This Week

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".

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.

Review: South Londoner Alex Lloyd is back with his third single for Ninja Tune, and he's got a new sound to boot! Rumours that his new mournful direction are inspired by running out of skins when there's no 24 hour garage in sight, haven't been confirmed, but it's clear he's in a contemplative mood. "Skinless Pt 1" sees Sigur Ros style vocals wail over some widescreen electronica, the second part of which also incorporates a menacing electro squall and skippy beats. "Heartbeats" displays some heart-wrenching cello work and "An Exit" also achieves the same effect via some gracefully melancholic piano chords.

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!

Review: Bit of a departure here for Barely Breaking Even, with arch pun-makers Roots Shoots and Leaves marking a break from the funk and soul normally associated with the German imprint. Sounding like Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner fronting a gypsy influenced New Model Army; these 13 tracks are refreshingly unique sounding. Highlights include the raucous strum-a-thon of "Trees", the rousing cover of "The Night" and the string-aided quirkiness "For Sure".