Spoonie Gee The Treacherous Three
The New Rap Language

2022 Repress of this soulful classic.

Under the Guts guise, instrumental hip-hop beat-maker turned tropical soul enthusiast Fabrice Franck Henri has become one of Heavenly Sweetness' most reliable artists. "Philantropiques" is Henri's first album for three years and could well be his most expansive and adventurous to date. The set's 14 tracks are as colourful and musically rich as you'd expect, with the storied producer and a range of vocal collaborators conjuring up tracks that draw influence from a myriad of Central American, Caribbean, South American and African styles. The results are uniformly excellent, with highlights including the tropical shuffle of "Mucagiami (feat Vum Vum)", the sun-kissed French Caribbean funk of "Daddy Sweet (feat Pat Kalla)", the Afro-Tropical rush of "Kenk Corner" and the synth-powered brilliance of "Shake It & Rise Up".

A monstrous 45rpm jazz vocal double-sider from 1972, TRAMP records has been on a rampage with their treatment of incredible and rare jazz and funk. 'When He Speaks', featured on the compilation album 'Movements Vol.11', is a swingy groove pining about a sickly sweet romance, a soulful fairytale. Side B is a far more sombre affair, however. 'The Ring' is a guitar-led ballad on temptation, guilt and remorse, Elliott's voice reverberating from the speakers like an empty chapel.

Since 2019, a dark cloud has loomed over our region, as many have feared the return of the most weaponised duo in Avon.A trail of scorched chambers in their wake, their witnesses still fail to rub the imprints from their retina, drown the wailing from their heads and scrape a metallic taste from their mouths.But finally, our iron tongued padre, Franco Franco, and his crypto-bard, Kinlaw, throw down their second slab, 'Mega Dopo Mega'.Charging straight over the top into 'Com'èèè??', 'CGI World' shells down on us with a white-hot salvo. Round after round, our ringmaster spits cybernated venom as his consort thrashes us with relentless, barbed sonics.Pausing just briefly on 'Tetsuo 2019' to heave up a lung full of filings - they press on into data driven mania and cyber-chotic battle cries.By 'Distretto Nono', their probe lifts off - before exiting in a cacophony of AI laughter, beamed straight from the shell.They're back, and this time it's personal...'

This is the debut album from the Texan Black Pumas and quite rightly they’ve proudly named it after their very own funky selves. Produced in his home studio by Adrian Quesada. Drum roll please! A funky drummer sets the tone for the pure soul of Black Pumas. Precision steeled guitars add chops and breaks to prettify this smooth treacle soul. Primarily though it’s the vocals that sell it. They could sell radiators to hell. A diamond-toned voice flowers and commands at the front of the band. Grooving, chopping keyboards, soothing, smooth harmonious backing vocals.