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

Oh this is a cracker! Things start with the driving blues of ‘Vox Humana’ and some glorious banjo from Leon Hunt and with excellent production from Jackie and David Wrench. Johnny Dowd adds vocals to ‘One Man One Guitar’ and a great version of ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ plus he narrates a horror story ‘The Skaters’ about a man killing a woman by a river. There’s a couple of tracks too in homage to Judee Sill and Kevin Coyne. Superb.

Graham Radley

For the south Bronx resident whose days in production started out with Damon Wild as techno producers back in the early nineties, the shape of Dance music today has developed many changing faces since Dennis’s first release. In that time his growth as an in demand producer is of itself testimony to his longevity within a rather fickle industry, but also of his ability to turn his hand at off loading successive dance floor gems of great strength; both in quality and lyrical profoundness and classy with mass appeal; as reflected in his work to date. His God given talents also display in various ways parts of who he is now, what he’s grown up on by way of music from many Black artist’s of the seventies through to a foray of influences from electronic dance of the eighties as well as dabbling with many West African Hi life sounds that have so complemented much of his classic works of the late nineties and beyond. Capturing all of the aforementioned elements and more is where is his debut double long player for King Street records comes in, so much so that a timely UK home for its release on Defected records was without question a must. For every track written and produced by Dennis bar a few co-written numbers, his skill for writing songs be it on the r & b crooning of "I Can’t Imagine", the Philadelphia enthused resonance of "Change The World" featuring Karlon Brooks Sr., or the accolades of poetical reasoning that is "Underground Is My Home", or the gospel-leanings of "How Do I Let Go" and "Run Free" reveal that speaking from the heart is the key to Ferrer’s success. It’s having a conscious to speak about the things that matter combined with a key bass line of simplicity that have made the status of the rather emotive opening cut ‘Church Lady’ the pinnacle of club hits of all the major dance floors around the world. From start to finish each track stands up for itself with a voice that has much to say as the booming bass driven beats of ‘P 2 Da J’ suggests, also the sublime techno and Afro tribal injections of ‘Transitions’ favoured by many DJ’s it blurred the lines of all house genres, just like the infectious organ thrills of ‘Son Of Raw’ a rampant foot stomp of a tune if ever there was such a template to hold up. Bonus cuts on CD are classic bullet tracks, no fillers but pure thrillers on this totally competent and impressive offering. It may be the world as Ferrer sees it but when others can see where you are coming from and share your sentiments things can only keep getting better for him and his fans.

Marcia Carr

Being championed by likes of Gilles Peterson for some time and now signed to his fledgling label is a dream come true I guess for the brilliant pianist, singer-songwriter and deejay Ben. He’s since made a name for himself with the trendy "So Good Today" taken from his said album with its Domu soul-fuelled broken beat mixes gained him notoriety amongst the heads (at Co Op shindigs amongst others), the house lovers alluring grooves came about thanks to a Part 2 twelve-inch single release of deep Afro house tipped Osunlade rubs that made it into the boxes of certain DJ’s and thereby giving the Bristolian a welcoming boost to those in the know. Ben has a definite love for soul, jazz classics and standards, drum and bass and for the original London sound of broken beat which have all made vast impressions on him. I dare say some of his productions may draw parallels to the early works of Jamiroquai when he offered a lot more soul passion in his work. However, Ben has a voice that is neither Black or urban in sound nor is it immediately obviously that of a blue-eyed soloist either. He’s not trying to be or sound like anyone he’s just keeping it real. What is original in his work is his ability to adapt melodies and bass lines of songs from yesteryear making them fresh and appealing by imprinting the technology of today’s hi tech sounds with live piano to make it work for the present generation of clubbers out there. "Get Closer" is a prime example as it effortlessly twists and turns through a busy drum and bass line and frantic rhythms with clean drops out and reverb effects behind the flashback melody of "Elevate Your Mind", a rare groove joint. Other cuts like "Bright Future" jaunts around various panned out brass sounds, some hard stepping drum licks and snares that would suitably get hardcore jazz dancers or enthusiasts of early seventies jazz styles in Jamaican reggae going on any dance floor. Similarly made for both the floor and lounge listening the r & b ethos of "Hang Around" would be a huge pop winner given some major backing, "Nothing Else" and "Dance With Me" are great stand out cuts also with potential for single’s options. Of the fifteen tracks showcased making a point of spotlighting Ben’s more sensitive and social consciousness is not forgotten and is most notable on the down tempo scribes of "Gotta Keep On", the instrumental sound of "Beauty" and the acoustical "Grey Skies". Consistency and a tight production holds this set together very well, placing this newcomer in the spotlight to hold his own with great prospects for the future. He deserves to be supported.

Marcia Carr