Dâm-Funk‘s been brightening up our lives for a long while now, but even in the few months that have elapsed since we first interviewed the Californian, he’s come on leaps and bounds.We dug his mixtape with James Pants, but the main focus of our recent interest has been Damon Riddick’s already-seminal Toeachizown series, a run of generous-length digital EPs that will be released in CD compilation form by  Stone’s Throw on October 20. Afterwards there’ll be a lush 5xLP vinyl box set edition of Toeachizown from Stone’s Throw, which we know it’s going to be one of the most desirable deluxe music products to hit the market this year. Stone’s Throw, like FACT, understand the power of vinyl.

For those who aren’t yet familiar, it should be explained that Dam-Funk is quite the character. Known as LA’s ‘Ambassador of Boogie Funk’, he’s based in the Leimert Park area of the city, and as DJ and producer has cultivated his own unique brand of synth-heavy soul music rooted in 80s boogie and electro-funk.As a DJ, Dam’s selection skills are world-renowned; not only does he uncover the most obscure nugget’s from boogie-funk’s back pages, he’s also passionate about letting his audiences know exactly what they’re hearing – the opposite of the typical guarded digger who wants to protect his discoveries from the rest of the world. Dam is all about spreading the good word. He’s an ambassador, innit.

A tripped-out synth odyssey that somehow reminds us of Prince, Derrick May and Manuel Goettsching all at once. No mean feat.

It’s as a producer, though, that Dam-Funk has been dazzling us of late. He manages at once to achieve a warm, honeyed Cali sound that’s nonetheless psychedelic and at times properly out-there. Heavy bass and blissed-out electronics are at the fore – the man has an awe-inspiring collection of vintage synths and drum machines at his disposal – and though his is music that pays homage to the past, it remains assuredly, pointedly futuristic. He calls his style "modern-funk", and as usual, the guy’s dead-on.The Toeachizown album is a powerful encapsulation of where Dam’s sound is at right now, and even those who’ve closely his followed his numerous digital, mixtape and vinyl releases will find much to to surprise and excite them here. We can tell you now that ‘Searchin’ 4 Funk’s Future’ is one of the year’s very best tracks, a tripped-out synth odyssey that somehow reminds us of Prince, Derrick May and Manuel Goettsching all at once. No mean feat.So anyway, here’s the rub: the super-generous people at Stone’s Throw are giving us one of those ridiculously nice 5×12" Toeachizown boxsets to award to one very lucky FACT reader. And yes, you could well be that lucky reader. To be in with a chance of winning, you need to enter the prize-draw by visiting our competitions page.