Masterology

Over the past dozen-plus years, England's widely celebrated New Mastersounds have been at the forefront of an international musical revolution. Rising from the fertile club culture of their hometown of Leeds, the adventurous foursome--which now numbers guitarist/producer Eddie Roberts, bassist Pete Shand, drummer Simon Allen and Hammond organist Joe Tatton--has drawn upon a deep knowledge of old-school R&B, soul, funk and jazz to create powerful, distinctive new music that's rooted in tradition yet consistently innovative and forward-thinking.

Over the course of seven studio albums, along with numerous singles, EPs, remixes, live recordings and compilation tracks, the New Mastersounds have evolved into a potent, influential musical force that's earned loyalty from a large and diverse worldwide fan base, while commanding respect from musicians and critics. They've also collaborated, individually and collectively, with an impressive array of artists, including Corinne Bailey Rae, Lou Donaldson, Quantic, Carleen Anderson, Keb Darge, Idris Muhammad, Lonnie Smith, Galactic, Papa Mali, the Greyboy Allstars and George Porter Jr. of the Meters. The New Mastersounds have also toured widely throughout the UK and Europe, and made some high-profile live appearances in the US, which have helped to win the group an enthusiastic American audience.

Now, Sundazed Music has assembled Masterology: The Pioneers of New British Funk, which collects a career-spanning selection of highlights from the New Mastersounds' catalog, along with a scintillating smattering of rarities. Distilling the band's widescreen sonic vision into a massively impressive package, it's a monumental testament to the New Mastersounds' seminal body of work. Masterology is available in both compact disc and LP versions. The CD features 19 tracks drawn from the quartet's history, while the double-LP gatefold edition--pressed on high-definition vinyl--contains 20 tracks. In any format, it's a killer celebration of the New Mastersounds' international funk uprising!