambora roots of golden-age soukous, chicha, compa and champeta.Following up their well received, self-released debut, QUITAPENAS has teamed up with Brooklyn-based label Names You Can Trust to release a pair of original songs. These tracks not only explore and capture the musical roots of their expansive Afro-Latin history, but offer a lyrical view of a decidedly present-day landscape from the perspective of America's vast multi-cultural immigrant experience. YA VERAN (You'll See) is an inclusive call to see the inherent beauty of our various shapes, sizes and colors, while LA BESTIA (The Beast), warns of the perilous form of travel in which people board on top of a series of trains through Central America and Mexico in order to reach the United States.

Record Store Day 2017 release. Recorded live in the studio by a band of touring musicians that played William Onyeabor's music over the previous few years. Artists on this album include Jamie Lidell, Alexis Taylor, Charles Lloyd, Money Mark, Pat Mahoney and Ahmed Gallab. Album sleeve opens up into a double sided 4-way poster (measuring approx. 24" x 24").

Modern Boogie Bangers! Computa Games drops its second vinyl release on New Orleans own Superjock Records. “Computer Rock (OG Mix)” is that feel good Funk with heavy bass, smooth synths and Vocoder vocals to top it off. The flipside, “Computer Rock (West Coast Mix)” gets a G-Funk treatment giving it that boom bap that you can rock to! Definitely a staple for the crates.

Limited edition 45 for Record Store Day, 2017.Cover by Jean Andre.Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One are Tuxedo. “Thank You” is a bonus track to their second album, Tuxedo II, which fnds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie - one that owes as much to G-funk as P-funk. This is the territory of pre- and post hydraulic low riders: a mélange of Cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk.

"The only time you wear a Tuxedo is when it's time to party." So says legendary West Coast player Snoop Dogg on the opening track of Tuxedo II. The blessing of the Doggfather is of special importance to Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, whose second album as a duo finds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie - one that owes as much to G-funk as P-funk. This is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of Cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk. Bonding over a shared love of Chic, Parliament, and the other signs in the greater funk Zodiac, Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus) were early predictors of the sea changes that American music would undergo in 2016. Their first release in March of 2015 debuted at #1 on iTunes America's RnB charts, christened as “Dance Floor Catnip” by the Boston Globe, and “Pure disco-funk hot fire” by Okayplayer. Considering their individual successes (Mayer's four solo albums, Jake's production work for the likes of Drake, Future, The Weeknd, and De La Soul) and five GRAMMY nominations between the two of them, it's no surprise that their powers combined have yet again yielded a bevy of absolute slappers that are packaged perfectly for dance parties in 2017. The material here, while wholly original, is an exercise in honoring its forebears. Tuxedo’s II recalls the future funk wobble of Zapp, Gap, Jam/Lewis and Junie Morrison, while nodding lyrically to Mtume, Jodeci and Cameo. The crystallization of the album's concept comes courtesy of its message of universal love, thanks to the signature combination of soul and pop sensibility that have come to define Mayer's hooks. "You gotta do what you love..." says Mayer in a recent interview with Nordstrom's style blog, one of the many fashion outlets to cover Tuxedo's rise. After all - the transcendental ritual of the party and the rippling self affirmation of the funk are of one spirit: the spirit of self-love...of self expression. Tuxedo II is a modern testament to unity and positivity in trying times. It is a reminder that the dance floor will always be there to welcome you, whoever you are. Do you Fux with the Tux?

James Dexter's star has been rising for a while now - the young Brit turning out killer tracks regularly on the back of hugely well received DJ sets. On his second outing for Dessous Recordings, Dexter does what he does best - four slices of deep, funky and vibing house music for the floor. Lead track 'Drift' is typical of Dexter’s flair for subtle, edgy sounds, wrapped inside a warm and inviting groove. Elements come and go, but the shuffling, infection feel runs throughout. 'Take Me' is a more upfront vibe with a seriously bumping groove - Dexter clearly well versed in the roots of house music from Chicago. 'Whose Rules ?' is a snappy, bright and lively production, with a sub bass that will troubler some of the world's best club systems in the coming months. The light, jazzy vocals offsets the groove perfectly - sure to be a big tune for a wide variety of DJs.The last track of the release is 'Disco Deep' - and it pretty much does exactly what it says - a swung, groovy feel punctuated by disco claps and balearic flourishes that will sound as good on the beach as in the basement.