Review: This is the debut single by The Boogie Man, the North London 'project' of Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel, previously of Los Charly's Orchestra. Their aim is to 'embrace the legacy of the Boogie Funk...blending with the London touch' and that, they do with a lot of panache. "When The Funk Rains Down" is a slice of raw, unadulterated '70s style boogie with excellent trumpets. Lowrider also steps up to deliver his discofied version; a cheeky, claps 'n' cowbells jam.
Review: Venezuela's Juan Laya and London's Jorge Montiel only put out their first 'Electropical' collection of Latin-infused jazz, funk and disco grooves last year and now here we are, up to Part 3 already! Across the EP's seven tracks, the pair - also known collectively as Los Charly's Orchestra - explore various musical pastures from the upbeat and summery ('Sexmachina', the Club Mix of 'Spacial Paradise') to the more contemplative and cinematic ('Kalimba Variations', 'San Juan' feat Grupo Madera), ending on an African-inspired note with the Afro-Funk Mix of 'Spacial Paradise'). Will no doubt be big for the likes of Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff and Snowboy.
The Boogie Is Back (instrumental) - (4:21) 113 BPM
The Boogie Is Back (extended dub edit) - (6:18) 113 BPM
Review: One listen to The Boogie Is Back and you'll find it hard to argue with Juan Laya and pal Jorge Montiel. The song is a pure homage to the vintage days of classic boogie, with a repetitive bassline, tight guitar licks and electro tom pings in the style of artists like Cheryl Lynn. The icing on the cake is the classically soulful vocals of Mikie Blak, and essential release indeed.
Review: Two members of excellent Latin funk band Los Charly's Orchestra, namely Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel, get it together on this upfront Northern Soul smash featuring the husky ones of Cathy Edgar. Built around raw beats, jazzy piano riffs and steadily-building brass, they nail the spirits of Lyn Collins, Vicki Anderson and the wider JB's family here perfectly for this summery soul stomper that comes with a handy instrumental and an epic six minute extended version.
Review: Juan Laya and Jorge Montiel team up for this killer jam on Imagenes. "Funk Supreme" instantly evokes the memory of Herbia Hancock's finest work, with swirling organ stabs, layered percussion and a nice funk'd up bassline. The 'heavy breaks club mix' of the same track is the Juno favourite, with the speaker cone worrying drum break brought to the fore in wonderful fashion!
Review: Los Charly's Orchestra (aka London/Venezuela production duo Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel) have been busying themselves for a few months now: toiling away at various styles in a darkened room somewhere before finally resurfacing with "Everlasting Love". The song betrays their well known affection for Salsoul and ahem, Jamiroquai, with sizzling female vocals married to a dynamic and elasticised live bassline - coming across like an immaculately produced lost '70s disco-funk classic in the process.
