Various Artists: The Electric Institute [New Religion Records]
Kirk Degiorgio’s New Religion has been releasing some of the best UK Techno and Electronica for over five years, and Kirk has never been restrained by any musical boundaries in his DJ sets or productions. Here we have New Religion’s latest offering with a whole host of artists doing what they do best – producing quality music. The single with Domu’s ‘Quarantine’ and Stacy Kidd’s ‘Liquid Letter’ has been getting some serious attention over the last month. Other artists include: Kirk’s very own As One project, plus Blue Binary, Beetlejuice, 69 and Balil, who haven’t released anything in over ten years. Fans of Sheffield’s Warp Records will love this to bits.
Riovolt: Sambarama [Irma Records]
Here’s another beautifully packed CD. Attention to detail makes all the difference and you even get a free CD-R in there as well. Riovolt is a real mixed bag of Funk, Jazz, Drum & Bass, Samba and Electronica. The killer track for me, and the reason you need to buy this album, is ‘Starjive’, a brilliant Brazilian flavour jazz funk bomb brought up to date for 2005 and not a million miles away from Azymuth. Norbert Küpper, the producer and composer behind Riovolt, grew up with Soul, Fusion and Funk, and these influences shine throughout ‘Sambarama’. Vocals are provided by Zuco 103’s Lilian Vieira and Ju Cassou, which completes the package perfectly.
Dangerdoom: The Mouse And The Mask [Lex Records]
I’d been looking forward to this coming out a long time before its general release. The combination of one of my favourite rappers with one of the World’s hottest producers surely wouldn’t fail? I was right.
This album has more of an up-tempo vibe for old Metal Face with the addition of some superb guest MC’s:- Ghostface appears on ‘The Mask’, Cee Lo’s on ‘Benzie Box’ and Talib Kwali features on my favourite track on the script – ‘Old School’, which does exactly what it says on the tin.
The whole album is scattered around the US cartoon ‘Adult Swim’. There are skits-a-plenty featuring the voices of Adult Swim characters and these are not only humourous but fit like a glove with the rest of the long player.
The basslines are fat, the lyrics are ‘Sofa King’ good, it just gel’s. This is without doubt my Hip Hop album of zero five.
You like doom? You’ll like this. You like good quality non-commercial Hip Hop? You’ll like this. If you don’t buy this album your stupid!!!
Monday Michiru: Routes [Artist Share]
I’ve been going through a lot of Monday’s old albums recently and what has astonished me is that not only do her production and voice sound timeless, but she’s released over 19 albums since her debut in 1995: yes I’ve also got some hunting to do. Here is yet another self-produced album where Jazz and Soul is at the forefront of all thirteen varied tracks. Here she mixes up dancefloor tracks like ‘The Right Time’ through the Jazz style ‘Yellow Light’ and beautifully soulful ‘I’m Still Here’.
‘Routes’ is released via Artist Share as was the previous album ‘Naked Breath’, a rather clever and interesting way to get your music to the masses. Hopefully this will give her the attention she has worked very hard for over the years.
28 November 2005
dangerdoom “sofa king” – lex
pase rock “the hype” –
4our 4our
breakthrough feat. maspyke “this way before” – jazzy
sport
dwele “eve” – white
heavy “wonderlove” (jazzanova remix) – kindred
spirits
roy ayers “i am your mind” (pepe bradock remix) – bbe
mark de
clive-lowe “state of mental” (phuturistix remix) – antipodean
lekan babalola
“kabioye” (mark de clive-lowe remix) – lex 51
jonny miller “rise” – phuture
lounge
the politik “money” – antipodean
the bays “untitled” (live from
cannes)
cinematic orchestra “ode to the big sea” (live from vancouver jazz
festival)
two banks of four “one day” – red egyptian jazz
micah
“revelation” – accidental
joyce “rio bahia” – far out
joyce “fora de hora”
– far out
corinne bailey rae “like a star” – emi
rich medina “weight” –
kindred spirits
n-side “the art of travelling black” – shalamar
moonfruit
“briga” – one note
fenomenon “who’s to say” – beatservice
joash feat.
natalie williams “close to you”
rsl “every preston guild” –
players
patchworks “brothers on the slide” (philly soul mix) – still music
alice russell
“hurry on” (jtodd remix) –
white
21 November 2005
vice lounge “pillows” – white
rightkindawrong “lately” – rainy city
aaron neville “hercules” – jazzman
fred johnson “a child runs free” – jazzman
catch up ii “end of the beginning of the end” – perfect toy
the katzen ajmmers “cars” – red hook
natureboy feat. alice russell “life” – tru thoughts
domu “so precious” – archive
the beauty room “don’t you know” – new religion
gb presents julian abelar “i remember silvio manuel” – white
j-nova “hey baby” – sonar kollektiv
mark de clive-lowe “space carnival” – white
the fatback band feat. bah samba “spanish hustle” (southport weekender mix) – bko
south bronx community youth project “feel the spirit” – freestyle
monday michiru “changes” – polydor
roisin murphy “sow into you” (bugz in the attic remix) – echo
sinden “spaces” (dub) – loungin
the fusion experience “scaramunga” – buff
likwid biskit “herbs and spice” – co-op
riovolt “starjive” – irma
opolopo “unidentified funky object” – white
hog dogs “first time around” – hog dogs
champion soul “holdin’ on” (jneiro jarel remix) – sunshine
francisco mora catlett “old man joe” – premier cru
14 November 2005
Krizo ‘My Empty Things’ – Realistic Crew
N-Side ‘Neo-Ante Belluminism’ – Shalamar
Kenny Dorham ‘Afrodisia’ – Blue Note
The Love Unlimited Orchestra ‘Bring It On Up’ – 20th Century
Bryan Corbett ‘Pressure Valve’ – Woodland
Future Warriors feat. Papa Zai ‘Pembe’ – Far Out
Bryan Corbett ‘Deja Vu’ – Woodland
Lil Kim ‘Lighter Up’ (Marc Mac Remix) – White
Roots Manuva ‘Dreamy Days’ (Bbc Session For Gp) – Ether
Broken ‘Land Of Red Soil’ – Mind
Sala ‘African Dream’ – White
Vaceo ‘Coz Your Here’ – White
Roy Ayers ‘Tarzen’ (Osunlade Remix) – BBE
Kahil El’zabar ‘World In His Hands’ (Osunlade Remix) – Deeper Soul
Magic Numbers ‘That Day’ (That Remix) – Mantis
Nirobi & Barakas ‘Bungee Jump Against Racism’ (Diesler Remix) – Tru Thoughts
Douglas Pagan ‘Kara Walker’ (Domu Remix) – Voltage
Eddy & Yannah ‘Shamed’ (Domu Remix) – Compost
Marathon Man ‘Party Track’ – Chillifunk
DJ Tisso ‘Fruit Juice’ – White
St Cal ‘Losing Ground’ – Soul:r
Golden Flamingo Orchestra ‘The Guardian Angel Is Watching Over Us’ (Hoods Edit) – White
Bah Samba ‘Let The Drums Speak’ (Harvey Lindo Re-Edit) – Bko
Unabombers ‘Disco Symphony’ – Electric Souls
7 November 2005
Moodymann ‘Don’t Be Misled’ – Kdj
D’Nell ‘1st Magic Groove’ (Shur-I-Kan Remix) – BBE
Cibelle ‘About A Girl EP’ – Ziriguiboom
Joyce ‘Rio Bahia’ – Far Out
Olufela ‘Kayode Olajide’ – Bottletop
Dangerdoom ‘Old School’ – Lex
Lekan Babalola ‘Kabioye’ – Lex 51
Sicania Soul ‘Life Is A Tree’ (Truby Trio Treatment) – Irma
No Tenshun ‘Cool Down’ – Chillifunk
Jonny Miller Guest Mix (Phuture Lounge Records):
Phuturistix ‘Lets Fly’ (Mark De Clive-Lowe Remix) – Phuture Lounge
Dimenzio ‘Bamba’ – Spinning Wheel
Michelle Amador ‘Who You Are’ – Phuture Lounge
Michelle Lawson ‘Jus Wanna Say’ (Domu Dub) – White
Jonny Miller ‘Cold Air’ – Phuture Lounge
International ‘The Black Lagoon’ – Beau Monde
Phuturistix & Atjazz feat. Mr J ‘Hurt U Twice’ – Phuture Lounge
Kerri Chandler ‘Summer Love’ – Large
Waiwan ‘Carina Nebula’ – White
Troubleman ‘Strike Hard’ (Accapella) – Far Out
Phuturistix ‘Breath Some Light’ – Phuture Lounge
+++++End Of Mix+++++
Domu ‘The Electric Institute’ – New Religion
Boozoo Bajou feat. Joe Dukie + U-Brown ‘Take It Slow’ (Seiji Remix) – K7
Altered Natives ‘Of The Fourth Kind’ – Broadcite
Bruno Bridge ‘Teen Town’ – White
Richard E ‘Dig Infinity’ – Further Out
Freddy Fresh – Diggin’ Up Ghosts – Howlin
Democustico ‘Vaga Lume’ – Far Out
Erykah Badu ‘Bag Lady’ (Re Edit) – White
Legends of the Underground: Original Soundtrack [Kindred Spirits]
Some time ago it was rumoured that a soundtrack was being produced by some of the hottest West London producers, which sent excitement around the music heads and message boards. Yes it’s finally here and it’s the work of none other than: Seiji, Domu, Bembe Segue, Rasiyah and Mark De Clive-Lowe. These guys bring together a mix of cinematic broken beats and nu-jazz, as well as techno and African influences. At a running total of 25 minutes you may be thinking that’s fairly short-changed until you listen to the 9 min workout of ‘Paradise Garden’ which was the reason I bought this OST in the first place. I hope the film’s as good as the music.
Gerardo Frisina: The Latin Kick [Schema Records]
Gerardo Frinsina is proving a very busy man at the moment, having just released the excellent Congrat single on Afro Art and now his third album "The Latin Kick" drops on Schema. This man never seems to let the tempo drop with another fine selection of dancefloor bombs over the full album. Jazz is very much the foundation here with just the right amount of fusion between Jazz, Latin and Brazilian over Frisina’s tip top beats. It’s amazing how much energy you get when listening, so be careful, we don’t want any more road-rage on the roads. A stunning follow up to his previous, already classic albums: "Ad lib" and "Hi Note".