An incredible full length set from Amp Fiddler – and the kind of record that's well worth all the hype it's been getting! Think of this one as Stevie Wonder for the 21st Century – keyboards and vocals taking off in a rocketship for the future, yet packed to the brim with all the best influences from the past! The whole set's got an amazingly well-crafted sound that fuses older funk, future jazz, and cosmic soul into one unified vision that's sure to be one of the biggest influences on soul music for years to come. Tremendous stuff – and the kind of record that can only be best described by a listen. After 3 seconds, you'll be hooked – trust us! Titles include "Dreamin", "I Believe In You", "Soul Divine", "Love & War", "Eye To Eye", and "This Is How". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

One of the cuts that veered a bit more towards the mainstream than some of the earliest work by the Heavies, off their breakthrough Shelter album, with a post P-Funk/80s groove hook, that gets a tougher remix courtesy Ski, the man behind many of Jay Z's big hits. (Neo Soul, New Grooves) 12-inch, Vinyl record

Japan's Fantastic Plastic Machine are back with a great little set of soulful tunes – less gimmicky than earlier work, with an approach that has the group working in a solid songwriting approach, throwing in some great hooks, straight ahead vocals, and crafting some excellent rhythms that really make the set groove! Think Brand New Heavies-ish soul, filtered through some of the recent Japanese two step projects, and you've got a good idea of the sound. Titles include "Beautiful Days", "On A Chair", "Whistle Song", "Black Dada", "God Save The Mona Lisa", "I'm Still A Simple Man", and "Todos Os Desejos". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer collection of cosmic soul – just the sort of set that first drew us to the Sonar Kollektiv label many years back, and quite possibly the strongest work so far from the mighty Matt Chicoine! The set's a bit more song-based and focused than before – upbeat tunes with compelling hooks, yet all still filled with the keyboard-heavy modes we know from Matt's other music. Rhythms are often a bit funky, but in kind of a cosmic way – and the set draws strongly from an array of guest stars who include Joe Dukie, Rachel Fraser, Justin Chapman, and Tyna. Titles include "Catch A Leaf", "So Cool", "Can It Be", "Emotional Funk", "Red Road", "Deeper Waters", "The Sanctuary", and "Daydream". CD