Freda Payne
Bring The Boys Home / I Shall Not Be Moved

Epitomising the very best of their hometown’s unparalleled musical heritage, Dames Brown are no strangers to the extended Defected family following the recent release of slick, funk-filled record ‘What Would You Do?’As well as joining the Glitterbox crew in 2018 and appearing at Defected Croatia 2019, the Detroit trio continuously impress with their exquisite production, striking lyricism and a hefty dose of house authenticity.Now Athena Johnson, Teresa Marbury and LaRae Starr step out to properly introduce themselves to the wax lovers. Releasing their new record ‘Introducing Dames Brown’ on 7”, plus an instrumental, Detroit’s finest deliver a taste of what’s to come on their forthcoming album, capturing funk, house and soul from across the spectrum.

We’re excited to be launching a new release series: “Melodies Record Club”, a string of DJ and Artist curated mini compilations in loud 12” format!The first instalment was put together by Four Tet, selecting two big peak-time Jazz tracks he used to spin regularly at Plastic People.On one side, we’ve got all time jazz greats Jackie McLean and Michael Carvin’s De I Comahlee Ah, taken from their seminal album Antiquity recorded in Denmark back in 1975. A year and a half ago, we visited Steeplechase, the original label in the outskirts of Copenhagen. They informed us that at the time, the track was cut short as it didn’t fit on the full LP. They were kind enough to provide us with the tape of the full original recording, allowing us to release for the first time the full extended version capturing twelve and a half minutes of studio magic! Speaking with Michael back in November, he told us that every song on that album was recorded without any overdubs. They had taken their shoes off and organised the studio in such a way that they could move from instrument to instrument during the take (!!).On the flip, we have Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – MRA. Back in 70s London, the Brotherhood had brought together musicians who had sought refuge from South Africa’s Apartheid regime and the best of a new generation of British jazz musicians. Music Journalist Richard Williams, who had originally reviewed the band in the 1970s tell us: “They made music that appealed in equal measure to the head, the heart and the feet, taking the jazz legacy of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus and adding to it the fantastic dance rhythms and gorgeous harmonies of the townships and untethered collective improvisations of the new free music”.Kieran’s instalment is out early May in heavy 12” format and digitally (stream & download), first press comes with a folded A2 insert with words from and about the Artists. Graphic design by Atelier ChoqueLeGoff, illustration and animation by Nevil Bernard and for the audiophiles out there, remastered and cut at half speed by Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios!

DJ Junk is ironically named because all of the joints on this new 12" disco edit label are superb. Each one adds a house feel to some classic tunes from days gone by. 'Right In The Socket' kicks off with leggy drums and slapping hits next to jumbled toms and congas. It's a real cosmic crowd pleaser. 'Ready Get Down' then ups the ante with some taught and tight drum kicks overlaid with noodling guitar funk and big vocals. On the flipside, things get deeper with 'What I Got Is What You Need' which is a soul drenched stomper with heartfelt feel coos and last of all comes the more spaced out and spacious 'If You Want Me' which builds in teasing layers of well-filtered funk.

Beautiful private gospel modern soul album, now hard to find. Finally available again, fully licensed and remastered, with original artwork.Recorded sometime in the late 1970s, and previously only available as a private press release on a tiny Maryland label, "Miracles" is the sole album from gospel preacher/singer Reverend Norman Weeks and his backing band, the Revelations. Little info is available, though if the modern soul end of gospel is your thing it's well worth picking up. As you'd expect, the vocals from Weeks and his collaborators are soulful and righteous, while the accompanying music is impeccably played and surprisingly well produced given the likely budget constraints. Highlights include the heavy funk-soul strut of "It Took A Miracle", the Bob James-influenced brilliance of "I Wanna Sing For You" and fizzing LP opener and bona fide dancefloor rocker "I Will Stand On It".

What's your sign? From Aires to Pisces, the unbelievable BlowFly touches every sign of the zodiac on this album with his own astrological readings on what turns each of us on. BlowFly himself says he's an Aquarian...one of those impetuous daring water bearers who like to talk and tell it like they like it. This, the fourth of the fabulous BlowFly albums, is guaranteed to warm up your stereo set as the BlowFly cooks his way across the calendar. Like all Aquarians, BlowFly is pretty cock-sure about his Zodiacal interpretations, so if you want to put your friend in place (Any place you dig, baby), let 'em in on BlowFly's reading of his chart. If you're a disc jockey reading this, even if you're a Scorpio, we don't suggest you play this record on the air. The Zodiac BlowFly album is strictly for consenting adults and must be used in the privacy of your own home.