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KE 9011
27 May 13
Review:
The Katakana edit express thunders on with their 11th installment of party breaks. This time the overwhelming vibe is of retro soul, jazz and swing. The latter is handled with a Latin influence on "I'll Be A God Man" and "Lovely TV" by DJ Clairvo, while the amazingly-named DJ Oli Garch provides a breaky, swingy version of jazz standard "Summertime. Lastly Timewrap opts for some Cuban-tinged grooves on "Miami", as well as a cheeky retweak of The Velvelettes' Motown classic "He Was Really Saying Something".
505545 3688508
13 May 13
Played by: DJ Stex, Chudy, Trotter, Jayl Funk, Juno Recommends Breakbeat, DJ Axe, The Funk Hunters, Ez Icarus, Basement Freaks
Review:
Is it just us or are Basement Freaks albums getting funkier and funkier? As hinted with their Soul Digga EP last winter, the trio just keep getting more organic and authentic, this being their most engaging, juiciest funk LP to date. From the Alabama 3 meets the Daptones style "Gimme More" to the insanely authentic Parliament skit "Disco Boy" via the mild skank bounce, organ noodling and Troutman crooning on "Red Light Streets", this really is party dynamite. Basement Freaks are ruling the nu-funk scene right now.
LMNKV 91
03 Jun 13
Review:
Of late, veteran Venezuelan DJ/producer Pablo Sanchez (now residing in Barcelona) has been pushing a sound based around deep house, nu-disco and Afro-funk. However for this new release he appears to return to the jazzier influences that informed his earlier work. "Out & About" is six minutes of party clap beats and sizzling freeform jazz. On the remix front, Kyodai goes for a crazy, escalating, Dave Brubeck inspired freakout while Opolopo delivers a more familiar funky house version.
JCITYCD 001D
06 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Breakbeat, Killer Funk Records Usa, The Funk Hunters, Ez Icarus, Basement Freaks, Essex Groove
Review:
We've been waiting a LONG time for this one! Miguel Mantovani, Archerio Mantovani and Kengo San have been teasing and pleasing with their tongue-in-cheek funk on wax and on stage for years... We always knew when an album drops it would be big. And just look at the line-up - Kurtis Blow, Abdominal, Mica Paris, Tenor Fly, Omar, KT Tunstall are all collaborating across this 15 track funk explosion. With licks from James Brown endorsed CBs band and the perfect balance of tight riddims and humour, "Yo Bonita" rocks in every sense. Essential.
TVLP 08
29 Apr 13
Review:
A special dedication to his formative days praying at the good church of hip-hop, cutting and pasting in Sunday school, Venice Beach member Moar gets down and does the caterpillar. An eclectic ensemble of loops and compositions, this lick shots from Senor Coconut to Bambaataa and back again with its frenetic arrangement of swinging drums, cheeky samples and crafty editing. Highlights include the bongo and fuzz box fusion of "2 vs 2" and low-swung bass shuffle and swing of "Bump On". Moar please!
BJ 041
29 Apr 13
Played by: Basement Freaks
Review:
Smokey Bandits are a side project of producers George Fotiadis & Dimitris Nassios (of Basement Freaks/Quasamodo fame). Unsurprisingly their favourite movie is Smokey & The Bandit and this mutual love has resulted in this cowboy themed long player. "Revolucion Valienete" kicks off with a down Mexico way trumpet vibe, "Cattledrive" is a jazzy shuffle number, "The Rooster" touches of Latino trip-hop and "A Son's Lament" end proceedings with some widescreen orchestrated beats.
LENGCD 005DD
20 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Funk/Reissues
Review:
Time get out the 'shrooms out as Claremont 56's dancefloor offshoot Leng present this psychedelic DJ mix from Psychemagik. Yes these nu-disco freakazoids have been granted the right to take us on an hour-long journey that takes in their beloved afro-beat, disco, funk and psychedelia. High-lights of this trip include the flower power vibes of "Catching A Wave", the saucy Euro-funk of "Gozame Ya!" and the west coast Manilow-isms of ""House Of The Rock".
SOULABDIGICOMPIL 010
03 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Brokenbeat/Nu Jazz, Juno Recommends Electro, Juno Recommends Funk/Reissues
Review:
We can always rely on French funkateers Soulab to keep us supplied with regular selections of vintage sounding modern soul gems. This latest compilation features a host of their regular artists and once again the quality is up there. Highlights include the futuristic electro-funk of LA Mitchell's "The Ease", the hazy g-funk vibes of Uraz Kurt's "Remember The Light", the dark, broken electro-hop of Isaac Aesili's "Freedom Cry" and the crazy garage boogie shuffle of Proser & Azaxx's "Prince Is Not Dead".
SCCD 462
28 May 13
Review:
S-Tone Inc is the nom-de-plume for established multi-instrumentalist, Stefano Tirone. Immersed in music since the early 80s and professionally releasing albums since the 90s, Tirone has amassed a large body of work over the decades. Here he takes time out to rummage through the vaults to cherry pick the most interesting and rare works, originally considered lost but now destined to see the light of day courtesy of his long-time record label home, Schema Records. The most recent of these tunes ("Mass Distraction", "Wise Up") reveal a new, guitar heavy, downbeat and dubby direction.
WARPCDD 237
27 May 13
Review:
Following up the runaway success of Crooks & Lovers was always going to be a daunting task for Mount Kimbie, and they've wisely taken their time to come back with a step forwards from a sound which gave rise to the more folky strains of the dubstep aftermath. Sounding fresh and invigorated on their LP for Warp, Kai Campos and Dominic Maker have built on their love of shoegaze indie and brought their component parts into a clearer vision where they used to hide them behind heavy editing and microsampling. There are plenty of reminders that this is a Kimbie record, not least in the winsome melodies that shape the LP, but the duo have succeeded in shearing away their self-conscious trickery to write full-bodied songs that hit on first listen, rather than ten spins down the line.
JSPCDK-1015
31 May 13
TMDG 121
13 May 13
Review:
Hoorah! It's been a long time coming, but the album from this Canadian act is finally here. We got a taster for their new retro/contemporary jazzy sound with a single in August. The EP featured the breaks-driven "Soul Sugar", the 70s funk indebted "Driving To Montenegro" and the jazzier "Blow", all of which made it to the album. Now joining these tunes are the likes of the fretlessly rhythmic "Blues For BL", the crazy flute frenzy of "The Kelly Affair" and the gentle piano intricacies of "Snowfall".
AR 031CD
20 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Brokenbeat/Nu Jazz
Review:
Jerker Kluge and Florian Reidl's Hi Fly Orchestra first popped up in 2005, and ever since has quietly impressed with its breezy, occasionally summery takes on classic, swingtime-era jazz (and, on occasions, Latin jazz). This third full-length, their first since 2008, continues their explorations into Blue Note-inspired territory. There's enough variety to impress - contrast the sun-bright samba of "Sambinha" and baggy big band soul of "I Got Hop" with the intricate flutes of "Forro" and fluid "How Beautiful" - while the playing is, naturally, impeccable throughout. It's got an old-fashioned feel, all right, but that's the point; this is the sort of thing that will transport you back to a bygone age of jazz.
JMCD 006
29 Apr 13
BJ 023
03 Jun 13
Played by: DJ Nova (Rodon Fm 95)
Review:
Nu-soul Irishman Colm K is back in business with some more of his classy and classic sounding jams. Things begin with him making the impossible sound possible: "The Attic" making 80s wine bar funk sound cool. Elsewhere he's on a deeper, less showy tip: "Nothing" being a hazy 90s memory on loop, "Good Fridays" add a bit of shuffle and swing to the formula, and finally "Spaced" incorporates a vintage RnB vibe to his already impressive repertoire.
BBE 209ACD
06 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Brokenbeat/Nu Jazz
Review:
Barely Breaking Even Records have scored themselves a major coup here, with instrumental album from popular UK hip-hop DJ The Last Skeptik. Although immediately following a recent rap album with Rewd Adams, this long player is a different kettle of fish - featuring 15 prime cuts of jazzy, trip-hoppy workouts. Highlights include the g-funk of "Wig", the insanely catchy "Be There" and the surprisingly upbeat "Pick Your Battles".
FBS DLP001
03 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Brokenbeat/Nu Jazz
Review:
Portugal's Mr Bird is internationally renowned as a virtual virtuoso of the cut up funky sample. He's not about to let that reputation get tarnished however, and he's committed to delivering a very regular stream of releases guaranteed to keep him in demand. This album follows the relatively recent Bird Bird Bird and boats an even bigger tracklisting, the highlights of which include the making veggies sexy "Green Beans", the furrowed brow funk of "Truth Is Solitary", the shimmering symphonics of "Ape Beats" and the 70s swagger of "Shoreline".
AD 012
06 May 13
Review:
They say that Tuesday's child is full grace. It's certainly true of the productions of Tuesday Born, aka multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Benn. This release sees him leave behind his previous fascinations with Africa and South America to a slightly more traditional North American sound. The quality doesn't suffer though, as "Wake" is a strong take on the Stateside RnB ballad and is successful thanks to a deep and jazzy female vocal. Remixes come from One Inch Punch (shuffle-step) and Pale (broken micro-garage).
PT 042
14 Jun 13
Review:
Following the success of the first Shake-A-Leg club-night compilation a couple of years ago, Perfect Toy now unveil the equally enjoyable follow-up. Run by vinyl junkies Tobias Kirmayer and Jerker Kluge, their Munich club night is all about fusing rare Afrobeat, funk, jazz and soulful hip-hop (as professed on their matching t-shirts!). Highlights include killer cuts by a disparate range of artists including Mighty Mocambos and Afrika Bambaataa, Fanga and even Jacknife Lee!
FWR 92
20 May 13
MPM 153
26 Apr 13
Review:
Not to be confused with Klakson's electro-hero of the same name, this Dexter is an acclaimed 26 year-old producer with more of an interest in the jazzy side of things. A teaser for forthcoming album, "The Trip", "Pictures" reveals the producer's newfound 'psychedelic hip-hop' direction. It's a fusion that works extremely well especially in non-album tracks "Church" (West Coat 60s harmony rock) and "Shroom Travels" (disorientated hippy-hop).
MFM 011
10 Jun 13
Review:
Big brassy vintage soul samples, sci-fi movie clips and big bloc party beats, we're deep into the 90s right? Wrong! This is vintage hip-hop 2013 style. This album is the side project of Matthew Brewer (aka Frameworks), who has collaborated with Canadian MC Blu Rum 13 (aka One Self) for a refreshingly unmaterialistic long player that heralds a return to rap's daisy age. Forget the bling and just concentrate on the good times!
DM-03
29 May 13
MELOR 022
29 Apr 13
Review:
These guys are an atmospheric four piece from Peckham who enlist singer Abigail Hardiman for live pursuits. Now signed to Chris Coco's Melodica label, this is their debut for the imprint. There's two originals here; the flighty "Taint" which is all Motown drums, ethereal synths and twanging guitars, and the doomy, rolling drummed electronica of "Attgo". The title track also gets remixed - in a deep, gentle fashion by Djrum, as funky broken beat by King Krule & Jamie Isaac and deep house-pop by Mokadem.
013
17 May 13
795103 010925
30 Apr 13
FHP 421742
26 Apr 13
795103 012929
30 Apr 13
DV 013
22 Apr 13
XTC 063
01 May 13
IRECALM 060D11TR
22 Apr 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Jazz
Review:
The non-stop I! Records reissue schedule is in full flow and their latest offering is a 'best of' comp of late 90s chill-out act, Euphonic 7. Fronted by Kevin Yost and often minus the '7', they notched up a bunch of respectable club tunes; some are featured here, including the flute-heavy easy listening of "Then Came U", the saxy xylophone house of "Set Me Free" and the swaggeringly seductive "Wish You Were Here".
MPM 155
17 May 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Brokenbeat/Nu Jazz
Review:
Having recently grabbed our attention with lead single "Pictures", this 26 year old producer now unveils his self-proclaimed 'psychedelic hip-hop' album aptly titled "The Trip". Aside from the single, there's a further 17 tracks on here brimming with strange sounds and ideas, from the Public Enemy-sampling "Once Again Back (Tune In)" to crackling 60s piano clips with hip-hop beats ("Psychedelic Club Scene") and the stoner DJ Shadow-isms of "Dexy Lovecraft" via hammonds and big beat ("Clouds of Zero"). Far out man!
UNIQ198-2
03 May 13 |
