Bright bursts of aural errata, accessible modern electro, politically charged attitude and globally hip hop from the pop lightening rod that is MIA. Production by Rusko, Blaqstarr, Switch, Diplo, Sugu, John Hill, Derek Miller and MIA. Titles include "Steppin Up", "Lovealot", "Teqkilla". "Born Free", "Meds & Feds", "Illygirl", "Caps Lock" and more. (Hip Hop, New Grooves) CD

A collection of work from the "first phase" of Troubleman – singles, remixes, and rare tracks recorded over the past few years – assembled here together in a nicely cohesive album! The work's very much in the spirit of that on the other full Troubleman set for Far Out – spacey dancefloor jams that build on 70s fusion, modern broken beats, and some styles from Troubleman's contemporaries on the current London scene. There's a nicely stripped-down quality to a lot of these tracks that we like a lot – one that makes them a bit funkier than expected, as heavy beats and keys dance together in a celebration of groove! Titles include "The First Phase", "The Otherness", "The Switch", and "Intergalactic You Intergalactic Me" by Troubleman – plus "Stereo (Mark Pritchard rmx)" by Stereo People with Kirsty Hawkshaw and "Carambola (Mark Pritchard rmx)" by Azymuth. CD

Includes tracks from Square One, Switch, Shur-I-Kan, Kirk Degiorgio, and others. CD

A jazzy duo with a soulful feel – and one of the deepest-sounding sets we've heard on the Irma label in a long time! Zone's got a warmly grooving quality that we really love – an approach that almost reminds us of some of the best British groups trying to do classic American soul at the end of the 80s – but served up here with a few more contemporary touches too – especially in the rhythms, which can be nicely dynamic. Vocals are by both a female and male singer, switching off from track to track – and instrumentation includes great keyboards, piano, guitar, tenor, and trumpet – grooving with a breezily soulful feel on the best numbers. Titles include "Vou Voltar", "Gimali", "Soul Desires", "Finally", "September", "Angel's Wings", "Frontera", "Madrid", and "Slave". CD

Tracks from Switchblade Sisters, Fred Everything Presents King Of Blues, Fusion Forum, Pathless, Rainer Truby Trio, Guem & Zaka, Waiwan, Outside, Sofa Surfers, Pressure Drop, and Max Schneider. CD