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Gregor Treshor: Lights From The Inside [Break New Soil Recordings]
Frankfurt’s own Gregor Treshor has been at the forefront of the techno scene ever since his 2005 hit “Still EP”. Based on his latest release, “Lights From The Inside” the thirty year old DJ appears poised to build on that success. Treshor’s thirteen track release features tunes that are more groove influenced than his previous release but the results are more than satisfying. Among the highlights is the title track, led by a hypnotizing yet gorgeous melody. “Black To Zero” stands out in part due to its wicked bass line and “Echelon”, complete with warped out chords will be a definite crowd pleaser for rave audiences. With quality production and well written tracks, “Lights From The Inside” will no doubt please his fans and solidify Gregor’s status as a first rate techno DJ/producer.
Rime: Our Kingdom [Infracom Records]
Fresh from the Nordic country is Finnish producer Antti Hynninen amd singer Sara Sayed, better known as Rime. Their debut “Our Kingdom” is a delicious slice of electronic soul filled with soothing vocals, mellow mid-tempo grooves and uplifting lyrics. Hynninen blesses each track with layers of warm melodic keyboards while Sara’s soft feathery touch makes for a perfect combination. There are plenty of highlights to savor here like the wonderful “Smoke And Regret”, filled with soft synth grooves to complement Sara’s sweet vocal phrasings. “Loose Ends” is no less enjoyable, beginning with a wave of gorgeous rhodes and lush strings that provide the canvas for Sara’s soft seductive voice. “Breal You” is another winner that incorporates the similar ingredients, armed with a slightly up-tempo groove. Overall this is a strong showcase of warm melodic electronic soul music that is consistent throughout. Their concept is simple yet the results shine as bright as a warm summer afternoon. Make no mistake though, this is a quality record for all seasons to savor and enjoy.
James Blake: James Blake [Atlas]
The buzz surrounding James Blake started in early 2010 with a simmer before it ascended into a boil. Now with the release of his self-titled debut, the twenty two year old pianist is poised to build on that momentum. Blake’s beautiful compositions are hypnotic melodic textures built over dub step rhythms and thick bass lines. That’s quite evident on the huge down-tempo hit “Limit To Your Love”, with its haunting piano melody and vibrato drum patterns. “The Wilhelm Scream” is another standout that merges blues and electronica while Blake’s falsetto captures the emotion of a lost love. The only problem is his songwriting isn’t his strength and some of the other tracks like “I Never Learnt to Share” leave you feeling like he had more to say but couldn’t quite find the words to say it. That’s not the case on “Why Don’t You Call Me”, a tune that taps into his classical roots and his love of the blues. Blake is certainly onto something by seamlessly fusing dissimilar musical styles together. In addition, his production talents and his voice manipulations make his debut a fascinating listen.
Various Artists: Beyond Jazz Vol.4 [Beyond Jazz]
The good people of the Beyond Jazz compilations have a keen ear for soul and jazz music and the forward thinking producers adept at meshing the two together. Their compilations have always provided a window to some of the most progressive recordings on the scene today. “Vol.4” is no exception for it is packed with assortment of eclectic recordings fusing together soul, house and jazz together and moving your body in the process. The disc kicks off impressively with “Out Of Dark”, a jazz influenced house track augmented by the spirited piano chords mixed by Chris Barker, one half of Deep Space Orchestra. The Dub-In-Vader mix adds yet another to Emanative’s “Space”. I never get enough of the hypnotic bass clarinet from Ben Hadwen that’s featured throughout. Jazz Neversleeps premieres a new tune and it’s worthy of repeated listens. “Live In Maredsous” is masterfully produced with infectious percussion, mesmerizing synths and gorgeous samplings of Betty Carter. “Memories Of Tomorrow” is another winner, an up-tempo future soul gem done proper by Aybee. With many more selections to savor here, “Vol.4” is a must have. For those not familiar with their previous releases, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check out those as well.
Various Artists: Boglewaltz – We Came For The Music [Boglewaltz ]
If you also came for the music then you’ve come to the right place. Boglewaltz is filled with an assortment of delicious broken beat and soulful gems that you’ll be making arrangements to attend their parties ASAP. Did I say parties? That’s because Boglewaltz are known for hosting some fierce parties around the UK attended by top djs and musicians. For those who can’t make it, fear not this lp will be the next best thing to being there. There are many tasty treats among the fifteen tracks to enjoy like the soulful house gem “Just Fine” by SMI. This is a joyful tune thanks in part to the infectious piano melody and the vocals of Shea Soul. More soulful selections include the sultry “In Your Eyes” by Soulpersona that features Sibel Thrasher. Soundspecies delivers the wicked “Balafon Jam”. Sounspecies is comprised of brothers Henry and Oliver Keen and they make use of the Balafon, an African Xylophone that creates a buzzing sound that is irresistible and meshes perfectly with their booming beats. “Soft Rain” is a wonderful down-tempo tune from Embers that merits your attention as well as the soothing “You” from Analog Jones and D’Ablo. Throughout the year you’ll come across many compilations but few will be as impressive as this one. Highly recommended.
Space Invadas: Soul:Fi [BBE Records]
If you haven’t had this conversation yet, you will one day explain to your kids or somebody else’s kid that music didn’t always require a drum machine to make beats, or a sample wasn’t necessary to capture the right hook or feature the right voice. The days of lo-fi recordings are from another place in time but when played today you can’t help but get lifted by the raw soul seeping into your veins. It has been a daunting task to bridge the gap from the old to the new but the Space Invadas are more than capable of filling that role. Producer Ashley Anderson, aka Katalyst and vocalist Steve Spacek are on a mission to bring you soul music in its purest form and suffice to say, you’ll gladly come along for the ride. Their debut, “Soul Fi” starts out by transporting you to a time when soul music was the norm and not the exception. Upon arrival, you’re treated to “Imaginist”, a funky track that merges a fierce rhythm guitar groove and lush strings that serves as the canvas for Spacek’s falsetto voice. “Super Sweet” is another uptempo foot stomper that finds vocalists Fantine and Spacek playfully flirting with one another over a wicked bass groove and drum beat. “Ready Or Not” is an midtempo gem that utilizes The Delfonics sample of the same name that was so successful for the Fugees mid nineties hit. Spacek sprinkles his voice over the rhythm section and transforms the track into his own. On “Way We Feel”, The Space Invadas bring the pace down to a slow burn and create a sultry slow jam reminiscent of Love Unlimited classics. Indeed “Soul Fi” has all the ingredients of a soul classic and would serve as the antidote for any party in need of a funk injection. This is certainly one of the best early full length releases of 2011.
Opolopo: Voltage Controlled Feelings [Tokyo Dawn Records]
With his third full length release “Voltage Controlled Feelings”, Swedish producer Opolopo has crafted a record that captures the spirit of the boogie and the power of the funk with impressive results. Opolopo’s childhood influences, ranging from Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire to Kraftwerk has figured prominently in all of his recordings. In addition he gained valuable experience as a youth traveling with his Father, a keyboard player himself. One thing I can count on from an Opolopo tune is that his songs, although they’re listed in the dance category are all drenched in the sauce of soul and jazz that makes them stand out from the rest. As the case with previous Opolopo releases, “Voltage Controlled Feelings” contains an array of talented vocalists to add spice to his creative compositions. Among the highlights are “Reversed”, mid-tempo tune with a clever melody and deep bass line that features vocalists Amalia and Blacktop. “Our World featuring Erik Rico” is an electro funk jam with catchy synth arrangements. “Waiting” is an energetic electro dance track with an infectious groove that features Farah on vocals. There are also plenty of tasty treats to cool down to like the mellow madness of “The Singularity” and the laid back soul 0f “Take It Slow” with Sacha Williamson. With so many selections here to enjoy it’s easy to see why the remix services of Opolopo are in high demand. Hopefully he doesn’t spread himself too thin so he can continue to create high quality recordings such as this one that provide immediate satisfaction.
Various Artists: Worldwide Family Vol.1 [Brownswood Recordings]
Chances are, if you’re reading this then you’re like many of the World Wide Family members. You rely on taste masters like Gilles Peterson to showcase the hidden gems you would otherwise miss out on. Well Vol.1 of the World Wide family mixtape series provides just that, twenty seven tracks ranging from house to soul to dub step to quench your thirst for progressive new music. Instead of Gilles doing the heavy lifting, the job has been placed in the capable hands of world renowned DJ’s Lefto and Simbad. Lefto compiled the mixup for disc 1and serenades us with a slice of electronica with “Meeting Point” by Damage Is Done. The Brass Roots funky horn cover of Inner City’s “Good Life” was easily one of my favorite singles of 2010. Not to be outdone, Simbad serves up some equally hot joints on disc 2 with the rhythmic jazz of Afrikan Sciences and Kebbi’s “5 Spot”. Seiji’s “The King” is a tasty house track with wicked drumbeats that ignite instant toe tapping. There are many more tunes that you’ll want to add to your rotation so treat yourself and purchase now. Who knows? By the time you’re done Vol.2 could be on the way. That would be good news indeed.
Esperanza Spalding: Esperanza [www.esperanzaspalding.com]
It’s one thing to have a prolific voice on the bass but in the case of the multi-talented Esperanza Spalding, she can equally captivate you with her vocal chops as well. That is readily apparent on her release “Esperanza”, a sparkling project that fuses Latin, Brazilian and World music rhythms in a jazz formula. Esperanza arrived at Berklee college with much fanfare and soon became one of their youngest teachers there. However the desire to record a project with her personal stamp clearly outweighed the classroom and it’s easy to see why. Her disc opens with the melancholy “Ponta De Areia”, a tune originally penned by Milton Nascimento. The original version was a folk flavored tune but Spalding transforms it into a dreamy melodic gem. “I Adore You” is energetic Latin jazz piece that showcases her scatting prowess over a gorgeous piano melody. “Cuerpo Y Alma” (Body And Soul) finds Esperanza swinging in a bebop 5/4 beat while singing in Spanish with impressive results. With a recording as strong as this, the buzz surrounding Esperanza clearly has merit. It will be exciting to watch her career evolve and experience the fruits of her recordings along the way.
Esperanza Spalding: Chamber Music Society [www.esperanzaspalding.com]
A true artist isn’t content to drive along the same path. Once the bow has been tied on the last project, they’ve taken a new road in pursuit of new musical horizons. In the case of Esperanza Spalding she has shifted from the spirited funky “Esperanza” to the acoustic “Chamber Music Society” and the results are heartfelt compositions filled with superb performances. Because of its intimate nature, chamber music has been described as the music of friends and she has filtered this disc with an array of talented musicians such as Milton Nascimento, drummer Terri Lynn Carrington and others. The opener “Little Fly”, a poetic tune with strings that was inspired by artist William Blake. “Chacarera”, composed by pianist Leo Genovese, finds Esperanza singing in a vocalese style over the engaging melodies created by Genovese and cellist Dave Eggar. “Apple Blossom” is an emotive if not somber piece where Spalding’s vocal harmonies are interwoven with Nascimento’s baritone phrasing. “Inutil Paisagem” is a tender duet between Esperanza and Gretchen Parlato that captures their vocal dexterity. Parlato’s clever hand percussion playing intertwines beautifully with Spalding subtle bass riffs. You’re not going to find “Esperanza pt 2” within this recording but you will find a disc filled with warm and peaceful melodies that resonate within you. In addition they provide a snapshot of Spalding’s diverse talents.
Amalia: Art Slave [Tokyo Dawn Records]
Having apprenticed with the likes of the band Sekoya and the soulful dance grooves of producer Opolopo, songstress Amalia is ready to spread her wings with her funk deluxe debut “Art Slave”. With production mainly from Opplopo excluding the remixes by AtJazz, AD Bourke and Son Of Kick, “Art Slave” is inspired by the 80’s electro soul period and there are several tracks that will transport you to that era. Among the highlights are the sensuous synth-funk “Welcome To Me”. “Luxurious” will conjure memories of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” courtesy of Opolopo’s wicked synth work. Amalia cools down just a bit and blends a little ballad into the funky “All The Funk I need”. “Zebra Butt” is a mid-tempo bass driven funk jam that receives an assist from rapper Probe DMS. If you can’t live on funk alone there’s the Opolopo Nu swing remix of “Life’s A Dance” that will quench the soulful dance thirst you’ve come to expect from her. Overall, “Art Slave” is an energetic coming out party for the lady with the siren voice. If you long for some 80’s funk with a little new jack swing mixed in, you’ll certainly enjoy this.
Reel People Presents: Golden Lady [Reel People Music]
Oli Lazarus, founder of Papa Records and Reel People return with their third release. Once again they deliver that customary soulful house sound that you’ve come to expect from them, albeit with a twist. Take for example the title track; Oli and singer Tony Momrelle flip the Stevie Wonder classic into a blissful Brazilian foot stomper. “Sure” featuring singer Darien continues along this theme blending a touch of samba and rhythm guitar into this soaring dance number. “It’s Hard” appears on the disc courtesy of Phil Asher and his Restless Soul Fun Band. This is a straight up soulful floor burner with sexy vocals and well placed horns. “Nights In Africa” rounds out the disc and is arguably the highlight as well. Produced by Toni Economides and Kaidi Tatham, they create an uplifting afro-soul burner that is augmented by the vocals of newcomer Renn. With additional appearances from Choklate and Simon Grey, Oli and the crew have ensured that “Golden Lady” will receive plenty of burn throughout the year. I can’t emphasize the word burn enough, this is one hot record.
The Liberators: The Liberators [Record Kicks]
It doesn’t take long to recognize that the ten member unit known as the Liberators can play a mean brand of Afro-funk, and play it well. The Sydney based band’s debut is a crisp ten song collection of high energy afro-funk that percolates from one song to the next. The group was formed by Dojo Cuts guitarist Nathan Aust and he has assembled a cohesive unit with all the ingredients; a blistering horn section, wicked guitar rhythms and top notch drumming and percussion. That’s evident right from the start with “Multiculture”, a hard charging tune armed with an airtight horn section and a lead tenor sax delivering spirited soloing. “Rags To Riches” brings more heat, albeit with some funky guitar work and precision horn arrangements. Only three tracks feature vocalists and none of them disappoints. “Let It Go” is a nice mid-tempo tune with a strong groove and bubbling percussion that features Dojo Cuts member Roxie Ray. “Liberation” is one of the highlights of this strong set, a dynamic tune that features Afro Moses. Known in Ghana as the African James Brown, Moses puts a charge into the set with his singing and his energy is infectious. The Afro funk sound and Afro beat in general becomes more popular every day and firing up clubs everywhere. Let’s hope that this is the first of many strong releases by The Liberators to help carry the torch.
Portico Quartet: Knee Deep In The North Sea [Real World Records]
This latest from Portico Quartet is actually their very first full length release from 2007. “Knee Deep In The North Sea” is the record that put these guys on the map and for good reason. There is a great level of musicianship here and their compositions are colorful and engaging. Then of course there is the hang instrument, performed by Nick Mulvey that distinguishes the group because of its steel pan like tone. There are many tracks to savor as the entire disc is enjoyable. “News From Verona” is warm and mellow thanks in part Jack Wyllie’s phrasing on sax that blends nicely with the tone of the hang drum. Duncan Bellamy’s gentle brushes on the cymbals convert the drums into a percussion. “Zavodovski Island” is a spirited tune blends spectacular moments from Wyllie as well as Milo Fitzpatrick on bass. “Steps In The Wrong Direction” starts out soft and sublime then changes tempo and carries the tune to greater heights. A live session of this song is also featured here. There are other live recordings that are equally enjoyable. “All The Pieces Matter” is from the Madia Vale session and “Knee Deep In The North Sea” from the Copenhagen sessions. This was already a wonderful record when it was first released. Now with a little fine tuning and reproduction polishing, a great record just became better.
Deborah Jordan: What You See [Futuristica Music]
Hearing the sound of Deborah Jordan’s voice fulfills your musical palette much in the way the taste our favorite desert satisfies our sweet tooth. The difference is there are no regrets after indulging in Deorah’s music like you would with the desert. We all remember the first time we heard her voice from way back in the day with Silhouette Brown. All she has done since is elevate her collaborations with numerous artists such as Replife, Jneiro Jarel among others. In 2009 she released her debut and now her latest “What You See”, picks up from where she left off. Her recent release contains eleven original compositions and three solid remixes. Among the tasty treats is the title track, a warm earthy mid-tempo track with sun drenched chords. Lyrically “What You See” is about looking what is beyond the surface of a person in search of who’s real and who isn’t. “Lullaby”, produced by Kira Neris is a dreamy atmospheric tune with jazzy soundscapes that will certainly transport you to another place. “See The Light” is another highlight, a mid-tempo tune with a strong groove and pretty melody. There are many more soulful selections to savor and all are exceptionally produced. All three remixes are also superb but if I had to pick one, it would be the Ty Macklin rework of “Slipping Away”, a beautiful down-tempo tune that morphs into a funky two step treat. Overall this is one fabulous record that is equal or even slightly better than “The Light”. One thing is certain is Jordan continues to build an impressive catalogue of timeless quality music for us to enjoy.