JAZZ; NUJAZZ; BROKEN BEATS; SOUL; HIP HOP; FUNK; BRASILIAN RUNNINGS
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SOUL ASYLUM by Andrew Allen
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January 2007 |
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Marcina Arnold – Introducing… (Counterpoint) UK 12” Following her recent ‘Twisted Blue Folk' album on Mouthy Music, Marcina Arnold returns with a solid four track EP which effortlessly combines elements of soul, jazz and folk. It includes ‘Memory' and ‘Neva Do It', the highlights from the said album, along with two brand new cuts, ‘Blues For Jean Charles Menezes', a moving tribute to the young Brazilian man ‘mistakenly' gunned down as a terrorist suspect by the police, and the uplifting bossa groove of ‘Forefathers'. |
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Venom vs. Marco Di Marco – Bossa Of The Future/Up West (Arision) Vipersquad's Venom aka Daniel Maunick takes on two Marco Di Marco cuts, reworking them for maximum dance floor action. The Soho Snakebite Mix of ‘Up West' is pure liquid fusion but check his Black Mamba Remix of ‘Bossa Of The Future' for some serious dark tech-jazz business. www.arision.net
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The Haggis Horns – The Traveller (First Word) UK 12” Leeds based funk squad, The Haggis Horns deliver a first rate slab of vinyl in the shape of ‘The Traveller'. Whilst Part One follows the usual old school funk format, Part Two introduces strings and flute touches over the heavy bass line and blaring horns to produce an absolute monster disco-funk workout, not unlike the best works of Brass Construction. |
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Electric Conversation – Dancing/Vibe Change (Futuristica Music) UK 12” You can always be safe in the knowledge that anything Simon S is involved in is going to be of the highest quality and this latest release on his recently established Futuristica Music is further evidence of this. Although Electric Conversation are a new name to me they're certainly one to keep an eye out for. ‘Vibe Change' is a down-tempo nu-soul jam on a Jill Scott tip but it's ‘Dancing' that really shines, a bubbling broken-soul excursion with blissful part sung, part spoken female vocals. www.myspace.com/electricconversation |
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The Cuban Brothers – Love Is Alive (Sunday Best) UK 12” Although this DJ/production crew look like Cuba 's answer to Goldie Looking Chain their music is no joke. ‘Love Is Alive' comes in four mixes with Mr Whelk's Extended Poolside Remix, a joyful slice of retro flavoured boogie-soul, being the standout. www.myspace.com/thecubanbrothers |
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Pablo – Story Of Sampling EP (Red Hook) UK 12” Originally released back in 2001 this four track EP gets a welcome repress. Included are three hip hop cuts but my advise to head straight for ‘High Jazz', a beautiful laid back spiritual jazz arrangement with ethereal vocal touches thrown in for good measure. For fans of Pharoah Sanders/Alice Coltrane this is a must.
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Nicola Kramer – Best In Me (Treble O) UK 12” Fresh for Domu's new Treble O label comes Nicola Kramer's ‘Best In Me', a superior melodic broken-soul excursion from her forthcoming album ‘The Other Side'. The original version is perfectly adequate but where this track really excels is on the Dego & Kaidi 2000 Black Refake, which pumps up the beats and bass to compliment Nicola's sweet vocals to great effect. |
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Kathy Diamond – All Woman (Permanent Vacation) German 12” Produced by Maurice Fulton, Kathy Diamond's ‘All Woman' is nothing short of a modern masterpiece. The slapped bass, synthesised keys and Kathy's delectable vocals make for an infectious 80s influenced disco-boogie bomb. If you liked Fulton 's recent remix of Alice Smith's ‘Love Endeavor' then this is for you. |
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Solomon Ilori And His Afro-Drum Ensemble – Igbesi Aiye/Gbogbo Omo Ibile (Honest Jon's) UK 12” Both ‘Igbesi Aiye (Song Of Praise To God)' and ‘Gbogbo Omo Ibile (Going Home)' were recorded in 1964 for Blue Note but didn't actually get a release until 2006 when they appeared as bonus tracks on the CD only reissue of Ilori's ‘African High Life' album. These sessions feature five percussionists including Ilori himself along with Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard and Elvin Jones resulting in two spiritual Afro-jazz epics.
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Sabu Martinez – Maxi Dance EP (Body To Body) French 12” This EP features the firing percussive workout ‘Winds & Skins' from Sabu Martinez, which I'm led to believe is a previously unreleased track, plus two deep house outings which take influence from, rather than being by Martinez himself. They are ‘Sabu Sabu Rugged Mix' from Disko 3000 and the blistering slow motion chugger ‘Blot Luft' by Over The Hill which I'm convinced samples those hypnotics keys from Kool & The Gang's ‘Summer Madness'. |
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The Dynamics – Seven Nation Army/Move On Up (Big Single) French 7” Out of Lyon , France come The Dynamics, a five piece outfit whose members include none other than Patchworks and Mr Day. On this limited 7” release they take on The White Stripes' ‘Seven Nation Army' and Curtis Mayfield's ‘Move On Up', covering them in a sublime soulful reggae stylee. www.myspace.com/thedynamicsound
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With the usual slump in new releases at this time of year I thought I'd take the opportunity to catch up and review a selection of prime platters that I didn't get chance to cover towards the end of 2006. So here goes… |