Review: Greece's Timewarp delivers Croatian producer Vladimir Sivc aka Funky Destination his sixth studio album, and it burns! Combining live instrumentation with his sampled-based style, FD dials up some downbeat tempos and dubbed-out horns in tracks like "Deep Into Brasil" to some undeniable hand percussion and jazz funk in "B.Disco Express". On a western tip find cowboy ballads and sunsets themes in "The Last Cotton Field Song" (think Django Unchained) alongside the Chicagoan blues and Hendrix rock 'n' roll of "I Was A Rolling Stone". Some further streetsmart funk in "Mountain To Sing" next to the broken beats of "Back To Philly" and some sassy, disco flex in "Sistas Of Mercy". For that soulful, upbeat and hip hop vibe it's all about the title track: "Roots People".
Review: For two whole decades now, New Orleans street music ensemble Hot 8 Brass Band have redefined people's ideas of what a brass band can be. Now to mark their 20th anniversary they're releasing 'best of' compilation, Vincennial. There are 11 of their most loved funked-up, hip-hopped jazzy covers including "Whats My Name", "Sexual Healing" and "Just My Imagination". The perfect introduction to a unique band.
