Review: Original sample material: the second volume in the Beastie Collection is just as educational and explorative as the inaugural set. Originally released in 2006, here it is again in all its digital 30-track glory. Ranging from Ted Nugent's guitar-slaying "Homebound" (sampled on "The Biz vs The Nuge") to Afrique's synth squidging Bill Withers cover "Kissing My Life" (sampled on "Bodhisattva Vow") via the instantly distinctive flutes on Jeremy Steig's "Howling For Judy" (sampled on "Sure Shot"), this acts as several musical lessons: how sampling really is a fine, fine art, how classics have helped artist pave the future and, most importantly, how flipping great The Beastie Boys are! Really, this is one for everyone's collection.
Review: The Strictly Rhythm vaults are seemingly bottomless and here they've managed to source even more classic forgotten soul gems. This seventh installment of their Soul Treats Super Soul Hits series boasts an impressive 25 tracks. Highlights this time include David Matthews raw funk rocker "Put Your Thing On Me", the quirky bongos and xylophone joint "Lights" by Lennie Hibbert and the staccato strut of clavinet freakout "Breakdown" by Sir Edward Marks.
