soul jazz records’ latest excursion into the crescent city vaults delves deep into the roots and history of the voodoo world of new orleans funk. packed to the brim with serious break-heavy, heavyweight funk tunes from classic new orleans artists including eddie bo, betty harris, dave bartholomew, johnny adams and eldridge holmes (with the ever-present allen toussaint and the meters as always behind the scenes). there is also a host of rare cuts from a number of lesser-known second line new orleans artists, whose fame rarely reached past the walls of the city, including gus ‘the groove’ lewis, james k-nine, norma jean, bob french, chuck colbert, zilla mayes and joe haywood. comes as heavyweight 180 gram double vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code included.

neben dem original-album aus dem jahre 1960 enthält diese 180 gramm vinyl zwei bonustracks, aus dem gleichen aufzeichnungszeitraum: messin‘ with the blues und das instrumental hold it. limitierte pressung auf 180 gramm vinyl.

diese lp enthält eines der besten alben des bb king: the blues (1958), die ursprünglich zu beginn seiner karriere veröffentlicht wurde. ergänzt mit vier bonustracks aus der gleichen zeit. limitierte pressung auf 180 gramm vinyl.

unknown johnny cash writings brought to life as new songs by chris cornell, ruston kelly & kacey musgraves, rosanne cash, alison krauss & union station, brad paisley and more. comes as double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with download code included.

rsd 2018 release, limited edition of 1000 numbered copies on 7 inch vinyl.

unique soul jazz records’ record store day seven-inch box set which brings together a stunning five-single/ ten track selection of mind-blowingly groovy selection of african, latin, jazz and funk music from the congo. absolutely killer and essential tracks (mostly unknown) from the masters of the vibrant congo scene in the 1960s – featuring the groups franco & ok jazz, rock-a-mambo, african jazz, african fiesta and more. roots african meets dizzy gillespie, james brown, ray barretto & more. the bomb! this unique box-set edition is only available as a one-off pressing especially for record store day 2018.

repress 2021 - hey, rex the dog ist zurück und seine laser sind stärker als je zuvor!

fullcover edition - very limited reissue of some of the best swayzak tunes ever
- colored 180 gramm pressing
- unique prinited innersleeve
- remastered
- written and produced by david brown and james taylor

get on down proudly presents another top-notch vinyl reissue, from their long-running series of collaborations with james brown’s famed 70s funk label people records. as the 1970s wore on, the classic funk sounds that had defined james brown’s backing band, the j.b.’s, gave way to the rise of disco music. fred wesley and his collective of musicians couldn’t resist the chance to make their mark, releasing “hustle with speed” in 1975, with charles bobbit and don love producing, and the godfather himself, james brown co-writing and providing arrangements. “hustle with speed” didn’t cross over like the band had hoped it would, but it was nonetheless remarkable album, featuring the j.b.’s signature funky style married with disco to exciting effect. all the while there’s still plenty to be had for the funk die-hard, from the brass blow-out jam “here we come, here we go, here we are”, to the trombone-heavy “all aboard the funky soul train”, to the powerhouse opening salvo that is “(it’s not the express) it’s the jbs monaurail”. songs from “hustle with speed” would take on lives of their own decades after the album’s release, through sampled appearances in tracks by jay-z, nas, eric b. & rakim, ultramagnetic mcs, epmd, and many more.

“yuxtaposición” is a recently unearthed treasure recorded by a tight italian trio in miami during the early seventies. until now, this music has only been heard in office backgrounds, tv commercials and movie soundtracks. but the perseverance of an admirer brought about its first-ever release on the italian schema label. imagine hearing a 1972-era cal tjader quartet without cal tjader and you get an idea of what to expect. it’s slightly latin, lightly funky and truly enjoyable. “yuxtaposición” offers enough to interest a jazz listener. but the sounds heard in these 35 minutes are really better appreciated as mood music. lead man, cabildo, composer of all ten tunes here, has a knack for writing jazzy little hooks that launch his tasty, well-crafted keyboard solos. often alternating fender rhodes and piano within the same song, his playing maintains a hypnotic command that recalls bob james’ cti style. electric bassist bobby fares and percussionist max ronnie make subtle, supportive contributions that serve only to enhance cabildo’s sound. there’s a funny thing about yuxtaposición too. it’s kind of like developing an addiction. you may not pay much attention to it at first. but before you know it, you’re hooked. you need to hear it to be satisfied. a very nice surprise.

jonah sharp & dj spun pair up as the loose control band to drop a punk-inspired single on rekids with remixes from label founder radio slave and shut boss ryan james ford. having released a large body of work as spacetime continuum (astralwerks) or alongside david moufang as reagenz (workshop), not to mention significant collaborations with the likes of terence mckenna, haruomi hosono and bill laswell, jonah sharp is unquestionably a highly respected producer. his seminal label reflective played an important role in the experimental ambient and techno scene during the ‘90s, whilst as a remixer he’s worked with music by nine inch nails, meat beat manifesto and matthew herbert. meanwhile, jason drummond has long been a commanding force within new yorks electronic music scene, such as running his prestigious warm up music series or his all night rong parties with regulars like dj harvey. hes also been djing and producing as dj spun for two decades, appearing on golf channel recordings as well as his own illustrious imprint rong music, which used to release music collaboratively with dfa. i dont understand sees a raw and uncompromising side to both artists as they layer a cacophony of murky bass, twisted melodies and mind-bending bleeps whilst drummonds turbulent vocals bellow throughout the mix. staying faithful to the original, radio slaves remix incorporates a heady rhythm with its rolling beat as screeching effects join a moody bassline. moving into techno territory, ryan james fords akihabara remix features rattling percussion and crystalline synths whilst his hope remix is built on an intricate drum sequence as soaring pads and echoing keys contrast with the originals piercing vocal.

tresor records is proud to announce a new commission, bringing together two of its most time-honored contributors. berlin’s thomas fehlmann and detroit’s terrence dixon came together in detroit to produce this expressive album. an avant-premiere live performance of this album was presented at tresor’s annual detroit showcase in may 2017. composed of six titles and exploring a wide range of rhythms and emotions, “we take it from here” is a celebration of resilience, patience, creativity and devotion.

2018 reissue on vinyl (originally released on sarah records /uk). >youve got to listen to this band, youll really like them, i know. a colourful storm presents the first-time vinyl issue of one of the true treasures of modern pop music: blueboys the bank of england. the group of paul stewart, keith girdler, cath close, ian gardner and james neville are sarah records royalty alongside the field mice, heavenly, the wake and the orchids, and this is the final recording from arguably the most beautiful, afflicted band of 90s indie-pop and diy. mastered from the original recording tapes with assistance<

deep heads are very proud to present escapism refuge s album hold , the deluxe vinyl edition. it contains the full 13 tracks originally released at the end of 2017 with an added 5 tracks previously unreleased. 2 of the tracks are exclusive to the vinyl purchase that will only be available on download card that is foud inside each vinyl. there are 2 remixes in total to the deluxe edition, the first coming from none other than r&s / apollo records very own synkro. he put s a beautiful twist on the track fly away featuring chari brix and takes the record to new dimensions. the other remix of mistakes comes from nottingham s finest, congi. it s a 140bpm roller that packs a serious punch. the subs are blazing and beats are full & beefy. bravo congi, bravo! 1 of the previously unreleased tracsk is dream fly by the man himself. a little more experimental than his usual stuff, but is pretty incredible all the same. then the last 2 are secret for now, you ll have to grab yourself a copy and find out from the download card ,)

aikens recent contribution to psyks non series gets remixed by talented uk producers blawan, volte-face and james ruskin. blawans remix of genetics sets the tone with energetic rhythms and trippy sound textures, volte-face delivers a progressive and hypnotic version of hybrid and james ruskin ends the release with his own intense yet funky interpretation of dominance.

techno vibes by willie graff & tucillo and dj qu

celebrating toto’s 40th anniversary with this collection of remastered classics plus 3 new tracks. the double vinyl is housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code included.

schauspieler und musikliebhaber martin freeman (the hobbit, sherlock, the office) wurde in seiner teenagerzeit in den 80er jahren durch musik von bands wie brand new heavies und dem james taylor quartet geprägt. “jazz on the corner” bündelt die beinahe obsessive liebe von eddie piller, mitgründer des einflussreichen londoner labels acid jazz, und martin freeman zu jazz. cd1 ist von freeman kompiliert, cd2 von piller. auf vinyl sind die tracks durchmischt und über die 4 seiten verteilt. das doppel-vinyl erscheint im klappcover.

16 classic tracks that include guest appearances by david byrne, perry farrell and the flaming lips. a kaleidoscopic swirl of psychedelia, dub, indian, rock, brazilian, easy-listening and other worldly influences.

after the stunning meteor ep (af006 / 2017), james shinra returns embracing his classic trademark of electro, acid braindance and addictive synth-laden tracks. supernova ep is operating in new, and uncharted ways. classical future sound.

groenis -nihx- entstand am fuße des mount victoria. nihx wollten sich kompositorisch und klanglich herausfordern und untersuchten die merkmale von konfliktpunkten zwischen gegnerischen kräften. wie in der vergangenheit und wie bei vielen elektronischen projekten ist die musik sozusagen -in der box- geschrieben worden. um dieser technik entgegenzuwirken, schrieben die drei mitglieder von groeni (al, mike und james) jeweils zahlreiche kompositionsskizzen, bevor sie in den digitalen bereich gelangten. mit ähnlicher inspiration wollte die band einzigartige und personalisierte sounds außerhalb des computers erstellen. die überwiegende mehrheit der drumsounds wurde aus samples von mikes immer umfangreicher werdender synth-sammlung gemacht. zahlreiche sounds sind manipulierte rückkopplungen von unter anderem gitarren oder vocals. die gesamte platte wurde in drei heimstudios in wellington, nz, geschrieben und aufgenommen und hat fast zwei jahre bis zur fertigstellung gebraucht. die limitierte vinyl auflage enthält einen mp3-download-coupon.

the glasgow miracle, scotland s most vibrant city, the modern institute, the glasgow effect, the river city, people make glasgow, cultural capital, discover glasgow s most promising cultural institution joined by performance artist and method actor of interplanetary cosmic characters such as tony website, james stephen wright. their wildly important cultural explosion of 2017 is now followed up with another exhibition at the modern institute and confirms what early adopters already knew: now is the time to buy another exhibition at the modern institute.

new vinyl only release from miguel puente on outstrip wax. two originals with remixes from sakro and outstrip. dj support: 2vilas, clara da costa, gel abril, huxley, james dexter, juliche hernandez, katal, miro pajic, moises, nick beringer, rich nxt, sakro, seb zito, sy, two diggers, yaya

it is undeniable that bjarki and his bbbbbb imprint are at the forefront of iceland’s dance music scene, playing a vital role in asserting the country as a hub for genre bending electronic music. although the label has proved to be a solid platform for bjarkis own experimental material, bbbbbb continues to host some of icelands best talents (notably last year’s lauded release from volruptus who followed up with another killer outing on &#1090,,&#1088,,&#1080,,&#1087,,). for bbbbbb’s 10th release bjarki continues to substantiate his a&r abilities, introducing the world to lord pusswhip. having enjoyed a meteoric rise as a key player in icelands hip-hop scene, the young producers sound has continued to evolve since befriending bjarki and the bbbbbb crew, and the hand of glory ep now sees him at arguably his most adventurous and experimental yet. murky atmospherics introduce xmas jam creep before a cacophony of percussion ups the energy, setting the tone for a dynamic release. crazy shit mane follows with its crunchy drums, scintillating synths and sultry bass until hop out the car blends hip-hop vocals with mesmerising chord sequences reminiscent of richard d.james early work. an undulating bassline then works alongside a chorus of angelic voices in ‘the hand of glory, making way for the syncopated and dreamlike shroomm0(u)rning. moving into ambient territories, green house living layers pads and samples together to generate an otherworldly aesthetic until choppa hard combines ominous drones with a steady beat to conclude the release.

the fourth installment in john osborns dred records series will be from fellow uk producer harsh puri who goes under the moniker reformed society. dred 004 consists of six tracks in total three that will appear on the vinyl release, followed by another three that will be digital-only exclusives. harsh puri aka reformed society debuted in 2015 with this being his sixth consecutive release in order. harshs productions caught johns eye, or rather ear, after being sent to him last year and resulted in this release of six solid prime time deep house stompers. packaged in an understated matte white sleeve with a black and white picture of brahma (the four headed hindu god of creation) handstamped on each cover by the label owner himself, this being a continuation of the human skull dred logo. one life opens the dimensions ep and is the track given to label boss john osborn for deconstructing and remoulding into his own specific vision each release will contain a rework from osborn. if you are familiar with johns previous work you will immediately recognize his characteristic resonating percussion, the tune being a deep house sci-fi storm expedition driven by a full luscious kick covering the tracks of chords from unsettled pads. the eps title track has ambient sonic rays flowing through it, being aptly named dimensions it is also the records warmest adventure, distorted percussion juggles sparse subaqueous melodic moments, and from here we go into the 12inches final moment, chasing titanoid. reformed society goes in with full yet silent force on this one. a warped bassline co-creates the groove with a particularly bouncy beat with sharp strings piercing though.

here come the james hunter six! ser ving yet another delicious dish of what you wish with the premier single off their upcoming lp, whatever it takes (dap-051). and ill be a monkeys uncle ifjames hasn’t delivered two of his most compelling sides to date on this one. i dont wanna be without you is a graduate level course in the three rs of r&b: rhythm, rhyme, and romance. a sultr y rumba sets the mood, as hunter swaggers in donning his finest voice like a crisp tuxedo, complete with ruffled vibrato and rhyming cuff-links and proceeds to lay on an absolute hear t-stealin, deal-sealin, panty-peelin gem. on the flip, i got eyes loosens the collar and brings the metronome mark up a few clicks for a punchy tightened-up workout, edged-up with vibes and street corner backgrounds. bring your talcum powder and a change of clothes cause its another jaw-droppin showstopper by that finger poppin pond-hopper, james hunter

new e.p. from the fear ratio (mark broom & james ruskin) featuring exclusive versions of tracks taken from the album “refuge of a twisted soul” made in preparation for live sets.

a timeless collection of 19 soulful ballads that define the genre.

few traces surveys a near decade of mark renner’s scarcely released and unreleased material from 1982 to 1990, embracing and evoking the timelessness of his artistic statement: a wordless translation of the individual’s musical experience, met with the poetic expression of being here. the double vinyl release comes with download code and booklet with extensive liner notes from brandon soderberg and unseen ephemera.

decks full cover edition !!! you definitely should go for it if you are in love with a quality dub techno. there’s nothing can be more dubby as this particular release that will undoubtedly blow your mind. watch out! it’s extremely hot one. vinport ltd. is very proud to be distributing this label exclusively. ubertrend records is quite established play on the world’s techno scene and is managed by denny kay. vinyl only. no repress. limited press.

those wizards of digging psychemagik doing the business once again. hot on the heels of last year s monstrous gotta hold on me / wildman they re letting folks know that they were still out there searching in the darkest recesses of the last 40+ years of popular and unpopular music, and boy oh boy are they good at it! the trip lives up to it s name. the track kicks off with some ultra beefed up psychedelic shenanigans, swirling, cacophonous sounds whirl and sweep and gradually drag us into the holographic tunnel, gradually giving way to some heavyweight drums and percussions and unfurling into a muscular psych-discoid beast. this one will send the kids crazy and will undoubtedly cause some damage in the club, both sonically and mentally. but what is the original? we hear you say... answers on a postcard please. sisters of the moon on the flip-side is a very different animal - all laid back, laconic steel-guitars and thundering slo-mo drums and percussion. the dark side of a rural witchcraft dream exposed here, almost menacing... and then? those vocals spring out of the mix amidst the throbbing sexually charged atmosphere and drag us back into the realm of near reality with sultry moans and groans. this one s woozy alright, but in the best possible way. so wrong, it s right and possibly the natural soundtrack to too many of those strange shots that that guy in the weird hat gave us earlier when we entered that country pub. what guy? i hear you ask.... ultimate freak-disco and deepest druid funk for the discerning and psychedelically inclined record consumer.

by popular demand future retro brings 4 of the most demanded remastered classics on 12” vinyl. now one of the real international superstars of drum & bass, netsky had one of his first releases on future retro. now remastered for 2018 this classic is sounding heavier than ever. bcee’s “glitter balls” still sounds as fresh as it did when it was originally released and this lenzman & redeyes remake is a match made in heaven. random movement & mutt round up this ep nicely with remastered versions of their tracks “ain’t going nowhere” and “the motions” which both ooze soul.

seeking the overwhelming vibration of the genuine sound wave and its profound echo on the soul, kenneth james gibson has spent his career experimenting under a variety of aliases like as many brushstrokes to an ever polymorphic palette - successively releasing as apendics.shuffle, bell gardens, reverse commuter, dubloner, kenneth james g., kj gibbs, bal cath, eight frozen modules, and premature wig… the list is long. near to two years after his first incursion on kompakt with his third studio lp the evening falls , gibson returns with in the fields of nothing , his second full-length delivery for the cologne-based imprint.

limited edition of 500 copies.

a new year means new musical horizons here at the bordello. curses formed his sound in the distortion and sweat of back alley dive bar bars amidst the crash of guitars and the audible gulp of beer. hints of disco and wave balance this rougher edge, smoothing down those creased lines for a style that adheres to no boundaries. -pedal to the metal and don t look back- is a perfect introduction to curses multifaceted sound. beats orbit burbling bass and brash strings in a work of dreamy hypnotics. -knife in teeth- comes from a similarly shadowy lair. dark bars are further inked by industrial percussion in a track born on the factory floor to strict ebm parents. terr takes on -pedal to the metal and don t look back- and does the original proud. bass rumbles to the tune of a guttering engine before lighter notes take hold. murky currents are cleared by bright synth blasts in this uplifting remake. the bird of paradise closes the ep with his psychedelic take on -knife in teeth.- drums take on a more sinister tone as tribal rhythms give rise to jungle imagery and the immediate threat of what might lurk behind those supposedly innocent sounds.

fuzzed out and psychedelic covers of rare and classic tracks performed by san francisco’s monophonics. monophonics are back with a six-song ep that fuses the complimentary and explosive soul, rock and funk influences, proving themselves to be the rightful inheritors of the bay area’s impressive psychedelic soul sound. mirrors is comprised entirely of cover tunes, except that i doubt you’ve ever heard of half the deeply funky and soulful originals that inspired these soulful, tastefully produced, and timeless monophonics treatments. “we wanted to do a couple songs that were more familiar to people and then shine some light on groups we’re big into,” lead singer, keyboardist and co-producer kelly finnigan explains. it takes a lot of guts to cover your favorite songs, your van jams, that song you play as a shot of inspiration to break-up a marathon studio session. “not only are these great songs, but these are artists that we listen to and are influenced by.”

here come the james hunter six! serving yet another delicious dish of what you wish with the premier single off their upcoming lp, whatever it takes (dap-051). and i’ll be a monkey’s uncle if james hasn’t delivered two of his most compelling sides to date on this one. “i don’t wanna be without you” is a graduate level course in the three r’s of r&b: rhythm, rhyme, and romance. a sultry rumba sets the mood, as hunter swaggers in – donning his finest voice like a crisp tuxedo, complete with ruffled vibrato and rhyming cuff-links – and proceeds to lay on an absolute heart-stealin‘, deal-sealin’, panty-peelin‘ gem. on the flip, “i got eyes” loosens the collar and brings the metro- nome mark up a few clicks for a punchy tightened-up workout, edged-up with vibes and street corner backgrounds.

the shadows is the new album from leeds-based six-piece tomorrow we sail. building on their debut release for those who caught the sun in flight (gizeh, 2014) over the course of three years, this new work combines perfectly the soaring atmospherics, gorgeously intertwined vocal harmonies and dramatic shifts in tone and dynamics that have come to characterise tomorrow we sail’s sound. yet, there is a new sense of urgency here. very much an album of its time, the shadows draws upon the same sense of connection to both past and present that defined its precursor but features storytelling that’s even more defiant and deeply personal.

like its predecessor, the record features seven songs but from the chiming guitars of opening track side by side it is clear that the stately pace of for those who caught the sun in flight has made way for a far more dynamic and driving energy, perhaps best captured in the righteous anger of the ghost of john maynard keynes. tomorrow we sail still invoke a keen sense of measured grace in their songwriting - from the sweeping, elegiac title track, through to the sparse, restrained, yet haunting beauty of winifred and to sleep. urgent, yet assured, the shadows demands your attention.

on opulence s second release the label welcomes grammy nominated artist james teej with his the only constant ep. inspired by his budding years djing, james revisits his early house influences and delivers two powerful cuts of disco infused grooves laced with an overall contemporary touch. the first track the only constant is change is a highly infectious dance floor number reminiscent of classic filtered disco house, arranged with a patient and contemporary restraint. the tracks hypnotic and repetitive nature draws the listener in, and keeps the attention throughout with subtle changes that slowly grow to a tasteful and rewarding climax. on remix duties opulence has invited apollonias house music legend dan ghenacia who delivers a slick deep house rework that keeps the vibes intact of the original with the french artist s signature groovy machine touch. already road tested over the summer at dc10, dan s remix helps bring the original to a place closer to the clubs dance floor. the 3rd and final song is life goes on, a grooving disco infused classic deep house cut that features no regular plays greg paulus on trumpet. the song perfectly blends the sounds of yesterday with a modern touch and feel, and provides an uplifting soundtrack for any dance floor, especially those magic moments outdoors on the beach. once again, james continues to show his passion and diversity in his music with this expertly crafted ep that will surely be a welcomed addition to any house lover s record collection.

the 4th meters album marked their departure from josie records and was released on the reprise label in 1972. cabbage alley once again proved that the meters were one of the finest, rawest funk groups around. hailing from the soggy streets of new orleans, the meters essentially invented the second line groove, influencing funk music like no other artist (ok, aside from a singer by the name of james brown). these cats are essentially one unified rhythm section, with expertly timed drum breaks, bass driven grooves, bluesy chicken scratch guitars and southern singalong choruses.

top-sampler mit 21 soul/funk/disco-klassikern aus den 1970ern, die in der britischen rare groove- und modern soul-szene seit den 1980ern wieder für furore sorgten, darunter etliche cd-erstveröffentlichungen und vinyl-erstreissues. mit kostbaren raritäten von almeta lattimore, mary clark und tommy mcgee, 2-step-perlen von jocelyn brown und zulema, smoothen jazz-soul-floatern von margie joseph, aretha franklin und ihrer schwester carolyn, debbie taylors grandios orchestrierter ballade -i don t wanna leave you- sowie wundervollem harmony-soul von the ebonys, manhattans, natural high und the impressions.

the ebm-indebted techno funk of james welshs thread reemerges from the industrial fog, evolved into two outstanding remixes by a trio of established, emerging and somewhat unexpected artists. ozel ab delivers his debut remix, reimagining thread to encompass a widescreen vision of depth and drama. unfolding slowly and ethereally, with military kicks holding down a seemingly weightless, extended breakdown, his taste in dreamlike rave euphoria contains the same magic touch as it has done on previous, acclaimed releases for workshop and lobster theremin. on his garten remix, radio slave takes a percussive approach to the relatively raw electronics of the original track, adding a deceptively simple but immediately effective layer of drums to the production, before unleashing a more filtered and fucked-up interpretation of the riff to winning effect.

the empire line present six cyclonic episodes for confined spaces on their debut album, rave. comprised of posh isolation s christian stadgaard (damien dubrovnik, vanity productions), jonas ronnberg (varg), and with isak hansen (iron sight) on tantrums, the trio s marauding live shows have been translated into a slippery set of pummelling techno works, watermarked with florid noise. rave is a celebration of contemporary rave culture, focused on the everlasting and transcendent as the night slips out past the day. with living-for-the-weekend hedonism irretrievably converted into a manicured, violent cliche, building new worlds and forging new modes of intimacy takes an exceptional sincerity. naming some of the crews closest to the empire line in the album s titles, their spaces are examples of just how rave culture persists as a transgressive stronghold in people s lives. ranging from k-hole anthems to jacking, close-range sessions, rave still bears the traces of the group s experimental background, ensuring the tension is kept up through the catharsis.

first release on infiltrate, 4 tracks on a electro techno tip.

new york’s p.leone debuts on rekids special projects with four vinyl-only techno cuts this february. debuting on spencer parker’s work them records in 2016, p.leone has since launched his own imprint entitled e-missions alongside label partner caiazzo. moving to berlin last year, the american producer has quickly earned himself a name within the german capital, making regular appearances at the likes of tresor and ://about blank, and now joining respected berlin-based label rekids as part of their vinyl-only series. metallic echoes, robust kicks and breakbeat percussion lay the foundation for ‘rose petal breaks’, before ‘noon service’ demonstrates crystalline synths and futuristic effects. on the flip, thudding drums and energetic claps form ‘hold me down’ until the ominous ‘sometimes i feel strong’ concludes the package with rattling components and a cacophony of intricacies.

an enticing taste of the upcoming debut album ‘eventual reality’ by the james l’estraunge orchestra. brainchild of scottish producer ricky reid, pianist on both 6th borough project albums and one half of the soul renegades alongside craig smith, the james l’estraunge orchestra is “the band that never was”, lovingly pieced together from a series of late-night studio sessions with some incredibly talented jazz and classical players. best described as jazz arranged with dance music sensibilities, the james l’estraunge orchestra sound is warm and organic, atmospheric and at times somewhat bleak, a perfect reflection of the remote log cabin in which it was created. immediately iconic both musically and lyrically, ‘closer’ is a powerful commentary on today’s self-regarding, materialistic world with a strong message of hope for a better tomorrow. combining lush, live instrumentation and climactic, cinematic composition, closer’s emotive, almost springsteen-like vocals are performed by ricky reid himself. ‘groovin’ you’ covers a classic from harvey mason: a bass led, heavyweight instrumental jazz-dance workout featuring some impressive brass and woodwind solos bolstered by spine- tingling string swells and tight, rolling drums.

lp in printed innersleeve + download code. jtothec managed to develop his own signature sound: authentic, original, playful, warm, just great music. the luscious and catchy melodies and ingenious arrangements give away influences of frank zappa, james brown, quincy jones, prince and jamie lidell.