Sheila Landis is a name I’ve heard of before but for some unknown reason, I’ve looked through my record collection and found nothing by her. I remember asking people about the tracks played and writing them down but never followed up. Thankfully Counterpoint have jogged my memory and compiled twelve excellent tracks which will blow you away. Compiled from her album back catalogue (1981-2002), which was released on her self financed Shelan Records. Sheila’s voice is a true joy to listen to and will certainly put a smile on your face. Essential tracks are “Leigh Anns Dance”, “Nightwalking”, “Gershwins Summertime” and “Summertime”. If Lanis’ name is new to you or if you have some of these tracks missing from your collection, this is a must.

Simon Harrison

In the current climate in the music industry there is a lot of uncertainty with independants. So it’s always great to see people start new labels and continue to push quality music. Basement Soul is a club night based in Brighton and this is their debut but it’s as though they’ve been at it for years. Exclusives from Jneiro Jarel, Soulphiction, Yellowtail and Max Cole aka Moxo Tengu. It’s also fantastic to see Vaceo’s “Cos You’re Here” and Masoul’s “Knowledge” with Ursula Rucker finally get a release. This is one Friday night session I need to visit.

Simon Harrison

I always try to be open minded with all the music I receive but it’s only human nature to always try to guess what to expect. In my mind I had the Raw Artistic Soul album sorted in my head but I was so wrong. I was expecting an album of house and garage but the quality just blew my socks off and can easliy be compared with some of the best house producers around at the moment. Phil Kullmann aka Raw Artistic Soul doesn’t just go down the 4/4 route, there’s soul, jazz, afrobeat and disco in there to keep everyone happy. “The Light” with Ursula Rucker grabbed my attention on first play and it’s the best track I’ve heard Rucker feature for quite sometime. “Pa La Loma” and “Abanico” which add beautiful latin influences and will be of interest to fans of Nu Yorican soul fans. This is what house music is all about.

Simon Harrison

Anthony Joseph was a new name to me but he’s been on the scene for a number of years. Joseph is an author of two poetry collection cds and also has just released the novel “The African Origins of UFOs”. Lyrically this is an intense album which requires your full attention. Daydream for a second and you’ll be lost, then you’re back to the rewind button, to start again. Driving in whilst listening to this became rather fun and games because I must have listened to this four times over. The jazz soundtrack by The Spasm Band is just perfect, with a real feel of the 70s and Strata-East or Impulse classics, to ensure this is essential for your collection.

Simon Harrison

As we wait in anticipation for Tenor’s next album “Joystone” and it was a pleasure to finally hear the live experience. Recorded back in 2004 at Berlin’s Club Maria this is truly something special but I’m a little unsure why it’s taken so long for this to be released but it’s here now and that’s the main thing. You may well have heard about his onstage antics involving riding the white horse on stage or giving all the members of his band vintage champane, which adds to his persona and cult status in modern music. The press notes say that Tenor is a perfectionist and judging by these nine tracks all his hard work has definitely paid off. After listening to this live set only a few times, I really need to see Jimi Tenor live soon!

Simon Harrison

Formed in 1998 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams have a lot going on within their music each track goes off in a different direction. The info describes them as Hillbilly-Floyd, folk-pop, alt-country roots-rock and surreal Americana and that goes a long way to getting the feel of the band across. This double CD could maybe do with a bit of trimming down but overall well worth a trip to their planet.

Graham Radley

Final instalment in this +2 series, which has given three Brazilian artists the chance to showcase their musical adventures. The title is slightly misleading as this is very melodic and safe in many ways but it has that added sparkle which takes it into a different sphere albeit in a subtle way. Kassin has played bass with Caetono Veloso and there are comparisons in their approach to music, there’s a lot going on but it’s not crowded, the music has space to grow. Pick of the tracks for me is ‘Samba Machine’ a 70’s style mish mash. Very good. 

Graham Radley

Follow up to the excellent ‘Mar A Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is)’ Julie further explores the folklore of her native North Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland. Her beautiful voice and excellent supporting musicians- including Eamon Doorley (Danu), John McCusker, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek), Mark Kelly (Altan), John Doyle (Solas) and Donald Shaw (Capercaillie) make this the perfect package. Divine.

Graham Radley

This is an excellent CD featuring an exciting collection, covering all ages, of musicians from the Garifuna communities. The Garifuna, people originated when two European ships, filled with West African slaves sunk off the coast of the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in 1635. Many of the slaves survived and mixed with the locals creating a new culture. They then resisted European colonization, and were forcibly exiled to the Caribbean coast of Central America. More recently that culture has come under threat from lots of external influences but Andy Palacio has proved to be an exception to this sad situation. Raised in the Garifuna stronghold of Barranco, Belize, Palacio wassurrounded by music and other traditions. This CD celebrates that wonderful heritage and the African influences of this music which sits happily alongside Cape Verdean as an example of emotional music delivered and played beautifully.

Graham Radley

15 tracks with the opener from one of my favourites, Gigi with ‘Enoralehu’ further African tracks include Kekele, King Sunny Ade, Oliver Mtukudzi and Baaba Maal while the Middle East tracks include Ofra Haza, Amr Diab and Mariem Hassan. Good collection.

Graham Radley