Soul Jazz (UK), New Copy 2LP
Cosmic synth grooves from the duo of Michael Kirkman and Alan James, aka Subway -- home recorded electronic soundscapes working in hypnotic from of the 70s Krautrock innovators, and the more effervescent sounds of avant garde dance music of 80s Detroit and the European scene in almost equal measure!
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Cinedelic (Italy), 2008. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
A new combo, but one who really get the sound of older soundtracks right -- particularly the late 60s/early 70s Italian generation that's inspired the name and artwork of this set! Instrumentation is nice and lean -- keyboards, guitar, bass, and percussion -- used more in the tight ways of a mod
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DIW The Garden (Japan), 2009. New Copy
The best work we've heard so far from The Immigrant's Bossa Band -- a really great Japanese collective, whose sound is filled with the bossa touches promised by their name! There's a special sort of vibe running through the music, though -- so that the cuts here aren't just bossa rehash, but the
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Versatile (France), 2001. Very Good+ 3LPs
3LP set with work by Joakim, Osunlade, Just Jaekin, I Cube, Rima, Soha, and others.
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Raw Canvas, 2009. New Copy 2LP
Not a 4 Hero album, exactly, but a great set of "extensions" of their musical genius -- one that has a host of other like-minded artists serving up their own version of 4 Hero tunes! The whole thing's completely sublime -- every bit as cosmic, righteous, and joyous as some of 4 Hero's
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Stones Throw, 2009. New Copy
Bassy beats, synth blasts, and splintering bedroom funk atmospherics from James Pants -- a batch of instrumentals for Stones Throw! There's more if a minimalist electro funk style to these cuts than the wildly eclectic sounds on his wildly eclectic Welcome -- but it's certainly recognizable as the
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Stones Throw, 2008. New Copy 2LP
Hypnotic, breezy psychedelia and tripped out tunefulness from Koushik -- a record that blends sounds from a palette of colors that is unlike anything we've heard from him or the Stones Throw label -- uncategorizable and a pleasant surprise! In a way, Out My Window is an eccentric
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Inflamable (France), 2009. New Copy
A turn into both laidback soul, jazzier numbers, and uptempo cuts from DJ Cam and singer InLove! The set rolling from a sweet homage to Minnie Ripperton, to solid beat backed funky soul, to piano & bass steeped jazzier numbers -- with Paris based singer InLove's lovely vocals over the top.
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Stones Throw, 2008. New Copy
Dam Funk's entry in Stones Throw's Rhythm Trax series of instrumental beats on wax -- elevating the art of the DJ geared vinyl genre! RTV4 is a funky set of untitled instrumentals that blend elements of the spacey 80s club sounds without getting bogged down in token revivalism -- loads of spacey
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Kindred Spirits (Netherlands), New Copy 2LP Gatefold
A perfect title for a perfect record -- especially given all the love we've felt from Build An Ark over the years! The album's a masterpiece through and through -- easily the greatest statement ever from this already-amazing band -- a contemporary ensemble, but one that we'd seamlessly rank right
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Kindred Spirits (Netherlands), 2004. New Copy
One of the most righteous albums of the 21st century so far -- and an instant classic we'll be loving for years! Build An Ark are a seriously heavy soul jazz ensemble, with roots and traditions that stretch back to the most righteous days of the 70s underground -- the brainchild of producer Carlos
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Melting Pot (Germany), 2009. New Copy
Spacey soul, keys, and strains of underground hip hop from Fleur Earth -- with a range of sounds from soul beats and sweet vocals, to a grittier vibe! The vocals are mostly in German, so we can really just speak for the mood and the groove -- and both work for us! The sounds range from laidback
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Melting Pot (Germany), 2009. New Copy
Turntablism and keyboard grooves from Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop -- plus a diverse roster of guests on the mic, from underground hip hop figures like Mr Lif & Mr Complex, to sultry Latin soul flavor with Malena Perez! The duo drop some exciting material here, in a variety of styles, including
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Strut (UK), 2009. New Copy 2LP
Brilliant work from two of the most dynamic artists of the past few decades -- coming together here in a really boundary-pushing set of music! Tony Allen got his start with Fela, but has moved on to do some mindblowing work on his own in recent years -- music that really moves far beyond the
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Record Kicks (Italy), 2008. New Copy
Sweet jazzy grooves from this hip Italian duo -- Enzo & Gianni Lo Greco, who've also recorded as Quintetto Lo Greco for Schema Records! The sound here is definitely in a Schema groove -- lots of jazzy instrumentation on piano, sax, trumpet, and trombone -- very much in the best 60s Italian
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Schema/Fez (Italy), 2000. New Copy 2LP
Wonderful wonderful wonderful -- and one of the best albums we've ever heard of modern bossa and soundtrack grooves! For years, Nicola Conte has been a seminal force in the new Italian scene -- working as a DJ, promoter, producer, and sometimes recording artist under the odd 12" single.
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Freestyle (UK), 2008. New Copy
A fierce array of funky grooves from The Apples -- a group with a groove that's partly deep funk, partly beats and samples -- all of which are plenty soulful all the way through! The feel here is somewhere between Melting Pot and Tru Thoughts funky styles -- rooted in older funk styles of the 60s
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Jupiter (Finland), 2004. New Copy
Groovy, jazzy space soul soundscapes from Finland's Teddy Rok Seven -- led by Teppo Makynen -- who's worked with like minded scenesters Nu Spirit Helsinki and Five Corners Quintet -- but steps out with an amazingly strong full length! The sound is a bit tough to pin down -- it's all very trippy in
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Schema (Italy), 2008. New Copy (pic cover)
Sublime samba grooves from the great Nicola Conte -- one of his most 60s-styled recordings yet, and that's saying a heck of a lot, given his other work! The set definitely lives up to its title -- jazzy sketches of samba tunes, two by Conte, the other two by Sergio Mendes and JT Meirelles -- all
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Ubiquity, 2009. New Copy 2LP (pic cover)
Buoyant, spacey funk beatcraft and sputtering synthy atmospherics blended intricately with more soulful and and jazzy touches courtesy of the Clonious -- a deft mix of heavy funk beatcraft and more hallucinatory soundscapes! Clonious proves to have an impeccable ear for far reaching dynamics,
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