Backatcha Vinyl & CDs

Review: Cloud was a Brit-funk group back in the 80s whose catalogue is continuing to get plenty of attention. Their All Night Long EP was a big reissue with a remix from Ge-Ology and now we get Backatcha serving up this EP of four dazzling cuts. The well-crafted and floor-facing tunes here mix up disco, nu-disco, synth-pop and jazz funk with plenty of unique style. It's another doozy for the collection that saves you from forking out high prices for any originals you may be able to find.

Review: Here's something to get the pulse racing: a killer collection of obscure, hard-to-find and sought-after soul tracks from the 1970s and early '80s, all from the catalogues of independent, often little-known record labels. Sometimes rarity can be misleading - scarcity is no guarantee of quality - but everything here is genuinely extremely good. For proof, check out the spaced-out, otherworldly instrumental bliss of Nassauvians' 'Slacking Off', the chunky, country-style soul brilliance of Norfolk Sound by Ray T Jones, the Terry Callier style folk-soul of No ID/Bilal Sabir's 'Changes', and the alternate mix of Nature Soul's sunshine soul gem 'Never Get a Chance' - one of two previously unreleased versions on the compilation. In a word: essential.

Review: Proper boogie-funk stylee from Rome Jeffries, first recorded in 1983 as a paean to confident, smooth loving. The sultry mood of the song is backed by its cut-up claps, bouncy synth piques, and weighty veneer, which all went on to contribute to its later status as a sought-after diggers' slab. As much is ever-more evidenced on the instrumental B-side, which has an unprecedented - dare we say cheek-slapping - grit to it.

Review: Having recently delivered a string of must-have Brit-funk reissues, the crate diggers at Backatcha Records are now treating us to some seriously obscure tropical disco. Both tracks originally appeared on the flipside of a self-released, 1982 EP from St Kitts and Nevis percussionist and vocalist Gerard PJ Brown. Both cuts were recorded in Puerto Rico, but the sound is undeniably Caribbean in flavour. 'Sexy Lady' is a killer boogie-era disco number laden with spacey synth sounds, rubbery bass and punchy brass, with Brown's vocals sat atop. Over on the flip, 'Keep Dancing' is a superb dub disco number in which Brown's percussion skills come to the fore atop a synth-sporting reggae groove. In a word: essential!

Review: Brit-funk group Cloud made a big impact back in the 80s. They were part of an exciting and emerging scene that fused funk, soul, jazz and more and their catalogue continues to get plenty of attention even now, decades on. Backatcha last served up their Visions EP back in February and now they look to their This Is Your Woman 12" which opens with the title track complete with its brilliant female vocals and low-key funky disco beats. There is also the high-speed and super cool grooves of 'I'll Never Give You Up' which fans of Freez will love, then a couple of dubs and instrumentals on the flip.

Review: This latest is a reissue of a Congress Productions EP featuring their seminal 'Neptune'. The much-sampled early 80s jazz-funk classic comes in original form next to two unreleased cuts. The first is a rare boogie cut 'Live It Up' that has been extended for more dancefloor heft having first been dropped under the D'aile' alias as a B-side. Then comes 'Kevin's Funk' which is named in reference to Incognito trumpet player Kevin Robinson, who played as part of a Congress-associated line-up for this session.

Review: Backatcha are rolling out the jams right now and Chain Reaction's 'Hogtied' is the latest. It comes with another cut which is also taken from the outfit's debut album which was recorded in September 1975 in London. The group consists of Bruce Ruffin, Bobby Davis and Dave Collins, all former Techniques singers who have also worked with several other groups. Stanley Pemberton of Congress Productions produced the A-side and it's as silky and soft as soul comes with 'Quicksand' on the flip slowing things down to a romantic crawl.

Review: Backatcha is on a superb run of releases right now with top tunes from Leonie and Learoy Green dropping around the same time as this stepping street soul gem from En to End. This is primo boogie from the late 80s now landing on 45rpm for the very first time. It's been taken from the tape archives of London singer-producer Tony Shand and kicks off with the vocal version of 'Nothing's Happening'. His rather deadpan vocal has an aloof kind of allure next to the squelchy bass and glowing keys. The instrumental strips it away to allow the retro production to shine.

Review: En-To-End's 'Money Talks' is an old school street soul classic from the late 80s. It's been reissued before by Backatcha Records but is an ever-green anthem so is also welcome back. This version comes with a yellow label on limited 12". And so to the tunes - 'Money Talks' is a low-slung groove with spoke-sung vocals and lush chord work. Also included is the brilliant drum work of 'I Still Love You' with its r&b vocals and irresistible groove. Instrumentals of each feature on the flip but the vocal versions really are the ones.

Review: 'Money Talks' by En to End is a street and soul disco classic from the end of the 80s. It's a real favourite here at Juno HQ and so whenever it reappears we're glad to see it. Right now Backatcha Records has got two versions available with a yellow label edition and this straight black label edition with slightly different versions. The tunes stand up, however, they are presented - two delightful slices of dance floor action with oodles of romantic vibes. 'Money Talks' (Sean P Special mix) is doused in vocal harmonies and glowing keys and on the back is the deeper, more sentimental 'Are You Gonna Be' with instrumentals of both on the flip side.