It’s been almost two years since ‘Cohiba’ dropped but finally the full length album is here and it’s been well worth the wait. Both ‘Cohiba’ and ‘In The Sun’ from the 12" are present plus another twelve quality broken-soul excursions. It kicks off with a killer cosmic funk intro entitled ‘Let There Be Love’ featuring a distinctive spoken word performance from Chris Jam, before moving into the flute laced ‘Everyday’ and ‘Breathe Some Light’, a great collaboration with Atjazz. With other solid moments such as ‘Eager For The Years’ featuring Michelle Amador, ‘Afrodisiosity’ with Fyza, ‘Hurt Ya Twice’ and the two Oezlem fronted tracks, ‘More Than The Eye Can See’ and ‘Women Of The Night’ this is one album you can’t afford to miss!

Andy Allen

If you are only just coming down from the happy heights their "Second Guess" album elevated you to, then rest assure this new offering is going to catapult you back there. Reel People have collaborated with the likes of Omar, Vanessa Freeman, Imaani, Tony Momrelle, Joy Rose and Dyanna Fearon to keep you in the happy zone both on this release and the forthcoming concert. An early summer sounding soul album, due to hit the shops the back end of February, and presented live for you at The Jazz Cafe on Thursday 7th February 2008 www.jazzcafe.co.uk, is destined for acceptance across the board from the soul jazz that is "Ordinary Man" through the Neo Soul that is "Anything You Want" to the jumpy "It will Be" and "High" that the broken soul lovers will adore and no album fillers here folks, just pure quality! This is Britain at its best, an album stamped with longevity and oozing passion, inhaling the best possible soulful oxygen and exhaling a progressive masterpiece with the album"s anthem tracks "Outta Love" and "Upside" destined for greatness at Southport while "Love Is Where You Are" and "Amazing" hitting every Modern Soul dance floor throughout the North. Don"t let this slip you by, make the space on your shelf now and insert a card that says "Insert Reel Music Here" and get your best dancing shoes polished ready for the live album launch at The Jazz Cafe, London and bring your banner "OMAR FOR MAYOR OF LONDON". "Seven Ways To Wonder": Just what ears were put on your head for.

Steve Williams

Modal. Jazz. Unbelievable. Sleep Walker are brought on board to remake the "United Legends" album from this time last year and for all but a few notable vocals by way of Carleen Anderson, Clara Hill, Navasha Days, Yukimi Nagano and Josh Milan you would think this was a brand new Sleep Walker release. Full on jazz encased by the now expected perfect packaging only the Japanese seem to provide us. Just good music. Oh, I nearly forgot…. CD 2 is instrumentals… now that’s cleaver.

Steve Williams

When did you imagine disco died? Wrong! Because it happens sometime after 2008 and The Million Dollar Orchestra are here to prove just that. Creative, refreshing, gutsy disco blinders from start to finish. If you are bored with the way some of the genres have been heading then pick this album up and stimulate the parts of the brain usually left for alcohol and wickedness. Best of 2008? Here we come and you had better step aside!

Steve Williams

Straight off the back of the label’s "Strange Games" compilation comes this onslaught of funky cuts from artists like Chain Reaction, Steve Smith and The Honey Dippers. Just when you thought the vaults and collections of some of the world’s best record collectors and labels must be nearing exhaustion arrives on the scene another, somewhat superior, gem. If you are feeling the many comps on this tip then this will not disappoint, and for those who otherwise steer clear, Mr Thing includes "Boogie Man" by The Crystal Mansion the dog’s nuts of folk funk!! Don’t hesitate; get your dry roasted funk here.

Steve Williams

Other than the well placed use of Floetry on "Marathon" there is but one worthy track, that of the two-stepper "Love Drug". The rest? Well let’s say it is in a field where players are plentiful and skill sparse. Let’s hope Jive can produce something for the Premier League later in the year.

Steve Williams

BBE and the UK’s Producer and MC Steve Ellington join forces to give us this live offering from someone better known for remixing joints by Common, LL Cool J, and Buster Rhymes. On this British Hip Hop monster we are treated to a very soulful set of thirteen tracks helped along the way by Pete Cherry, Tim Baxter and Phoebe One and the most samples.. You will be racking your memory banks listening! Particular favourite here is "Precise Precision" for its soulfulness. Those looking for something harder should head straight to "Magnificent". Top marks for this release – quality hip hop CAN come without explicit lyrics.

Steve Williams

While listening to parts of Ohmega Watts new CD "Watt’s Happening", you may feel as if you’ve gone back to the era of hip-hop when dudes carried boom boxes everywhere they went and everyone was rocking shell toe adidas. Indeed, Ohmega prooves that you can create hip-hop that is uplifting and thought provoking while keeping your body rockin’. What’s even more refreshing is the diverse collaborations, which broadens the album’s appeal. On "Eyes And Ears", Philly based rapper Jneiro Jarel comes through and rocks over a funky old school beat. "Are You Satisfied" finds Ohmega giving praise to his mom and features Sugarpie DeSanto, a west coast legend and a former vocalist with James Brown. Brazilian songbird "Tita Lima" provides soothing vocals for "Adaptacao". The laid back "Few and Far Between" finds Ohmega reminiscing about a former companion and the different stages of their relationship. Throughout this disc you’ll not only gain an appreciation for Ohmega’s rhyming skills but also the live instrumentation by some of the hottest musicians on the west coast. For example, "Work for Wealth" features Barry Hampton of the Portland based raw funk group Triple Grip is an enjoyable slice of cosmic funk. "The Playpus Strut" features Myles Tackett of the L.A. based Breakestra on bass and guitar. Indeed, the drums on this cut will remind you of how you once enjoyed your music before mpc’s existed. My only gripe was with twenty songs I felt the disc carried on a bit too long. Ohmega could’ve trimmed off about three songs. However this is a minor quibble of what is a very strong sophomore project for Mr. Watts. After debuting with the impressive "The Find", Ohmega shows what a talented MC can do when he performs outside the box. Recommended.

Reg Dancy

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While Mark De Clive-Lowe isn’t known as a Jazz purist, he has proven to be a wizard on the keyboards and synthesizers. His latest project, “Journey To The Light”, is a snapshot of the live Freesoul sessions he has performed over the last year or so. This project is a combination of cosmic Jazz improvisation and break beats. You may find yourself wanting to dance to this one minute or simply just enjoying the live instrumentation the next. One of those tracks that will make you move is “Voices Whisper”. Bembe Segue’s wonderful voice and scatting towards the end graces this track and the others as well. However, it is the work of Jason Yarde on Sax, Richard Spaven on drums and percussionist Sammy Figueroa that really move this disc. Jason Yarde’s solo work is powerful and a real treat while Richard Spaven’s drumming pushes everyone to greater heights. “Peace Be Central” offers more of the same. Mark’s rhythmic piano playing has never sounded better and the energetic playing left plenty of space for the lyricism of Bembe Segue’s scorching vocals. Mark and Bembe have been making beautiful music together for some time now. This is just another major achievement of the great music these two have collaborated on. This is not easy to find but certainly worth the effort. Recommended.

Reg Dancy

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The offsprings of hip-hop are popping up all over the globe. The forefathers should take great pride in this evolution. Look no further for evidence than in the city of Amsterdam, home of the duo Pete Philly & Perquisite. When they dropped their 2005 debut "Mindstate", it served notice that this duo had a lot to offer. Musically it was very creative and Pete Philly showed that he was no slouch on the mic. As good as their debut was, "Mystery Repeats", their new release may be even better. Combining elements of jazz and even classical (yeah, that’s right), this disc massages your ear lobes like a cool breeze on a sunny day. The title track combines Pete Philly’s rhyming skills along with Perquisite’s talents on the cello. Not to mention his skills behind the boards. "Fish To fry" with the jazzy piano loop has a real late night jazz club vibe to it. If you only dig hip-hop of the boom-bap variety then this isn’t for you. On the other hand, if you want to hear hip-hop beyond the outer limits then you will surely enjoy this offering. No sophomore slump here, just a very solid and enjoyable record.

Reg Dancy

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