The Cinematic Orchestra - "Exit Music (For A Film)" - (7:20) 154 BPM
Review: Originally released in 2006 as a Radiohead tribute album - Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads returns to its original home at BBE Music. Highlighted artists across this compilation to cover Thom Yorke songs include Mark Ronson, Pete Kuzma, Alex Greenwald (of Phantom Planet) to Sia, Matthew Herbert and Sa-Ra - not to forget The Cinematic Orchestra, Osunlade and RJD2! And not to overlook curios from before, check out the cosmic fusion of The Randy Watson Experience's take of "Morning Bell", Shawn Lee's beaty remake of "No Surprises" to Wajeed's broken beat rendition of "Knives Out". Classic covers.
Review: London-based BBC radio DJ and selector in the clubs, Ronnie Herel, presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol 1, his debut compilation for BBE Music. A long-time ambassador of black music in the UK, clubs and radio, his brings his knowledge exclusively to BBE by presenting 13 hip hop and soul inspired tracks from UK artists like Omar, Etta Bond, Children of Zeus and Terri Walker to some transatlantic talent in Foreign Exchange, Phonte, Erro and the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff! "There's a whole world of smokin' grooves out there," Herel says, "that most of the time gets overlooked...." But now with the Mi Soul Radio's head of music in charge, we're hand delivered some of the worlds best cuts that might otherwise go undiscovered. God Bless you Ronnie. Enjoy.
Into The Light (feat Yameen Allworld) - (3:20) 99 BPM
Hell No Won't Go - (2:56) 98 BPM
Stuck In Your World - (1:26) 72 BPM
In The Zone - (2:56) 97 BPM
Words & Sentences - (3:50) 113 BPM
We Shall Overcome - (2:39) 96 BPM
Love Conquers All - (2:45) 98 BPM
Review: Phildelphian soul in the house thanks to BBE and Valvin Roane II, aka V. Independently releasing several albums and EPs in the almost 15 years since his BBE debut, V returns with a new album, Image A Nation, that delivers a message for 'people and culture on the move.' With names like Jontae Slade, Andre Capers and Yameen Allworld working closely alongside V in the creation of the LP - to Jay Z's former tour drummer Eric "Boots" Greene - Image A Nation presents a real serving of some behind the scenes talent that's now at large. It's numbers like "Love Conquers All", "Into The Light (feat Yameen Allworld)" and the vocal jazz funk of "Hell No Won't Go" that pave a way for this album to both acknowledge the struggles of yesterday and today, while constantly communicating a sense of openness and optimism for the future.
Review: A few weeks ago, MF Robots (AKA Brand New Heavies founder member Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph) returned with their first single of 2020, the infectious, Latin-fired jazz-funk joy of 'Happy Song'. Here it gets given the remix treatment, with some seriously impressive producers taking it in turns to offer-up their interpretations. Kenny Dope delivers edited, extended and instrumental versions of his fine house remix, which naturally boasts some killer tough-but-swinging drums in his trademark style. Kaidi Tatham and Daz-I-Kue deliver a similar suite of remixes blessed with their usual bruk-up drums, jazz-funk instrumentation and soulful vibe. The duo's own extended mix, which adds a little more club weight to their near-perfect original mix, is also worth a listen.
Review: Perhaps the most impressive thing about Oveous's second EP for BBE Music (he previously recorded on Yoruba Soul) is its infectious, unassuming soulfulness. For proof, check the poet, rapper and producer's opening salvo, Julian Steel collaboration "Applz", a soft-focus soulful house shuffle rich in warming musicality, topped off with a brilliant lead vocal. There's much to admire elsewhere across the EP, too. He takes to the mic once more on "Calculous", a sparkling, synth-heavy affair that adds D-Train style synths to a left-of-centre house groove that makes much use of tropical percussion that pays tributes to the New York based artist's Dominican roots, while Seven Davis Junior hook-up "Three Seasons" is a more up-tempo, P-Funk flavoured house workout.
