Just Can’t Win
Official Truth & Soul release feat. the Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band’s re-version of Lee Fields “Just Can’t Win”.
“Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band lend their unique blend of steel drum melody and pounding drums to Lee’s unmistakeable raspy tone giving the tune an upbeat sunshiney vibe.”
OUT OF PRINT
Bacao Suave b/w Round and Round
“Plane Jane Records is proud to present The Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band’s newest 45 release. The BRSB made a ton of noise with their cult classic cover of 50 Cent’s “PIMP” a few years back, most people thinking that it was the original tune 50 sampled from. This time they take the Steel Drum Funk sound to a deeper part of Hip Hop with their own rendition on the late great J Dilla’s classic tune “Rico Suave”. The A Side is “Bacao Suave”, a surefire version of the tune, and you know we like versions. DJs, have a great time. The B Side is their rendition of the underground classic “Round & Round” from Hi Tek’s Hi-Teknology album. An absolutely killer version of the tune, drums are heavy, steel pans playing thru the melodies, sure to turn heads on the dance floor.”
It’s The Music Part 1 b/w Part 2
The stunning collabo between the Mighty Mocambos and hiphop-legend Afrika Bambaataa goes into the 2nd round. For the joy of all b-girls and b-boys, the Godfather of Hip-Hop and today’s best heavy funk band present their banging new anthem. ‘It’s The Music’ brings the sound of early hiphop livebands into present time, with the Mocambos showcasing their skills on a discofied breakdance beat, only topped by the vocal authorities of the Amen-Ra Of Universal Hip-Hop Culture and fellow Zulu Nation members Charlie Funk (aka Afrika Islam), Hektek and Deejay Snoop, the latter providing a trademark talkbox feature. The flip side contains an exclusive instrumental ready to smash dancefloors on its own.
Who You Do b/w Rollin’
Armed with a voice “you just need to hear” (BBC London) and an irresistible blend of snaps, claps, and golden trumpet peals, Tara Priya combines vintage soul, poetic lyrics, and a dash of pop to provide relief from today’s Auto-Tune avalanche. Sweet and sour, lovely and lovelorn, her story is as distinctive as her sound. “Sass’n’soul, little bitta Go-Go”, says the San-Francisco-native about her music.
Things moved fast ever since Tara’s first album on Japanese P-Vine Records was released in 2012 and made #2 on itunes charts. Tara moved to London recently and recorded new material with award-winning producer Steve Booker (responsible for Duffy’s worldwide smash hit ‘Mercy’ and well-known for his work with John Newman, Lisa Marie Presley, Jamie Cullom, among others). “Who You Do” not only shows expertise in production that we haven’t heard a while, the post-break-up song also gives way for Tara’s distinctive voice and attitude. Both “Who You Do” and the second A-side “Rollin’ (off her first album) now see their first, well-deserved limited edition vinyl release. The video for “Who You Do” has already passed the million mark on youtube, so get your copy quick. Ltd. edition.
“Fantastic, timeless” – City Beat
“The epitome of ‘sassy’ … Tara was a hit down at this year’s SWSW- and with tunes as good as this, there’s no wonder. ‘Who You Do’ is one of the most empowered post-break up songs we’ve heard of late and we’ve not got it out of our heads. With over 800,000 hits racked up on YouTube it would seem we’re not the only ones to dig it…” – Huffington Post
“Tara Priya rises above with this refreshing soulful sound. The music reflects the retro Motown sounds of the 60?s, while still being current and relative. Her powerful voice and catchy tunes will leave you wanting more.” – MostlyJunkFood.com
“Punchy, sass-laden retro soul” – Time Out Tokyo
“A voice you need to hear!” – BBC London
“Summer pop hit!” – Time Magazine
“While Tara has attracted much attention as a talent following in the footsteps of Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Duffy, she’s an extremely catchy songwriter with a smoky voice–full of soul without being overly bright–that’s all her own. Her debut release has an exquisite sweetness and is a mix of good ‘ole vintage soul and modern pop” – MSN Entertainment (Japan)
“This lady has soul! Tara Priya describes this track as ‘retro’ – which kind of explains its familiar sound – yet it still holds its own as regards to being unique.” – BBC 6Music
Call It What You Want b/w The Oligarch
Ephemerals are a London based soul team featuring an allstar cast of musicians, founded and lead by producer Hillman Mondegreen (formerly of Hannah Wailliams & the Tastemakers). They are fronted by NYC-born singer Wolfgang Valbrun. Within only a couple of days, they recorded a stunning selection of songs to analogue tape that many critics dubbed as ‘the best contemporary soul production’ this side of the atlantic. The A-side ‘Call It What You Want’ is built around Valbrun’s sincere vocals and a sinister soul groove that sounds like a lost Wu-Tang sample, the flip side “The Oligarch” showcases the band, letting loose on an organ- and horn-driven instrumental.
You Got A Tiger? b/w Does The Tiger Got You?
The Brothers Nylon is a transatlantic allstar project set out to make musical adventures. Mike and Nick Rufolo (from NY) collaborate with legendary producer Shawn Lee and Mighty Mocambos’ trombonist BGS (from LON) to create “cinematic type tuneage with the freedom to overdub whatever you want” – tracks were served up hot and fresh off the reel to reel, digitized, and sent across the pond. This tiger funk single features two edits of one musical suite, exclusive on this vinyl 45.
Michael Rufolo- drums, bongos, tambourine, vocals
Nick Rufolo – bass, guitars, Roland Juno 6 synthesizer, strings, melodica, sitar
Shawn Lee – Yamaha CS5 synthesizer, cabasa, quijada, metal mercussion, Suzuki Unisynth, mouth percussion, vocals, xylophone, glockenspiel, magic bull horn, marimba
BGS – trombones
Matt Boose – trumpet
Reaction Psychotique – Same Old Story b/w Drunken Master – What A Day!
Mocambo Records’ funk journey around the world continues – next stop is St. Petersburg, Russia. The Great Revivers deliver a sharp mod funk sound, created on authentic instruments from the days of the iron curtain such as the East-German-made Vermona organ. Their debut EP contains four groovy, library-inspired instrumentals with a rhythm aimed at the dancefloor – recorded the old school way with a modern and universal mindset. Limited edition featuring St. Petersburg skyline on label.
EN ROUTE
Release date: 22.4.2013
‘En Route’ is the stunning debut album of young soulful French chanteuse Caroline Lacaze!
The mixture on “En Route” is eclectic: nonchalant 60s beat, mysterious psych-pop, raucous funk and longing French chanson, all combined and held together with the energetic raw soul sound and the skillful ‘mise-en-scene’ by the Mocambo Electric Sound Orchestra.
Whether the mood is uplifting (“En Route Madame”), mysteriously sexy (“Minutes D’Insousciance”), melancholic (“Ici”), joyful (“Laisse Tomber”), sombre (“Je Reste”) or a shift up a gear from mere retro with a hot-rodded take on the Serge-Gainsbourg-penned Brigitte-Bardot-classic “Harley Davidson” from the swinging 60s, Caroline sings it with passion, energy and sincerity that is rarely heard of today.
Caroline Lacaze’s songs capture all the facets of an exciting voyage, the joy and pain of being away from home, leaping straight forward – with an occasional look in the rear-view mirror.
“The mixture of French singing and raw soul really works by gad. A match made in heaven.”
Emrys Baird, Blues & Soul Magazine, UK
“What a lovely piece of funk magic – that’s how soul in 2013 should sound like. Cool, powerful and with a twist.” Michael Arens, Soultrainonline, Germany
“The French vocals provide a refreshing perspective and a nice touch…super-impressive backing” Imran Mirza, The Blue-in-Green-Blog
“A talent that is undeniable”
Colorising, Colorising.com Blog
“The French language vocals give it a feel unlike most new funk we’ve heard lately. Caroline’s got a greatly soulful voice”
Dusty Groove, Chicago, USA
“Caroline Lacaze records French retro soul that’s crunchy, deep, funky and growingly addictive!”
Julien Lakshmanan, Paris DJs
“Super cool release from the Mocambo lads. Loving their trademark heavy heavy grooves nicely topped with those so slinky tones from the French talent that is Caroline Lacaze.”
Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, BBC 6MUSIC
“Funk? Soul? Mod? Hard to categorize, but simply amazing what Miss Lacaze and the Mocambos deliver with `En Route´.”
Tobias Kirmayer, Tramp Records
“Solid french pop with an attitude – made in Germany! Caroline Lacaze’s voice switches easy from heavy sixties-tingend psyche soul to uptempo yéyé sound. Backed by the Mocambos under their new moniker Mocambo Electric Sound Orchestra nothing can go wrong. Their sample-friendly pounding drumsound is pure delight! Love it!”
Oliver Korthals, Mojo Club
Physique b/w A Brighter Darkness
The title ‘Physique’ featuring French soul singer Caroline Lacaze was one of the stand-out tunes of the Mighty Mocambos album ‘The Future Is Here’ and a primetime club favourite for the Tramp Records crew. It was only a matter of time when this gem of French Funk would see the light as a 45 release. We gladly gave Tobias Kirmayer permission to release it on his exquisite label. On the flipside is the sinister downtempo soul instrumental ‘A Brighter Darkness’, also from the album ‘The Future is Here’, making this the 5th (!) and final 7″ release off the album. Both tracks come remastered for this 45.
L’Étrange b/w instrumental
Young French singer Caroline Lacaze – who debuted on the Mighty Mocambos’ album “The Future is Here” and became a regular feature on the subsequent tour throughout Europe – now steps further into the spotlight with an adventurous new 45 of her own. ‘L’Étrange’ effortlessly blends raw soul with captivating French vocals, heavy funk drums and a mystic psychedelic vibe. Features an extended instrumental on the flip side.