Bitter:Sweet – Heaven [Remixes] (Quango) US 12”
Now this is one serious slab of vinyl. The original mix of ‘Heaven’, a mid-tempo blast of bossa with twisted electro keys is nothing short of a masterpiece. In addition there’s also Nicola Conte’s West Coast Vibes Version plus two fine mixes from Buscemi, the Afroclub and Afrobossa remixes. Don’t delay, buy it today!   
www.myspace.com/thematinggame
www.myspace.com/quango
www.quango.com

Mr.De’ – Please Believe It (Renaissance) US 12”
Renaissance Records could hardly be described as prolific (this is only their 3rd release in four years) but as the old saying goes “It’s quality not quantity that counts”. Their latest offering by Mr. De’ aka Ade Mainor most certainly falls into the “quality” camp. ‘Please Believe It’ is a superior deep house chugger with plenty of jazzy key noodlings and catchy vocal hooks. Not to be overlooked though is the modern jazz-funk vibe of ‘Eden’ on the flip side.  
www.myspace.com/ademainor
www.submergerecordings.com

Greyship Daviz – Traffic [Cheek To Cheek, Bumper To Bumper] (Past Due/Still Music) German 12”
Despite building a strong reputation for their outlandish Funkadelic styled live performances during the late 70s Greyship Daviz’s recording output was minimal. They did however release ‘Traffic [Cheek To Cheek, Bumper To Bumper]’ on Rokk Steady Records in 1983 and thanks to Still Music’s subsidiary label Past Due this monster disco-funk bomb is given a new lease of life. Not only is the super rare original included but Markus Enochson turns in two mixes, underpinning the groove with 4/4 rhythms and there’s also an impressive mix by the ever consistent Patchworks.      
www.myspace.com/thestillmusicrecordingcompany

Roman Andren – O Mundo e Seu [The World Is Yours] (Soundscape) Swedish 12”
Roman Andren is a new name to me but this three track 12” on Beatfanatic’s Soundscape label is seriously impressive. ‘O Mundo e Seu [The World Is Yours]’ (Beatfanatic Remix) and ’You Can Do It’ are solid examples of Latin house but the winner here is ‘1983’, a slow motion electro-soul groove with an authentic 80s sound.  
www.myspace.com/romanandren
www.myspace.com/beatfanaticsoundscape

Jabberloop – Ugetsu (Mukatsuku) UK 12”
The third release for Nik Weston’s Mukatsuku Records and a blistering four tracker by Japanese jazz combo Jabberloop. Their style is very much in the vein of Sleep Walker, Indigo Jam Unit, Quasimode etc. ‘In The Groove’ (Extended DJ Mix) should find favour on the jazz dance-floors with it’s Latin vibes and 4/4 rhythm but check ‘6th Continent’ for the immaculate horns and atmospheric wind effects.     
www.jabberloop.com
www.myspace.com/mukatsuku

The Heritage Orchestra – Skybreaks (Brownswood) UK 12”
‘Skybreaks’ was just one of the highlights on The Heritage Orchestra’s self title debut album. This limited edition 12” features the original, a mind blowing orchestrated epic along with a stunning remix from Jazzanova, who take it into jazz-funk territory with slapped bass and an awesome rhythm breakdown midway through. Do not miss this one!   
www.myspace.com/theheritageorchestra
www.theheritageorchestra.com 
www.myspace.com/brownswoodrecordings
www.brownswoodrecordings.com

Brotherly – One Sweet Life (Music At Monumental) UK CD
After breaking onto the scene in 2005 with ‘Put It Out’ featuring Eska and following up with the excellent ‘Searching’ last year the duo of Rob Mullarkey and Anna Stubbs now come with their debut long player. As with the singles, both of which are included here, the album is a broken-soul affair and features guests Ty on the title track and Earl Zinger who graces ‘Elevate’ with his distinctive spoken word delivery. Although there’s nothing here to quite top ‘Searching’ the set has some strong moments such as ‘True’, ‘A Little Trouble’, the funky ‘DTs’, and the blissful ‘Raindown’. Well worth investigating.          
www.myspace.com/brotherly
www.myspace.com/monumentalmanagement
www.monumentalmanagement.co.uk

Dalindeo – Open Scenes (Ricky-Tick) Finnish CD/LP
It’s been a long time coming but Dalindeo’s debut album is now finally with us. The Brazilian influenced Finnish jazz sextet impressed with their first 12” ‘Poseidon/Solifer-Lento’ and their follow up ‘Go Ahead, Float/Voodoo’. Sadly though ‘Go Ahead, Float’ hasn’t made it on to the album at all and ‘Poseidon’ and ‘Voodoo’ only appear on the CD version. There is however plenty here to keep your attention such as the beautifully orchestrated ‘Samba Da-Li’ and ‘Non-Stop Flight’, a gorgeous bossa cut featuring Japanese vocalist Michiko. Michiko also graces ‘Tsunami’ and the immaculate waltz ‘Empty Fruits’, which for me is the album’s finest moment.     
www.myspace.com/dalindeo
www.dalindeo.com
www.ricky-tick.com

Sleep Walker – Works (Village Again) Japanese CD
The latest release from Japanese jazzers Sleep Walker is essentially a compilation featuring tracks which haven’t made it on their albums plus their remixes of other artists’ material. It kicks off with two tracks from the new 12” released on Especial, ‘Quiet Dawn’ and the amazing ‘Wind’ featuring Yukimi Nagano. The Bembe Segue fronted ‘River Of Love’ is also included along with their rework of Kyoto Jazz Massive’s ‘Eclipse’ and a new take on ‘Waltz For Moe’, the original of which appeared on ‘The Room – 10th Anniversary’, a four track EP released in 2003. Their re-work of Jazzinho’s ‘Sim Ou Nao’ is a worthy inclusion but check their blissful remix of Victor Davies ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ from his recent ‘Hear The Sound – Remixed’ set.      
www.v-again.co.jp

Barbara & Ernie – Prelude To… (Fallout) UK CD
Originally issued in 1972 on Cotillion Records, ‘Prelude To…’ was Barbara Massey and Ernie Calabria’s one and only album together. Due to the growing interest in the folk-funk sound this has become a much sought after piece in recent years so top marks to Fallout for this timely reissue. Orchestrated by Eumir Deodato and featuring players such as Grady Tate, Ralph MacDonald, Joe Beck, Keith Jarrett and Richard Tee, it effortlessly fuses elements of psychedelic pop, folk, funk and jazz to create an outstanding collection. It includes the in-demand ‘Play With Fire’ and ‘Somebody To Love’ but equally as good are ‘Searching The Circle’ and ‘My Love & I’.   
www.soundlinkmusic.com

Catalyst – Catalyst (Cobblestone) US LP
Catalyst were a Philadelphia based quartet who recorded a total of four albums together before going their separate ways. This reissue of their 2nd set was originally released in 1972 and is firmly rooted in jazz-fusion. It kicks off with the funk driven ‘Ain’t It The Truth’ before embarking on an ethereal journey with the majestic ‘East’. Other highlights include the deep swing of ‘Catalyst Is Coming’ and the beautiful melody of ‘New-Found Truths’. If you’re into The Visitors (Earl & Carl Grubbs) then this is for you.       

Various – Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits 2 (Wah Wah 45s) UK CD
The second installment of ‘Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits’ includes recent highlights from the Wah Wah 45s label like the bright and breezy soul/jazz swinger ‘Love Untold’ by Sesong, Speeka’s ’Bend’ featuring Ben Parker, PTH Projects’ ‘What The Sun Brings’ and ‘It’s Only Perfect by Man/Boy (Talc) featuring Girl. Of the exclusive bits there’s another offering from Talc who serve up the Steely Dan inspired ‘Wonder Bar’. ‘Melancholic (Your Love Blinds Me)’ by Luna & Bazis is a solid bass heavy jazzy groove, as is Jamie Finlay’s ‘Any Given Sunday’ which features a powerful spoken word message from Dwayne Morgan. The highlights for me though are the tech-soul of Landslide’s ‘Solitary’ featuring the delightful vocals of Ernesto, ‘Blow The Man Down’, an acoustic folk outing from London based singer/songwriter Rosie Brown and Scrimshire’s ‘Warm Sound’ featuring Inga Lill Aker, a stunning orchestrated soul/jazz piece reminiscent of 4hero.         
www.myspace.com/wahwah45s
www.wahwah45s.com

Various – Brownswood Bubblers Two (Brownswood) UK CD
Gilles Peterson digs deep to bring us the cream of the underground beats for volume two of his Bubblers series. Selections such as Marcina Arnold’s conscious ‘Forefathers’ and Grand Union’s ‘Wonderful World’, a superb folk-jazz outing should already be familiar to readers of Soul Asylum, but the majority of tracks are exclusive to this CD. Check the Baduish ‘Walking’ by Cornish Waters featuring Duchess, the gorgeous ‘Watch Out’ from London’s up and coming talent Tawiah and the breezy nu-soul flavour of Sotu The Traveller’s ‘Flow’ with vocals from Maya Azucena. The much anticipated ‘Tea Leaf Dancers’ from Flying Lotus is a tech-soul triumph and features the Leeds based vocalist Andreya Triana, who should see some much deserved attention following this collaboration. Top marks also go to Sheffield’s Middlewood Sessions who are firing on all cylinders with the awesome live broken-beat excursion ‘Fall Back’, which is also available on 12” with a remix from Spiritual South.       
www.myspace.com/brownswoodrecordings
www.brownswoodrecordings.com