For the past few years, the UK-based Far Out label has been redefining the sound of Brazilian music. The label's run by DJ Joe Davis – the man who brought the world the Blue Brazil and Brazilica series, and the person who turned the London scene onto Brazilian grooves in a major way. Far Out is a labor of love for Joe, and this compilation offers 15 tracks in proof of that theory! The comp pulls from previous releases on the label, including many that are now long out of print. Titles include Nobukazu Takemura's remix of "Bebe" by Friends from Rio, DaLata's remix of "Para Lenon e McCartney" by Clareace, Marcos Valle and Friends From Rio doing "Os Grilos", Pressure Drop remixing "Francisco Cat" by Celia Vaz, and Roc's Re-dub of "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" by Azymuth. Lots lots more, and a great package to boot! (Brazil, New Grooves) CD

A selection of very cool cuts from a long-running party hosted by the mighty Mark De Clive-Lowe – an event that showcases all his rich love of sounds in jazz, soul, club, and other contemporary modes – delivered live as a very collaborative effort, in a style that's captured beautifully on this expanded CD! Mark's got a hand in all the cuts here, but he also opens the door to all the guests to really do their thing – including Tommaso Cappellato, Myele Manzanza, Stro Elliot, Kamau Daaood, Joy Jones, and Colectivo Arte & Manha – all artists who share Mark's genre-jumping cosmic vision! The tracks here are all different than the Ropeadope album with Church in the title – and cuts include "Mystic Brew", "ACHH", "Steps Ahead", "ESSS (Love The Space)", "Ancient Prophecy", "Montara", "Blueberries", "Atlantic Journey", and "Invocation". Also includes the Japanese-only bonus track "Ryugu Jo". CD

A record that's definitely got plenty of layers, as Khalab works with a different collaborator on just about every track – which makes for a nicely varied vibe throughout the album! Tunes are often upbeat, but more complicated than clubby – layered with a nice sense of sound that has the collaborators' contributions shifting through subtle sonic patterns as the record moves on – in a lineup that includes "Romantic Loco" with Tenderlonious, "Drone Ra" with Yazz Ahmed & Alessi Obino, "Acid Vaccine" with Clap Clap, "Layers" with Joshua Idehan, "Mental Coach" with Gabin Dabire, "Female Side" with Tommaso Cappellato, and "Tunnel Of Jealousy" with Lady Blue Eyes. LP, Vinyl record album