Offering up brilliant soul, haunting ballads and high-energy mid-70s funk, this tasty medley is served best in its entirety. Indianapolis' legendary Rhythm Machine is one of the rare funk bands that transitioned between eras of funk's history seamlessly, creating awesome funk sides for a host of independent labels between the years of 1968 and 1976. Born out of cult Indy funk band The Highlighters' ashes, the Rhythm Machine was founded in the early '70s by bass player James Boone and guitarist James Brantley. Their self-titled and only LP, originally released in 1976, is a wild, super-groovy ride with tight band energy and a bunch of unexpected twists that keep things interesting from start to finish. At first, you might catch some Earth, Wind & Fire vibes-deep basslines, funky beats, and killer horn sections-but dig a little deeper and you'll find something a little looser, a little cooler. There's a smooth, jazzy undercurrent running through a lot of these tracks that gives the whole thing a fresh, off-the-beaten-path feel. Some songs drift into a dreamy, almost spacey zone-think cosmic funk with a romantic twist. The production is silky, almost liquid-like, letting the guitars shimmer and the keys float. And when the soprano sax kicks in? Pure magic. It adds just the right bite to take the tracks up a notch. Perfect for late-night grooves, chill sessions, or anyone hunting for that hidden gem funk record with serious soul. Virtually impossible to find in its original edition, Vampisoul is now reissuing it once again thanks to a collaboration with Now Again.[info sheet from distr.]