The cover image is a bit different than the modernist images usually used for records by Italian maestro Gerardo Frisina, and the sound is a bit different too – maybe less Latin or Brazilian than some of his previous records, but still filled with lots of percussion at the core! There's plenty of live drums and percussion next to the rhythm patterns created by Gerardo – and the percussion is especially strong throughout, really grounding the tunes nicely, often with strong conga work – amidst other instrumentation that includes vibes, flute, trumpet, and Fender Rhodes! The album has some slight use of kora, which is great – and the whole thing is another groovy feather in the mighty cap of a musician who's been giving us great records for many years. Titles include "Nahi's Son", "Damay", "Desencanto", "Kerewan", "Que Dilema", "Vicky", "Nahi", "Cuiaba", and "Foresta Esotica". CD features the bonus track "Mwanga". CD

Incognito never lets us down – and records like this keep us listening strongly year after year! The set's got all the core brilliance of Incognito at their best – a really classic approach to jazzy soul, served up with top shelf instrumentation by the group – and sent home strongly by a range of singers who include Vanessa Haynes, Tony Momrelle, Chiara Hunter, Imani, Deborah Bond, and the great Carleen Anderson! Nobody can do it as well as these guys – tight, but never uptight – smooth, but never sleepy – really right on the money from the production on down to the bottom – the kind of careful, classy soul that almost makes Incognito a genre unto themselves. Titles include "Wind Sorceress", "Rapture", "Hands Up If You Wanna Be Loved", "Hats", "I Couldn't Love You More", "Something Bout July", and "Silver Shadow". Japanese CD features the bonus track "Part Of The Plan". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

There's no waiting for Zion here – as A08 deliver the goods right from the start – a very righteous blend of reggae, West African, and other styles – but all served up with a lean approach that takes the influences very far past their roots! The group were previously known as Africaine 808 – and maybe the condensing of their name is a reference to the way the styles are condensed here – brought down to just their basics, but then topped with contributions from an array of different guests from a variety of global sources. Titles include "Water", "Pomplemousse", "I Want More", "Kisumu Bound Bus (Nyatiti mix)", "Sunset", "Bubbles", "Life", and "Yamahaica". (Global Grooves, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a vibe that's very much its own – a fresh take on Cumbia that includes some of the key elements of the older version of the music, but with a style that's maybe a bit more compact, and slightly more intimate too! Most tracks have plenty of guitar, used with lots of fuzz and twang, and the rhythms are nice and raw – percussion romping around in very cool ways, sometimes with a bit of organ, and some cool effects that come in and out of the mix along the way! The whole thing's instrumental – and titles include "Pellirosa", "Giacca Rossa", "Maruzzella", "Cumbia Del Pensamiento", "Sarracino", and "Quellala". (Global Grooves, New Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

(House Music, New Grooves) 12-inch, Vinyl record

Sweet lost electro EP on Sunnyview with lots of great synth bass and ping ponging drum machine. The cover says "Fresh Beats Without Rap Bass Your Car Streets and Party Fresh Beats", which we take as a Burroughs style cut up of what you can expect from this slice of hot DJ wax! 4 cuts: "It's Your Scratch", "Bass Is What We Want", "Oh Inspector" & "It's Your Turn". (Hip Hop, New Grooves) 12-inch, Vinyl record