Nu-Jazz | Broken Beat Vinyl 244 Items

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.

Two immensely talented musicians formally of dope soul/electronica four piece Electric Conversation from Paris. LaNote & Valet have a unique take on soul music with abstract rhythms and filtered textures yet memorable and beautiful songs with a genuine warmth of feeling, which is missing in so much contemporary music. This double album includes ‘Week-End’ which has also been remixed by the legendary DJ Spinna and ‘One Way’, blessed by a beautiful remix from Marc Rapson, both gaining support on the digital airwaves world wide. Further remixes come from the excellent aCatCalledFritz, Mecca:83, Simon S, Nicky Lars and Dusty (from Jazz Liberatorz).

“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.”

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”

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.

2020 was a big year for dj poolboi (aka Adam Ansley); his debut LP 'it's good to hear your voice' and a remix for Moby amongst his achievements - now the Austin native has turned his mind to the UK with a shimmering four-track release on Shall Not Fade. 'rarities ep' is the premiere release in a new series, Classic Cuts, which focuses on feel-good sounds of all styles, with a nostalgic edge.

Ansley describes his sound as "music to skate to" and rarities has some of that languid summertime feel to it, but has a vibe that brings to mind a boat party on some sun-baked French coastline more than a skatepark. It opens with 'Ghosts'; a track as melancholic as the title. Touched with faint vinyl crackle, lingering keys draw you into a driving house beat that is danceable despite its haunting air. Where 'Ghosts' has you slowly swaying to the beat, beer in hand, 'Tu Tienes Mi Corazon' is a hands-in-the-air banger - all subtle bassline and slow natural breaks. Saxophone melts in and out of the background and the A-side fades away into birdsong. On the B-side, 'Elope' leans into the summery day-party energy replete with syncopated organic percussion; it's a track that ebbs and flows wonderfully. Closing out the record, 'Before You Go' is the most "electronic" piece, a nod to electro that forefronts the earworm bassline. The EP is a balm for the soul that is made for the festival season.

Broken District presents Jus Jam “90s Anxiety”, the first mini LP from the label co-founder, delivering a deep dive into his hazy musical world inspired by the 90s aesthetic. A true journey, ranging from UK garage to dreamy hip-hop beats, evolving somewhere between early-electro sounds and new-jack swing.

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.

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.

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...

Fresh imprint Caldeira open their account with the first vinyl retrospective of Swiss composer Louis Crelier, whose FM sorcery and LinnDrum drama takes the listener away to an imaginary Africa. Standing proud amid the sound waves, Caldeira emerges with a singular mission; to bring us music with hidden depth. Whether it’s a reissue or retrospective, archival or original, each release reflects the Michelin-grade tastebuds of label founder Camille Bertin AKA Plastic Bamboo.

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.

Albert’s Favourites co-founder Adam Scrimshire is set to release his fifth album 'Believers Vol. 1’, featuring guests And Is Phi, Bessi, K.O.G., Omar, Xana & Faye Houston, Penya, Stac and Tamar Osborn. The album draws from Scrimshire's passion for jazz, soul and electronic music of all styles; from energetic Afro-disco through lushly orchestrated neo-soul to harmonious jazz experiments. 'Anadwo' opens the album, a bright, Afro-disco inspired groove written with Ghanaian artist K.O.G., and is possibly Scrimshire's most extroverted track to date. Regular collaborator Stac and Brighton singer and producer Bessi sing on snappy neo-soul tracks ‘Where Are We’ and ‘Lost In Space And Time’ respectively. And Is Phi brings an eclectic mix of jazz, poetry and improvisation to ‘Chance Me’ while ‘Transformation’ stars acclaimed saxophonist Tamar Osborn. Genre-defying quartet Penya feature on global-jazz epic ‘Tanto Tiempo’ and the incomparable Omar joins with Xana and Faye Houston on album highlight ‘Love Is Loving’. Cosmic-jazz instrumental ‘Peaceless Peace’ closes out ‘Believers Vol. 1’, ending a bold and positive album filled with creativity and joy. “Writing and producing my last album, ‘Listeners’, opened the floodgates for me. I’ve written more in the last 18 months than in years. Practicing for the live band levelled up my playing and opened up possibilities in writing I couldn’t find before. Since then I’ve written more than two albums worth of “Scrimshire” songs. But I really wanted to try and focus the experience and separate between music that represented the positivity and optimism I’ve experienced in recent years against my more introverted and angrier instincts. ‘Believers Vol.1’ represents warmth and hope. Everyone I worked with early in lockdown, seemed to want to express those longings for physical and emotional connection too. The whole album reaches out, I think it’s full of long embraces. But it is also, for me personally a love letter to black music and the black artists that shaped everything I care about sonically, from my very first memories of music until now. It draws from sounds I grew up around in the early to mid eighties, classic records from the seventies that I’ve never tired of, but important dance records from the late nineties and early 2000s that celebrated and subverted those ideas too.” Scrimshire released his fourth album 'Listeners' in summer 2019, which was supported across BBC Radio 6 Music, including an Album of the Day feature, as well as by Jamz Supernova, Jamie Cullum's Radio 2 Jazz Show, Worldwide FM and Amazing Radio. His earlier albums ‘Bight’ (2013), ‘The Hollow’ (2011) and ‘Along Came The Devil One Night’ (2009) were released on the Wah Wah 45s label, where he’s also now a co-owner and director. He has continued to gain support for his successful “Scrimshire Edits” series and has produced and mixed records for artists including Stac, Daudi Matsiko, Bastien Keb, Ronin Arkestra and Jonny Drop. Albert’s Favourites was formed by Adam, Dave Koor, and Jonny Drop, who designed the logo and artwork, and has released records by Hector Plimmer, Ronin Arkestra, The Expansions, Huw Marc Bennett, and Jonny Drop.

“Owl Parade” is the result of solo work of Przemysław Adach, having 15 years of experience in sound production, which resulted in a wide range of projects and singles in cooperation with many vocalists, rappers and musicians in the country and outside. This album combines everything at once – ambient, trip-hop, chillout with a large admixture of electronics, while mixing flavors with a cello, electric guitar or dynamic drums.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Summer Dance Forever - Amsterdam’s insanely popular international hip hop festival - Super-Sonic Jazz has teamed up with James Rudie & Evm128’s UK sound-culture imprint Dance Regular to release a ten-track explosion of organic soulful house, broken beat, and bass-heavy uplifting cuts, ripe for the dancefloor. A sterling compilation featuring the who’s-who of fresh and upcoming UK talent, the EP is a coming together of like-minded worlds, full of highly charged dynamic rhythms, driving melodies, garage-like beats and an impassioned and authentic joie de vivre that perfectly matches the festival’s energetic spirit, and sets the tone for its equally impressive programme.

The brainchild of DJs James Rudie and Evm128, Dance Regular was born out of an East London event series that focussed on soulful, bass and body music. Alumni of the CoOp Presents Selectors Assemble, IG Culture and Alex Phountzi’s championing of the Bruk movement, James Rudie & Evm128 have a set a like-minded course to channel the spirt of UK body music culture, with this 10-track EP a fiery illustration of some of the talents at their fingertips. Throughout the 10-energetic tracks you’ll discover the likes of Trev, Entek, Cengiz, and many more fresh, global acts with a penchant for stirring broken beat productions, and deep, soulful melodies. Living at the intersection of garage and house music, with a deep underlying appreciation of jazz, it seems only fitting that the UK crew deliver this choice collection of cuts through the Super-Sonic Jazz imprint.

This year, understandably, the crews behind the tenth edition of Summer Dance Forever will be taking the festival actives online. Normally held at Paradiso, the inner-city urban dance festival would normally bring in participants from across the globe for nine-days of battles, parties, and workshops. Over the course of the past ten years, Summer Dance Forever has welcomed the likes of Dam Funk, Theo Parrish, and DJ Spinna into its home at Paradiso. One face that has always been a constant behind the decks has been Dutch stalwart, and one-part Super-Sonic Jazz founder KC the Funkaholic. The label, festival, and events series has become the home for new and exciting jazz and soul sounds from The Netherlands, in addition to showcasing fresher, soulful global sounds, including IG Culture who debuted his Likwid Continual Space Motion on the label this year. With such a combined focus in harbouring new talent and love for deeper jazz influenced driving-dance music, the collaboration is befit for the honouring of such an important, cultural and respected institution.

A download code is included. Runden is a collaboration by Martin Brugger (bass) and Simon Popp (drums), both of contemporary Jazz quintet Fazer, and neo-classical pianist Carlos Cipa. Their debut LP is a conceptual record reflecting on Minimal Music, Afrobeat, and Dub Techno of the late 90s/early 2000s. While Cipa's solo works build on clear harmonies, for the recordings of Runden he prepared the piano to make it sound like a faintly tonal percussion instrument and his mechanical patterns contrast the syncopated drum grooves of Popp and the deep and sparse basslines of Brugger. The musicians explore, over the course of seven tracks, the concept of circular music. Each piece is based on a four-bar-motif played in a loop and varied subtly but steadily over time, creating a sense of eternal recurrence and timelessness. This makes Runden a meditative but demanding record, that only grows with every listen.

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.

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.

Fresh from their release on John Digweed's Bedrock Records under their more covert Techno guise 'Cypherpunx' the Brighton based duo Flip Fantazia unleash their debut album ‘The Trip’. Touching on influences from Air to Bonobo, The xx to DJ Shadow, ‘The Trip’ guides you down a road less travelled meandering through Downtempo, Electronica & Trip Hop with a few Jazzy twists & turns.

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.

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

George King began Catching Flies in late 2012, drawing inspiration from a wide-ranging palette of music including jazz, soul, hip-hop, house and electronica. His debut album 'Silver Linings' was released in July 2019 and was hailed as "a soundtrack to summertime" by The 405 and awarded Album of the Month by Future Music who described it as "a brilliantly eclectic record…a moving journey that will last long in the memory". Clash Magazine praised the LP's "killer beats" and "artfully orchestrated introspection" whilst London In Stereo praised its "exceptional production". Other coverage for the album included The Guardian, Complex, Dazed & Confused and Nowness, with radio support across BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, Worldwide FM and more. Artist support for 'Silver Linings' has come from the likes of Bonobo, Jungle (BBC Radio One Residency), Loyle Carner, George Fitzgerald and Lane 8.

A download code is included. After releasing two records with the quintet Fazer, German guitarist Paul Brändle presents his solo debut on Squama Recordings. Paul’s minimalist compositions move in slow-motion between Straight Ahead Jazz, Folk, and Blues, only subtly disclosing their musical origins. The album was recorded in Vienna during the annual ‘Hundstage’, a period in the summer during which the whole city succumbs to the sweltering heat. Short on oxygen, but not on ideas, Paul created 9 tracks of soothing excellence that are worth calming down for.

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!

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

“The second About Group recording for Treader,this time replacing Charles Hayward with Rupert Clervaux. His elegant drumming takes the group into new territories which together with Coxon’s simple and insistent guitar themes forms a regular backbone for four extended group compositions containing a surprising collision of sounds and influences. Pat Thomas, with his background in free jazz and improv, and Susumu Mukai, more commonly heard in the company of Floating Points, make strange bedfellows with Alexis Taylor’s mooger-foogered rhodes, but somehow it all crystallises perfectly.The clearest precedent for this engaging recording is Ege Bamyasi era Can,but really it occupies a position of its own…”

Electronic duo Spring Heel Jack return with a collaboration with the legendary American trumpeter and Pulitzer Prize nominee Wadada Leo Smith. Wadada was born in the Mississippi Delta and became immersed in the music of the great blues masters as a young musician. He then moved to Chicago and became an early member of the AACM alongside the likes of Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Malachi Favors and Roscoe Mitchell. Recorded last year in London, this LP sees Smith’s authoritative trumpet joined by Steve Noble’s drums and Pat Thomas’ piano, to make a stunning piece of aural theatre in six acts.

Hot Chip frontman Alexis originally presented these recordings on Treader in 2008- his debut solo recording. Finally available on LP, this set of intimately recorded, bespoke songs and instrumentals is dedicated to his partner, Keri Darn. Charming and Disarming.

Deep jazz & hip hop meet on "DAYS PAST", a new LP from THE PETER FRANKS GROUP. Produced by SIMON S, "DAYS PAST" incorporates a lush, live vibe with hard drums, deep basslines, organic keys & standout solos alongside dusty samples. Remixes include stellar work from QUIET DAWN,BUSCRATES & MECCA:83.

Released for the first time in CD and Digital format in 2017 this is the sixth album by Luca Trevisi LTJ Xperience It contains some of his most played songs such as Get Down, Let There Be Groove, Put Me Down and the one that gives the title to the album Beggar Groove here in its two versions. The release is in a limited edition double album on White vinyl. Luca LTJ Trevisi (ltj Xperience) trained as a producer DJ in the late 1980s. Resident first at the Kinki Club in Bologna and then at Cap Creus in Imola, he is one of the first Italian DJs to program house and above all to re-propose Black Music, Jazz and Latin Bossa, all the genres that then over time gave way to Acid Jazz and Nu Jazz. He began his work as an artist and producer with Irma Records and in the 90s also his activity as an international DJ who saw him play at the Blue Note and the Jazz Café in London, at the Giant Steps in New York and at the Jazz Festival in Montreaux.

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.

Sound Signature celebrates 20 years with an LP from Dego & Kaidi.

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.

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.

Buttering Trio, founded in 2010, consists of KerenDun on vocals and tenor saxophone, Rejoicer on loops and synths and Beno Hendler on bass. All three band members are also producers, mostly active between Tel Aviv and Berlin. Combining colourful studio productions with sweet yet poignant lyrics, the trio rearranges the definition of beat making, mixing up all genres.

The new album 'Threesome' was recorded in three different studios in three different cities - London, Berlin and Tel Aviv, during 2015 and 2016. It is the band's 3rd LP released on Raw Tapes Records (not including their 1st EP 'Party Bear').

One per customer!

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

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.

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!

Journeyman, DJ, radio presenter, beat raconteur – it’s been hard to keep up with all of iZem‘s movements lately. The innovative Lisbon-based French producer has been hard at work on his debut LP Hafa, exploring the sounds of Latin America and North Africa in a vivid analogue-digital, genre-defying soundscape that is sure to leave your head spinning. Inspired by cultural greats like Jack Kerouac, Paul Bowles, Tahar Ben Jelloun and Matisse, iZem spent time soaking up the atmosphere at the inspiring Café Hafa, an idyllic cliff-pop joint overlooking the strait of Gibraltar, in Tangier, Morocco, which has formed a golden backdrop to his debut LP. Brimming with soulful exoticism, personal narratives and adventurous collaborators, Hafa has been an experiment in taking on the afro-centric sounds of his journey to-date by incorporating modern, introspective songwriting and hybrid beats.
Often writing music whilst crossing continents, the only place iZem allows dust to settle is in the heart, heat and rhythms of his local-global future sounds. A decade of nomadism between Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Ireland and Portugal made way for a series of critically acclaimed EP’s and remixes for Soundway, GAMM, Far Out, Agogo, ZZK records, Wah Wah 45s, and Mais Um Discos. Arrival on the global, forward-thinking, artistically leftfield scene was predicted by Gilles Peterson, XLR8R, Okay Player and fellow tropical hed Quantic. iZem is an acronym for “In Ze Early Morning” and his debut album “Hafa” evokes new days dawning in far-off lands and stirring horizons of the present. So if you aren’t hearing iZem’s pastiche of future tropical rhythms and organic grooves on stations such as BBC, KCRW or Funkhaus Europa, then make sure you you catch him raising the dance floor temperature on one continent or another.

Susso, aka bassist / producer Huw Bennett, creates music inspired by, and directly sampling, the magnificent sounds of the Mandinka people, recorded during a recent trip to Gambia. Initially travelling with the aim of gaining perspective as a musician and to discover a new world of music first hand, Huw found himself humbled by such a welcoming community of artists, mostly belonging to the celebrated Suso and Kuyateh griot families. The tracks are composed entirely from original source material, field recordings and Huw’s talents as a multi-instrumentalist; performing tuned percussion from the region including the Mandinka Balafon, Kutiringding drum, aswell drawing on his skill as a professional upright / electric bassist. The music produced has a contemporary electronic sound, whilst still paying homage to a traditional Gambian aesthetic. Keira (meaning peace) guides the listener through Huw’s journey up the River Gambia, being welcomed into remote dusty villages, where your people are the most important thing in life.

New album by the maestro! Parrish's electronics getting blended with a good dose of Jazz & Soul influence - here the past collides with the future.

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.

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.

Follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Play" album from 2011!

The "Funkinevil" project is the collaboration between Detroit's Kyle Hall and London producer Funkineven. Raw funk recorded to reel to reel, featuring a keyboard solo from Underground Resistance player Jon Dixon.

Ladi6 is a singer with soul. A singer with a hip-hop background and masses of pop-appeal. A singer who first gained attention through her features with the legendary New Zealand export-band Fat Freddy's Drop, but who has also performed alongside such diverse artists as Gil Scott-Heron, Mayer Hawthorne and Mos Def. In short: A singer whose eyes have seen much and whose style is not governed by rules. As if that wasn't enough, her enormous charisma enables her to win her audience over within minutes with full support of her band of Parks and Julien Dyne (BBE).
The 30-year old has always endeavored to use music to tear down barriers and dissolve purported genre-boundaries. With her previous album, "Time Is Not Much" (BBE) which was produced by Parks and Mu (Fat Freddy's Drop), Ladi6 has already taken a perfect shot at her goal, which, combined with the interplay between the many diverse elements of the music, has a highly impressive effect. "The Liberation Of…" has already top the New Zealand independent charts for consecutive weeks and her single "Like Water" is the #1 independent New Zealand song on radio.

Ladi6, a New Zealander of Samoan origin, feels a deep connection to her homeland. And her homeland has suffered some tragic events in recent years: One and a half years ago, the South Sea paradise of Samoa was stuck by a Tsunami. Ladi6, whose real name is Karoline Tamati, was present when the wave of destruction arrived. A few weeks ago an earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch - the town in which her family lives. Again, Karoline bore witness to a natural catastrophe inflicting deep wounds on the soul of a population.

All the more surprising then, that 'The Liberation Of…' doesn't for one moment sound burdened or melancholy. Quite the contrary, in fact: It is an easygoing, feel-good album. The title of the record, however, suggests both the aim of the songs and the result, which their creation has achieved. For the album is exactly that, which its title suggests: Liberation.

4 heavy remixes by General Elektriks, Chinese Man, Boom Bass and Bost & Bim!