The Fantastics! [2021] - Take A Shot [BBE]

UK soul/funk band The Fantastics! (formerly known as Reverend Cleatus & The Soul Saviours) were founded in 2003 and have garnered support from UK radio heavyweights such as Robert Elms, Mark Lamarr, Pete Young, Bob James and Craig Charles.

They released their latest, and third,  album "Take A Shot" on Friday (25 Jun 2021). The title track was released as a single last year featuring Bradford's Sulene Fleming who has also sung with Incognito and The Brand New Heavies.

Their sound I guess you'd describe as retro jazz/funk which utilises heavy brass, hammond organ and phat basslines on a couple of tracks. It's 60/40 instrumental/vocal, with all vocal tracks featuring Sulene Fleming. The most soulful of the batch is "Say You Will". The album also includes their last sistah funk single "Hey Mister!" from Feb 2021

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Funk / Jazz Funk
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	BBE
Cat No:	None
Year:	25/06/2021
Value:	£7.99

Rob Hardt & Ferry Ultra Feat. Sharon Phillips [2021] - If Walls Could Speak [Peppermint Jam Records #PF250]

I've heard this played a few times over the last few days and it is superb. I've since discovered that it is from a forthcoming EP "Peppermint Funk Jams" by Peppermint Jam Records owned by Mousse T (Mustafa Gundogdu) the man behind the 1998 hit "Horny". The six track EP is due for release on 2 Jul 2021.

It's a modern soul tune with a funky edge with the vocals of Sharon Phillips from Tobago.

I managed to track down samples of the EP on SoundCloud. There's also an interesting Rob Hardt reworking of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing".

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PEPPERMINT JAM · Various Artist - Funk Jams (PJ250)

Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Funk
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Peppermint Jam Records
Cat No:	PF250
Year:	02/07/2021
Value:	£?

Dark Roast [2021] - Going Back, Moving Up! [Jazzland Recordings] (Full Album)

Only yesterday I posted a couple of singles from the new album, "Going Back, Moving Up!", from Norwegian blue-eyed funk band Dark Roast from Oslo ... more Scandinavian Soul!. 

The album was released today (28 May 2021) and having perhaps been a bit uncharitable about the neo Northern Soul track "Shades Hiding Sharp Eyes", this is not a bad album at all. 

It's predominantly new funk reminiscent of Jamiroquai. There's a few short funky instrumental interludes, "Dark Roast Theme", "Spacetalk" and "Eva". A couple of Northern Soul influenced tracks, the aforementioned "Shades Hiding Sharp Eyes" and 'Wait for You", but don't be fooled by the title of "Northern Disco Lights" as it's funky.

The highlight of the album, for me, is "Running Away" which is a mid-tempo, crossover style dancer with a retro feel and the most soulful track on the album.

Please refer to previous post for two videos of the singles.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jazzland Recordings
Cat No:	None
Year:	28/05/2021
Value:	£7.99

Dark Roast [2021] - Dark Shades Hiding Sharp Eyes / Stuff I Need To Say [Jazzland Recordings]

This one will make the purists wince, but it does have all the right ingredients but, as Eric Morecombe would have said, 'not necessarily in the right order!

Neo Northern Soul from Oslo, which to my ears is let down by the blue-eyed vocals, not that they are bad, they just aren't soulful, which transforms it into a pop tune. The 'wally' dancing in the video doesn't help it's cause either, which I assume are supposed to be 'tongue in cheek' as it's 'dad dancing' by youngsters, otherwise it just reinforces the stereotype that 'White Men Can't Dance'!

They have a new album (their second) "Going Back, Moving Up!" dropping tomorrow (28 May 2021) and have released a video for one of the tracks from it "Stuff I Need To Say". It's more of a funky track which reminds me a bit of Jamiroquai.

"Dark Shades Hiding Sharp Eyes" appears to be the lead single from the album.

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Details

Rating:	7
Genre/Style:	Neo Northern Soul / Neo Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Jazzland Recordings
Cat No:	None
Year:	07/05/2021
Key/BPM:	5A/141 / 2A/156
Value:	£1

Close Counters [2021] - Flux [Self Released] (Full EP)

A new 4 track EP 'Flux' from Close Counters (released 26 Mar 2021) who are Finn Rees & Allan McConnell from Melbourne, Australia. I guess I'd describe it as neo boogie funk/disco.

The first two tracks are vocals featuring Jaydean on the first and Allysha Joy on the second, the last two tracks are funky instrumentals, 'Feel It' being quite a heavy funk, bass driven, track.

'Something In My Drink' has also been released as a single on the same day.

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Something In My Drink Feat. Jaydean

Speak The Truth Feat. Allysha Joy

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	26/03/2021
Key:	3B / 1B / 4A / 3B
BPM:	122 / 129 / 120 / 123
Value:	£1.79

Otis Kane [2021] - Run [Self Released]

Having just posted a new video of his last release 'Sweet Sensation' (from 23 Mar) earlier this week, Otis Kane released his new single 'Run' on 6 Apr 2021.

It's got a funky rhythm, sounding a bit like a 70s Blaxploitation track.

He's planning to release a debut album this summer.

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Details

Rating:	7.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	06/04/2021
Key:	9B
BPM:	169/85
Value:	£1