Basic Soul

You are in for a treat: two releases from Cosmic sounds in the same month. This the ninth Rare Gems Series and they’ve drafted in Hungarian experts Tibor Mozsik and Gabor Valyi from the Create Soul Brothers. Volume 1 was mainly 1960’s, so this time it’s the 1970’s and funky fusion. With influences rock, African and Brazilian, it’s a mixed bag but every single track is a killer.
Once you’re got to the end of this amazing compilation you cannot believe that, like a Tom and Jerry cartoon, none of these have dated. I hope there’s more gems like this to be found in Hungarian archives.

Hajime is a very busy man. His Sleepwalker project is still causing excitement around the globe with the imminent live shows. He’s played piano on a whole host of amazing projects over the last few years and now it’s time for his new album. This is an outstanding selection with Brazilian, Latin and of course Soul influences, with the majority of tracks are for clued up dancefloors. It’s great to hear the lovely Vanessa Freeman on "Believe Again" and "Sweet Way", Jason Yarde on "Waltz For Jason" and Face on "Keep It Movin" and "Favourite Virtual Kiss" and that’s just for starters. Bear in mind the album totals 77 minutes and sixteen tracks. So far Especial Records have released a 4 track sampler on vinyl – let’s hope the rest make their way onto vinyl soon.

Here is the next instalment from the ever consistent F-IRE collective and this time it’s turn of pianist Robert Mitchell who’s been on the British jazz scene for ten years. His influences include Cecil Taylor and McCoy Tyner, which shines throughout the album. What struck me on first listen was the shear quality of vocalists involved, which include Deborah Jordan, Eska, TY, Robin Mullarkey, Eugene Skeef and legend Norma Winston. When was the last time you saw such a line up? “Trust” includes poetry, wonderful lyrics and just about every style of music known to man, making me wonder what would be next. It took me a little while to get my head around a few of the tracks but for me that makes a more interesting album and keeps me going back again and again

For those of you who have been in hiding for the last few years, Spacek have released two excellent albums ‘Eve’ and ‘Vintage Hi-Tech’. Back when ‘Eve’ was released they upset the applecart by mixing a fusion of Steve’s unique yet stunning vocals and beats that will shake your house. In 2005 it’s time for Steve, the voice behind Spacek to go solo. There has been a lot of hype about the single ‘Dollar’ and quite rightly so: It was produced by the beatmaster J. Dilla. ‘Spacek Shift’ continues in that formula as did the previous albums and still sounds as fresh as ever. This is soul music for the twenty first century and beyond.

Inspired by the parties held at beach bar Xiringuito in Playa Del Postiguet, Alicante, Spain, this 5 CD package features mixes from a selection of DJs who have graced it’s decks. With offerings from Biggabush, Nick Matthews, Gav Smith, Ben Mono and resident (and the man behind Fusionova021 Records) Enrique Domenech, you know this is going to be tasty. Nick Matthews’ selection features the Yam Who? remixes of Alison Crockett’s ‘UR’ and Amp Fiddler’s ‘Dreamin’ along with the brilliant ‘Nocturne’ from David Borsu and Sidewinder’s ‘The Adventure [Version #2]’. Intuit’s ‘Crianca Das Ondas’, Mojo Project’s ‘Where Is The Butterfly [Break Reform Mix]’ and Break Reform’s own ‘Medusa [Dynamic Syncopation Mix]’ turn up on Enrique’s mix. It’s the Gav Smith disc which is my favourite though, with tracks from his own Pantone label like Jazztronik’s ‘Froro’ and ‘In The Morning’ by Jafrosax feat Vikter Duplaix. There’s also the Spiritual South mixes of Paul Murphy’s ‘Jazz Room’ and ‘Veja O Sol’ from A Bossa Electrica, plus Antonio Ocasio’s ‘Blessed’. I’ve never been to Xiringuito but if this is the sort of stuff they’re playing then I think I need to pay a visit and taste a slice of paradise for myself.

After a handful of 12" releases for the MAW and its subsidiary labels over the past couple of years, V finally delivers his debut album. Produced by Jazzy Jeff at his A Touch Of Jazz Studios, ‘The Revelation Is Now Televised’ is largely a down-tempo soul affair. As you would expect the production and vocals are strong throughout but for me the set lacks a standout song. The groovy ‘Confess’ and ‘Who Will I Be’ are the better cuts but unfortunately the album omits the killer ‘Confusion’ which appeared on the recent T.R.I.N.T. 4 track EP.

It must be more and more difficult to come up with rare and original selections for compilations, so the pressure is on for head of Perfect Toy Records: Marcus Hacker to deliver the goods. Marcus was involved with compiling the excellent Spinning Wheel and Pop Boutique compilations, so he has set his standards high. Here we have a great selection of jazz tracks that will blow any dancefloor apart covering from the 1970’s through to 2005. My favourites include: The Earthquakers “Soul Samba”, “Photograph” by Swegas, Orchester Heinz Kiessling’s “Drift” and of course the 2005 anthem “Carrousel” by Hipnosis. Marcus has done himself proud.

‘Three Voices From The N-Side’ is the 1st album to be released by jazz poet N-Side, a.k.a. Norman A. Woods. It draws together a collection of tracks from 3 un-issued sets, ‘Love Is Playing Live In My Bay Area!’, ‘Jazz Opera’ and ‘A Softer View From The N-Side’. Why these individual albums haven’t been released is beyond me, since the standard of material presented here is brilliant. I’m currently hooked on the melodic ‘Within 5%’, a stunningly beautiful piece, ‘The Tribe (That’s Who We Are)’, a real swinger and the avant-garde ‘Vanguard Five’, but touch down anywhere on this set and you won’t be disappointed. Let’s just hope there’s more material coming from N-Side very soon.

Schema records have been digging in the vaults to give us some unreleased tracks and remixes for this second in the series of Freedom Jazz Dance compilations. Here you have the wonderful Nicola Conte Remix of Gerardo Frisina’s ‘Giga’s Dance’, Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi’s unreleased ‘Stars’, S-Tone Inc’s "Some Kind Of Blues" and Quintetto Lo Greco "Yes and No". Let’s hope there’s more to be unleashed from the Schema archives.

After just 2 long players and countless remix packages, the now defunct Leftfield release a greatest hits album packed to the rafters with household favourites.

All the classics are on here, they’ve even included the Sasha early mix-tape anthem “Not Forgotten” – a definitive early progressive house number. It took them ages to release albums and they were never as prolific as Orbital or Underworld but their input into providing quality dance productions was equally as important.

You might think to yourself “Well, I’ve got both albums, so why bother with a best of? Well, this greatest hits CD version comes with a bonus DVD with seven excellent Leftfield videos plus five of the tracks are on neither Leftism or Rhythm & Stealth, so you are getting some new/old sounds.

It’s a good greatest hits album – Leftfield have now bowed out as a duo but their importance to the dance scene is still very relevant. The production of the tracks is second to none and it’s worth a look-in just for the extra tracks and DVD. Gone but ‘Not forgotten’.