Freshly Squeezed At Juno Download

Review: The alias of sax guru and producer Stuart Dace, Lodekka is all about confounding expectations of what funk music is today. On "Long Player", there are traditional sounds of course - the Maceo Parker-indebted opener "Get On" for example, or the bluesy swing of "Rhythm No.44" - but there's also some great dub/reggae fusion ("Yes Mr B"), jazzy soundtrack beats ("Five & Twenty To"), even hints of icy electronica ("Mean Times Part 2"). It all makes for a hell of a journey, and an extremely fun and accomplished album.

Review: Having offered up their jazzy electro-swing take on Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" to remixers, Swing Republic have compiled their four favourites on to this new release for the Freshly Squeezed label. Drop Dead Dandies add a slow bass-heavy lean to proceedings, while Rory Hoy keeps the original's clarinet-led swing on his nu-funk overhaul.

Review: Big band swing and electronic music have always made great bedfellows, especially when it's delivered with the impact of a full live band and contemporary production. Swiftly gaining acclaim with their slow and steady releases on Freshly Squeezed and cover of "Crazy In Love", Swing Republic serve up their debut that glistens with a Kraak & Smaak sheen and oozes organic quirkiness. From the muted trumpet toots on the sultry "Sugar Bubble" to the Dixie land jazz scribbles of "My Baby Bad" to the jitterbug jive of "On The Rooftop", there's no better homage to dance music's most formative time that's almost 100 years old.