The new single from Calibro 35, Travelers, Explorer, finds the retro library music-inspired Italian outfit travel along and explore the path that is – well – less travelled – at least as far as they’re concerned anyway. Why? Because they employ the positively ethereal tones of Eliza Zoot to grace this previously unreleased vocal version of the album closer on their recent Decade LP. What was once something that negotiated a twisting
…MORE
Tag Archives: Record Kicks
CALIBRO 35 feat. ELIZA ZOOT: Travelers, Explorers (Vinyl 7″) + video
THE FAITHFUL BROTHERS: Crossroads Of Love/ One More Time (Vinyl 7″)
It’s not just Daytoner keeping the faith with neo-northern soul cuts this year it seems, for here is an offshoot project of Israeli soul boys Men Of North Country, The Faithful Brothers (a.k.a men of northern soul country – see what I did there?), with a 45 in the classic mould – soul stormer on the one side, soul ballad on the flip. The soul stormer is titled Crossroads Of Love and finds Tel Aviv’s
…MORE
CALIBRO 35: Psycheground (video + ltd. Vinyl 7″)
Of course it was only a couple of months ago that Italian kings of cinematic funk, Calibro 35, dropped their umpteenth studio LP, Decade which, the monkey noted, “…starts innocuously enough with the afro-tinged lilt of Psycheground…[and]…in Calibro 35-land we’re in the title sequence of whatever film is in their heads…[which]…surely…features a lengthy single-take of a
…MORE
CALIBRO 35: SuperStudio/ Gomma (Vinyl 7″)
Rating: 
As the video teaser before Crimbo should have made clear, Dre and Jay Z-sampled Italian cinematic music fiends Calibro 35 are taking their crime-funk to the next level on forthcoming LP Decade. Why? Because those bad boys have added orchestral elements. You see how that works don’t you? You come at them with fists they bring a knife. You bring a knife, they bring guns. You bring guns, they bring, like
…MORE
Heavily influenced by sixties and seventies crime flicks and sci-fi movies, Italian retro-fiends Calibro 35 have spent the last decade honing their cinematically funky sound. They’ve even managed to get themselves sampled by the likes of Dr Dre and Jay-Z. Blimey. How do you get bigger than that? Well, (not that it’s all about size you understand) the boys have decided to expand their THE TIBBS: Lies (Vinyl 7″)(2017) + Video
Looks like there’ll be a new album from hot Dutch funk/soul properties The Tibbs next year then. Lies? No it’s all true – that’s just the name of the new single which applies a decidedly Daptones-ish aesthetic to create a horns-led chugger on which singer Elsa Bekman ponders the – well – lies that people live. But how to represent this via an
…MORE
MARTHA HIGH: ‘Mama Feelgood’ audio premiere (2017)
Rating: The monkey does like to line up a dope audio premiere for you and this one is a real treat – James Brown’s original funky diva, Martha High, covers Lyn Collin’s Mama Feelgood with Osaka Monaurail as her backing band. And damn if it ain’t as good as the original. The track is the highlight of Tribute To My Soul Sisters – a whole LP from High and Osaka Monaurail out later
…MORE
MARTHA HIGH: Tribute To My Soul Sisters (2017)
Record Kicks must be feeling pretty smug having signed the late great James Brown’s legendary funky diva Martha High for an album of soul and funk covers of classics by High’s peers from back in the day. Well you would wouldn’t you? It gets better though, for High’s Tribute To My Soul Sisters LP finds her interpreting twelve bangers from back in the day with none other than Osaka-to-Tokyo
…MORE
HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS: Late Nights & Heartbreak (video)(2017)
Everybody knows by now that the Malcolm Catto-produced title track of the latest LP by underground UK retro-soul talent Hannah Williams got sampled for the title track of Jay-Z’s new album, right? It’s this decade’s Eminem and Dido story! How to represent said track in audio-visual format, though? I suppose the band could employ traditional ideas like good cinematography
…MORE
RECORD KICKS: Soul Sides (2017)
It’s summertime and therefore high time for your favourite Milan-based soul providing label Record Kicks to – er – provide a summery compilation of soul sides. Given their roster, it shouldn’t be too hard to assemble and whadyaknow? It isn’t. Say hello then to twelve-tracker Soul Sides which mixes up the new and the old, the soulful, the funky and the jazzy, the torch song and the
…MORE
