A good sign of a quality compilation is when it features artists that you’ve supported for some time. Before I knew about Volume 3, I was already hammering tracks by Jonny Miller, Joash, Aroop Roy and Masoul. A great start you might say. Well the quality just keeps coming with nine more tracks that include Oracle, Flowriders, Inverse Cinematics, Nemoy and Lava Musique Ensemble. If you’ve not heard of these artists, well, get your credit cards out and support. You should note that this is only available to download but what a great way to get music out there. Top marks to the guys at Beyond Jazz for putting this together.

Simon Harrison

This might be one of those times when it’s taken me so long to put pen to paper that due to limited quantities you may now struggle to hunt down copies of this wonderful vinyl-only album. The Plumstead Radical Club is a project from Trombone player Trevor Mires of the Nostalgia 77 Octet and happens to be the first release on Nostalgia 77’s label. This is Jazz and Soul at its best with a true classic feel to the compositions, which is due the expertise of musicians Mires, Graham Fox, Ross Stanley and Riaan Vosloo. Fans of Strata East, Black Jazz and of course Nostalgia 77 should be quick and seek it out.

Simon Harrison

It’s with great anticipation that Vikter Duplaix returns. I’ve been a huge fan since Critical Point’s “Messages” and I had high hopes. One thing for sure, Duplaix has a wonderful voice, but “Bold & Beautiful” took me a little by surprise. I was expecting a mix up of styles, when in reality this is a more soulful, downbeat affair, except for “A Life Worth Living” and “I See The Sun”, with the latter finally seeing its official release. It’s two years since the bootleg surfaced, yet it still sounds good as ever. With expectations so high, I was expecting to be blown away, yet it’s a great album that will grow on you over time.

Simon Harrison

Red Astaire was the alias that kicked off the surge of re-edits and of course Gamm records. Some three years later the Red Astaire album is here. There is something commercial about “Soul Search” and given the right airplay, I’m certain it could go mainstream. Maybe Tru Thoughts is the label to give it the big promotional push. With good lyrics and beats with splatterings of soul, reggae and hip-hop, this could turn Cruger into a sought-after producer. Only time will tell.

Simon Harrison

Alex Cowen aka TM Juke returns with his second installment on Tru Thoughts. I’m pleased to say he has produced another corking track with Alice Russell -“So Good”. Other guests include Elmore Judd on the ace “Electric Chair”, Kinny on the quirky “Damn” and Sophie Faricy on the excellent single “Come Away”- you may have heard Sophie recently on the road with Bonobo. Instrumentals are covered and make sure you check out “Pencils for Dolphins”. Alex has done himself proud.

Simon Harrison

Voice has often been compared to Bahamadia, mainly due to their similar voices and I’m sure she won’t be dismissing that. Voice has recently featured on Marc Marc’s Visioneers and Zero dB albums, which is certainly diverse, and that pretty much sums up the feel to "Gumbo". Voice sounds ace, whether the beats are hip-hop, or broken, or in-between, but that could be due to the heavy weight producers involved i.e. Marc Mac, Moonstarr, Murr, Arch Typ and Alister Johnson. The lyrics are also a treat: witty and flowling wonderfully over the beats and basslines. Hip-hop producers should take note… this is the way forward!

Simon Harrison

Here’s the third instalment of the Secret Love series compiled by Jazzanova and Resoul, who have been on the hunt for more gems from the folk scene. A number of them you will/should know: The Beauty Room, Micah, Clara Hill, Mocky, Fink and Jose Gonzalez. The rest were unknown to me but it has opened my ears up to this side of Folk, which is gaining interest with DJs around the world. I read a lot about Soul Village’s version of “Everybody Love The Sunshine” and even though we’ve heard the original many times before, it does work. I’m not going to highlight the best of the other tracks because they are worth their weight in gold and you’ll be the one missing out.

Simon Harrison

Yep it’s the third instalment from the successful series on the ever consistent Schema Records. There are unreleased gems here from Gerardo Frisina, Soulstance, Quintetto Lo Greco and Luis Ferri. Some of you may have picked up the ace Five Corners Quintet’s remix of Sunaga T Experience: if not it’s here in all its glory. Plus there is the first glimpse of the project by Mario Biondi & High Five Quintet, with an album dropping in 2007. Excited? –  well, I am. They also dig back and highlight some classics from the past by Kenny Clarke-Frency Boland Sextet and Sahib Shiab. The best thing is all the tracks are on vinyl and cd… Whooohooo!

Simon Harrison

One of the best kept secrets in the Sonar Kollektiv catalogue is Dimitri Grimm aka Dimlite. “This Is Embracing” is his third album. He continues to impress with every single production and this album is brilliant. The beats are heavy but with the twisted sounds we’ve come to expect. Most of the album is made up of instrumentals with a few vocalists thrown in for good measure. They include Gaby Hernandez (known from Build An Ark and The Life Force Trio) who beautifully with Grimm. Buddy Leezle from the band 215/TFK is a welcome new vocalist and one name I shall be on the look out for: I’m sure he’ll be on myspace. I hope Dimlite now gets some remixes out there because his previous work has been something special.

Simon Harrison

This is one album I’ve been after for months, in fact I had to borrow a copy from a friend to drop some tracks on my radio show. Raw Fusion seem to have done a deal with Tru Thoughts and I hope this album receives more attention for Up Hygh because it’s much deserved. The beats are deep, funky with squelchy basslines and have spent many an hour learning and studying beats from J-Dilla. Guest vocalists include Phonte & Pooh of Little Brother, Planet Asia and the wonderful Eska and all bring soul to the preceedings and should have you coming back for more. All we need now is their excellent remix of Steve Spacek’s “Dollar” to get an official release.

Simon Harrison