Basic Soul

Here we have the new project from DJ Vadim featuring MCS Blu Rum 13 and Yarah Bravo. The first taster of this new project was “Be Your Own” featuring the rather splendid Amp Fiddler remix. As you’d expect from Vadmin’s previous albums, there are plenty of head nodding beats, so much so, your neck with aching by the end of this lp. Both MCs are new names to me but both are certainly names I’ll be on the look out for for future releases because they sound marvellous. Just had a quick search on the net and it seems like I’ve missed rather a lot of Blu Rum 13 previous projects, better get the credit card out. This proves once again that if you’re after pure underground music Ninja Tune is still at the top of their game. Have you checked their forthcoming releases today?

This is the second album outing for Reading born, York based electronica maestro Martin Wheeler. It picks up nicely where last years self titled album left off, with a superb flow of crunky 4/4 beats entwined with lush melody fuelled chords.

Those familiar with Wheeler’s work will note that some of the tracks on this Album were released as a very limited CD e.p. under the guise of Badly Born Droid a few months back. The first single to be lifted from the long player will be ‘Boulevard’; Rolling out at over 10 minutes this really defines the album’s spaced out electronic feel. The opening track ‘Nostalgia 4 The Future’ and ‘Virtual Kittens’ see’s VL stepping into more up-tempo dance floor territory which contrasts the superb blissed out tracks, ‘City Lights From A Train’ and ‘Neon Sky Rain’. Be sure to check this out.

Carlos Niño is proving a very busy man at the moment This is his second Ammoncontact album in only six months and he’s also behind such quality projects like Build An Ark and Dwight Trible. Yes that’s a serious amount of music to release in a short space of time but this just proves how talented Niño is. Here we have 10 instrumental tracks spread over two slabs of vinyl; some labels could do with learning from this. You can hear some of Niño’s influences from jazz to funk and soul all within the heavy grooved based production, with basslines that shake your boots. As a bonus there is the excellent Build An Ark "Temple Jam" that featured on the Dublab Presents In The Loop 2 12" from earlier in the year. It’s worth it for that track alone.

I was being given a lift around Leeds with the manager of 2020 vision at the end of 2004 and in his car stereo was a track from ‘Reachin Out’. The track in question was ‘Switch’ which features vocals from legend Flora Purim. I could not quite believe my ears and I can see why that was chosen for the first single. Danny Ward has invited some excellent guests, which include Diane Charlemagne, Qball and Curt Cazal [QNC], Kate Rogers and Nightmares On Wax. 2020 vision are known for their quality house productions but here Danny really pushes the boundaries on just about every style known to man. There’s the bluey ‘Rain’, the house anthem ‘Switch’ and hiphop monster ‘Would You’. What else do I need to say?

There is such a lot of fantastic hiphop around at the moment, it’s great to hear an album full of mostly instrumental beats. Written and produced by Boris Mezga from Stuttgart, he is one name you will need to keep an eye out for in the future. Within the first few tracks you can see Boris is being influenced by the right kind of producers; from Madlib to Sa-Ra, but creating his own sound. With twenty tracks totalling over 70 minutes, this is a joy to listen to. Even better you can download the full album for free on Tokyo Dawns website

Over the last five months, three beautifully packaged 12’s have been released, produced by the genius Matthew Herbert and featuring stunning vocals from Moloko’s leading lady. All nine tracks from the three 12’s now come complete as a cd package. Of course we have Herbert’s quirky productions skills, which are perfectly suited to Roisin’s vocals, who sounds not a million miles away in style to Herbert’s long time collaborator and wife Dani Siciliano. You have the sought after ‘Night Of The Dancing Flame’, smoker ‘Sinking Feeling’ and my personal faves ‘Ramalama (Bang Bang)’ and ‘Sow Into You’. Keep an eye out for the forthcoming single because it’s supposed to be remixed by someone special.

Now when it gets to the third in a series, some compilations get very tired – you know what to expect and they usually miss the boat altogether from the time its mixed to the eventual release date. But not here, the Unabombers manage to hit the spot with every track. From the slow funked up sound of the highly rated Platinum Pied Pipers, the blissful vocals of S.I.A. right through to the awesome isolee remix of Cardiology by Recloose. Regulars at Electric chair in Manchester will no doubt snap this up, but i’d also recommend it to anyone with a bit of soul – its as simple as that.

Warp’s newest recruit used to be the main man behind Super Collider. His solo work has been highly anticipated and judging by this album it was definitely worth the wait. The first single ‘When I Come Back Around’ is superb and carries the vocal funk of people such as Amp Fiddler. Lidell also borders on Northern soul on the track ‘Music Will Not Last’, furious funk on ‘New Me’ and some lodown jazz piano on ‘What Is It This Time’. Overall the album is very refreshing and gets better by the listen. A million miles away from the usual Warp releases this man is also well worth checking out live if you get the chance. Warp are Brilliant!

NMS return with more funk-fuelled instrumentals on this their fourth album. Most people seem to remember these guys for their funk version of NuYorican Soul’s ‘Nervous Track’ and here they have covered Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Ain’t No Telling’ and Donny Hathaway’s ‘Zambezi’ to great effect. NMS is led by the exceptionally talented guitarist Eddie Roberts and all eleven tracks are as tight as you’d expect with raw and stripped down productions. Keep an eye out for their excellent funk remix of Soldiers of Twilight’s house anthem ‘Believe’

Following on from 2004’s ‘My London Friends’, Arision have kindly given us a chance to own a copy of this now legendary jazz album, where the original sells for big bucks. Recorded at the Living Room in Paris in 1973, this has to be up there with the best piano jazz albums ever recorded. Here Marco plays both the fender Rhodes and piano, to amazing effect with Jacky Sampson on bass and Charles Saudrais on drums, to achieve those funky basslines. Watch out for more reissues from the Arision stable.