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: Rita Satch - Meet Me In The Garden (Silk Throne Records)

 

Is 14th Feb a significant date in the diary?  Well, you might be just about ready to fall in love with Ritch Satch as that's the day that her album 'Meet Me In The Garden' is released.

Rita has already impresed with the single 'Breath' (see review HERE) and since then (only November mind) we've even found more musicians from the Melbourne/Naarm area, Rami Iman (see review HERE) and Close Counters (see review HERE) to name just two (Ed. but we don't know anymore that were born in Uzbekistan!).

And even though they are the same city, Rita has definitely gone her own path in a luxouriously produced R&B, soul pop way - particularly on the appropriately named 'Lifeline' and whilst the cover looks like the Eygptian Queen has dressed up for the Secret Garden Festival, the hook on 'I Give It All to You' is another track to get folks excited.

It's another track that's got the benefit of Daniel 'The Bamboos' Mougerman's strings which weaves cinematic drama that's so drenched on this one; and don't forget the title track! It's a 12 piece orchestra on the album!

You'll recall that us Yogi/QiGung/Tai Chi types knew the inspiration for 'Breathe' was the result of some meditative exercise which is nice, but 'Meet Me In The Garden' will take her on a higher plane, if not levitation and I'm expecting end of year awards for this one; 'Meet Me In The Garden' is going to fly.

P.S. She's a 'Warrior Princess' too!

Artist: Rita Satch

Title:  Meet Me in the Garden

Release date: 14th February, 2025

Label: Silk Throne Records

Catalog Number: TBC 

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Rita Satch - Breathe (Silk Throne Records)

There is a tendency in the music biz that you have to be in [insert you're own prefered location whether it be capital city, West/East Coast or some iconic recording location] and whilst this can't be denied, there is another thought that it's just as important to make your own -  as Rita Satch might say, "Don't forget to breathe" as she takes us on a joyride of R&B soul-pop.

Rita might have been born in Uzbekistan but  having been brought up in Melbourne/Naarm she and her 5-piece band fits into the music culture that keeps on giving from 

Surprise Chef to Lance Ferguson to Tamil Rogeon to Allysha Joy and most recently, Ella Thompson (see review HERE).

In fact, Rita and Allysha both worked with Tamil on his 'Son Of NYX' album (the one before, last months' 'Wave Theory' on BBE - see review HERE) so she know her soul and funk as do her collaborators on 'Breathe' being fellow Melbourne/Naarm big 'eds, Paul Bender (Hiatus Kaiyote), Daniel Mougerman (The Bamboos), Ash Griffin (The Vaudeville Smash) and Javier Fredes. 

No surprise to us Yogi/QiGung/Tai Chi experts that the inspiration for 'Breathe' was the result of some meditative exercise and it's on that salutary note, there's a lesson for us all here.

Artist: Rita Satch

Title:  Breathe / Joyride

Release date: 13th November, 2024

Label: Silk Throne Records

Catalog Number: TBC 

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp