Disco / Funk / Soul

Invisible City Editions returns with the long awaited repress of Shawn Pittman - Dreams, a fantastic double-sided private press rarity from 1989 Detroit. Featuring two legendary Inner City alumni, Art Forest (producer / keyboardist / engineer), and vocalist / background dancer, Shawn Pittman. On the A side is a lush slow modern soul slow burner Dreams features a deep, spatial throbbing bass line with glistening synths floating underneath cool angelic hypnotic vocals by Pittman. “Dreams are only dreams until you make them real.” Perfect downtempo for early mornings and the post-club world. On the B side, we have 2 peak time bangers, a Prince style electro boogie hit I’m Losing Control, alongside the insane I'm Losing Control (Extended Bass-ment Club Mix), a wild late night warehouse dub remix featuring sci-fi vocal effects, fostex tape loops and ultra-heavy bass and driving drum machines. Official Repress via Art Forest and his label Wildboy. Essential stuff! Limited pressing. Tip!

‘Peace & Harmony’ was Harry’s third LP continuing the rich vein of form found in previous albums ‘Country Boy’ and ‘Funkees’ (For You Specially). He was a visionary who wrote, arranged and produced each song on the LP assisted by Mark Lusari on engineering duties (P.I.L, Jah Wobble & Prince I), whose Reggae and Dub influence can be felt on title track ‘Peace & Harmony’ and ‘Peaceful Dub’. The LP contains two certified floorfillers of Studio 54 era Disco Funk in the shape of ‘Sexy Dancer’ & ‘Step On’ and two slow jams, the soulful ballad ‘She’s Gone’ and horn lead album closer ‘Do It Together’. Mr Funkees was printed on the cover to help record buyers make the connection between Mosco and his former band.

Born in Rio in 1940, Helio won a guitar from his father at age 12. After working in sugar mills or as a sales clerk in record stores, he started performing at Rio nightclubs (like Plaza) and São Paulo.In 1975 he signed to RCA Victor on which he released his first LP, “Matheus Segundo Matheus”With arrangements by Oberdan “Black River” Magalhães, Zé Rodrix and Chiquinho de Moraes with participation of Azymuth as a support band with a total of 128 musicians involved int he recording.Unfortunately this much deserved reissue didn’t make it to press before Helio Passed last year, but we are most humble and proud to do it justice.

Recorded in 1982 as a cover version of Atmosfear’s ‘Xtra Special’ from the same year, the recording has become a flagship release amongst collectors and music lovers from a long line of versions under the production of Began Cekic and his various labels.

Mysterious Sydney songstress Justine recorded one album in ’79, which was never officially released. Left Ear have chosen two tracks for a 45 RPM 12” single, which they feel best highlights Justine’s unique vocal talents and songwriting ability. Here the crafty songstress wields melancholic soul and a funky Jazz inspired number with personal and reflective lyrics, both with an intimate and honest approach.Elusive Sydney songstress Justine (Bradley) almost entirely wrote, produced and arranged her sole LP in ’79, an album that was funded by a radio station as the beneficiary for emerging talent. The music was created specifically for radio play without any intention of being manufactured. Luckily however, a friend with ties to a pressing plant known aptly as ‘Midnite Flite’, managed to sneak into said plant one evening and press up a small number for the enjoyment of family, friends & those involved.Left Ear have decided to release what they consider to be the two most significant tracks from this release onto a 12” single, now for the enjoyment of all. The A-Side will feature the haunting ‘Wordless Songs’, a melancholic soulful number which according to Justine explores the “capacity to comprehend a partner’s internal quest for authenticity and connection”. The B-side ‘Mama Didn’t Tell Ya’ is more uplifting in both tempo and arrangements comprising an extended outro, while the lyrics remain just as personal and reflective.

Originally released as an obscure private-press LP by the Florida trio of Ben Champion, Ken Burkhart and Danny Burger.Special guest on this funky jazz outing is Mike Longo who says a few words on behalf of the group on the back cover, and sure enough he contributes scorching Rhodes in the style of his early 70s Greasy Groove sides for Groove Merchant and Mainstream. Also on board are Kelton Champion on guitar, Gary Champion on Bass, Mickey McGann on keys and David Winters on Congas and Percussion: (Just what we love to see on these kind of grooves. Added Phat Funkiness!)The 20 minute title number weaves, bobs, and scorches with a sound that has been described as a "Headhunters Headspace" the groove never dropping for an instant with a Fender Rhodes meets Hammond B3 Prestige Style Scene with an added flavouring of some chunky Moog Synthesizer.

The first officially licensed reissue for a previously white label-only slice of 1982 UK boogie funk, featuring the vocal talents of a then 19 year-old Caron Wheeler!La Famille were a group put together at the turn of the 1980s by seasoned reggae & jazz guitarist (and later band-member with the award-winning Jazz Jamaica) Alan Weekes. The band's main line-up consisted not only of a young Wheeler, but also a young Cleveland Watkiss - as well as the late Claudia Fontaine (who would go on to pair with Caron as Afrodiziak) & Roy Hamilton - with guitar, arrangement and production provided by Weekes.

Classic Brazilian soul funk from 1976 in the same vein as Tim Maia, Jorge Ben or Carlos Dafé’s recordings from that period. First time reissue.All four tracks are stunning and feature dramatic vocals, fat drum beats and sophisticated arrangements, following the tradition of the best funk music coming from the States in the ‘70s.

The second release on Canopy Records lifts off from where the last release touched down, inspired by the vintage Edo-funk and reggae-disco of General Ehi Duncan’s “Africa My No. 01”.Colombian based producer bosq re-joins long-time collaborator and vocalist, Kaleta, while also bringing in Ibibio Sound Machine who add their horn section & keys, followed by guitar, balafon and timbales, to deliver a special afro-funk-reggae-disco vibe.Loose and jammy, earthy and organic rhythms that bring a positive message and echo sun-kissed tropical lands. Light electronics complement the instruments, percussion and warm organic production.An Afro-funk electronic disco groove, vocal & percussive, with reggae-highlife touches and instrumental flourishes. Explosive horn arrangements go head to head with timbale breakdowns all transcended by soaring trumpet solos….Summery balafon melodies bounce among the joyous fretwork of Alfred “Kari” Bannerman's guitar, while Kaleta’s vocals sing a timeless message of peace.

Elia and Elizabeth Fleta were two Colombian sisters who briefly lit up their country’s music charts in the early 70s before disappearing, disenfranchised with the music industry, to pursue respective careers in teaching. This retrospective, compiling tracks from the two LPs they produced alongside ace arranger Jimmy Salcedo, suggests that the Latin music world lost a major talent with the change in vocation. While the lyrics are shot through with a wide-eyed naivety (Mis 32 Dientes – My 32 Teeth – is a song inspired by the number of gnashers Elia had), there’s assured songwriting and a sophisticated ear for melody at work on the breezy, whimsical bossa-inspired pop of Alegria, Soy Una Nube and La Gran Ciudad. Additionally, the Gal Costa-esque screams on Ponte Bajo El Sol suggest that a more fiery brand of music may have been just around the corner. Alas, it was not to be, but this fine collection makes a worthy celebration of prodigious talents and may just be the Latin discovery of the year.

For their next reissue, Parisian crew Discomatin picked one of the rarest and sought-after releases of the French Boogie scene, Lot'Vie / Y'a Du Blues by Marché Noir. The original 12" from 1984 gets a proper remastering and delivers its powerful mixture of Boogie, Jazz-Funk and West Indies influences. Two amazing titles finally reissued with a loud sound!Essential!!