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indepth
Ananda Shankar
Sa-Re-Ga Machan CD
 
Fallout
format: CD

lab price: $16.50
available: restocking
item #: cd-2426

 quick audio picks:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
This is a reissue of Ananda Shankar's 1981 album which until this point was only available as a highly sought-after India-only release. If you liked the mixture of Indian textures and the breakthrough funk-rock moments on Shankar's classic "And His Music"...   expand review  album, this is a straight continuation. The album begins with the epic, 10 minute "Sa-Ra-Ga Machan(1)" which goes through several abstract movements before hitting the funk at the 6:20 mark. "Jungle King(2)" is the centerpiece for dusty heads, it starts off innocently, but transforms into a monster psyche jam with an uptempo percussion tail. Also checkout the demented, downtempo-ish "Monkey's Tea Party(3)" and the Indian surf rock sounds of "Charging Tiger(4)." This reissue also includes 4 bonus tracks from Ananda's even-rarer India Remembers Elvis EP, which was released in 1978 to commemorate the death of the King. These songs are kitschy covers of Elvis classics like the a deliciously mellow version of "Can't Help Falling In Love(5)" and a rumbling take on "His Latest Flame(6)." 14 tracks in all. -the mgmnt
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indepth
Funky Music Machine
Let Me Be Your Man CD
 
Truth & Soul
format: CD

lab price: $14.00
available: yes
item #: cd-2444

 quick audio picks:  1 2 3 4 5 6
Sammy Campbell (aka Tyrone Ashley) and Funky Music Machine never managed to release more than a debut single during their heyday, but Truth & Soul has been quietly remedying that over the last few years. First there were a couple well-received 45s...   expand review  ("Gotta Clean Up The World," Parts 1(1) and 2(2)), and now we get this - a full-length collection of tracks unearthed from Campbell's Record Hut studio. It's perfect that this should finally come out on Truth & Soul, since it has so many of the vintage sonic hallmarks that they seem to emulate - this is true soul, at times both warm and gritty, and always very funky. Check the elastic bass and driving horns of "Sing A Song Sister(3)," or the 8-minute slow-burner "Does Frankie Ever Call My Name(4)." Even the silly stuff (like the warbly cover of "I Can't Help Myself(5)") is so soulful and genuine that you can't help but love it. Campbell was a Plainfield, NJ, contemporary of one George Clinton, and though you can't hear many similarities to P-Funk in the music, you can catch Clinton's axeman Eddie Hazel and Billy Nelson on "Come On Home(6)." Plenty of pics and detailed liner notes in the booklet. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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lab recommended
indepth
Ze Bertrami & Projecto III
Encontro (Azymuth) CD
 
What Music
format: CD

lab price: $15.00
available: yes
item #: cd-2323

 quick audio picks:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Encontro is the sound of band caught between sounds: hard Brazilian jazz-funk veers to summery easy listening before taking a sharp turn to beaty '60s flower pop, often in the space of a single song. Luckily for us, the band...   expand review  in question is Azymuth in a protozoic stage (1970), and even when they stray a little too far into the mellow side of things the sounds are proper. Take "Arabian Things(1)," for example. So it's not "Jazz Carnival," but the typical Azymuth groove is right there, drum break, funky bass line and all. Acoustic piano takes the place of the usual electric that Bertrami (aka "Ze Roberto") would get into in the '70s, but he still whips it hard ("Surra 7(2)"). And did I say drum break? Ladies and Gents, start your samplers ("Chafariz(3)"). There are cool textures throughout that'll leave Akai and Ensoniq owners with itchy fingers ("Livia(4)," "Encontro(5)"). Rounding things out are a wild car-chase version of "Summertime(6)" and a nice Brasil pop classic ("Mustang Cor de Sangue(7)"). This WhatMusic reissue is, as with all their stuff, immaculately crisp in sound quality and slick in packaging, with new liner notes and a reproduction of the lovely original cover. -monk
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