JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Diana Ross’ 80th birthday.
Category: 1960s soul
Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, Aretha Franklin!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Aretha Franklin’s 82nd birthday.
Throwback: Happy 81st Birthday, Sly Stone!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Sly and the Family Stone’s Sly Stone’s 81st birthday.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month: James Brown
JOVM’s WIlliam Ruben Helms celebrates and closes out Black History Month with James Brown.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month/Happy 84th Birthday, Smokey Robinson!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month and Smokey Robinson’s 84th birthday.
Throwback: Black History Month/Happy Belated 81st Birthday Maceo Parker!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and belatedly, Maceo Parker’s 81st birthday.
Moscow-based instrumental funk outfit The Diasonics — Anton Moskvin (drums), Maxim Brusov (bass guitar), Anton Katyrin (percussions), Daniil Lutsenko (guitar) and Kamil Gzizov (keys) — formed back in 2019 and quickly developed a sound that they’ve dubbed “hussar funk,” a blend of elements of hip-hop rhythms, 60s and 70s psychedelia and Eastern European flavor paired with cinematic-leaning arrangements. And with their unique sound and approach, the Russian funk quartet have managed amass a cult following within the international funk and soul scenes.
Since 2019, The Diasonics have been remarkably prolific: They’ve released ten highly-celebrated singles and various in-demand 45s through indie funk labels like Funk Night Records and Mocambo Records. Their full-length debut, 2022’s Origins of Forms was released through acclaimed Italian funk and soul purveyors, Record Kicks.
Recorded on an Otari MX-5050 MK III at Moscow’s Magnetone Studio and mixed by The Cactus Channel‘s and Karate Boogaloo‘s Henry Jenkins in Melbourne, Origins of Forms‘ saw the Russian outfit firmly cementing their overall sound and aesthetic.
The Diasonics’ latest single, the Henry Jenkins produced and mixed “Beggin'” is an instrumental rendition of a Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina penned tune that was recorded by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in 1967. “Beggin'” became a British, Northern Soul scene classic in the late 1970s — and since then has been covered numerous times over the years, including most recently by Italian rock group Måneskin. The Diasonics rendition retains the dance floor friendliness of the original but with a bit more of an emphasis on wah-wah guitar-driven, soaring and glistening keys and a ridiculously supple and funky bass line, making it a must-have for those looking for deep grooves.
“Beggin'” is available on all digital stream platforms, but it also will be releasing on a limited edition 45 vinyl on March 8. Pre-order here.
Throwback: Black History Month: The Supremes
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month and pays tributes to the glamorous Supremes.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month: Aretha Franklin
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month/Happy 81st Birthday, Dennis Edwards!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and the 81st anniversary of The Temptations’ Dennis Edwards’ birth.