Vinyl Releases: Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

21st February 2019

Brief commentary of vinyl releases from Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

From Bear Family and on the Cree label (cree-records.com) is the Modern Sound Quintet’s Otinku (1971), originally released in Finland and featuring musicians from Trinidad, Barbados and more playing nicely restrained steel-pan jazz but with added funk. 

Vinyl Releases: Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

Energetic rock from Paulo Furtado in The Legendary Tigerman’s latest, Misfit (Munster, www.munster-records.com). Nothing unique here but its hugely entertaining, dramatic, over the top, banging rock.

Vinyl Releases: Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

From the same label but on the VampiSoul imprint, Garotas Suecas’ Futuro do Preterito mixes lazy soul with pop and jazz-funk. Feel-good sound with a distinctly seventies vibe.

Vinyl Releases: Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

Kamaal Williams’ new LP, The Return (Black Focus; blackfocusrecords.bandcamp.com) is a completely delicious jazz-funk outing with sumptuous grooves and complex beats. Beautiful. 

Vinyl Releases: Cree, Munster, Black Focus & Leaf

From Laurence Pike is his debut solo album, Distant Early Warning (Leaf; theleaflabel.com) “Originally conceived as a technological and spiritual jazz suite for drums,” said Pike, the music combines that with avant-electronica to produce a quietly complex symphony of sounds.