A new label born from the wonderful Ether this is as you might guess a highly varied compilation demonstrating some of the influences the great man soaks up. Good to hear the Massive Attack remix of Nusrat again, they also appear with their own ‘Teardrop’ . There’s a couple of Nitin’s own tracks (Fragile Wind and a Zero ID remix of ‘Songbird) among 14 tracks in total all ending with Bob Dylan & ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’. Nice mixture.

Graham Radley

Mostly centred around USA, Cuba and Puerto Rico (although Iceland is represented!) we get ten great tracks, here’s a few of those names: Machito with Cannonball Adderley, Poncho Sanchez, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Hilton Ruiz and my favourite here-The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmierir Project with the 8mins 51 secs of joy that is ‘Guajira Dubois’. Tasty.

Graham Radley

His previous four CDs have been recorded with his full band but for this one he’s taken a more laid back approach to the blues with gospel and soul influences mixed in and recorded with friends and fellow musicians he has met on the road. Amongst the guests are Lucky Oceans from ‘Asleep At The Wheel’ who plays some superb pedal steel on three tracks while Ray Wylie Hubbard delivers some great slide guitar on ‘I Can’t Wait.’ The full line up is Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges (bass guitar); Ian Moss (guitar); Ray Wylie Hubbard (slide guitar); Lucky Oceans (pedal steel guitar); Clayton Doley (Hammond b-3 organ); Robin Clayton (bass guitar); Declan Kelly (hand claps); Pat Manske (percussion).

Graham Radley

Good collection for this ‘dance of the Orient,’ things crack off with Hossam Ramzy’s percussion driven ‘Aziza’ among 15 tracks with my picks being the Cairo Orchestra with ‘Ghannli Shwayyi, Shwayii’ and Harem with ‘Solo’. Good collection which will suits fans and newcomers alike.

Graham Radley

Return of the gypsy Queen with her first recording for 8 years and she does not disappoint. This remarkable woman who has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and who has adopted (with Stevo her late husband and the person who discovered her) 47 Roma orphans comes into her own on slower tracks like Javera Cumingan where she tells of the lament of an abandoned girl or the CD closer ‘Tut ka Pajravan’ – ‘I’ll get my own back’ . A true star.

Graham Radley

Catalyst were a Philadelphia based quartet who recorded a total of four albums together before going their separate ways. This reissue of their 2nd set was originally released in 1972 and is firmly rooted in jazz-fusion. It kicks off with the funk driven ‘Ain’t It The Truth’ before embarking on an ethereal journey with the majestic ‘East’. Other highlights include the deep swing of ‘Catalyst Is Coming’ and the beautiful melody of ‘New-Found Truths’. If you’re into The Visitors (Earl & Carl Grubbs) then this is for you.

Andy Allen

After releasing the singles, ‘Reflection/Bird Mess’ and ‘The Itch/13:6:35’ on their own Hippoflex label, Belleruche have now found a perfect home for their debut album with Tru Thoughts. Their style combines hip hop beats and funk and jazz breaks with the smoky blues vocals of Kathrin deBoer. Think of a UK version of Erykah Badu and you won’t be too far off the mark. This is a consistent set throughout but for me it lacks a particular standout moment. Well worth investigating though.

Andy Allen

Elektrons are Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey, AKA The Unabombers of Manchester’s famed Electric Chair club night and acclaimed Electric Souls re-edit series. As with Electric Chair, ‘Red Light Don’t Stop’ incorporates a variety of dance-floor styles taking influence from the rich heritage of UK underground club culture but giving it a unique modern twist. The talented but under recorded vocalist Pete Simpson graces five tracks including the hip hop/funk of ‘Get Up’ which also features Soup of Jurassic 5, ‘The Source’, an infectious nu disco cut and the brilliant house track ‘Joy’ with its old school piano chords. Other guests include Eska who fronts ‘Dirty Basement’ and the superb electro soul of ‘Be With You’, Mpho Skeef on the catchy R&B flavoured ‘Classic Cliche’ and Holy Backler who has worked with Secret Stealth. With the right airplay this album could well see some commercial success.

Andy Allen

Released on Victor Records in Japan earlier this year, Soil & Pimp Sessions’ ‘Pimpoint’ now gets a UK issue via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. There are no real surprises here just the kind of quality furious horn driven jazz we’ve come to expect from this sextet. Their version of Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Red Clay’ is certainly one of the highlights but check ‘Makuroke’ with its twisted cosmic keys making it sound like a 70s cop show theme and the feel-good funk of ‘Funky Goldman’. Also included as a bonus track is the brilliant ‘Sahara’ from their ‘Pimp Of The Year’ set. Look out for the track on 12” with a remix from Zed Bias.

Andy Allen

Rong Music have built a solid reputation for releasing quality deep house in its various guises. Be it slow motion disco, electro, ambient or Balearic it’s always interesting. This two disc compilation showcases a selection of their output so far. Disc one is mixed by DJ Spun and kicks off with the mid-tempo jazzy groove ‘Slow And Low’ by Bits Breaks And Beats moving perfectly into ‘Set It Up’ from Projections before ending on the gorgeous ‘Damn Flu’ by Mudd. The second disc is unmixed and features delights such as DJ Harry’s funky ‘Aquarium Man’, the boogie bomb ‘Outhere’ (Instrumental) by Projections and the almost modal ‘Kerry’s Caravan’ again by Mudd featuring the legendary jazz drummer Chico Hamilton. Rong Music it may be but it feels so right!

Andy Allen