To (mis)quote Quannum Projects’ Lateef & The Chief – ‘They didn’t tell you about Golden Rules? Write this one down!’ Why? Because German label Golden Rules have dedicated themselves to putting out an annual vinyl primer of the contemporary funky scene since 2021, gathering together the best that it has to offer – both released and unreleased. Funky soul, torch songs, psych-funk, jazz-funk, Afro-funk, vocal cuts, instrumentals – anything goes as long as it meets the label’s exacting standards. Normally the PR campaign has involved an approximately sixth month lead time with bi-monthly singles coming out ahead of the full vinyl comp. This year however, things have been slightly different. The release schedule was reduced to only five months; the set list weighs in at a slightly lighter eleven tracks (as opposed to its predecessors’ fourteen) and there’s been less PR buzz surrounding the singles though arguably now with an established reputation this was less necessary. Once again however, they’ve put together a stylistically varied set that is quality all the way.
Proceedings commence with The Flavors’ Gettin’ It Back which does indeed get things back to the sort of stanky instrumental funk once the province of Poets Of Rhythm. Miles King & The Foolish Knights’ A Good Day follows, taking it’s musical lead from gospel-funk (though the lyrics are secular) while this comp’s. biggest named contributor, JJ Whitefield, comes third with the jangly funk of Moon Walk featuring a trippy Moog lead. After this, Project Gemini’s Fuzzy Duck delivers the sort of energetic psych-funk fuzz you’ll be familiar with from their releases on Delights and then the mood changes with arrival of The Rayvelles. Their moody slowie Yes You’re Losing Me features smouldering vocals from Marietta Smith and the mood remains subdued with the hypnotic 80s-ish space funk of Theodor’s Tropical Reprise, Tommie Harris & The Upper Sides’ torch song The World Must Change and Okonski’s piano-led instro., Summer Storm. The final trio consists of the ethio-jazz meets hip-hop scratching of The Selenites Band’s Ethio Carnivale (Lockdown Version) and the ambient trippiness of the bizarrely-named Pu Poo Platter’s Choir and NCY Milky Band’s Choir and Lynx Theme respectively. Like I said – variety and quality.
(Out now on Golden Rules)