New Grooves — All Formats  

The second volume of Selected Ambient Works by Aphex Twins – and for us, one of the earliest indications that he was more than a top notch electronic music, but a pretty pivotal composer! It's truly ambient music – and it's quite unlike his 90s records with more of a beat-heavy, post-techno vibe. The beats are quite spare here, and it's much more about elemental, textural atmosphere. That said, it's very compelling, hypnotic stuff – and quite beautiful! As loosely-paced and long as it is – it's involving the whole way through. One of faves from Richard D James. 3LP version includes "Cliffs", "Radiator", "Rhubarb", "Curtains", "Blur", "Weathered Stone", "Domino", "Tree", Grey Stripe", "Z-Twig", "Window Sill", "Lichen", "Spots", "Tassels", "Hexagon","Steel Plate", "Shiny Metal Rods", "Match Sticks" and more.

Incredible tabla funk from Shawn Lee and his Incredible Tabla Band – inspired by both classic drum breaks and Indian tabla and sitar-flavored psych funk – a full on covers set of the landmark Bongo Rock album (and more) by Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band in this mad mode! The genesis of this album was simply Lee's desire to cover the standout track "Apache", but, Shawn isn't the kind of artist to stick a toe into a project – nope, he goes right off the conceptual deep end, putting his own creative stamp on music that's proudly adherent to whatever the classic inspiration. It's especially amazing here – what could have been a mere novelty covers album of what you could argue was originally something of a novelty album (novel, though furiously creative and influential) is perhaps the most brilliant moment of Shawn Lee's career-to-date! Drum and percussion heavy genius that helped form the blueprint of hip hop – fused with buzzing and thumping Indian funk-styled grooves – pure genius from Shawn Lee with Prithpal Raiput on tablas, Andy Ross on saxes & flutes, Dom Glover on trumpet and Mick Talbot on Hammond. Includes "Let There Be Drums", "Apache", "Bongolia", "Last Bongo In Belgium", "Dueling Bongos", "Inna Gadda Da Vida", "Raunchy '73" and "Bongo Rock '73" – all covers from the original 1973 version of the Bongo Rock album – plus "Sing Sing Sing" and "Pipeline" from the '74 follow up.

Incredible work from Nicola Conte – Schema records maestro making his Blue Note debut with this set – and giving the label one of their best new albums of the 21st Century! The record's quite different than Nicola's programmed dancefloor work for Schema – and is much more of an organic jazz-based session – with instrumentation by a wide arrangement of hip European jazzers (including Till Bronner and Rosario Giuliani!), plus sweet vocals from a variety of different singers! The groove is still very much in the Conte/Schema spirit – often in a loping modal approach to jazz, with a strong inspiration from the best European scenes of the late 60s and early 70s. The sound is wonderful – with players from the larger lineup playing in differing groups from track to track – showcasing instrumentation that includes vibes, flute, trombone, tenor, alto, and even a bit of guitar from Nicola himself. Vocalists include Bembe Segue, Lucia Minetti, Cristina Zavalloni, and Till Bronner – and titles include "Sea & Sand", "Nefertiti", "Wanin Moon", "A Time For Spring", "Kind Of Sunshine", "Aphrodite's Dream", "The Dharma Bums", "All Gone", "Le Depart", "The In Between", and "Several Shades Of Dawn". Imagine the best work of Schema or Compost done in an all-organic, all-natural mode – and you've got the beautiful sound of this set! This 2010 Schema special edition features the original album remastered, plus a bonus CD featuring the previously vinyl only "Bohemian's Dilemma" and "Waltz Of The Sirens", an alternate version of "Nefertiti", an extended version of "Kind Of Sunshine" and other great tracks – including the previously unreleased "Danubian", "Teardrop Painted Blue" and "Quiet Stars". An hour of bonus material in all!