This first compilation from Wah Wah is well overdue, and of course, features some of their classics and some unreleased bits, and every single track is essential. Excellent unreleased tracks come from Talc, Max Cole, Aaron Jerome and Jamie Finlay. These four tracks should be enough to have you running to the shops. It’s also great to hear again 12th Floor’s’Take It Back’, Alison Crockett’s ‘Like Rain’ and Unforecene’s ‘Don’t You Worry’ with Alice Russell. Bonus ball are the fantastic Belleruche, who should have more material appearing soon. Top marks to Simon Goss and Dom Servini for mantaining such quality over the years.

Simon Harrison

Soundway presents its first collection of music from Central America, specifically Panama City, and what a way to kick of the series. Those not familiar with Soundway should take note now and start hunting down their excellent back catalogue. This compilation is based around the sounds of the clubs and bars of Panama City and Colon with influences imported from Jamaica, Trinidad, Europe and South America to create their own unique brand which have not been singled out before. This is simply an awesome selection of rare Jazz, Funk and Soul which has never been released outside of Panama until now. Also included are extensively detailed liner notes and pictures to give us an insight in to this exciting decade in music.

Simon Harrison

‘Lost’ was released in USA in 2004 and you can see why Definitive Jux has signed it for distribution in Europe. This has been getting some serious attention and is certainly one of the more intelligent Hip Hop albums around at the moment. Cool Calm Pete is one force to be reckoned with his quirky, yet enjoyable lyrics: when was the last time you heard a song about dental hygiene sound so good -the laid-back beats, catchy hooks and the now standard cartoon snippets, which just about every Hip Hop album features, thanks to the influences of Madlib and MF Doom. I hope he’ll be back with more of the same, very soon.

Simon Harrison

Munich’s DJ Force aka David Muallem delivers his debut album for Compost Records ,and in true tradition it’s another album you need in your collection, mixing tempos and styles of new and old, somewhere between Hip Hop and House. The soundtrack provides old skool B-Boy rhythms and electronic dancefloor bombs that will appeal to the kids, especially with those 80’s style synthesizers. David has got his ideas set high because he also brought in some heavy-weight vocalists, including Martine Girault, Shawn Lee, Audrey, Lyrics Born, Wordsworth and Beans. With each one he’s not gone for the same old sound expected from the specific vocalist; instead he’s pushing things forward and trying out new ideas to great effect. Compost’s on a winner here.

Simon Harrison

Uprock Recordings started back in 2000 with the merging of some serious heads. One of the seven original members is Steve Austin and here is his latest album. He has worked with some of the big names in hip hop, the broken beat scene, and is a regular MC and DJ at CO-OP, which has certainly given him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Steve has gone back to his roots and turned out an album which displays UK hiphop at its best. Even though there are some obvious samples used, especially in ‘Rapper Have No Style’, they are worked to perfection with Steve’s lyrics, timing and production. Fans of Roots Manuva and TY need this.
 

Simon Harrison

Now this guy has been hotly tipped as one to watch for 2006, with his work compared to Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine and Sigur Ros. Well, I’m not sure about the latter but it definitely has hints of ‘Loveless’ in this album and you can also hear the influence of Mogwai scattered about.
Self confessed non-DJ, Fake is a live performer who has been on the scene now for a few years with many a 12" kickin’ about on James Holden’s Border Community label. His live sets definitely cater more for the dance floor whilst ‘Drowning’ is the mellower side of his work.
The album is a brilliant chord driven, chime tingling timeless beauty that will get electronic fans buzzing around their robotic communities.
With this sort of talent this guy is gonna be around for a long time. Those in the know will already be looking forward to this release, but if this is the first time you’ve heard his name and are a fan of Boards Of Canada, M83 or Vector Lovers then definitely give it a listen.

Jax

Who the hell is DJ Derek and how comes he gets to do a compilation for one the World’s best reggae label’s? If this is what your thinking then here is the answers. Derek is in his late 60’s, used to be in a skiffle band, used to be an accountant and has a phenomenal collection of waistcoats. But this surely doesn’t qualify him to be compiling for Trojan does it? Well, he’s also got a monstrous collection of over 25,000 reggae and ska tracks spanning over 4 decades and has been spinning them to punters for over 30 years the world over. He’s not just a DJ, he’s a performer! So what’s he chosen as his favourite tracks? Well it ranges from roots, to rocksteady through to classic reggae vibes. There are tracks by Toots, John Holt, Johnny Clarke and Dennis Brown. There’s also compilation fave ‘Police And Thieves’ by Junior Murvin plus two classics from Max Romeo. If it’s solid classics you’re after along with the odd forgotten gem then DJ Derek’s selection will be your cup o’ cha. The CD is unmixed (always a bonus with reggae compilations) and contains 22 tracks full of reggae goodness. More splendid vibes from the ever trust worthy Trojan stable.

Jax

This is Voom Voom’s first full length album after a string of 12″s released over the last few years on K7! Voom Voom is the pairing of Peter Kruder and Fauna Flash, and if you were expecting loads of chilled K&D style breaks n beats? then you will be surprised indeed.

Most of the Tracks are 4/4 dancefloor numbers are designed to make you dance rather than chill. Lots of electronic noises sit side by side with twisted vocal stabs and bubbling basslines.

The album is getting released as 4 separate 12″s over the next few month’s. The first of those is already out and features the tracks ‘All I Need’ and ‘Sao Verought’. But each of the 4 separate vinyls are limited to 2000 so you best be quick. The CD will be appearing in the Spring featuring all the tracks that appear on the vinyl.

I’m really loving the album, but I can see a few of the tracks rubbing the purists up the wrong way with the rock guitar samples, off-kilter b-lines and electro beats . I’ll be giving some of the tracks main room action over the coming month’s cause I reckon it’ll get em grooving for sure.

Jax

Since the release of Eddie’s excellent Roughneck album back in 2004 he’s been on the road with both The New Mastersounds and his Roughneck project, doing what he does best and packing out clubs all over Europe. Now is your chance to take the vibe of the live show which was recorded at Le Triptyque, Paris in October 2005 and enjoy it at your leisure. I’m unsure of the full line-up of the band but as always with Eddie’s projects they come into their own at a live gig, and if you’ve not checked out the live show, shame on you. Eddie’s second instalment of Roughneck should be out later this year: can’t wait.

Simon Harrison

In May 2005 a Social Beats twelve track sampler dropped on my doorstep and featured three tracks by the unknown to me Jazzinvaders. The main track "Up & Out" became a firm favourite and was in my record box for the rest of the year. Producer/percussionist Phil Martin is the force behind the Jazzinvaders with contributions from two members of the Dutch jazz band The Houdini’s: Rolf Delfos on horns and saxophone and Erwin Hoorweg on piano. It initially started off as a jam session and eventually turned into a cracking album, combining latin and afro beats with some moustache tingling basslines that will keep any dancefloor happy. Lovely vocals are by Danish jazz vocalist Mette Burild and Dutch vocalist Linda Bloemhard, to round off a quality album.

Simon Harrison