Review: Scotty Marz and Erin Paul's Discobeta project hits party pay-dirt with this spotless four-track sample session. There's a slick rock vibe running through "Up & Coming" as we experience swashbuckling organic breakbeats and even bolder guitar riffs before we head deep into a groaning bass session on "NasT Anthem". Further on "Worthwhile" flips the flavour with a glitchy-disco lick complete with a mild peppering from Jay-Z while "Yo Hit It" gets busy on the classic funk tip, all horns, salubrious slap bass and sopping wet wah-wah guitars, it's the perfect way to end an accomplished EP.
Review: It's 80s time! Eat your Filofaxes. Buy low. Sell high. Have rubbish hair! Or... Just get your funky selves down on this retro-funky four piece. Spanish soundclowns Itchy Bastards give EU's "Doing Da Butt" a raw rub, ensuring not to take any of its authentic timely class. Morlack, meanwhile, takes what sounds like a Paula Abdul snippet and blends it with every shade of block party on "Give It Here" and gets cosmic with on well known vocal from "Let No Man Put Asunder" on "Monie 2009". Finally Itchy Bastards finish the show with some lovely glockenspiel action. Naturally.
Review: We all know his name. And by now we should all know what he sounds like, too... Morlack has been blazing the nu funk, bass and bootleg scene with creativity and stacks of long players for a good half decade now. This latest set comprises 14 of his genre-melting dancefloor devices; from the Kravitz dancehall facelift "Boss Like Me" to the slap-bass strutting, percussion heavy 80s rap homages "For The Brothers In The Ghetto" and "Problems Generator" each cut is primed for unashamed party fun. Elsewhere there's a 90s ghetto twist on the Tower Of Power-twisting "Movin' On The Dumb Stuff" while another highlight "Back It On" sees Beenie Man getting the funkiest version of his illustrious life. Not a dull moment throughout, Morlack keeps killing it. Get to know.
Review: Every now and then the outre space-glam '80s outfits in Morlack's wardrobe start to beckon and before you know it he's rustled up another fine collection dedicated to his love of Go-Go, the cult proto hip-hop sound that emanated from Washington DC. If you're unfamiliar with this style, you can look to the Fresh Prince theme to get an idea (albeit a watered down version). For the real deal though check out the 13 raw cuts here that boast those signature rolling electro drums, funk samples and carefully layered acapelllas from the likes of King Tee and Chuck Brown.
Review: Just like his previous EP a few months back on Breakbeat Paradise, Morlack ticks every single party box possible across five tracks here. Kicking off with his darkest moment to date, "Ghetto Messiah" is a vicious Bassnectar flavoured rub of Fugee's "Rumble In The Jungle. Meanwhile "Get Twisted" flips the switch completely with a fair tale nu-funk jam that utilises DMX's "X Gonna Give It To Ya" to a booty-shaking excess. Elsewhere we find Big Daddy Kane going disco ("Dogzone V3") and Nas, Kanye and KRS-One getting lively on a the fattest p-funk groove this side of the Weight Watchers clinic ("Get A Lil' Stupid").
Review: Go-Go was a strain of US hip-hop that hit peak popularity in the mid to late 80s...unless you are re-edit hero Morlack who has never let go (go). Good To Go-Go Vol IV features seven of the kind of tunes that saw the style quickly evolve into themes for TV shows like Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and The Cosby Show (season eight FYI). Highlights include the quirky funk of the cruel-to-be-kind "Wind It On Ugly", the raw throated Busta Rhymes bounce of "Love 2 Fire" and the DX synth bass twangs of smooth soul jam, "She's A Bad Girl".
Review: Following up his original "Good To Go-Go" volume late last year, French funk shuffler Morlack unleashes his ghetto ghouls with this super heavyweight five pack. Both "Say Nope 2Dope" and "Wickedest Band Alive" swagger with block-rocking boogie funk flavour, referencing the likes of Rare Essence and Sugar Hill. Elsewhere we're seduced by Prince-level synth flashes on "Go-Go Queen", we're massaged by '80s synths on "Take Some Bitches" and get all p-funk on "You Know What's Up". Consistently heavy and utterly funky, Morlack's funk message is loud and clear right now.
Review: Morlack's a dark horse! Having emerged in the last 18 months with a selection of ace floor-shattering singles on Breakbeat Paradise, Big M and Funk Blasters, he's not so once as hinted at a full-length album. Yet here it is; and it sounds as if it's been in our collections forever. Operating with a slithering, low-swung vibe there's heavy emphasis on bold hip-hop breaks, sopping wet basslines and well crafted hip-hop vocals from the likes of ODB, Bootsy Collins, Public Enemy and many many more. As the album progresses we shimmy from cheeky b-boy to raw funk ("Bizz") to 80s electro boogie pop ("Yabba Bridge") to decadent synth-driven proto-house ("I'm Too Sexy"). From mischievous funk flinger to full album artist, Morlack's taking names right now.
Review: Re-edit maestro Morlack went AWOL for a while, with reported sightings of him partying with Trotter in as far away locations as Brazilian jungles coming in thick and fast. Well wherever he disappeared to this producer is back and he's brandishing a new album to boot! Beautiful Mistakes features 13 new jams, all of which are guaranteed to get you moving in one direction or other. Highlights include the lively jump up Egyptian DnB of "Belly Pyramid", the smooth 80s soul grind of the title track and the glistening electro-funk grooves of "Nightlife". Back in business!
Review: Morlack comes correct once again with a 27-track collection of total funk blasts. Naughty booties, reversions and mash-ups galore, the eclectic vibe ranges from skippy hair-swishing party rock ("Funky Woman") to cheeky Ting Tings reversions ("Hang It Up") via crazy blends of Zeppelin, Black Box and Outkast ("Ride On A Whole Lotta Love"). Elsewhere we hit gems like the big disco string B.M.W sucker punch "Get A Lil Stupid" and Bowie-busting block party slammer "Triple Fame". Morlack's repertoire was already bulging before this - now it's just ridiculous. Easily one of the best masters of the illicit art of mashery.
Review: It's been a very exciting 2019 for Morlack, who continues his run of top quality releases by teaming up here with the ever-ready Funk Blasters team for the third edition of 'Cheeky Edits'. We kick off with the classy sample work and pulsating drum pressure of 'Rumba', before moving into the spaced out percussive structures of 'Momie' and latin-inspired arrangements of 'El Ray'. Next, 'Masta Rocka' arrives with a real punchy drumline, before the the almost 80's sounding compositional layout of 'Da Bird' rounds us off with a bang.
Review: Well, it's most certainly hit the time to get funky as we take a stroll through this high energy collection of breakbeat chops from Morlack, who lands on the Funk Blasters imprint with fantastic results. We are treated to some absolute sauce buckets on this one, from the irresistible melodic grooves of 'U R The Rap Machine' to the old school vocal sampling of 'Family Anime' and gritty bass work on 'Movin' Alright'.Following this, the high energy bassline movements and hard hitting drums of 'Get Down' certainly strike a chord, with the EP rounding off well on the smooth vocal lines of 'Crazy Wig'.
Review: Breakbeat is most definitely back on the up this year, and it is primarily down to the sheer consistency of artists such as Morlack who tireless push forward with new projects on such a regular basis. This latest album episode goes by the name of 'Bluff' and encapsulates everything we love about Morlack's sound, from the stunning instrumental sampling and punchy drum work of 'Colibri Shine' to the dipping grooves of 'Sex Me'. For us, the highlights here have to include both the excellent vocal slicing of '2Be In Family', and of course the horn-heavy riffs of the title track 'Bluff'. Excellent stuff from the breakbeat mastermind!
Review: As one of the leading Parisian future breakbeat masters, Morlack makes a return to Funk Blasters for a super groovy four track project by the name of 'Good To Go Go Vol. 5'. Right from the off we are greeted with super crunchy drum patterns on 'Woody's Groove' and 'Go Go Bart', both of which combine these arrangements with very catchy funk riffs. On 'Got My Eyes On You' the funk levels increase as smooth vocal samples roll into play alongside vibrant bass melodies. With 'Hey Buddy' we are thrown a super curveball as we delve into more latin rhythms and carnival themes before we finish the EP nicely with the crafty yet soulful design on 'Let Me See You Go Go'.
Review: What do we have here then? Well Morlack's decided to compile the perfect (digital) stocking filler here, with the 33 tracks bumper compilation Essential Blasters on his mighty Funk Blasters label. Essentially we get many tracks from a small pool of artists, but that's cool because it's literally chocker with party anthems, all perfect for the festive season. Highlights include the brassy, go-go stomp of Morlack's "Put It Out", the raw breaky funk of "Lemme Talk" by Itchy Bastards and the 4/4 rockabilly swagger of "Elephant Boogie" by Mondo Exotica.
