THE ALLERGIES: Say The Word

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FLEVANS feat. LAURA VANE: Realisation

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GIZELLE SMITH: Sweet Memories b/w S.T.A.Y. feat ERIC BOSS (7″ Vinyl) (2017)

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THE ALLERGIES: Dig Jalapeno (Album)(2017) + ‘Blast Off’ remix premiere

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PARKER: Aqua Dust EP – exclusive first listen to ‘A Dream’ (2016)

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BASEMENT FREAKS: White Hot (2016)

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EPHEMERALS: Life Is Good (2015)

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EPHEMERALS: You Made Us Change (2014)

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SMOOVE & TURRELL: Broken Toys (2014) Album review

Smoove & Turrell reach that critical career watershed of the ‘difficult third’ album. You know – the one which can elevate a good band to classic status or see a previously good band consigned to the scrap heap like…well…like a broken toy. Sure, debut Antique Soul was particularly well-received and the pair sidestepped the ‘Antique Soul-Pt II’-trap with Eccentric Audio by shimmying down a mirrorball/ ladies’ night route to the dancefloor which ultimately rewarded them with a tour support slot for Nile Rodgers and Chic. But have Berry Geordie and his meaty-voiced partner in crime, Turrell, deftly resisted the urge to sell out, get all self-indulgent or, worst of all, produce a ‘concept LP’ with Broken Toys? Let’s find out!…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

SKEEWIFF & EDDIE RUSS: Flute Toon (The Lope Song) (2013) Free download

It’s always nice to host a premiere! And so it is that MB rolls out the red carpet as first place on the planet to bring you this: the mighty Skeewiff‘s re-wiff of Eddie Russ’s 1974 Blue Note-style jazz-funk number The Lope Song. He’s re-titled it Flute Toon in recognition of the original’s prominent funky flute motif and given it a massive party breaks kick up the arse (not to mention the odd bleepy adornment) so that it can hold its own among …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

ALEXIA COLEY: Keep The Faith (2013)

Retro-soul queen-in waiting, Alexia Coley, leaves nothing to chance on her debut single plumping for the tried and tested ‘one side torch song slowie/ one side uptempo stomper combo’ and delivering a classic vocal performance on both. Which to make the A-side though? Why – let’s make it the torch song! “What’s that called Alexia?” “It’s called ‘Keep The Faith’ monkeyboxing, dear.” “Er – didn’t Bon Jovi do a song called that once?” “Did they? Bugger. Well, it’s too bloody late now, …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

SMOOVE: First Class (2012)

Need a funk/ soul/ disco/ latin / swing remix? Who you gonna call? That’s right – Smoove. For those not in the know, the Newcastle-based Smoove is the beat-making, bongo-playing half of critically and popularly acclaimed nu-funky-soul duo Smoove & Turrell – latterly of extensive Radio 2 airplay and Hollywood film synch fame. He’s also…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

HOGLODYTES: Peace Soup EP (2012)

Meet Hoglodytes – and their Peace Soup EP – a mighty joining of hip-hop’s east and west coasts in the NY/ Woolacombe hook-up we’ve all been waiting for. Yep, you read that right – in lieu of getting both sides of the continental US to unite, the UK’s very own west coast scene has stepped into the breach. You can wipe that look of doubt off your face though. …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

DR RUBBERFUNK: The First Cut (2012)

The First Cut wasn’t quite the first cut by Dr Rubberfunk (of Craig Charles’ Fantasy Funk Band fame) but it was his first album. Consisting of twelve tracks of sample-heavy instrumental breaks it occupies the place where the Herbaliser crosses paths with Quantic, Diesler and Nightmares On Wax and was so well received when it came out in 2002 (or 2003 depending on your source) that Jalapeno have decided to…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

BASEMENT FREAKS: Makes Me Wanna Scream (2011)

BASEMENT FREAKS: Makes Me Wanna Scream (2011)
What could make Basement Freaks a.k.a. George Fotiadis want to scream? The parlous state of the Greek economy? Possibly – but the cause is more likely to be delight as he is swarmed, Lynx-advert style, by semi-clad females in response to the Prince/ P-funk/ ghetto funk combo vibe of Makes Me Wanna Scream…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

THE BEEKEEPERS: ‘Apiculture’ preview + audio snippets - 2011

THE BEEKEEPERS: ‘Apiculture’ preview + audio snippets - 2011
RATING: 5/5
Bristol beat luminaries Boca 45 and Parker finally make good on their promise to deliver a full length album, Apiculture, in the wake of this year’s moody Ascending Change EP and their debut party-banger effort the Bee Funk EP from the end of the year before. As you might expect the LP is packed to the gills with offerings of both kinds (i.e. moodiness and party-bangers) …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

PARRIS & VANUCCI: ‘Disco Of Love’ (The Loveboot Edit) – Free download

PARRIS & VANUCCI: ‘Disco Of Love’ (The Loveboot Edit) – Free download
By way of a post script to last week’s post about Parris & Vanucci’s forthcoming lady killer, nufunk/ disco-monster Disco Of Love EP (full details here), I feel duty bound to inform you that the boys have done a cheeky rerub of their own title track as an EP taster. Should
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