Floating into our inbox on the East winds came a mysterious bunch of tracks by a mesmerising new act called Curió Curió, which we simply couldn’t ignore. Named after a vibrant Brazilian songbird, Curió Curió consists of singer, lyricist, and actress Luiza Monteiro, based in Austria, and producer and musician Dustin Braun from Germany. Together, the duo brings a fresh voice and a twist on MPB, taking influences from 1970s Brazil and blending them into a modern fusion of psychedelic, MPB, disco, and samba.

Curió Curió’s vocalist, Luiza Monteiro, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and raised listening to the rich sounds of MPB. She started taking classical singing lessons weekly by the age of 14, and later developed a career in acting, skills of which she brings with her into her songwriting. You may be familiar with Dustin’s production through his recent collaborations with the Turkish artist Peki Mome´s on Mocambo Records, or by his earlier incarnations, including a neo-soul release on Sichtexot and projects with Village Live Records and HHV's record label. His music has a tangible analogue warmth and a feeling of a real band performing live.

For this 7-inch release, ‘Bem Querer’ (‘Beloved’ in English) takes the A side. In it, Luiza calls a missed love to come close and dance with her. Even without an understanding of Portuguese, this feeling and energy radiates throughout the production; one of partying together, loving each other, living in ecstasy, feeling pleasure, and freedom. Built on an authentic samba street vibe with a super catchy sing-along chorus, that collective, carnival energy comes in part due to the choir that Dustin and Luiza assembled. A group of Brazilian friends, some of whom Dustin met whilst DJing in Leipzig, joined together in the studio. Half of them were non-professional singers, bringing that organic atmosphere of Rio’s streets to the recording.

The B-side ‘Amor Doente’ has a more bitter-sweet taste; the song speaks playfully about a relationship that goes on without really developing. Both parties cannot fully commit to each other, but they are also unable to end it. The production, however, has a delicious loose funk groove, sun-soaked and sultry. Dustin wrote the instrumental with Lucy Liebe, who joins on bass, guitar, synths, and trumpet, with Max Löbner also featuring on trumpet. A track that is equally adept at warming up a dancefloor as it is closing out a night.

We were genuinely blown away by the vibrancy and joy of this new project when we first heard it, instantly feeling like a familiar friend. In the band's own words, “Curió Curió is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic".

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Delivering the second sermon in their Disco Gospel series, Chicago’s Sadar Bahar & Marc Davis hand-pick and re-edit two more under-the-radar disco/gospel fusion tracks for the modern dancefloor.

Both revered selectors and producers, Marc and Sadar are integral parts of Chicago's underground music scene, sharing the city’s spirit with the world. Through his own label, Black Pegasus, and the Chi Talo series, Marc has become an in-demand DJ known for his raw and eclectic sets. He joins forces with good friend, DJ’s DJ and Soul In The Hole head Sadar Bahar, whose name regularly tops the bill at some of the finest clubs and festivals around the globe.

Digging deep once again, the pair serve up two certified secret weapons from their renowned collections. Finding that sweet spot that drew out the most uplifting, powerful, and danceable elements of both gospel and disco, they shine a light on two beauties from Myrna Summers and also The Yancy Family. Tweaked and re-edited with style and consideration, they re-work the tracks with DJs and dancers in mind.

As Robert M. Marovich of Journal of Gospel Music puts it, “The rise of contemporary gospel music in the 1970s and 1980s changed the style, if not the substance, of Black sacred music. Artists, including the Yancy Family and Myrna Summers, worked within the groovy new sound to attract the attention of a generation growing up on rock, jazz, pop, and soul. Bring them into the church through the music, the maxim goes, and they’ll stay for the sermon. Likewise, these two re-edited album tracks by Sadar Bahar and Marc Davis keep the gospel music heritage alive while encouraging a brand-new generation to dance through the church doors.”

Up first, Myrna Summers ‘So Much to Live For’ channels that straight from the heart passion and collective joy that gospel embodies. Bursting with uplifting lyrics, scintillating organ melodies, and an infectious sing-along spirit, Marc and Sadar give it a club-ready DJ edit, extending it for maximum dancefloor deliverance.

The B side sees the duo work their magic on, ‘Lifted Me Higher’. Written by Kevin Yancy and taken from the Yancy Family’s 1989 album From One Christian Family to Another, it features vocals from siblings Kevin, Judy, and Rev. Darryl Yancy, along with Lois Scott. The all-star team of Chicago musicians includes Sherwin (Butch) Yancy on organ, Michael Wade on piano and synthesizer, and Richard Gibbs (longtime accompanist for Aretha Franklin) on piano and bass. With a soulful boogie flavour, dripping in slap bass and ‘80s synthlines, Marc and Sadar rework the intro so it rides out on a section of delectable instrumental grooves, before letting the glorious vocals hit home.



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With two deeply cherished compilations already in the bag, Luke Una steps up for the third volume in his É Soul Cultura series on Mr Bongo. A love letter to the dancefloor and its power to unite people from all corners of society amid growing division and extremist politics. Genre-spanning in nature, the 15 tracks travel between cosmic soul, boogie, proto-house, slo-mo technoid grooves, drum machine afro, astral bass-bugging futurism, jazz funk, dance, and disco. Each having the ability to move the body as much as the heart.

From his formative years in Sheffield to co-founding Manchester’s much-fabled Electric Chair with Justin Crawford, through to helming the iconic LGBTQ institutions of Homoelectric / Homobloc, Luke has spent 40 years immersed in dance music. His latest outlet, É Soul Cultura, has grown from a label to a globe-spanning events series with Luke holding residencies and embarking on tours across the world from Japan and Australia to America and Europe.

“For me, the dancefloor was never about a one-dimensional, thudding, 130 BPM beat only. It's a much more dynamic, broader vision than that. I cut my teeth in an era where a 100 BPM record had as much impact, excitement, and energy as a 134 BPM dancefloor jazz funk or techno record”, Luke mentions. É Soul Cultura Volume 3 is the perfect embodiment of that notion: “It’s about four decades in the trenches playing dance music, the late-night afters, the shebeens, the basements, warehouse parties, the eight-hour journeys in East London, through to festival sets at Houghton and We Out Here. It’s music unconstrained by genre or tempo and more about making your body move”.

But this isn’t simply a collection of disparate dance tracks; they carry meaning and soul. “It’s less about escapism, more about reconnection. My experience of post-covid has been the coming together of all the clans in various clubs and gatherings. A reaction to a very toxic world out there, where the aggro rhythms of division have sought to divide us, and people don't meet as often. The coming back together face-to-face in clubs has encouraged a real love in the air, there's a real togetherness and collective spirit”.

Opening up the compilation is a track that channels that very message, the transcendental, soul-rousing Harris & Orr ‘Spread Love’. Joining the dots from there, to the low-slung deep house closer of Fatdog ‘Remember’, you’ll find electronic drum machine Nigerian funk, sitting side by side with dancefloor Cape Verdean brilliance, a post-punk cover of Fela Kuti, rubbing shoulders with cosmic electro, and an Una-championed, 8-minute, kickless DJ Harvey remix. There’s jazz funk in various guises moving from boogie synth to astral travelling, slo-mo acidic raw techno, and a ‘79 soul stepper, alongside swirling percussive Italo disco and tribal-charged house. All infused with an innate ability to bring people together.

As society becomes increasingly fractured, É Soul Cultura Volume 3’s message is more than movement. It’s about dance music’s power to unify people from all walks of life and break down the barriers that divide us.

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Next up in our Cuban Classics series, one of the jewels of record label Areito’s extensive and sought-after catalogue. Ricardo Eddy Martinez’s Expreso Ritmico from 1978 is a prized album fusing funk, disco, and orchestrated influences with Afro-Cuban percussion, Latin breaks, and lush vocal harmonies.

Whilst maintaining its distinctive Cuban identity, Expreso Ritmico is one of the more American / Western-influenced Cuban titles of the time drawing inspiration from jazz funk, disco, and library music. The album was directed, written, and orchestrated by keyboardist and drummer Ricardo Eddy Martinez, who was also the mastermind behind the orchestration of the Los Reyes 73 album (that was recently reissued by Mr Bongo). Martinez would later go on to work with international musicians and singers such as Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Chick Corea, and many more, whilst also working as a sound engineer in the US.

Produced by Adolfo Pichardo, who worked on much of Areito’s output, Expreso Ritmico is packed with gold. The opening title track carries a loose, breezy Latin-disco-funk vibe that breaks into a brilliant Afro-Cuban workout. ‘Que La Tristeza Se Fue’ was expertly sampled and looped by Jazzanova on their 2008 song ‘Look What You Are Doing To Me, featuring Phonte from the hip hop group Little Brother. Elsewhere, ‘Tambo Iya’ has an Afro-funk, Soul Makossa-esque groove, while tracks such as ‘Te Quedas’, ‘Mi Conga Es La Que Es’ and ‘La 132’ run with a heavy pulsating Latin-funk sound. Head to the sultry psych funk of ‘Este Tumbao’ for a spacey journey that blends and morphs through genres.

A record that was ahead of its time, Expreso Ritmico is a superb and unique album that merges western influence with Cuban flair. It comes housed in a replica of its original Cuban sleeve design.

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In celebration of Arrow Films' new 4K restoration of the seminal hip hop film Wild Style, Azorean-Canadian producer and DJ Jorun Bombay steps up with a specially commissioned megamix cut across two sides of a 7”. Featuring recently discovered unreleased material, cut up with sections of the remastered soundtrack, expert turntablism, and added live instrumentation, Jorun shines a new light on this pioneering piece of hip hop history.

Having released music since the mid-‘80s on labels such as Soundweight, Diggers With Gratitude, and JBOR Records, Jorun also produces and scores music for film and television in the USA. He’s been hosting his influential DJ podcast ‘Funkbox Reload’ for over a decade, regularly showcasing his DJ and remixing skills, which have landed him several key production jobs, including for the documentary ‘Mixtape’ directed by Omar Acosta on Paramount Plus.

It's through ‘Funkbox Reload’ that Arrow Films became aware of Jorun’s talents. They reached out and suggested Jorun put together a megamix, giving him access to the masters and unreleased material.

Given the opportunity to remix such an iconic slice of hip hop’s heritage, Jorun has treated the project with the care and respect it warranted. As he states, “Seeing Wild Style in the 1980s was a life changer simply for the fact that it introduced the world to an art form that most people outside of New York didn't know existed or could exist. This culture was called ‘hip hop’, and it was the first time a form of music was made out of everything surrounding it and turned into a collage. Wild Style was the first of its kind, probably in the history of American music.”

The film served as a gateway to hip hop culture and the elements it was made up of, be it rapping, DJing, breakdancing, or graffiti writing, and watching it, whether at the cinema, on rental VHS, or a bootleg copy from a friend, was a truly inspirational moment for many. One of the most important scenes for future DJs, as outlined by Jorun and DJs including the UK’s Mr Thing, is the kitchen scene and DJ routine featuring Grandmaster Flash. As Jorun mentions, “the scene with Grandmaster Flash in the kitchen was the epitome of what the culture stood for and where it was about to go from 1983 onward - home studios. It made the goal achievable thanks to that scene influencing so many kids at the time.”

More than a simple DJ megamix, Jorun hasn’t limited himself to the use of just two turntables. Instead, he has added live instrumentation, such as bass, Rhodes, and conga hits to the ‘basketball rap’, “to give it more of a blaxploitation ‘rumble in the street’ mood”, alongside using the unreleased material to masterful effect. “I don't like to be strictly tied to just turntablism. There are no rules when making music”, he reflects. Using the same ethos of freedom and individual musical expression of the time, Jorun has delivered a respectful, authentic, and inspired homage to the legacy of the film and its soundtrack.

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Stepping up next in our Mr Bongo 12” Edits series, we’ve invited another legend of the game, DJ Nature, to craft a special EP of signature edits. Following editions by Dan Tyler and Nick The Record, Luke Una, and Danny Krivit, DJ Nature selects four prime cuts spanning modern soul, psychedelic funk, boogie, and leftfield disco, giving each his trademark tweak for today’s dancefloor.

In 1989, Bristol-born DJ Nature moved to New York, a city where he knew his raw and textured aesthetic would be more appreciated at the time. He immersed himself in the NY scene, frequently attending underground house and disco clubs to hear pioneers such as Larry Levan (The Choice), Louie Vega (Sound Factory Bar), and Tony Humphries (Zanzibar). That same year, being surrounded by a wealth of underground dance music, DJ Nature set up an export company to supply the Japanese market. “I have had a connection with Japan for over 40 years, beginning when I visited as part of Ray Petri’s Buffalo fashion house as a DJ. From there, I linked up with the Major Force crew and others,” he explains.

Having already been a record collector for 20 years, DJ Nature launched his own label, Ruff Disco Records, in 1992, releasing productions under his early moniker, Natureboy. Since then, Nature has gone on to become an underground DJ/producer legend himself, touring the world and releasing records on esteemed labels such as Golf Channel Recordings, Jazzy Sport, Hot Biscuit Recordings, and Futureboogie Recordings.

Reflecting his love of raw, independent disco, jazz fusion, and early house music, DJ Nature has chosen four tracks from the Mr Bongo archive that he felt had club-ready production ripe for an edit. First up, is an extended rework of the ultra-rare Chicago modern soul/disco joint ‘Straight Forward (Non-Stop)’ by P.J. City from 1986. Staying true and respectful to the original, DJ Nature tweaks and extends it so it feels like a longer take lifted from the original recording session. Next is a sublime version of Cuban band Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 track ‘Del Copacabana A 34’. Here, Nature extends and enhances the song, looping the more driving, hypnotic, spacey sections to let the energy brew and bubble to boiling point.

On the B-side, DJ Nature revamps a lesser-known gem from the Elite Records catalogue. Originally produced by Andy Sojka, Antoniou’s pulsating 1982 electronic disco groover ‘Sound On Sound’ is transformed into a peak-time cosmic boogie whirlwind. Rounding off the EP, he turns to the mysterious Marxist Love Disco Ensemble’s 2022 album ‘MLDE’, re-editing the quirky leftfield disco winner ‘Dust’ into a more DJ-friendly club track.

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Mr Bongo present a yellow vinyl repress of Hollie’s sensational, self-titled 2011 debut album. 14 years on, this timeless debut produced by Prince Fatty fuses Hollie's self-coined ‘tropical pop’ sound with her passion for reggae and lovers rock singers such as Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon and classic '60s girl groups.

An album that radiates with highlights, it features what would become one of Hollie’s most popular songs, the super catchy, sun-soaked ‘Milk & Honey’ that has racked up over 46 million streams on Spotify alone. Elsewhere, there are distinctive reggae cover versions of the Shangri-Las ‘(Remember) Walkin’ In The Sand’, transformed from a dark, emotive cut into one filled with a flavour of hope, alongside a signature new spin on Rachel Sweet’s amazing, laidback ‘It's So Different Here’. Take to the bass-heavy ‘Sugar Water (Look At My Face)’ for a dub-leaning workout and look to the singles ‘That Very Night’ and ‘Body Beat’ to further feel the synergy between Hollie and Prince Fatty, showcasing songs that are inspired and influenced by the past but with a definitive foot in the present.

Adding further weight to this iconic debut, there are a talented array of musicians featuring across the record, including Omar, Dennis Bovell, George Decker (The Pioneers), Horseman, Style Scott, Black Steel, Mutant Hi-Fi and more. Along with Prince Fatty at the controls and Hollie on the mic, together they crafted a classic sound that feels as fresh (but also as vintage) as it did fourteen years ago. A modern masterpiece in its genre, and the start of Hollie’s journey to becoming the contemporary queen of the lovers rock sound.

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A year and a half after the release of their Latin Grammy-nominated album, Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua, the award-winning Brazilian trailblazer, Ana Frango Elétrico, returns with two new songs: ‘A Sua Diversão’ and ‘Não Tem Nada Não’. Both tracks are the result of a remarkable collaboration with legendary Brazilian artist Marcos Valle, creating a dialogue between generations. The 7” single will be released in partnership by the labels RISCO, Mr Bongo and Psychic Hotline.

First up, Ana drops the laid-back sultry Brazilian-funk gem 'A Sua Diversão', written alongside Tuca Monteiro and co-produced by Guilherme Lirio. With a breezy ‘80s tinged feel, the sumptuous bassline, funk strutting guitars and cosmic synths are the perfect match to Ana’s instantly recognisable vocal tones. A track with a nostalgic air but a contemporary flair, it includes guest backing vocals by three of Brazil’s finest, Dora Morelenbaum, Marcos Valle, and Patrícia Alví.

Next, a firm favourite from their live show, Ana reinterprets and re-records a 1973 Marcos Valle classic 'Não Tem Nada Não', written collaboratively with Eumir Deodato and João Donato. During Ana’s tour across 11 countries and over 40 sold-out shows, this cover quickly became a fan favourite. As audiences began tagging Valle in Instagram stories, he showed his support by reposting Ana’s performances. This online exchange blossomed into a real-life connection when the two artists met at a benefit concert for Rio Grande do Sul and the idea of a collaboration materialised.

Putting their own distinctive spin on the recording, Ana duets with Valle, who features on vocals and Rhodes. As the track progresses it morphs seamlessly into a reimagination of Crystal Water's anthemic 'Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)' from 1991. This inspired yet unlikely combination blends exquisitely and is a perfect distillation of Ana’s energetic and absorbing live presence.

“Não Tem Nada Não” was part of every show we did from the album tour. I wanted to capture that moment, that snapshot of the show and the band. It’s a record of that time and of the relationships that deepened through sharing it all. We recorded the same arrangement we play live—only now, with the honour of having my idol Marcos Valle join in.

These are definitely songs that don’t point the way, but rather close a cycle. They reflect research based on live performances, on the Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua shows, which will be celebrating their farewell in Brazil this year” Ana explains.

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Hollie Cook’s sensational second album, Twice, originally released in 2014, gets a 2025 repress on transparent green vinyl.

Produced by Prince Fatty, Twice is a natural progression from Hollie’s self-titled debut. It’s an absorbing blend of her trademark reggae and tropical pop sound, enriched with the dubby undertones of Prince Fatty’s production. Drawing on a broad range of influences, there’s sweeping string arrangements courtesy of the Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra and choir, Brazilian-influenced percussion, and disco touches. At various points across the album, Hollie is joined by legendary musicians Dennis Bovell, Omar, George Dekker, and Winston Francis.

Twice is packed with highlights, showcasing a sophisticated evolution in Hollie’s sound. The cinematic strings of the Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra lace through and lift tracks such as the rolling ‘Desdemona’, the rootsy ‘Postman’ with its bumping bassline and Caribbean steel drum melodies, and the hazy, digi-dub-influenced title track. Elsewhere, the dreamy yet melancholic ‘Looking For Real Love’ sees Hollie’s soulful vocals shine atop a blend of lovers rock and dub energy, whilst ‘Superfast’ has the air of a vintage reggae classic.

A unique and individual contemporary classic from reggae’s orator of love, Hollie Cook, ripe to be rediscovered by a new audience.

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Black Vinyl Repress coming soon!

In 2012, Prince Fatty produced a signature dub reworking of tracks from Hollie Cook’s debut 2012 LP, plus a selection of other choice dub-infused covers. Mr Bongo now presents a fresh repress on blue vinyl of this classic album.

In the tradition of vintage reggae albums, renowned producer Prince Fatty took to the controls and dubbed out Hollie Cook's self-titled debut album from 2011. In trademark dub fashion, Prince Fatty strips back Hollie’s classic reggae and tropical pop productions, adding in extra bass alongside delays, tape echoes, and reverbs to Hollie’s captivating vocals. The resulting versions give the songs space to breathe, whilst adding in a weighty, heads-down element to the productions.

As Prince Fatty mentions, “The dub versions showcase real tape echoes, heavy spring reverbs and alternate instrumental elements such as melodica, percussion or horns that were hidden in the vocal versions. All the dubs are mixed live in my studio in the same Rub a Dub style as was made famous in ‘70s Jamaica by King Tubby and others, i.e, not with the use of computers for automation and endless digital nonsense but with fingers, late night vibes and re-arranged with a razor blade!”.

In addition to the tracks featured from the debut album, this dub release features mixes of Hollie Cook and Prince Fatty’s cover version of The Whispers’ disco classic ‘And The Beat Goes On’ and ‘For Me You Are Dub’, a ska cover of an old Andrews Sisters’ classic. Alongside that, there’s a delicious adaptation of the Shangri-Las’ legendary record ‘Walking in the Sand’, and ‘Baby’, a revamp of the heavily requested anthem, in collaboration with French synth-pop outfit, The Shoes.

Thirteen years on, this superb dub album sounds as quintessential and authentic as ever.

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Brazil is a treasure trove of inspirational music from the past, present, and future. Here we head back to 1976 for a one-of-a-kind kaleidoscopic journey, melding Brazilian regional rhythms with funk, rock, soul, and psychedelia by the married couple Eduardo Araújo and Silvinha. A cult classic and beloved record for some of the scene’s biggest DJs including Floating Points, it was further immortalised when Madlib sampled ‘Opanigê’ for his track ‘São Paulo’.

Singers Eduardo Araújo and Silvinha Araújo had successful careers in Brazil beginning in the 1960s. Eduardo broke through with the rock-infused Jovem Guarda hit ‘O Bom’. Stepping into more soulful territory, Eduardo released ‘A Onda É Boogaloo’ in 1969, produced by a young Tim Maia and followed it up with a number of other notable releases. Also part of the Jovem Guarda movement, Silvinha recorded a string of excellent albums and numerous 7” compactos for Odeon and RCA.

In 1976, the duo set forth the landmark underground album Sou Filho Dêsse Chão, complete with its eye-catching psychedelic cover art by Gustavo Matula and Jan Matula. The album featured a heavyweight line up of musicians, including accordionist supreme Dominguinhos, the drummer Dirceu Medeiros, who played on the first Os Mutantes album, and members of the esteemed bands Banda Black Rio and Som Nosso.

Sou Filho Dêsse Chão was inspired by the pair's travels to Salvador, Bahia. Eduardo was influenced by the Brazilian culture of the region and wanted to incorporate and capture the sounds of capoeira, Forró, and candomblé into the album. Here we have the traditional African-Brazilian culture of Northern Brazil fusing with the contemporary commercial music of Rio and São Paulo’s Tropicalia, MPB, psych-rock, and Black Rio movements. Uniting the cultures, Eduardo and Silvinha managed to combine these genres seamlessly.

It's an album full of highlights, with the Tim Maia-esque funk of ‘O Tempo Que Esse Tempo Tem’ laced with its rock tones, sitting side by side with the accordion-driven ‘Sou Filho Desse Chão’ and rolling groove of ‘Manda Embora A Tristeza’. Elsewhere the elegant trippy psych-funk of ‘Capoeira’ sees Eduardo and Silvinha effortlessly trading vocal duties. The record would also reach a new audience outside of Brazil when one of the standout tracks, the highly original spacey ‘Opanigê’, was sampled by Madlib for his track ‘São Paulo’.

Even though on release it was not a commercial success, Sou Filho Dêsse Chão has since found its place as an iconic and treasured LP.

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Blurring the lines between fiction and documentary, the seminal film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn and developed alongside Fred Braithwaite aka Fab Five Freddy, offered an iconic snapshot of the emerging New York hip hop scene in the early ‘80s. Considered one of the first hip hop films, it documents the styles, culture, attitudes, and most importantly, the music of this evolving era. The accompanying soundtrack remains one of the most influential in hip hop history, featuring a who’s who of artists who stood out during the movement’s nascent block party days.

“Making hip hop’s first and most beloved feature film, Wild Style, with Charlie Ahearn and creating the original music is one of my proudest accomplishments.” - Fab 5 Freddy

In celebration of Arrow Films restoring the original Wild Style film in 4K, Mr Bongo is proud to present this special-edition reissue package. The release comes as a double LP pressed on transparent blue and orange vinyl, offering a freshly curated tracklist that brings together the finest songs from previous editions, the full sought-after instrumental album, and Kenny Dope’s top edits. Also included are an A2 colour poster, five film set photos, a flexi disc containing Fantastic Freaks Live at the Dixie, and a Wild Style sticker sheet.

Originally released on Animal Records, founded by Chris Stein of Blondie fame, the soundtrack focuses on the hip hop scene as it evolved from the streets to the recording studio. Co-produced by Stein and Braithwaite, it features the Double Trouble pairing of Rodney Cee and KK Rockwell, The Chief Rocker himself Busy Bee, and the mighty line-ups of both The Cold Crush Brothers and The Fantastic Freaks, to name but a few. The music offers a transportive glimpse into the streets of the South Bronx, capturing the free-form, roaming nature of the film - it’s rough around the edges, but utterly absorbing.

Behind those foundational voices of hip hop’s first wave was a selection of backing beats that have underpinned and influenced the genre ever since. Easily mistaken for lifted breakbeats from old records, the songs on the Wild Style soundtrack are all unique creations. Overseen by Braithwaite and Stein, with Stein also on guitar and effects, they were intended as a homage to those early breakbeats. Drummer Lenny “Ferrari” Ferraro, who played for Aretha Franklin before emerging on the punk scene, and bassist David Harper laid down many of the iconic grooves, two somewhat forgotten participants in shaping a legendary sound.

Over time, the Wild Style soundtrack, with its Charlie Chase and Grand Wizard Theodore scratches, recurring sounds and motifs, and indelible lyrics, has become a hip hop touchstone: endlessly sampled and referenced, the bedrock of so much music to follow. It perfectly encapsulated the essence of the film, the scene, and hip hop’s emergence from the Bronx to the attention of the wider world. It was, and remains, the blueprint.

The reissue package features:

Vinyl 2LP (Transparent Blue + Orange Vinyl) in gatefold Sleeve
A2 Colour Poster
5 x Film Set Photos
Flexi Disc ‘Fantastic Freaks Live At The Dixie’
Wild Style Sticker Sheet


VINYL:

Side A
Grand Wizard Theodore and D.J. Kevie Kev Rockwell - Military Cut (Scratch Mix)
The Chief Rocker Busy Bee vs Lil Rodney Cee & D.J. Grand Wizard Theodore - M.C. Battle
The Cold Crush Bros. vs The Fantastic Freaks - Basketball Throwdown
Kevie Kev (Waterbed Kev), Master Rob, Prince Whipper Whip, M.C., Rubie Dee, Dota Rock, D.J. Grand Wizard Theodore, D.J. Kevie Kev Rockwell - Fantastic Freaks At The Dixie
D.J. Grand Wizard Theodore - Subway Theme
Grand Master Caz, JDL, Easy AD, KG , and D.J. Charlie Chase, D.J. Toney Tone - Cold Crush Bros. At The Dixie

Side B
Rodney Cee, K. K. Rockwell, D.J. Stevie Steve - Double Trouble At The Amphitheater
Grandmaster Caz - South Bronx Subway Rap
Busy Bee - Street Rap (Subway Mix)
Busy Bee - Busy Bee At The Amphitheater
Fantastic Freaks - Fantastic Freaks At The Amphitheater
D.J. Grand Wizard Theodore - Gangbusters
Rammellzee and Shock Dell With The Grand Mixer DST - Rammellzee & Shockdell At The Amphitheater
Fab 5 Freddy - Down By Law

Side C
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - B Boy Beat (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Yawning Beat (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Crime Cut (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Gangbusters (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Cuckoo Clocking (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Meetings (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Military Cut (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Razor Cut (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Subway Theme (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Busy Bees (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Down By Law (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Baby Beat (Instrumental)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Jungle Beat (Instrumental)

Side D
Kev Luckhurst - Wildstyle Scratch Tool
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Baby Beat (Kenny Dope Edit)
Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Braithwaite) - Jungle Beat (Kenny Dope Edit)

FLEXI DISC:

Fantastic Freaks - Fantastic Freaks Live At The Dixie

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Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished ‘70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.

Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.

A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.

Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.

Housed in a tip-on sleeve.

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Following Mr Bongo’s reissue of Studio Rio’s exquisite Brazilian-infused take on Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’, which was one of the standout hits from last summer, we shine a light on another of their superb remakes. Masterminded and produced by the German, Grammy award-winning Berman Brothers, and using the same all-star cast behind the Bill Withers’ reinterpretation, they put a joyous Brazilian twist on the Marvin Gaye classic 'Sexual Healing'. Rich in positivity and a pure end-of-the-night classic, this is another surefire winner to light up any occasion.

A project born out of Christian & Frank Berman's, aka the Berman Brothers, passion for Brazilian music, they had wondered what some of the all-time classic US soul songs would sound like if they had been recorded in Rio de Janeiro with the best Brazilian musicians. “The idea took root in the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro. Beyond the city’s main carnival, countless neighbourhood block parties pulse with live samba drumming, colourful costumes, and a joyful mix of freedom, music, and cultural expression. The goal was to capture this spirit and channel it into Gaye’s timeless hit,” explain the Berman Brothers.

Heading to Rio in 2013, the brothers assembled a select team of top-level Brazilian musicians including many sidemen to one of Brazil’s most influential composers, Tom Jobim. They brought in Torcuato Mariano, renowned for his work with Djavan and Gilberto Gil, to arrange the songs, drawing inspiration from classic '60s / '70s Brazilian samba recordings for this new remake. Another addition was Pretinho da Serrinha, one of Brazil’s most acclaimed samba musicians, who worked with Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, and Lulu Santos. His masterful percussion and cavaquinho playing gave the track its irresistible summer energy.

Having spoken to Sony about their idea, they were given access to the multitrack tapes, meaning they could present Marvin’s original vocal take with this reimagined Brazilian flavour. “Our goal was to create an authentic samba recording to accompany Marvin Gaye’s vocal performance. We wanted to honour the original while creating something fresh – hoping people would feel as if the song had been recorded this way from the very beginning”.

Remoulding Gaye's iconic lovers’ anthem from 1982, the brothers flipped ‘Sexual Healing’ into a joy-filled, smouldering samba-driven beauty. It’s a breezy, light-hearted remake, with Marvin's sublime soul delivery sitting perfectly amidst the shuffling cavaquinho and cuica groove. Uplifting horn stabs, building melodies, and heartfelt harmonies elevate the song to an ecstatic climax.

Now pressed to 45 for the first time, with the instrumental on the B-side, this single is the perfect cut to ignite the party or as that feel-good closer that will send everyone home on a high.

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When it comes to musical discovery, sometimes the stars just align. DJ and record collector, Steve KIW, put Mr Bongo onto this amazing Chilean cover version of Jamie Principle & Frankie Knuckles' all-time classic 'Your Love’. Despite being originally released 13 years ago, it had recently started to prick the ears of house and Balearic connoisseurs in the UK, further cemented by inclusions in the Idjut Boys epic sets. Steve heard them play it, tipped us off and it soon became a favourite at Mr Bongo HQ.

By pure chance when the Mr Bongo DJs joined Luke Una to play at La Paloma ballroom in Barcelona a few weeks later, Luke dropped this incredible interpretation at the peak of his set. A good friend of his, Michelle from Huddersfield, had also put him onto the track and he instantly fell in love. A serendipitous coming together, 'Tu Amor' seemed like the perfect next instalment in the É Soul Cultura discography.

The version in question was released in 2012 as part of a digital-only EP. It came courtesy of the Chilean DJ, producer and singer Mamacita (Carolina Vallejos) and producer Sebastian Roman, aka Persona RS. Meeting Sebastian while out partying in Santiago during a boom time for electronic music in Chile, their shared passion for making house music in Spanish and their admiration for Frankie Knuckles led to the creation of this raw and unique cover version.

Recorded on lo-fi equipment, including an old Windows laptop and a borrowed Neumann microphone, it nods to the DIY ethos of the early Chicago productions. The result is a stripped-back, quirky cosmic take on a stone-cold classic, full of squelching synthlines and Carolina’s stunning Spanish vocals, that became a club hit on Chile's underground circuit. However, aside from some Latin American and US DJs picking it up, it never got the international recognition it deserved.

Fast forward to 2025, and É Soul Cultura is proud to present the glorious 'Tu Amor' on vinyl for the first time, backed with a new, extended, club re-edit by É Soul Cultura captain Luke Una and Luke Solomon (Classic Music). On first hearing ‘Tu Amor’ Luke Una recalls, “There was a real charm to it, it was quite an unorthodox arrangement, a huge wonkiness and just sounded so DIY in a brilliant way. I was chatting to Luke (Solomon) about how much we loved it and we decided to re-edit it together. Accentuating the wonk of those crazy synths, we’ve extended it to make a fiercer underground club tool, without taking away that very charming cosmic feel”.

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Australia’s world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album Superb. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album.

Album opener “Sleep Dreams” is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect, but then lead single “Bully Ball” comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song’s gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like “Body Slam” that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on “Fare Evader” where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-fi film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like “Consulate Case” and “Tag Dag”; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk. They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on “Websites” and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with “Dreamer’s Disease”.

With their new album Superb, their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground’s most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.

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New UAR from brothers Marco and Riccardo Augeri

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 41st release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. Turning the spotlight to two monster funk/bossa nova cuts from Rosa Maria, we reissued a double header of firm favourites here at Mr Bongo HQ. Originally released on 7” in 1972 via Tapecar, copies of the OG are extremely difficult to get your hands on.

The A side houses ‘Deixa Nao Deixa’, with its distinct afro-Latin feel courtesy of the guitar, horns and percussion. Add in the catchy lead vocal, strong harmonies, funk/bossa drum grooves, shuffling percussion and the continuous build to the end, and you have one of the greatest Brazilian funk records ever pressed.

‘Avenida Atlantica’ takes the B side. Funk and bossa drum grooves alternate underneath the layers of vocals, horns, piano and percussion for a fiery, energetic dancefloor heater.

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Florence Adooni Unleashes A.O.E.I.U. – An Afro-Futuristic Highlife Odyssey: Step into the future of highlife with Florence Adooni's debut album, A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity). Rooted in the rich traditions of Ghana's Fra Fra culture and propelled by cosmic production from Philophon Records' visionary Max Weissenfeldt, this release is a bold fusion of ancestral rhythms and forward-thinking grooves. Across seven transcendent tracks, Florence's luminous vocals lead the charge, weaving through celestial saxophone lines, syncopated highlife guitar riffs, and pulsating basslines. From the ethereal echoes of Mam Pe'ela Su'ure (My Heart is Pure) to the hypnotic funk of Uh-Ah Song, A.O.E.I.U. is a sonic journey where tradition meets innovation, connecting the past, present, and future in a single breath.

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Long time friend of the label and Stones Throw alumni ‘Rejoicer’ joins forces with longtime collaborator, fellow Apifera band member and renowned pianist Nitai Hershkovits to present a new moniker and concept piece “Cinema Royal” - a delicate yet audacious album that quietly commands attention.

A1 THE TRUE NORTH
A2 FOOD BOWL
A3 CINEMA ROYAL
A4 AFFAIR IN REDONDO
B1 APRYL'S VELVET DRESS
B2 THE ORCHARD DREAM
B3 HER, I
B4 DON'T WAIT FOR US


Listening link: https://listen.k7.com/efff337c-1b6e-4862-bc25-2ab0a2403896

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The Dubplate series comes to the label’s spiritual home of Hackney, the stomping ground of the Douglas “Dougie” Waldrop and his Conscious Sounds label with the spin off Dub meets Funk project. The music of the Dub Specialists is presented with extended re-edits by label owners Piers Harrison and Stuart “Chuggy” Leath, alongside rising selector star Millie McKee and studio master extraordinaire Matt Bruce (Vanity Project).

Formed in 1989, Conscious Sounds and the Conscious Music studio have been mainstays on the UK Digital Roots scene to this day, working with the likes Bush Chemists, Johan Dan, Kenny Knots and Pablo Gad. The Dub Specialists was a project created by Dougie to put aside studio sessions and explore a new interest in samplers, working with friend Chris Petter (Love Grocer) and his interest in Jazz and Funk.

Using the Atari 1040 running Cubase, with a Soundcraft mixer, drum loops and Reggae basslines were played over Funk samples and layered with Petter’s chords to create a series of short tracks for DJ play. Releasing 3 albums between 1995 and 1999 on the sub label Crispy Music, they have more recently been gaining cult status.

The tracks chosen all come from the first and increasingly sought after LP, Dub To Dub Break To Break and have been extended, stretched, looped and dubbed by the label family to form a club friendly EP. From the dance floor jams of Dub De Funk and Funkin’ Dub to the deeper Movin Ya (with additional flute by Millie) and Murderous Style, this is a unique fusion of Funk and Digidub that fits perfectly the ideals of the Dubplate Series.

Break The Mystery.

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Summertime Green Vinyl!

For almost everyone, the entry point for discovering the music of Q Lazzarus came via “Goodbye Horses.” The song first appeared in 1988, via Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob, but it would not become fully lodged into popular consciousness until it infamously materialized again in Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs in 1991. “Goodbye Horses” felt like a self-contained universe – dreamlike and wholly unusual, an instant classic that left listeners captivated and curious about the mysterious voice behind it. That voice belonged to Diane Luckey, a uniquely talented artist whose music was ahead of its time and who would ultimately remain largely unrecognized in her lifetime.

In conjunction with the release of Aridjis Fuentes’ documentary film Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus, Sacred Bones is releasing a collection of songs that span the entirety of Q’s career, showcasing the different eras of her work and the full breadth of her personality. Released in collaboration with the family of Q, it has the distinction of being her first and only full-length release.

Recorded between 1985 and 1995, this trove of previously unreleased music reflects some of the most interesting facets of pop music from the past four decades in a way that feels both savvy and wildly eclectic. The titular “Goodbye Horses” remains a singular piece of spooky new wave perfection and one might imagine an entire Q Lazzarus album coiled around this aesthetic, but much like singers such as Alison Moyet, Annie Lennox, or Lisa Gerrard, Q’s chameleonic voice could lend itself perfectly to a variety of styles and settings. Her cover of Talking Heads’ “Heaven” transforms the song into a full-throated power ballad complete with tinkly piano flourishes, while her take on Gershwin’s “Summertime” sounds like the kind of dubby club redux that could have been a perfect companion to anything from Nightclubbing-era Grace Jones. Tracks like “My Mistake” and “Hellfire” flirt with house music and showcase just how brassy and belty Q’s voice could be when she really let loose, while “Don’t Let Go” sounds like the kind of bombastic radio single Cher might have released several decades ago. Elsewhere, songs like “Bang Bang” and “I See Your Eyes” espouse the kind of guitar-driven alt-rock sensibilities that, in a parallel universe, could have made them staples on 120 Minutes.

Goodbye Horses represents the potential for so many different kinds of careers that, for whatever reason, never fully materialized. That we now have these songs in the world, and a clearer picture of the person behind them, is nothing short of a blessing.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 54th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. For this 7” double header we turned our attention to two outstanding boogie gems from Hanna and Almir Ricardi.

Up first, ‘Deixa Rodar’ is an essential midtempo disco/boogie jam taken from Hanna’s 1979 Deixa Rodar LP from 1979. A tip off from our good friend Mark ‘GV’ Taylor, this is a sure-fire way to light up any dancefloor and was featured in DJ Koco’s incredible Brazil 45’s mix.

On the B side, ‘To Parado Na Tua’ is another killer midtempo disco/boogie cut, this time from Almir Ricardi in 1984. Produced by the legendary duo of Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge it exudes that feel-good boogie flavour they are famous for. Taken from the sought after and now fairly pricey ‘Festa Funk’ LP on RGE.

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Repress!

‘Self Oscillation’ is made up of 5 club-ready psychedelic workouts swaying with natural momentum, from
Ecuadorian superstar Nicola Cruz, who makes his 2nd appearance on London’s Rhythm Section INTL.

The internationally renowned producer, Nicola Cruz, has been instrumental in pioneering the sound of Andean music over the last decade. Born and raised in Ecuador, Nicola has found his own unique way to tap into Latin America’s illustrious musical past to create something utterly contemporary. His previous projects have had the 4 elements running through as major themes: Fire and lava erupted during his sophomore album, Siku, with an Ecuadorian volcano doubling up as a recording space. And now, with his second Rhythm Section release, we are met with sounds of flowing water that Nicola describes as “aqueous explorations”. On this EP, ‘Self Oscillation’, Nicola Cruz fuses experimental production techniques with underwater, bass-heavy constructions. Moods change like the tides; from euphoric highs with acid riffs and latin drum patterns, the music quickly dives to moody submarine basslines and dark, frenetic rhythms.

‘Self Oscillation’ sees Nicola’s production move to new heights as he expertly bridges the gap between natural and mechanical sounds. With the help of iconic 80s and 90s synths and the retro colours of a Roland Space Echo, his newest work is a hybrid of electronic dance music and a synaesthetic image of nature. In the spirit of his previous EP on Rhythm Section INTL, ‘Self Oscillation’ showcases the synergy - or rather ongoing battle between the organic and inorganic, the analog and digital, civilisation confronted and confounded by nature. It’s within this dichotomy that Cruz revels, and manages to say so much, without words.

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After the hugely successful 'Leave Your Life' & 'Strings Of Eden' EPs, Alex Kassian continues to defy convention and expectation with his return to Pinchy and Friends Recordings. The 'Body Singer' EP channels Alex's teenage dream of being in a band, taking inspiration from his love of 80’s movies, complete with Analog New Wave / Psyche / Kraut Rock influences. Its a trip down memory lane, or perhaps the soundtrack to something magical that hasn't happened yet. It's the audio behind that montage in that film you're watching, but the film is in fact, your own life.

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