7-A-Side
Super Dancing Hits

Sounds like it came out of Lagos in 1971, actually written and recorded in Lyon in 2015: Voilaaa is the brainchild of Bruno Hovart whose long relationship with Favorite goes way back to his days as Patchworks, Mr President and The Dynamics. Recording on a whole host of vintage machines and calling upon local African singers both cuts have a real authentic sense of realness; "Spies Are Watching Me" drives with big horns and swooning strings which isn't dissimilar to the work of The Movers, while the TY Boys-esque "Le Disco Des Capitales" is a heavier, more concentrated slab of floor-minded disco where the groove takes more of a forefront role.

“In The Thick Of It” is the brainchild of Spencer Kenney under the moniker SPK, marking the 2nd release from JT Donaldson’s New Math Records. Hailing from Dallas’ famed Booker T Washington High School (read Erykah Badu, Norah Jones, Edie Brickell & Roy Hargrove), Spencer has been fine tuning his craft in several bands since graduating and is now releasing his debut EP for New Math Records. “In The Thick Of It” is parts Psychdelia, Electronica and Indie Pop, mixing Surf’s Up-era Beach Boys, Mac Demarco and Flying Lotus on a sonic journey spanning 7 songs. This release has already been recommended by Flying Lotus.

For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul. North Carolina's Lee Fields has had a long career with some dramatic pauses, but the last few years have seen him stronger than ever with LPs on Truth & Soul and now Big Crown Records. "It Rains Love" is his second LP with The Expressions, and it strikes a classic Motown note that sounds utterly timeless in its execution. The production definitely has some of the warmth and grit of Motor City classics from back in the day, but Fields' conviction and power in his delivery sounds bang up to date. For fans of Mayfield, Redding et al, this is an unmissable set of rough-edged soul.