... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A tightly woven batch of jazzy soul tracks – the usual from Bluey and Incognito, classier than most soul you'll find on the market today, and with a depth that gives the work a distinctly classic sound! Titles include "Dark Side of The Cog", "Out Of The Storm", "Living Against The River", "She Wears Black", "Solar Fire", "Labor Of Love", "Hold On To Me", and "Without You". CD

The work of Incognito gets remixed – taking Bluey's soulful vision to a whole new level! The tracks are a good mix of NuSoul, two-step, and a bit of modern house – and titles include "Port Louis" remixed by United Future Organization, "Nights Over Egypt" remixed by MJ Cole, "Get Into My Groove" remixed by Jazzanova, "Fearless" remixed by Blaze, "It Ain't Easy" remixed by Tom Middlteon, "Marrakech" remixed by Spacek, and "Wild & Peaceful" remixed by Kenny Dope. CD

The album's got lots of nice jazz fusiony tracks, blended with the nice R&B tip that the band usually has. Titles include "Love In the Dark", "Soho", "One Step To A Miracle", "Smile", and their great cover of "Always There". CD

Incognito have done it again! It's been over 10 years since Incognito first hooked up with the Talking Loud label – and that relationship has led to some of the strongest new soul releases of the past decade! For this release, leader/producer Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick has pulled together a number of different singers – who alternate leads on the album's 12 tracks, each vocalizing in a sweetly jazzy mode, perfect for the kind of grooves you'd expect from the group. The album's an all-original batch of tracks – as great as any other they've recorded, and one of their most unified albums in years! Titles include "Stay Mine", "Bring You Down", "Slow Down", "Skin On My Skin", "Worlds Collide", "Got To Know", "Reach Out" and "On The Road". CD

Wonderful work from Incognito – perhaps their greatest album ever! By the time of this 1993 release, this Brit funky soul combo was in perfect form – blending together classic modes of jazz funk into a tight modern blend that's lasted a lot longer than anyone might have thought at the time. From the perspective of nearly a decade later, this album glistens like a lost soul jewel – perfectly fitting in between some of our favorite 70s albums, and a few of the better sides from recent years. The vocals are great, the riffing is tight, and the production is smooth and soulful all the way through. Tracks include "Still A Friend Of Mine", "Positivity", "Smiling Faces", "Do Right", "Talkin Loud", and "Thinkin About Tomorrow". CD

A stunning little set from Incognito – the group's first full album on Talkin Loud records, and a set that's head and shoulders above their earlier jazz funk from the 80s! The sound here has a real "instant classic" quality – not just because it's dripping with the best references from the jazzier side of 70s soul (think Fantasy Records at its best!) – but also because it's so well put together, with a sense of instrumentation that's tight, yet an overall groove that's relaxed and fairly spontaneous – something that was quite rare at the time the record was released! Bluey is at the height of his powers here – stepping strongly into a run of great work that would last for well over a decade – and other key figures include Maysa Leak on vocals, Kevin Robinson on trumpet, and Graham Harvey and Peter Hinds on keyboards. Titles include a killer remake of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", plus "Change", "Colibri", "Magnetic Ocean", "Closer To The Feeling", "Tribal Vibes", "Pyramid", and "I Love What You Do For Me". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the greatest soul albums of the past 20 years – an instant classic the day it was released! When this killer came out in the UK in 1991, it was one of the best soul records we'd heard in years. Carleen Anderson, the then-unknown daughter of Bobby Byrd & Vicki Anderson, sung some of the deepest vocals we'd heard in years – and she was backed by funky soundscapes filled with references and homages to greats like Roy Ayers, Leroy Hutson, Leon Ware, 24-Carat Black, and many others – all now well-remembered artists from the rare groove years of the 70s, but at the time just barely-remembered echoes from the past who were being kept alive in the British soul scene. The record was (and is) impeccable – a wondrous treat for fans of the kind of rare groove material we stock at Dusty Groove – and it features stellar performances by the likes of Carleen Anderson, Master Ace, Johnny Lytle, Maceo Parker, and others! This US version features a few remixes from the original UK album – and titles include "All I Have (Young Ideas mix)", "Funky Yeh Funki (Mek It)", "Talkin What I Feel", "Move On", "Apparently Nothin (Soul River)", "Get Yourself Together (parts 1 & 2)", "Freedom Suite", "Step Right On (original mix)", and "As We Come (To Be)". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

More than a decade of work from Incognito, and Bluey's still going strong! The group here are picking up some of the 21st Century Soul touches of late 90s Talking Loud – but that's a great thing by us, as they forge together the warmth of their earlier tunes with the crisp freshness of the London scene of the future – hence the title, wethinks! Tracks include "Black Rain", "I Can See The Future", "Nights Over Egypt", "Wild & Peaceful", "Get Into My Groove", "Yesterday's Dream", and "It Ain't Easy". CD

A classic bit of London funky guitar from Ronny Jordan – the heir apparent to Grant Green and Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones – and one of the best new players of his generation! The set takes the older funky guitar styles of the 60s soul jazz generation, and fuses it with a 90s nujazz approach – to come up with some tight groovers that have a surprisingly classic feel, yet which also sparkle with the fresher sounds of the time – some of the hip rhythms that were bubbling around in London during the Talking Loud and early Acid Jazz years. Titles include a great remake of "So What", the jazz/hip hop classic "Get To Grips", and the cuts "Cool & Funky", "Summer Smile", "Show Me", "Nite Spice", and "After Hours". (Jazz, Neo Soul) CD

Sault have always been fantastic, but it also seems that with each new release, they get even more powerful and progressive – opening up a more radical agenda that really comes through in their music! The group don't state their position with the title of the record – which is essentially untitled – but their message comes through loud and clear in the way the righteous lyrics mix perfectly with their spare, stark instrumentation – a range of rhythms that often make it hard to tie Sault to any one category or scene, but which also makes the record bristle with excitement – on titles that include "Don't Shoot Guns Down", "Wildfires", "Sorry Ain't Enough", "Black Is", "Stop Dem", "Hard Life", "Hold Me", "Only Synth In Church", "Why We Cry When We Die", and "Bow", which features a guest appearance from Michael Kiwanuka. (New Grooves, Neo Soul) CD

Early early work from the Brit jazz funk ensemble Incognito! Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick was just starting out when he cut this album during the early 80s – but the record's got a tightly grooving sound that shows all the power that he'd later have during the 90s, mixed with some excellent "end of the 70s" smooth funky jazz playing. This CD reissue of the album features the bonus single with tracks "Parisienne Girl" and "Summer's Ended" – plus the tracks "Sunburn", "Smile Of A Child", "Walking On Wheels", "Shine On", "Wake Up The City", and "Chase The Clouds Away". CD

A great underground soul moment from the online age – a set released as a free digital mixtape, but which quickly took the world by storm – and really helped establish Kehlani as a strong voice in contemporary soul! The set's a short one, but has a richness that goes beyond the number of songs – as a range of different producers help Kehlani open up some great territory, blending her voice very strongly into the mix, but never hiding the power at the core – on titles that include "FWU", "Get Away", "As I Am", "Deserve Better", "How We Do Us", "1st Position", and "Tell Your Mama". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful International Anthem debut from Resavoir – a group led by Will Miller, a musician who's equally skilled at both keyboards and trumpet – and who often plays in a style that sometimes makes it hard to tell which sound is coming from which instrument! In other words, there's trumpet-like phrasing to his keys, and keyboard-like washes of sound from the trumpet – set up array of players who ground any electric sounds in some very organic, acoustic elements. As with other releases on the label, there's a style here that's a bit hard to peg – but we can definitely say that there's a richness to the record that maybe makes it stand above even some of the others on IA, and which also makes the set very soulful as well. A few tracks have voice from Akenya Seymore, mostly in a non-lyrical way – and titles include "Clouds", "Woah", "Resavoir", "Taking Flight", "Escalator", "Illusion", and "Plantasy". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The second set from Resavoir – a project headed by Chicago producer/musician Will Miller, an artist who's had a lot of experience in the higher reaches of the hip hop scene – but who here gives himself over to much more personal, introspective modes! Yet the album's not a solo effort either, as Miller works with a host of other musicians in a groove that's fluid, often soulful, and yet very laidback – maybe an answer to some of the more meditative projects on the International Anthem label, as the work moves at the pace of some of those, but with more of an electric soul at the core. Titles include "Midday", "Sunset", "Future", "Blutopia", "Facets", "Heavenly", and "Inside Minds". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic new chapter in music from Cecile McLorin Salvant – a singer who's only been with us for a little more than a decade, has already gotten a Grammy and a MacArthur Genius Grant – yet hasn't let that stop her from being even more creative than ever! Cecile's still very much a jazz singer at the core, but there's also an expressive range here that we might never have guessed on her earlier records – and that's saying a lot, as those albums really blew us away! The singer's really breaking out of just the world of jazz vocals here – rising with star power, ala Gregory Porter or Esperanza Spaulding – but also maybe going deeper at the same time too. Titles include a surprising remake of "Wuthering Heights", plus "Thunderclouds", "Unquiet Grae", "Moon Song", "Trail Mix", "The World Is Mean", "Obligation", "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying", "I Lost My Mind", and "Dead Popular". (Vocalists, Neo Soul) CD

A fantastic new chapter in music from Cecile McLorin Salvant – a singer who's only been with us for a little more than a decade, has already gotten a Grammy and a MacArthur Genius Grant – yet hasn't let that stop her from being even more creative than ever! Cecile's still very much a jazz singer at the core, but there's also an expressive range here that we might never have guessed on her earlier records – and that's saying a lot, as those albums really blew us away! The singer's really breaking out of just the world of jazz vocals here – rising with star power, ala Gregory Porter or Esperanza Spaulding – but also maybe going deeper at the same time too. Titles include a surprising remake of "Wuthering Heights", plus "Thunderclouds", "Unquiet Grae", "Moon Song", "Trail Mix", "The World Is Mean", "Obligation", "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying", "I Lost My Mind", and "Dead Popular". (Vocalists, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". CD

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". LP, Vinyl record album

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Loon. 12-inch, Vinyl record