[engl] Yugoslavia - six republics, four decades, one dictator and a single record label that ruled them all: Jugoton (Zagreb, Croatia). Jugoton was by far the country's largest label with the strongest and most diverse output that stretched from Balkan roots to contemporary trends and the sound of tomorrow . The early days of Yugoslavia featured strong censorship but by the end of the 60's the Communist party views softened up by a large degree. Westernized music already had a solid presence and first James Brown influenced compositions were released. Yugo funk, a term coined by DJ’s and crate diggers from the Balkans, encompasses a wide variety of performers and genres: from the 60's merseybeat rock bands, prog rock groovers and big band jazz orchestras to the late 70's sophisticated 4x4 funk and essentially everything in between. Jugoton Funk Vol.1, a first of its kind, celebrates the pioneer years of funk infused music released by Jugoton. While in pursuit of these treasures all over the Balkan region and beyond, the compilation’s selectors, Dr. Sme?i Še?er & Višeslav Laboš, both active as DJ's and crate diggers from the sole beginnings of the ex-Yu craze, wanted to capture the authentic and idiosyncratic funk sound of Jugoton and Yugoslavia. So here it is, comb your moustache, light up a fat one, turn up the amplifier and headbang away to these amazing tunes remastered from original master tapes dug out of the Jugoton vaults (now Croatia Records).

[engl] First volume in LITA's Seattle vintage funk & soul scene * Deluxe 180gm LP housed in Stoughton "tip on" old-style gatefold jacket Decades before grunge, Seattle was a city with a deep soul tradition (Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix). Wheedle's Groove takes you back to Seattle's badass days of funk & soul - Jimi's high school buddies; original 45s that fetch for upwards of $4,000; and songs recorded by the legendary Kearney Barton (The Sonics, Kingsmen, Ventures). For the first time on CD, 21-choice cuts of ultra-rare Seattle funk, jazz, and soul, including all the era's prime movers & shakers: Black On White Affair, The Overton Berry Trio, Soul Swingers, The Johnny Lewis Trio, and Ron Buford. Plus, 3 brand-new unreleased bonus tracks: 21st century Seattle artists inspired by classic Emerald City soul, including the Sharpshooters, and Clarence Mack/Dynomite D (Modest Mouse, Beastie Boys, Kid Koala). Over two years in the making and it's finally arrived!

[engl] Here?s one very rare early 80?s soul and boogie LP, as clean original copies now fetch well over $500, if you can find it... This brand new and first official reissue ever contains the now classic modern soul dancer ?Not About That (Show Me Some Respect)? alongside some very attractive ballad material for the more dedicated soul fans. The elusive Van Jones from Pughsville, VA continued to record - as he did since 1976 - several 7? and 12? singles into the decade. But this highly sought after album from 1981 is widely considered as the definitive moment in his short though fruitful recording career. - Marc Janssen, www.everland-music.com

[engl] Where were we in 79 when the dam began to burst? Well, some of us were hanging out in the clubs to dance to smooth and sweet disco music with utterly cheerful melodies, slick and lush arrangements of brass and string sections over an ever pulsating rhythm section borrowing elements of funk and soul to create something new, fresh and exciting. And some of the disco acts that popped up like daisies on a lawn even hit the big time. Most of the acts on the other hand sank without a trace and only the real music lovers among those who danced through the nights remembered great bands and albums such as WILD HONEY. No wonder that their sole effort from 1979 is a rare diamond today and goes for more than 200 € among collectors of great black music if it ever turns up for sale. The very go – getting EVERLAND label from the Netherlands have filled the gap and did a reissue of the highest order. It is time to make this beauty available again since there is still a huge crowd out there craving for enthralling black music. WILD HONEY consisted of talented musicians backing up the three singing queens. The playing is powerful and precise. Despite the slick and perfect production the music shows feeling and is vivid. You hear every single beat from the percussionists due to the crystal clear sound. And still this music is intense and emotional. Six songs in the five minute range give you a great listening experience with the ballads even showing the peak of all talent gathered here. The arrangements are amazing. Every note, every sigh of the backing vocals, every clap from the percussion department sits perfectly in its place. The harmony vocals nearly reach the level of QUEEN and WILD HONEY are far from being a rock band at all. This is captivating, fascinating and enchanting while being as acccessible as it is necessary for disco and club music made to make the audience dance and party. But higher art and pop appeal go fairly well with each other in some cases. For example in the dancefloor sweeper „This time tomorrow“ with hot blooded lead vocals and nearly ethereal backing choirs repeating the title over and over again while the instrumental arrangements in the back capture your soul. If you could ever call a disco song haunting, then it should be this one. This gets really close to Donna Summer with her major anthem „I feel love“. The closer of the album, „Selfish for unselfish reasons“ is a slow dance, a slow pop tune with really atmospheric melodies and some very angelic lead vocals. The silky aspect of the overall sound should make the album appeal to a wide range of black music and disco music fans that go beyond the surface with their taste and really care for good songs that stick to your mind. There is nothing complicated with each of the six tunes here but definitely a complex pattern of several instrumental layers can be found if one listens closer and loves to explore a song rather than just dance to it. You can for sure also just ride on the wave of good vibrations this album. For fans of disco music and disco oriented soul this is truly a gem on par with the best Donna Summer moments.

[engl] This once privately released album finds its origins in the jazz music scene of Boston / Mass., USA from where people came together to lay down the two lengthy compositions “The beginning of a new birth” (25 minutes) and “The prayer” (15 minutes) by composer and director John Jamyll Jones. The mood is thoughtful and spiritual in some way with wordless chants, hypnotizing polyrhythmic grooves and haunting lead harmonies by saxophone and flute creating a colorful trippy stream of sound that is certainly domiciled in the field of free modal jazz in a rather relaxed fashion. It is the kind of spiritual jazz created on all acoustic instruments that recalls the greatest works of JOHN & ALICE COLTRANE or PHAROAH SANDERS during their heydays. You swim on top of this gently flowing river of notes and sometimes get swallowed by a few freak out sound maelstroms. You drift through a haze of colors and sounds until you reach a state of total enlightenment due to the repetitive nature of the rhythms and song structures. The solos of flute and saxophones are just awesome and the melodies set your soul ablaze despite the fact that the background by drums, standing bass and piano stays with one line like a stubborn mule as experienced in “The prayer”. Well, people who love this kind of jazz will be enchanted by the WORLD'S EXPERIENCE ORCHESTRA and their sole album from 1975.