Back in 2010, I had the pleasure of doing a load of gigs with the wonderful Randa Khamis before she headed back to Australia to work on her second album with The Bamboos’ main man Lance Ferguson. The album is now hear, and certainly worth the wait.

Purchase on CD, Vinyl and Digi via the Freestyle site here.
Listen back to myself and Randa on Skanks Radio here.

Further info about the new album below…

Randa & The Soul Kingdom are back – with producer Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Cookin On 3 Burners, Lanu, Black Feeling) at the controls.

The buzz on Randa And The Soul Kingdom began after the self titled debut album resulted in a full European tour with label mates Deep Street Soul, a live session for Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio 2. Randa was lauded as a modern day equivalent to Marva Whitney, Ann Sexton and Vicki Anderson in their prime by Mojo Magazine, Blues & Soul and Randa’s music even featuring in the US version of teen TV show Skins.

Instead of flying straight back to Australia after the tour, Randa spent 6 months residing in London, collaborating with lik-minded funk & soul artists to write her second album. Inspired and influenced by the music and musicians in London, this second album What You Need was born. Finally back in Melbourne, Australia she went straight into The Shed Studios where the songs were recorded and produced by Lance Ferguson and John Castle (Megan Washington) once again at the controls.

To help promote the new album, Randa has put together a short mix of her own tracks (new and old) plus some of her inspirations too.

In support of his new album, This Time, Lack Of Afro has put together this sharp blend of his own tracks – including brand new cuts from the new album – plus some choice influences and selections.

This Time is out via Freestyle Records on Monday 26 September, and the lead single, A Time For… (featuring Wayne Gidden) is out right now. You can check out the hilarious video in my previous post here.

This year, as well as collaborating on an album project with Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, having also produced and played on the album, Colours, by Freestyle label mate Frootful, Adam (LOA) somehow found time to create what is rumoured to be his strongest album yet.

Killer soul number taken from Lack Of Afro’s forthcoming LP due out in September 2011 on Freestyle Records. Rumoured to be his best album yet, I’m really excited for this one.

You can grab a copy of “A Time For…” on 45 here.

If you’re new to L.O.A, be sure to catch up by grabbing copies of his Press On (2007) and My Groove Your Move (2009) albums, a variety of other 12″ & 7″ releases, as well as his infamous remixes for the likes of Tom Jones, The Pharcyde, The New Mastersounds and Kraak & Smaak.

In addition, Freestyle have just uploaded LOA’s brand new mix in support of the new album…

For those of you that missed it, you can listen back via my spanking new Mixcloud account here or in the widget below.

As you may already know, I’ve been doing a few live PA shows with Randa Khamis from Randa And The Soul Kingdom (Freestyle Records).

We will be doing a couple of hours this Friday night at The Westbury, and I’d really love to get a load of people along to check it out. It’s awfully funky, and Randa has an incredible voice!

If you missed our killer aftershow party for Corrina Greyson‘s night at Jazz Cafe, then here’s your second chance!

We’re doing 9pm – 11pm, and there’s DJ’s afterwards to continue the party on.

Check the Facebook Event here.

Email for guestlist here.

Freestyle Records and Wah Wah 45s have got together to bring you one of the most formidable and exciting line-ups of the year to celebrate the release of The Baker Brothers‘ new album, ‘Avid Sounds‘!

Scrimshire in support offering up their magical concoction of soul, jazz and a little folk (that stunned a packed Luminaire earlier this year) and DJs taking you into the early hours in the shape of label bosses Adrian Gibson & Dom Servini!! This is simply an essential gig!!

At where else but the Time Out London Live Venue of the year – The Luminaire on Friday Novemeber 13.

THE BAKER BROTHERS (FREESTYLE) full live set
SCRIMSHIRE (WAH WAH 45S) full live set
ADRIAN GIBSON (FREESTYLE) DJ set
DOM SERVINI (WAH WAH 45S) DJ set

Check the Facebook Event here.

Here’s a bit of The Baker Brothers live in action over in Japan earlier this year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO46e3s3FQ0&hl=en&fs=1&]

As for the Album itself, I’ve been blasting it all week and it’s a good’en. Covers of tracks from the likes of The Blackbyrds, Gil Scott Heron, Sly & The Family Stone make this album well worth some listening time. Buy it here on Freestyle Records.

Don’t sleep!