Review: Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Black Butterfly (Dorado Records)

Spring is here and Brooklyn Funk Essentials have released the chrysalis that is the album, 'Black Butterfly'; get ready for it to funk in your musical garden this year! 

Not that long ago the Brooklyn Funk Essentials were on the 'Bust The Bus Stop' funk 'Special' (see review HERE) and as that got upto full speed, they're now back with a eighth studio album called 'Black Butterfly'.

Along with 'Never Give Up' and 'Life During Wartime', a cover of one of many Talkings Heads classic tracks that they've made sound so funk-cool in this version, it's no wonder that they're on the playlist of BBC 6 Music, Radio 2 and Jazz FM; you know, it's going to be Craif Charles and Cerys Matthews.

"The album was produced and co-written by bassist Lati Kronlund and features Alison Limerick, Ebba Åsman and Desmond Foster on vocals.  Kronlund explains, ‘The black butterfly is a symbol of hope, renewal and inevitable change. 'Black Butterfly' - the album - is a solid group collaboration highlighting and expanding BFE’s signature style and musical prowess. Recorded live-in-the-studio, 'Black Butterfly' finds the cadre of stellar musicians exploring a bounty of multi-rhythms, analog instrumentation, funky jams and winsome arrangements. Brooklyn Funk Essentials once again deliver a full length journey of songs within a lyrical framework of love, respect, inclusion, hopefulness and dreams."

Kronlund and Limerick have been enjoying the recent renewed interest in ‘Where Love Lives, a track Kronlund wrote and produced it for Limerick in 1990, it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales and became a club classic and was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV Ad.

Since their first release, on Dorado Records in 1993, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have built a devoted international following who are ready for this next chapter.   Indeed, the title track is less funk and more ambient-soul-folk would you believe and add to that the downtempo space soul of 'The Girl from Outer Space' and you've got more than a winner on your hands!  Don't get me wrong, there's definitely enough 'essential' funk for old and new fans alike, 'Never Give Up On Love' sounds more 'classic' on every listen.

And shamelessly, they release an album without a duff track on it so get ordering vinyls now before it's too late; as recommended by the girl frorm outer space.

P.S. Ebba Åsman on trombone is fantastic!

BUY LINK / Pre Order: https://brooklynfunkessentials.bandcamp.com/album/black-butterfly

Artist: Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Title: Black Butterfly

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label : Dorado Records

Catalog Number : DOR170D

Format: Limited Edition Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Bust The Bus Stop / Never Give Up (Dorado Records)

How great to see Dorado Records back in the game along with two big 'uns from the Brooklyn Funk Essentials; absolutely the prescription as to why you should 'Never Give Up' and 'Bust The Bus Stop' all at the same time! 

Regualar readers will know that we love a bus/train/tram and other assorted transport sytsems so when Brooklyn Funk Essentials gets ready to 'Bust The Bus Stop', we're right behind 'em in the queue to route out the funk.

This follows the band's recent hit ‘Never Give Up’, which has been supported by Craig Charles at 6 Music, Spoony and Trevor Nelson at Radio 2 as well as many stations across Europe and the Americas. Both tracks will be included on their new album ‘Black Butterfly’ (April 24th).

Originally founded by Lati Kronlund and hip-hop legend Arthur Baker, Brooklyn Funk Essentials have, over 30+ years and seven albums, built a devoted international following and notched up over 60 million streams. Fusing Soul, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Jazz, Latin, and, of course, Funk, the band’s journey began when Kronlund and Baker experimented with drum machines and loops in Baker’s Shakedown Sound Studio in Jersey City—hunting for that perfect beat. Early recordings featured greats such as Maceo Parker, Lenny Pickett, Tower of Power Horns, Michigan & Smiley, and Dizzy Gillespie, leading to the acclaimed debut ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ (1994). Fast-forward to April 2024, when Kronlund reunited with Baker in Miami, rediscovering recordings featuring percussion prodigy Bashiri Johnson, which inspired new creative sparks for the next chapter of Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

The band’s acclaimed catalogue also includes ‘In The Buzzbag’ (1998), ‘Make Them Like It’ (2000), ‘Watcha Playin’ (2008), ‘Funk Ain’t Ova’ (2015), ‘Stay Good’ (2019) and ‘Intuition’ (2023). Alison Limerick has featured as lead singer and co-writer since 2018. The 2023 album ‘Intuition’ contained the hit singles ‘Scream’, ‘AA Side Single’ and ‘How Happy’. Kronlund and Limerick have been enjoying the recent renewed interest in ‘Where Love Lives’. Kronlund wrote and produced it for Limerick in 1990, it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales and became a club classic and was featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV Ad. It was when Arthur Baker heard the original in a club in 1991 that he contacted Kronlund about working together and they then formed Brooklyn Funk Essentials. “In the summer of ’97, I bought a beat-up old Fender Rhodes Mark I electric piano from a guy in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It was held together with gaffer tape, but it sounded really good, so I figured it was worth the $500 he was asking for it. As soon as I got it into my studio, I started jamming on it and that’s how I came up with the groove for ‘Bust The Bus Stop’. I recorded a first version of it with BFE members Yancy Drew (drums), Paul Shapiro (sax & flute) and Bob Brockmann (trumpet) which was released on a funk compilation, but I didn’t bring the song to BFE at that time. Fast forward to last summer when I came across that old recording and thought that it would be a perfect song to pick up for the current version of the band and turn it into a party jam. When we recorded the new version, Ebba Åsman - our trombone player, came up with an additional horn line which worked really well with the groove. I also added the lyrics for the vocal chant sung by Alison Limerick, Desmond Foster and Ebba.” - Lati Kronlund

The Bus Stop is a disco line dance from the mid-seventies which requires a mid-tempo (110 bpm) groove with a good swinging shuffle. Typical original Bus Stop jams are ‘Do It Any Way You Wanna’ by People’s Choice, ‘We Got The Funk’ by Positive Force and, of course ‘(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ by Fatback Band - All are huge influences to Brooklyn Funk Essentials.

‘Never Give Up’ is already picking up radio play from BBC Radio 2’s DJ Spoony, as well as BBC Radio 6 Music and Jazz FM. With its irresistible groove and uplifting lyrics—sung by Alison Limerick together with Desmond Foster (guitar/vocals) and Ebba Åsman (trombone)—the track shares a powerful message: even when times are hard, we must never give up trust in ourselves or the fight for what is good. Both ‘Where Love Lives’ and ‘Never Give Up’ share uplifting themes of love, hope, and resilience — values that resonate strongly during the holidays. The connection between the two songs reinforces Lati’s artistry and songwriting consistency across time.

The new album will be released on Dorado Records, a pioneering London-based independent label covering Soul, Jazz, Trip Hop, Drum & Bass, and UK Garage. Founded in 1992 by Ollie Buckwell and Charlie Lexton, the label is home to Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Jhelisa, Ebba Åsman, Sunship, D*Note, Natalie Walker, and Outside, among others..

BUY LINK / Pre Order: https://lnk.to/busthebusstop

Artist: Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Title: Bust The Bus Stop / Never Give Up

Release date: 28th January, 2026

Label : Dorado Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp