Future Classics

Future Classic: I, CED “What Are We Looking For?”

If deep soulful, hip-hop inspired jams are what you are looking for, look no further. The St. Louis producer/musician (now living in LA), I, CED releases his first project in 5 years. After working behind-the-scenes with artists like Dâm-Funk, Shafiq Husayn (SA-RA), Shuggie Otis and Run The Jewels, I, CED’s latest …

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Tribute Mixes

Tribute to MARVIN GAYE – Selected by KOBAL

Since I was a teenager my love for soul music has been growing exponentially. Getting back to where this passion started for me, around 1985 I was listening as usual to my favorite radio station (Couleur3, the Swiss station) and “Is That Enough” from Marvin Gaye came on the air …

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Future Classics

Future Classic: Jimetta Rose “The Light Bearer”

It’s rare for a city to have such an iconic sound but the Los Angeles vibe of artist Jimetta Rose is unmistakable. Her second studio album, ‘The Light Bearer LP’ is produced by prolific and legendary producer Georgia Anne Muldrow. The duo create an incredibly smooth and funky sound, with beautiful …

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Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Air “Air” (1971, Embryo)

It’s always nice to see hard to find gems getting the proper reissue treatment these days. After doing an amazing job with releases by Leon Ware, Ned Doheny and Letta Mbulu, among others, London’s Be With Records are adding an important piece to their impressive catalog this summer. Long Island’s …

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Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Black Disco “Night Express” (1976)

via Matsuli Music: Press ‘play’ and the soulful notes of Basil ‘Mannenberg’ Coetzee’s saxophone tell you two things. First, Night Express is great music. But, second, the sound doesn’t fit neatly into any of the mid-70s South African musical genre boxes. This was an era when Abdullah Ibrahim’s music spoke …

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Donnie & Joe Emerson "Baby" (1979)
Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Donnie & Joe Emerson “Baby” (1979)

Before all else, let’s just take a minute to mourn the bygone era of gold medallions, home-cooked slow jams, and matching Elvis jumpsuits. Donnie and Joe Emerson were teenagers when they put together Dreamin’ Wild. Two brothers, playing and consuming and recording and breathing music, living away from the city, …

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Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Leo’s Sunshipp “We Need Each Other” (1978)

“We Need Each Other” by US funk & soul group Leo’s Sunshipp is a record that despite it’s absolute beauty has always struck me as mystery. The first thing that has always puzzled me is the odd cover art which would seem more à propos for a late 60’s flower power …

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Throw Em' Up

Onra & Lexis “Throw ’Em Up 4”

“When we put out the first volume of our Throw ‘Em Up mixes over 3 years ago we never thought the era and sound we wanted to cover would go that deep. We thought our knowledge was pretty advanced but have come to realize that there are so many hidden …

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Forgotten Treasure: Har-You Percussion Group “Sounds of the Ghetto Youth”
Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Har-You Percussion Group “Sounds of the Ghetto Youth” (1967)

Usually when I listen to youth or High-School band records, I am surprised to find one funky track that stands out. I had the rare chance of going through the opposite experience when I first heard the Har-You Percussion Group. Such a solid LP full of latin bangers could not …

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Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Fertile Ground “Black Is…” (2004, Counterpoint Records)

It still seems like yesterday, and I still find it hard to believe, but it’s been more than a decade since Fertile Ground released this amazing record which has aged gracefully into our “forgotten treasures” section. Originating from Baltimore, but based in Atlanta, the soul-jazz sextet found great success in …

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Exclusive Premieres

Exclusive Video Premiere: Omar “I Want It To Be”

via Freestyle Records: After a career spanning 32 years, what more can be said about Omar that hasn’t been said before? Undeniably, Omar Lye-Fooks’ totally unique, individual style and sound still marks him out as a future thinking and utterly unrivaled artist, who has collaborated with so many legendary names …

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Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: Valgusesse (Estonian Compilation from Frotee Records)

“Records you didn’t know existed.” That’s the tagline from Estonian label Frotee and it’s been true so far, with their output doing a fine job of documenting the Eastern European country’s music heritage. Their latest release, Valgusesse, is an eight-track compilation profiling the sound archive of Estonian Public Broadcasting which …

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