Basic Soul

Simon S, Nanar and JJ aka Break Reform return after releasing numerous singles and the amazing debut album ‘Fractures’. You will have also in your collection the last two singles featuring remixes from Domu, Yam Who and Sidewinder, which has built up more than enough hype for the imminent release of ‘Reformation’.

There is no doubt in my mind that Nanar is one of the most gifted singers and lyricists around today and once you’ve listened to all of this album I’m certain you’ll agree. It’s wonderful to have them back and all you need to do now is check out the live show at a venue near you.

Espen is the producer who previously recorded as Bobby Hughes and on the soundtrack for Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. This beautiful album features vocals by Kinny who is a classically trained opera singer, but her love for reggae and jazz always came first and touring with a reggae band resulted in her visiting Norway and deciding to live there.

‘Forgetting To Remember’ is the kind of quality production you’d expect from a release on Tru Thoughts, with far too many highlights to mention. Just because a number of the big named djs seem to be missing this, ensure you don’t.

Two years ago I received the compilation ‘Shapes One’ from Tru Thoughts, which featured un-signed artists of unbelievable quality. The one track that stood out for me was ‘Cotton Wool’, produced by an artist called Diesler and I knew he was going to be an artist to watch out for. Two years down the line and the 20 year old producer from Lancashire finally releases his debut LP on Tru Thoughts.

The album kicks off with the now classic for me ‘Cotton Wool’ and the quality never drops with anthems like ‘Burnley Wallet’ and ‘Heist Theme’. As you’d expect he mixes up the styles which blow any dancefloor apart and the perfect sound track for the summer. The album is released on CD format with all tracks available for vinyl junkies through three separate EP’s.

Hipnosis drop their second long player “Carrousel” on Perfect Toy Records after their much praised debut album ‘Jazz’. Here they continue the traditional jazz theme to stunning affect with all nine tracks being new compositions. The lp kicks off with the self titled track featuring the wonderful vocals of Merit Ostermann that will completely blow you away. In fact I’ve played ‘Carrousel’ to a number of friends and they have bought the lp because of that one track, need I say more. If you’re a fan of Ricky Tick Records, Teddy Rock Seven and Nicola Conte, make sure you have this at the top of your wants list.

In February 2004 my Basic Soul Radio Show was lucky enough to have a guest mix from Zeljko Kerleta, the man behind Cosmic Sounds Records, and during that 60 minute mix he dazzled us with some amazing rare European jazz classics. Three tracks in, he played a track by the RTB Big Band, which completely blew me away, and Zeljko mentioned that he would be re-releasing this album very soon.

A few weeks ago this beautifully packaged cd arrived and I was straight on the phone purchasing one of the limited 500 copies vinyl copies [you’ve been warned]. Featured here is a collection of 70s recordings by the Radio Television Beograd Jazz Orchestra, very much in the style of MPS, which should have you all slavering at the mouth. All the tracks are original compositions and feature some of the great European talents around at the time, including Dusko Goykovich, Gerd Dudek and Allan Skidmore, to name a few. We should all thank Zeljko because we’ve all been given a chance to listen to this wonderful lost gem.

The first question to be asked is when on earth does Will Holland get time to sleep, with six albums behind him in just four years. You’d be thinking he would be ready for a rock band/pop band break to find himself but no, he’s back with his storming live band where there’s no room for sampling, just pure funk and jazz. Like ‘Stampede’ there are some big cover versions and I think only Alice Russell could get away with covering Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ to such great effect, she can be found singing her heart out on 5 of the album’s 11 tracks. Their fantastic version of Mr Scruff’s ‘Get A Move On’ is here, as are some reworked instrumentals that featured on the Rebtuz bootlegs. Simply the Quantic Soul Orchestra rule.

Soil & Pimp Sessions return after their quality debut album ‘Pimpin’, which featured the full on jazz classics ‘fuller love’ and ‘harbor’, both of which eventually found their way onto a limited 12″. With the release of ‘Pimp Master’, it seems they have finally found the attention they deserve, but that could be due to the big knob djs finally seeing what was right under their noses. Intense right from the moment ‘No Taboo’ kicks off, you know you’re in for a roller coaster of a ride with yet more dancefloor anthems and modal numbers to give you a chance to get your breath back. This is proper jazz music for 2005 and I can’t wait to see them live.

For me Jazzman Records and BBE have dominated funk compilations over the last few years, with DJs like Gerald Jazzman, Keb Darge, DJ Shadow and Kenny Dope etc digging deep. Now Perfect Toy has enlisted Tom Wieland to hunt into his extensive record collection to compile volume 2 of Creative Musicians. Here are 19 outstanding recordings, released some 30 years ago in very limited quantities, or never receiving a commercial release at all. Rather than spending hours searching the net, warehouses and paying big bucks, just get down to your local record shop and buy.

to date this is my favourite album of 2005, and I will not quote that The Vanishing System is the next hiphop artist who is trying to push the boundaries rather than keep within the standard ‘jiggy’ hiphop, as we all know who they are by now. Produced by Jason Todd and DJ Epcot Center, this is about as mad as things get. The lyrics are truly brilliant and the production is as mad as a cow with a certain disease, miss at your peril. Jason has a truck load of music on the way, so keep your eyes peeled.