Since the beginning of house music there has always been compilations that try to capture the early days and as time goes by some tracks do sound dated, but maybe it’s a “you had to be there” kind of attitude that makes sense. DJ Deep’s series started in early 2005 with some downright house classics and I’m glad to say the quality continues with Vol.2. Some of the big producers are on here but thankfully nothing too obvious: these include Mr Fingers, Jovonn, the underrated Romanthony, Mike Dunn, Pleasure Control and Risque 3. If some of these don’t mean much to you, you should definitely give this a listen. Vinyl junkies will be pleased that 3x vinyl package is in the shops now.

Simon Harrison

The Broken Keys are a collaboration between friends Nostalgia 77 and Natural Self. With a background between them that spans all manner of styles, this was always going to be interesting, especially if you’ve been checking out their solo projects. As with all collaborations you never quite know what will come out of the mixing pot but here these guys have gone for funk which captures soul, rock and hip hop. I’ve never been a huge fan of rock but the influences in “Gravity” work in so many different ways, that you just can’t help being sucked in. There are tracks for DJs and for home listening, so don’t miss out.

Simon Harrison

I first picked up on DJ Spinna back when he was producing hip hop and it was a great surprise to me and probably the house heads: that all of a sudden he was knocking out quality house productions equal to, if not better than some of the masters of the 4/4 beat. This was strengthened by the release of “We Can Change This World” featuring Heavy, which has been blowing dancefloors apart for a few months now and set to be a massive summer hit. It’s not all uptempo with guests like Little Brother’s Phonte, N’Dea Davenport, Eric Roberson and Lizz Fields these tracks just ooze soul. The latter half picks up the tempo with yet more quality vocalists including Trish Angus, Christian Urich from Tortured Soul and the Free Radikalz. Spinna proves yet again his versatility with a cracking second album.

Simon Harrison

Dabrye will be known to most people because of “Game Over” featuring Jay Dee (RIP) which had the darkest beats know to man. Part two of Dabrye’s three part album series takes influences from his home town Detroit and continues to push the boundaries with not only hip hop but also electronic music. With a massive list of top of their game MCs aka Waajeed, MF Doom, Wildchild, Beans amongst others, this is the kind of music the masses need to hear, rather than the jiggy nonsense that is featured on our air waves and blasting out of young kids car speakers. Forward thinking and all the better for it.

Simon Harrison

‘Early Morning Hush’ continues where ‘Gather In The Mushrooms’ left off and further explores the music of the British acid-folk scene of the late 60s, early 70s. Simple but beautifully crafted songs such as the string laced ‘Peacock Lady’ from Shelagh McDonald, Pentangle’s ‘Sovay’, ‘Sheep Season’ by Mellow Candle and John Renbourn’s ‘The Cuckoo’ featuring some wonderful sitar work, all standout. I’m currently hooked on Keith Christmas’ ‘Forest And The Shore’ though, an orchestrated folk-funk trip with haunting yet alluring backing harmonies.

Andy Allen

Compiled by Richard Searling, the 2nd instalment of ‘You Better Believe It’ features 23 (22 on vinyl) rare and modern soul gems from the vaults of Atlantic, ATCO, Cotillion, Reprise and Warner Bros. 1967-1979. It opens in fine style with Al Hudson & The Soul Partners’ up-tempo ‘I’m About Loving You’, before moving through to Darrow Fletcher’s version of ‘Rising Cost Of Love’, Johnny Bristol’s ‘Strangers In Dark Corners’ and ‘You’re All I Need In This World’ from Prince Phillip Mitchell. The Chicago soul sound is represented by Frankie Newsome’s ‘We’re On Our Way’ and Windy City’s ‘Hey It’s Over’ which are both pure class. Other standouts include the haunting ‘Signed, Miss Heroin’ by the legendary Sam Dees, presented here with an alternative mix, the heart wrencher ‘I Want Sunday Back Again’ from Bettye Swann, and Betty Lavette’s ‘Waiting For Tomorrow’, both of which are previously unreleased recordings. Further evidence, should you need it, of why after all these years Searling is still held in such high regard on the soul scene.

Andy Allen

Kindred Spirits launch their new imprint, Free Spirits Series, in fine style with this much sought after rarity. ‘Alborada’ was originally released on Trova Records in 1976 by The Prime Element, a band formed by Argentinian musician / composer / arranger, Carlos Franzetti shortly after his move from Buenos Aires to New York. It fuses spiritual and modal jazz with soul and a heavy dose of Latin, to take us on a truly satisfying musical journey, with delights such as ‘Southamelodic’, ‘In The Dawn Of Time’, ‘The Prime Element’ and ‘Lola’. One not to be missed!

Andy Allen

Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi together with Schema’s co-founder Luciano Cantone are The Invisible Session. There are no real surprises here just the type of solid Italian jazz we have long come to expect from Schema. Jenny B handles most of the vocal chores throughout this set and particularly shines on the stunning mid-tempo groove ‘Til The End’ and the single ‘To The Powerful’, a deep and mystical affair.

Andy Allen

Nomo’s 2nd album continues the heavy percussion and horn laced Afro-jazz vibe established on their 1st self-titled outing from 2004. ‘New Tones’ is a consistently good set throughout but pay special attention to ‘Hand And Mouth’ and the title track (spelled ‘Nu Tones’ for some reason) which has a bass line reminiscent of that on Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘Expansions’. This one is destined to mash up the dance floors in the coming months. Also look out for the recent 12" on Kindred Spirits which features 4 tracks from the 1st album.

Andy Allen

Geoff Wilkinson is back with US3’s fifth album with a live jazz flavour with live musicians contributing on trumpet, double bass, jazz guitar, piano and saxophone. Vocals come from two new rappers Akil Dasan and Gaston, both of whom were found by Geoff in New York’s Nuyorican Poets Cafe. This style may have been done many times before but "Schizophonic" has a real sense of fun in the lyrics and in the Brazilian/Jazz rhythms and grooves. Not sure this will appeal to the hiphop heads but it will certainly find a home with Nu-Jazz and modern thinking Jazz heads. Give it a listen – you’ll be hooked.

Simon Harrison