Jose James – Park Bench People/Visions Of Violet
(Brownswood) UK 12”
‘Park Bench People’ from Jose James’ stunning ‘The Dreamer’ set now gets a 12” release. There’s no remixes here just the original album version but you’re still going to need this for the flip side, ‘Visions Of Violet’. Produced by Flying Lotus this is a beautiful jazzy soul stepper with subtle horn stabs, intense strings and Rhodes touches.

www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet
www.myspace.com/brownswoodrecordings
www.brownswoodrecordings.com

Various – Soul Unsigned EP 002 (Soul Unsigned) UK CD   
Quick on the heels of EP 001 Solar Radio’s Phil Driver delivers the 2nd installment of ‘Soul Unsigned’. It kicks off with ‘Tell Me’, an uplifting boogie/jazz-funk cut from the Winnipeg (Canada) based group Moses Mayes before moving into Mothergroove’s ‘In 2 My Mind’ which is reminiscent of The Rebirth. Then it’s on to the slinky mid-pacer ‘Love What You Do’ by Candycream and concludes with ‘Live & Breathe from Lisa Couto & Most People. This maybe only the 2nd release on Soul Unsigned but already it’s shaping up to be a major player on the modern soul scene! 

www.myspace.com/soulunsignedmusic
www.soulunsigned.com

Plantlife – Time Traveller (Rapster) UK CD
As with their superb debut ‘The Return Of Jack Splash’, ‘Time Traveller’ sees Plantlife continue to blur the boundaries between soul, funk, hip-hop, electro and rock. Whilst this set doesn’t quite match the standards of their first album it does offer some solid moments such as the sensational steppers ‘Sun Shines Through Your Love’, ‘Your Love’ and ‘Got 2 Find A Better Way’ which are all rooted in the 70s soul tradition and for some ass shaking action check the disco-funk tracks ‘Sumthin About Her’ or ‘Rollerskate Jam’.

www.myspace.com/plantlife
www.myspace.com/rapsterrecords
www.rapsterrecords.com

The Sunburst Band – Movin’ With The Shakers (Z) UK CD
Joey Negro and the crew return with their 3rd Sunburst Band album and as with ‘Here Comes The Sunburst Band’ and ‘Until The End Of Time’ it’s packed with outstanding disco delights and boogie bombs. It features vocal performances from the likes of Leroy Burgess and Yolanda Wynns but even better are the Pete Simpson fronted cuts such as the outstanding ‘Our Lives Are Shaped’ and a killer version of David Bowie’s ‘Fashion’. Diane Charlemange graces the classy groove ‘Put A Lyric In It’ and the immaculate stepper ‘Movin’ With The Shakers’ which comes off like a Jones Girls track. Other standouts include ‘Turn It Out’ featuring Taka Boom which is reminiscent of early Level 42 material and ‘Dusk’, a clever if somewhat cheeky cut obviously inspired by Maze’s ‘Twilight’. 

    
www.myspace.com/thesunburstband
www.zrecords.ltd.uk

Incognito – Tales From The Beach (Dome) UK CD
It may have been ten years between the release of Incognito’s debut album ‘Jazz Funk’ (1981) and their second ‘Inside Life’ (1991) but since then Bluey and his collective have certainly made up for it as ‘Tales From The Beach’ marks their 13th release. As always the production is faultless and although there’s nothing unexpected here it will no doubt please their legion of fans. For me though the real winner on this set is ‘Feel The Pressure’, an infectious jazz-funk meets broken-beat monster co-produced by Ski Oakenfull and featuring Tony Momrelle, Imaani and Joy Rose on vocals.    

  
www.myspace.com/bluey_incognito
www.incognito.org.uk
www.myspace.com/domerecords
www.domerecords.co.uk

Sonar Kollektiv Orchester – Guaranteed Niceness (Sonar Kollektiv) German CD
Continuing the 10th anniversary celebrations of Sonar Kollektiv Records Jazzanova draw together a selection of tracks from the label but have drafted in Volker Meitz to reinterpret them with fully orchestrated arrangements. The result is breathtaking from the opening moments of ‘L.O.V.E. And You & I’ through to Deyampert’s ‘Held Him First’, ‘No Use/Another Day’, Georg Levin’s ‘(I Got) Somebody New’, ‘Run/Fedime’s Flight’ and Thief’s ‘Atlantic’. The original versions are all classics but these new versions take them to a whole new level.

www.myspace.com/sonarkollektivorchestra
www.myspace.com/sonarkollektiv
www.sonarkollektiv.com

Inverse Cinematics – Passin’ Through (Pulver) German CD
Although Inverse Cinematics have been providing us with top quality productions and remixes since 2002 surprisingly ‘Passin’ Through’ is their first long player. It’s been well worth the wait though as this is a fantastic collection of new material (other than the inclusion of the anthemic ‘Detroit Jazzin’’) which effortlessly fuses elements of deep house, jazz and hip-hop. ‘Sundrops’, ‘Sambatime’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’ are all heavy hitters in the vein of the aforementioned ‘Detroit Jazzin’’ but not to be overlooked are ‘Interplanetary Motivations’ and the title track, two slow motion chuggers, plus the jazzy hip-hop jam ‘Take It Back To 86’ featuring Jebidiah.

www.myspace.com/inversecinematics
www.myspace.com/pulverrecords
www.pulver-rec.com

Jamie Lidell – Jim (Warp) UK CD/LP
‘Jim’, Jamie Lidell’s follow up to his hugely successful 2005 set ‘Multiply’ sees him journey further into soul territory. He’s ditched much of the electronics in favour of a full backing band, resulting in a real 60s inspired sound. This is particularly evident on the uplifting cuts ‘Another Day’ and ‘A Little Bit Of Feel Good’, both of which could well see some pop chart action, the Sam Cooke influenced ‘All I Wanna Do’ and ‘Green Light’ which is reminiscent of Al Green. The highlight though is ‘Figured Me Out’, a wonderful 80s electro-boogie styled outing which is destined to be huge on the underground dance floors.

          
www.myspace.com/jamielidell
www.jamielidell.com
www.myspace.com/warprecords
www.warprecords.com

Various – Shapes 08:01 (Tru Thoughts) UK CD
The first ‘Shapes’ compilation of 2008 again showcases a selection of music from the Tru Thoughts label but as always there’s a handful of previously unreleased tracks thrown it for good measure. It kicks off in fine style with Unforscene’s comment on America’s so called war on terrorism, ‘Belly Full Of Lead’, which cleverly utilizes samples of Leadbelly and sound bites of George Bush amongst others. Then it’s on to goodies like Milez Benjiman’s digital hip-hop/soul cut ‘Crazy ‘bout Ya’, the Yam Who? Remix of Belleruche’s ‘It’ll Come’, ‘Quiet Dawn’ (Bonobo Remix) by Nostalgia 77 and thankfully the Owusu Remix of Up Hygh’s ‘Be Known’ featuring Eska finally sees the light of day. This is a huge basement soul bomb which was a favourite spin of Simon Harrison at our Abstract Soul sessions. All this for less than the price of a 12”, you can’t go wrong!     

 
www.myspace.com/truthoughtsrecords
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk

Various – Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits: Three
(Wah Wah 45s) UK CD
You can always rely on Dom Servini and Simon Goss’ Wah Wah 45s label to deliver exciting and innovative music and the 3rd volume in the ‘Underground Hits & Exclusive Bits’ compilation series does exactly that. It includes the massive ‘Show Me’ plus ‘Step Forward’ by Jamie Finlay, Middlewood Sessions’ ‘Red Waters’ and ‘Robot’s Return (Modern Sleep Over Part 2)’ from Talc along with a good helping of previously unreleased offerings. Of which Ashley Thomas’ ‘God Given’, a jazzy broken-soul cut, ‘Mistaken’ from Scrimshire featuring Rob Hynd, the jazz dancer ’Dunks’ by Hardkandy and Middlewood Sessions’ 2nd appearance, the folk-jazz piece ‘Used To Be’ are all essential.   

 
www.myspace.com/wahwah45s
www.wahwah45s.com

Various – Here Comes Treble (Treble O) UK CD
Domu and Shift’s Treble O label initially started as a download only label in 2006 primarily to release the various productions from Domu. Since then it has grown to include various forms of experimental dance music from other artists. It was Treble O who first introduced us to Ben Mi Duck and here we’re treated to another gorgeous piece from the Derby based project in the shape of ‘Pointless Dreams’. Chris Barker’s slow motion bubbler ‘Breakin Bread’, where jazz meets deep house is certainly another worthy inclusion, as is the cosmic broken-beat instrumental ‘Robot Moves’ from Nu Era, Domu’s own broken bumper ‘So Move’ and the outstanding jazz dancer ’22:21’ by The Sub Ensemble, a band who have risen from the ashes of the now defunct Sugar Beats. Look out for their ‘Faster Than The Sun’ EP coming very soon.   

www.myspace.com/trebleo
www.trebleo.co.uk