The record's got a cover that's very different than the lush, stylish imagery used on so many of the Thievery Corporation records that Eric Hilton crafted over the years – and the sound here is nicely different too – maybe stripped down to some core elements, with a focus on the rhythmic progression of the tunes, as they often focus on a core sample or instrumental line to carry things forward! Hilton's definitely marking his own territory here – and titles include an excellent guest appearance from Brian Jackson on keyboards on "Something For Byrd" – and the other titles "Past Present & Future", "Put Em Down", "E Plays It Cool", "Cold Gemini", and "Mind Archeology". LP, Vinyl record album

A smoking little set from DJ Kemit – done in that great old school mode we used to love – in which a hip producer gets vocal help from a range of key contemporary singers! Vocals here are from the best of the best – Eric Roberson, N'Dambi, Osunlade, Frank McComb, Lady Alma, Carl McIntosh, Choklate, and others – each of whom step in on a different track, and really help shade in the different flavors of the record! Kemit comes up with a different groove for each guest – often one that really helps show them at their best – and titles include "Digital Love", "You Don't Know", "Funky 8 Ball", "Inside Out", "Summers Night", "Spread Love", "Never Go Away", "Fortune Teller", and "I Was I Am". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

The Reel People collective is back in action, and maybe sounding even better than on their first Love album – thanks to a sublime array of guest vocalists – including Eric Roberson, Raheem DeVaughn, Chante Cann, Paula, Michael Champion, and others! The vibe is great – uplifting and positive, with a style that's a nice change from both mainstream soul and club – that special sort of vibe we've always loved from the sort of underground work like this – which seems to be harder and harder to find as the years go on! In a world of stray digital cuts, we're even more grateful than ever for a full length set like this – as Reel People definitely deliver the goods, on titles that include "I Never Knew", "Save A Lil Love", "Everything's So Crazy", "If I Was Your Man", "Fly", "Deja Vu", "Dance In Her Eyes", and "Vibe". CD

An album that sparkles with joy and life from the very first note – but that's also what we've really come to expect from Kaidi Tatham in all the many years he's given us music! Tatham is one of a few key talents from the London scene at the start of the century to continue to stay vital and fresh over the years – always still with the crisply cosmic quality that made him so great in the first place, but a continued evolution into more righteous, sophisticated territory – which means there's even more message in his music than before, at a level that lives up to the promise of the title! Kaidi's a fantastic one-man show throughout – but does accept a small amount of help at a few moments, including vocals from Eric Lau and Uhmeer on a track apiece. Titles include "Carry It Mongo Man", "DSXSWC", "Insight To All Minds", "Chungo", "Rodney", "Rain", "Could It Be", "Stro Kyat", "Tek Care", and "Intergalactic Relations". LP, Vinyl record album

Kaidi Tatham takes on some of the best cuts from the Reel People label and makes them even better – adding all sorts of the jazzy keyboard work you might guess from the cover image, and definitely moving them into the territory of clubby fusion too! Almost all the cuts have a soulful singer in the lead – still kept to the forefront, as Tatham strips out some of the older elements, cleans up the cuts, and adds in lots of his own keyboards and rhythms – plus fresh bass and percussion too – all to really transform the tunes! Titles include Kaidi Tatham reworks of cuts that include "Pedigree" by Daz I Kue with Hadiya George, "All Of My Life" by Sebb Junior with Paula, "On The Road" by The Realm x Atjazz x Kelli Sae, "Fly" by Tony Momrelle, "I Want To Thank You" by Reel People with Mica Paris, "Don't Give Up" by Aaries, "Losin My Head" by Monkey Brothers with Shaun Escoffery, and "Save A Lil Love" by Reel People with Eric Roberson. LP, Vinyl record album

A well done survey of the career of Thievery Corporation to date – selected by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton – wonderful stuff from the reigning kings of downtempo jazzy grooves! It's made up of the duo's best known tracks as well as their own personal favorites. You couldn't really ask for a better or more careful curated set! Includes "Amerimacka", "Lebanese Blonde", "Facing East", "Holographic Universe", "Until The Morning", "All That We Perceive", "The Richest Man In Babylon", "The Passing Stars", "Satyam Shivam Sundaram", "Vampires", "Warning Shots", "Shadows Of Ourselves" and more. CD

Stefano Di Battista on saxophone, Eric Legnini on piano, Rosario Bonaccorso on bass, and Andre Ceccarelli on drums. (Jazz, New Grooves) CD