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Memphis flashback
Those River City Records rats behind 2003’s wicked funk rock comp Chains & Black Exhaust are at it again with another under-the-counter banger, Big Moe Live At R.C.’s Place (Jones). This one purports to be a recently discovered spin session put on by WJNS jock Big Moe from way back in the day, although the selection of sloppy-great Memphis funk and sleazy soul seems more like the secret-squirrel handiwork of regional digger deluxe Dante Carfagna .
There’s no track listing or artist info, but Wu Tang headz will recognize Wendy Rene ‘s After The Laughter (Comes Tears) and the Charmels ‘ As Long As I’ve Got You, while tough stuff like Gene Anderson ‘s Forgive This Foolish Man, the Fabulous Caprices ‘ Groovy World and the classic Breakdown by the Memphians will appeal to those who like some dirt in their grooves. www.shangri.com/Store.html.
Riddim Twins time
At this point, even Gwen Stefani fans know that Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare are an unbeatable rhythm section. However, their innovative production work as the Riddim Twins isn’t as widely appreciated. So the Auralux reggae reissue operation is setting that right with a 30th anniversary salute to the Taxi label, Sly & Robbie’s Taxi Sound , compiling their adventurous late 70s and early 80s roots and dancehall destroyers.
They were among the first to popularize the use of drum machines and synths, as can be heard on the terrifically twerked-out Rub A Dub by Sugar Minott , but with the Tamlins harmonizing on covers of Undisputed Truth’s Smiling Faces Sometime and Randy Newman’s Baltimore, there’s no shortage of deep roots sweetness either.
Still Testifying
UK-based soul/R&B archivist Dean Rudland , moonlighting from his vault excavations for BGP, returns with the second instalment of his excellent Testify compilation series for Stateside , and once again it’s an irreverently good-time mix of funky dance-floor heat from unlikely sources. Most deep funk collectors would flip right by records by Glen Campbell , Nancy Wilson , Dinah Washington and Donovan , but they each deliver the head-nodding goods on Testify II, as do the Ventures with a boffo blast through Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, and Shadows striker Brian Bennett , who bashes out a nasty-nice Ticket To Ride. Ace!
Ro Dolla’s top billing
Kardinal Offishall‘s Black Jays posse are getting ready to drop their highly anticipated North Hollywood album, and to maintain their profile of until it drops, crew member Ro Dolla has put together a heavy-hitting new mixtape. The Next Candidate not only shows off Dolla’s thuggishly tight rhymes and considerable production skills, but the guest cameos from fellow Black Jays, including Kardi and Solitair along with Saukrates , Shyne , Redman , J Ro , Clinton Sparks and Choclair , suggest that the Black Jays roll deeper than many might’ve guessed. Your new summer slammer.
