Fact: Jimpster needs more fingers. Why. You ask? Well, because if he had more fingers then he would be able to put them in more pies. Jimpster aka Jamie Odell, head honcho of freerange records, member of ‘The Bays’ and all round super nice guy has really hit the spot with this longplayer. This is Jimpsters first solo outing in album format on freerange and it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. Starting off will chilled out beats linked in with some sublime vocals courtesy of Shaye, Capitol A and Elsa Hedburg this really is a summer soundtrack not be overlooked. The tempo doesn’t get much above the deep house mark, but the vibe is perfect. This, along with the superb production means once you hear this album you’ll be wanting more and more. Highly recommended!

Jax

Without doubt, YT is one the hottest reggae producers in the UK. This debut album is totally brilliant. In fact I’m gonna push da boat out here and say this is one of the best albums 2006 has had to offer so far. The production is tight, the lyrics are superb and the riddums are the dogs down belows.
There is a load of reggae, a slice of dancehall and ragga with a sprinkle of drum & bass thrown in for good measure. YT has been kickin’ about on dinked 45’s for long time, so to finally release a full length of this quality is a real treat. ‘Straight Outta Britain’ features some toasting from Luciano, Horseman and JD but to name a few and each and every track is a belter. This album will not be off my stereo all Summer for sure. Do yourself a favour and check this out and turn it up!!!

Jax

Some labels get slated for churning out compilation after compilation of their back catalogue, putting new names to the compilations and different spins on the themes. With the results still ending in the same old tunes just shuffled into a different order. Trojan, however, manage to avoid this process. Perhaps it’s because the Trojan archive is so extensive it’s almost impossible to churns out the same old songs. For this next chapter in Trojan’s ‘mixtape’ venture they have drafted in Portishead DJ, Andy Smith. This experienced DJ and self confessed vinyl addict has compiled his own ‘Document’ series over the last few years which mainly focused on the sounds of soul, funk and hip hop. This ‘Trojan Document’ glides through some of Trojan’s best, rarest and most popular releases. It’s rocksteady, it’s reggae, it’s dancehall, it’s very good. There are tracks from The Upsetters, Hopetown Lewis, john Holt plus loads of other top notch reggae producers. Reggae heads will have heard the tunes and riddums before no doubt, but Andy Smith glides them all together to suit the summer vibe down to a tee. Bless up!

Jax

A match made in heaven: the superb ‘DJ Kicks’ mix series from K7 teaming up with one of eclecticism’s true masters – Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden. This, believe it or not, is number 26 in the DJ Kicks series and once again fulfil’s the high standards of the previous selections. This 20 track mix album really is full of talent, ‘If I Were Only A Child Again’ by Curtis Mayfield features early on, there is a belter from Madvillain plus the excellent ‘Psychosomatic’ from personal faves Model 500. The mood rounds off with some Cabaret Voltaire and Gong in the mix with hip hop from Group Home and Showbiz & A.G. The final slice comes in the form of ‘Flutter’ from the truly brilliant Autechre and that’s that. Another spot-on selection from a DJ Kicks compiler. From now on when people ask me the dreaded question, "What sort of music are you into?". I’m just gonna tell em’ to listen to this album because it just about covers the lot. Well, well worth a listen.

Jax

This Album from the excellent and diverse Klein label has got a serious groove. Blauchklang are six “heads” from Austria whose only previous long playing release was ‘Jamzero’ back in 2001. ‘Many People’ is like nothing else i’ve heard. It would be impossible to pigeonhole, but lies somewhere in the ‘extremely soulful’ category. Don’t get me wrong you won’t hear this on Trevor Nelson’s show. It’s far too good and left of middle for that. It just has to heard to be defined. Vocal’s are a major part of the album, but the beats compliment down to a tee. Some of the vibe is totally uptempo whilst other grooves are slow and dark. Looking for something different that sounds like Prefuse 73 recording with Rhazel’s throat on Sonar Kollektiv? This could be the closest your gonna get.

Jax

When i sit and write reviews the hardest part for me is the comparisons with other music i’ve heard. It’s not that i think everything sounds like something else and has little originality, i just feel that if the reader has something to compare it too then it makes thing a little simpler and more understandable. Well, with this Coloma album on Austria’s Klein label i’m not even gonna think who they sound like for one second because they sound like no one else. Two Brits now based in Germany recording some elegant vocal tracks backed with some sublime music throughout the whole album. It’s definitely pop music, it’s definitely electronic music, it’s definitely electronic pop music. ‘Dovetail’ is the duo’s third album outing and they’re most mature to date. Likeable to the fact that the vocals are clean, the production is simple and tight and the combination of both provides a stunning piece of music from two musicians who deserve more credit outside their adopted land.

Jax

Due for release in late May this compilation from Sanctuary aims to fuse together the classic sounds of the reggae world with the vibe of the original sound system culture. Mixed by the Trojan Sound System, it certainly hits the mark on both counts. The album is jam packed with reggae favourites from Junior Murvin, Harry J All stars, Johnny Clarke and Keith Hudson but to name a few, but this is not a straight up mixed compilation. The Trojan Sound System have recreated the true sound system vibe and have added siren sampled sounds along with their own MC crew toasting over the tunes and ting. The whole thing works really well and for reggae lovers is an essential purchase with Summer round the corner.

Jax

This is Voom Voom’s first full length album after a string of 12″s released over the last few years on K7! Voom Voom is the pairing of Peter Kruder and Fauna Flash, and if you were expecting loads of chilled K&D style breaks n beats? then you will be surprised indeed.

Most of the Tracks are 4/4 dancefloor numbers are designed to make you dance rather than chill. Lots of electronic noises sit side by side with twisted vocal stabs and bubbling basslines.

The album is getting released as 4 separate 12″s over the next few month’s. The first of those is already out and features the tracks ‘All I Need’ and ‘Sao Verought’. But each of the 4 separate vinyls are limited to 2000 so you best be quick. The CD will be appearing in the Spring featuring all the tracks that appear on the vinyl.

I’m really loving the album, but I can see a few of the tracks rubbing the purists up the wrong way with the rock guitar samples, off-kilter b-lines and electro beats . I’ll be giving some of the tracks main room action over the coming month’s cause I reckon it’ll get em grooving for sure.

Jax

Who the hell is DJ Derek and how comes he gets to do a compilation for one the World’s best reggae label’s? If this is what your thinking then here is the answers. Derek is in his late 60’s, used to be in a skiffle band, used to be an accountant and has a phenomenal collection of waistcoats. But this surely doesn’t qualify him to be compiling for Trojan does it? Well, he’s also got a monstrous collection of over 25,000 reggae and ska tracks spanning over 4 decades and has been spinning them to punters for over 30 years the world over. He’s not just a DJ, he’s a performer! So what’s he chosen as his favourite tracks? Well it ranges from roots, to rocksteady through to classic reggae vibes. There are tracks by Toots, John Holt, Johnny Clarke and Dennis Brown. There’s also compilation fave ‘Police And Thieves’ by Junior Murvin plus two classics from Max Romeo. If it’s solid classics you’re after along with the odd forgotten gem then DJ Derek’s selection will be your cup o’ cha. The CD is unmixed (always a bonus with reggae compilations) and contains 22 tracks full of reggae goodness. More splendid vibes from the ever trust worthy Trojan stable.

Jax

Now this guy has been hotly tipped as one to watch for 2006, with his work compared to Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine and Sigur Ros. Well, I’m not sure about the latter but it definitely has hints of ‘Loveless’ in this album and you can also hear the influence of Mogwai scattered about.
Self confessed non-DJ, Fake is a live performer who has been on the scene now for a few years with many a 12" kickin’ about on James Holden’s Border Community label. His live sets definitely cater more for the dance floor whilst ‘Drowning’ is the mellower side of his work.
The album is a brilliant chord driven, chime tingling timeless beauty that will get electronic fans buzzing around their robotic communities.
With this sort of talent this guy is gonna be around for a long time. Those in the know will already be looking forward to this release, but if this is the first time you’ve heard his name and are a fan of Boards Of Canada, M83 or Vector Lovers then definitely give it a listen.

Jax