UK based Americans Cory Seznec & Michael Ward Bergeman with an excellent release that brings us the world of the train, the hobo and the American past. This is old time foot stomping American blues played on accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo, piano and harmonica. My pick is ‘Hobo Heaven’ a track full of feeling. Very good

Graham Radley

Swollen Members return with their 5th studio album packed to the hilt with fat beats and smart rhymes, returning once again on Battle axe records.
This album flows along nicely and has some top notch guest appearances from the in form Ghostface Killah, DJ Swamp, DJ Babu and the dancehall master Mr Vegas.
Stand out tracks include ‘Pressure’, ‘Grind’ and the title track ‘Black Magic’. The whole album is as expected, fully sample driven, but there is a heavy emphasis on piano’s and guitar licks. Its production is executively taken care of by Mad Child and it’s produced very tight. Fans of previous Swollen Members long players will no doubt dig this. It by no means delves into adventurous territory buts it’s a solid album that should be checked!

Jax

Vocalist, Simone Moreno has steadily been releasing material in her native Brazil since her self-titled debut in 1994. This, her fifth set is the first to be released outside of Brazil and was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden where she now resides. ‘Samba Makossa’ draws together a variety of influences from bossa nova and samba to Afro-beat and reggae. Although the album overall fails to capture my interest it does include pleasurable moments such as the funked up ‘Umbabarauma’ and the breezy ‘Meio De Campo’. Well worth investigating for these tracks alone.

Andy Allen

‘Something New’ is Double Beat’s follow up to ‘International Funk Music’ (Big Sur 2004). Stefano Ghittoni (manager of Big Sur Recordings) and Marco Rigamonti are both DJ/producers who together have produced a hybrid sound of funk and nu-jazz built around 4×4 house beats. For me the set lacks the vital ingredients to give it longevity but ‘Profondo’ and particularly ‘Beat It’ with its African vocal snippets would certainly work in a club environment.

Andy Allen

Watch TV (Ruben Garcia) and his band The Primetimes combine programmed beats and samples with live elements to create a set of mainly dance-floor orientated nu-funk grooves. Although this isn’t a bad album, as with the Double Beat set, it lacks those classic elements. For the younger crowd though like those who frequent The Hi-fi Club (Leeds) I’m sure it will win favour.

Andy Allen

Secret Stealth are Nottingham’s Bob Sadler and Jim Baron and the oddly titled ‘Mince & Onions’ is the follow up to the duo’s 2005 debut ‘Ssshhh’. With element of disco, boogie, electro and house all thrown into the mix this should appeal to fans of the Baron’s other project Crazy P. The soulful cuts ‘Drive Me Crazy’ and ‘Hooked On You’, both of which feature Holly Brackler on vocals are the standouts for me along with ‘Free’ a gorgeous string laced arrangement reminiscent of 4hero.

Andy Allen

The ‘Shapes’ compilation series continues into 2007 and as with past editions it showcases previously released material from the Tru Thoughts label, along with forthcoming cuts and exclusive bits. It kicks off with Boub’s reggae re-rub of Alice Russell’s ‘Hurry On Now’ before moving through to the killer nu-soul steppers, ‘Good Things’ by Spengler, one of the exclusives, and ‘Pushing On’ from Freddie Kruger featuring Linn. Nostalgia 77’s ‘Wildflower’ is also included along with Lanu’s ‘Dis-information’, Diesler’s ‘Into The Woods’ featuring Carla Alexandar, an infectious digital bossa groove from his forthcoming third album and Ze Zam’s tech-samba excursion ‘Me & You’. With tracks of this standard and for less than a fiver this album is an absolute must.

Andy Allen

In 2003 Dilla’s “Ruff Draft” was released and I remember a lot of the hiphop heads, beat makes and shop assistants getting rather excited over the delivery of this EP. As it was only released on vinyl, it didn’t seem to get the mass attention that everyone expected and of course deserved. I’m certain all the people who picked it up at the release will be informing all their friends that they bought the first pressing but of course that’s common with all record collectors. Thankfully Stones Throw have given us a second chance, rather than bid for the high prices of the original on Ebay. There are a few added extras included in the “Deluxe” version and one cover version you may not expect: Slade “Come Feel The Noise” but of course in Dilla’s inevitable style. His legacy continues to inspire, educate and entertain.

Simon Harrison

Rob Mac and Matt Smooth are back and showing no end to their talents, after their excellent Gum Drop and Speeka projects. The track you’ve probably heard of here is their funk re-working of The Strokes “Last Nite”: I was rather surprised that I knew the track and when playing out, it’s certainly a crowd pleaser. What made this album really special for me was vocalist Norman Anderson, who just blew me away. It seems whatever style Rob and Matt throw at him, Norman’s wonderful voice excels on every tune. To top it off, just like the Gum Drop album, they’ve brought in violinist Lucy Wilkins to add to the beautiful arrangements. A must!!

Simon Harrison

The next Solid Steel mix cd goes back to the guys who started the series back in 2001 and by now you should know what to expect from DJ Food and DK. As with the infamous radio show, you never quite know what these guys are gonna throw in the mix and it’s just about all here, with some re-works exclusive to this mix. There’s the drum and bass remix of Roots Manuva, a dub mix of New Order’s “Blue Monday”, New Flesh’s 2-step grime and a northern soul version of “Purple Haze”, plus The Human League, Eric B and Rakim, Bomb The Bass, Aphex Twin through to the theme tune of “Are you Being Served”. With a total of thirty two tracks over the sixty five minute mix, you’re in for a rollercoaster ride.

Simon Harrison