Love Monk Spain At Juno Download

Review: A huge melting pot of global influences go into Ginferno's music, as seen on this follow up to their highly-praised, self-titled debut album. Black Keys-esque psych-funk is handsomely on display on "Madagascar & The Circle of Lemurs", while "Caspian Love Boat Number 9" oozes a mix of mariachi swing and '50s rockabilly cool. Tight, funky and more exciting than a box of firecrackers, Ginferno's freak beat rhythms and Latin brass work a treat across all ten tracks of this very impressive follow-up.

Review: Reprising their "With All Due Respect" album with four sparkling new remixes, Incarnations strike again with this excellent remix EP. Lexx transforms "Let Love Find You" into a deep, emotional, James Blake/The Weeknd-style collision of ghostly beats and emotional vocals. Space Ranger cranks out a delicious electro-boogie rework of "Hindi Ko Alam", while deep disco masters Frisvold & Lindbaek style "Sunset On Punta Paloma" into a Lindstrom-esque jam. An accomplished and rewarding release indeed.

Review: Four years on from his last album, Chandalismo Ilustrado, Latin nu-jazz star Gecko Turner's brand new single gets a sparkling remix package from the Love Monk label. "Amame, Mamame" gets softened into a slow Tex-Mex funk by Blundetto, who embellishes the guitar-driven grooves with touches of mallet percussion, and of course, Turner's languid, Tom Waits-like vocals. Another new tune, "When I Woke Up", gets a more beat-led remix by Ezei, who loops up some jazzy Rhodes chords over some sparkling, half-step drums and dubby brass hits that float through this hugely impressive mix.

Review: Spanish group Pajaro Sunrise are best known for their gentle acoustica and pastoral song craft, but on this latest release from their label Lovemonk, they've been transformed by a quartet of remixers. Highlights include Damian Schwartz' remake of "Ribbon" , with a crisp 808 beat put right at the heart of the delicate guitar textures, while the flamenco of "Old Goodbyes" is put through an echo chamber and turned into a tear-inducing beauty by Charles Trees. Unusually varied stuff but a real delight that definitely demands listening from nu-soul and broken beat fans.

Review: A Brighton-bred, Madrid-based funkateer with talent in abundance, Chip Wickham drops another pair of jewels on this new double-track release on Lovemonk. "Hit And Run" mixes Cuban rhythms with '70s funk sounds, such as a furious flute solo (in the vein of Johnny Harris' seminal "Stepping Stones") and a galloping cowbell. On the flip, "Apache" (not the Shadows/Incredible Bongo Band jam), features some precision, Bob James-esque Rhodes alongside a raucous carnival beat and huge swathes of brass strains. A Nuyorican treat, and a must for Latin funk fans.

Review: Ghent's K'Bonus has been a busy man of late - either as part of Boohgaloo Zoo (alongside U-Gene) or dropping excellent disco jams such as the Buckle Up EP from last year, which boasted a very healthy Tom Trago mix to boot. Here, he recruits Bruno Coussee to supply vocals and some effortlessly funky bass on "Shed My Soul", which channels Harvey Mason, Chic and Change brilliantly. "Turning Point" sees K'B slow things down a little for a warm, slo-mo disco sound that features rising wah-wah chords and sun-kissed percussion. Fellow Ghent-dweller One Man Party (also known as Soulwax drummer Steve Slingeneyer) tightens up "Shed My Soul" on the remix vibe, giving it a driving motorik beat as well as dubby, cosmic touches, while Negghead reworks the same tune into a straight-up house bomb, complete with an epic arrangement and jacking hats.

Review: Hailing from San Sebastian in the north of Spain, Makala is dedicated to solely supplying goodtimes on this second LP, which compiles singles released on Lovemonk dating back from 2009 as well as a host of newies. From the buck-dance rhythm of "Cartoon Time", via the crazed samba of "Parta La Tabia", to the pumped-up Latin swing of "Menei To Magistrai", it's impossible not to get sucked in by the cut 'n' paste swing of Makala's work. There's even some excursions into housey territory on tunes like the self-descriptive "Ska Con Boogaloo" or "Vamos A Comer".

Review: Catalonian Latin jazz/funk combo Banda Achilifunk & Original Jazz Orquestra Taller De Musics (try saying that after a few too many bottles of San Miguel) have previously released a variety of oddball, rumba-influenced live grooves on Love Monk. Largely self-penned, they found an audience amongst the funk and jazz heads keen on new Latin-influenced sounds. Here, they change tack, laying down authentic rumba-centric versions of disco classics "I Believe In Miracles" and "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" - both sung, naturally, in Spanish. While it's novel, neither could be described as 'novelty' thanks to the superb playing and brilliantly summery vibe throughout.

Review: Following a trio of fine singles for Spain's Lovemonk imprint, German trio Space Ranger drop their first full length - a pleasing hotch potch of 21st century disco-funk, thick-set disco-leaning house and high quality nu-disco. Alongside a slew of previously released cuts and remixes ("Nightmoves", the wobbly funk of "Galactic Spice" and "Phase Fever", superior rubs from the Revenge, Rayko and Ajello), there's enough new material to interest even the most dedicated of fan boys. The midtempo lovelorn nu-Balearica of "Plastic Romance", featuring a tired and emotional vocal from Captain K, stands out, but the hypnotic galactic house of "Music" isn't far behind. Interstellar stuff!

Review: A very fabulous single from three men who have previously been part of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, Embassy Sound Productions and Kings Of Convenience, Incarnations' "Make You Mine" will instantly remind of Santa Esmerelda, 10CC and all manner of Yacht Rock-esque goodness with its soft Balearic percussion and jammed-out guitars. It comes with some fantastic remixes too - Bing (aka band-member Quinn Luke) goes for a full-on sun kissed house odyssey on his mix, while Jazzanova's Alex Barck and percussion don Christian Prommer go for a deep extension. The favourite though is Sunday Best wunderkind Fear Of Theydon's dub: slow, with a slightly ghostly atmosphere, it really builds into a funky nugget with some spectacular Moog work worthy of the Ohio Players in there too.

Review: For his latest intergalactic adventure, Space Ranger joins forces with vocalist Capt K. In its original form, "Nightmoves" is a faithfully groovesome chunk of live disco-boogie - all delicious walking basslines, chunky clavinet chords, supersonic synth washes and hooky vocals. As good as it is, it's the remixes that really stand out - particularly Pional's two weighty versions. He strips back the track to its bare elements, wisely allowing the percussion, echo-laden synths and squeezable ARP bass room to breathe. His vocal version is excellent, but the dub's even better. Look out, too, for a solid nu-disco take from Blacklodge (AKA Alphabet City).

Review: The opening track from his latest album Temporada De Conejos, Buscaglia's "Juala De Motos" is a truly wonderful thing - a laidback, soulful example of candombe-funk delivered in his native Uruguayan, the live-band feel really recalls greats like Shuggie Otis or Sly & The Family Stone, or Beck in his Tropicalia phase. "Cortocircuito" is just as effortlessly funky, recalling the quirky Os Mutantes with his playful delivery.

Review: Four delicious slices of club-friendly Latin broken beat fun from Makala, no stranger to bouncy funk as anyone exposed to his "Cartoon Tune" or "Partio la Tabla" tunes will testify. "Ska Con Boogaloo" is a fresh and brassy opener, complete with layers of female vocals that give way to some jazzy marimba soloing. "Maquina De Amor" rides a cowbell on the 1 and carries some equally funky Cuban vocals. Even more unexpectedly, "Menei To Magistral" features a solo from a treated slide-whistle that's just about as unique a sound as you can possibly imagine!

Review: A side-project from some of the members of excellent Spanish funk band Speak Low, the Gigoletto Brass Band have come together to release two vibrant and lush songs on this excellent single. "Boogalow" is a delight, a live and organic sway through some classic mamba and boogaloo rhythms with a healthy helping of brass on top. "Africa Con Bajo" has a more 70s funk feel, with some riveting key changes and a quirky rhythm to really make it stand out.

Review: Few things around at the moment come close to sounding as funky as this new album from Uruguayan singer and songwriter Martin Buscaglia. Full of live instruments and Buscaglia's soulful Spanish vocals, this will be a real revelation for anyone who appreciates everything from Prince to Gilberto Gil. Opener Jaula De Motos is relaxed yet uptight, with guitar chords riffing on the famous "chanking" rhythms of James Brown's pioneering guitarist Jimmy Nolen. There's so much glorious variety on this album that it's almost impossible to categorise it, but it's a real treat from start to end and definitely deserves to be given some serious listening time. It'll prove a thoroughly worthwhile investment.

Review: German trio Space Ranger blast off with a four tracker of wonderfully futuristic, yet classic sounding disco house. Out on Love Monk, the "Star Wash" EP comes in the form of three original productions with one remix by the Revenge.

Space Ranger are a Stuttgart based trio who are all individually very experienced. Amongst them, in careers spanning from the late eighties and early nineties they have remixed for the likes of Kool & The Gang, The Sugababes and Kurtis Blow. However, now the three embark on a collaborative project as Space Ranger, pulling together from the depths of their own experiences and the music they love - whether it be disco, soul, funk or house. The "Star Wash" EP signals the start of the Space Ranger era of their lives with a sonic boom.

"Herbal Cake" opens the release in a contented and danceable mood. A charmingly chugging disco house track, it yo-yos up and down throughout without ever really losing its momentum. A grungey bassline and hooky string chops add a classic feel, making it perfect for the dance hall. The Revenge turns in a devastatingly subtle remix of the same track next up. By simply pumping a 4/4 over the track, he turns it into a more modern day, driving house tune that still shimmers its disco influence at every opportunity. "Galactic Spice" is a slower, sleazy, boogie-funk styled grinder that plods along in its own spacey style before "Phase Fever" finishes things off with a slice of disco funk. Slowly building its way up, the final track unleashes all measures of funk, house and disco into one all mighty, ass shaking number.

An accomplished debut from a newly formed trio who bring their wealth of previous experience to their collective table. Space Ranger look back to the music of the past to help propel themselves into their vision of a funky future.