MUKATSUKU Vinyl & CDs

Review: Mukatsuku turns to Peruvian sax player Nilo Espinosa and his group the Nil's Jazz Ensemble for this glorious new 7" that is packed with jazz-funk goodness. The group only ever made one album back in 1976 but it is a holy grail for Latin-American jazz fusion lovers. Two of the standout tracks from the record have been fully licensed here for this special 45rpm. 'Reflexiones' has some manic keys and big drum breaks next to the funkiest of brass sounds. On the flip, Nilo on alto saxophone and Miguel on Mellotron keys bring the goodness.

Review: Long-serving Japanese nu-jazz collective Kyoto Jazz Massive is back in focus again after a cool outing featuring Roy Ayers back in February. This time they're on Mukatsuku with this limited edition and hand numbered 7" featuring a pair of new edits of their 'Get It Together' tune Featuring Vanessa Freeman. The first is from Yoshi and is a glorious bit of big disco energy with diva vocals and sumptuous chord stabs. The second is an instrumental with backing vocals which then gets edited by Robin Lee & Nik Weston into something a little more free, loose and cosmic.

Review: Mukatsuku's next lovingly assembled offering is a 12" that has a logo laser etching on the b-side. On the A-side is a raw slice of fantastic Afro-funk by Francis The Great. It originally appeared on his 1977 Ravissante Baby album and was reissued in 2015 but now comes on nice heavy wax. It is served up as an instrumental re-edit and is powered by heavy bass from Vicky Edimo and majestic lead guitar from Toto Guillaume who work up a seven-minute-plus trip with expressive horns. The groove never quits and keeps on pulling you in as the arrangement evolves and a steamy mood builds. Superb.

Review: Mukatsuku presents a rare gem from the vaults of African music history: Francis The Great's Look Up In The Sky, a sublime slice of Afro-funk from 1977. This instrumental re-edit by Nik Weston shows off the irresistible groove, the pounding bass, and the majestic guitar of this cult classic. The 12" comes with a stunning laser-etched logo on the flipside, making it a collector's item for any fan of funkadelic indelibles.

Review: Mukatsuku looks to the legendary Japanese downtempo producer Calm here for a new, hand-numbered 7" in the form of his 'Quiet Music Under The Moon' sampler. It features two tunes taken from his masterful new album, the first being 'Oyasumi, Ohayo' where subtle synths ripple beneath Balearic leads. It's heartbroken ambient introspection for late-night star gazing. On the flip, 'Moon Shower' is more hopeful and optimistic, with mellifluous layers of synth shimmer like the sun off the Med. It's beautiful and cathartic with Calm's majestic synth craft front and centre.