A standout solo moment for Yazz – the singer who first rose to fame as part of the Coldcut soundsystem, then really broke big at a point when UK soul was cracking the American mainstream! Yazz may have a bleached-out look on the cover, but her sound is deeply soulful – and fits in perfectly with the house-styled grooves on the record – backings that have an unabashed love of disco, at a time when listening audiences were maybe forgiving that music for all of its previous excesses, and strongly embracing its best qualities again – in a groove that's maybe a bit similar to Lisa Stansfield at the time, although with more beats and less strings. Production and backings are by Coldcut, FON, Youth, and other hip talents – and titles include her great remake of "The Only Way Is Up" – plus "Systematic People", "Wanted On The Floor", "Stand Up For Your Love Rights", "Fine Time", "Where Has All The Love Gone", "Got To Share", and "Turn It Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from Otis Clay, but also one of his greatest albums ever! The record features him with some fuller arrangements than usual – in less of a bluesy mode than during the Hi years, with a smooth sound that really brings out a whole new side of his style. The set was recorded in Chicago for the Japanese market – and the arrangements are by Benjamin Wright, Bill McFarland, and Clay himself. Includes the massive groover "The Only Way Is Up", an anthemic modern dancefloor number that later yielded a bit hit for Yazz – plus the tracks "Cheatin In The Next Room", "All I Need Is You", "Special Kind Of Love", "Messin With My Mind", "Turn Back The Hands Of Time", and "Check It Out". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's definitely got plenty of layers, as Khalab works with a different collaborator on just about every track – which makes for a nicely varied vibe throughout the album! Tunes are often upbeat, but more complicated than clubby – layered with a nice sense of sound that has the collaborators' contributions shifting through subtle sonic patterns as the record moves on – in a lineup that includes "Romantic Loco" with Tenderlonious, "Drone Ra" with Yazz Ahmed & Alessi Obino, "Acid Vaccine" with Clap Clap, "Layers" with Joshua Idehan, "Mental Coach" with Gabin Dabire, "Female Side" with Tommaso Cappellato, and "Tunnel Of Jealousy" with Lady Blue Eyes. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing early work from Paul Horn – recorded way before he got all noodly, and started walking around in pyramids and stuff! The album captures Horn at the height of his early brilliance – interested in world rhythms, especially Indian, and showing a real penchant for a modal groove. He's working here on alto and flute, and grooving incredibly well with a group that includes Paul Moer on piano, Emil Richards on vibes, and the great Jimmy Bond on bass – all pulsating with a great deal of energy, and creating these catchy little tunes that dip, turn, dip, and allow Horn to really take off on his solos. A brilliant set throughout – with tracks that include "Benny's Buns", "Yazz Per Favore", "Mirage For Miles", "Moer Or Less", "Blue On Blue", and "Short Politician". LP, Vinyl record album

A London record that bristles strongly with all the best sorts of criss-crossing cultural energy that's been taking place on the city's scene over the past decade or so – jazz mixing with new production modes, soulful vocals reaching cosmic sonic territory, and rhythms unlocked from more familiar modes – all guided strongly by producer Ash Walker in the lead! Walker works plenty as a DJ too, and there's almost a party-like sense of collaboration taking place on the record – as Ash opens the door to a wonderful range of guests – including Yazz Ahmed, Oscar Jerome, Lou Rhodes, Amp Fiddler, Ebi Soda, Sly5thAve, Joe Armon-Jones, and others – coming together in a record that cascades effortlessly from sound to sound, track to track! Titles include "Detroit Velvet Smooth", "Jupiter", "Babylonian Triangle Of Captivity", "Afronaught", "Letting Go", "Automation", "Petrol Head", and "Time Gets Wasted". LP, Vinyl record album

Although Blue Note is probably one of the most iconic record labels on the planet, the company's also done a great job of reinventing itself as the years go on – always showing that they've still got an ear for the same sort of new talent that made Blue Note so important back in the day! This time around, the label's following a bit of the spirit of their previous Re:Imagined set, in that they're also working with a fair bit of young artists from the UK scene – but the set list is also maybe a bit less slavish to hits from the Blue Note catalog, which really opens up the overall sound of the record with a mix of very different vocal and instrumental contributions! As before, the scope is great, and the package is a double-length one – with titles that include "Fort Worth" by Binker Golding, "It" by Yazz Ahmed, "Through The Noise" by Nubiyan Twist, "Don't Know Why" by Partheope, "Morning Side Of Love" by Ego Ella May, "Green With Envy" by Oscar Jerome & Oscar #Worldpeace, "Lost" by Daniel Casimir with Ria Moran, "Epistrophy" by Theon Cross, "Feel Like Making Love" by Kay Young, "Harvest Moon" by Maya Delilah, "Infant Eyes" by Reuben James, and "Where Are We Going" by Venna & Marco. LP, Vinyl record album