Super Spring Sonic Selections

Mistical – The Eleventh Hour

Label: Soul:r

Genre: Drum’n’Bass

Marcus Intalex, Calibre and ST Files pull their finger out and bring us a positively sparkling longplayer in the shape of “The Eleventh Hour”. Showing there’s life in the old dog yet, this album proves that despite the fact that D&B is restricted by its strict genre confines, it is still possible to make genuinely fascinating rolling bassline and kickin’ percussion dominated records. With its fair share of vocal and sweet instrumental led efforts, this album will actually sound nice at home as well as in a sweaty club. Instead of making you yearn for the ‘golden era’ of the mid-late 90s, Mistical’s soul’n’jazz drenched sound makes you wish more producers still made such damn invigorating D&B tunes as these. Highlights include tunage such as the soaring “Time To Fly”, the trumpet dominated “Groove Me” and technified roller “Believe”, which features a certain Robert Owens on vocal duties. This is an album to make you fall in love with D&B for the first time or to re-ignite that dormant passion.

Makossa & Megablast – Kunuaka

Label: G-Stone

Genre: Dub/Electronica/House

Marcus Intalex, Calibre and ST Files pull their finger out and bring us a positively sparkling longplayer in the shape of “The Eleventh Hour”. Showing there’s life in the old dog yet, this album proves that despite the fact that D&B is restricted by its strict genre confines, it is still possible to make genuinely fascinating rolling bassline and kickin’ percussion dominated records. With its fair share of vocal and sweet instrumental led efforts, this album will actually sound nice at home as well as in a sweaty club. Instead of making you yearn for the ‘golden era’ of the mid-late 90s, Mistical’s soul’n’jazz drenched sound makes you wish more producers still made such damn invigorating D&B tunes as these. Highlights include tunage such as the soaring “Time To Fly”, the trumpet dominated “Groove Me” and technified roller “Believe”, which features a certain Robert Owens on vocal duties. This is an album to make you fall in love with D&B for the first time or to re-ignite that dormant passion.

V/A – Freshly Composted Vol 2

Label: Compost

Genre: House/Techno/Broken Beat/Cosmic Disco

Munich daddies Compost celebrate two and a half centuries of releases with the second instalment of their Freshly Composted round-up series. Seemingly accepting the fact that even listeners with a broad musical palate are unlikely to love every release on the imprint, due to the sheer diversity of their roster, this comp serves up astounding electronic morsels for all persuasions. Kicking off as they mean to go on, Carl Craig’s stringtastic mix of Beanfield’s “Tides” still makes back of the neck hairs stand to attention, whilst Todd Terje’s revisitation of Felix Laband’s “Whistling In Tongues” is simply divine. Other choice efforts include Muallem’s deft discontronic weapon entitled “Shanti Dance” and Soil & Pimp’s devastating jazz-bang-wallop session that is “Waltz For Goddess”. This far-reaching compilation shows that Compost are still ahead of the game, 250 releases down the line!

Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity

Label: ATP

Genre: Indie/Electronica

This album is like a friend who is crazy in a loveable, zany type of way, not in the way that makes you fear they may end up getting themselves committed. At times, you really question what the hell is going on, but in places the innocent key melodies, jiggling guitars, way-off beats and quirky lyrics actually make perfect sense. Thankfully, even the weirder efforts possess a zany charm and the length of most tracks mean that you’re not subjected to unbounded deranged musical action for too long! “The Perfect Me” is a surging guitar and organ driven collision, whilst burnt guitars and angelic vocals sweep across “Believe E.S.P” and “Kidz Are So Small” is delightful oddball effort. A delightfully wild long player!

V/A – Ame…Mixing

Label: Sonar Kollektiv

Genre: House/Techno/Electronica

A production force to be reckoned with and well-versed when it comes to selecting records, Ame decided against resting on their “Rej” laurels and have blessed us with this stellar compilation. Proving there’s more to their musical palate than the pointy teched up House that characterised their 12″ releases, “…Mixing” features all manner of electronic goodness, from slow burning post-disco hummers and sweet House vocal gems to serious technotronic club tackle. Notables include New Musik’s cute keyed “24Hours From Culture (Part II)”, Osunlade’s trippy refit of Ben West beech’s “So Good” and Ame’s own uplifting “Nia”. An electronic dream!

Spirit Catcher – Night Vision

Label: 2020 Vision

Genre: Disco/House

Discotronic daddies Spirit Catcher have been making a racket of late, proving that the Belgian’s can produce modern disco-housey flavours as well as the rest of them. Warm keys’n’synths dominate most of the tunes and whilst that does make some of them sound a little samey, Spirit Catcher are skilled producers and so the best tracks stand out. “Sweet Deal” is the winner, with its circling synth lines and THC dipped keys, with the slovenly “Motown Spring” and floaty “Hidden Memories” also working wonders. Sweet-toothed discoid niceness!

Arnold Jarvis – Love and Life

Label: Music For A Lifetime

Genre: House

NY vocalist Arnold Jarvis has one of the most distinctive voices in House music and this compilation features some of his hottest recent efforts. Jarvis has worked with loads of big name souly-house production kings, and some of them have managed to get the most out of his sonorous vocal tones. It is difficult not to be won over by efforts such as the jubilant “Inspiration”, calming “Music Is My Friend” or the tearful “Life Goes On”. I don’t feel that every track is A Grade AJ material, but there are enough winners to excite vocal House devotees.

V/A – Secret Love 3

Label: Sonar Kollektiv

Genre: Downtempo/Singer-Songwriter

There’s nothing covert about this collection of folkaphonic singer-songwriter ditties, bittersweet white soul efforts and enchanting lofi electronica chosen by Jazzanova and Resoul. There are a number of familiar faces and there’s little to argue with the majority of the selection, but it’s perhaps the less familiar figures that surprise the real winners. A special mention must go to Inch-Time’s mysterious yet arresting “Icicles & Snowflakes”, Hanne Hukkleberg’s disturbing “Do Not As I Do” and Max & Harvey’s violin blessed “Sleep”. An ideal collection for the quiet times.

Luz Mob – Luz Interpretations

Label: Crystal Top Music

Genre: Downtempo/Hip Hop/Latin

Mr. Luz and his crew somehow manage to be incredibly respectful to the traditional music styles they reference, when fusing them with contemporary rhythm tracks. Truly a mix of styles and flavours, Luz do it with guts and a cheeky swagger that puts pretentious ‘world’wise producers to shame. It’s hard not to get drawn into the romantic “Ella Se Fue”, with its gorgeous brass and grounded beats, whilst “The S.F.C.” is all bass clarinet pondering and trumpet pressure. An unexpected special treat.

Frank N Dank – The EP

Label: Dopeness Galore

Genre: Hip Hop/Broken Beat

Amsterdam’s blunted Hop wonders Kid Sublime and co. get to grips with Detroit rappers Frank N Dank on this extended player that just about fit’s the LP bracket. F&D’s lyrics are pretty run of the mill but entertaining, and the Dutch producers doped up backing tracks make things interesting. “One Time For The…” is a post-g-funk groover penned by I.N.T., with swirling synths, gleaming keys and unsteady beats. Kid Sublime does the job on “Clap Hands”, where his key covered inverted beats and jumpy stabs hit home. A neat cross-Atlantic collaboration.

Miguel Migs – Those Things

Label: NRK

Genre: House

It may be close to a decade since this West Coast pin-up boy burst onto the scene with a barrage of breathtaking silky smooth vocal House ditties and dubbed up rollers, but this album proves that Miguel Migs isn’t past it quite yet. Sure, he relies on the same production motifs, however Miguel’s style has definitely developed over the years. Personally, I don’t feel he’ll ever eclipse his perfect early Naked Music productions or tunes like the spellbinding “That’s Why I’m Here” with Li’sha, but there are some cool vocal numbers on this album. “So Far” feat. LT is a bronzed guitar driven roller, as the Junior Reid assisted “Fire” goes for a discoid-reggae style and “Side To Side” lets the angelic Lisa Shaw question her partner’s fidelity over a cooling electronic groove. Expertly produced House from a West Coast don.

V/A – Coast2Coast: Ron Trent

Label: NRK

Genre: House

A name in House circles for eons, but a figure who keeps a rather low profile, Afro-Tech master Ron Trent brings us a rather rare mix collection in the form of this effort for NRK’s Coast2Coast series. Deep as you like and featuring a full range of organic vocal and instrumental ditties, this is a long player to submerge yourself in. Pitching recent favourites alongside time-honoured efforts, magical cuts include Cassio Ware’s deliciously passionate “Baby Love”, Aybee’s arresting “Brotherhood of the Power” and Aqua Bassino’s hopeful “We Could Be Friends”. A super-deep collection!

V/A – Sister Funk 2

Label: Jazzman

Genre: Soul/Funk

This is a highly emotive collection of funkified and soul-drenched numbers, plucked from obscurity and stuck on one Jazzman CD by Ian Wright. As usual, the sleeve notes enthuse about rarity of the original 7’s and give short biographies of each track, but it’s the music that’ll have your jaw dropping and heart rate quickening. Highlights include Coletta Woodson’s distressed “Follow The Wind”, the Fabulette’s flute kissed “Muddy Waters” and Barbara Mason’s tear-inducing “You Better Stop It”. A genuinely exciting soul’n’funk lesson!

V/A – Suck My Deck: Simian Mobile

Label: Bugged Out/New State

Genre: Electro/Tech/House

It seems a while since these apes first stumbled on the dancefloor in this incarnation. Since then they’ve dropped a slew of releases that have appealed to the guitar loving trendy crowd and older electronic fans. It’s hardly surprising they’re in demand behind the decks as well as behind the samplers and synths, and this comps shows they can hold their own. Stretching from unforgiving electronics to revivalist House efforts and slimline throbbers, efforts like Joakim’s deadly “Drumtrax”, Switch & Ms. Thing’s filthy “Love Guide”, Partial Arts glowing “Trauermusik” really hit home. This collection from SMD definitely draws on the current ‘in’ sounds, but is pretty fun all the same.

The Rurals – The Grass Is Always Greener

Label: Peng

Genre: House

Whether the grass actually is or isn’t greener in deepest Devon is debatable, but there must be something there that’s inspiring The Rurals to make such gorgeous music. The Rurals’ mix of organic instrumentation, heads down House beats and superlative songwriting is displayed as ever on this album, which is only available digitally and from peng.co.uk. Not a new album per se, but a collection of old’n’new faves, delectable delicacies come in the form of tracks like the smiley synth and mournful guitarred “Farmyard Blues” and the wistful “Red Kickers”. A beautiful collection.

Ben Mono – Hit The Bit

Label: Compost

Genre: Electro/House/Hip Hop

It’d be easy to dismiss this album as a trend-chasing cash-in, which melds flat-footed hop with buzzing electronics and spoken word to create a very ‘now’ sound. Some of the tracks are a little cringeworthy, but Mono’s choice of beats, bleeps and lyrics on certain efforts is kinda endearing. “Jesus Was A B-Boy” featuring Jemini is a growling bass bumper, whilst the Capitol A assisted “Beatbox” is a cute electro key dipped number. Electronified Hop grooviness!

The Mitchell & Dewbury Band – Beyond The Rains

Label: Mr. Bongo

Genre: Broken Beat/Latin/Nu Jazz/Soul

Mitchell & Dewbury show their wide-ranging influences and primary love for dancefloor jazz and deep soul, on this longplaying offering that originally saw the light of day in a slightly different incarnation. Hooking up with some fine artists, they attempt to get a myriad of musical ideas to blend together. “Spaces & Places” featuring Fertile Ground is certainly the stand-out cut here, as Navasha Daya’s irresistible vocals float over a pensive guitar, bright-eyed electric keys, wrathful bass and trickling keys. Billie Godfrey joins them on “Love Is Flowing”, an excited celebration of devotion, with elated strings, smiling keys and a moving guitar. “Rapping With The Gods” is not a Hip Hop based chat with those above, but a lively percussed track, with quick moving celestial keys, an assured circling guitar and brass glances. There are some wonderful moments here, but all the elements just don’t gel together quite as one would hope.

GusGus – Forever

Label: Pineapple/Gung Ho

Genre: House/Electro/Tech

All Housey and kinda prickly, this album is likely to fill the current desire for electronified vocal bangers. This LP is definitely ‘of its time’, with dirty synths and clattering percussion taking a leading role. Tracks of note include the desireful “Need In Me” and the wibbly wobbly “Lust”. There’s also a bonus disc, which features an interview and remixes.

Thomas Mapfumo – Choice Chimurenga

Label: Sheer Sound

Genre: Afro-Pop

In some ways this shimmering collection of poppy efforts from Thomas Mapfumo masks its true meaning to a western audience. Sung in Mapfumo’s native Shona, this ‘best of’ type CD is a declaration of struggle against an authoritarian regime, but the musical accompaniment often sounds rather jolly to the western ear. Thankfully, the sleeve notes will give audiences an indication of the story behind the music, but it’s difficult not to feel cheery when listening to the gorgeous instrumentation of tracks like the sonorously percussed “Marima Nazara” and golden guitar touched “Usatambe Nenyoka”. This is a heartwarming compilation of Mapfungo’s work.