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Top funked up and freaked out sounds from c.f.m. remember that whatever it is, its gotta groove....
1) ISM - COME ALIVE (5.39) Currently releasing tunes on their own label Category One, Liverpool's Ism bristle with punk attitude and create an intense dancefloor frenzy whilst maintaining a live line up that includes bass, guitar and vocals along with decks, Moogs and live mixing. Already with a remix of Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping" mega hit under their belts, ISM are a prolific and talented crew, their DJ Morf even has a residency at Cream. For the last few years, ISM having been playing regularly at clubs and festivals all over Europe. "Come Alive" originates from their fantastic debut album "Battered" The band are currently touring follow up single "Injecta" and seriously rocked the Glade Stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Check out the video on MTV and watch this space......... "they don't fight shy of comparisons with the Prodigy, so here's one, they're better!" (Flux) "if there's any justice in this world, then ISM should make o few quid, even without appearing in a smash hits centrefold' (Big Issue).
2) THE FUTURE SHOCK -PARADISE CRUISE (4.40) The cruisin' instrumental funk of Manchester based Future Shock never fails to let the groove move ya! Some truly inspired drumming is the perfect compliment to band leader Morgan Pugh's funktastic bass. Shock waves all over the North of England still felt after a recent appearance at Manchester's Band on the Wall culminating in a signing to Raw Fish Records and inclusion on the next forthcoming Acid Jazz "Totally Wired" compilation.
3) HEADBOUND -RECLUSE (4.58) Top new Bath based groovers Headbound, pull in influences as diverse as the Fun Loving Criminals, Gil Scott Heron and Beck. At the Midem Festival, Cannes (Best of British stage), the band impressed as a monster seven piece, while back home, their first contact with the British media saw Mix Magazine vote their recordings band of the month: "... you cannot deny they have a collection of very well crafted and flawlessly performed tunes and masterpieces of originality..." "Recluse" is a masterpiece. Check 'em out this year at Womad and look out for their debut album on Cruisin' music.
4)KAVA KAVA -FUNKED UP AND FREAKED OUT (5.37) Kava Kava play full on brass driven live funk with soulful vocals and beats. Very experienced, they've supported the likes of Gil Scott Heron, Asian Dub Foundation and Surreal Madrid, played at clubs and festivals all over Europe from Jazzmarathon, Belgium to Eurowoodstock, Hungary, to Glastonbury Festival (Avalon main stage), from full on tours of Austria, France, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland to last year's Lizard Eclipse Festival. The brass section's even sessioned on Embrace's No 1 album The Good Will Out! Various independent releases behind them, they combine "kick ass funk" (NME) with "truly cutting edge experimental dance music" (Buzz). "Funked Up and Freaked Out" is a sneak preview of the first new recordings since their well received single "Freedom" and album "Supalube" (Delerium Records). Top tune "Beats for Cheats" soon to be remixed and released on Blue Amazon's new dance label Convert Records, while the Funked Up and Freaked Out EP is lined up for a winter release on Chocolate Fireguard Artistes (Pinnacle Distribution) with an exclusive Zion Train remix!
5)THE BLUEFOOT PROJECT -ALL WILL BE WELL (4.16) Look out for Leeds 7 piece The Bluefoot Project out now on c.f.a.! Featuring the timeless vocals of Rachel, the band kick out a cool live soul with deep grooves over lush sample based technologies. Space gospel music for the Millennium taking in a wide range of influences from DJ Shadow to Lamb. "It can only be a matter of time before The Bluefoot Project become the voices of the underground" Making Music ".....now they finally seem ready to make inroads into the national consciousness. In lead singer Rachel Modest, they possess a rare talent...." Big Issue. Seriously rocked the Avalon Stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Look out for their first ep on Chocolate Fireguard Music Ltd early next year.
6) QUATTRO -ALRIGHT (3.40) 9 piece soul jazz big band Quattro from Cardiff have just come back from their second successful club tour of Germany. They've had a couple of songs included on The Mothership Has Landed compilation CD on Big Beak Records and are anticipating their own album release soon. Featuring the wonderful vocals of Dionne they are now resident at top South Wales Jazz venue The Toucan Club.
7) HUGGY -FRUMM FRAPP (2.07) The polished soul funk of Huggy has been funking up club venues all over the U K for a number of years now. With the "Suck my Soul EP CD " already behind them, the band have just released a new full length CD album "Pull" on their own label Undadacounta Records. The immediacy of "Frumm Frapp" is testament to the fact that this band are here with the sole purpose of getting you to strutt your stuff on that dance floor. And that's exactly what they do....a very sexy band with an all girl brass section, ripping up venues from the Yardbird Suite, Leeds to the Rock Garden, London.
8) DUBMERGE -SONS OF NO FATHERS (5.12) Festival favourites Dubmerge have evolved their own blend of Dub, Hip Hop, Breakbeat, Jungleist and Drum'n'bass rhythms. Fronted by conscious rapper KIN-1, they've toured the U.K. and mainland Europe, and have appeared at such festivals as Glastonbury, Dour (Belgium), Oerol (Holland), Strawberry Fayre, Megadog etc....'Sons Of No Fathers " can be found on their new album "Greed and Glamour" on Bud Urge Records.
9) ACETATE -PLATINUM (edit) (5.02) New track licenced from top drum'n' bass label Circuit Record's co founder Tom Acetate whose DJ credits not only include dates at the prestigious NY Sushi venue but also some action in USA, Amsterdam, Dublin etc......In the past he's recorded for such labels as Labello Blanco, Flex, Emotif , clocking up over 20 releases. With "Platinum" Acetate continues his diversity within the genre in a freeflowing funk vibe. He's had rave reviews in all the mainstream dance magazines as well as more specialist jungle publications and he's now rumoured to be working not only with Kava Kava but with Bez from the Happy Mondays!
10) YAKBOY -JIVE HONEY (edit) (4.51) The mysterious Yakboy produces some seriously funky grooves and breaks straight out of Skylight Studios, Huddersfield. Yakboy's first 12 "You Know What It Is" was hammered on Radio One by Judge Jules.
11) GATOR -SMASHED GLASS-EYE (3.28) Gator formed in 1999 and are a new hard hitting mixture of hip hop, drum'n'bass, jazz and bone-shakin'funk fronted by crazed rapper Monty. Drawing influences from Maceo Parker, The Meters, Jimi Hendrix and John Schofield, Gator are masters of the Hammond organ funk thing, whilst mixing in some more modern tinges. Also known as Laserboy.
12) MARINEVILLE -MODUS OPERANDI (5.51) North East based Marineville are currently signed to Zion Train's label Universal Egg. It was the label's pioneering 20 date European Tour "Egg Experience" which really kicked things off for this unusual drum'n'space project. Following this, in 1999 the band toured the excellent single �Encryption/Revolution" and live album "Redpath House" (Universal Egg). showcasing their unique slant on drum'n'bass, featuring sliding excursions into hip hop beats and jazz melodies all firmly underpinned with Sun Ra-esque electronica and ambient textures. Went down a treat at this years Glastonbury Festival (Glade Stage).
13) TAXI -TREES (6.53) If you are after old school seventies jazz funk with a nineties deep groove flavour, then look no further than Leeds based Taxi. This tight 7 piece outfit have been overwhelming audiences at venues from London right up to Aberdeen. Still buzzing from supporting Maceo Parker, this version of "Trees" is a taster from their very own live CD pressing.
14) SHOD -1-10 (4.11) Already mixed by Tim Lee (Tummy Touch) 1-10 illustrates Nottingham based Shod Collective's beautiful jazz vibes and sophistication. This original version was featured on their debut CD "Beast" The band are also a stunning live act : "Picture two upright bassists (Arwel Hughes and Steve Truman), drums (Sophie Fishwick), Fender Rhodes (Paul Deats), vocals and conga (Rachel Foster), and that is Shod. Rachel leads from the front, lyrical lines flowing effortlessly from her lips; her formative years were spent in Iran, allowing her a natural absorption of Eastern time signatures. The brilliance of Shod is their ability to forge Rhodes and sax melodies that are so perfectly harnessed within the basslines and shuffling drums that the audience is never bamboozled by the six, seven, five and ten-beat bars that feature throughout their set faultlessly. To all major labels; land this catch." (Crispin M.I. - Straight No Chaser ). Shod were among the highlights of both the Jazz and Firestarter stages at this year's Glastonbury Festival.
15) NINE INVISIBLES -PARADISO (edit) (4.38)A taster from forthcoming album "Soundbombing" on Delerium Records, "Paradiso" illustrates the unique fusion of the Nine Invisibles, who have been described as "Leftfield meets DJ Shadow with King Tubby at the controls!" Their "crosspollination" appeals to both live and club audiences. Guitars, sonic keys and titanic rhythms make this a full on electro punk experience.
16) THE BLINDERS -GETTIN BY (3.34) Fab and funky South Wales four piece The Blinders rock out the finest guitar driven retro funk. Big favourites in their hometown Cardiff, they supported The Stereophonics last year in the country's biggest ever free festival and seriously rocked the back stage areas at last year's Glastonbury.
17) SPARE RIB -GET BUSY (4.46) Commercial jazz/funk vibes with an eclectic mix of hip hop and soul flavours. A relatively new Liverpudlian band gaining a solid reputation in clubs throughout the North of England. Strong musicianship and solid lead vocals ooze from this, their first commercially released tune "Get Busy".
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