Manu Dibango & Ray Barretto - Panther / Together

Solo 500 is back with a deep-digging two-sided record that unearths Afro-Latin and jazz-funk treasures.

Side A opens with Manu Dibango's 'The Panther' from 1973's Africadelic, a low-slung Afro-funk groove with stalking bass and suspenseful horns that feels fresh precisely because it hasn't been overexposed. The tension and texture make it a hidden gem for selectors chasing nuance over recognition. 

Side B shifts to Latin jazz-funk, spotlighting Ray Barretto's 'Together' from 1969. Rolling congas, warm keys and a communal energy make it ideal for dance floors or DJ sets that prize rhythmic life over familiar loops. Both sides reward attentive listening.