Jocelyn Brown: Unreleased [Digisoul]
Just before I received ‘Unreleased’, I found out that Jocelyn had been on a reality TV show and even though this may well boost sales of this album, I was a little unsure what to expect. Of course I have no idea how well she did, but with a voice as good as Jocelyn’s it was unlikely the real world would vote for a real talent, rather than some second-rate pop star. One thing for sure is that Jocelyn has an amazing voice and had featured on far too many tracks to mention here. All fourteen tracks here are certainly aimed at the modern soul scene and a pleasure to listen to. The standout track for me is the excellent ‘She’d Called’, which is Jocelyn at her best. Ensure you give this a listen.
Various Artists mixed by Nathan McLay: Attractions [Future Classic]
Introducing us to a stable of new artists from ‘down under’, the debut compilation from this Sydney-based label guides us seamlessly through Future Jazz and Broken Beat territory, Click-House, twisted Electro, and poppy Nu-Disco, whilst maintaining a techy, synth-driven feeling throughout. Despite a plateau in the middle, the CD starts and finishes strongly and, with nods to labels like Dialect and 20:20 Vision, there is some high-quality electronic music here that will have you dancing round your bedroom in no time.
Mr. Lif: Mo’ Mega [Definitive Jux]
With his status as a leading light of independent Hip-Hop already cemented, Boston-bred MC, Mr. Lif returns with a bang, delivering an explosive, but cerebral commentary on the state of US society. It is unfortunate then, that his immense lyrical talent is often drowned-out here by a relentlessly tough, speaker-puncturing production style, courtesy of Def Jux honcho El-P. It’s not all bad news, but the chaos of the Funk and Rock-fuelled soundscape makes it tough to appreciate the presence of a gifted vocalist.
Osunlade: Aquarian Moon [Yoruba/BBE Records]
I was rather excited to get this album mainly due to it being the return of Osunlade. He’s been hammering out remixes ten to the dozen and all of them of supreme quality and of the 4/4 variety. This is the second opportunity to see where the well known DJ and producer is at musically and yes we already know it’s going to be deep. What I didn’t realise before was that Osunlade plays just about every instrument and produces all the tracks. He may have done that on his previous album “Paradigm” but I never checked the sleeve notes. All the tracks are beautifully structured and vary from deep percussion house, to funk and tracks that are more downbeat than you might expect. Osunlade now lives in Greece which may well explain the slight change in direction and I hope this change will be reflected in his next remixes.
24 April 2006
Luisito Quintero – M’Bongi – BBE
Voice – Know Rhythm – Public Transit
Jazztronik – Beeping (Domu Remix) – Tokuma Japan Communications
1luv – Black Daylight – Suntzu Sound
Goldfrapp – Fly Me Away (C2 Remix) – Mute
Meem – Rumpski – Future Classics
Phreek Plus One – Shake – Compost Black
Adam Hurst – Brush Thing – White
Philly 2 Tokyo – Be There With You (Casamena Basement Remix) – Deeper Soul
Bunny Mack – Let Me Love You – Rokel
Luisito Quintero feat. Blaze – Love Remains The Same – BBE
The Prime Element – In The Dawn Of Time – Trova
Jimmy Smith – Who’S Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (Live In Hamberg) – Music For Pleasure
Roslia De Souza feat. Marcos Valle – Que Bandeira (Gerardo Frisina Remix) – Schema
Richard E – Groove Number 9 – Further Out
Jazztronik – Pathways (Sleepwalker Remix) – Tokuma Japan Communications
Trio Mocot� – N�o Adianta (DJ Tisso Remix) – White
DJ Roots – Sorriso De Flor – Innerground
Quango – Frantic Moment (Boogie Mix) – Deeper Soul
Quango – Sky’S The Limit (New Sector Mix) – Pan
The New Mastersounds feat. Corinne Bailey Rae – Your Love Is Mine – One Note
Rasiyah – You Better Run – Antipodean
Mocky feat. Jamie Lidell – How Will I Know You – Far Music
17 April 2006
Olli Ahvenlahti – Countenance [Love]
Nathan Davis – African Boogie [Tomorrow International]
Bruno E feat. Sarah Anne Webb – Feel [Ether]
Alice Smith – Dream [BBE]
Belleruche – Bird Mess [Hippo Flex]
Persian Shadows – Scarf Face [Cookshop]
Diesler feat. Laura Vane – A Little Something [Tru Troughts]
Gerardo Frisina – Tokyo’S Dream [Schema]
Wahala Project – Wahala [51 Lex]
Timberland & Magoo feat. Pharrell – Vulnerable [White]
Exile feat. Med – Notch [Sound In Color]
Cool Calm Pete feat. DJD2 – Black Friday [Def Jux]
Taku Ishizaki – The Story Of Annabelle [Eurasian Suite]
Mowgly – 2nite�s Da Nite (Instrumental) [Faces]
Innocent Sorcerers – The Score [Raw Fusion]
DJ Tisso & A. Force – Sensation [White]
DJ Marky & XRS feat. Vikter Duplaix – Moments Of Lust (Makoto Remix) [Innerground]
DJ Marky And Bungle – Codename [Innerground]
Zero Db – Bongos, Beats & Basslines [Ninja Tune]
Tim Scott – Chemistry (Jonny Miller Dub) [White]
Daz-I-Kue feat. Colonel Red & Bembe Segue – Spoiled [Ubiquity]
Yam Who feat. Noel Mckoy – Summertime [Papa]
Jazz Invaders – Bonga Bonga Jazz [Social Beats]
David Borsu – Nocturne [Counter Point]
Alton Miller – Shine On Me [KDJ]
10 April 2006
Vicelounge – That’s All You Need [Sbx Music]
Art Lande – Bar Rock [White]
Massive Attack feat. Terry Callier – Live With Me [Virgin]
Herbie Hancock – Sly (Kay Suzuki Re-Work) [White]
Hi-Fly – Samboogaloo [White]
Diesler feat. Joseph Malik – Stylus Rise [Tru Thoughts]
Grudge Monkeys – Grudge Monkey Hustle [Schtum]
Adam Hurst – Brush Thing [White]
Finn Peters & Tomas Improta – Jungle Kitten [Club Brasil]
Souled – Touch [Broadcite]
Haiku – Haiku Interview [Knocked Off]
Panacea – Limitless Pages [Glow In The Dark]
The Ipamenas – Valsamba [Far Out]
Guest mix by DJ Nova
Cayetano – Las Sirenas [Sala Sonora]
Deladap – Dela Paji [Chat Chapeau]
Dublex Inc. – Bienvenido [Pulver]
Novalima – Zamba Lando [Mr. Bongo]
Piergiorgio Capozza – Vertical Groove [Scenario]
Gerardo Frisina – Contrante [Schema]
DJ Rain – Inner Spiritual [Prominence]
Ithamara Koorax – Escravos De Joe (Brisa) [Irma]
Billi Brazilli – Out Of Bra [Ohm]
Riovolt – Sambarama [Irma]
Jhelisa – Walking On Air (Ray Mang) [Infracom!]
Origami – Paper’s Game [Big Sur]
Koom.h – Ghost In Paradise [Big Sur]
S-Tone Inc – Naked Ground (Paolo Fedreghini) [Schema]
Soular Sound – Things We Do [Dnm]
+++++ End Of Mix +++++
Mod X – Picture Man (Kid Loco Instrumental) [Ice & Spice]
Fat Freddys Drop – Flashback (Jazzanova Remix) [Sonar Kollektiv]
3 April 2006
Daisuke Tanabe – Gas [Fluid Ounce]
Dudley Perkins – Funky Dudley [Stones Throw]
Roger Robinson – Dream Keepa (Lizzies Children Re-Fix) [Altered Vibes]
Steve Spacek – Dollar (Kaushik Remix) [White]
Marc Mac Presents Beats From The Motion Picture: It’S Right To Be Civil – Tell Me Now [White]
Break Reform – Neptune (Live From Maida Vale) [Abstract Blue]
Jung Collective – Disappear (Richard E Remix) [Nanny Tango]
Kista feat. Tableek – Talk With God [Art/goes/pop]
Mister Who – Oceans [Dual Amp]
Dogdaze – Raise Your Fist [Flyin’ High]
Broke ‘N’ English – Take It Low [White]
Cousin Cockroach – Nah Backside [2000 Black]
Mark De Clive-Lowe feat. Lady Alma – Twilight [Especial]
Joash feat. Laura C – Something About You [White]
Ok_MA feat. Leanne – Goflow (Bennson Remix) [R2]
Omar – Never To Late (Jaycee In Da Mix) [White]
Atjazz feat. Ernesto – Put It On (Osunlade Remix) [White]
The Invisible Sessions – ‘Til The End [Schema]
Johnny Hammond – Shifting Gears [Fantasy]
Hot RS – Slow Blow [Cosmic Dancer]
Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray (Paradise Ballroom Mix) [Warlock]
Manny Corchado – Pow Wow [Jazzman]
Dee Dee Warwick – Suspicious Minds [Atlantic]
The Bamboos – Golden Rough [Tru Thoughts]
Alessandro Oliviero – Walk On That Thing [Perfect Toy]
N-Side – 20 Year Class Reunion [Shalamar]
Various Artists: Chillifunk The Best Of… Ten Years, 1996-2006 [Chillfunk Records]
Ten years ago I was working in a local record shop, and I remember the first release on Chilli Funk, DSL’s ‘Enfusion’, arriving in a box of new releases, and I’ve been a fan ever since. With an extensive back catalogue, Lofty, the man behind Chilli Funk and selector of this compilation, has wisely chosen to spread the selection over two cds. If you’ve missed any of their back catalogue, this is the perfect opportunity to do some catching up. All the heavy weights are here: Nathan Haines, Eastwest Connection, Restless Soul, Marathon Men, Vanessa Freeman and Jody Watley, with remixes by the likes of Kenny Dope, Ashley Beedle, Blaze and DJ Gregory. A limited four track 12′ will also appear and as if that’s not enough, there is a bonus cd mixed by Notenshun. Phew, Chillifunk don’t do things in halves.
Diesler: Keepie Uppies [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
How times fly when you’re having fun: It’s amazingly only been one year since Jonathan Radford Diesler dropped his debut "Diggin It Somethin Rotten", which I can assure you has been a big favourite around these parts. I’ve been hammering the new single "Charmed" and was really looking forward to hearing where Jonathan was going to take us this time. There are some joints that continue from where "Diggin" left us, with those dirty funk bassline instrumentals and horns stabs, which we know and love. The main change is the excellent vocalists that include: Laura Vane, Double Yellow and Joseph Malik. All compliment the productions perfectly, and if you like "Charmed", you’re in for a treat because there are more vocals hooks and lyrics that will be running around in your head for weeks.