New Grooves — LPs  

The best album so far from this up-and-coming Colombian group – a great mix of rootsy elements and more electronic production – served up in the forward-reaching style we've come to love in recent projects from the Soundway label! Bomba Estereo are easily one of the most contemporary groups to hit the imprint of late – and they've got no trouble at all moving between upbeat, soulful styles and more earthy levels of instrumentation – all fused together with the kind of warmth and joy we might expect in some of the older productions from Luaka Bop, but with a bit more edge too. Titles include "Bosque", "Bailar Conmigo", "Pa Respirar", "Mozo", "Pajaros", "Pure Love", and "Caribbean Power".

The best work so far from Rosalia De Souza – a session that features production and guitar from bossa legend Roberto Menescal, and a sound that's deeper and even more classic than any of Rosalia's other work! Most of the instrumentation here is in an older acoustic mode – piano, percussion, and horns arranged by Menescal with that beautifully lighter than air style that he first pioneered in the 60s – an approach that lets Rosalia's vocals drift along on wonderfully gentle rhythms, and dominate the record even more than before. Given that the set's on Schema, there's still a nicely rhythmic component to most numbers – but overall, the record's a bold step forward even for the label – similar to the all-acoustic move made by Nicola Conte in his own recordings! Marcos Valle joins in on vocals on "Que Bandeira", and other tunes include "Onde Anda O Meu Amor", "Voz Da Lapa", "Jogo De Roda", "Rio De Janeiro", "Mar Amar", "Um Novo Dia", and "Vivo Sonhando".

8 stunning groovers from London's Bitasweet Records – part of the NuSoul underground led by IG Culture and Phil Asher, both of whom contribute work to the set, along with G Force, Afro Force, and New Sector Movements. Titles include "Thrill Seeker" by Dub Basement, "Locust" by 12 Bit Rephugeez, "Goza (dub)" by Afro Force, "Universal Music" by BB Boogie, "The Mind (the mind rub)" by Da One Away, "My History (raw dub)" by New Sector Movements, and "Pleasure Ride" by Blacktonez. Lots of material exclusive to the set, too!

Brilliant, uncategorizable instrumental sounds from Woo! The group is the 2-man brother band of Mark and Clive Ives – with guitars, clavinet, bass and bits of vocals by Mark – and percussion, violin and electronics by Clive. They follow the trail blazed by Eno and others, fusing acoustic instrumentation with electronic experimentation – but there's really nothing quite like Woo out there! It's original and innovative, but at the same time, very warm and inviting. Definitely cozy, or "cosy", if you prefer! Truly wonderful stuff – especially when you factor in how many underground experimentalists found bigger audiences and greater acclaim later on! Titles include "Into", "The Western", "Water Drum", "Downtown Suburbia", "Upside Down", "Wallpaper", "Purple Pussy", "It's Cosy Inside", "Marion", "Did You See", "Final Card", "No More Telly", "End Of The Attic", "Overhead" and more.