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Oliver Night – Between The Lines [Tru Thoughts Recordings]
Broken beat, or bruk became an underground phenomenon in the late nineties through the early 2000s. By 2007 it drifted into the shadows without receiving the shine it deserved. Fast forward to the present, it’s clear that broken beat is back. DJ/Producer/Vocalist Oliver Night is one of the voices leading the resurgence. Night has released a number of singles on the premier broken beat label CoOp in recent years. “Between The Lines”, his debut on Tru Thoughts, is poised to expose him and the genre to a wider audience. The album spits fire right out the box with “Undefeated”. West London producer Goldbar lays down ear popping beats along with Phoebe who co-wrote the tune with Night. DJ/Producer Megatronic lends her vocals to two tracks here, “It’s Alright” and “We Are Love”. Both tunes bring the heat. “Friends” is a marvellous Afro-house tune with euphoric chords and the honey vocals of Kaya Fyah. “The City” finds Trumpeter Jay Phelps melodic phrasings aligned with breezy vocal harmonies. This album bangs from beginning to end and you’ll find it difficult not to dance. In addition, there’s an instrumental version for each track listed here. What pushes this album over the top is that it’s more than just a string of heavy beats. Night has pushed the boundaries of his compositions in multiple directions. A sure fire winner.
Charles Webster & The South African Connection – From The Hill [Stay True Sounds]
“From The Hill” is the new release from UK Producer Charles Webster. This is the follow up to 2020’s “Decision Time”, which was his first release in two decades. With “Decision Time”, Webster’s affection for South African rhythms was apparent across several tracks. He moved to Cape Town many years ago and some of his recordings have become a fixture in the clubs from Cape Town to Johannesburg. This release reveals a deep drive into the music and the culture he has become a part of. The South African Connection represents a contingent of DJs and musicians Webster has grown to know and collaborate with over the years. “Free” is seven minutes of ethereal mid-tempo bliss. He’s joined by Soweto born electronic producer Atmos Blaq. It embodies the signature South African sound with punchy bass grooves and melodic piano progressions. “Rain” is awash with warm guitar rhythms and hypnotic percussion. The vocals of Emamkay & Bokang Ramatlapeng layered on top makes for a spiritual genre bending journey. Vocalist Sio, who performed on “Decision Time” lends her soulful voice to “Film Me”. Released on Stay True Sounds, the premier South African label for infectious House and hip-hop. The record is a triumph in weaving together the sounds of the underground and the vast landscape of artists and producers. You need this in your collection.
Kid Sublime – The Paradigm Shift [Natural Element]
“The Paradigm Shift” is the latest release from Amsterdam DJ/Producer Kid Sublime. The eight track album draws on influences from Broken Beat to house and soul, The album is filled with an array of versatile contributors. East London’s Oliver Night is a prominent figure in the Bruk landscape. “Bring It Come” is an infectious bruk banger that features Night on vocals. “The Awakening” is an atmospheric house gem that features Han Litz on flute. “Stay Over” and “Kingz” are mid tempo simmering recordings. The former features Sydney native Natalie Slade and the latter features UK vocalist Colonel Red. Kid Sublime spent a considerable amount of time in London and it served him well. These soulful compositions pack plenty of punch yet are filled with warmth and dynamic rhythms. They’re certain to get a spin at the club or in your living room.
https://naturalelementmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-paradigm-shift
Land of Echo – Almost Music [Wah Wah 45s]
Land of Echo is the brainchild of DJ/Producer Rob Mac. Mac is a long time figure in the UK underground club culture. He ran the legendary Scratch hip-hop nights in the nineties as well as releasing under aliases such as Speeka, Explore and Jumbonics. With “Almost Music” he delivers a nine track LP filled with infectious soulful boogie tunes certain to put you in a party frame of mind. Mac has enlisted a pair of premier vocalists to elevate these tracks. Kathy Diamond lends her soaring vocals to a number of tracks here. The opener “What We Want” is high energy boogie soul goodness. “Don’t Talk Just Dance” is a mid tempo burner. “Dream With Me” featuring Ayanna Homma is filled with synth wizardry and packs plenty of bounce. Credit the synth arrangements to violinist Lucy Wilkins. Mac has hit the mark with deep boogie funk grooves, hypnotic rhythms and high energy production. Get ready to groove tonight.
Omar – Brighter The Days [Impressive Collective / BBE Music]
“Brighter The Days”, the ninth album from Omar was originally recorded around the pandemic. The beauty of the UK soul star is his recordings have never followed trends. It has made for a catalog of cherished timeless recordings. It also helps when you have a label that firmly supports your musical vision. Now signed to BBE, he’s free to continue delivering compositions in his own image. Lyefook has made a number of friends on both sides of the pond over his storied career. Many are on board here to take this release to another level. “Holding On to Life” is a mid-tempo burner that features the songstress Ledisi. “Lovey Dovey” is another highlight where he’s joined by vocalists Eric Robeson and Rahemm DeVaughn. The samba flavored “Latin Salsa” demonstrates that Omar can groove in all manner of styles. With eighteen tracks in all, there’s plenty of essential recordings to soothe your Omar fix. The wait has been long but this lp is worth the wait.
VA – Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2 [CoOperation Records]
“Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2” celebrates the CoOp. The signature club was spearheaded by Bugz In The Attic members Afronaut and Mark Force, The late Phil Asher, Dego, Domu and IG Culture were early contributors as well. It was during this period that the seeds of Broken Beat were planted. It grew from a London Sunday night hangout into an international phenomenon. Evidence of that lies in the array of bangers compiled here. “Digital Soul” from SoulParlor receives a dynamic dub rework from Naul’s L8 Nite. It’s a certified floor filler. “Loose Legs” is another heater from London DJ/Producer Don Kamares. Other highlights includes “Your Woke Moment” and “Get Stronger” from Ben Hauke and Bruk Rogers respectively. They’re two of the new generation of Bruk beatmakers. As good a compilation as you’ll hear all year. All you need to do is press play and walk away.
Lawne – Attic [Wah Wah 45s]
Joe Nicklin and Joe Martin are the duo known as Lawne. Their debut LP “Attic” is a mashup of Afrobeat Dub and psychedelic rhythms. The title is inspired by their attic that was transformed into a makeshift studio. The opening track “Mamasong” is an uptempo burst of wah wah guitar rhythms, thumping bass and tasty synths.”Beta Pan” starts out with psychedelic dub rhythms before shifting the tempo up a notch. At this point the tune becomes a high energy bass heavy banger. “Ame Tova” is a sublime tune that follows the same formula. There are vocal harmonies sprinkled throughout but this is mainly an instrumental vehicle. Nicklin and Martin have created a vibe here in the form of a melodic soundtrack. A marvelous debut worthy of repeated listens.
Scrimshire – Music For Autumn Lovers [Albert’s Favourites]
Adam Scrimshire’s latest release focuses on the seasonal transition to Autumn. “Music For Autumn Lovers” captures the emotional shift we all experience with nature. Physically and mentally moving from outdoors to indoors and essentially into hibernation. Scrimshire performs all instruments here with his continued excellance. “Hazel” begins with pensive acoustic guitar rhythms. The melancholy “Willow” is another moody tune heighthen by euphoric strings and hints of drum n bass. These two tracks along with “Blackthorn” and “Hawthorn” were recently written and produced by Scrimshire. The other tracks were part of an earlier EP released in 2022. Scrimshire paints a vivid picture of the beauty of Autumn through the eyes of his reflective compositions. The result is a deeply personal expression of moods that you’ll enjoy in all seasons.
https://scrimshire.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-autumn-lovers-2
Joel Sarakula – Soft Focus [Legere Recordings]
Joel Sarakula’s latest release “Soft Focus” is a collection of light funk and jazzy pop recordings. Born in Sydney Austraila Sarakula has built a following around the UK where he’s now a resident, “I’ll Get By Without You”, produced by Shawn Lee is a laid back blue eyed soul stomper. “Back For Your Love” has a touch of Northern Soul with jazzy synths and funky wah wah guitar rhythms. “Midnight Movie” is a sunny uptempo tune with a touch of samba. “Soft Focus” is a time capsule into late seventies soulful pop recordings. Sarakula’s falsetto will remind you of crooners like Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. The recordings will inject you with good vibes while yearning for simpler times.
Richard Spaven – Solo Subject [Fine Line]
Richard Spaven has been the go to drummer for a number of the emerging stars on the UK jazz scene. With his latest project “Solo Subject” he picks up where he left off with his last album “Spirit Beats”. Two of the Uk ‘s premier rappers are on board for this project. “Spaven’s Arc” features Wildchild from the hip-hop group Looppack. Wildchild’s flow and lyrical dexterity complements Spaven’s drum snare rhythms. UK rapper Tendayi drops a fiery verse alongside the gritty groove of “Mind State”. “Find Peace Within”, a rework of the Liquid Biskit classic jumps out of the speaker with infectious percussion and synths. Another instrumental highlight is “Faders”, a ferocius drum n bass banger. Spaven’s fierce yet gentle drumming lays the groundwork for the wave of spirited piano flurries. Another impressive release from the mighty drummer.