Originally hailing from the UK, Regal is now a Sydney institution. Having been a founding member of both The Wiseguys and The Bronx Dogs, ‘Loop Dreams’ is his debut solo album, and a pretty fine piece of work it is too. While on Basement Digs in Australia, the album is being released on Unique in Europe and Funk Weapons (All Good Funk Alliance’s label) in the US – giving some idea of the esteem in which Regal is held around the world.

The album kicks off with ‘Polar Ice’, a jazzy little track featuring the keyboard talents of Jimi Polar. Jimi Polar has been impressing lately with his contribution to Rephrase’s album and his solo work on the ‘Future Classic Exclusives’ compilation, and his contribution here, and as studio engineer for the album reinforces this. ‘The Village Calling’ is an irrepressible downbeat funk offering, and is probably worth the price of admission alone, with its rolling bassline and ever-so-cool vocal samples.

‘Searching for Peace’ is a deeply layered track that would not be out of place on a Ninja Tune release, while the jazzy sounds of ‘Captain Ahab’ and the blaxpoitation funk of ‘The Mack’ keep the album from sounding derivative. ‘Shock Ya Mind’ brings the dancefloor funk, and gives Regal an opportunity to get his scratch on. ‘Old Friends’ is a slow burning downbeat monster, which more than makes up for the slightly disappointing looped psychedelia of ‘Loop Dreams’.

Regal has been doing this music thing for a while now, and you really get the impression that this is an album made for himself, rather than something intended to appeal to the masses and shift a million units – and it’s a better album for it. Highly recommended.