Author Archives: Simon Harrison

I’ve been holding back buying this album for a few months hoping that vinyl copies might appear but in the end I just couldn’t wait any longer. Nicole Willis has been on the scene for years but I still get the impression that she still hasn’t received the attention she fully deserves. Not many people can say they’ve worked with Brand New Heavies and Curtis Mayfield and that they were one of the original members of Dee-Lite or recorded for the legendary Mo’ Wax. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, this time Nicole teams up with Finland’s funk band The Soul Investigators, who have built their own reputation over the years. The final result is a wonderful 70’s funk mash-up that could easily fool any music purist into believing this was recorded back in the day.

Simon Harrison

It’s been around five years since Grupo X broke through with their debut album "X-Posure" and it’s great to have them back, even though they’ve never really been away, with an extensive live schedule. "Food For Your Latin Soul" continues where they left off, with a mix of Salsa, Bugalu, Latin, Brasilia and Jazz. All eleven songs have been written by bandleader Jonny Enright and Jimmy Le Messurier, and once again on lead vocals we have Lisa Millett, who’s caused quite a stir on the house scene, but the six tracks she features on here are much better suited to her vocals. Five years is a long time in the music industry but it’s been well worth the wait.

Simon Harrison

Most people will be interested in this compilation because it features Carl Craig’s excellent remix of Theo Parrish’s ‘Falling Up’, which featured on a limited 10", and has been seen going for silly money on Ebay and played by just about every DJ across the land. This isn’t just about one track because this is a damn fine compilation, with ten more quality remixes, six of which were unreleased until now. Twiddling the knobs are Amp Dog Knight, Marcellus ‘3 chairs’ Pittman, Gilbr and Beatdown Brothers, to name a few. In fact just about every Detroit producer is on here. A mix cd will also follow shortly compiled and mixed by Norm Talley. Third Ear looks after its punters.

Simon Harrison

Here’s the next instalment to ?uestlove’s compilation for BBE, and as the title suggests, it is no surprise this was released on 14th Feb. He again digs back with more classics from Al Green, Delfonics, Natalie Cole, Delfonics and Bobby Womack. If you’re after romantic lyrics for Valentine’s Day, then you’d better give this a miss today, but what it does is give you is a small insight in to the good old days of real soul music, and lyrics which a number of current bands could take some pointers from. BEE never fails to impress.

Simon Harrison

I believe this will be the last release on this excellent and constant label, and what a way to finish its reign of everything soulful. Here is a mix of unreleased and essential tracks from the back catalogue. Of course Break Reform appears, but here are the essential remixes by Domu, Unknown Quality and Yam Who? Nanar sounds so, so good on unreleased tracks with Low Budget Soul, Kamara and the classic, but rare, Aztec Productions. Other tracks worth mentioning are Low Budget Soul featuring Marcia Escoffery and the Break Reform remix of Alison Evelyn’s ‘Found A New Thing’. This may be the end of Abstract Blue, but Simon S and collective will be back with new label Futuristica very soon: roll on 2006.

Simon Harrison

This first compilation from Wah Wah is well overdue, and of course, features some of their classics and some unreleased bits, and every single track is essential. Excellent unreleased tracks come from Talc, Max Cole, Aaron Jerome and Jamie Finlay. These four tracks should be enough to have you running to the shops. It’s also great to hear again 12th Floor’s’Take It Back’, Alison Crockett’s ‘Like Rain’ and Unforecene’s ‘Don’t You Worry’ with Alice Russell. Bonus ball are the fantastic Belleruche, who should have more material appearing soon. Top marks to Simon Goss and Dom Servini for mantaining such quality over the years.

Simon Harrison

Soundway presents its first collection of music from Central America, specifically Panama City, and what a way to kick of the series. Those not familiar with Soundway should take note now and start hunting down their excellent back catalogue. This compilation is based around the sounds of the clubs and bars of Panama City and Colon with influences imported from Jamaica, Trinidad, Europe and South America to create their own unique brand which have not been singled out before. This is simply an awesome selection of rare Jazz, Funk and Soul which has never been released outside of Panama until now. Also included are extensively detailed liner notes and pictures to give us an insight in to this exciting decade in music.

Simon Harrison

‘Lost’ was released in USA in 2004 and you can see why Definitive Jux has signed it for distribution in Europe. This has been getting some serious attention and is certainly one of the more intelligent Hip Hop albums around at the moment. Cool Calm Pete is one force to be reckoned with his quirky, yet enjoyable lyrics: when was the last time you heard a song about dental hygiene sound so good -the laid-back beats, catchy hooks and the now standard cartoon snippets, which just about every Hip Hop album features, thanks to the influences of Madlib and MF Doom. I hope he’ll be back with more of the same, very soon.

Simon Harrison

Munich’s DJ Force aka David Muallem delivers his debut album for Compost Records ,and in true tradition it’s another album you need in your collection, mixing tempos and styles of new and old, somewhere between Hip Hop and House. The soundtrack provides old skool B-Boy rhythms and electronic dancefloor bombs that will appeal to the kids, especially with those 80’s style synthesizers. David has got his ideas set high because he also brought in some heavy-weight vocalists, including Martine Girault, Shawn Lee, Audrey, Lyrics Born, Wordsworth and Beans. With each one he’s not gone for the same old sound expected from the specific vocalist; instead he’s pushing things forward and trying out new ideas to great effect. Compost’s on a winner here.

Simon Harrison

Uprock Recordings started back in 2000 with the merging of some serious heads. One of the seven original members is Steve Austin and here is his latest album. He has worked with some of the big names in hip hop, the broken beat scene, and is a regular MC and DJ at CO-OP, which has certainly given him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Steve has gone back to his roots and turned out an album which displays UK hiphop at its best. Even though there are some obvious samples used, especially in ‘Rapper Have No Style’, they are worked to perfection with Steve’s lyrics, timing and production. Fans of Roots Manuva and TY need this.
 

Simon Harrison

Since the release of Eddie’s excellent Roughneck album back in 2004 he’s been on the road with both The New Mastersounds and his Roughneck project, doing what he does best and packing out clubs all over Europe. Now is your chance to take the vibe of the live show which was recorded at Le Triptyque, Paris in October 2005 and enjoy it at your leisure. I’m unsure of the full line-up of the band but as always with Eddie’s projects they come into their own at a live gig, and if you’ve not checked out the live show, shame on you. Eddie’s second instalment of Roughneck should be out later this year: can’t wait.

Simon Harrison

In May 2005 a Social Beats twelve track sampler dropped on my doorstep and featured three tracks by the unknown to me Jazzinvaders. The main track "Up & Out" became a firm favourite and was in my record box for the rest of the year. Producer/percussionist Phil Martin is the force behind the Jazzinvaders with contributions from two members of the Dutch jazz band The Houdini’s: Rolf Delfos on horns and saxophone and Erwin Hoorweg on piano. It initially started off as a jam session and eventually turned into a cracking album, combining latin and afro beats with some moustache tingling basslines that will keep any dancefloor happy. Lovely vocals are by Danish jazz vocalist Mette Burild and Dutch vocalist Linda Bloemhard, to round off a quality album.

Simon Harrison

Here is a producer and DJ who’s been on the scene for many years pushing quality music in his city of Liege in Belgium. Counterpoint recognised such a great talent and wisely snapped up David’s debut. ‘Insight’ builds over the 70mins, as a DJ should build up a crowd, starting off with some Jazzy cuts, through mid tempo workouts, to house anthems ‘Move’ and ‘Hustle The Funk’. For the last 6 months I’ve been hammering to death the Broken Beat anthem ‘Mannequin Mankind’. Watching people dance to this mental track with devastating beats and basslines is pure entertainment. The ace Mark De Clive-Low remix of ‘Move’ is included if you missed out on the recent single but make sure you don’t miss out on this.

Simon Harrison

Most of you will remember Cecilia from Koop’s excellent "Baby" and "Waltz for Koop" but judging by this album, those two tracks are only the tip of the iceberg. Cecilia is based in Stockholm but has also lived in New York and in both cities she has quickly become a regular at the legendary jazzclubs. Here is proof yet again that Scandinavians are leading the way with 21st century jazz. With a total of nine tracks this is a wonderful journey through the acoustic jazz productions and Celcillia’s expressive vocals and lyrics. "Straight It Up" has been compared to some of the true greats of our scene and I cannot disagree. In fact it is so good that it would not look out of place on the excellent Ricky Tick Records, and fans should take note.

Simon Harrison

Here is Colin Emmanuel, aka C Swing’s debut, which for me is an album of two halves. One half is for the R&B massive with a great selection of vocalists which include Belle, Terry Walker and Celetia Martin. This should more than ensure that it gets radio play. The other half includes some brilliantly produced Hip hop and soul tracks. Guest rhymes come from KRS1, Braintax and Mystro, where each of these deserve to be released as a single and for the Soul heads, there’s the wonderful “Pretend” with Nate James and Sandra Escoffery on “Proof”. Overall it’s a grower but the Hip Hop tracks will knock your socks off.

Simon Harrison