The Live Band
A Chance For Hope (Limited)

For the first in a new series of albums covering the Sudanese soul and jazz scenes, Habibi Funk serves up an album of previously unreleased material by veteran performer Kamal Keila. The music contained on the album comes from two reel-to-reel tapes of session recordings made by Keila and his band for Sudanese radio in 1992, though many of the songs and arrangements date back to the 1970s. During his '70s peak, Keila was often described locally as "Sudan's answer to James Brown or Fela Kuti". Although the influence of both is present on both tracks, you'll also hear Sudanese blues, fifties-style R&B, hazy funk influenced by the Ethiopian music scene and sweet, horn-heavy, breakbeat-powered sing-alongs. Superb stuff, all told.

Charles Bradley's third album is highly anticipated and very emotianal again.

First Word Records is very pleased to present a brand new full-length album from Sarah Williams White! Emanating from the "hilly fields of Lewisham" in South London, Sarah Williams White is a singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Her sound is a unique blend of psych-soul, folktronica and experimental synth-pop.Sarah released her acclaimed debut album 'Of The New World' on First Word in 2015, which was written, produced and performed by Sarah from her home studio, with the assistance of drummer, engineer & husband, Timmy Rickard. Her projects have seen support from the likes of Lauren Laverne, Tom Ravenscroft, Nemone & Chris Hawkins (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), FIP Radio, Clash & The Guardian, to name a few, and she's toured the UK with Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and Golden Rules (Lex). There have been additional collaborations with label-mate Quiet Dawn (on the 2021 compilation / EP 'A Family Affair') and with her brother, Paul White - a revered producer in his own right, with credits including Danny Brown and Sudan Archives.

1980 album from the Soul singer, songwriter, musician, producer and actor. And Once Again was the fourth solo studio album released on Polydor Records from Hayes. The follow up to the hugely successful Don't Let Go, And Once Again took a softer approach and focused more on the fantastic ballad talents of Isaac Hayes. Notable tracks on the album include the supplicating serenade, 'Ikes Rap VII/This Time I'll Be Sweeter' which consistently builds and grips throughout it's duration and the up-tempo 'I Ain't Never' which contains the trademark driving bassline that captivates the listener.

Following the release of his deliciously dreamy, ambient house inspired album on Pacific Rhythm, Private Paradise, Sudi 'Space Ghost' Wachspress has invited a wealth of producers to remix tracks from his more classic deep house-sounding 2021 album, Dance Planet. Dirk81 delivers a wonderfully jazzy, breezy and sun-kissed, breakbeat driven revision of 'Deep' - very turn-of-the-'90s sounding - before we're treated to two takes on 'Be Yourself': a chunky, thickset, lightly New Jersey influenced Central rework primed for early morning plays, and a Jarren version that sounds like an old Ben Cerac Dream 2 Science jam. Over on the flip, you'll find two revisions of 'Emotional Healer' - Wachspress's own bouncy, New Jersey Garage-meets-early '90s piano house 'Dance Mix', and a scene-stealing steppers-inspired dub re-imagining from mysterious Italian artist Nelson of the East.