Swollen Members: Black Magic [Battle Axe Records]
Swollen Members return with their 5th studio album packed to the hilt with fat beats and smart rhymes, returning once again on Battle axe records.
This album flows along nicely and has some top notch guest appearances from the in form Ghostface Killah, DJ Swamp, DJ Babu and the dancehall master Mr Vegas.
Stand out tracks include ‘Pressure’, ‘Grind’ and the title track ‘Black Magic’. The whole album is as expected, fully sample driven, but there is a heavy emphasis on piano’s and guitar licks. Its production is executively taken care of by Mad Child and it’s produced very tight. Fans of previous Swollen Members long players will no doubt dig this. It by no means delves into adventurous territory buts it’s a solid album that should be checked!
Various Artists: Innervisions Where We At [Sonar Kollektiv]
Sonar Kollektiv are by far one the busiest and most consistent labels in the electronic dance industry. They have some superb artists on their roster and most of the compilations they bang out are sheer class. This ‘Innervisions’ album is no exception! It sets the groove immediately with Chateau Flights elegant ‘Baroque’ which slips into Ame’s ‘Req’, probably one the best tunes to ever be released on SK. There are some belters by Tokyo Black Star, Atjazz and Stefan Goldman, all tinged with a lil’ Detroit / Berlin influence. The album finishes off with the exquisite collaboration between Ame, Dixon and Henrik Schwarz, a 4am treat of tune with good old Derrick Carter on shouty vocals. Brilliant! Per se from SK.
NAS: Hip Hop Is Dead [Def Jam Recordings]
When a Nas album is about to drop I get a sense anticipation similar to when Gangstarr and Dre release long players, Just hoping it’s gonna be worth the wait. Nas’s last ‘Street Disciple’ was way off his usual high standard and earlier outings. For ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ he’s switched labels to the force that is Def Jam, and I reckon this has definitely given the album the edge. The rhymes are tight and the beats are signature Nas. During the whole album Nas is blasting the Hip Hop industry, the commercialism of the front runners in the scene and the all out bullsh*t that surrounds a lot of major releases within this multi-million selling industry. He reminds everyone that whereas his peers are nowhere on the scene, he’s still releasing tracks true to his sound. Hip Hop is dead? Not with Nas around it’s not. Get this!
Joakim: Monsters & Silly Songs [K7]
This album from French producer Joakim begins in a very dark mood, with the theme firmly set on eclectism. You never know what your gonna get when you listen to either a Joakim remix or one of his own productions. Like a good Jack-of-all-trades, he masters all genres.
This is far from a club album (although ‘DrumTrax’ would go down a storm on the dancefloor), instead there is a fusion of electronica, pop, jazzy wiggle and dark chords a plenty to keep the mood deep and haunting. This is definitely the sort of album that takes a few listens to get used too. It’s so up and down tempo-wise that your never sure what’s about to drop. It would be hard to recommend this long player to anyone in particular, although I would suggest checking it out in depth and over time. Joakim definitely has some serious musical talent, which he puts to good use across the whole album and K7 have catered for their ‘left of middle’ fans by releasing this monster mash.
Skream: Skream! [Tempa]
Those of you familiar with the Dub-Step scene will agree with me that this kid is the don dada of the land of Dub-Step. ‘Midnight Request Line’ is arguably the biggest tune in Dub-Step history and definitely the most requested. This album simply gets better by the listen, it’s draws you in with it’s dubbed out sub bass and musically it’s up there for being one of the best albums of 2006. From the haunting opening vibe of ‘Tortured Soul’ it moves into dancehall and Grime territory thanks to some sweet additions from vocalists Warrior Queen and JME. These are so many influences to be felt in this album that it would be hard to pidgeonhole the album as Dub-Step. For such a young producer Skream has so much talent, like an old head on young shoulders. This didn’t come off my player for weeks after I’d got it, I reckon it’ll be the same for almost everyone. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
2020 Soundsystem: No Order [20:20 vision recordings]
Ralph Lawson has reached legendary status in my home county (YORKSHIRE). This has been done by working hard throughout his entire career and most certainly because of his out and out loyalty to Back To Basics – A World wide dance music institution that in my mind is in it’s own league. Anyone who’s seen Ralph DJ at Basics over the last 15 years will be able to vouch that his presence is legendary and that he’s one of the nicest peeps you is ever gonna meet in this industry. But that’s enough about Ralph. His band – 2020 Soundsystem conjure up a superb debut album that ooze’s with the freshest of beats side by side with quality vocals and supersonic bass-lines. This whole album slides along without one bad tune. The opening track ‘Hit The Fan’ is probably my favourite with it’s retro synths and bubbling bass, The Glass collaboration on the title track is a ‘must turn up louder track’ and The Tape has been echoing around clubland for a while now to a great reception. These tracks work so well in this format, but if you’re really gonna feel this vibe then be sure to check out the band live. Ralph & Co. I salute you!
J*S*T*A*R*S: Put Me On A Planet [Steel Tiger Records]
Fresh debut release from J*S*T*A*R*S on the Steel Tiger Records label. This 12 track album is written and produced by Steve Cobby and Sim Lister. Cobby is one half of Hull’s very own Fila Brazillia and it sure shows throughout this whole long player. Hard to describe what style of music this album is, so I’m not gonna. Instead, I’ll tell you that the album is for listening anywhere and the tracks could be played on most open minded dancefloors. Think Mr Scruff! If you’re into Fila then this album will definitely be your taste. If you’ve never heard any Fila Brazillia stuff and therefore have nothing to compare then far be it from me to tell you that you should listen to some of their productions right now. Go on, do it! Now, I said.
Outkast: Idlewild [La Face]
If you’re reading this expecting me to tell you that it’s no where near as good as Speakerboxx/Love Below, then I’ll apologise in advance. Those of you who thought Outkast would carry on where that double album left off will be bitterly disappointed. This Outkast CD is more like the whole Outkast package rolled into one mighty fine album. Back writing and producing as a duo, Big Boi and Andre 3000 push all the right buttons in the funked up hippity hopperty style that we’ve come to respect them for. The usual Outkast format sees tracks separated by interludes, with most of the tracks being of more of a mellow tempo with emphasis on the lyrics and the tightest production you’re gonna hear anywhere. Outkast never fail to be original with their songs, and you’ll be jigging along to this album if you give it time. The only thing I can criticise Outkast for with this album is that they invited Macy Gray to sing on one of the tracks. Oh well, I suppose that’s why they invented the skip button.
Various Artists: DC Recordings Presents: Death Before Distemper [DC Recordings]
J Saul Kane aka Depth Charge has been delivering quality beats on his very own DC Recordings label for over 10 years. It’s a label that has definitely carried the quality not quantity ethos and with the upsurge of cosmic disco’ed out dub electro tunes around at the moment, Kane has got a very fruitful array of artists producing some very twanged out stuff on DC. This superb compilation just dips into some of those artists talents. Emperor Machine, Kelpe, Padded Cell and Depth Charge are among some of the contributors to some great bass-lines, some clean drumming and some seriously spaced out synth noises. This album will keep you interested from start to end. Recommended.
Henrik Schwarz: DJ Kicks [!K7]
This is one the finest series of compilations the electronic music world has ever had. They pick superb producers and artists to select some music and craft it onto a splendid long player. This selection by Germany’s Henrik Schwarz is no different in that it’s good all the way through. Just about everything is covered on this album, there is Detroit Techno from Drexciya, Funk from James Brown, Reggae from Sugar Minot and house from Schwarz himself. There are also slices of soul music and a tad bit of Jazz. It’s well put together and plays perfect as a whole album. Preceding this release will be a limited 12" from Schwarz of the "written especially for this compilation" single – ‘Imagination Limitation’. You’d be a fool not to check this out, or for that matter virtually all of the DJ Kicks series.