Review: Lance Ferguson’s Rare Groove Spectrum - Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 3 (Tru Thoughts)

New  Zealand-born, Melbourne-based multi-hyphenate Lance Ferguson presents new album Rare Groove Spectrum Vol.3, a soulful, live-band journey covering classics and rarities in funk, jazz, latin, soul and beyond, fusing crate-digger sensibilities with modern studio craft.

We already acknowledged that the Australian music scene owes much to Lance Ferguson for high ligthing Melbourne with Kylie Auldist in the Bamboos, Cooking On 3 Burners (don't miss their first album in 6 years - see review HERE), Machines Always Win, Menagerie, The Ferguson Rogers Process and the Rare Groove Spectrum that is now on Volume 3.

You'll recall the cover version Billy Elish's 'My Future' that features the vocals of Rita Satch (see HERE - and her album, 'Meet Me In The Garden' - see review HERE) but it's interesting to consider whether this was a ploy to introduce older soul-funkers to the work of Ms. Elish or to get youngsters to enjoy the older classics that Ferguson introduces us to.

I did see the other day on a Social Media post that Idris Muhammad’s 1977 jazz-funk crossover hit, 'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' as "little known" - really!  Well, if it is, it won't be after this version that's very respectful to the original. And not far behind, early jazz-funk "hit" 'Caveman Boogie' (original by Lesette Wilson) gets a workout a you may remember Bugz In The Attic remixed Gene Harris' 'Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong' 20 years ago so that might have dropped off some folks' radar as being a top Latin Blue Note track so interesting to hear Lance's version as more of Brazil '66 bossa.

And clearly he's big on digging like any hip-hop kid, so the extremes range from Library "god", Keith Mansfield with his 1975 'Hot Source' as already done by Hot Source; here as 'Oz Bump' with a great sax solo - KPM royalty.

And closer to the source is 'Runnin' (Earth, Wind & Fire) - wayoooooooo etc - and 'Fourty Days' (Billy Brooks / A Tribe Called Quest) - vous le vous - and Jimmy McGriff's 'Dig It'. 

The album opens with 'Dominoes', nothing to do with Donald Byrd but the Jungle track and in the 'every day a school day' envelope as Lance "also shines a light on homegrown legends with “Song For Bobby”, originally by ‘70s jazz-funk outfit Pyramid, featuring a heartfelt solo by Ross Irwin in tribute to the late Bobby Venier".

The whole album is great and will maintain Ferguson's favoured position on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) along with Huey Morgan, Gilles Peterson, Colin Parnell and loads more as it's much more than a 101 to jazz-funk-soul dancefloor greats. 

BUY LINK: Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3 | Lance Ferguson

Artist: Lance Ferguson’s Rare Groove Spectrum

Title: Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 3

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRU471

Format: LP / Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lance Ferguson - My Future feat. Rita Satch (Tru-Thoughts)

Lance is back for more with a single that singles the future is looking bright with Rita Satch - out today!

Australian musicians have a lot to thank Lance Ferguson for as it was he that largely funked and souled his way into putting the spotlight on Melbourne having worked with Kylie Auldist in the Bamboos, Cooking On 3 Burners, Rare Groove Spectrum, Machines Always Win, Menagerie and most recently, The Ferguson Rogers Process.

You'll recall his album 'L’Océan de toi' (see review HERE) from earlier this year but this single, 'My Future' is a return to another one of his areas of expertise, the cover version (this time Billy Elish) and features the vocals of Rita Satch; yes the same '[Meet Me In The Garden' Rita Satch (see review HERE).

And don't take this the wrong way Rita, the instrumental version is a corker with the trumpet solo - such a shame it fades out.

Ferguson has been a regular feature on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) and with the news that this is a taster for the album, 'Rare Groove Spectum, Vol. 3, expect to hear his all over groovy radio station.

Artist: Lance Ferguson

Title: My Future ft. Rita Satch 

Release date: 16th October, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD677

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lance Ferguson - L’Océan de toi (Pacific Theatre)

When you're looking for a new soundtrack to a 'lost' 1981 lounge-exotica French film, you might not immediately think the Lance Ferguson is your man?  Well if not, that's all about to change as here's the brand new soundtrack al la cinematic funk from down under (ooh err).

So, if we ignore the BeeGees, Kylie & Jason, Lance was at the forefront of new Australian musicians that could soul, funk, boogie and all other things.  Having works with (feat. Kylie Auldist) in the Bamboos and Cooking On 3 Burners he's also in Rare Groove Spectrum, Machines Always Win, Menagerie and most recently, The Ferguson Rogers Process.

' L’Océan de toi' consists of 9 tracks of dreamy, sexy, funk that you could play out ('Rue de la Plaix') or just relax to by the Balaeric soul pool, ('Dream Diry', 'Swimming Pool', 'Moonface'), perhaps with a drink or two.

'Green Eyes' is a great example how Lance's guitar can add soul and grace to a big choral sound whist 'The Ocean Of You' is pure pop.  'Vanishing Act' (a key part of the film's story') is envisaged as a big Marvin Gaye stsyle soul/funk instrumental with stings: it's brilliant and then  sooths its way into the title track.

At one time, Fergusson was a weekly feature on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) as Freesstyle and Tru-Thoughts were both releasing his music but even so, still not the obvious choice for the original Director of the flim, Leroi Alarie (now aged 69) to ask to re-score it to replace the original "cobbled together" library sample soundtrack.

Fergusson is now one of many that's come outta Melbourne (get another this week Don Giori - see review HERE) but clearly he's your man of 80's Franco-Aus summer teen film scores, check it out now.

And incredibly enough, out on the same day is Gianni Brezzo's 'Sprechiamo!' that's in a similar OST/library ballpark.

Artist: Lance Ferguson

Title:  L’Océan de toi

Release date: 28th March, 2025

Label : Pacific Theatre

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp