Betty Davis
Betty Davis (2023 Repress)

PPU's first long-play LP highlights some of the early beginnings of one of the label's favorite producers, UKku Kuut. Written and recorded at Uku's home studio in Los Angeles and Stockholm between 1982 & 1989.Some tracks co-written with Maryn E. Coote, famous jazz vocalist who had her beginnings in 1960s Soviet Union. "That's my MOM" recalls UKU, "I remember when I was little, sitting under the mixing board at her sessions". Growing up in studios, Uku's love of music production began early, and over the years he has amassed a vast collection of domestic and soviet electronic gear. In true PPU style this LP is a mix of Uku Kuut's raw cassette demos, forgotten masters and unreleased magic.

The third album from the legendary Cymande.180-gram vinyl, mastered from original tapes, replica original artwork, official Mr Bongo reissue

A classic Nigerian funk masterclass from Ofege, a ragtag band of Lagos-based teenagers who formed a funk band on a whim in the early 1970s. Blending foreign influences from Jimmy Page to Carlos Santana, and their local heroes including The Funkees and BLO, 'Try And Love' is an honest and true blending of regional and international styles, with the already-established Western genres of rock n' roll, psych and funk particle-colliding neatly with the orange-tinged uplift of West African highlife. On this first official release, catch the "first ever Lagosian boy band" in their best-quality rendition yet; watch out for the colour vinyl variants too.

Originally released as a private pressing, Magnetic Eyes by Jeff Phelps has inspired myriad contemporary greats with its modern soul, electro-boogie, and disco score, which first arrived in 1985. DaM Funk loves it so much apparently he once said: "Beautiful chords throughout via warm synths & keyboards, great drum machine usage, topped with unique vocals, resulting in satisfying aural, electric-analog-soul pleasures."Hit play and you immediately see what he means. Although this is very much machine music, there's a loose feeling to the arrangements, which feel born more from funk than electro. Shades of an experimental Prince are audible in some sections, synthesised soul is constant and the dance floor potential of the predominantly upbeat tracks cannot be denied.