Lance Ferguson’s Rare Groove Spectrum Vol.3 (Vinyl)

Producer, songwriter, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson returns with the third chapter in his widely celebrated series, Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3

Following the vibrant reimagining of Idris Muhammad’s 1977 jazz-funk cut “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This”, a bold take on Jungle’s cult track “Dominoes”, and a rich reinterpretation of Billie Eilish’s 2020 hit “My Future”, featuring the powerhouse vocals of Rita Satch, ‘Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3’ showcases Lance’s precision as a multi-instrumentalist and arranger, fusing crate-digger sensibilities with modern studio craft. “A big part of this series is honouring the originals while finding a new way in. You’ve got to be reverent, but inventive too,” he explains. Vol. 3 spans obscure ‘70s Australian jazz-funk, Big Band soul breaks, Latin-fusion classics and golden-era funk reworks, with each track filtered through Lance’s deep musical vocabulary and intuitive ear.

The album’s focus track, “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong”, encapsulates the heart of the Rare Groove Spectrum ethos: radical reinterpretation with deep respect. “I always wanted to hear Gene Harris’s Latin-fusion cut reimagined as a straight Bossa Nova. The vocal section even leans into a Brasil ‘66 vibe, which I think really suits it.”

One of the most ambitious productions on the album, “Runnin’” sees Lance channelling the widescreen sound of Earth, Wind & Fire, with a richly layered arrangement that took more studio time than any other track. On “Fourty Days”, he revisits Billy Brooks’ jazz-funk classic, famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, adding a full, cinematic horn section to match the original’s scale. “Oz Bump (Soul Thing)” is a playful nod to the Australian group Hot Source, a high-energy cover of their own 1975 reinterpretation of a Keith Mansfield tune.

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. While “Dig On It” takes a looser, jam-based approach inspired by Jimmy McGriff’s deep groove, “Caveman Boogie” leans into a live, dancefloor-ready feel, adding bounce and rhythmic punch to a crate-digger favourite.

Known for his work with The Bamboos, Menagerie and Lanu, Lance has carved a reputation as one of Australia’s most versatile and visionary musical minds. Lance has produced 45 full-length albums and more than 100 singles and remixes for an array of respected labels, including Atlantic, Universal, Warner, BMG, Sony, Tru Thoughts (UK), Ubiquity (USA), Inertia (Australia), Freestyle (UK) and his own imprint Pacific Theatre.

With Seven ARIA Award nominations and five APRA Music Award nominations, Lance’s global breakthrough came with co-writing and producing the viral smash ‘This Girl’ by Kungs vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners, which topped charts in over 10 countries, charted in 29, and amassed over 1.27 billion Spotify streams and 545 million YouTube views, earning multiple Platinum and Diamond certifications worldwide.

Lance’s collaborative spirit has seen him work with a diverse roster of artist, including Aloe Blacc, Roy Ayers, Alice Russell, Durand Jones, Tim Rogers, Daniel Merriweather, Quantic, Lyrics Born, Joey Dosik, Kylie Auldist, TY, and J-Live.