Arthur Verocai – Bis (Far Out) UK 7”
Following Ubiquity’s reissue of Arthur Verocai’s cult 1972 self-titled album a few years back, Verocai returns to the studio to bring us ‘Bis’. The original version is a warm mid-tempo Brazilian soul groove full of strings and 70s sensibilities. On the flip side Eddy Meets Yannah turn in a solid stripped down broken-funk mix. Look out for the album later this year.
      
www.myspace.com/verocai
www.faroutrecordings.com

Lanu – Dis-information/Mother Earth/Don’t Sleep (Tru Thoughts) UK 12”
Lanu’s debut album, ‘This Is My Home’ should be with us by the time you read this but in the meantime he teases us with ‘Dis-information (12” Mix)’, a killer squelchy broken boogie bomb. Also included are ‘Don’t Sleep’ and the afro infected ‘Mother Earth’. Can’t wait to hear the full album!   
  
www.myspace.com/lanu
www.myspace.com/truthoughtsrecords
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk  

Various – Focus Jazz (Sonar Kollektiv) German 12”
Following the recent ‘Focus Jazz’ compilation of works from the Hans Wewerka vaults, comes this superb three track 12”. It features Joe Haider’s brooding ‘No Way’ from the said compilation along with the psych-jazz flavour of ‘All My Love Is Gone’ by Erich Ferstl and a brilliant new version of Dusko Goykovich’s ‘Macedonia’ from Nicola Conte’s new project Third Eye (Dusko’s version appears on the full ‘Focus Jazz’ album).

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

Slope – Slope Is Dope (Sonar Kollektiv) German CD
For their latest set Daniel Paul and Honesty aka Slope bring together a collection of remixes, be it tracks they’ve remixed or their own material reworked by other producers. Slope’s remixes of 1Luv’s ‘Daylight’, ‘Ray Ray’ by Fat Freddy’s Drop and Deyampert’s ‘It’s You’ all hit the spot. Henrik Schwartz’ take of Slope’s ‘Keepingitup’ featuring Desney Bailey and Charles Webster’s Slightly Slower Mix of the Ovasoul 7 fronted ‘Nothing Like This Feeling’ are also worthy inclusions but it’s ’Find Our Love’ with Jane Hamilton (Volker Meitz Acoustic Replay), an immaculate soul-jazz outing that makes this package absolutely essential!

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

Jazzanova – Belle et Fou (Sonar Kollektiv) German CD
‘Belle et Fou’ is Berlin’s new culture based TV show for which Jazzanova have allowed the director access to the Sonar Kollektiv archive for the show’s ‘score’. With modern day classics such as Clara Hill’s ‘Maybe Now’, ‘D-D-D-Dance’ from Micatone, Outlines’ ‘Just A Lil’ Lovin’’ and Jazzanova’s own ‘The Sirens’ Call’ featuring Thief all interspersed with new 70s blaxploitation styled works by Jazzanova this makes for one hell of an album. ‘Rendezvous’ opens the set and features Capitol A like you’ve never heard him before. If I didn’t know better I’d swear this some long lost Barry White cut. Pure brilliance!    

www.jazzanova.net
www.myspace.com/sonarkollektiv
www.sonarkollektiv.com

Gary Marks – Gathering (Kindred Spirits) Dutch CD
Originally released in 1973 Gary Marks’ ‘Gathering’ gets a welcome reissue by Kindred Spirits. Gary has a gentle yet mesmerizing quality to his voice and together with his band, featuring amongst others guitarist John Scofield and David Samuels on vibes, he delivers a stunning collection of folk-jazz compositions. The tranquil ‘Sailing’, the funky fusion instrumental title track, ‘We Free’ and ‘Him Sometimes’, a superb modal outing are all exceptional but this album is a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end.   

www.myspace.com/garymarks
www.garymarksmusic.com
www.myspace.com/kindredspiritsrecords
www.kindred-spirits.nl 

Adriana Evans – El Camino (Expansion) UK CD
When Adriana Evans’ self-titled debut was released in 1997 it impacted greatly on the newly emerging neo/organic soul scene. Although her follow up, ‘Nomadic’ failed to spark the same level of interest, this, her third set sees a return to form. It features all the traits of her first, strong beats, infectious horn arrangements and of course Adriana’s delectable vocal tones. She particularly shines on ‘Hey Now’, ‘Calling Me’ and ‘Undercover’ along with the mellow samba ‘Blue Bird In Bahia’ and the Latin flavoured ‘All For Love’, all of which are like a breath of fresh air.     
           
www.myspace.com/nomadicalbum
www.myspace.com/expansionrecords
www.expansionrecords.com

Spirit Catcher – Night Vision (2020Vision) UK CD
After several 12” releases under their belt the Belgian duo, Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet, aka Spirit Catcher deliver their debut album for the Leeds based 2020Vision Records. It’s packed full of quality electro-boogie house and includes both ‘Sweet Deal’ and ‘Time Emulator’ from the recent single. To these ears though the standouts are the mid-tempo grooves ‘Space Crash’ and ‘Motown Spring’, the latter featuring a rock steady bass line, atmospheric keys and dreamy filtered harmonies. Trust me this is the bomb!

www.myspace.com/spiritcatcher1
www.myspace.com/2020visionrecordings