Keith Mansfield - Contempo (KPM) - VINYL LP

The creator of the romping tunes that became the iconic themes to the BBC's Grandstand program and their televised Wimbledon Tennis Championship coverage, Keith Mansfield was perhaps KPM's most prolific artist from the mid-1960s right the way through the 1980s. As well as the sort of pop orchestral sound that is all over these classic library records, he could also turn his hand to raw, edgy rock and funk. Quentin Tarantino is a big fan, going as far as including some of Keith's work on the soundtracks to Kill Bill and Grindhouse.Many library records are a game of two halves and Contempo is certainly one of those. The first side cooks on a high funk breaks flame whilst the flip is something altogether more tranquil, yet no less groovy. It lays back with dreamier, post-coital grooves.Rugged funk opener InchThe FixInch confidently displays it's low slung languid grooves with heavy drums, horns and bass. Smokin' in slow motion. The punchy InchWhat's CookingInch follows and has a lighter, more whimsical touch. But the drums still roll and the clavs wiggle in fascinating opposition to those horns. The dark and moody intro to InchCut To MusicInch gives way to a more inclusive, relaxed funk that's all irresistible bass and stabbing horns. The mid-tempo InchMan AliveInch signals the time to really get down. A percussive monster jam. If you can't strut to this then we really can't help you! Closing out the A-side, fresh guitar licks drip all over the slick drums of InchFunky FootageInch, with a New Orleans piano vibe coming on to really light a fire.Whilst the dramatic crime funk of the A-side is enough on it's own to have earned this record it's place in the great library record canon, it's undoubtedly the more smoothed out B side for which Contempo is rightfully adored and celebrated. It's so chilled and mellow, with beautifully arranged, sweeping strings, sax solos aplenty