Elektrons
'Red Light, Don’t Stop'
Genuine

The Elektrons is a relatively new project between long time DJ buddies Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford, or you may have heard of them as the legendary ‘Unibombers'. A force that's capable of blending genres of music, creating that vibe where everyone parties as one!
 
The Manchester lads go way back in music and they made their name on the scene from  their well established 'Electric Chair' nights. After rippin up many sessions all over the world, putting on numerous events/ shows, mix cds, compilation albums and re-edits all to critically acclaimed standards, it was only a matter of  time before they bumped heads and got in the studio together. Now the dj/ production partnership under this buzzing moniker have been re-born, working hard to recreate what they’ve been doing live and what they do best, mixing up the styles.
One track that's been rocking my boat at the moment is the party ghetto stomper 'Get Up' ft J5 Rapper 'Soup' along with the awesome male vocalist Pete Simpson, and for me captures what the Elektrons sound is all about - deep soulful yet bouncy. This was released as their first single but didn’t feature Soup.
'Stop Hold It' ft the young very talented female MC 'Tor' is a firing brit hip-hop/ dancehall track, and one of the best I’ve heard in ages.

The whole album is lively and dirty but also has a summery feel. Fusing that contemporary British dance music, from futuristic disco to soul, these guys a have a big history in music and here they capture this pretty well. Keeping things underground but with a mainstream feel, it all moulds together nicely, overall creating an appealing album that keeps your feet moving.
(You could file this next to Basement Jaxx)
 
Nice.

Various Artists
'Colombia! - The Golden Years of Discos Fuentes - The powerhouse of Colombian Music (1960-1976)'
Soundway Records

Oww.. another Soundway album is upon us.. spread the word!. We've all been going a bit bananas over this one, BIG smiles all round. Damn it i bet the launch night was epic ?!.
Taking more than two years in the making, Miles Claret (Soundway Label boss) and the team have put together yet another storming compilation, having put in time and dedication searching through hot tropical conditions. Here they dig deep and pluck the fruits of the forest from the legendry Discos Fuentes Colombian record label. It's hard to believe the Colombian sound has been overshadowed by the New York centric latin scene, when the sound of this is so fresh and ripe, and now like their last comp, none of this music has been released outside of its origin.

Oh boy! Playing this feels like finding some sort of long lost golden treasure. The sound of Colombian music is definitely with us now thanks to Soundway.

From the Barrios and beaches of Colombia comes this mixture of hard, heavy, sexy Latin sounds and Afro rhythms from the '60s and '70s. Highlights include track 2 - Lito Barrientros y su Orguesta Cumbia En Do Menor, track 4 - La Sonora Clenaguera La Piojosa, and track 9 - Orquesta Nunez La Samaria, (don't ask me to try and pronounce those.) to name a few.
These guys are definitely on fire in what their'e doing, and the all round quality of the Soundway releases are a delight, and a real pleasure to collect.

A big album, 20 tracks in total, and it's all juicy. Play this very loud, and go crazy on the beach! The man Quantic has been heavy on this sound for some time now, so much so that he's moved to the place! He showed us just how good it gets when he recently dj-ed at a packed out 'Music Evolution' event.
Available both vinyl and cd with in-depth historic information.
Look out for the Volume 2 of Colombia! in the near future.
My legs and feet ache so bad from jumping around to this.
Best world compilation of 2007

Def Tex
'Thanks But No Thanks'
Son Records

The new album by the East Anglian Hip-Hop crew Def Tex has dropped.

Formed in 1987 and now having being together for over 20 years is something pretty special and an amazing achievement for a collective. I confess i haven't followed these guys much but this is happening right now!

The first thing to hit home is the brilliant production and the beat patterns, brought to you by Hungry Ghost and R-Key. The majority of the production though is handled by the whole crew, giving that zing to this fine brew. It's obvious$ that these guys have a big love of old music as well as being into their future music. Fat, squelchy, dubby electronic bass sounds and live instrumentation is the platform for MC Chrome and The Anthropologist to unleash their mic skills. From the opening amped up funk of 'What The? to the reggae tinged 'These Days' hitting some real nice harmonies alongside guest Paul Clarke and showing their more soulful side, to the ‘Village Idiot’, where wack MCs are run down with a combine harvester. Overall this has got a very live amped up vibe with all the right elements to demand your full listening attention to the whole album. Musically challenging, with great topics that we can all relate to, this is good, honest UK Hip Hop. I managed to catch a live show a while back at a Ninja Tune event and they rocked it.

Be shore to look out for this live show!
Ace.

Wunmi
'A.L.A'
Documented

Wow this lady is really on her own tip. Wunmi's highly anticipated debut album A.L.A, (which stands for 'Africans Living Abroad') finally sees the light of day! Born in London, Wunmi lived in Nigeria for 10 years, returning to the UK aged 14. She first established herself through expression of fashion (check the cover) but her early musical thirst started with years of experience dancing with the Soul II Soul set up. Since then she's developed her own unique vocal style that is Wunmi. Along the way she has recorded with a variety of beat-driven styles from UK hip-hop artist Ty, to Broken Beat masters Bugz In The Attic with the massive club anthem y'all might know, a dynamite version of Fela Kuti's ‘Zombie’. And there's a whole back catalogue of other impressive artists that she's collaborated with.

This first album speaks from the heart and soul, proving to be both thought provoking and fun. tackling difficult issues from feeling alien away from her homeland, to the corrupt governments worldwide. All in a club style her sound is rooted in London as much as it is in Africa, with influences from as wide as Kate Bush to funk and soul. Highs include a refreshing cover of The Police's 'Message In A Bottle', 'Talk Talk Talk', and a club banger 'Good Foot Charlie'.

With an impressive array of varied producers on this lp such as Fauna Flash and Seiji to name a few, this album combines very unique global fusion dance music. I Haven't caught her live yet but apparently her shows are known for their explosive energy with her trademark outfits, crazy dance moves, and super tight band captivating her audiences wherever she plays.
Brilliant.

The Bamboos
'Rawville'
Tru Thoughts

This is the funk band that are surely putting themselves firmly on the map down under. Yes! - I saw them live at Golowan festival in 06' and i couldn't stand still, they go off!
They come suited and booted looking like something out of 'Reservoir Dogs' and play the tightest bad boy funk out there. The Bamboos are Australia's premier Deep Funk outfit. I'm feeling this second album more than the first, a half instrumental, half song-based album of pure classic heavyweight funk with drum-break driven grooves, and a thick horn section - Sax/Flute/Trumpet - delicious. Check out their cover of 'Happy' (by Max Sedgley - the official theme tune for ITV's Euro 2004 football champion ship)! Also The Clouds feat. Tyra Hammond is another fave, where the tune breaks down and builds again with fat beats matched with female soulful vocals, demonstrating they can lock into that deeper soul/ hip-hop sound. Big guest line up from UK soul diva Alice Russell, the multi talented Ohmega Watts, Kylie Auldist, Tyra Hammond and Fallon Williams.

These guys wouldn't’t be out of place, back in the day, alongside any famous old-time funk soul legends. A great album from start to finish, but this is really all about the the live show folks..

Read the following Tru Thoughts questionnaire about The Bamboos image;

What are the band members like? Profile-wise, what are they into, do any of you surf? drive cool cars, or really bad cars? Who's the joker who's weird, who's out of control? Anyone convicted felons, ever been in rehab? Is anyone particularly
eccentric or rebellious.

Ross Irwin (Trumpet): Rock star, lady killer, needs a hair cut, can play Tambourine AND trumpet at the same time...

Yuri Pavlinov (Bass): Lover of 80's hair metal, drives a cool 60's wagon, Throws outrageous party's which go for days and the cops come and STAY...

Kylie Auldist (vocals): Samoan Soul Sister #1, WILL kick your ass if you give her lip, comes up with a crazy new and different outfit for every Bamboos
show.

Daniel Farrugia (drums): Australia's 'King Of The Breaks', Aspiring chef, tech-geek, yacht-rock enthusiast...

Ben Grayson (Organ): Mad surfer, lager-lover, gifted song-writer, cassanova...

Lance Ferguson (Guitar): Star Wars Geek, Skater, Record Collector-Fiend, Jamaican Rum Connoisseur, Music Freak...

Anton Delecca (Saxophone): Jazz-Head, Crazy-man, Will stay up for the longest out of anyone.

The New Mastersounds
102%
One Note Records

The four piece Leeds-based group are back with '102%' their fifth album and they're sounding their best yet! The New Mastersounds are one of the UK's leading funk bands, no question about it. Internationally well respected, these guys are pushing forward, evolving nicely, you get me? NMS show us how alive funk is indeed.

I'm storming straight in there with super funky cover of Roots Manuva's 'Witness', What a version?! Iv'e been playing this one on rotation. A pure instrumental album of fast and slow gritty funk, these guys are heavily into the Meter's sound. Led by great guitar work from Eddie Roberts, Hammond grooves by Bob Birch, and heavy bass and drums courtesy of Pete Shand and Simon Allen, think a dash of soul-jazz, some blues-psychedelic moments, and just some great laid back hip-hop vibes. A guest appearance from Rob Lavers on sax and flute adds even more flavour to their sound. You've heard these guys as the backing band behind Corinne Bailey Rae doing the now classic "Your Love Is Mine" that's been all over the radio. 'Colorado Sun' and 'Rope-a-Dope' are other stand-outs jumping out at me but it's all top quality. I still haven't caught these guys live, but hopefully will do soon somewhere? All i've heard is they are tight!

Pure vintage sounds and original hooks to satisfy new and old funk fans.
No fakin this funk!

Various Artists
'Mr Scruff's Big Chill Classics'
Big Chill

After venturing out of the SW to the Big Chill Festival in 06 with some good buddies, and having such a good time, i had to get a copy of this as a reminder.

Anyone who has heard Mr Scruff's music, epic DJ sets or bought one of his previous mix albums will know that quite frankly he's the man. He's been a big player in this festival and after being asked by the festival founders, Mr Scruff (real name Andy Carthy) put together his own 'Big Chill Classics'. This unmixed double disc compilation is purely focused on kicking back, unwinding and getting lost in. Just check out the awesome Motown soul of Odyssey's 'Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love', (pure bliss), D'Angelo's version of 'Every Body Loves The Sunshine' (even more soulful than the original?), Paul Hunter's 'Peaceful Morning' with rich double bass and looped keys, Treva Whateva's Balearic Latin-influenced cut, or the distinctive tones of Bajka on Das Goldene Zeitalter's 'A Vision' (the vocalist that's heavily featured on Bonobo's long-player 'Days To Come').

No real moments that steer into obvious cliché chill out territory, this compilation takes in all genres, styles, tempos and tastes with little regard for fashion.

With many unknown new and old beauties that have been dug up by a DJ obviously devoted to his game there is so much horizontal goodness here, creating a perfect soundtrack for the drawn out evenings ahead of us. A beer or glass of vino anyone?
Essential

Freddie Cruger
'Soul Search'
Raw Fusion/ Tru Thoughts

Follow me on this one people, you need to check this album out !! It's been in my DJ sets, in the car, at home full blast or background for evening meals, believe, this is the shnizzle. Sweden's really blowing up for good music and Freddie Cruger, a.k.a. Red Astaire, is a producer/DJ who is ruling it out there. Switching between these two alter egos, this Swedish maestro has been releasing a lot of great music since the early 90's. He has gained much attention from a number of important listeners, but i still think that only certain circles know about this guy, and this much anticipated first full-length masterpiece of an album should boost his fan base.

Dubby, horn-driven "Over The Ocean" features the sweet vocal melodies of Jamaica's Desmond Foster and is a scorcher of an opening track. The dancehall funkiness of "I Wanna Make You Move" featuring Anthony David is also a personal favourite as well as “Pretty Little Thing”, a sexy soul track featuring seductive Swedish singer Linn. And I'm only just scratching the surface here!

With a whole roster of top quality guests, this album brings in elements of old school hip hop, dirty funk, reggae, blues, Latin and disco. This thirteen track album has instant appeal and displays a high degree of songcraft. Personally, I feel this is the world’s best dance music and is all about bringing people together, breaking down personal barriers and uniting everyone! It really makes you wanna cut loose on that dancefloor!
You Need this.

A must to buy.

Strange Fruit Project
'The Healing'
Om Hip-Hop

Soulful, jazzy, conscious hip-hop for your headphones.. all the way from Texas, Strange Fruit Project are Myth, S1 & Mylone. I've picked up a few earlier releases from these guys on various labels, but this is their first LP on Om hip-hop records and it is solid, crisp, clear and focused.
Being hailed as the next 'Little Brother' and being compared to the likes of ATQC, Common, The Roots, J5, Slum Village and Foriegn Exchange, it's hardly surprising there's so much hype around them.

S1 is the talented beatmaker among this trio, while Mythe & Mylone provide smooth rhymes and clever wordplay. Here we have a great album that you can vibe out and just lock into. The intro is spot on, and the opening track 'Ready Forum' is a really good introduction to the album. 'Under Pressure' is a killer lazy track, it's English/Aussie accent (?) leads you up to a bumpin head nodder with sweet horn stabs. Dealing with the pressures of life, it has a catchy as hell chorus; "Inhale let all out.. release the pressure.. feel it no doubt.. Inhale let all out.. release the pressure.. it's got to test ya".

'Soul Clap', the one that's been played on rotation a lot is a definite heavy hitter with a sick swaying beat and a really nice guitar lick produced by Jake one. "I couldn't care less about what you brothers be driving, so i'm gonna tell you a little about what i've been, struggle and strive for pay that's little more than minimum wage, a caged bird singing away" raps Mylon.

'Special', featuring Thesis and produced by 9th wonder (Little Brother), contributes his trademark soulful sound with some nice cuts too. This track has got summertime written all over it, with an oh-so-sweet female chorus that will get you hooked, this is something more than special. 'Rise', featuring Little Brother's Big Pooh & Phonte, produced by Illmand, features bongo beats followed by bouncy key notes with a late dropping beat and SFP & LB trading verses. Add some handclaps and Rhodes.. aaah!

The whole LP is definitely worth checking, with some deep moments and others more club-friendly, as well as a guest appearance from Erykah Badu and some big name producers.
Cool and collected, come and take a taste, this fruit is ripe !
A must to buy.

Up Hygh
'The Venus Album'
Jugglin Records

Hip Hop music is massive in our generation today, albums like this just prove that good hip hop music is thriving in the underground from every corner. One of my most listened albums of 2006 so far. Prepare yourself.. Up Hygh is one of the dopest projects coming out of Europe at the moment, hailing from Stockholm but sounding more like they're from Detroit.

Up Hygh are young talented and very gifted! A two man production Pur P and Rick Skizzo who mc/ dj/ song write/ produce all their own material, really well.. gifted? ( just slightly) These guys are rite on cue with the nu-soul movement being so big at the moment, tweaking their sound to perfection, with a nod to the old Soul and P-funk flavor, Up Hygh are the funky children, check out the soul drenched heart breaker 'Get out of my face' and the funny poetic interlude 'Pussy'. A great album that's really well put together, which makes you laugh, gets you amped, or you can just kick back to, in the car or in a club turn this one up and feel the pressure. Soul, electronic sounds, heavy bass-lines, swung beats, crunchy snares, great flows and harmonies.. plus a host of well respected guest vocalists, british female diva Eska (TY fame) Little Brother, Planet Asia, ADL, Aaron Phiri (Hearin' Aid), Melo, Linn and Black Fist. Incredible line up.

Released on Jugglin Records, an experimental hip hop offshoot from the fantastic label 'Raw Fusion'. Great music from Scandinavia.
Essential.

Dj Adlib
'Adlibertine'
Alphabet Zoo

Ow my gosh UK artist Danny Breaks- If you get a chance to check out any of the 'Dimension EP series' by this guy' please do.. his beats are some of the heaviest experimental blends of instrumental hip hop i've heard... and he's getting well deserved props from all over the world. Danny Breaks label 'Alphabet Zoo' returns with a brand new signing, DJ Adlib step forward, a German DJ/producer and one fourth of the Noisy Stylus crew, a DJ collective world renowned for their scratch skills and battle routines. Adlib delivers 6 tracks all based around his MPC sampler:

Starting things of is the banging 'Intro' with heavy horn stabs, next we have ‘Stretcher’ that has a great cinematic feel, Rafik and Tobeyer feature on 'Bring it to the table' showing some tight scratch skills, ‘Simple Song’ loops a classic sample and just hits that head nod spot, then you’ve got a (british thing) chopped up bollywood track ‘Uh a Ah!’ which works to great affect, rounding the EP up is another collaboration, the only vocal track and my favorite 'Everyday' featuring M.E.D aka Medaphoar sounding on top form coming in late over a spacey track that hits the mark. There is a laid back vibe throughout this EP, fresh beats and rhymes, tasty cuts and reckognizable samples that build and drop you in all the rite places, ow. It takes a few listens to adjust to music with a lot of turntable' izm in, but when it's done well in a musical manner like this, that's something special..

you want something n new ? Get ready for the z Zoo !
Alsoa great album cover. One thing is missing? a health warning for your speakers.
Essential.

Quantic
'An Announcement To Answer'
Tru Thoughts

In all my years digging in the crates this guy's been a big influence on me, inspiring my search for the perfect beat and reaching out for other musical genres, and i know he has been for many other folk too' (i know plenty of Aussie's who are totally into Quantic's positive sound through micky smith's body boarding video's', sound track curtesy of yours truly of course).

If you haven't heard of him' you really need to back track. The Midlands-based producer, record collector, musician and dj Quantic aka Will Holland came slamming onto the seen in 2001 causing an all mighty stir with the now classic EP 'Life In The Rain' and from then? he's been pushing sounds of hip hop/ afro/ funk/ down-tempo/ latin/ to drum and bass with ease, no question asked Will Holland has got to be one of the hardest working producers in the world today. He is the back bone behind The Limp twins/ Q S O, endless quality remixes, collaborations, putting together compilations, some great bootleg business and running his own funk label, phew..

The fourth solo album has arrived from the prolific man, his eighth full-length production, making this the100th release for Tru Thoughts. Quantic's trade mark sound shines on, this time going into slightly deeper territory, further across the globe, fusing more traditional sounds from countries he's stopped of at on the way, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Ethiopia. From the spine tingling chinese strings opening track 'Absence Heard, Presence Felt' to the gorgeous voiced Noelle Scaggs (from The Rebirth) on 'Politick Society' to the deep, dark and heavy 'Tell it like you mean it'.

Featuring other great guests the whole feel of this Album takes you to these far flung places.. put together by man with so much passion for music, all for our listening pleasure.
his finest work yet? That feeling when you drop into a sick wave and it feels so familiar, but oh so fresh!
Highly recommended.

Various Artists
Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk On The Isthmus 1965-1975
Soundway Records

Always a pleasure picking up original music in its original form, just to get a perspective on things.

This one is all about geting you in the mood for packing and trotting of around the globe.

Lets go? Having already introduced us to some incredible music from several African countries Soundway Records (a great label based in Brighton, England) boldly step out of there Afro sound and put together there first collection of musical delights from Central American regions. And boy, Miles Claret and the Soundway crew have really searched, panamas unique melting pot of musical genres to put together a very special compilation indeed. It contains a lot of tracks us Brits probably haven't heard of because as the liner notes says none of this music was ever released outside of Panama, until now everyone!!

A raw, vibrant and diverse listen in whole, it comes off very rich but give it time and let this very broad mixture of exciting music unleash!, There are some great soul covers on here but that's just getting warm, check out track 8 Papi Brandao y Sus Ejectutivos 'Viva Panama' it is a personal favorite - in fact it's all so good i can't big this up album enough! Basically if you have any interest in rare Jazz, Funk, Soul and Latin music you really need this in your collection to fill in that hunger. Also included are full historical detailed liner notes and pictures to give us an insight of this golden age of soulful music.
Awesome!!

Marc Mac presents: The Visioneers
'Dirty Old Hip Hop'
BBE.

The album that's been on a lot of peoples lips…it's here…it's amazing…

Marc Mac is one half of the UK's legendary 4hero, pioneers of the UK electronic music scene (who also released one of the first Jungle singles! Which reminds me - why did the bear get lost at the rave? Because jungle is massive…) and collecting a Mercury Music Prize nomination and MOBO award on the way! Dirty Old Hip Hop is not mainly hip hop and not that dirty, but is 15 tracks of heavenly stirring musical vibes, with jazz, soul and funk influences. Double bass, percussion, strings, trumpet, piano and flute are in the line up of instruments and the only two vocal tracks showcase special guest MC's Capitol A and Voice.

Half of the album features covers of some of the best-loved hip hop tracks from the 'Golden Era': A Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde and Nas. Marc Mac returns them back to a jazz basis, replaying them in a live instrumental band format. Superb.
This album contains enough boom-bap and enough musicality to be the soundtrack for your spring and summer, bringing hip hop back full circle to its jazz roots. I really hope there will be a live band to follow!

Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
'Keep Reachin Up'
Timmion Records.

If you're a fan of female vocals, look no further. I can't get enough of this album at the moment! Nicole Willis is from New York but her musical career has taken her worldwide. Starting out in London in the mid-80s, she was part of the earliest line up of Deee-lite and worked with the Brand New Heavies in their heyday. She also collaborated with Curtis Mayfield and the list goes on.

Here she works with heavyweight Finnish funk/soul band The Soul Investigators. The NYC via Finland native has been causing a real storm on the scene having smashed the Helsinki charts, and is now busting into the mainstream and landing on our doorsteps. This album captures the vintage sound of 60s and 70s soul, with knockout soulful punch. It has addictive songs that will have you singing along in no time, and a cracking 50s hairdo on the cover! It's all about the opening track, 'Feelin Free' people…An essential purchase, out now.

Jimmy Screech
'In This Life'
Banana Klan/Trailblazers.

"I summon up the power of banana clan!" says Roots Manuva on his massive UK/worldwide hip hop anthem Witness (1 Hope).

Here's the debut album on Roots Manuva's label Banana Klan/Trailblazers from South London's talented UK MC/producer, Jimmy Screech. Jamaica has Sean Paul, while we proudly boast Jimmy Screech! Hyped as one of the next big things in British black music, Jimmy is a multi-faceted artist dealing with many topics and social issues without being too self-righteous. His non-offensive tight delivery switches effortlessly from chatter to ragga style hip-hop. Production from various artists adds digital dancehall beats infused with reggae and funk, all with a distinctly London sound.

This is an album that offers something for everyone, young and old, crossing colour and class genres with enough clout to keep the heads happy, and some very radio friendly moments. Very exciting British music of today.

Shapes Compilation
'Various Artists'
Tru Thoughts/Zebra Traffic.

After winning 'Record Label Of The Year' on the BBC Giles Peterson Worldwide Awards, you know that anything on the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts and Zebra Traffic labels is definitely worth checking out!

I've been listening to these labels from the start and baby, it just gets better.The Shapes compilation series are the best UK beats compilation out there, period. They're a taster of what the labels are all about, exploring music influenced by jazz, funk, hip hop soul and world. This one is 15 tracks deep at a variety of tempos all in a beats-oriented affair.

If you like the soundtrack to any of Mickey Smith's bodyboarding vids you're gunna love these compilation's, music to suit all moods. Their best comp yet? I think so…and they're all really cheap!
Essential listening.