Yearly Archives: 2005

Tobias Meggle returns with his next instalment and he’s gone and released another classic. ‘Echoes’ includes a few new tracks, some remixes of tracks from 2004’s ‘Wanderlust’ album and some from the man himself. Things kick off with two corking new tracks, with Randolph Matthews featuring on ‘Call Out’ and ‘Common Cause’ with Clara Hill. I would have bought ‘Echoes’ on these tracks alone. Also included are wonderful remixes by Break Reform, Smiles Ahead and Gerd. For a bonus ball you have Sandboy’s remix of Gerd’s ‘So Real’ featuring Vanessa Freeman. Surely I don’t need to sell this to you any more.

Simon Harrison

Here is the next instalment from Japan’s multi-talented Hiroshi Watanabe, also known as Kaito (Kompakt) and of course Tread. 7 tracks of the deepest house music that’s you’ll find on the planet. Lovely warm productions and lush keys that will appeal to fans of the Detroit house heads aka fans of Moodymann and Theo Parrish. Of course you knew this was going to be good because it’s released on Third Ear.

Simon Harrison

To my surprise Fukutomi has produced eight albums prior to this release, which proves I’ve got some serious catching up to do. ‘˜Equality’ is aimed straight at the dancefloor and includes a fine selection of grooves this will appeal to the house heads, well the ones with taste. If that isn’t enough the vocalists are tiptop quality, which include: Rich Medina, Lady Alma, Ernesto, Victor Davis and Isabelle Antena. Top marks to Gav Smith for bringing Fukutomi to the UK masses.

Simon Harrison

The second edition of Soul Brother’s ‘The Wants List’ delivers another 18 in demand rare groove / 2 step soul tracks to end the frustrating search for many a collector. As you would expect, everything here is quality from the album’s opener Kellee Patterson’s version of ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More’, through to the finishing cut ‘When We’re Making Love’ by Denise LaSalle. In between we’re treated to classics such as ‘World In A Crisis’ from Barbara Mason, Edna Wright’s ‘Oops! Here I Go Again’, ‘Shake It Up’ by The Vibrations, Michelle Wiley’s ‘I Feel So At Home Here’ and ‘Unwanted Company’ from Jeannie Reynolds. It’s also good to see Samuel Jonathan Johnson’s ‘My Music’ included. This has long been a favourite of mine, a great quirky soul stepper with an almost mystical feel, taken from the 1978 Columbia album of the same name. One that was actually on my ‘wants list’ was ‘Sho’ Nuff’ by the sweet male harmony group, Sly, Slick & Wicked. This is a fantastic tune originally released on People Records in 1973 and sounds like The Lost Generation.

Andy Allen

Soul DJ Andy Davies kick starts his new Streetsoul label in fine style with this Chicago rarity which he discovered on acetate whilst working at John Anderson’s Soul Bowl record shop during the mid 90s. After airing ‘Joy Trip (Part 1)’ on his radio show the track caused a huge buzz amongst the soul fraternity and has eventually resulted in this release. ‘Joy Trip (Part 1)’ is a majestic string fueled two stepper of the highest order but the album packed full of quality tunes covering northern, crossover and funk styles plus a great version of The Lovelites’ ‘Get It Off My Conscience’.

Andy Allen

Gil Scott-Heron along with his long time musical partner Brian Jackson have committed to vinyl some of the most important politically and socially conscious music ever recorded. This compilation focuses on the period between 1973 and 1980 and includes tracks from 7 albums. The timeless classic, “The Bottle”; kicks off proceedings before moving into the uplifting “It’s Your World”, “Johannesburg” and the haunting “Winter In America”, a track I have never tired of since first hearing it 16 years ago when I was just starting out on this crazy collecting journey. “Angel Dust”, “Shut Um Down”, “Alien (Hold On To Your Dreams)” along with “The Liberation (Red, Black & Green)” and a storming live version of “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” are all here. However, I’m currently hammering the tracks taken from the 1977 album “Bridges”, mainly because I’ve never heard them before. “Delta Man (Where I’m Coming From)” and “We Almost Lost Detroit” are amazing low slung gritty grooves but even better is “Racetrack In France” which starts with a happy clappy rhythm and blues intro before slipping into a driving synth bass lead electro groove. Pure perfection!

Andy Allen

I’ve lost count of Dominic Stanton’s aliases and releases but here is the latest instalment under Domu. I went to the release party of “Return Of The Rogue” back in May but thankfully this will be out soon. Believe me this is an absolute classic from the man who never seems to stop working. As we’ve come to expect from Domu over the years, you never quite know what’s coming next. Well I won’t spoil the plot for you because this is fantastic from start to end. This is sure to be one of the best albums in 2005.

Simon Harrison

How time flies when you having fun. I cannot believe that Russell is releasing her second album, when it seems like only a few months since “Under The Munka Moon” dropped. Russell has been recording guest vocals left, right and centre but I’m still not tired of one of the UK’s finest vocalists, in fact I want more. You don’t really need me to tell you this is an excellent album because we always knew it was going to be. So stop reading this, get out there and buy a copy.

Simon Harrison

I’ve been looking forward to hearing D’nell’s debut album for along time now, ever since Young Lee played the exclusive of “I Read About” on Basic Soul in March 2004. It’s been a long time but it’s been well worth the wait. D’Nell are long time partners producer, Dan Jones and beautiful vocalist Ellie Hajee. Featuring some wonderful grooves that continue to grow on you, even after listening to this for a week. Listen to “I Read About” and you’ll buy this on the album version alone.

Simon Harrison

Former member of Rednose Districkt, shows how well this young talent can work on his own. He’s picked a fine selection of vocalists which include Jneiro Jarel, Cee-Major, U-Gene, Lady Alma and others. Not only that but you won’t stop shaking your hips to the deep grooves that Sublime has put together, which will rock any dancefloor or sound just as nice on your headphones. Kindred Spirits just continue their domination of things soulful.

Simon Harrison

Part 2 of New Flesh fame unleashes his first solo album on the Big Dada label. This album has been work in progress for a few years now as he is been kept busy with New flesh and various other side projects. The album is rammer-jammed with superb guest vocalists entwinded with very fat sounds ranging from Grime to Reggae to Detroit fuelled rhythms.The double A-side of ‘Get Square feat. Fallacy’ and ‘Will It Ever feat. Sandra Melody is already getting some great response in the press and on the floor – and i’m sure the full deal will receive the same praise on its release at the end of Sept ’05. The beats are fully loaded and he’s really gotten the most from his vocalist side-kicks. Well worth checking out.

Jax

This is juan maclean’s debut album on James Murphy’s highly respected DFA label. The style is very LCD soundsystem, infact it could almost be a collection of lost tracks from LCD’s first masterpiece. Firing along at a dubbed out discotronic tempo, the production on this album is second to none. Live instrumentals fused with sample based beats – It’s all very tight indeed. “Tito’s Way” was recently lifted as the first single and the last track – “Dance With Me”, an epic tripped out burner is due to be their next 12″ release. Fans of LCD with no doubt appreciate this DFA sound. Slightly more toned down and minus Murphy’s vocal exploits – this is trademark DFA sounding stuff.

Jax

Those in the know will have noticed that this was released first in Japan a few months ago but those top people at BBE have signed it for UK release. Ski had been around on the scene for years and it’s always great to hear the solo productions. For this his second album he’s brought in some heavy weight vocalists aka Amp Fiddler, Valerie Etienne, Earl Zinger and Chi Turner and they all sound fantastic. Most of the attention has been on the Amp Fiddler tracks which are ace but make sure you listen to the other vocal tracks because they are outstanding. BBE roll out another classic.

Simon Harrison

This has to be one of the most eagerly awaited albums of 2005, ever since ‘Dust’ was heard last year. It is of course the follow up to the excellent ‘Cardiology’. Things kick off with another anthem in the making, ‘Landed’, but it’s not all about the big dancefloor tunes. There’s a proper mix up of styles and influences, which of course you would expect from a man of this talent. It may not grab you on first play but give it a few listens and you’ll be hooked for the rest of 2005.

Simon Harrison

As you may have gathered by the title, all of the ten tracks on Ernesto’s latest album have a blues influence. Mixing blues and electronic music may not sound good on paper but this is tastefully and beautifully arranged. Personally I’ve been hammering ‘another ten’ which featured on the 7″ single but ensure you check out the wonderful ‘Father’. Maybe more producers should move to Birmingham because it’s worked wonders for Ernesto.

Simon Harrison