Nu-Jazz | Broken Beat Vinyl Singles 180 Items

First released 30 years ago, 1990 - Written and produced by FSOL before they became The Future Sound of London. This EP brings together the original recordings of the 3 main tracks released by Mental Cube, while the forth was released under a different name, it was intended to be a Mental Cube track. Q - quickly became a dance floor favourite funky 909 drums and speak n spell top line and big warm strings -
Chile of the Bass Generation - Clanking Breakbeat wig-out
So This Is Love- a masterclass in classic UK House music that sounds so good even 30yrs on
In The Mind Of A Child - Originally released as Indo Tribe but in fact was intended as a Mental Cube Release - Bouncy heavy bass 909 drums beautifully constructed top melodies.

“UR wonders” What happens to jazz if combined with the current electronic sound tools used to make Detroit techno now? What might Jazz sound like if the inspirational pioneers of fusion ie; Return to Forever, Astral Pirates or Weather Report had access to the music production technology available now or in the future? The artform called Jazz was a unique reflection of “The African American experience here in the United States.Unfortunately by the 90″s it had been compromised by major record companies and made “smoother” for mainstream consumption and more profits. Born in America’s rural black south Rock & Roll had suffered the same fate years earlier. Original artists eventually replaced by well studied clones and corporate mega profits!! Also happening the original artform of jazz appeared to be caught, processed & throughly Explained by people who sought to intellectualize “struggle & human emotion” into mere words and then benefit immensely financially by being authorities on the subject. Hmm sound familiar? As you watch the current intellectual colonization of the urban inner city African American art forms house music, hip-hop, Jungle & Detroit techno get studied, bent, twisted renamed and turned into EDM profit formulas. There stands records like Nation 2 Nation that defy these definitions and inspire the next generation of Pioneers who continue the undefined exploration of Jazz like Derek Jamerson, Jon Dixon, Raphael Merriweathers, Desean Jones, Timeline, Galaxy 2 Galaxy, Raphael Statin & Ian Finkelstein. Mother to daughter, Father to son, Nation 2 Nation a work inspired and that inspired what’s next.

In 1994 the Vienna-based project iO from Patrick Pulsinger, Erdem Tunakan, Umberto Gollini and Gerhard Potuznik released a series of 12 inches called Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release on their legendary Cheap Records imprint. While most of the tracks where minimalistic Detroit-influenced Techno, one particular piece stuck out. Claire! Not only for its mid tempo round 110 bpm, but mostly for the mix of jazz chords, a funky sample-based groove and a bone dry 909. Here was a tune bridging the gaps between Techno, Trip Hop and House Music. Shortly after the release of the full album containing all previous 12 inches, Claire was licensed to Mo’Wax Records in London. With an even broader audience it was received in a whole different context and became an instant favorite amongst DJs from different genres around the globe and a stone cold classic which is still loved today.

Following their seriously strong debut release from rising talent & label mastermind Thatmanmonkz. We have an absolutely superb duo of reworks (and dubs) from the man himself & Chicago polymath Khalil Anthony, an author, musician and celebrated collaborator in theatre productions.

12" Single from the upcoming Theo Parrish album. "Footwork" is a bouncy percussive driven track that is sure to achieve what it's title intends - make them feet work! On the flip, Theo takes his signature sound on a darker abstract path with "Tympanic Warfare." Definitely an exciting preview to the very anticipated album from Theo Parrish.

Manchester’s Walton returns to Tectonic following last year’s explorations in grime flavoured house/techno offshoots on the killer “Bulldoze EP”. This time Walton leads with a dance floor crushing anthem that cruises a cool line between grime and tribal dubstep. Featuring a looping Riko Dan sample, “Gunman” sets a stone cold tone from the offset, hi-hats setting up the groove before a grime flavoured melody cuts in preparing you for the drop. When the bass and drums come crashing in they bounce off each other to produce a disorientating tribal rhythm that will set the dance floor alight!

Steve Spacek returns to Eglo Records after making his label debut with the summer smash 'Follow Me'. The Lewisham born singer/producer continues to innovate, utilizing the latest technologly (he made these two tracks on an ipad) to push his unique London style from his new home in Sydney NSW. 'If U Wan 2 Find Me' is a celestial slice of vocal footwork/soul, with Spacek offering his own zero gravity take on the chicago sound. Bside 'Time Is Running Out' completely switches up the tempo, this stripped back techno bubbler feels like the soundtrack to a late night cruise around the red planet. Signature Spacek swing and acid bounce througout. Steve Spacek remains one of the most unique and versatile artists from the UK, born out of Londons soundsystem culture his fearless and forwarding thinking approach to music and technology has made him impossible to pigeon hole. Consistently on the cutting edge of new evolutions in sound and style.

One per customer!

POI rolls the beats..nostalgia in the house. One sided. Blink, miss, gone! TIP!

When has Tatham, Mensah,Lord & Ranks let you down?
When?
If you love boogie, funk and that good groove then the answer is never.
Yet another twelve inch proving their consistency.An obvious buy on sight release.
Includes the cover version on Grace Jones's 'Private Lives' where the quartet expand on the original for a soulful dubbed out trip plus 'Simmering' for funk bass line enthusiasts.

Produced by Kaidi Tatham,Matt Lord,Mr Mensah & dego.

Step Time Orchestra was the collaborative work of producers Jori Hulkkonen and Toumas Salmela, who began producing music together in the nineties whilst studying in Oulu, Finland. Whilst all their friends would be getting up early to go to university, they would only just be going to bed, having spent the night listening to house records from New York, drinking Whiskey and programming their MPC 2000!
Step Time produced a slew of tracks during this time, some of which were licensed and pressed on 12" singles during the late nineties/early noughties on labels operating in North America and Europe, but not everything they made saw the light of day. Heavily influenced by labels like Ibadan and Spiritual Life Music at the height of the New York House Scene, 'Jazz Error NYC' and '2am in Africa' were never signed, not fitting the profile of their other releases at the time, they were left in the drawer and sadly forgotten!
Skip forward to Winter 2016, and FBNM's Lorenzo, whilst over on a DJ excursion, visits Jori in Finland. Keen to keep working together, he presses him for something uniquely special. Magically, the Ajos E.P jumps out of the drawer into Hulkkonen's hand, and as it turns out, it has aged with a rather remarkable grace. Written using a combination of MPC sequencing and an Atari ST powering vanilla Cubase for some midi programming duties, it features the sounds of the Italian made Siel Opera 6, an Alesis S4 Rompler and other vintage Roland, Yamaha and Kawai Synths. They went full out on this one, even finally learning to play keys for that jazzy piano action. It was recorded live through a soundcraft analog board with outboard Fx, creating a sound that transcended it's time to feel remarkably fresh today!
The Ajos EP is named after an area in their native city of Kemi, Northern Finland, which is where they wrote and produced it in 1999.

The release comes on 180g vinyl. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers. Back fighting, kicking and beating as strong as or perhaps even stronger than ever before, Ivan ‘Mamao’ Conti is releasing a brand new solo album next year. Now fitted with a new iron hip- thanks to the immense generosity of his fan base who crowdfunded the operation – the Azymuth drummer still remains one of the greatest and outright funkiest drummers alive anywhere in the universe as he enters this new bionic era. As people of earth are not yet quite ready to hear the explosively ethereal cosmic samba of his new album just yet, we’re easing into it with a series of appropriately propulsive percussive jazz-headed remixes. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers.

Eraldo Bernocchi is SIMM – one of the originators of Dark Hop. The Italian musician and producer has worked with Harold Budd, Mick Harris, Bill Laswell, and Robin Guthrie, and is a versatile, masterful studio composer, as well as a renowned live performer and improviser. Odessa’s Medium (Igor Oklander, Pavel Kostyuk, and DJ Koss) are the newest sensation out of Ukraine in the world of drum & bass. Their technical production ability and live drum & bass show are unmatched in the current era. Nailed is a classic, black silk creeper, a film noire dungeon score sound. Eraldo’s distantly familiar horrorscore guitars are backed with a stomping broken beat, and the deepest, darkest sub to be found in the genre. Nailed is SIMM at the height of Bernocchi’s dark power – crawling, surveilling, hunting. No Questions is what it says it is on the wrapper – an absolute mauling 2018 dark hop MONSTER – without question. The crew has cooked up a bass drop of titantic, megalithic proportions, which must be heard to be believed! Stepping out of their normative drum & bass format, they play with the notion of half time drum & bass, while keeping it 100% dark hop tempo. Limited Edition Print by Petullia Mattioli

Release no. 1 on Rapscallion brings 3 ridiculous broken reworks that are sure to raise an eyebrow or two. We’re not being told who in particular is responsible for such goodness here but rest assured an accomplished veteran must be at the helm for sure...

More copies back in! "LIVE TEST" is a muscular breaks track full of menace and driving beats. A hit with Z-TRIP, MARK RAE, DJ VAJRA, FLETCH, etc. when it dropped in 2009. The flipside is a dubbed up remix of "DEMONS" by FARM FRESH's TIM SMITH. Dope. Last copies available.

As we head towards the end of 2019, the CoOp Presents crew unleash a heater for the cold months, and a very warm welcome to the label for Danvers, with an EP entitled 'Light Movements'.
Joe Danvers has been building a diverse catalogue of dance music over the past several years, including releases on FINA Records, Boogie Cafe and Wotnot (his debut release also featured mixes from the likes of Joe Armon-Jones & Warren Xcince). Aside from his solo efforts, Danvers makes up 50% of Kassian, who in turn have dropped releases on Phonica White & Heist Recordings, as well as a series of highly-acclaimed remixes. Their debut track 'The Premise' was nominated as "Track of the Year" at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards.
These various projects have been shown support far and wide from selectors such as Bradley Zero and Detroit Swindle, whilst Danvers & Kassian have been booked for parties across Europe this past Summer. Danvers is also co-founder of Curve Records, along with Luke Campion & Mike Wilkin of Fact / Vinyl Factory.
So to the EP - 4-tracks demonstrating Danvers' flair for eclectic bruk boogie. 'Devotional' kicks off the set, featuring the soulful vocals of Natalie May atop a rhode-laden bubbler. The EP's title track 'Light Movements' follows and is a more stripped-down affair, with big kicks and synth stabs. Next comes 'The Flex', inspired by Selectors Assemble runnings - a tasty stepper with a huuuuge b-line. Finally closing out the EP on a deeper jazzy vibe we have 'Calmer' featuring the don T. Williams.
Expect more big things from Danvers and from the CoOp Presents crew in 2020. In the meantime, get this one on your speakers and watch for the movements. Standardly essential business.

“Marombo” is a new track written, arranged and produced by Gerardo Frisina, that anticipates his forthcoming album, called “Moving Ahead” and scheduled for February 2020. Here “Marombo” has been especially divided in two parts, to be featured in this 12” EP.
“Moving Ahead” suggests another change in Gerardo’s style, a solid step into the future to explore new music territories without compromising his original identity and trademark. “Marombo” is in fact a mixture of nu-latin and electronic beats with Afro-Cuban rhythm into a massive dancefloor groove!
This new song sees the participation of Gerardo’s longtime collaborators Ernesto Lopez on drums and percussion and Alfonso Deidda on baritone saxophone.The result is a perfect blend between deep, Detroit afro-dub dance with a massive groove perfect for the dancefloor. As always Gerardo amazes us with his unique touch. Absolutely not to be missed!!!

Mr. Confuse returns with a new funky 7Inch on the afrofunk tip.
'Spinning Around' kicks off with heavy funk drums, afro horn stabs and a driving mean Farfisa organ that really keeps you moving till the end. On the flipside 'Against All Odds' offers a driving bass line, raging brass and clever breaks – a breakdance sure shot!
Make sure you check out the music video of 'Spinning Around' and don't miss this release on Confunktion Records as the 7 Inch vinyl version is limited to a 150 units. Be quick on this one!

The original mix, produced by Daniel Maunick, accompanies remixes from three of mainland Europe’s finest DJ/producer combos, prolific German nu-jazz collective Jazzanova, MCDE Recordings & Faces Records’ Pablo Valentino, and Croatian house veteran Eddy Ramich with assistance from Zagreb duo Jan Kincl & Regis Kattie.

AAL Single 12" on Other People featuring Lydia Lunch and FKA Twigs.

WOLF Music offer up something a little different to their usual tip, enlisting the warm dusty reverberations of four-piece, jazz-not-jazz collective Velour for a 7 inch of hazy, genre traversing rhythms. Alongside being producer for the Velour project, long-standing member of the WOLF pack Mr. Fries gives his own distinctive house touch to the flip side remix.
Perfectly capturing the new school of jazz, Essen-based Velour crisscross genres drawing on elements from each yet anchoring their roots in the richness of jazz’s deft melodies and percussive touches. Head-nodding down the open road, ‘Pose’ is that undeniably soulful, first swig of summer many tracks strive to be. Morphing into a woozy affair as the sun sets midway through, Velour’s songwriting talent well outstrips their years. Throw WOLF pack member Mr. Fries into the mix, kneading in his signature production style and the freshly baked result straddles the intersection between jazz, broken beat, house and soul.
Fries then takes on remix duties for the flip, maintaining that dusty demeanour yet going for a full frontal Moodymann-esque house interpretation. The smokey jazz bar sax, background hustle and weighty beat make for a summertime heater served straight from the grill, garnished just right with Mr. Fries own vocals over the top.

Flumo and Anma Records join forces once again - this time for a collaborative project between UK based Contours and Yadava. Cosmic Echoes was built over numerous jam sessions fusing live percussion, bass, drum machine, synthesizers and field recordings to create a raw EP full of soul and warmth.

In these strange and uncertain times we find ourselves even more eager to release new music by Luv Shack Records’ core artists. During some very sunny and inspiring recording sessions last Summer Luv Shack´s own Lee Stevens and musical brain Martin Arnold teamed up to form a new band, channeling the legendary spirit of the 90s Downbeat sound of Vienna. After having written a bunch of tracks it seemed a logical step to involve more friends and musicians into their project. Lee´s long term classmate and bass player Pheech could not be asked twice and joined the jams as well as singer Myla and other fellows, so that the full ensemble now consists of bass, flute, guitar, sax an of course Lee´s amazing collection of analog gear and samples. The “Come With Me EP” comes with four original songs exploring various tropes of jazz infused electronica, plus two remixes by austrian artists Oberst & Buchner and Lukas Poellauer.

Karaba is the new signing on Kryptox. The Berlin label founded to show what’s happening in the German Jazz crossover scene. One of these bands is Karaba from Munich. The band was already featured on the Kryptox Kraut Jazz Futurism Compilation in 2019. Now they deliver their first mini album for Kryptox. Five young guys from Munich. Skilled and tight on their instruments and deeply rooted in the heritage of all kind of wild forms of jazz, krautrock and psychedelic music.

South London soul artist Andrew Ashong returns with his first full release since 2014 – an expansive six-track collaboration with Kaidi Tatham, the unrivalled underground virtuoso described as the UK's Herbie Hancock. Endorsed and supported by: Benji B, Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscoft, J Rocc, Alexander Nut, Jamz Supernova, Ross Allan, DJ Moxie, Funkineven, Taro (Jazzy Sport), Charlie Bones, Bradley Zero and many more...

Amsterdam-based keyboardist, composer and owner of the Flowriders studio Vincent Helbers released his debut album ‘Hear To See’ as Seravince in 2013. A blend of broken beat, future soul and multiple adjective-jazz styles, compiled in a masterfully mixed 45-minute album. Now, 7 years later, the album is released on vinyl for the first time in a limited quantity of 150 copies. Seravince’s 'Hear To See' sees Vincent cultivating his extensive experience inside the studio. The album is deeply rooted in broken beat drum grooves, provided by longtime collaborator and UK drummer extraordinaire Richard Spaven. These are accompanied by the jazz-inspired harmonies and solos from Seravince himself. All musical elements are one takes, recorded on analogue tape. “I want the sound to maintain the rawness and organic vibe”, Seravince explains. The sensual vocals on the album are courtesy of RH Factor singer Renee Neufville (us) and Sharlene Hector (uk), who’s worked together with Reel People and Basement Jaxx.

Volume 2: Another healthy dose of iconic reworked, retouched and edited tracks steamily rising up from the unique and magic poolside of Pikes Hotel (Ibiza). A trusted taste that has lead to Jazz N Palms warm-up the monthly exclusive Ronnie Scott's (London) jazz concerts held at Pikes. Jazz music fused sartorially with Latin, funk, rock and international sounds to be enjoyed under the palms and sun of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ralph Heidel is one of the young musicians that represent the spirit of Berlin’s new musical ecleticism better than others. He is part of the avantgarde circles that mix modern jazz and contemporary classical music with elements of new electronica and experimental ambient music.

London-Amsterdam connect for this lush one! UK legend IG Culture brings some London bruk boogie to the mix of Believe as Lcsm, the afro-futuristic jazz venture known as Likwid Continual Space Motion. A joint release between Dopeness Galore and INI Movement originator Shamis. “One for the real heads, made for dance floors in dim basements”

“The world has never claimed louder a raise in awareness for the ecosystem, and Daykoda picked up its call with his most organic project to date. The Milan based artist presents his 2nd full album Physis; a work that aims to recall the interdependency between Nature, meant as a whole living entity where we take part into, and Art which directly originates form this union. Drawing on Dakykoda’s signature tumbling jazz drums, wonky hip hop samples and billowing beats, Physis results meandering yet cohesive, climbing up and crawling low like the alternation of events that occur in Nature.”

Wah Wah 45s make a welcome return to the world of re-issues. Having started out over two decades ago releasing dance floor funk from Benny Poole, Cheyenne Fowler and The Googie Rene Combo, and later re-releasing obscure Kompa-funk from Haitian pianist Henri Pierre Noel, they now turn their attention to an overlooked early 90s acoustic soul gem.
About thirty years ago, music teacher and budding producer Alex Boyesen found himself working as part of the Haringey Music Workshop - a community programme and outreach project funded by the local council in Haringey, North London (coincidentally the area in which the Wah Wah head office is now based!).
"Anyone could come and get lessons for free - ranging from piano, sax, guitar, drums, bass, singing and workshops including choral, jazz band and more." Alex Boyesen
It was during that time that Alex came across a young Sam Edwards.
"One day I went into one of the rehearsal rooms and there, by herself, was this girl playing a piano and singing. It was the most incredible voice I had ever heard."
Before long, the pair were playing all over London as a duo with Alex on guitar and Sam on vocals.
"Sam had never had professional training, she was simply an utter natural."
The Haringey Music workshop was connected with other projects in the borough, in particular a community project called the Selby Centre. Here they ran training programs for young people and one of these was a music business course. The idea was that they found an artist, recorded them and then promoted them. One way or the other they ended up picking Alex and Sam to be on their roster.
"My good friend Nixon Rosembert was brought in to oversee the recordings and they hired the Islington Music Workshop to do the recording. We got musicians from the Haringey Music Workshop to play on the sessions and spent a day recording two songs -American CarsandLife. The training workshop had created a label called Progression Music and out the record went."
Three decades later and out of the blue Alex started to get interest again in the record he'd almost forgotten about all those years ago. It had become something of a sought after gem on Discogs, and there seemed to be an interest in that 'acoustic soul' sound once again.
"I got three people asking if they could re-release it and finally here we are with Wah Wah 45s doing the business after all these years."
It was Hospital Records and Wah Wah 45s founder, Chris Goss, who first brought the idea of releasing this record to the table.
"This is a really special record for me, picked up 30 years ago, from a young James Lavelle at Honest Jon's in Ladbroke Grove. Sam Edwards would go on to perform and write songs with North London's Izit, the acid jazz collective fronted by Tony Colman - with whom I have built a music company, these past 25 years. Alex Boyeson worked with Tony at the Haringey Arts Project, who produced a one-off vinyl release of Alex's two compositions back in 1991. Thanks to Alex and Tony, we have been able to clean-up the original audio, uncover photos and lyric sheets to present, with real love and affection, these two lost gems from a bygone era." Chris Goss, Feb 2021.
The project was then expanded by Dom Servini, who got heavy disco legend Ashley Beedle and co-label owner and erstwhile producer Adam Scrimshire in to take on remix duties.
"When approached by Dom Servini to reworkAmerican CarsI had no idea about the history of the original song. After a good listen myself and studio partner Darren Morris set to work and all I can say that it was a lovely experience keeping the vibe of the original but giving it a spaced out feel in true Afrikanz On Marz fashion." Ashley Beedle, Feb 2021.
"Remixing without multi-tracks always brings a bunch of challenges, getting the balance between the bass and drums in the original and what you want to do with your own version. The song really dictates certain things to you.
But it was such a pleasure to explore that with this beautiful song and vocal performance. So many ways to approach it. I just wanted to draw out more of the melancholy in the original and make it an absorbing experience." Adam Scrimshire, Feb 2021.
Perhaps the last word should be given to Alex himself, who's very much enjoying the new lease of life that his music with Sam is getting.
"As I write this we are trying to locate her, she's somewhere singing something, that's all she ever did. Thanks for being part of my life Sam and I am so glad that this small bit of that time is being remembered." Alex Boyesen, Feb 2021.

Limited to 150 copies. Amsterdam-based duo Shamis & Rebiere invite you to let go of daily stresses with the four-on-the-floor groover Rock It For Ya. The beats and soulful instrumentations are enriched with the vocals by Shamis, who also adds to the theme of the track in his lyrics. “Let me rock it ’til the lights go out and the sun will rise again” reminds us of a time we possibly all long for. Reminded of something Kaytranada-esque drum programming, the harmonies and chords really keep you engaged with the track. Shake It Off takes on a modern soul approach to the theme of the EP. With a slower pace than the A-side, it’s equally as infectious to make you move. The duo’s dynamic is most clear in the way certain synth licks and horn melodies blend together with Shamis’ soothing vocals. Lush chords and laid back drums provide a care-free feeling, perfectly underlining the concept of the EP. The EP comes with a remix of each track and both are very much in line with the theme. Fouk add a house touch to Rock It For Ya with a heavy bass line, capturing (or reminiscing) a club night feeling. B.Bravo adds his signature modern funk sound to Shake It Off, making it even more irresistible to maintain your body still. It’s evident that both understood how to translate the theme of the EP to their remixes.

‘saturday Specials’ sees the legendary Bristol drum & bass don Clipz remixing Everything Is Recorded’s acclaimed second album ‘Friday Forever’ in its entirety. Released Digital on 29th January via XL Recordings, ‘saturday Specials’ is Clipz’s first album length project and is a drum & bass masterpiece, split across three 12” vinyl editions. The album features a host of the original album’s vocalists and collaborators (including Berwyn, Ghostface Killah, Aitch, Sampha, Flohio and A.K. Paul) weaving in and out of Clipz's trademark future-facing productions.

‘saturday Specials’ sees the legendary Bristol drum & bass don Clipz remixing Everything Is Recorded’s acclaimed second album ‘Friday Forever’ in its entirety. Released Digital on 29th January via XL Recordings, ‘saturday Specials’ is Clipz’s first album length project and is a drum & bass masterpiece, split across three 12” vinyl editions. The album features a host of the original album’s vocalists and collaborators (including Berwyn, Ghostface Killah, Aitch, Sampha, Flohio and A.K. Paul) weaving in and out of Clipz's trademark future-facing productions.

‘saturday Specials’ sees the legendary Bristol drum & bass don Clipz remixing Everything Is Recorded’s acclaimed second album ‘Friday Forever’ in its entirety. Released Digital on 29th January via XL Recordings, ‘saturday Specials’ is Clipz’s first album length project and is a drum & bass masterpiece, split across three 12” vinyl editions. The album features a host of the original album’s vocalists and collaborators (including Berwyn, Ghostface Killah, Aitch, Sampha, Flohio and A.K. Paul) weaving in and out of Clipz's trademark future-facing productions.

Jason Hogans follows releases for Planet E, Moods & Grooves, & Third Ear with his dedut 12" on the mighty Sound Signature.

Breaking up South London soul man, Ashong’s vocals into a ghostly exchange with a mind-bending bass line and double-time rhythm, the 'Street Dub' is unmistakable Matthew Herbert quirkiness. DJ, producer, songwriter & Femme Culture label founder, Elkka, brings her unmistakeable energy & power to Joyfulness. What was once a soothing, mellow-soul excursion is now a direct & inspiring dance-floor cut. Thumping kick drums, swirling hi-hat rhythms, jittery synth and robotic-steel-drum melodies reform Hector and Alexa's sublime production. On the B-side, Broken Beat legend Daz I Kue delivers a squelchy sub-heavy workout, full of percussive punchiness and new orchestral dimensions. Meanwhile south-London producer and DJ Shy One takes another Andrew Ashong collaboration, formerly playlisted on BBC Radio 6 Music, and goes deep, phasey and peculiar. Chopping outcuts of chat between Andrew and Hector, ethereal vocals and synths and delivering a heavy kick drum, with a touch of broken beat magic.

Neroli starts a new series of one offs releases within its own catalogue, with a seven inch double a-sider from Nicola Kramer. The urge to finally put on wax these beautiful songs produced by Domu in 2008 was the sparkle that brought Volcov to create this Neroli From The Archive series [references to his old label Archive and the From the Archive radio shows and compilations are pretty clear]. Nicola Kramer was the phenomenal voice behind many Domu, Rima, Bakura songs with appareances also on Jazzanova and Chateu Flight releases. But especially on her only solo album The Other Side, from which these two songs are taken, she shines immensely with her unique ghostly soulful tones.

Glenn Astro returns to Tartelet Records with Purple, a four-tracker of minimal slow burners and futuristic dance music, marking the label’s 50th 12-inch release. Since releasing his second album Homespun in late 2020, Glenn Astro has been quietly channeling his funky instincts towards new production approaches. Purple, a four-piece compilation of mutant future-boogie daubed in Rogers-Nelson hues, comes through with emotional heft. It also marks the 50th 12" release for Tartelet Records. “Following up on Homespun, I wanted to try out some more dancefloor- oriented tracks again,” says Glenn Astro. “Keeping it simple and practical, while not being too predictable. I incorporated a lot of modular synth bits and experiments, with ‘Flux’ being an almost exclusively modular-based jam.” Incorporating tricky sound design and fluid structures, Astro’s new lines of enquiry never come at the expense of the groove. From the opening thump of ‘Penduloop’ onwards it’s apparent that his rugged rhythmic kinks are present and correct to hook in the dancers, while the melodic drops later in the track edge in a little melancholic flavour to take the mind somewhere else entirely. On this opening track, the artist explores new territory with his version of early naughties minimal house – a welcome slow burner. The EP title track ‘Purple’ slaps with purpose, not least in the Linn-esque drums and melodic bassline, but it’s a positively dreamy piece which skips on crooked beat formations and floats upwards via a multi-timbral tapestry of yearning synth shapes and robotic vocals. On ‘Out Of Office’ Glenn Astro provides a generous dose of electro nostalgia when he amps up the heavy-hearted feeling with aching string pads and electro-informed machine logic. The track becomes alive with its deep un-synced rhythms and dark bass notes, pushing further into the abyss. ‘Flux’, with its tooly feel, takes the electronic mantra further and sheds light on the source of much of Astro’s new sound palette. Crucially, even in its techiest moments, an irrepressible humanity shines through across Purple. Glenn Astro’s soul is the binding agent which links his early, sample-heavy house to his more explorative new angles, and it comes through in abundance on this fully-formed release.

Japan’s Freedom School Records has been home to legendary artists like Kaidi Tatham, Rick Wilhite, IG Culture, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Eric Lau, etc. For the fourth in the DJ Series of 12s, Freedom School welcomes Detroit’s Julion De’Angelo. With previous releases on Meakusma, Tone Log & Sound Signature, Julion continues to cultivate his heavy sound rooted in the Black American experience. From funky bass lines, driving percussion & soaring strings, the depth of emotions can be heard throughout these pandemic perspectives.

We start with Dedicated, where dual basslines and live congas make way for pads and piano stabs that keep dancers dedicated to movement. On Vis/on he finds hypnotic space for meditation in a hip hop tone. As a tribute to the energy of the sun, Doors (Rē)Open (co-produced with newcomer Sabré J) lays the groundwork for joyful moments on dance floors everywhere, with samples from an Amiri Baraka piece layered to accent the energies found within the tones. Closing with Requiem, a low-slung piece with strings, flutes, and choppy percussion, he reflects and pays respects to lives lost in this past year. This is another output from De’Angelo that is at once immersive, introspective, explosive and expressive.

Velour’s highly praised debut album on Wolf Music sees four of its standout tracks remixed from Wolf family old and new. Mainstays of the label Frits Wentink and Hulk Hodn join forces with new link ups, Footshooter and 20/10, for this crispy 10 inch. First up to bat, German beatsmith Hulk Hodn fires up the MPC and chops ‘Tom’s Garage’ into a hazy, head nodder before South London’s Footshooter takes ‘Into The Blue’ through a synth heavy whirlwind of broken beat grooves. On the flip, and fresh off the back of his Dekmantel release, Frits Wentink stamps his idiosyncratic expertise on ‘Pose’ for a walking bass bubbler. Closing out proceedings, Velour’s very own Vinzent Wirth, under the moniker 20/10, reworks ‘Luminate’ into a Detroit influenced, jazz tinged, sunset house gem.

Emerging from the Toronto warehouse scene, Tush is a rising electronic music act powered by Kamilah Apong and Jamie Kidd. Taking inspiration from electro funk, early disco, post-punk and '90s house; their debut album 'Fantast' embodies the rawness, vulnerability, and intimacy of the dancefloor.
'Fantast' kicks off with the slow burning 'Wavy Baby', an invitation to get close, get intimate and submit to the groove: "Vulnerability is the key to us getting to that next step of intimacy". Up next is lead single 'Chrysalis', a high octane ride through a technicolour fantasy world of heady synths and driving rhythms that propel Kamilah's voice into an erotic stratosphere.
'Don't Be Afraid' is about having the courage to love defiantly, urgently, and with intention. Driven by Jamie's infectious bass lines and FX blasts, it smoothly transforms into an uplifting gospel-infused track.
Two high points of the album, 'Jessica F***' and 'Marathons', highlight Tush doing what they do best. These tracks are the sound of the warehouse scene that birthed the project in the first place and the late night jam sessions that were full of possibility pre-pandemic. Here, Tush really stretch their improvisational muscles - the interplay of raw soulful vocals, hypnotic basslines, synth pads, and heavy disco rhythms is at the core of what makes them so invigorating.
'Fantast' closes with the uplifting sunrise energy of 'My Joy', the light at the end of the tunnel. "This song is enchanted by the backing vocals of my friends and chosen family, who are my cornerstones to working through the wonderful mess that I am". Kamilah adds "The track gives me this feeling that - no matter how hard the world tries to beat it out of me - I can and I have had to work hard to cultivate my own happiness in my own sacred spaces - one of those being Tush. Ultimately, this is all I really need".

Russian duo Scruscru and Mike Fot join forces for the 'Spliff Jamz Vol.1' EP on SlothBoogie Records this September. Following a series of visits to Moscow between 2018 and 2020 to play at Powerhouse club, Scruscru would swing by Mike Fot’s apartment for a smoke and a jam session, working with a variety of Roland and Korg gear late into the night. The results of these sessions have led to a series of ‘Spliff Jamz’ EPs; with the first four tracks being presented now via SlothBoogie Records. ‘Spliff Jazz’ leads the release, as the name would suggest fusing an amalgamation of intricately processed jazz samples and off-kilter jazz-tinged drums with modulating synth swells and heavy doses of sub bass. ‘Lazy Daydreaming’ follows and tips the focus over to a soft haze of ethereal pads, acid bass, resonant licks and bumpy drums. ‘Got U’ opens the flip-side, stripping things back with a focus on crunchy electro leaning drums, a snaking elongated bass groove and wandering Rhodes like synth tones. ‘Hauz Bonger’ then rounds out the release, shifting direction to a classic organ fuelled house vibe with choppy breaks, shuffled percussion and soaring vocals throughout.

Electronic-jazz pioneer Mark de Clive-Lowe returns with the second installment of his Midnight Snacks EP series. Vol.2 kicks off with two dedications: “Crush Velvet”, a break-heavy, broken beat jam full of twists and turns, dedicated to Phlash – Mark’s mentor and dear friend, the late great Phil Asher. “Sorceress” is dedicated to the legend Chick Corea, a reworking of his Return to Forever classic by the same name. Featuring Mark’s lithe rhodes and piano lines, it’s perfect for the jazz-minded dancefloor. Side B kicks off with the downtempo head-nod of “Float into ETHer” before taking things back up-tempo again with “Joyful Resistance Part II” – a latin jazz-flavored 3/4-time broken beat samba keeping our spirits high in these unpredictable times. An EP packed full of future classics from one of the masters of the game.

Honing your skills is under-appreciated in times of instant gratification and the continuous stream of music. Rotterdam-based producer Kofi The Unknown subverts this idea and took time for spiritual introspection, studying rhythms and sound production. Where being a late bloomer normally is seen as a sobriquet, the producer, composer and beatmaker wears it as a badge of honour and solidifies it as an honorary title by pinning it to his debut EP on Wicked Wax: The Late Bloomer. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Kofi The Unknown shares his journey that led to The Late Bloomer, an emotional journey through sophisticated dance music, straight from the heart, aimed at the soul and feet.

Highly influential to Kofi’s sound and this EP is London’s Broken Beat scene. Syncopated drums, soulful chords and heavy bass lines work in tandem to emphasise the danceability the genre is known for. This is further solidified by the track Kofi released leading up to this release: One for Motet, an ode to the Broken Beat MC and Jazz Refreshed host Jason Hicks. The Late Bloomer further develops Kofi’s ode, but provides his Rotterdam flavour and brings his Hip Hop and Funk lineage into the mix.

Embrace Mistakes sets the stage for what’s to come in various ways. It is a textbook case of how dance music can tell a story and be introspective. Kofi’s honesty shines bright on the entire EP and strikes from the first kick drum on. It also shouldn’t be hard to recognise and feel the emotion the producer shares on the title track The Late Bloomer. The emotionally-laced chords and crushing drums are reminiscent of late nights at a warehouse or emotional sequences from a dystopian movie.

Staying true to his ethos ’exploring the university that music holds’, Kofi finds this beyond music production as The Late Bloomer provides an audible experience through creative mixing. Stuttering analog synths, enveloping leads, multiple percussion rhythms and off-beat snare rolls hit from all directions of the stereo spectrum, further underlining the sophistication of his merit. While the EP follows the Broken Beat accents on dance, it is an equally mindful listening experience.

Kofi The Unknown is a Rotterdam native producer with a knack for rhythms. His keen ear is informed by mentor and Dutch enigma Trian Kayhatu. While Kofi has taken the time to perfect his skills under the guidance of Trian, the two are simultaneously working on the exciting follow-up project to this debut EP. Without looking too far ahead, enjoy The Late Bloomer. It’s not only a crown jewel Kofi proudly wears, it is also establishing him as a future household name in the sophisticated dance scene. "

Massimo Napoli is a DJ from Catania with a passion for jazz and black music. He began his musical career in the early 90s playing funk, hip hop, and acid jazz in clubs, contributing to the spreading of the most eclectic and refined sounds in Sicily.

Departing from club culture with particular emphasis on electronic dub, Galathea unfolds into many influences and styles, making it a unique listening experience. Mediterranean culture, afro and cinematic melodies, jazz, spiritual echoes, and soothing beats lead the listener into a subliminal escape, where the fluidity and the convergence of genres freely progress into a dream-like journey. In

"Afrique," the melody and the rhythmic Nigerian Afro-funk blend with dub tonalities into a subtle listening experience, enriched by Kadi Koulibaly's vocal performance in the unreleased video version for the first time on vinyl

"Sunset Dub" was written in collaboration with musician and producer Salvo Dub; the song starts with a dynamic and percussive session and progresses into minimal dub tones and electronic. An alternative vibe version of it never released before is the perfect blend for a barefoot dance by the sea

“This is African Jazz" never releases on Vinyl is inspired by the Savannah sounds; it carries the listener on a refined journey accompanied by an African dub and percussions.

‘SON’ was recorded in London and Freetown between 2019-21. Inspired by the pair’s shared love of choral music, it began as an experiment to explore playing with the voice in more creative ways, using layered vocals as an instrument following piano harmony, arrangement and sampling.

The project started in London with the title track and became a story about a world in which we hide our true ‘colours’ in order to fit in. A mother tells her son that he needs to fit in to survive before realising that she is following the same tropes passed on to her as a child. Following this realisation she encourages her son to protect his dreams and not to listen to anybody telling him he can’t be whatever he chooses.

Rosie joined Duval for a week in Freetown in February 2020 where they wrote the rest of the project, bringing friends Daniel Koroma, Kandeh Bangura, Valentine Coker, Chino Greene and Tom Herbert in for musical contributions;

“We were interested in bringing our surroundings into the recordings; leaving doors open, recording in different spaces and locations, inviting the listener to experience the life that was going on around us whilst capturing the process”.

Full-colour inner sleeve
Illustrations by Duval Timothy
Insert of a specially commission Julianknxx poem
Shrink-wrapped

“Son” will be released digitally and on limited-edition green vinyl on November 12th via Carrying Colour. The music was written, performed and produced by Duval Timothy and Rosie Lowe, mixed by Marta Salogni and mastered by Heba Kadry. The artwork was designed by Duval Timothy.

Honeycomb Music is extremely proud to present the latest 7" vinyl release from the incomparable Josh Milan, entitled "Come Dance With Me (Parts 1 & 2)". This song, about a man desiring a woman who is preoccupied with someone else, is an impeccably produced mid-tempo tune, cleverly done in two parts. Each part showcases Milan's unmatched talents as a singer, songwriter, and producer. Milan explains that the inspiration for this song came from jazz artist Kurt Elling. "In the song, 'Change Partners,' Kurt Elling sings about desiring a woman who is dancing with another man. He's waiting for his chance to get close to her, asking her to 'change partners'". Milan was also inspired by his childhood experiences of performing in the Brooklyn Boys Chorus where they sang classical music. The classical guitar is performed by the incredible Dave Manley while the operatic vocal is performed by the phenomenal Dawn Tallman. It is hard to properly express the amount of dynamism at play in one song! All of these performances are goosebump-inducing and deeply spiritual. With Josh Milan at the helm, "Come Dance With Me" is a sure-fire winner with surprising twists and turns along the way.

Band on the Wall's latest 7" release is from producer, musician & DJ Contours. Known for applying his own percussive dexterity, his sound is placed within the intersection of House, Jazz, Broken-Beat and percussive experimentation. Double A-side 'The Programme / Conga Quinto (Dub)' is the latest in an ongoing sonic evolution for Contours, having released music on labels including Rhythm Section, Tru-Thoughts, Anma Records, in turn receiving praise from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff, Alex Nut and Bradley Zero.
Premiered by Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music, covered by The Vinyl Factory, Music is My Sanctuary, Stamp the Wax, Resident Advisor, Bolting Bits. Airplay from Laani on Worldwide FM, Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Midnight Conversation 2 is the new LP by the Italian duo based between Bologna and Berlin. The album waves through progressions in jazz, hip hop, house, and broken beats featuring an exclusive collaboration on the track ‘123’ with Capofortuna. Following their debut album ‘Midnight Conversation 1’ previously selected between the most exciting projects from Juno Records back in 2018 this new LP is truly something to behold.

Regrowth' by Sampology is an album that his last two EPs 'Natural Selections' & 'Mt Glorious' have built towards. Despite his love for sampling - with the exception of the Mariana Ingold sample on the opening song on 'Regrowth (Peace Lily)' - all of the samples you hear on the album are recorded from scratch either in his home studio or on his travels over the past four years. Regrowth has string quartets, woodwind, full 20-piece choirs, vibraphones, double bass, various pianos and synths. Vinyl package includes a die cut 3mm spine outer sleeve revealing a beautiful foliage wrapped inner sleeve which includes full liner notes For every 500 copies of vinyl pressed, Middle Name Records will commit to planting 100 trees through the fantastic work from ReForest Now. www.reforestnow.org.au