Basic Soul

Natural Lateral is a four piece band assembled organically out of frequent jam sessions at the Lazy Robot Studio in North London. The quartet’s musical range flows between Brazilian rhythms, modal Jazz and a touch of fusion woven together. “Bossa Blue” kicks the disc off with infectious percussion and warm Brazilian melodies. “Days with Amber” is bluesy modal tune that features Oli Arlotto on sax. “Safe as Sound” is laid back Latin jazz funk laced with a melodic vibaphone groove. Aziz Mustafa, Ozan Nidayi, Malte From and Tim Balasubramaniam make up the rest of the band. Together they’ve created a relaxed atmosphere with free flowing rhythms that evolve into a deeply satisfying album.

Canadian singer songwriter and now London resident Rhi is back with her sophomore release. “The Pale Queen” is filled with haunting down tempo soundscapes and raw unabashed lyrics that made her debut “Reverie” such a success. “Plain Jane” is driven by brooding synths and a heavy bottom. Sensual whispers coat the hypnotic throb of “It Was Love”. The tempo picks up a notch with the chill-hop flavored “The Tempter”. Chilled out electronica combined with soft spoken vocals makes for the perfect sonic marriage. Rhi pulls it off with ease.

Bastard Jazz consistently delivers quality recordings spanning a variety of genres since 2001. “2 Steps Away” the debut lp from The Pendletons is no exception. The duo of E Da Boss and Trailer Limon showcase their love of vintage boogie funk reminiscent of the eighties era that produced so many funk bands. Now armed with a full horn section to mesh with the band, they’re set to take their sound to another level. The sublime “Blessings for the World” opens the album with an infectious groove augmented by gorgeous harmonic vocals and keys. Guitarist Jeff Locket’s spirited plucking fuels “No Regrets” an uplifting boogie funk banger that would fit easily into a Shalamar or Dynasty catalogue. “19 Flavors” is disco funk at it’s best ripe with a thumping rhythm, pulsating groove and vocals by Ishtar to top it off. The Pendletons are all about making that feel good music that slips into your body and forces you to move. If you don’t you need to check your pulse.

“So Far” is the debut of South London native Ego Ella May. The ten track lp features three previously released songs from the “Zero” ep back in 2015. May also displays a flair for clever song-writing. Evidence of that lies with the gorgeous “Tea and Sympathy” where her lush emotive vocals float over the hypnotic hip-hop inspired beats courtesy of producer Wu-Lu and Budgie. “Underwater” and “Come On” are dreamy slow burning tunes with the latter featuring Kojey Radical. Of course the title track is the sweetener which kicks off the disc. May’s seductive vocals lure you in and from that point you’re willingly along for the ride. Each song is a blissful journey through the art of story telling. Four years after hitting the scene, “So Far” is certainly worth the wait.

Dj/Producer Dego has consistently delivered infectious soul infused dance tracks that defy any genre via his 2000black imprint. With his third full length lp “Too Much” the grooves are a bit subdued compared to previous releases yet pack plenty of punch to shake your hips and move your feet. Once again he’s enlisted an array of esteemed vocalists to take his compositions to the next level. Highlights include “A Strong Move For Truth” featuring West London vocalist Nadine Charles. “Just Leave it” featuring House vocalist Lady Alma is another foot stomper. Instrumental tracks like “Unknown Faults”, “You Are Virgo” and “Ogawa Okasan Said Just Play” capture the essence of the disc with funky extended grooves complemented by tasty synths. This is what we’ve come to expect from Dego. He weaves various cultures of soul, bruk and boogie into his signature sound that’s noticeable from the first note. Prepare to get your groove on.

South London beat maker Hector Plimmer’s brand new lp “Next to Nothing” is a hauntingly beautiful album filled with ethereal moods and ambient soundscapes. Plimmer’s flair for abstract beats and rhythms was apparent on his debut “Sunshine”. With this release his arrangements flow like a suite with each track complementing the next. The title track opens the album with Emma Jean Thackery’s soloing over the hums of Ego Ella May and other harmonies. Andrew Ashong adds hypnotic vocal patterns over Plimmer’s infectious Rhodes on “Somebody Else”. The spacey overtones of “Joyfulness” are complemented by the blissful vocals of Alexa Harley. “Stack” featuring Pie Eye Collective is a polyrhythmnic gem and one of many engaging instrumentals. This is an adventurous recording that you’ll find irresistible. Bring it along with you on long drives or simply to vibe out. It will be worth it.