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Yearly Archives: 2009
Tony Allen: Secret Agent [World Circuit]
Legendary drummer Tony Allen oozes Afrobeat he was a mainstay of Fela Kuti’s Africa ’70 and here he returns to his Afrobeat roots after his more recent involvement with The Good, The Bad & The Queen’ . Produced by Tony Allen and using his tight funky band this is driving afrobeat with vocals from Nigerian singers Ayo, King Odudo, Switch, Kefee Obareki, Wura Samba and Allen himself on the title track and ‘Elewon Po’. Brilliant.
Chris Wood: Albion – An Anthology [Navigator Records]
Excellent two CD collection from Chris and features material from a wide range of sources, there’s material from his solo albums as well as work with Andy Cutting, The Two Duos, Jean-François Vrod, Martin Carthy & Roger Wilson, Karen Tweed, English Acoustic Collective and my own favourite the Imagined Village, the duet with Eliza Carthy is simply spot on. Excellent.
Najma Akhtar & Gary Lucas: Rishte [Harmonia Mundi]
Very interesting collaboration this, Najma is obviously well known for her collaborative work with Page and Plant, Peter Gabriel etc while Gary, a brilliant guitarist, has a hugely impressive CV having been part of Beefheart’s Magic band as well as writing with Jeff Buckley on ‘Grace’. This album is a perfect sum of its parts, for instance the fusion of Najmas gorgeous voice, tabla and Gary’s bluesy guitar on ‘Daaya’ is just delightful. Well worth investigating.
Mawkin Causley: The Awkward Recruit [Navigator Records]
Essex folk band Mawkin in a very successful collaboration with the wonderful singer Jim Causley from Devon. The result is inspiring with their live sets adding to the excitement and expectancy over this They’ve managed to capture the freshness of their take on traditional folk and it’s all so wonderfully topped off by that terrific voice. Recommended.
Kuljit Bhamra: Bhangra Latina [Keda Records]
Dubbed as bhangra Latina this is Kuljit Bhamra, top tabla player and the name behind soundtracks like "Bhaji on the Beach", and "Bend it like Beckham", teaming up with top salsa pianist Alex Wilson. The marriage of styles flows easily and you often forget there’s two very distinct styles merging here, I especially like the opener ‘Pyar Ka Hai Bairi’ with vocals from Sangeeta.
Baaba Maal: Television [Palm Pictures]
This might well upset the purists but Baaba Maal has always been adventurous and here he brings in a strong pop element to a Senagalese core heavily featuring Sabina Sciubba and Didi Gutman from the New York electronica outfit the Brazilian Girls . This is his first new release for about 8 years and my only real gripe would be that I’d love to hear even more of the great man featured. I think maybe the purists will retreat to the traditional albums like ‘Missing You’ but hopefully this release will bring in a whole new audience who will also go on to savour his back catalogue . I love it.
Dub Colossus: In A Town Called Addis [Real World Records]
African dub blending Ethiopian traditional with afro jazz and Jamaican dub recorded in Ethiopia & the UK from this new band formed by Transglobal Underground founder member Count Dubullah (aka Nick Page) . The recording features several amazing vocalists including Sintayehu Zenebe (the "Ethiopian Edith Piaf) Tsedenia Gebremarkos,. Bahta Gerbrehiwot and Teremage Woretaw, listen out to for some superb piano from Samuel Yirga and brilliant saxophonist Feleke Hailu. This really is a wonderful album.
Ancient Astronauts: We Are To Answer [ESL Music]
Ancient Astronauts are Kabanjak and Dogu from Cologne, they are heavily influenced by funky hip-hop from the nineties but they add in Afro, reggae and dope beats mixed into a spacebeats shake up. There really is a big mixture going on here with favourites including Tippa Irie toasting on ‘All Of The Things You Do’ and The Pharcyde breezing through ‘Classic’. Great stuff.
Sa Ra Creative Partners: Nuclear evolution: The Age of Love [Ubiquity Records]
There have been many groups that have come through and displayed the ability lay down the funk. Very few have shown the potential to create the cosmic slop like Sa Ra Creative Partners. Since they emerged on the scene back in 2000, Sa Ra has teased us with a single here and there, most notably the underground hit “Glorious” before finally releasing their debut in 2007. Their latest release, “Nuclear Evolution” fulfills some of the promise that has been long associated with the group. With their trademark psychedelic funk spread across 23 tracks, Sa Ra waxes poetic on tales of partying and all night sexual encounters. Some of the highlights include “Dirty Beauty”, which features Erykah Badu. “Melodee N Mynor” and “Gemini’s Rising featuring Rozzie Daime”. “Traffika” depicts a wild night of chaos in New York City. They slow things down for a moment to enter the galaxy of love on “Love Today”. Each track features their trademark spacey synths, funky basslines and soulful production. Sa Ra’s stylish compositions have been sought after for many hip-hop and soul artists alike. “Nuclear” demonstrates a definitive progression from their debut and will satisfy the legion of fans who like their funk to stretch out beyond the outer limits. Simply put, this is one of the most creative and enjoyable records of 2009.
Azaxx: The Exotic Delight Bay [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
The roster of Tru-Thoughts is filled with an eclectic group of talented musicians. So say hello to Azaxx. The French producer’s full length debut, “The Exotic Delight Bay” is an appropriate title because his compositions consist of exotic rhythms that bridge influences from Brazil and Latin America combined with the electronic grooves and the fresh beats of today. Azaxx’s skills of a top notch DJ and a producer shine through on “Zorbanissimo”, a funky mid-tempo track enriched by the tasty percussion and vibes. “Beach Mambo” is another tasty treat rich with Cuban heritage. For those more partial to the dance floor beats, there’s “Autumn Dreamy, an energetic ambient groover. “Smoothly Morning” is another funky gem filled with soothing chords. “Wild Strawberry Jelly” features a funky bassline and the beats to keep the dance floor crowded. All in all, “The Exotic Delight Bay” is indeed a tropical delight and a crowning achievement. Let’s hope there’s more where this came from.
Scrimshire: Along Came The Devil One Night… [Wah Wah 45s]
Adam Scrimshire is known to many as a producer, musician and dj, having delivered a number of singles over the years for Wah Wah 45’s. “Along came the devil one night” is his first full length release and it undoubtedly demonstrates that he is an artist deserving of a bigger stage. Scrimshire has taken all his musical influences in jazz, soul, Latin and folk to craft a record filled with great melodic tunes and an array of talented vocalists to propel them to greater heights. Let’s start with “The low road”, a lovely track that fuses elements of jazz and pop and is aided by the husky voice of Rob Hynd. The title track is a wonderful instrumental filled with tango influences and warm string arrangements. “Springtime” is a lush, eloquent jazzy number that features the beautiful voice of Claire Laurent. The disc finishes up with the folk flavored “I have come to you” which features Stac. I was a little disappointed that there were only nine tracks here. One can’t complain when every track embodies superb compositions, gorgeous songwriting and talented musicians to match. Simply put, this record is a flat out winner.
Dusty: Keep It Raw [Jazz and Milk Recordings]
Jazz & Milk founder Dusty has created an amalgamation of various sounds with funk being the underlying foundation throughout this disc. Whether it’s the soul jazz arrangements of the title track, a funky organ grinder number that utilizes elements of Miles Davis “Kind of blue” or the pulsating rhythms of “Salsa Step”, the funk is the engine that drives this record. There’s plenty more that you’ll find enjoyable. The ultra talented Carla Val appears on two cuts here. The standout track, “Just an illusion” is a soul-jazz gem. “An exotic Breed” is a funky dub step treat. “Voodoo” explores afro beat rhythms with great results. Overall “Keep it Raw” is a deeply satisfying and entertaining set. Fans of soul jazz, afro beat and latin all wrapped into one session will find this record a worthy candidate for your collection.
Soundspecies: Soundspecies [Burnt Progress]
The debut of the Keen brothers, Barnaby & Nathaniel aka Sounspecies is filled with soulful down-tempo grooves and funky hip-hop beats drenched in a soulful vibe that will have you wondering where have these guys been all along. The brothers, with a little help from their friends skillfully combine electronic grooves with live instrumentation and the result is a well crafted and deeply satisfying debut. The disc starts out with “Stars Wars”, an instrumental jam with a thumping bass line. That is followed up with “Something new”, a blissful and melodic gem. The lush arrangements plus the mesmerizing voice of Emilia Martensson takes this track on a musical voyage that his truly devine. “CDR People” is a funky dose of hip hop that features the Foreign Beggars. “Journeyman” is an ambient jazzy number that is enhanced by Ben Hadwen’s playing on flute and sax. The disc wraps up with the soothing “Waiting for the Sun to come up”, which features Barnaby and Deborah Jordan on vocals. Soundspecies spent many years in London cultivating their sound. This debut proves that they have learned their lessons well. This is an exceptional record that you shouldn’t miss.
Aybee: East Oakland Space Program [Deepblak Recordings]
Aybee’s 2008 release “Blacktropolis” was one of the most pleasant surprises to blare out of my speakers. “East Oakland Space Program” builds on the soulful futuristic sound that has made Aybee a visionary to be reckoned with. “EOSP” contains thirteen heart pounding tracks that will dive deep into your body and force you move to the hypnotic rhythms. The disc begins with “Hidden Treasures”, a deep pulsating groove reminiscent of the early Detroit techno sound. “Windows” is a warm, atmospheric deep dish that’s anchored by the earthy arrangements by Aybee and the vocals of Karen Paige. Another winner is “No Mystery” featuring Paul Randolph, whose deep vocals are a perfect match for Aybee’s spacey compositions. “Love Of” and “Ozzie Davis” are the kind of deep house jazz tracks you’ll love whether you’re on the dance floor or just lounging. “EOSP” is full of funky beats, hip vocals and gorgeous rhythms. This is another quality recording from the Deepblak label that will provide definite satisfaction.
Deborah Jordan: The Light [Futuristica Music]
From the moment she premiered on the Silhouette Brown project back in 2005, Deborah Jordan has left an everlasting impression on her fans with her honey drenched angelic voice. She has gone on to record with talented musicians like Robert Mitchell, Jneiro Jarel and countless others. We’ve all wondered when we would receive a full length album from her. Finally our patience is rewarded with “The Light”. Quite simply, “The Light” is a wonderful record that features an all-star line-up of producers such as Atjazz, Don Ray, Spoonface and Simon S. It’s hard to pick a standout track since this is such a satisfying listen from start to finish but we’ll try our best. For starters there’s “Brought to life”, produced by Electric Conversation, an organic slice of electro soul. Then there’s “Home” a beautiful down-tempo duet with Rep Life. “One” is an acoustic flavored treat that features Colonel Red. “Let it go” is a classic Atjazz production, gorgeous melody and chilled out soulful electronic beats. Simply put, “The Light” has it all, compositions that capture the warmth in Deborah’s voice and razor sharp production that never allows a dull moment. This is a must have record and another crown jewel from Futuristica music.