The first proper Mr Scruff full length in more than half a decade – and as you might have gathered from the boisterous breakbeat funk and more soulful undercurrents of recent 12"s – he's broadened his sonic tapestry a bit! Ninja Tuna is the namesake title for his own imprint at his longtime home Ninja Tune – and if he's not out to break the mold on tried and true formulas, he does a fine job of spinning some engrossing soundscapes! Funk, soul, house and bedrock hip hop beats meet masterfully, and a couple of the best tracks are inflected with more accessible groove via some excellent guest vocalists – including Alice Russell and Anreya Tatiani, and Quantic and Pete Simpson drop by, too! Titles include "Test The Sound", "Music Takes Me Up", "Donkey Ride" featuring Quantic, "Hairy Bumpercress", "Whiplash", "Nice Up The Function", "Bang The Floor", "Get On Down", "Hold On" with Andreya Triana, "Give Up To Get", "Kalimba", "This Way" feat Pete Simpson" and "Stockport Carnival". LP, Vinyl record album

Globe-trotting funky music from The Natural Yogurt Band – the group's second proper album – an even farther reaching and more perfectly executed blend of pulpy Sound Library styled jazz funk and all around playful grooves! The NYB is essentially a duo – Miles Newbold plays keys, vibes, flutes, percussion and effects– plus Wayne Fullwood plays drums and bass. The approach is instrumentals based (though both players contribute vocals when the rare duty calls), and while there's a playful groove throughout, it's seriously well done and never comes off as cheeky Sound Library homage or kitsch. It's as dexterously impressive as it is groovy and fun! Titles include "Weak Without Wine", "Invisible Ink", "Romance In Blue", "Horn", "Forever Drowning", "Eastern Outro", "Clocks", "Psalm", "Tweed Suit" and many more. (Deep Funk, New Grooves) CD

There's been plenty happening in Pernambuco in recent years – a rich blending of styles that's made the region of Brazil a more important musical hot spot than Rio or San Paulo! The sounds of Pernambuco have been simmering under for years – and you may well have caught an earful or two from recent releases on the Trama label. But until this set, most of the region's brilliance has never been fully presented properly to a non-Brazilian audience – and as the label did two decades back with their initial Brazilian compilations, Luaka Bop does a wonderful job of opening up the Pernambuco groove to a much wider audience! Most of the work here mixes older roots with newer touches – often a bit of electronics next to acoustic percussion, or raspily soulful vocals next to tighter instrumentation – that unique sort of balance that's always been present in Brazilian music from the 60s onward, but which is currently done better in Pernambuco more than anywhere else. Titles include "Poesia Da Barro" by Alex Sant Anna, "Amigos Bons" by Junio Barreto, "Cobrinha" by Tine, "Vale Do Juca" by Siba, "Pode Me Chamar" by Eddie, "Maroca" by Mundo Livre, "Carimbaeo" by Nacao Zumbi, "Instante Feliz" by Vates E Violas, "Erectuos Cactus" by Cabruera, "O Pobre Dos Dentes De Ouro" by Cidadao Instigad, and "Cabidela" by Mombojo. (Brazil, New Grooves) CD