A really fantastic idea for a project – and one that comes off even better than we would have guessed – new versions of classic grooves from the nations of Cabo Verde and Guinea Bissau, performed by a really well-matched group of singers and musicians, in a mode that's quite different than the usual revival record of this nature! The songs are definitely classics, but the presentation is very contemporary – directed by producer Guts, and Francisco Sousa, with a special ear for avoiding the sorts of cliches that both mar a project like this, and some of the stereotypes that get reinforced by reissues on the market. Instead, there's a fresh criss-crossing of cultures, but one that never waters down the roots at all – maybe a bit like some of the best Parisian productions of the 70s and 80s post-colonial years. Titles include "Dunia Be Tene", "Riba Bass Di Mi", "Citi Ku Liti", "No Guinea", "Mulato Ferrera", "Segunda", and "Di Mas". (Global Grooves, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A London record that bristles strongly with all the best sorts of criss-crossing cultural energy that's been taking place on the city's scene over the past decade or so – jazz mixing with new production modes, soulful vocals reaching cosmic sonic territory, and rhythms unlocked from more familiar modes – all guided strongly by producer Ash Walker in the lead! Walker works plenty as a DJ too, and there's almost a party-like sense of collaboration taking place on the record – as Ash opens the door to a wonderful range of guests – including Yazz Ahmed, Oscar Jerome, Lou Rhodes, Amp Fiddler, Ebi Soda, Sly5thAve, Joe Armon-Jones, and others – coming together in a record that cascades effortlessly from sound to sound, track to track! Titles include "Detroit Velvet Smooth", "Jupiter", "Babylonian Triangle Of Captivity", "Afronaught", "Letting Go", "Automation", "Petrol Head", and "Time Gets Wasted". LP, Vinyl record album

Comet Is Coming are one of those groups who are almost a genre unto themselves – certainly part of the rich criss-crossing of styles that has been taking place on the London scene of the past decade or so – but also a trio who've found a way to forge forward and hold the world at bay with a record like this! At the core, the approach is simple – tremendous tenor work from Shabaka Hutchings, drums from Betamax, and keyboards from Danalogue – the latter two of whom are equally important as producers, in the way they take the live performance at the core, and work it into so many other shifting shapes and sounds! Hutchings' solos are always kept mostly intact, which makes for a beating soul to the record, and a nice link to previous generations of jazz – on titles that include "Pyramids", "Tokyo Nights", "Technicolour", "Code", "Lucid Dreamer", "Atomic Wave Dance", "Mystik", and "The Hammer". (Jazz, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album