8th February 2021
Madlib – Road Of The Lonely Ones [Madlib Invazion]
People Under The Stairs – The Hang Loose [OM Records]
People Under The Stairs – Big Daddy Brown [OM Records]
People Under The Stairs – Pass The 40 [Tres Records]
Beatchild – Living for The Rush [BBE Music]
Raquel Martins – Freedom [Bridge The Gap]
Shamis & Rebiere – Moonlove [INI Movement]
Dianne Mower – The Secret Sign [Mind Fluid Music]
Bridge – Crying For Love [High Jazz]
Naresh Sohal – Evening Prayer [Buried Treasure]
Work, Money, Death – Dusk [ATA Records]
Yoni Mayraz – The Rat [Bridge The Gap]
American Gypsy – Inside Out [Music On Vinyl]
Low End Activist – Engineers Origins [Low End Activism]
Danny Goliger feat. Sensor – Your Hand [Fantastic Voyage]
Bicep – Saku [Ninja Tune]
Raffaele Attanasio – Parlesia [Axis Records]
mfp feat. Simon Mavin – Darlin Darlin [R2 Records]
Joanna Law – Song For Theo [Tangential Music]
Wipe The Needle & Josh Milan – Tenderly (Honeycomb Remix) [Makin’ Moves]
Apparel Wax – 008A2 [Apparel Music]
Underground Evolution – Soul Searcher (Joe Claussell Remix) [Ugly Music]
Metropolitan Soul Museum – Les Mondes Des Images [Step Recordings]
Voilaaa: Voiciii [Favorite Recordings]
“Voiciii” (Here It Is) is the third lp from Voilaaa and is steeped in engaging Afro Disco. “Woman Can Do” is a heart pounding dance track featuring the vocals of Ayunne Sule. “Water No Get Enemy” features Pat Kalla. It would fit nicely in the TK Disco catalog. “Manu Ecoute” is a nod to Manu Dibango’s “Soul Makossa”, filled with funky horns and infectious percussion. “Voiciii” is filled with good vibes and infectious grooves that captures the spirit of pioneers such as Fela Kuti and the aforementioned Dibango. This lp has all the ingredients that made Voilaaa famous, a pulsating soundsystem and joyful vibes. Produced by Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart who has a knack for finding talented vocalists from the around the globe.
Tamil Rogeon: Son of Nyx [Soul Bank Music ]
Violinist and composer Tamil Rogeon has built an impressive resume filled with a wide array of accomplishments. He has composed and conducted for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Austrailian National Academy of Music. He’s co-founder of the orchestral electronic band The Raah Project and has worked with acclaimed producer Harvey Sutherland. “Son Of Nyx” is his latest release and it’s a spiritual jazz gem not to be missed. Rogeon’s sublime violin melodies are puncuated by Danny Fischer’s spirited drumming on “House No Wheels”. “Bad Sandals” is filled with Rogeon’s lush melodies. The track is also highlighted by engaging percussion from Fischer and warm vocal harmonies from Rita Satch that make for a climatic finale. The disc wraps up with the ten minute plus spiritual jazz delight “Horns No Eyes”. The tune unleashes splash of riveting fender rhodes in parallel with Rogeon’s majestic phrasing of melodies. Simply a superb ending to a wonderful record. This is an early standout for a 2021 release that you need to get.
LaNote: Rebirth [Futuristica]
Avid fans of the Futuristica label may be familiar with the blissful vocals of LaNote from the Parisian soul electronica group Electric Conversation. Along with beatmaker As Valet the duo made up one half of the eclectic genre bending group. With her debut “Rebirth” LaNote takes center stage and the results are simply marvelous. Valet’s compositions are drenched in down-tempo melodic rhythms. If that wasn’t enough, several tracks also receive the remix treatment from an All-star line-up of producers such Marc Rapson, Mecca 83, DJ Spinna and more. Simon S adds his soulful jazz infused hip-hop touch to “Miracle”. The title track is blissed out down-tempo soul remixed by Nicky Lars. It’s filled with warm vocal harmonies layered with LaNote’s vocals. “Truth Be Told” is warm and hazy soulful electronica at it’s best. You’ll find it hard not to get swept away by LaNote’s low pitch airy vocals. In addition Valet’s soulful compositions make this a brilliant release that you shouldn’t miss. Just press play and let the music take you away.
1st February 2021
Nathan Haines feat. Shelley Nelson – Believe (Restless Soul Album Mix) [Chillifunk Records]
Restless Soul feat. Valerie Etienne – Beautiful [People]
Basic Soul – Lo-Line [Basement 282]
Phil Asher Presents Focus – Never Giving Up [Versatile Records]
Nubian Mindz – Black Science (Restless Soul Looptime Mix) [Archive]
Electric Soul – Anewsong [People]
Phlash feat. Marcus Begg – Participate [Estereo]
The Janet Lawson Quintet – So High [BBE Music]
The Janet Lawson Quintet – Better Get (H)it In Your Soul [Omnisound]
Marcos Resende & Index – Nina Neném [Far Out Recordings]
Shintaro Quintet – Evolution [BBE Music]
The George Otsuka Quintet – Loving You [Wewantsounds]
Myele Manzanza – Portobello Superhero [Deep Matter]
The Afro Soul Prophecy – Fire In Acapulco [Schema Records]
Luiz Gabriel Lopes – Venue [Da Lata Music]
Sons Of Kingdom – Hey There [Pressure Makes Diamonds]
New York Disco Orchestra – Get It Up And Dance [Espacial Discos]
Feiertag feat. Oli Hannaford & Tessa Rose Jackson – Yearn [Sonar Kollektiv]
Cave Dwellers – Word Is Out [Ugly Music]
Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella feat. Nduduzo Makhathini – Tribes [Schema Records]
Restless Soul – Let Your Feelings Show [2000 Black]
25th January 2021
Jimpster feat. Greg Paulus – Soul Spectral [Freerange Records]
Soul Clap feat. Desmond ‘DSP’ Powell – Back 2 Love [Fools Gold]
Babsy – Social Distancing [Apparel Music]
Deep Soul Syndicate & Andre Espeut – My Desire [Makin’ Moves]
Fattish – İmparator (Yaradan Var) (Lockdown Mix)
Kmyle – Reptil [Still Techno]
TSHA – Demba (Demi Riquisimo Remix) [Ninja Tune]
Close Counters feat. Allysha Joy – Speak The Truth
WheelUP feat. Afronaut, Brint Story & Destiny Will – Good Love [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Change – The Glow Of Love [Warner Bros. Records]
Jerry Knight – Nothing Can Hold Us Back [A&M Records]
Blue Gas – Shadows From Nowhere [Best Record]
Rela & Beka – YYY [Inner Tribe Records]
NativeSon 91 – Mob of Barz [Inner Tribe Records]
KMD feat. Brand Nubian – Nitty Gritty [Nature Sounds]
ZND – The Schism
Tyson Amir – Black Mirror (Rico’s Raised Fist Remix)
Martinho Da Vila – Cresci No Morro [RCA Victor]
Tania Maria – Sementes, Graines & Seeds [Concord Jazz Picante]
The Fantastics! – Pyramid [BBE Music]
The Invisible Session – Pull The Handbreak [Space Echo]
Ken Rhodes – Stay By Me [Amayana]
Stanley Cowell – Thank You My People [Strata-East]
Ronnie Boykins – Dawn Is Evening, Afternoon [Get Back]
18th January 2021
Tim Cross – Crossflow One [Buried Treasure]
Mylow – Meditations [Sonar Kollektiv]
Emanative & Liz Elensky feat. Vince Vella – Tea Leaf Dancers [Home Planet Recordings]
Nathan Thomas – Manifest (Marc Rapson Remix) [Futuristica Music]
Luke Smith feat. Roy Ayers and Pino Palladino – It’s Time [Bridge The Gap]
Atlantic Starr – More Time For Me [A&M Records]
George Sauma Jr. – Você O Tempo Todo Para Mim [Favorite Recordings]
STR4TA – Steppers Crusade [Brownswood Recordings]
JD73’s Electrio – Swing Till It Hurts [Atjazz Record Company]
Menagerie feat. Lance Ferguson – Quantum Blues [Freestyle Records]
Omar Khorshid – Ya Nassini [Wewantsounds]
Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo – Macareu [Mad About Records]
Itsu Uno – Shooter (Super Sharp B-Boy) [Fat Hop]
Ullr – The Miscreation [Streetology Studios]
Danny Goliger – Accidents Happen [Fantastic Voyage]
Submorphics – Ithaca Blues [The North Quarter]
Al Wootton – Maenads [Trule]
Tervete Collective feat. Cazeaux O.S.L.O – Same Old Things (Inkswell Remix) [Inner Tribe]
Quintin Copper & Nas Mellow – Breathe Easy (Hydrogenii Remix) [Sonar Kollektiv]
LCSM & Shamis – Believe (LCSM Remix) [Dopeness Galore/INI Movement]
Cody Currie – When The Time Is Right [Toy Tonics]
Elliot Hollins – Cheers To You [Atjazz Record Company]
R.O.D. (Rainie Of De’Lacy) – The Cure (Conway Kasey Remix) [Makin’ Moves]
Dam Swindle feat. Nikki O – Breathe [Aus Music]
Nuyorican Soul feat. Jocelyn Brown – It’s Alright, I Feel It! [Talkin’ Loud]
11th January 2021
Viktor Vaughn – A Dead Mouse [Sound-Ink]
King Geedorah feat. MF DOOM & Mr Fantastik – Anti-Matter [Big Dada Recordings]
DOOM – Gazzillion Ear [Lex Records]
MF DOOM feat. DJ Cucumber Slice – Rhymes Like Dimes [Fondle ‘Em]
Madvillain – All Caps [Stones Throw Records]
Madvillain feat. Viktor Vaughn – Fancy Clown [Stones Throw Records]
Dabrye feat. MF DOOM – Air [Ghostly International]
Metal Fingers – White Willow Bark [Shaman Work Recordings]
Besøk – Det lysner
Ink Project feat. Fifi Rong – The End (Synkro Remix) [Blind Colour]
Peshay – Piano Tune (2010 Rework)
John Briggs | Zoetic – I Dunno What Time It Is?
Simbad – Soulful Jam [Freerange Records]
Voilaaa feat. Ayuune Sule – Women Can Do [Favorite Recordings]
EUGGY – Sunday [Stay True Sounds]
Filippo Amati, JJ Costa, Davide Ruberto – Sole [Acousticdope]
Apparel Wax – 008A2 [Apparel Music]
Zero 7 – Somersault (Danger Mouse Remix feat. MF DOOM) [New State Music]
Bridge – No Where Love Affair [High Jazz]
Bridge – Stella [High Jazz]
Dianne Mower – The Secret Sign [Mind Fluid Music]
David Walters – Carioca [Heavenly Sweetness]
Chico Freeman – The Search [India Navigation]
Stanley Cowell – El Space-O [Galaxy Records]
Stanley Cowell – Talkin’ ‘Bout Love [Galaxy Records]
Stanley Cowell – Trying To Find A Way [Strata-East]
4th January 2021
Brain Rays & Quiet – Hemlock [Seagrave]
Girls Of The Internet – By My Side [Drab Queen]
Quaid – Mystery feat. Sheperd [Apron Records]
Little Dragon – Hold On [Ninja Tune]
Mr Beatnick – Orion [Mythstery Records]
Simbad feat. Ammo Moses – Time Off [Atjazz Record Company]
Kisk – Moodygirl [Apparel Music]
Jonny Miller feat. JD73 – Apollo (Demo Pass) [Atjazz Record Company]
Wipe The Needle & Josh Milan – Tenderly (North London Bounce Mix) [Makin’ Moves]
Byron The Aquarius – Space & Time [Axis Records]
Thorne Miller feat. Jamie Fallon Smith – House Of Dreams [Stay True Sounds]
Mr President feat. Hawa – The Time Is Now [Favorite Recordings]
Andrew Weatherall – Unknown Plunderer [Byrd Out]
Linkwood & Foat – Sa Talaia [Athens Of The North]
Reuben Vaun Smith – Under The Thunder [Soundway Records]
Equal Echo – Warrior [Albert’s Favourites]
Kutiman – Maasai [Siyal Music]
Glenn Astro – Homespun with Ajnascent [Tartelet Records]
Sauce81 – Zero G [Ultra Vybe Records]
Pugs Atomz & Inkswel feat. Planetself – Invite The Light [Sonar Kollektiv]
Pan Amsterdam – Carrot Cake [Def Pressé]
Kid Sublime – Artis [Inner Tribe Records]
Thundercat – Dragonball Durag [Brainfeeder]
Lady Blackbird – Blackbird [Foundation Music]
The Quiet Ones – Ninguem
Andrew Wasylyk – Last Sunbeams of Childhood [Athens Of The North]
Charles Webster feat. Emilie Chick – Secrets Held [Dimensions Recordings]
Takuya Kuroda: Fly Moon Die Soon [First Word]
“Fly Moon Die Soon” is the latest lp from Trumpeter Takuya Kuroda and his first on First Word Records. The Kobe Japan native and now Brooklyn resident’s sixth full length release is more groove based than previous releases yet still navigates seamlessly between Jazz and funk. Kuroda’s approach for this recording is more raw and organic, culimating in a warm and soulful project “ABC” is feverish jazz funk with a wicked bass groove. “Moody” also brims with heat. Kuroda’s warm soloing glides along side engaging synth melodies. Kuroda also puts his stamp on two covers here. The Ohio Players “Sweet Sticky Things” receives proper justice but I really love what he does with Herbie Hancock’s “Tell Me A Bedtime Story”, injecting a dose of exuberant funk. Kuroda continues to grow with each release. In a short time he’s compiled an impressive catalogue. I wouldn’t say it’s his best but you’ll no doubt enjoy it as much as his other albums.