Global SoulJah

Global SoulJah & BBE Records - April 22, 2011

2011-04-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

So this is the last Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show after getting on for 200 shows, I can't quite believe it. But fear not the radio show is continuing it's just changing identity to Audio Texture for purely selfish reasons. I've got to say a big, big thank you to BBE Records for allowing me to jump into bed with them the last three years, it's been a wonderful thing, cheers boys.

So on with this weeks show which kicked off with a little 4/4 mix and new wonder kid producer. Norway's Mathisas Stubo is only 19 years old with an unhealthy obsession for black music history and disco and boogie in particular and an uncanny knack of taking those classic sounds and giving them a really unique twist and dragging them screaming into the new millenium. The forthcoming debut album, 1979, is great and the start of a promising career for sure. Neon Jung, the first non Lone production to grace Magic Wire records followed with some classic yet futuristic purple house vibes before Joe provided some more classic sounding, bassline updated, stripped down house from the new Hessle Audio comp which celebrate 3 years of their existence, congratulations and thanks are due.

The Workshop releases of late have been pure fire and Kassem Mosse's latest effort, 'Untitled 2' is absolutely no exception. Grey Matter then snapped the mix out of it's deep hypnotic vibe with another classic inspired house effort, though this time aimed to rip up the stiffest of party, expect to hear this on all discerning house dance floors at peak time for the rest of the year and more. Nacho Patrol rounded off the house mix with some of that pysched out cosmic house shizzle which makes me snap up all of what he does.

So the Blitz The Ambassador is set for release and the short little 'instrumentalude' is another example of the quality within this great African hip hop album. fLako is about to maintain Project Moon Circle's growing reputation for picking the right beat makers with an album called The Mesektet in the not too distant future and the stripped down, less is more beats of 'YeahYeahYeah' led me nicely into new Chakra Sounds signing Jon Phonics which in turn warmed up for 'Sacre Cour' a taster for one of the freshest album of beats this year courtesy of Young Montana. The album is called Limerence and it really is a lovingly crafted album of complex beats and dense layers of samples but without losing that soul and head snapping funk - hot!

Mongo Santamaria then changed the vibes via a nice little Joe Claussell remix which is part of a larger remix project he has taken on where he takes the Fania back catalogue on a journey from Africa to Latin New York, all fed through his mixing desk and undoubted afrolatin sensibility. Fredericks Brown then provided the slow soul jazz vibes with a tune that just grows and grows on you, thank you Jazz and Milk. Big Dada new girl Elan Tamara then kept the vocal flavours rolling but in her very unique way, don't ask me just check her out, she's special and on her way to bigger and better things. Barcelona musical maverick Guillamino then closed proceedings with a dreamy slice of abstract vocal loveliness, look out for his new album coming later this year.

Mathias Stubo - Diskorama (BBE promo)
Neon Jung - Just Can't Leave It Alone (Magic Wire promo)
Joe - Twice (Hessle Audio promo)
Kassem Mosse - Untitled 2 (Workshop)
Greymatter - Tesla (Wolf Music promo)
Nacho Patrol - Stars Over Africa (M-Division)
Blitz The Ambassador - Instrumentalude (Jakarta promo)
fLako - YeahYeahYeah (Project Moon Circle)
Jon Phonics - The One (Chakra Sounds)
Young Montana - Sacre Cool (Alpha Pup promo)
Mongo Santamaria - Mambo Mongo, Joe Claussell rmx (Fania promo)
Fredericks Brown - Land Of Plenty (Jazz and Milk)
Elan Tamara - The Ones Who (Big Dada promo)
Guillamino - Viratge (Bankrobber promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - April 15, 2011

2011-04-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

The lovely future soul of Si Tew's 'Solhouette' starts this weeks musical ramble and it's a sweet little taster of the musical delights from his new album about to drop on R2 records. Jonwayne then swaggers into earshot with a cut from his new album from 'on the button' label Alpha Pup, what have they started putting in the water on the West coast?? I then finally dropped Mathew & Toby's 'Rocketnumbernine' on Kieran Hebdens label, something I've been meaning to do for ages, there's not many tracks that are 13 minutes long that I don't want to end. Burial disciple Aviance then dropped the tempo and upped the suspense with his 'Desolate' track from his great The Invisible Insurrection LP - deep and dark.

David Minor then beamed in a pleasing little leftfield transmission from the musical outer reaches via the Nonine control center before Channel In Channel Out's marriage of subtle glitches and pastoral vocals from his stylistically scizophrenic album due out very shortly on Karaoke Kalk. Grey Reverand then kept the vocal flavours flowing with some singer songwriter sweetness and a little taster of the delights to come from his forthcoming Motion Audio album. Matthew Halsall then displayed why he is one of the UK's most exciting jazz prospects and an old head on young shoulders with the most spiritual cut from his new album, On The Go, on his own Gondwana label.

Murcof then changed the vibes with his revision of the soundtrack for the Mexican film La Sangre Illuminada before new Ninja Tune signing Slugabed dropped some 'Nu Krak Swing' and T.R.A.C. followed up with some classic sounding hip hop courtesy of some super soulful Marc Mac produced beats. I then dropped a little reminder of how good Will.I.Am was before he went over to the cheesy pop dark side which led nicely into a super soulful slo-mo bassline beat workout from Shlohmo.

Mono/Poly then did more of the same before I dropped a little taster from the musical freshness meets man and machine sound of Boxcutter and his forthcoming album on Planet Mu. The new Wiley joint 'Numbers in Action' is gonna be all over everywhere this summer but personally I'm liking the great, simple but effective Sticky remix the mostest before IKE ended the show with some Detroit disco vibes..

Si Tew - Solhouette (R2 promo)
Jonwayne - Featuring Mndsgn (Alphapup)
Matthew & Toby - Rocketnumbernine (Test)
Desolate - Aviance (Fauxpas Musik)
David Minor - Honey Cr Reprise (Nonine promo)
Channel In Channel Out - Kind Euphemisms part B (Karaoke Kalk promo)
Grey Reverand - Mistaken For A Martyr (Motion Audio promo)
Matthew Halsall - The Journey Home (Gondwana promo)
Murcof - Como Quisiera Decirte, Murcof mix (Infine)
Slugabed - Nu Krak Swing (Ninja Tune promo)
T.R.A.C. - Somn, For Your Ears (BBE promo)
Will.I.Am - Lay Me Down featuring Terry Dexter (BBE)
Shlohmo - Places (FoF Music)
Mono/Poly - Glow (Brainfeeder)
Boxcutter - Panama (Planet Mu promo)
Wiley - Numbers In Action, Sticky rmx (Big Dada promo)
IKE - Supernatural (Philpot)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - April 8, 2011

2011-04-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Off on a jazz vibe this week from Finn Peters and his ground breaking Music Of The Mind project where he literally thought music into being utilising a BCI (Brain Computer Interface) and then produced an amazing album from the results, amazing stuff. My new discovery of the week, multi-instrumentalist, Charles-Eric Charrier, followed with a track from his latest album Silver, (which got sent to me, got lost and has only just resurfaced after my recent move!) and thank god I found it as it was on repeat all day Saturday. Snorkel made another appearance on the show with another track from their about to be released album, Stop Machine, fans of Red Snapper look out for these guys, I can't wait to see them live.

Co.fee is another of the seemingly endless supply of boundary pushing LA beatmakers on the brand new My Hollow Drum label and his new EP dropping soon is essential listening for the Low End Theory crew. Ekoplekz then kept the boundary pushing pressure with another one of his analogue, all to tape, trademark dubwise workouts from his slightly more accessible recent Fountain Square EP. Tommy Tempa is another interesting beatmaker that has caught my ear and 'Rejoin Rejoice' should let you all know why.

MPM have been firmly rooted in the golden years of hip hop and classic soul and funk vibes but the new Karlmarx album is about to change all that with it's leftfield future bass vibes, well worth a listen. I had to give you another little taste of Blitz The Ambassador as it's probably my favourite African hip hop album since Emmanuele Jal's debut - real Afro vibes, nice production and considered, well delivered lyrics - coming soon on Jakarta records. Femi Kuti then kept the Afro flavour with a new track from him before pan Afro inspired Cacique 97 from Lisbon brushed away the bailout blues with a great uptempto dancer.

The Rhythmagic Orchestra is the brain child of Ben Lamdin and Hugo Mendez utilizing the cream of the UK's jazz musicians playing a whole host of great Afro Cuban jazz originals and classic covers, look out for this really soon. Under the production (not very) alias Prommer & Barck, Christian Prommer and Alex Barck (from Jazzanova) have been huddled in a studio recently and they've produced what is one of the best house albums I've heard in a while. No fillers all killers, well produced, full of great musicality and some pleasing twists and turns, deep is the word. The Savile's K-Huse remix of Eskmo's, 'Moving Glowstream' trailed the show off into deep hypnotic house space. I'll be back on planet earth next week.

Finn Peters - One State Of Mind (Mantella Records)
Charles-Eric Charrier - Echoes Short (Experimedia)
Snorkel - Loophole (Slowfoot records)
Co.fee - Kali (My Hollow Drum promo)
Ekoplekz - Arkrite (Mordant Music)
Tommy Tempa - Rejoin Rejoice (Somethinksounds promo)
Karlmarx - Futuro (MPM promo)
Blitz The Ambassador - Akwaaba (Jakarta promo)
Femi Kuti - Dem Bobo (Knitting Factory Records)
Cacique'97 - American Cop (Footmovin Records)
The Rhythmagic Orchestra - Mary Lou (Impossible Ark promo)
Prommer and Barck - Lovin (Derwin promo)
Eskmo - Moving Glowstream, Savile's K-House mix (Ninja Tune promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - April 1, 2011

2011-04-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

The evergreen Wagon Christ kicked off the show this week with his personal brand of machine funkery from his new album before Venetian Snares then twisted reggae into new forms with his excellent 'Ever Apparent All Being Shoulder', the rest of the forthcoming EP on Planet Mu is more than worth checking as well. Things then went all organic and 'tropical' as The Creole Choir Of Cuba unleashed their unique fusion of choral vocals and Afro Cuban rhythms. I've got to be honest I was slightly disappointed by the album but was fortunate to catch them live last year and they rock it BIG time. Strut carry on their great artist album series by getting Orchestre Poly Rythmo back in the studio after far too long for some Afro niceness before Azymuth, who have never been far from the studio, start the warm up to their new release which celebrates 35 years of recording. An amazing milestone especially since the years haven't diminished their hunger and quality of output.

The tropical vibes then continued but got all 2011 first with some great new MC talent in Blitz The Ambassador and his pyschedelic freestyle beats - can't wait to get my hands on the album. Mo Kolours then followed with his unique take on global fusion, twisting his Mauritian roots and black music leanings through the world of plug ins and computer screens to more than pleasing effect.

I can't believe that I had never heard of Caural before last week and for that I have to thank Eat Concrete records and their re-issue EP of some of his classic material including the lovingly executed concept track, 'Sorry Underground Hip Hop Happened 10 Years Ago' - YO!! I then had to drop a track from the EXCELLENT Slim Line Mutha album coming soon on Broadcite which is full of golden age hip hop and soulful vibes start to finish not to mention a whole host of great vocalists and MCs - I'm telling you look out for this project..

Twit One then dropped a great little slice of beat splice cheekiness from his new 10" LP before I mellowed things out with some wonderful nu-soul courtesy of the LA residing trio, King. Now due to my moving woes I haven't been supporing Amalia and her new album and I hope the taster on this weeks show will serve as an introduction to this great new soul talent and her 80's synth soul.

Robot Koch either spends far too much time in the studio or works double quick style. His latest project is a team up with the vocal alchemy of John Robinson which has brought out the soulful side of this prolific knob twiddler, I'm excited. Peaking Lights are one of the bands du jour but seem to have bit more depth than your average blogosphere 'here today gone tomorrow' fodder and I particularly the dub version of 'Birds Of Paradise'. Gagarin then upped the tempo with a taster of their new album and some ultra deep two step vibes to end another weeks musical joyride..

Wagon Christ - Accordian McShane (Ninja Tune)
Venetian Snares - Ever Apparent All Being Shoulder (Planet Mu promo)
The Creole Choir Of Cuba - Tande (Realworld)
Orchestre Poly Rythmo - Gbeti Madro featuring Angelique Kidjo (Strut
Azymuth - In My Treehouse (Far Out promo)
Blitz The Ambassador - Dear Africa feat Les Nubians (Jakarta Recors promo)
Mo Kolours - Drum Talking (One Handed Music promo)
Caural - Sorry Underground Hip Hop Happened 10 Years Ago (Eat Concrete promo)
Slim Line Mutha - Pulling Your Card feat Monte Smith (Broadcite promo)
Twit One - Jederliebtihn (MPM promo)
King - The Story (King)
Amalia - Art Slave (Tokyo Dawn)
Robot Koch & John Robinson - Smorgasbord (Project Moon Circle)
Peaking Lights - Birds Of Paradise, Dub Version (Not For Fun)
Gagarin - 3KA-3 (Geo promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show -March 25, 2011

2011-03-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Disco Love is back!! Volume 2 of the great compilation from Al Kent and BBE is about to drop and it's possibly even better than the first one and that's saying something, not to mention the outstanding disco inspired artwork - essential compilation. This was followed by a deep Fatima and Floating Points taster from their forthcoming EP on Eglo, if that was the B-side, I can't wait for the main cut. Fresh global beats were then the order of the day courtesy of Easy and The Centre Of The Universe and the excellent worldly new Debruit compilation on Civil Music.

The Beat Generation series from BBE is getting a timely re-issue and just to remind you of why I slapped on Jay Dee's 'Pause' and next week I'll give a killer Will.I.Am cut from the good old days before he went more pop than Elton John. DJ Vadim has got a new project called The Electric, the album is finally here and my favourite cut is the afrocentric leaning 'Toot Toot'. There's a wonderfully wide ranging comp out called After The Void featuring obscure multi genre cuts of music you never knew existed and I'm particuarly loving 'Funky Dromedary' along with most of the other tracks.

40 Winks is the latest producer to drop on an album on Project Moon Circle and it's a worthy successor to the great Long Arm LP, the label has come up trumps again. Mar then came through with the vocal jazz flavour from one of his reworks being put out on MPM, beats courtesy of Louis Bordeaux before the sweet vocal vibes continued with a cut from the excellent Nostalgia 77 album on Tru Thoughts. The show then wound up with some uptempo beats kicking off with the jazz flavoured techno of Nicolas Jaar from his new EP, the fresh beats of Falty DL from his excellent new album on Planet Mu before Altered Natives ripped up the dance with a cut from the Danny Native's super fresh new compilation on his own Eye4Eye label.

Aged In Harmony - I Feel Like Dancin (BBE)
Fatima & Floating Points - Redlight (Eglo promo)
Easy & The Centre Of The Universe - Halloumi (Harmonia)
Debruit - Medze (Civil Music promo)
Jay Dee - Pause, 12" Version (BBE)
The Electric - Toot Toot (OGS)
Synthesizers Unlimited - Funky Dromedary (Light Sounds Dark)
40 Winks - Not The Destination (Project Moon Circle promo)
Mar - 1st Session produced by Louis Bordeaux (MPM promo)
Nostalgia 77 - Simmerdown (Tru-Thoughts)
Nicolas Jaar - Materials (Circus Company)
Falty DL - Gospel Of Opal feat Anneka (Planet Mu)
Altered Natives - Ghost Hands (Eye4Eye promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show -March 18, 2011

2011-03-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Finally! Back on the airwaves after an enforced break due to moving into a new live/work space which involved apart from the obvious nightmare of moving a record collection as well as everything else my Russian builder splitting up with his girlfriend, having an emotional breakdown and going awol, torrential rain which flooded through an old chimney spewing black water on my new floor and having to sleep in a sleeping bag on a mattress on the floor for a week in a building site. So I'm never moving again EVER..

So now my equipment is out of boxes here we go kicking off with a cut from the new Marc Mac produced T.R.A.C. album, although funnily enough I dropped the only MCless cut just because the sampled spoken words seem pretty relevant to the world today. Do check the album though, the beats are soul heaven and the lyrics great, coming soon on BBE. I then kept the hip hop flavour but with a nice leftfield twist courtesy of Padwriterz and then a track from a great collaborative album between Obba Suba and the Czech experimental musician (not Belgium as mentioned in the show!) Michal Cimala, Bandcamp business...

The Stepkids are a really interesting new group on Stones Throw, hard to pigeon hole but sounding vintage, modern and fresh. I then dropped a track from a great album from last year by Gayngs, lovely stuff before giving you a taste of the new Dorian Concept material who can now be found on Ninja Tune. Shackleton doesn't really put out any filler as his new EPs for Honest Jons testify, forget the remixes it's all about the original cuts for me. Keeping the beats rolling I then veered into the Clonious remix of Take from the new album of Take remixes on Alpha Pup and then dropped the tempo but kept the beats with Adi Dick and his Spacedust tune from the latest in the Project Moon Circle Ego beatmaker comps, this time showcasing talent from Australia and New Zealand.

"Electro-aquatic-kraut-afro-funk-sonic-experimentation-unit" Snorkel then got all rowdy before Exile hit us with some exotic beats and the excellently named 'PCP laced Beedies'. If that wasn't enough I dropped some killer dubwise runnings from Black Chow, aka Kevin Martin and Kiki Hitomi - check Jahtari for the release, essential. Mago Bo with a Filastine twist kept the low end theory but added a global twist before Barbara Morgenstern arrived with a very personal take on Prince's 'Sign Of The Times', you've got to love a good cover version.

The unprolific yet quality Fudge Fingas has finally made an album and it's solid through and through as the downtempo soulful delights of 'It's About Time' testify which led into the latest Owiny Sigoma Band track - watch out for a sprawling Theo Parrish remix on the flipside, coming on Record Shop Day..

T.R.A.C. - Tel-lie-vision Marc Mac Intermission (BBE promo)
Padwriterz feat Juba Zaki - Time Don't Exist (Eklektik)
Michal Cimala & Obba Supa - Building Up, Obba Supa rmx feat Radimo (Chakra Sounds Bandcamp)
The Stepkids - Shadows on Behalf (Stones Throw promo)
Gayngs - Crystal Rope (Jagjagwar)
Dorian Concept - Thank You All The Time Forever (Ninja Tune)
Shackleton - Deadman (Honest Jons)
Take - Neon Beams, The Clonious rmx (Alpha Pup)
Adi Dick - Spacedust (Project Moon Circle)
Snorkel - Stop Machine (Slowfoot free download)
Exile - PCP Laced Beedies (All City promo)
Black Chow - Wonderland Version (Jahtari)
Maga Bo - Ransom, Filastine rmx (Senseless promo)
Barbara Morgenstern - Sign Of The Times (Monika Enterprise)
Fudge Fingas - It's About Time (Prime Numbers promo)
Owiny Sigoma Band - Wires (Brownswood promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show -February 11, 2011

2011-02-13T14:25:00.001-08:00

So a whole heap of new music this week and very few words due to my continuing workload, construction work hell, ongoing moving woes and general sleep deprivation. Two weeks more and I should be fully installed, unpacked and resuming 'normal' service.

Raf Vilar is part of the fresh new sound of Brazil. Mellow beats abound at the start of the show courtesy of Mizz Beats, Taylor McFerrin and Space Invadas. Robot Koch and John Robinson is some keeping it real nu-school hip hop whilst Jeremiah Jae is some keeping it real cosmic, outerspacial hip hop. Sven Kacirek has produced a wonderful Afro fusion album of the highest order. Pangaea is a beat making don and Hizatron and Policy are two new beat making talents to watch out for and thank you to Heavenly Sweetness for the Raphael re-issue.

Raf Vilar - Bossa Me (Far Out promo)
Mizz Beats - 2 Bit Road (Eglo promo)
Taylor McFerrin - Awake To You (Brainfeeder promo)
Space Invadas - So Strong (BBE promo)
Robot Koch & John Robinson - The Program (Project Moon Circle promo)
Jeremiah Jae - $easons (Brainfeeder promo)
Sven Kacirek - Paperflowers (Pingipung)
Pangaea - Inna Daze (Hessle Audio promo)
Hizatron - Von Glooperstein, Scrufffaton mix (Fat City promo)
Policy - Lights Over Fort Lee (Rush Hour Direct Current)
Raphael - Archangelo (Heavenly Sweetness)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show -February 4, 2011

2011-02-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

This week is passing me by in a cloud of dust, concrete and general construction work and all of a sudden years of record collecting doesn't seem like such a good idea, as the new Audio Texture office takes shape, hence a very short and sweet series of musings this week.

Why did it take 6 months to release the Andre Zimma album digitally? If ambience is your thing look out for the forthcoming Emanuele Errante album it's lovely. Rick Wilhite has made a great house music album. Brainfeeder are taking over this year, the new Taylor McFerrin teaser is ace. Jessie Ware & Sampha have just invented 'lovestep'. Andre Solomko is a great Russian multi-instrumentalist. D'eon's debut album is cool. Nonine records are nine and have released a nine track compilation to celebrate - happy birthday and keep up the good work! Alex Dimitri has made a banging raw tribal house track. The Funkystepz 'Fuller' track is going to be ripping up dance floors really soon, ouch!

Andre Zimma - Colors feat Amraah8 (Swedish Brandy)
Emanuele Errante - Hidden Sun (Karaoke Kalk)
Agoria - Under The River (Infine promo)
Natacha Atlas - River Man, Jef Stott rmx (Six Degrees)
Rick "The Godson" Wilhite - City Bar Dancing, Basement rmx (Still Music promo)
Taylor McFerrin - Place In My Heart feat Ryat (Brainfeeder promo)
Reso - Aethra (Civil Music promo)
VIVEK - Roots (Deep Medi promo)
Jessie Ware & Sampha - Valentine (Young Turks promo)
Andre Solomko - I Recall (Favourite promo)
D'Eon - Across The Sea (Hippos In Tanks)
The!She - 01 (Nonine)
Alex Dimitri South Soul - Africa (BBE promo)
Funkystepz - Fuller (Hyperdub promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - January 28, 2011

2011-02-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

So a cover album of Arthur Russell tunes sounds like a potential train crash but if the cover of 'Love Dancing' that kicked off this weeks show is anything to go by I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of it! The project is helped by the fact that Arthur's Landing, the band doing the covers, is made up of original collaborators with the man. 'Ares' by Karlmarx then followed but don't be fooled they haven't dug up that old German philosopher they are actually a couple of brothers from the increasingly fertile New Zealand beat making scene, look out for their debut album coming out soon on MPM Records. Now one of my EPs of the year is surely going to be the Teleseen EP on Percept, it's a complete mishmash of digi dubbed rhythms and a whole host of musical influences from this Brooklyn bad boy, check it out!!

Boxcutter is back and hitting 2011 hard with his new double A-Side release due out on Planet Mu shortly, always one to watch just check the 'Allele' track on the show. Shackleton shouldn't really need an introduction and I finally dropped the 'Bastard Spirit' track from the debut ep on his nice new record label, Woe To The Septic Heart! That was closely followed by some of the loosest, deepest hip hop beats you are going to hear in a while courtesy of Hey!Zeus - not for the faint hearted or G-Unit fans. Now I'm a big fan of Taprikk Sweezee since I first checked him last year and he's not letting me down this year as his new EP of soulful vocals with forward thinking beats will testify when it drops very shortly on Zoik, German future soul never sounded so fresh.

Daedelus is nothing but prolific and his new album is due late Spring on Ninja Tune and the first little taster is about to drop with a nice little Tokimonsta rework, can't wait to hear the rest. Now Hype Williams are living up to their name but I quite like 'The Throning' track from their recent album but even more I like the new Bryant K track 'Stars' out on a little 7" courtesy of Now Again records, great croaky soul vibes.

Roof Light then followed with a nice cut up of Midas Touch before I dropped a track by Kocky from the new Joey Negro compiled The Soul Of Disco 3 compilation on Z Records. Chock full of floor filling soulful disco it's one not to miss. Some Caribbean disco from days gone by then ended the show nicely courtesy of Eddie Hooper and Soundway Records, feel the warmth.

Arthur's Landing - Love Dancing (Strut Records)
Karlmarx - Ares (MPM)
Teleseen - By Many Names (Percept)
Boxcutter - Allele (Planet Mu promo)
Shackleton - Bastard Spirit (Woe To The Sceptic Heart!)
Hey!Zeus - Annunaki Ninja Trials feat Radimo (Chakra)
Taprikk Sweezee feat Busy - Eating At The Void (Zoik)
Daedelus - Tail-Made feat Milosh, Tokimonsta rmx (Ninja Tune promo)
Hype Williams - Stars (De Stijl)
Bryant K - Stars (Now Again)
Roof Light - Midas (MOM)
Kocky - Just Keep On Dancin (Z Records promo)
Eddie Hooper - Tomorrow's Sun (Soundway Records)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - January 21, 2011

2011-01-23T14:31:00.001-08:00

Late night dubwise runnings kicked off this weeks show from Benny Tones, Electric Wire Hustle's DJ and producer followed by my favourite track from Resoe's new dub celebration album before the Ital Tek remix of Starkey's 'Playing With Fire' track put the final nail in your bass bin's coffin.

Swedish pysch pop dons, Dungen then made an appearance with a tune from their excellent Skit Alt album which really is a wild musical journey. Austin Peralta, a young widely tipped new pianist from LA, then followed with an uncompromising track from his excellent forthcoming, not very smooth, jazz album, Endless Planets - look out for that on the increasingly diverse Brainfeeder records. Enemy Earth then followed with a cut from his new album which is ditching the beats for a heavily layered cosmic soundscape approach, Sunday mornings never sounded as good.

Eden then followed with a beautiful track full of delicate arrangements, classy strings and lovely vocals before The Hidden Orchestra give the poppy delights of Lanu a dark dramatic and cinematic twist. Now The Jet Age Of Tomorrow have been giving away a perfectly saleable album (I've paid for a lot worse!) although it is now available in higher res via Itunes and I urge you to go out and buy it. It's a great fusion of hip hop, pop, pysch, folk, electronic wonder and deserves to do really well, it's one of the freshest albums of the year so far for sure.

Soul Evidence kept the hip hop vibe rolling and it's a rare non house production outing for Atjazz with production partner Si Tew and Replife on the mic and excellent form. Things then got deep house and hypnotic courtesy of a track from Even Tuell's excellent new ep on the Hardwax affiliated Workshop label before Storm Queen got all vocal and led nicely up to the new classic sounding Rick Howard tune on the ever excellent Rush Hour records.

Benny Tones - Chrysalis, instrumental (BBE promo)
Resoe - Apart From Moorpark (Echocord)
Starkey - Playing With Fire, Ital Tek remix (Civil Music)
Dungen - Soda (Subliminal Sounds)
Austin Peralta - Capricornus (Brainfeeder promo)
Enemy Earth - Ore Accet (Eat Concrete promo)
Eden - Solitude (Batterie Records)
Lanu - Beautiful Trash feat Megan Washington, Hidden Orchestra rmx (Tru-Thoughts promo)
The Jet Age Of Tomorrow - The Finer Things (Odd Future)
Soul Evidence - Soul (AtJazz)
Even Tuell - Untitled 1, Original Mix (Workshop)
Storm Queen - Look Right Through (Environ)
Rick Howard - Do What You Have To Do (Rush Hour promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - January 14, 2011

2011-01-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

So my little winter break is over and we're into a new year and I'm sure, another heap of great music to make sense of. The only problem is sorting through the mountain of over hyped nonsense to get to the cream and sieving it through my own personal filters to pull the show together. Luckily I still get off on the thrill of the chase because it can sometime be an arduous task!

So I eased into this weeks show with the mellowest track from the new Virtual Boy EP out on LA's Alpha Pup records, the beat magic from the West Coast shows no sign of abating in 2011. Then came a track from the new Stateless album which is a thing of indescribable folk, prog, electronic, r&B, classical wonder and a start to finish listen, watch out for that dropping in February. Dimlite followed with a track from his wonderful music and beats ep out on Now Again - killer release.

I'd been sitting on the Blundetto remixes for a bit but had to air the feel good dancehall vibes of the Gogo version of 'My Own Girl' - sweet. Soom T then came in to ruff up the dance with a track from her new album of 8-bit digi reggae pure ganja songs, Ode To A Carrot. Now I thought a whole lp discussing the herb might be a bit dull but the varied production from Disrupt and lyrical games from Soom, keep the whole album sounding fresh. The show then got into some twisted beat territory first of from South East London's Crewdson and then courtesy of Morgan Zarate and his forthcoming release on the ever varied Hyperdub.

Long Arm is a cultured musical beat producer from up Russia way who's album is about to drop on Project Moon Circle and it's a really cohesive listen for a largely instrumental beats album and apologies for dropping the instrumental cut by mistake!! Erik Trufaz, one of my favourite modern trumpet players, has slipped out another album and it's sounding as solid and varied as ever as the jazz fusion of 'Mechanic Cosmetic' testified. This was followed by a little cut from the new release from hardcore Japanese diggers, Em Records who have released the 1969 Indo jazz album from T.K. Ramamoorthy.

AD Bourke then provided the laid back 80's boogie vibes, a track from the excellent The Boogie compilation of modern 80's boogie inspired vibes on the Tokyo Dawn Label. I then dropped a little hip hop section, something I don't do enough really, kicking off with a tasty new Art Bleek track, an always welcome new J-Live track and a re-issued modern classic courtesy of BBE - Jazzy Jeff's, 'For The Love Of The Game'. I had to finish off with a track from the great Truth and Soul Compilation, African Music Today which I shamefully slept on last year but which I urge you to go out an buy immediately!

Virtual Boy - Breach Of The Descendants (Alpha Pup promo)
Stateless - I Shall Not Complain (Ninja Tune promo)
Dimlite - Loins (Now Again)
Blundetto - My Own Girl, Gogo Version (Heavenly Sweetness)
Soom T - Puff The Police (Jahtari promo)
Crewdson - Mime, Grasscut rmx (Slowfoot)
Morgan Zarate - Hookid (Hyperdub promo)
Long Arm - The Branches, instrumental (Project Moon Circle promo)
Erik Trufaz Quartet - Mechanic Cosmetic (Blue Note)
T.K. Ramamoorthy - Gowla (Em Records promo)
AD Bourke - Aries (Tokyo Dawn Records)
Art Bleek featuring Nya - Plat Du Jour (Loungin)
J-Live - No Time To Waste (Triple Threat)
Jazzy Jeff - For Da Love of Da Game (BBE)
Bama & The Family - Googie (Truth And Soul)

Oh yeah and here's a little video for you - Hip Hop African Style....

Don't forget my new musical consultancy business Audio Texture if you are looking for advice on music branding, in-store music or music for film, television and advertising.
www.audiotexture.com for more information.

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - End Of Year 2010

2011-01-12T02:42:00.000-08:00

OK so it's time to have a quick look back at 2010 although to be honest the end of year lists are getting so hyped these days I'm probably not going to bother next year, I think even my postman has compiled a list of his top ten favourite envelopes of 2010. To do a proper round up would mean an extended show of probably about 6 hours so in this hour long show I've just thrown in a few tunes that moved me in some way, made me smile, made me dance, made me sad or just tickled me.

James Blake obviously had to be there - what a year for him, I hope he keeps up the good work. The Lou Rhodes album wasn't all killer but the 'There For The Taking' track will be an eternal favourite of mine. The Robert Aaron album on Heavenly Sweetness was solid start to finish and 'The Saddest Kiss' track amongst others sublime. Electric Wire Hustle proved New Zealand isn't all Lord Of The Rings, sheep and Fat Freddy's Drop.

The Henrik Schwarz remix of 'Feeling You' featuring Omar and Stevie Wonder almost didn't see the light of day, respect to Peppermint Jam for doing the business. Four Tet seems to be in every end of list that I do and this year is no exception - what an album! Mount Kimbie also rose to the top this year with some great productions, remixes and their debut album delivered. Respect also has to go out to Tri-Angle records for an inspired start to their label and the Balam Acap ep in particular.

Baile Funk tunes tend to be pretty disposable but Greymatter's 'Eu Fumo' had the energy and the quality production, booty shaking never sounded so good. Now one of the most underrated artists of 2010 was Taprikk Sweezee who produced one of the deepest, twisted nu-soul eps of the year - people have to pick up on this boy soon. Soweto Kinch is a musical marvel, not only one of the UKs best sax players he's also an increasingly accomplished MC and each album gets better.

I don't really need to say much about the Flying Lotus album except I could have played most of the album on the show. Kenton Slash Demon are a couple of Danish Indie rock musicians who diversified into house music this year and I hope they spend more time in the studio and less time rocking out in 2011. To end the show I had to drop one of the sunniest tunes of the year from Bing Ji Ling, a little tune that's so sunny it probably contributed to global warming.

James Blake - I Only Know (R&S)
Lou Rhodes - There For The Taking (Motion Audio)
Robert Aaron - The Saddest Kiss (Heavenly Sweetness)
Electric Wire Hustle - They Don't Want (BBE)
Omar feat Stevie Wonder - Feeling You, Henrik Schwarz rmx (Peppermint Jam)
Four Tet - Angel Echoes (Dominoe)
Mount Kimbie - Ode To Bear (Hot Flush)
Balam Acab - See Birds (Tri-Angle)
Greymatter - Eu Fumo ft Deize Tigrona (Mr. Bongo)
Taprikk Sweezee - Runner (Musik Aus Strom/Zoik Musik)
Soweto Kinch - Trying To Be A Star (Soweto Kinch)
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane (Warp)
Kenton Slash Demon - Sun (Tartelet)
Bing Ji Ling - Sunshine Love (Lovemonk)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - December 12, 2010

2011-01-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

Just a track listing for this weeks show:

Tuomas Toivonen - Masterplan (Keys Of Life)
Jozif - Suddenly Somethin' (Infine promo)
Charles Earland - Comin2ULive, Lefto Edit (White)
Mike Gao - Loving Night (All City)
Take - Rehearsing My Thoughts (Poobah Records)
74 Miles Away - August City Blues (MPM/Laid Back Radio promo)
Date Palms - Psalm 7 (Root Strata)
Tunnidge - Tribe (Deep Medi)
Pearson Sound - Blanked (Hessle Audio)
Daedelus vs Emika - Retouch Tone, King Cannibal XX Edit (Ninja Tune promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - December 5, 2010

2010-12-08T15:23:00.001-08:00

The often unheard sounds of Thailand got the show off to an Asiaticly tropical start this week and the Plearn Promdan track was from another winning compilation from Soundway entitled The Sound Of Siam, Thailand never sounded so cool. The sounds of Guadelouple followed courtesy of the unfeasibly soulful Marie-Line Dahomay, roots music at it's rawest and best. Now the Congotronics series has been given an inspired set of remixes over the course of a double CD from the likes of Shackleton through to Animal Collective and Optimo and amongst others I'm particularly liking the Aksak Maboul rework of the Kasai Allstars. I then followed that by another track from Lone's nu/old school house EP which dropped recently, vintage flavoured, electronic soul.

The Compost disco sub-label has further cemented it's growing reputation with a great new disco number by John Gazoo - one for all you dancing queens. The rising stars of Ben Butler & Mousepad then followed but only because they've been given a future 80s soul style rehash from the talented Eero Johannes. Silkie then kept the future 80's vibes running but on a dubstep riddim, a great new release on the ever interesting Deep Medhi label and just to prove the 80's synth soul sound is here to stay I had to drop another cut from the excellent Opolopo album which is getting better with every listen.

George FitzGerald is back with another great EP on one of my labels of the year Hotflush, expect more great soulful post garage beats and a tougher techno remix on the flipside from the label boss himself. Downliners Sekt are a mysterious production collective with an unrepentantly forward looking musical agenda as their track on this weeks show 'White Dawn' perfectly highlights. Tshaka is a great urban poet and with the 'We' track backed up by some great beats courtesy of Me Raabenstein, if you like Saul Williams you'll be feeling the new ep out on Nonine round about now. Brownswood are about to release some new Worldwide family compiled selections kicking off with a stellar collection of beats that have tickled Simbad and Lefto look out for it. The show ended up on a darkly soulful note courtesy of the new Freddie Cruger and Anthony Mills Wildcookie project coming out on Tru-Thoughts soon, check the video for a harsh reality check.

Plearn Promdan - Wan Maha Sanook (Soundway Records)
Marie-Line Dahomay - Yo (Playasound)
Aksak Maboul vs Kasai Allstars - Land Dispute (Crammed)
Lone - The Birds Don't Fly This High (Magic Wire)
John Gazoo - What Happened (Compost disco promo)
Ben Butler & Mousepad - Other Islands II, Eero Johannes rmx (Lo Recordings promo)
Silkie - Wonder (Deep Medi promo)
Opolopo - Step Into The Light (Tokyo Dawn)
George FitzGerald - Don't You (Hot Flush promo)
Downliners Sekt - White Dawn (Disboot)
Tshaka - We (Nonine promo)
Andreas Saag - Nobody Here (Brownswood promo)
Wildcookie - Heroine (Tru-Thoughts promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - November 28, 2010

2010-11-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

Kicking off with some of that new school, old school soul music from down under producer Katalyst and the unmistakable vocals of Steve Spakek under their collective moniker Space Invadas - tune!! Poobah have digitally released some of their vinyl only releases recently and I had to drop the future G-funk classic of 'Catch Me Riding Dirty' from the unrepentantly forward looking Samiyam. I then dropped a nice little beat number on the Kindred Spirits sub label for all things forward looking, Nod Navigators, 'Arisseee Henson' by The Blessings that had somehow got lost in my digital filing system, personally I blame Apple.

Buddy Sativa is about to release one of the freshest jazz albums of the year on Favourite recordings, it's called Deus Ex Machina and all I can say is it's DEEP!! A really great slice of production work from this French beat maestro, just have a listen to 'The Pilgrim' track on the show but the whole album is a great listen start to finish - highly recommended. Ras G's Ghetto Sci-Fi album has also just been digitally re-issued by Poobah and I couldn't resist following Buddy Sativa with the deep jazz beats of 'Sunrise' from this Afro futurist.

Cheikh Lo then followed with the most up-tempo track from his recent mellow Jamm album, a surprisingly sedate listen for this usually funky Senagalese multi instrumentalist. Carrying on the Afro vibes were the Munich boys, Bad Jazz Troupe with their epic 'Breakdown Treat' which does exactly that over a prolonged period, lovely. Krystal Klear is another stellar project hailing from the Dublin based All City label boys and it's a fresh slice of boogie heaven to get your shuffle on to. Anthony Shakir has just got the remix treatment from Space Dimension Controller - an inspired piece of match making by the Rush Hour boys and the result is predictably good and you've got to love any track called 'Detroit State Of Mind'.

Sepalcure are back with their second release on Hot Flush and I'm happy to report they've cemented their reputation with another quality release of future beats with some nice melodic touches, it really has been quite a year for Hot Flush this year - great A&Ring. Boxcutter has just sneaked out a little release with fellow Irish producer and muso Kab Driver and it's great, just check the future boogie badness of '2time' if you need any convincing. Clara Moto has been given some excellent remix treatments and the deep DOP twist just beat the slo-mo Ritornel rework to the show but it was close. The new Dubulah Arabic project Syriana then followed for all you world music virgins followed by a wonderful UK urban/indie mish mash from Breton who I (un)confidently predict to win next years Mercury music prize if they keep up the good work.

Space Invadas - Imaginist (BBE promo)
Samiyam - Catch Me Riding Dirty (Poobah)
The Blessings - Arisseee Henson (Nod Navigators)
Buddy Sativa - The Pilgrim (Favourite promo)
Ras G - Sunrise (Poobah)
Cheikh Lo - Bourama (World Circuit)
Bad Jazz Troupe - Breakdown Treat (Jazz n Milk promo)
Krystal Klear - Tried For Your Love
Anthony Shakir - Detroit State Of Mind, Space Dimension Controller (Rush Hour)
Sepalcure - Fleur (Hot Flush promo)
Boxcutter & Kab Driver - 2time (Kinnego)
Clara Moto - Deer & Fox, DOP rmx (Infine promo)
Syriana - The Road To Damascus (Real World)
Breton - December (Hemlock promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - November 21, 2010

2010-11-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

Well that's enough of vinyl back to the digital..

Pedestrian kicked off the show with a lush slice of electronica from the new Brownswood Bubblers compiled by that nice man Gilles Peterson before I dropped a little Scratch 22 remix of the excellent Electric Wire Hustle from New Zealand, now that's what I call soul. I then followed that with a beautiful cut from a beautiful soundtrack album. It's the music to The Assassination of Jesse James composed by Nice Cave & Warren Ellis, a truly breathtaking piece of music and thanks to King Cannibal for turning me on to it.

Souad Massi then kept the mellow vibes rolling with some Algerian folk music from her new album before the Starkey remix of Balearic proggy new boys Starlings crashed the show back into the hear and bassline now. Arp 101 then kept the future flavour rolling in a proper fashion, courtesy of the ever interesting Eglo Records. J.Rocc is about to release an album after years of DJing at the highest level and I am proud to present a little future disco cut from the project which is guaranteed to destroy even the stiffest of dancefloors.

There is a great compilation of tropical disco delights out called Disc 'O' Lypso which is an audio delight start to finish and the Tappa Zukie track 'Freak' was a little taste of the delights if you purchase the compilation. Speaking of comps I then hit you with some vintage Africa courtesy of the latest Analogue Africa compilation of wonder - Afro Beat Airways. If you want to know what a compilation should look like as well as sound like then I suggest you sprint to your nearest record store (could be a long way these days) and buy it.

flako has just produced a nice little concept EP (don't be scared, its great!) soundtracking a film future beat style and my hat goes off to him, check the Shaunise vocal track for a taster of the eclectic delights. I then had to drop a cut off the excellent Opolopo album about to drop on Tokyo Dawn, it's a killer future soul and boogie thing, check the 'Glide' track for a little taster. I couldn't resist dropping the main cut from the new Debuzz release - French hip hop at it's very best before DJ Vadim's new project, The Electic, ended the show on a Hip Ital Boogie tip, baaaadd...

Pedestrian - Hei Poa, Bubblers edit (Brownswood promo)
Electric Wire Hustle - Again, Scratch 22 remix (BBE promo)
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Rather Lovely Thing (Mute Records)
Souad Massi - Un Sourire (Wrasse)
Starlings - Weight In Gold, Starkey remix (Civil Music promo)
Arp 101 - Flush (Eglo promo)
Taylor - CMB (Super promo)
J.Rocc - Party, Boogie Man remix (Stones Throw promo)
Tappa Zukie - Freak (Trans Air)
Apagya Show Band - Ma Nserew Me (Analogue Africa)
fLako - Love Opera featuring Shuanise (Project Moon Circle promo)
Opolopo - Glide (Tokyo Dawn promo)
Debuzz - Rcveillez Vous (Propaground promo)
DJ Vadim presents 'The Electric' - Beautiful, Suonho Italian Boogie mix (OGS promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - November 14, 2010

2010-11-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the all vinyl Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show!

To be honest I'm more concerned about the music than the format these days and I'm an unashamed convert to the convenience and portability of digital music formats. Typing an artist name or song title into a search option is certainly a damn site easier than trying to search through my 4,000+ records to find a track and being as I now spend half my life sitting in front of a computer then it makes sense to have my record collection on the screen as well, not to mention the savings! I no longer have to pay €10 for a 12" just to get the one remix that I like, it now costs me €1, now if they would just lower the cost of a digital album then I'd really be happy.

I now buy about 20 new vinyl records a year, basically stuff that doesn't get a digital release or stuff that is particularly collectible and here's a few of my purchases from the last year or so, that you wouldn't have heard on the show previously.

Lloyd Miller Trio - Way Out East (Jazzman)
Francisco Mora Catlett - Baba Lu Aye, Empyreal Version (Premiere Cru Music)
Amadou Et Mariam - Joaquin's Sacred Rhythm Dance (Bara)
Nzimade Allstars - Highway Sporo Disco, Edit (Sofrito)
DJ Nature - This Side Of Heaven (Golf Channel)
DJ Nature - Everyone (Golf Channel)
Jamie Woon - Night Air, Ramadanman refix (Candent Songs)
Mistanomista - Detroit Session (Black label)
The Black Souls - Baki Mutane Nakuka (BBE)
Midlake - Roscoe, The Beyond The Wizard Sleeve Re:animation (Is It Balearic)

Just in case you didn't click on the Lloyd Miller link above then here's the video it linked to:

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - November 7, 2010

2010-11-07T01:59:00.000-07:00

Paul White - Goes To Hollywood (White)
Wayman Tisdale - Every Now And Then (Rendevous)
Debuzz - Voilo Le Buzz (Propaground promo)
Baker Brothers - Once I Had A Friend (Record Kicks)
Sugar Ice Tea - Palo Bonito (Nascente)
The Black Seeds - Rotten Dub, Rotten Apple D-Duff rmx (Easy Star promo)
Flying Lotus - Pie Face, My Dry Wet Mess rmx (Free download)
Ruckazoid - Crush (All City promo)
Taprikk Sweezee - Mercury (Zoik)
Starkey - Paradise, Rudi Zygadlo rmx (Civil Music promo)
Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices (Asthmatic Kitty Records)
Marsmobil - Gonna Be My Day, Henrik Schwarz Acoustronic rmx (Compost promo)
Coyote - Moving, Still Going rmx (International Feel)
Francesco Tristano - Idiosynkrasia (Infine promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - October 31, 2010

2010-11-07T01:04:00.000-07:00

With only 10 tracks in this weeks show it's not one for the attention deficit disorder crew or the owners of Ibiza Sonica! Funnily enough this show got me removed from the Ibiza Sonica radio station in Ibiza. This is what the email said "I'm writing to let you know that my bosses have decided not to run Global Souljah anymore on Sonica as they don't think some of the more experimental and urban sounds played in the show fit on the station or appeal to many of our listeners. We’ve been discussing for a few weeks, but there have been tracks near the beginnings of the last 2 shows that have not gone down well!"

All I can see is that it is a shame that commercial considerations are decimating the FM radio landscape but it's obviously good news for internet radio & the more progressive stations which are increasingly picking up listeners who don't want to be dictated to by unimaginative programming, accountants and advertising executives.

Lee Perry - Exercising, HP Remxi (Tempa promo)
Asusu - No Kya (Project Squared promo)
The Reboot Joy Confession feat Dwight Trible - Spirit Of The Planets (Philpot)
Ekoplekz - Stalag Zero (Punch Drunk promo)
The Sound Of Lucrecia - Ara (Pruna)
Long Arm - After 4AM (Project Moon Circle)
The Rongetz Foundation - Congas In Action (Heavenly Sweetness)
Ebo Taylor - African Woman (Strut)
Lone - Cloud 909 (Magic Wire promo)
Sunship feat Warrior Queen - Almighty Father, Solid Grooves Underground SoulJah rmx (SoulJazz)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - October 24, 2010

2010-10-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

Optimo music reaches release number 10 with a release straight out of Jakarta(!) and it's a wonderfully diverse ep and the 'less is more' approach of Space System's 'Petik' track is a very worthy start to this weeks' show. Darkstar then keep the quality flowing with the great 'Under One Roof' track from their newly released North album which is this weeks album of the week for sure. 'Mass Dreams Of The Future' then followed as R&S march into 2010 cherry picking the cream of new wave producers, look out for this killer cut and a wicked flip side from Untold coming to a discerning record store near you soon.

The new wave of US urban stars (rarely rich with new ideas) are about to pay musical tribute to one of the all time greats Quincy Jones and I've picked up on the instrumental version of 'Soul Bossa Nostra' which somehow straddles the line between cheese and forward thinking dubstep quite admirably and which led me nicely into the purplish bassline workout of Velour from their recent Night Slugs ep. Dam Funk then held down the 80's vibes with a killer synth wig out from the latest All City release also featuring the talents of Computer Jay.

The Funk League and Raashan Ahmad then gave us all a reminder of how funky fresh hip hop used to be before the accountants took over and the new Balearic project from the Incarnations collective kept the sunshine vibes rolling and slid nicely into the classic 80's soul vibes of Raw Silk's 'Do It To The Music' now available via the great G.I. Disco compilation on BBE for a 99c download as opposed to the €20 slab of vinyl I brought not 5 years ago. How times have changed and to be honest I'm quite happy to have both formats.

A couple of quality deep house tracks with pleasing production twists and turns then followed by Eliphino and Bloody Mary before I finished the show with some quality fresh hip hop courtesy of the Swede:art remix album just out on Tokyo Dawn which was sadly cut short by my big clumsy fingers hitting the record stop by mistake 34 seconds before the usual 60 minute end to the show, ooooopps :)

Space System - Petik (Optimo)
Darkstar - Under One Roof (Hyperdub)
Untold - Mass Dreams Of The Future (R&S promo)
Quincy Jones - Soul Bossa Nostra, instrumental (Qwest/Insterscope promo)
Velour - Booty Slammer (Night Slugs)
Dam Funk - Love Affair (All City promo)
The Funk League - Why You? featuring Speech Defect (Favourite)
Raashan Ahmad - Sunshine feat Noelle Scaggs (Trad Vibe)
Incarnations - Make You Mine (Love Monk promo)
Raw Silk - Do It To The Music (BBE)
Eliphino - I Just Can't (Somethinksounds promo)
Bloody Mary - Arabesque feat Sam Leigh Brown, original (Dame promo)
Swede:art - Linguistics feat Stray, Ishfaw remix (Tokyo Dawn)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - October 17, 2010

2010-10-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

It's some of that new school old school house vibes to kick off the show this week from N.E.R.D (produced by Daft Punk) and obviously sacking the crap vocal in favour of the instrumental cut. A track from the excellent Philpot label's latest twisted release followed which has been described quite aptly by Boomkat as sounding like 'Bugz In The Attic having a nervous breakdown' - nice! Ninja Tune are keeping up their fine run of form post the release of their amazing box set with a great release from Stateless which is some forward thinking Afro tinged soulful wonkiness with some nice remixes by the like of Rustie and others for good measure. Perhaps my musical find of the week though is Sara Mitra, a lady brimming full of soulfolkjazz goodness, her album is coming out in November on the great Impossible Ark label who are mercilessly holding down the quality control with all their output and long may that continue.

Some serious slo-mo action then followed courtesy of boy wonder James Blake who I've been championing since day one and who never fails to disappoint followed by a great little lethargic soulful jazzy electro workout from the in-demand Jimmy Edgar. Nelson Marquez then livened up proceedings with a little latin flavoured slice of soul from an excellent compilation on Brawl records featuring T-Love, the whole Brawl crew and a host of great cross genre musical delights. Ethiopian jazz inspired crew Woima Collective then sent the show off to a shady Addis Ababa club late at night with the wonderful 'The Cave' track, make sure you check their great sub Saharan flavoured album on Kindred Spirits.

Sub Swara are back with a new album after their inspired debut and still one of my favourite dubstep albums Coup D'Yah. The production is still tight but the style has now changed and is sounding a bit more mainstream which has thrown me slightly but respect to them for moving on even if it's a bit like losing an old girlfriend. My favourite track is a bit of a throwback to their original sound and the super deep yet rugged 'Vagabond Knowledge'. The new Numbers label offering which is produced by Sbtrkt and utilising the vocal talents of Jessie Ware then followed and is destined to become a bit of an anthem in the world of bass music if you ask me.

Slakah The Beatchild is about to drop his new album on BBE and I'm loving the soulful title track 'Something Forever'. I am also happy to report the return of Kelpe moving from DC Recordings to pastures new with a solid new EP and the particularly pleasing 'Taps On' track. A little African section then rounded off this weeks selection with a killer dancefloor cut from the new Alex Wilson cross cultural collaboration Mali Latino, make sure you check the album, it's a marvel and a testiment to Alex's determination, that it ever got made and the world of music is all the better for it. Emmanuel Jal, via a Henrik Schwarz rmx, then closed the show with a killer slice of Afro House blessed by the vocals of one of Africa's finest rappers.

N.E.R.D. - Hypnotize U, Instrumental (Geffen/Interscope promo)
The Reboot Joy Confession - Funkin Facets (Philpot Records)
Stateless - Ariel, Album version (Ninja Tune promo)
Sara Mitra - The Old Country (Impossible Ark promo)
James Blake - I Only Know What I Know Now (R&S promo)
Jimmy Edgar - My Balance, Last Priority (Non Plus)
Nelson Marquez - So Fly (Brawl promo)
Woima Collective - The Cave (Kindred Spirits)
Sub Swara - Vagabond Knowledge (Low Motion promo)
Jessie Ware & Sbtrkt - Nervous (Numbers promo)
Slakah The Beatchild - Something Forever (BBE promo)
Kelpe - Taps On (Black Acre)
Madou Sidiki Diabete, Ahmed Fofana, Alex Wilson - Bamako 2000 (Alex Wilson)
Emmanuel Jal - Kuar, Henrik Schwarz rmx (Innervisions)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - October 10, 2010

2010-10-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Not much time for a proper show review this week but I'd just like to let you know that the show has just been picked up by two new FM stations - RBS 91.9FM in Strasbourg and Gaudeamus 93.6FM in Kaunus, Lithuania. If you are in their area then check them out and support the stations that are supporting great independent music.

Quick notes though check out the oOoOO ep, it's as fresh as anything I've heard this year - respect to Tri Angle Records and respect also goes out to Favourite Records who are about to hit their 50th release a great milestone for any independent label - nice one boys, keep the tunes coming..

oOoOO - Mumbai (Tri Angle)
Finn Peters - Brain Solo (Mantella promo)
Tom Ze - Augusta, Angelica e Consolacao (Luaka Bop promo)
The Spencer Jackson Family - Ain't Nobody Gonna Treat Us Like They Used To Do (Jazzman)
Dojo Cuts - Ain't So Low (Record Kicks promo)
Maxmillion Dunbar - Girls Dream (Ramp)
Gonjasufi - Candylane, Bibio remix (Warp)
Belleruche - Bobby (Tru-Thoughts promo)
Marbert Rocel - Love Me, Good Guy Mikesh & Filburt rmx (Compost promo)
Peverlist - Roll With The Punches (Punch Drunk promo)
The Bug - Skeng, Autechre rmx (Ninja Tune promo)
The Bug - Catch A Fire feat Hitomi (Ninja Tune promo)
Human Egg - Love Like This (Favourite promo)
The Philly Armada Orchestra - For The Love Of Money (BBE REcords)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - October 3, 2010

2010-10-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

So another week whizzes past marked by another show and what a groove to kick off with, the evergreen Eddy Senay's 'Cameo', simple but devastatingly effective and now available courtesy of the DJ Spinna compiled, Strange Games & Funky Things 5 comp from BBE. Another re-issue then followed in the shape of 'O Mi Shango' from Mongo Santamaria presented on the Salsa Explosion: The New York Salsa Revolution 1969-179, yet another great compilation from the reborn and re-energised Strut records. Juxtaposing tropical grooves old and new I then dropped the Da Lata remix of rising Brazilian star, Luisa Maita from a great forthcoming bunch of reworks of her recent album due soon on Cumbancha.

Deep house was then the order of the day thanks to Mahon - check our their new EP about to drop on R2 records, deep soulful niceness. My boy Space Dimension Controller is about to release his latest ep of cosmic soulful boogie on R&S (result!) and it's as solid as eps come. Seaworthy & Matt Rosner went to a lake in New South Wales and recorded its ecosystem which formed the basis for their Two Lakes album, a great electro-acoustic project where once technology and nature sit side by side harmoniously.

John Tejada and Takeshi Nishimoto have been recording under the I'm Not a Gun name for a while and the 'Coloured Sky Coloured Mind' track from their latest album is a little future Balearic nugget. I then succumbed to the hype as I should have done in this case by dropping the Burial remix of Commix which is now finally out on digital and about time. Now Ninja Tunes are celebrating their 20th birthday, a major achievement for an independent record label, with a slew of releases and, after seeing them in concert recently, I couldn't resist playing the Fourtet remix of the Anti Pop Consortium 'Volcano' anthem. Paul White's characteristically good remix of FOE then followed neatly running into Duke Dumont's inspired reworking of Brazilian musical tripper Terror Babe.

Darkstar's new single on Hyperdub is an emotive winner and a pleasing departure for this increasingly eclectic label and long may that continue as whatever they put out the quality control is always there. I couldn't resist finishing off the show with a track I was caning a while back, Joker's remix of The Heavy which is undoubtedly one of my favourite dubstep tracks and also available on the Ninja tune XX box set. Incidentally watch out for King Cannibal's Way Of The Nina mix, he's put together 247 tracks from the labels catalogue into an awesome 74 minute mix in masterful style, don't say I didn't warn you!

Eddy Senay - Cameo (BBE)
Mongo Santamaria - O Mi Shango (Strut promo)
Luisa Maita - Fulaninha, Da Lata rmx (Cumbancha promo)
Mahon - Closer (R2 promo)
Space Dimension Controller - Mercurial Attraction (R&S promo)
Seaworthy & Matt Rosner - Meroo Lake Pt. 1 (12K)
I'm Not A Gun - Colored Sky Colored Mind (City Center Offices)
Commix - Be True, Burial remix (MetalHeadz)
Anti Pop Consortium - Volcano, Four Tet Remix (Ninja Tune promo)
FOE - A Handsome Stranger Called Death, Paul White remix (Free download)
Babe, Terror - Epicentro, Duke Dumont Rework (Phantasy promo)
Darkstar - Gold (Hyperdub promo)
The Heavy - How You Like Me Now? Joker remix (Ninja Tune)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show September 26, 2010

2010-09-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Global Souljah & Bbe Records Radio Show - September 26, 2010 by Global Souljah on Mixcloud

So here we go and damn the new Morgan Packard album is good! It's lovingly crafted electo acoustic versions of club and home music - look out for Moment Again Elsewhere, released on Anticipate recordings on October 11, an essential purchase. DJ Rocs album is coming as well and it is surprisingly listenable for a juke album which let's face it is yet another genre where its all about the singles. Pavel Dovgal is a producer to watch and another nice addition to the Project Moon Circle family. Teebs is getting a lot of press at the moment due to his album on Brainfeeder about to drop. I've got to say despite being well produced it is a little bit samey but with some great moments - check his art output as well, talented guy.

Daedelus has just come out with a really nice side of submerged soul and disco cuts which have been Daedelusised within an inch of their life, the flipside by Teebs is also worth checking, big up the All City Dublin crew for another interesting release. Couldn't resist dropping 'Faded Lady' from the SSO band again as it's one of my new favourite soul cuts, big thanks to DJ Spinna for introducing me to the tune through his wonderful Strange Games and Funky Things 5 comp for my boys at BBE.

The ANBB album is an all over the shop experimental hybrid coming out on Raster Norton but the 'One' track is a delicate little flower of a tune in the otherwise wilder more abrasive, yet interesting album, an absolutely lovely track. I couldn't resist dropping another track from the Heart comp on Tokyo Dawn - big up Blaktronics for this weeks offering. Now the Truth's album is a bit samey and doesn't take advantage of the opportunities an album offers for diversity and story telling but I do like 'Indigo Mood' from it, great melodic dubstep.

Natacha Atlas has just released her new album and has largely ditched the electronics in favour of a more rootsy Arabic vibe and I have to say I like it, she's improving with age. Supersoulsonic are otherwise known as Michael Rutten and Christian Prommer and they are the latest boys to release on the new Compost Disco label offshoot and both cuts from the release are more than doing it for me. Kenton Slash Demon are fast becoming one of my favourite house producers and their new release 'Matter' has got massive crossover potential they could turn out to be the new thinking mans Daft Punk if they're not careful! Moonstarr then closed the show with his latest release a great slice of Detroit flavoured vocal house all the way from Canada.

Morgan Packard - Moment (Anticipate promo)
DJ Roc - Lost Without U (Planet Mu promo)
Pavel Dovgal - Lyra Bird feat BekBekson (Project Moon Circle promo)
Teebs - Why Like (Brainfeeder promo)
Daedalus - LA6 mini mix - Global SoulJah edit (All City)
The SSO Orchestra - Faded Lady (BBE Promo)
Alva Noto & Blixa Bargeld - One (Raster Norton promo)
Blaktronics - Fais Moi Fremir feat Sheila Monique (Tokyo Dawn)
Truth - Indigo Mood (Chemical Records)
Natacha Atlas - Batkallim (6 Degrees Records)
Supersoulsonic - Eddy Is Dead (Compost Disco promo)
Kenton Slash Demon - Matter (Tartelet promo)
Moonstarr - Monopoly feat Tash (Public Transit Recordings promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show September 12, 2010

2010-09-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

Global Souljah & Bbe Records Radio Show - September 12, 2010 by Global Souljah on Mixcloud

So the posting on this show is a little late but it's a nice little journey through the world of modern basslines, classic reggae, psyched out beats, modern jazz fusion, deep house and fresh electronica.

The new Aardvarck album in out on Eat Concrete and is a great exercise in restrained, minimal yet soulf basslines and beats. The Dug Out series of reggae re-issues is amazing - make sure you buy them all. If you didn't know Gaslamp Killer was a tripper then you need to check out his collaboration with Computer Jay on this weeks show! Hidden Orchestra are a great eclectic cinematic, jazz crew who you need to check and Senking has produced a massive album of atmospheric stretched out dubstep - do yourself a favour and invest in a new subwoofer before listening though.

LV has teamed up with Okmalumkookat for some UK meets Kwaito funky fresh fusion, Pariah is yet another killer UK producer making future garage mutations and has an old head on young shoulders. Blue Daisey is back and stretching out his production horizons and John Talabot takes him into unchartered deep house territory. Bara Brost are on a mission to stretch the definition of minimal to brave new frontiers and the genre is all the better for their input. The new Gold Panda album contains melodic beats with attitude and I like it loads, Letherette are Alexander Nuts new signing for Hotep and more than worth some of your time and money and The Rongetz Foundation relocate from France to New York to produce one of the best jazz albums of 2010 - Enjoy!!

Aardvarck - Heal (Eat Concrete Records)
Little John & Billy Boyo - What You Want To Be, Disc Jockey (Dug Out)
King Kong - Try Not I (Dug Out)
The Gaslamp Killer - Shattering Inner Journeys feat Computer Jay (Brainfeeder promo)
Hidden Orchestra - Wandering (Tru-Thoughts promo)
Senking - Skidozer 301 (Raster Norton)
LV & Okmalumkoolkat - Zharp (Hyperdub promo)
Pariah - Prism (R&S)
Blue Daisy & Anneka - Raindrops, John Talabot's Cosmic rework (Black Acre)
Bara Brost - Elephancycle feat Conan Kowalski (BBE Promo)
Gold Panda - Marriage (Ghostly International)
Letherette - Cherryade (Ho Tep)
The Rongetz Foundation - Bulgarian Basketball (Heavenly Sweetness promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - September 5, 2010

2010-09-06T03:26:00.000-07:00

So the Richy Pitch album is finally about to drop after I seem to have been playing and enjoying the album for an age, if you have any interest in the music of Africa then just go and cop the album it's a great fusion of London production values and West African musicians, singers and MCs. The Natural Yogurt Band get the band name of the week award without a doubt and their new 7" on Jazzman is tasty little nouveau retro treat. The Robot Koch album is about to drop on Project Moon Circle and is a great fusion of hip hop, glitch and bassline badness with some tasty collaborations to boot, check it..

Sideshow is Finks alter ego and he (they) are just about to release a tasty set of Dubs of tracks from his last album on the quality Aus label - great soulful bassline business. Rude Kid is one of the new breed of UK urban bassline warriors and I like the minimal but highly effective 'Rain Drops' track from his new EP. The nu-school bassline mix was then nicely rounded off with a classic slice of Augustus Pablo, just so you don't forget where it all came from. Autre Ne Veut have just released a nice album of quirky electro soulful pop and although I'm not down with all of it there's about 3 killer tracks on there and 'Emotional' is my album highlight. Soweto Kinch hopefully shouldn't need an introduction but if you need a little taster check his new album coming shortly on his own label, showcasing his amazing sax playing and some great lyrical dexterity that puts most full time MCs to shame.

The MED album on Stonesthrow is on it's way and I was happy to receive the first little taster featuring the vocal delights of Talib Kweli, the album should be something else. That was closely followed by a Dwele classic from the forthcoming Gilles Peterson comp on BBE celebrating his influential (well it certainly influenced me and has cost me well into 5 figures in the records shops!) radio show. The compilation is a classic selection of pure worldwide favourites, hold tight it's coming soon! Young Marco then followed taking the show in a pleasingly cosmic balearic direction before Cessa brough the basslines back but with a nice melodic spacey feel. That was then followed by Eskmo and a taster from his nice little album just about to be released on Ninja Tune which is great, it's a wonderful lession in cultured, musical beat making by someone who knows how an album should sound and be structured - a dying art in this day and age of the single download. Taylor Deupree then wound down the show with the title track, and one of the four extremely long tracks, that comprise his great new album called Shoals, which is a wonderfully and delightfully soporific horizontal ambient work out.

Richy Pitch - Dey Suffer feat Yasmeen (BBE promo)
The Natural Yogurt Band - Eastern Promise (Jazzman)
Robot Koch - Brujeria (Project Moon Circle)
Sideshow - Dub It All (Aus promo)
Rude Kid - Rain Drops (No Hats No Hoods)
Augustus Pablo - Black Gunn (Pressure Sounds)
Autre Ne Veut - Emotional (Olde Englist Spelling Bee)
Soweto Kinch - Trying To Be A Star (Soweto Kinch)
Med feat Talib Kweli - Classic (Stonesthrow promo)
Dwele - Too Fly (BBE promo)
Young Marco - Moving Fast, Very Slowly (Rush Hour)
Cessa - Recon (Missing Link Sound)
Eskmo - We Have Invisible Friends, Washed Mix (Ninja Tune promo)
Taylor Deupree - Shoals (12K)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show - August 29, 2010

2010-08-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

This weeks show has got the electo funk for sure but kicked off with some more quirky West coast beat making in a pysched out, fuzz, tape hiss style from Yuk who's pleasingly doing his own thing with his new a d w a album - nice artwork as well. Tropics, the latest Planet Mu discovery and another disconcertingly young UK producer, then followed with a great dreamy, creamy slice of ethereal poptronica, surely another talent in the making. After BBE head honcho Pete moved to Berlin he started mining the German scene for release inspiration and the latest compilation is a look back to some of the soul, funk, r&b and disco brought to the country by the GI's stationed in the country during the cold war years and I for one am more than happy to playing tracks like 'Rumours' by the Timex Social Club again! Look out for GI Disco in a store near you soon.

Squarepusher has just released a track on a non Warp label shock! His latest release is a little electro funk number on Ed Banger and a welcome soul injection for the label. The Tokimonsta album has finally dropped and is a nice little debut from this young lady who adds a welcome feminine sensitivity and melodic touch to the otherwise male dominated beat making world. Pablo Mandelbrot is a warped disco moniker for hire and I'm loving the new EP of twisted disco cut ups, apparently produced by someone we all know. Now Mark E has been making waves for a while but not a lot of his work has really grabbed me until he released his new EP on Running Back records last week and the 'Nobody Else' track is something else, dark, dirty but emotive bassline driven disco at it's finest..

The Bilal album is about to drop and the new single, 'Restart' is now on the shelves and download sites and another great little teaser for what is sure to be a killer album. DOP are my favourite sort of house producers - musical! Coming to production from an instrument playing world they've been making some killer tracks over the last couple of years and impressing with a great little live show as well. Well their debut album, funnily entitled 'Greatest Hits' is coming shortly and is one of those very rare things a house music album that works as a start to finish listen, tells a story and is well crafted rather than a collection of dancelfloor bangers laughingly called and album, which is often the case in the house genre - make sure you check it when it comes out.

The Owiny Sigoma Band is a great slice of Afro London musical cross polination facilitated by Gilles Peterson and his Brownswood label, taking some forward thinking London musicians down to Kenya to record with some great local musicians and they've come up with a gem of a release, watch out for the album. Sushi chef Kay Suzuki then ends the show with his personal take on the sounds of Africa made in collaboration with some great Malian musicians and given a little musical house rub, quality.

Yuk - Onlywhenshesmiles featuring Teebs (Leaving Records)
Tropics - Give It Up (Planet Mu promo)
Timex Social Club - Rumours (BBE promo)
Kab Driver - E-M-O Transistor Array (Unreleased)
Squarepusher - Cryptic Motion (Ed Banger)
Tokimonsta - Death By Disco (Listen Up)
Pablo Mandelbrot - Hot Swap (Modisch Aber Unrentabe)
Mark E - Nobody Else (Running Back)
Bilal - Restart (Plug Research)
DOP - 1 Gram (Circus Company promo)
Owiny Sigoma Band - Doyoi Nyajo Nam (Brownswood)
Kay Suzuki - Music featuring Babacarr Dieng & Jally Kebba Susso (Round In Motion)

Couldn't resist posting this classic 80's video from Timex Social Club, check it on the new BBE compilation, G.I. Disco - coming soon!!

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show August 22, 2010

2010-08-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

Kicked off the show this week with the amazing new, simple but devastatingly effective, single from Oneohtrix, Anthony and Fennesz a wonderfully packaged little 7" gem of a tune and one of my favourites of the year so far, I urge you to check it out, it's called 'Returnal' find it on the Editions Mego label. The contemplative vibe then continued with a track from the new Teho Teardo retrospective on Expanding records. Now I didn't know this Italian soundtrack producer before this compilation of his 2004-2008 work but I'm sure as hell glad I do now. Shed then came along and shattered the peace with a funky arse slice of techno from his new album coming really soon on Ostgut Ton, a really nice diverse techno showcase. LA Vampires and Zola Jesus are a couple of ladies with a penchant for the leftfield and I'm loving their pyschedlic, scuzzy dubwise collaboration called 'Searching'. Balam Acab has been getting enough blog hype recently and for once it's actually justified his recent See Birds EP is as fresh sounding as it comes, I'll leave you to describe it though!

After the dirty dub comes The Resonators and one of the sweetest reggae tunes of the year, 'Sweet Love Affair' - pure niceness in the dance followed by one of my all time favourite soul tunes, Starvue's 'Body Fusion' from the new Strange Games and Funky Things Volume Five expertly compiled by DJ Spinna for BBE, killer selection. I then dug out a great slice of Detroit flavoured nu-soul from a couple of years back sung by Inohs Sivad and produced by Carl Craig before dropping into some deep UK hip hop vibes remixed from the Foreign Beggars crew featuring the vocals from my favourite South African MC, Ben Sharpa. The 'urban' vibe baton was then taken up Ahu and her new quirky nu-soul cut 'To Love', look out for that on One-Handed Records coming soon. The little soul/hip hop mix was then sweetly rounded off by the wonderful Bottom Fly cut 'Rhyme Or Reason' - classic!

A little 4/4 mix ended the show, kicked off with the new Prime Numbers cut from graphic designer extraordinaire (responsible for the Soundways record look for instance) Discreet Unit and a lovely deep nu/old school house cut which runs nicely into some super fresh UK Funky vibes courtesy of the DVA remix of Cooly G before ending on one of the soulful house cuts of the year the wonderful Maddslinky and Omar collaboration 'Special' on Tru-Thoughts.

Oneohtrix, Anthony and Fennesz - Returnal (Editions Mego)
Teho Teardo - II Divo: Che Cosa Ricordare Di Lei? (Expanded Records promo)
Shed - Keep Time (Ostgut Ton promo)
La Vampires & Zola Jesus - Searching (Not Not Fun)
Balam Acab - See Birds, Moon (Tri Angle)
Resonators - Sweet Love Affair (WahWah 45's)
Starvue - Body Fusion (BBE promo)
Inohs Sivad - Somewhere Else (Third Ear)
Foreign Beggars ft Ben Sharpa - Asylum Bound, DJ Trouble Remix (Dented Records promo)
Ahu - To Love (One Handed promo)
Bottom Fly - Rhyme Or Reason (Jazzy Sport)
Discreet Unit - Shake Your Body Down (Prime Numbers promo)
Cooly G - Disboy, DVA Hi Emotions rmx (DVA promo)
Maddslinky - Special featuring Omar, At Jazz remix (Tru-Thoughts promo)

Global SoulJah & BBE Records Radio Show August 15, 2010

2010-08-15T02:53:00.001-07:00

I like this weeks show. Every week I check the new promo arrivals, add a couple of new purchases and maybe some old favourites until I hit 60 minutes of music and then I arrange the tunes into a sensible order and then in one live take mix them (if possible), loop them or just run them together and say a few words about the music, hoping I sound half sensible whilst being informative. If there is a mistake then that goes in as well. Generally I think the show is of reasonably consistent quality but some weeks it just comes together better than others and this week is definitely one of the better ones.

Serph starts proceedings this week a great young producer and musician from Tokyo he is one to watch and his Vent album works start to finish flitting through the worlds of pop, jazz, electronica and soundtracks to great effect, hopefully it will soon get some proper worldwide distribution to avoid the expensive Japanese import price tag. Soweto Kinch swiftly follows and if you don't know this young Sax playing MC from the UK you need to rectify that quick, he is a rare talent look out for his new album The New Emancipation coming soon on his own self titled record label, it's one of the freshest jazz albums of the year. Eskmo is another great young electronic producer from San Francisco with some nice musical touches look out for more from him on Ninja Tune. Lorn isn't sleeping after the summer release of his album on Brainfeeder and has just dropped a new EP with a couple of little remixes on and some new material and I'm particularly liking the 'Until There Is No End Track' which is displaying a nice soulful side to this otherwise quite agressive beat maker.

The Juke bandwagon is well and truly rolling so I thought I'd help give it a little push with a track from the deeper side of the scene courtesy of DJ Earl and a more cerebral track from this largely raw, lude, uncultured scene quite surprising coming from a teenager! Downliners Sekt are coming out with some downright dirty, dark and uncompromising music and 'Dirty Meinz' is definitely one for a certain time and place, I'll let you decide where and when. There is a great new compilation showcasing the LA beat making scene's talent roster called Proximity One: Narrative Of A City and it's a great listen start to finish and will undoubtedly be one of my compilations of the year, check the Take and Dam Funk tracks for a taste of what to expect.

Games are otherwise known as Oneohtrix Point Never & Joel Ford and you need to know about this genre bending space cadets as the Heartland track illustrates whereas you probably alread know a bit about Mathew Dear of whom I'm not a massive fan but the 'Honey' track from his new album is definitely tickling my lobes in all the right places. Christopher Willits is a Ghostly International label mate of Dears and his new album is a thing of gentle, natural folk beauty mixed up with some nice electronic touches and well worth getting your hands on. Now the 80's are well back in fashion and Hint has just released his little musical homage to the soulful side of the decade, 'Give It Up'.

I couldn't resist dropping another Space Dimension Controller track this week and I'm sure it's not going to be the last on the show, I'm liking his style. Afrology is an interesting little project out of France which due to it over reliance on samples in unreleasable so it's up for free download and is a nice little blend of Africa and hip hop sampleology. Crewdson is the latest release on Slowfoot records, those nice people that brought Robert Logan to the world and it's a fitting end to a heavily electronic biased show.

Serph - Snow (Noble)
Soweto Kinch - On The Treadmill (Soweto Kinch Recordings promo)
Soweto Kinch - Raise Your Spirit (Soweto Kinch Recordings promo)
Eskmo - Cloudlight (Ninja Tune promo)
Lorn - Until There Is No End (Brainfeeder promo)
DJ Earl - Sounds of Footwork (?)
Downliners Sektt - Dirty Meinz (Disboot)
Take - Converations With Yesterday (Proximal Records)
Games - Heartlands (Hippos In Tanks)
Matthew Dear - Honey (Ghostly International)
Christopher Willits - Sun Body (Ghostly International)
Hint - Give It Up, Instrumental (True-Thoughts promo)
Dam-Funk - A Day At The Carnival (Proximal Records)
Space Dimension Controller - The Love Quadrant (Kinnego)
Afrology - Togo Soul (Free Download)
Crewdson - Mime (Slowfoot promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show August 8, 2010

2010-08-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Another week another nice selection, this week with some unashamed help from Boomkat and one of their latest 14 Tracks selections which provided 3 tracks, cheers boys!

The SSO Orchestra - Faded Layd (BBE promo)
So Percussion, Matmos - Water (Cantaloupe Music)
Luisa Maita - Fulaninha, Maga Bo rmx (Cumbancha)
1000 Names - Long Early Morning (Black Acre)
Hidden Orchestra - Footsteps (Tru Thoughts promo)
Shed - Estrange (Ostgut)
Patrick Pulsinger - Future Back feat Fennesz (Disko B)
Four Tet - Angel Echoes, John Hopkins rmx (Dominoe)
Space Dimension Controller- Journey To The Core Of The Unknown (Royal Oak)
Muallem - Holland Tunnel (Compost Black promo)
Strand - Mac 8 (Laid Back Radio)
Optimum - Crash Riddim (Planet Mu promo)
Becoming Real - Fast Motion (Ramp Recordings)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show August 1, 2010

2010-08-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Not a lot to say this week due to time constraints except that some weeks show turn out better than others and for some reason I reckon this episode is especially nice, check it out..

Rokia Traore - Dianfa (Universal Jazz)
Donso - Kono (Comet)
Malombo - Sangoma (Nascente)
Johnny Colon - Merecumbe (Fania)
Joey Pastrana and His Orchestra - Dance Donna (Cotique)
Dan Mela and His Crew - Happy Birthday Compost (Compost promo)
Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom - Rebuff (Big Dada)
ESQ & Chikaramanga - My Intellect (Tres promo)
Superisk - Find Your Way (Punch Drunk)
Falty DL - Endeavour (Planet Mu promo)
George Levin - Late Discovery (BBE promo)
Pete McCrae Strings - Dance and Sing (Million Dollar Disco)
Adultnapper feat Big Bully - Low Point On High Ground, Dj Sprinkles rmx (Simple promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show July 25, 2010

2010-08-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Not enough hours in the day this week so no show summary or links to the artists, google is your friend this week if you want to research the artists.

Pantha Du Prince - Lay In A Shimmer (Rough Trade)
Friedman Liebezeit - The Librarian, Friedman Rmx (Non Place)
Gideon Van Gelder - Artic Queen (Kindred Spirits)
Nosaj Thing - Light 1 (Alpha Pup)
Free The Robots - Turkish Voodoo (Alpha Pup)
Mount Kimbie - Ode To Bear (Hot Flush)
Andreya Triana - Draw The Stars (Ninja Tune)
Izzi Dunn - All Good Things (Idunnit promo)
Lalo Schifrin - Quiet Village (CTI)
Oriol - Joy FM (Planet Mu)
The Longcut - Repeated, Toro Y Moi rmx (Melodic)
Funkineven 1956 - Heart Pound (Eglo promo)
Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Rain Dance (Strut promo)
Flanger - Crime in The Pale Moonlight, Rashad Becker rmx (Non Place)
Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even (BBE)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show July 18, 2010

2010-07-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Scuzzy dub experiments to kick start the show this week, inspired by the new 14 tracks comp from Boomkat (pretty much always an inspiring selction) with Forest Swords and then a track from the nice new NoNine records release from Lagerfeltz, closely followed by some cinematic funk from a great Richard Strauss rework, given a bit of resuscitation courtesy of the new Part Keller compilation on the otherwise housey Drum Poet Community. Strut continue their rich vein of 2010 form by teaming Lloyd Miller with The Heliocentrics for a great new album of ethno jazz fusion vibes - wonderful.

Bilal is about to drop his third album on the independent Plug Research after some major label politics resulted in the 'accidental' leaking of his second album, some free spirits just shouldn't be and can't be shackled. Vikter Duplaix is back with some overdue tunage and the ancestral style rerub by Boddhi Satva keeps it nice and deep. Compost have set up a new disco flavoured imprint and I'm looking forward to what they have up their sleeves after a promising start. Spoek Mathambo has an album coming shortly on BBE and is melding her South African heritage with some fresh northern hemisphere beats to fresh effect.

Donso is a nice new project on Comet out of France with Krazy Baldhead of Ed Banger fame mixing up the studio wizadry with some great Malian musicians to nice effect. ASC is branching out from his D&B roots into interesting new directions and I'm liking the slo-mo electro vibes of Textura. Jean Jacques Perrey's new album is remixed rather uninspiringly by most of the many modern producers on the album with a couple of exceptions, Jega's remix being one of them before Low Density Matter closes the show with some great melodic dubstep vibes.

Forest Swords - Glory Gongs (Old English Spelling Bee)
Lagerfeltz - Evenaar (NoNine promo)
Richard Strauss - 2001, CF Peters Corps version (Drum Poet Community promo)
Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Nava (Strut promo)
Bilal - Free (Plug Research promo)
Vikter Duplaix - Electric Love, Boddhi Satva rmx (Libra Som Unlimited)
Stefano e Bene feat Hard Ton - Why Your Love, Snuff Crew rmx (Compost Disco)
Spoek Mathambo - Out The Box (BBE promo)
Donso - Mogoya (Comet)
ASC - Textura (Nonplus)
Jean Jacques Perrey & Cosmic Pocket - Cheng Guy, Jega rmx (Invitro)
Low Density Matter - Blue Street (KeySound recordings)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show July 4, 2010

2010-07-15T06:36:00.001-07:00

Gorrilaz - Melancholy Hill, Last Skeptik rmx (White)
Mount Kimbie - Would Know (Hot Flush promo)
L-OW - Diver (Project Squared)
Digitonal - Cantus V (Just music)
M+M Theme - M+M Theme (BBE promo)
Lone - Once In A While (White)
Jo Stance - Hey Girl (Ricky Tick promo)
Pyser, Riggins & Jackson - Funky Butt, part 1 (Stonesthrow free download)
Herbie Hancock - Tempo De Amor feat Ceu (Hancock records)
Electric Wire Hustle - Waters (BBE promo)
Roy Ayers - Everybody (Soul Jazz Records)
Toto - Georgy Porgy (Harmless)
DJ Nate - See Into My Eyes (Planet Mu promo)
Peverelist - Fighting Without Fighting (Punch Drunk promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show July 11, 2010

2010-07-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Wow middle of July already, time is flying but luckily so are the tunes and Natural Self has come up with a winner to kick off the show, re-recording Shadow's, Organ Donor with some Radiohead lyrics to great effect before chill wave new boys Solar Bears come through with some Irish musical niceness - watch out for them, album due on Planet Mu soon. Aloe Blacc is also dropping an album at the end of the summer and after the success of 'Need a Dollar' comes another taste of things to come, this time a cover of The Velvet Underground's, 'Femme Fatale'. Sly Johnson started off with The Sian Super Crew from France but has since gone solo and is surely one of France's top soul boys, his 'I'm calling you' is classic soul music in every sense.

Kenton Slash Demon are better known for their Danish indetronica but I'm loving their house side project, a really fresh take on the genre with a great remix on the flip. Now I'm not big on Tiga but he's just been remixed and Martyn has done the business with a great bass heavy breaks twist. I will stop raving about the Mount Kimbie album as soon as it's released but in the mean time it's my pleasure to drop another great slice of their tasty electronic pie on you in the shape of their 'Mayor' track, wicked.

Mothboy is an eclectic electronic producer who could go somewhere but he's starting life on the net label Arcoplane with the help of some vocals from Brian Greene from Kinnego Flux, great deep minimal house music with soul. Lone is kicking off a new small label called Magic Wire Recordings to release his output and he's off to a great start with the first release due very soon, warm old school/new school house music. Onra has just put out a new single with some Waheed remixes that don't better the original but he's added a little bonus beat that is the nuts, he's always quality.

Electric Wire Hustle are about to hit Europe with a release on BBE and I for one am happy to be spreading the word about this laid back bunch of forward thinking Kiwi soul boys. I also had to drop more tracks from Jono McCleery and Taprikk Sweezee who are both also full of soul in their own ways but with very different approaches to how their soul should be expressed, I urge you to check them both. Throwing Snow then close the show, they are the first release for the tireless Alex Nuts new label Ho Tep, which will be showcasing all sorts of new directions in electronic music and I'm sure the world of music will be all the richer for it.

Natural Self - Street Spirit (Tru-thoughts promo)
Solar Bears - Photo Negative Living (Planet Mu promo)
Aloe Blacc - Femme Fatale (Stones Throw promo)
Sly Johnson - I'm Calling You (Universal)
Kenton Slash Demon - Sun (Tartelet promo)
Tiga - Gentle Giant, Martyn's Heaven rmx (Turbo Recordings)
Mount Kimbie - Mayor (Hot Flush promo)
Mothboy feat Brian Greene - Whisper Echo (Arcoplane promo)
Lone - Angel Brain (Macic Wire promo)
Onra - Bonus Beat (All City)
Electric Wire Hustle - Gimme That Kinda (BBE promo)
Jono McCleery - Tomorrow (Ninja Tune promo)
Taprikk Sweezee - Runner (Musik Aus Strom/Zoik Musik)
Throwing Snow - Un Vingt (Ho Tep)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show June 27, 2010

2010-07-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

So what's hot this week? Soundway records as ever, just picked up their new comp and a couple I missed, quality. The Jaimie Lidell album is great adventurous soul, Eglo Records new signing, Arp 101 is wicked, Hindi Zahra is mixing Berber and English with aplomb, Jono McCleery is an amazing singer songwriter, the Greymatter remixes are out and all blinding, Spoek Mathambo is bringing the sounds of Africa into western ears and it looks like Juke is coming to Europe in the next few months, make sure you check some 'footwork' dance moves on Youtube!

Missing Linkx - Got A Minute (Philpot)
La Tromba - Calaba Calabao (Soundway)
Arp 101 - Dead Leaf (Eglo promo)
Jamie Lidell - She Needs Me (Warp)
Hindi Zahra - Set Me Free (Blue Note)
Hedzolez Soundz - Mee Bee (Soundway)
Joyce Moreno - Aquarius (Far Out)
Cacique '97 - Rwanda's Lament (Footmovin)
Jono McCleery - Tomorrow (Ninja Tune promo)
Falty DL - My friends Will Always Say (Planet Mu promo)
Greymatter - Raw Foot, Klic rmx (Unique/Uncut promo)
Spoek Mathambo - Gwababa, Affie Yusuf rmx (BBE Promo)
Dark Sky - Something To Lose (Black Acre)
DJ Spinn & Dj Rashad - Daydreamin (Ghettophiles)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show June 20, 2010

2010-06-16T02:34:00.000-07:00

So it's another short ramble this week due to Sonar week in Barcelona and the madness surrounding it kicking off with the HYPERDUB/PLAT DU JOUR Party which will undoubtedly be one of the weeks highlights and then it's all downhill from there (for my health anyway!)

Jyoti - Psalm Of The Rubble (Someothership Connect promo)
Frank Brettschneider - Crystal Dub (Raster Norton promo)
James Blake - Footnotes (R&S)
Taprikk Sweezee - Conversea (Musik Aus Strom/Zoik Musik)
Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti - Can't Hear My Eyes (4AD)
Ben Loncle - Soul Man (Motown France)
Quantic presents Flowering Inferno - Dub Y Guaguanco (Tru-Thoughts promo)
Cumbia Moderna De Soledad - Shacalao (Now & Again)
Gold Panda - You, Osborne rmx (Ghostly International)
Al Tourettes & Appleblim - Mr Swishy, Linkwood rmx (Aus promo)
Ogris Debris - Night Aery (Affine promo)
Kode9 - You Don't Wash, Dub (K7 promo)
George FitzGerald - Weakness (HotFlush promo)
Sbtrkt & Sampha - Break Off (Ramp promo)º

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show June 13, 2010

2010-06-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick line this week as Sonar is coming plus a host of work deadlines, help! Loving the Dadawah re-issue from Dug Out, deep spiritual roots reggae, the new Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jyoti project is sounding quality as well. The new Actress album is fire as well, hypnotising deep eclectronica and I had to drop another cut from the Ital Tex album as well.

Anyway loads of good bits to keep you occupied for another hour, enjoy.

Dadawah - Seventy-Two Nations (Dug Out)
Kalbata & Mixmonster - Suger Plum Dub (Soul Jazz)
Jyoti - The Black Mother (Someothership Connect promo)
Ametsub - Repeatedly, Helios rmx (Mille Plateaux)
Ian Simmonds - Lutherstreet Blues (Musik Krausse)
Kinnego Flux - Dansak (Shockingly unreleased I think!)
Ladi6 - Walk Right Up (BBE promo)
Luisa Maita - Ai Ven Ele (Cumbancha promo)
JSBL - Der Mann mit den Schwankngen, Urbs rmx (Affine)
Ital Tek - Moment In Blue (Planet Mu)
Actress - Lost (Honest Jons)
Nacho Patrol - Cheetahman (M Division recordings)
DFP presents Electra 80 - Rock This Town, DFP Night Dubbin rmx (SSOH promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show June 6, 2010

2010-06-07T06:37:00.002-07:00

Seu Jorge kicks off the show this week with his crack at covering 'Everbody Loves The Sunshine' by Roy Ayers and a fine version it is as well. Keni Okulolo then funks things up with a welcome reissue courtesy of Hot Casa, an essential 7" purchase. I was more than happy to learn this week that Electric Wire Hustle from New Zealand have teamed up with the mighty BBE for their European album release, watch out for that but in the meantime enjoy the KILLER single 'They Don't Want'. The BlackJoy album is now available and all soulsters and disco queens should be running to the record shop, quick style.

I followed that up with a classic slice of simple but devastatingly effective house music from Zwicker, give a deep John Talabot remix that I was happy to restumble upon, released last year but still sounding fresh. Greie Gut Fraktion are a couple of German ladies who have spent a long time hanging around building sites and machines recording the sounds and then sculpting them into a surprisingly listenable album with great production, just check the onomatopoeic 'Cutting Trees'. Ghostpoet is the latest signing to Brownswood recordings and another great UK MC talent, quality lyrics and deep beats, I like him a lot.

I'm happy to present more Africa Hitech the musical lovechild of Steve Spacek and Mark Pritchard and the project is sounding as good as it should and is also ridiculously eclectic, everything from future dancehall and house to deep bassline chill out, essential. David Starfire isn't all that but Sub Swara have come up trumps again with another killer remix, they've got the midas touch for real. Ital Tek is coming through with a great sounding new album with an extra slice of melody to warm up the beats and electronic heart and it's sounding great.

Sepalcure are great and their new EP for Hotflush is a great deep soulful bassline workout, excellent, excellent EP, i then dropped a bit of Radiokijada my favorite Afro Peruvian electronic fusionists, I've been sitting on the album for ages but finally unwrapped it and it's a joy from start to finish. Ill Blue is coming with a nice slice of UK Funky for Hyperdub with a double A-Side slice of dancefloor bounce which will be all over the place this summer before Mount Kimbie (hurry up and get that album out) end the show with a great remix from a great original by Andreya Triana, look out for her Bonobo produced album coming really soon.

Seu Jorge and Almaz - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Now and Again promo - free download)
Keni Okulolo - Call Me A Fool Today (Hot Casa promo)
Electric Wire Hustle - The Don't Want (BBE promo)
Blackjoy - 52 Devil's St (Discograph)
Zwicker - Oddity, John Talabot Dub (Compost)
Greie Gut Fraktion - Cutting Trees (Monika Enterprise)
Ghostpoet - Gone (Brownswood promo)
Africa Hitech - One Two (Warp promo)
David Starfire - Cobra, Sub Swara Remix (Six Degrees promo)
Ital Tek - Moon Bow (Planet Mu)
Sepalcure - Love Pressure (Hot Flush promo)
Radiokijada - Quema (Wrasse)
Ill Blue - Bellion (Hyperdub)
Andreya Triana - A Town Called Obsolete, Mount Kimbie rmx (Ninja Tune promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show May 30, 2010

2010-05-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Another hour long amble through my ever changing musical landscape as I kick off on a French jazz fusion tip from the newly re-issued Cortex album and the very pleasant 'Matin Gris' track. Moving Ninja then keep the mellow vibes flowing albeit on a more experimental tip and it's just one of the many great tracks on the fifth anniversary celebratory compilation from Tectonic and it's related labels called Multiverse 2004-2009 : Dark Matter - a 2CD selection of just some of the fine musical moments from the last 5 years from this Bristol based crew. Ladi6 is a new signing to BBE records and is a fresh new soul talent from New Zealand on a relentless touring schedule, check her live in your area soon and pick up the album for some nice modern soulful summer vibes, niceness.

Luisa Maita is a new Brazilian singer who's just about to release a great album on Cumbancha, lovely sweet vibes perfect for those lazy warmer days to come. Rough Guide are just about to release their guide to Salsa divas, a look at some of the key ladies in the macho world of salsa and I'm particularly liking the Omara Portuondo track, quality Cuban Salsa from this veteran of the scene. More Richy Pitch then followed with yet more Ghanaian goodness (album coming soon on BBE) before I welcomed the return of Alex Cuba and his simple, feel good approach to music arranging.

I then took a trip down Balearic memory lane with a great slo-mo funky arsed bass disco tune courtesy of John Tropea before coming right up to date with an amazing new production talent Swede:art. He's about to release his debut album on Tokyo Dawn records but what makes it more remarkable is he is only 20 years old. The album is really strong and diverse, surely a major talent in the making. The Funk League are part of the funky fresh new/old school of hip hop and I'm loving their new ep featuring some great lyrical talent, proper hip hop.

Jaga Jazzist are always interesting and they're just about to put out some remixes of a few of their recent album tracks and I'm favouring the Skwee remix by Sprutbass, a Scandi musical love in of the highest quality. Pinch then followed with another seminal track from the new 5 year birthday label comp and his track 'Qawwali/Brighter Day' track which still sounds fresh and relevant unlike a lot of other dubstep from a while back and even earlier this year! The Mount Kimbie album is one of my most anticipated of this year and I'm super happy to get my mits on a little taster with the 'Field' track, a tasty appetizer for the main course coming in the summer. The show then finishes off with a 3 part epic from GB, part of the latest ep from the prolific All City label from Dublin which also contains work from the prolifici Carlos Nino.

Cortex - Matin Gris (Trad Vibes)
Moving Ninja - Uranium (Tectonic promo)
Ladi6 - Question? (BBE promo)
Luisa Maita - Marie E Moleque (Cumbancha promo)
Omara Portuondo - Mueve La Cintura Mulato (World Music Network)
Richy Pitch - Ninsuo feat Kwesi Dankwa (BBE promo)
Alex Cuba - If You Give Me Love (Caracol promo)
John Tropea - Living In The Jungle (TK Disco)
Swede:art - Embrace The Chill feat Comfort Fit & Persuit Grooves (Tokyo Dawn promo)
The Funk League - The Boogie Down Bombers feat Diamond D & Sadat X (Favorite Recordings promo)
Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit, Sprutbass mix (Ninja Tune promo)
Pinch - Qawwali/Brighter Day (Tectonic promo)
Mount Kimbie - Field (Hot Flush promo)
GB - Sketches Of Crop Circles (All City)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show May 23, 2010

2010-05-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

No time for idle chatter this week (although I have to say I like the way the show flowed) just the track listing with no links either I'm afraid - you're on your own this week - go on you can do it :)

Charles Mann - Do It Again (BBE)
Teddy Prendegrass - The More I Get, The More I Want (BBE)
N.E.R.D. - Hot-N-Fun feat Nelly Furtado, Instrumental (Startrak/Interscope promo)
Grasscut - Old Machines (Ninja Tune promo)
Skitz - Rainy Day Sicence ft Task Force (Dragon Drop promo)
George Lenton - Guiness (Wicky Lindows promo)
Rudi Zygadlo - Opiate Of The Mass (Planet Mu promo)
Guillamino - Son Of A Beach (Bank Robber promo)
Balkan Beat Box - Balkumbia, Sub Swara rmx (Crammed promo)
Richy Pitch - Only Your Walkings fat Wanlov the Kubolor & M3ENSA (BBE promo)
Rocky Dawuni - Freefall, Jeremy Sole feat Ticklah (Aquarian promo)
Tobrock - 6AM (Auge promo)
Paul White - Marshan Signals (One Handed promo)
Ikonika - Video Delays, Edit (Hyperdub promo)
Scratcha DVA - New World Audio (DVA Music promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show May 16, 2010

2010-05-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Off we go again, this time with the sound of summer thanks to Oriol from his forthcoming Planet Mu ep, hints of broken beat and oodles of sunshine - perfect. Bing Ji Ling then follows suit with the aptly titled 'Sunshine Love' a pretty onomatopoeic song title if ever there was one, lovely. I then dropped another essential cut from the super fresh eclectic Richy Pitch Ghanaian project hitting the streets soon courtesy of BBE. Now Soweto Vol. 2 has hit the streets it's time to start tickling your eardrums with teasers from Vol. 3 which is focusing on the vintage jazz side of South African music and believe me it's another winner.

I'm happy to report Robot Koch is keeping up this years good work with a nice little remix of the exciting nu-soul talent Numaads, yet another Project Moon Circle winner. I'm happy to report classical pianist, composer and electronic experimentalist Max Richter is back with another great album and I've recently discovered the mellow wonders of folk singer Laura Gibson and electronic tinkerer Ethan Rose, look out for their new album soon if pastoral soundtracks are your thing.

Nat Birchall is just about to release another spiritual jazz wonder on the exciting Gondwana label, if beautiful jazz is your thing then don't ask, just buy it. Blundetto's output is not bad but I'm more impressed with the vocal talent of Hindi Zahra on his latest album teaser, look out for her and don't forget about the Lorn album which is due anytime now on Brainfeeder, more exciting US of A beat craftsmanship.

Talking of the States, Open Mike Eagle is an unapologetic art rapper from L.A. and his new album is as fresh as any hip hop I've heard this year, great beats and crafted thoughtful lyrics. The Simonsound have smashed it with their cover of the Bboy classic 'Its Just Begun', cover versions don't get much fresher if you ask me. Sonarpilot's choice of remixer is better than the original productions and it was a toss up between the Simbad and Ramadanman remix of his new work, great summer house vibes before Giulio DJ ends the show with more warm house runnings on the fresh Elevator People label, big things are coming from them this year.

Oriol - Coconut Coast (Planet Mu promo)
Bing Ji Ling - Sunshine Love (Lovemonk promo)
Richy Pitch - Fufuo feat AB (BBE promo)
Malombo - Sangoma (Strut promo)
Numaads - Now, Robot Koch rmx (Project Moon Circle promo)
Max Richter - Infra 6 (Fatcat promo)
Laura Gibson & Ethan Rose - Tall Grass, Dark Star (Baskaru)
Nat Birchall - Open Up The Gates (Gondwana promo)
Blundetto - Voices (Heavenly Sweetness promo)
Lorn - Cherry Moon (Brainfeeder promo)
Open Mike Eagle - Mistakes (Mush Records)
The Simonsound - It's Just Begun (Project Blue Book)
Sonarpilot - Osaka, Simbad rmx (Sonarpilot Audio promo)
Giulio DJ - Coco's Nut's, Social Disco Club rmx (Elevator People promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show May 9, 2010

2010-05-11T02:27:00.000-07:00

This last week for me has been all about the release of the Flying Lotus album and I am happy to report that the reality lived up to the hype and I celebrate that fact this show by dropping a couple of tracks from it, just buy it you'll like it. I then had to drop another track from the incredible new compilation on Strut records Next Stop Soweto Vol. 2 - soul, funk and organ grooves from the townships 1969 - 1976. Grupo Fantasma followed with a track from their great new album, this one featuring the Latin all time great, Larry Harlow. Check the album for a scintillating blend of all sorts of Latin rhythms and if you ever get a chance see them live, they rock it.

Raf and o are a fresh sounding London trio who are just about to release a great album full of lazy, glitchy, cinematic vocal shenanigans on Geo, it's a super nice listen start to finish. I then had to drop a track from the really exciting debut album from Rudi Zygadlo who has taken all sorts of ravey dubstep and IDM cliches and twisted them into a poptronica wonder, a really fresh sounding album due anytime now on Planet Mu. Richy Pitch then made another appearance on the show with another track from his great Ghanaian project due soon on BBE, hold tight for more tracks in the coming weeks the album is an Afro joy before Saravah Soul keep the Afro vibe but this time with a cheek funky Brazilian twist.

Yosa is an exciting young producer from Japan and his new ep on Drumpoet Community is a raw house journey and I'm particularly liking the jazzfunk flavoured Rough Trade cut which takes me nicely into another Flying Lotus cut where he single handedly puts 90% of house music producers to shame with the deeper than deep 'Do The Astral Plane', outstanding. This was followed by a pleasing little jazz disco number by K'bonus, you need to look out for their new ep coming on Lovemonk soon. I then dropped a great new disco project by Kings Go Forth who have dragged Tom Moulton out of retirement to give them an original disco edit like only the disco remix originator could.

The show then ended on a deep downtempo vibe as I finally got my copy of the Gonjasufi album through the post which I am happy to report also lived up to my expectations. 2010 style I then dropped a free download and another sterling remix effort from Debruit who has given Grovesnor's 'Taxi' track a top summer soul rerub before Onra ends the show with another great 80's soul inspired groove, be sure to check his new album coming soon on All City.

Flying Lotus feat Thundercat - Mmmhmm (Warp)
Heroes - Funky Message (Strut)
Grupo Fantasma - Juan Tenorio feat Larry Harlow (Grupo Fantasma)
Raf and o - The Seam (Geo promo)
Rudi Zygadlo - Magic In The Afternoon (Planet Mu promo)
Richy Pitch - Odo yea feat Gouda Traditional Music (BBE promo)
Saravah Soul - Alforria (Tru Thoughts promo)
Yosa - Rough Trade (Drumpoet Community promo)
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane (Warp)
K'bonus - Kletsmariet (Lovemonk promo)
Kings Go Forth - Don't Take My Shadow, Tom Moulton re-edit (Luaka Bop)
Gonjasufi - Change (Warp)
Grovesnor - Taxi, Debruit rmx (Free Download)
Onra - Send Me Your Love (All City)

I can't embed this weeks video as it keeps getting banned from hosting sites but it's a cheeky little Flying Lotus production and an even cheekier video!

Dance Floor Dale

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show May 2, 2010

2010-05-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

All over the shop this week as usual kicking off with another slice of pop music niceness courtesy of Morr music, this time from Isan and their nice new album called Glow In The Dark Safari Set. I then had to play 'The Saddest Kiss' possibly my favourite track from the great new Robert Aaron album from Heavenly Sweetness, it's a soul jazz killer start to finish. I then go all Balearic, whatever that means, with a classic slice of Ned Doheny before Mudd and Pollard provide the new millenium Balearic vibes closely followed by some great lo-fi Romanian jazz beats from Hubert Daviz just before Marbaya Sound creep in with some Cosmic Disco.

There's an incredible new compilation coming out on Strut, called Next Stop Soweto Vol. 2 focussing on long lost soul, funk and hammond grooves from back in the day South Africa, it's sounds like the soundtrack to a southern hemisphere Quadraphenia. New school Afro dons Fanga come from France and are flying a modern Afrobeat flag and holding down the quality big style, check their new album on Cosmic Groove. I had to give you a first taste of a a great new project from Richy Pitch, having decamped to Ghana for two years he has produced an amazing modern Afro gem incorporating loads of the best vocalists from the region but giving them a fresh 2010 Northern Europe lick of production values - immense! Coming on BBE soon.

Caribou has been getting enough hype recently and I'm loving his new 'fluid' house music, fresh. Gold Panda have also been given a super fresh house twist with the Minotaur remix, if only all house music was this interesting. Ramadanman's recent effort for Hessle Audio is amongst his best work of recent times (the flipside is a killer as well) and to end the show one of my new school favourites, James Blake, this time teaming up with Airhead.

Isan - Channel Ten (Morr music)
Robert Aaron - The Saddest Kiss (Heavenly Sweetness)
Ned Doheny - Get It Up For Love (Colombia)
Mudd/Pollard - Vincent (Claremont 56)
Hubert Daviz - Intr-o Lume Plina De Caine (MPM promo)
Marbaya Sound - Non Reciprocal (Tirk)
Soul Throbs - Little Girl (Strut promo)
Fanga - Follow Me (Cosmic Groove promo)
Richy Pitch - Dey Suffer feat Yasmeen (BBE promo)
Caribou - Bowls (City Slang)
Gold Panda - You, Minotaur Shock remix (Notown Records)
Ramadanman - Glut (Hessle Audio)
Airhead & James Blake - Pembroke (Brainmath)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show April 25, 2010

2010-04-26T03:13:00.000-07:00

Off we go again kicking off with a great slice of deep sprawling kraut rock flavoured electro tribalism from Kreidler before my favourite Dutch hip hoppers, The Q4, come through with a great mellow slice of beat craftsmanship. Afria Hitech, otherwise known as Mark Pritchard and Steve Spackek, then provide a beautiful moment of bassline soul from their great new EP on Warp. Ital Tek then does the same albeit at a higher tempo aided by a sensitive Ikonika remix, look out for the summer album. T++ then darkens proceedings with some nasty techno breakbeats sampling the 30's and 40's recordings of African ndingidi player Ssekinomu, thank you Honest Jons.

Eric Lau is without doubt one of the shining lights on the UK hip hop scene and this marriage with Oddisee is hip hop how I like it to sound. Mono/poly then drops some Summer Madness vibes with a distinctive 2010 twist, can't believe I missed this one when it came out last year. Tokimonsta has just released a nice EP full of nice beat exursions and I'm particularly liking the more melodic Aching Nodesand it's always good to see the girls invading the testosterone dominated beat scene.

My find of the week though is definitely Kammerflimmer Kollektief, a German crew, who've just made a great start to finish listening experience full of quirky, melodic, folky, jazz, electronic vibes exquisitely stitched together, the album is called Wilding - fantastic late night or mellow moment listening, track it down. Mweslee is one of Spain's hottest beat makers, despite his lack of output and his forthcoming EP on Nod Navigators is a great varied showcase for his talents.

I also had to drop another track from Bonobo's new album, definitely his best to date, out on Ninja Tune before I slid into my favourite remix from the Ty album, Wajeeds UK Funky flavoured rerub of Emotions - make sure you check the album it's finally released! Hold tight people the new Dimitri from Paris compilation, Get Down With The Philly Sound is about due and just to give you a little taster I drop his disco blend of the classic Harold Melvin tune, The Love I Lost - it's a wonderful thing.

Kreidler - Impressions d'Afrique (Italic Records)
The Q4 - Lose Control (Project Moon Circle)
Africa Hitech - The Sound Of Tomorrow (Warp)
Ital Tek - Moment In Blue, Ikonika rmx (Planet Mu promo)
T++ - Cropped (Honest Jons)
Eric Lau - No Regrets ft Oddisee (Kilawatt V2)
Mono/poly - Oil Fields (Fat City)
Tokimonsta - Aching Nodes (Ramp)
Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Move Right In (Staubgold)
Mweslee - Nova Olimpia (Nod Navigators promo)
Bonobo - We Could Forever (Ninja Tune)
Ty - Emotions, Wajeed rmx (BBE Records)
Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes - The Love I Lost, Dimitri's super disco blend (BBE promo)

Check the new Ty video for the great title track from his album:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show April 18, 2010

2010-04-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. Day is one of my favourite French soul boys and he starts this weeks show in lovely soulful style, check the album it's great. I then drop one of the mellower moments from Starkey's new album out on Planet Mu right about now, it's a Balearic bassline winner. UK soul star Omar has been given an amazing remix by house don Henrick Schwarz - it really is deep house heaven and Hatchback has remixed Tycho to lovely atmospheric deep house effect and it's available for free on a great little compilation laid on by the nice people at Ghostly International.

Me Raabenstein has given David Minor a great rework as well to create some great unsettling but grooving avante-garde beats that don't really sound like anything else. Gotan Project are returning with a new album and from my promo it sounds like business as usual for the tango fusionists. I had to drop another cut from the great sounding new ep by Saffrolla featuring vocal gymnastics by Blu Rum 13, it's about to drop - just buy it. Madlib is going deep this year and his new Young Jazz Rebels project is about as uncompromising as jazz gets. Talking of jazz Impossible Ark, fast becoming one of my favourite labels, is putting out some great releases by some of the UKs best young players, don't worry it's coming soon!

Suff Daddy is about to drop his Gin Diaries album and I'm particularly liking the vocal cuts, deep and smokey soul. I also like the new Kon and Amir Off Track III compilation loads, full of boogie, ghetto funk and Afro goodness - deep digging from the NY boys. Stereotyp has just dropped a deep EP of ghetto basslines and Gangstap feat Warrior Queen is just plain nasty. I also got my hands on a killer deep remix by Cess of the interesting RaAH Project, look out for this young remixer, he's got a future for sure. I end this weeks musical meanderings with a nice slice of latin beats, bongos and basslines from Argentinian Ezequiel Lodeiro - one for the floor.

Mr. Day - Both Sides (Favourite)
Starkey - Neck Snap (Planet Mu)
Omar - Feeling You, Henrik Schwarz rmx (Peppermint Jam)
Tycho - Coastal Break, Hatchback's Cosmic Caviar Dub (Ghostly International FREE download)
David Minor - Ajaja, Me Raabenstein rmx (Nonine)
Gotan Project - La Gloria (XL promo)
Saffrolla - Those Days feat Blu Rum 13 and Bass 6 (Disc.la.tik promo)
Young Jazz Rebels - Black Freedom (Stones Throw records)
James Allsopp, Tim Giles, Riaan Vosloo and Ross Stanley - Mr. Day (Impossible Ark promo)
Suff Daddy - Deep Shit feat Mar (MPM promo)
Bomp - Funk ina Ghatto feat Austin & Jones (BBE promo)
Stereotyp - Gangstap feat Warrior Queen (Raw Fusion)
RaAH Project - TOTL, Cess rmx (Unreleased)
Ezequiel Lodeiro - El Latinazo (Lovemonk promo)

Here's the video to the new Gotan Project single, La Gloria.

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show April 11, 2010

2010-04-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

It's a hip hop start to the show this week, kicking off with a great tune from one of my favourite party rocking DJ's Saffrolla from his new Love To Hate War ep featuring the excellent but underused Blu Rum 13, to follow that I dug out an old Blue Note classic from Guru, Medeski, Martin and Wood which is still sounding fresh. Lorn then followed that with a great slice of instrumental beat trickery from his great sounding album forthcoming on Brainfeeder. UK MC stalwart Skitz closes the hip hop section with some rapid fire delivery over a quality roots reggae riddim, lovely.

I couldn't resist dropping another track from the Afro Rock Vol. 1 compilation re-released by Strut, it's an all killer no filler affair, check this link for a great article on the trials and tribulations of putting the compilation together - you wouldn't believe!. El Chavo are a bunch of Fania inspired Latin musicians based in Budapest under the expert guidance of jazz don Paul Murphy and I have to say they are sounding like the authentic Latin soul deal. Half Seas Over are a great quirky hybrid folk jazz group from Brooklyn and their self titled forthcoming album on Brownswood is a great listen start to finish.

Onra is one of my favourite French beat makers and his new EP for the great Dublin based All City label is a thing of 80's soul wonder as he takes those classic sounds and propels them into the future. Funkineven 1956 always demands you take notice and the submerged 80's soul, acid squelches and fresh beats of his forthcoming She's Acid track are sounding like not much out there, Eglo win again.

Kon and Amir who dig deeper than most are about to release their new Off Track volume 3 compilation for BBE and I can only thank them for introducing me to the delights of Donny McCullough amongst many others - another stellar compilation. DJ Naughty is about to drop a nice little UK Funky EP for Roska's Kicks and Snares label and I'm liking the simple but effective joys of Firepower. If you are familiar with this show then you already know about Kyle MF Hall, well he's come up trumps again with a great Detroit flavoured remix for New York disco popsters The Hundred In The Hands. Hyperdub are holding down the quality in 2010 and I'm loving the flipside of the new LV & Quarta330 release which is their remix of the rather unfortunately named Japanese chiptune artist Dong.

Saffrolla - Love To Hate War feat Blu Rum 13 (Disc La Tik promo)
Guru, Medeski, Martin and Wood - Whatever Happened To Gus, Word To The Drum Remix (Blue Note)
Lorn - None An Island (Brainfeeder promo)
Skitz ft Buggsy - Born Inna System (Dragon Drop)
Steele Beauttah - Africa (Kona/Strut)
El Chavo - Hit The Boogaloo (Vinyl Vibes)
Half Seas Over - Sad Mona (Brownswood promo)
Onra - High Hopes (All City)
Funkineven 1956 - She's Acid (Eglo promo)
Donny McCullough - From The Heart (BBE promo)
DJ Naughty - Firepower (Roska Kicks and Snares)
The Hundred In The Hands - Dressed In Dresden, Kyle MF Hall rmx (Warp)
Dong - Suzuran, LV and Quarta330 rmx (Hyperdub promo)

Here's another taster of the excellent Half Seas Over project:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show April 4, 2010

2010-04-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

An old school UK dubwise start to the show with a late 80's community center window rattler courtesy of the new Sound Iration comp before Mickey Murka chips in with some more UK reggae history this time early vocal digi-dub style thanks to another impeccable Honest Jon's comp called 'Watch How The People Dancing' - tasty. Medline then graces the airwaves with another sublime slice of blaxploitation style deep instrumental soul which is part of a multi-media art and music show this multi-talented producer has just put together - hit the link in the tracklist to check it out.

Keeping the old school 70's vibe I then drop a slice of classic Nu-Yorican psyched funk from Benitez and Nebula before old school multi-instrumentalist Robert Aaron provides some great new soul jazz vibes of the highest order and if this taster is anything to go by then I'll be queueing overnight for the album. Tosca have just dropped a load of remixes of last years album and the jazz vibes of Nicola Conte are doing it for me the most.

Lady Daisey is the hot new signing from BBE records and she is about to launch her fresh blend of soul over some nicer than nice beats - watch out for this girl and a whole host of quality remixes. Paul White is coming through with some Scandi prog rock vibes in his new album but don't worry it's a damn sight better than it sounds as you'd expect from this boy currently on top of his game. Kazumasa Hashimoto is about to drop a dreamy collection of ethereal pop flavoured tracks on his new album using the unique vocal tones of Gutevolk, lovely stuff.

Robot Koch is on a roll this year and I am absolutely loving his new work on Project Mooncircle, a wonderful selection of dark, measured, percussive, super fresh beats with some great soulful vocal touches, don't try to categorise it just check it out. Portformat are just about to drop a load of remixes of their last album and there are some choice cuts on there and I'm particularly loving the Comfort Fit rub of Mothership, it's a future funk phenomenon. Pursuit Grooves is a musical curve ball from techno dub dons Tectonic, some mad beats and tasty vocals - look out for the ep coming soon.

Egyptrixx has just realeased a wonderful ep of wobbly rather than wonky beats, both originals are super fresh and there's a rather tasty Ikonika remix there as well, respect to Night Slugs for putting it out with some great artwork as well, I'm absolutely loving it. Now this year is going to be big one for Mount Kimbie, the album is coming, there's a few tasty gigs booked but we'll have to content ourselves with a little remix of last years winning ep with the Falty DL rub tickling my lobes the mostest. I then finish the show with a great slice of bassline funky techno from the fresh Triangulations album from Scuba who seems to be helping redefine techno one bassline at a time.

Sound Iration - Satta Licht (Year zero promo)
Mickey Murka - We Try (Honest Jons)
Medline - Entre Matiere et Esprit (Sans Fin art poetry music project)
Benitez And Nebula - Vida Nocturna (Vaya)
Robert Aaron - The Saddest Kiss (Heavenly Sweetness promo)
Tosca - My First, Nicola Conte version (G-Stone promo)
Lady Daisey - Magical (BBE promo)
Paul White - My Guitar Whales (One Handed promo)
Kazumasa Hashimoto - Slow Motino (Noble)
Robot Koch - Brujeria (Project Moon Circle promo)
Portformat - Mothership feat Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow, Comfort Fit rmx (Tokyo Dawn promo)
Pursuit Grooves - Cosy (Tectonic)
Egyptrixx - The Only Way Up (Night Slugs)
Mount Kimbie - Serged, Falty DL rmx (Hot Flush)
Scuba - On Deck (Hot Flush)

As there is no link to Benitez and Nebula above then I suggest you check them doing it live instead - great hair..

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show March 21, 2010

2010-03-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

Off to a modern Balearic start to the show this week with man to watch Red Fulka. I played his latest release recently but this is a great warm slice of musical sunshine from his killer debut 10" on the excellent Elevator People label which led nicely into a particularly odd Balearic number called 'In Vitrous' from the excellently named group 'Cyro Baptista's Banquet of the Spirits' - catchy. Kyle Hall is another youngster to watch, this time from Detroit, and Hyperdub have put out his latest work - deep beats from a producer with a mature musical head on young shoulders.

Now I like a cover version and the steel pan and the 20th Century Steel Band have come through for me big time with their version of 'Papa was a rolling stone' - great stuff. Cedric Brooks & The Light of Saba's album - The Magical Light Of Saba is a no filler all killer album on Honest Jons which had somehow passed me by until recently, shame on me, it's a stunner. The new Angelique Kidjo album is a bit hit and miss but there's a couple of blinders on there and her version of Curtis Mayfields 'Move on up' feat John Legend is one of them.

Mayra Andrade is another of the new generation of Cape Verdean singers making waves and her new album has a warm Brazilian glow all over it. Space Ranger are a little crew of cosmic warriors, look out for their new ep on Lovemonk soon and especially the B-side cut, 'Galactic spice'. Knxwledge can't spell but his beats are hot, check out his new album on the adventurous All City label and shop hailing out of Dublin. La Fine Equipe are a true school hip hop crew coming out of France and their new album is fire for the hip hop heads, don't miss it.

After helping define the early trip hop sound of Ninja Tune more years ago than I care to remember Funky Porcini is still about and is about to bang out his 5th album and it's undoubtedly his best to date, enhanced by an increasing use of live musicians to embellish all those well chosen samples. The Souljazz Orchestra's album is out and all lovers of souljazzafrolatin spiritual flavours need to know about it, can't believe their Dutch. Anouar Brahem with the help of Björn Meyer & Khaled Yassine have just recorded a beautiful deep late night listener of an album which could loosely be termed as etno jazz but is just perfect for those late night or more contemplative listening moments.

Red Fulka - Moai Sunset (Elevator People)
Cyro Baptista's Banquet Of The Spirits - In Vitrous (Tzadik)
Kyle Hall - You Know What I Feel (Hyperdub promo)
20th Century Steel Band - Papa Was a Rolling Stone (Mr. Bongo)
Cedric Brooks & The Light Of Saba - Sabasi (Honest Jons)
Angelique Kidjo feat John Legend - Move On Up (Razor & Tie)
Mayra Andrade - Storia, Storia (Sony)
Space Ranger - Galactic Spice (Love Monk promo)
Knxwledge - Wait (All City)
La Fine Equipe - The Hokey Pokey (Nowadays promo)
Funki Porcini - Bright Little Things (Ninja Tune promo)
The Souljazz Orchestra - Consecration (Strut)
Anouar Brahem, Klaus Gesing, Björn Meyer & Khaled Yassine - The Lover Of Beirut (ECM)

Cyro Baptista isn't quite all there, check the vid for some mad jazz fusion, vocal madness and crazy headwear:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show March 14, 2010

2010-03-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

A bit of a rip roaring start to the show this week as I launch into Soil and Pimps cover of the fantastic 'Papas got a brand new pigbag' which they've done more than justice to and is more than an appetizer for their forthcoming album in April. I then keep the jazz covers rolling with a fantastic version of Rolando's 'Jaguar' courtesy of Christian Prommer watch out for the latest installment of his Drumlesson project. I then drop a Scott Hardkiss track with which Joe Claussell has done wonders by ignoring most of his sickly vocals and sacharine production and smashing it up with a tough angry driving firing jazz tech house monster which should be RIPPING up every house dancefloor over 2010 if there is any justice - NASTY!!

Ikonika is then given a great bumping house mix by Altered Natives watch out for the album in April, before I drop a track from the seminal self titled Virgo house lp from way back when which has been lovingly re-issued by Rush Hour who are on a roll this year. Buzzin Fly have reached their 50th release a great achievement and are celebrating with a real quality deep leftfield house release courtesy of a team effort from Ben Watt, Stimming and Julia Biel. I then followed that by a fantastic slice of UK Funky meets hip hop courtesy of a Philly/Lewisham tie up as Ty get remixed by Wajeed. More hip hop with a twist follows with a great Paul White remix of Tranqill before Flying Lotus remixes Ninja Tune new girl Andreya Triana to great effect.

A cheeky little dubstep duo follows with a great atmospheric slice of bassline science from Distance before Joker purples up the airwaves with his forthcoming release on Kapsize. Fatima then proves that she is a great UK soul talent with another track from her new Mind Travellin EP and it's a great way to end the show.

Soil & Pimp sessions - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag (Brownswood promo)
Christian Prommer - Jaguar (K7 promo)
Scott Hardkiss - Come On, Come On, Joe Claussell Humidity Dub (God Within promo)
Ikonika - Idiot, Altered Natives rmx (Hyperdub promo)
Virgo - Going Thru Life (Rush Hour)
Stimming, Ben Watt & Julia Biel - Bright Star, Sunset mix (Buzzing Fly promo)
Ty - Emotions, Waheed rmx (BBE Promo)
Tranqill - Payroll, Paul White rmx (One Handed Music)
Andreya Triana - Lost Where I Belong, Flying Lotus rmx (Ninja Tune promo)
Distance - Beyond (Chestplate)
Joker - Tron (Kapsize promo)
Fatima - Higher (Eglo promo)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show March 7, 2010

2010-03-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

Just a super quick blog entry today as I got taken away on a surprise holiday (obviously against my will) to celebrate my birthday and I'm right out of time this week so no waffle and links but I'm sure you'll survive - a nice quirky little show this week with more electronic experimental jiggery pockery than anything else.

Here's the tracklisting:
Asura - Voxels (Non Projects)
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar (Stonesthrow promo)
Michael Olatuja feat. Lynden David Hall & Andrew Roachford - Hold On (Brownswood promo)
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Sabu Yerkoy (World Circuit)
Osborne - Afrika, Bullion rmx (Ghostly International)
Sunlightsquare - I Believe In Miracles (Sunlightsquare)
Holly Miranda - Sweet Dreams (XL)
Illum Sphere - Chasing The Midnight Moth (Fat City)
Dimlite - As We Arrive (Sonar Kollectiv)
Reagenz - Freerotation (Workshop)
Strange Worlds - Broken Dub (Universal Vibes promo)
Ty - Emotions, Wajeed rmx (BBE Promo)
Efterklang - Collecting Shields (Leaf)
Trayer - Carbon Copy of Nouktoub Ritual (Porter Records)

Sunlightsquare also kick it live and do a nice version of Stevie Wonders - Pastime Paradise:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show Feb 28, 2010

2010-02-28T05:16:00.001-08:00

Strut's Afro Rock compilation from 2001 is due to be re-issued and is full of great vintage African dance music as my opening track testifies, killer comp start to finish. Mounam is the vocalist with French reggae dudes The Dynamics but proves she's not a one trick pony with a nice modern Afro flavoured joint about to drop. Mandre is another star of days gone by who's home recorded early 80's self released album (most of which got destroyed by an accident making it rare as hell) has been re-issued by Rush Hour and we can only thank them for that.

Buddy Sativa is another of the French soul jazz mafia who is about to release a great double A sided 7" and his cover of the Roy Ayers classic Mystic Voyage is well worth having. Number 5 in the great compilation series Brownswood Bubblers compiled put together by Gilles Peterson is due to drop sometime in March and is another great compilation of where music is at in 2010. Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop have covered the electro classic 'Al Naafiysh' but it is the remixes that are doing it for me and Beatfanatics house version is a winter warming winner. Atki2 & Dub Boy are two more of the endless supply of bassline warriors from Bristol and I'm loving there steel pan laced slice of UK Funky, in fact I just love the steel pan.

Debruit is always one to watch and he's put out a little release where he's cut and chopped some original Haitian vibes and all the money is going to Haiti to help their recovery, nice. Nochexxx have crafted one of the maddest UK hip hop releases ever and both sides are an exercise in way out of the box hip hop thinking. Ty is coming with his new album in a couple of months and I tease you with another little taster of its future delights. Georgia Anne Muldrow is a busy girl at the moment with two albums dropping both of which are sounding really strong check the Endure track from her ablum with Declaime which she also produced. B.Bravo is another synth obsessed funkateer in the Dam Funk mould and I like him. Tory Y Moi has just released a great album full of cosmic, 80's pop, funk and electronic vibes which is sounding fresh and I finish the show this week with a track from the outstanding new Monolake album a labour of love for sure, blending the abstract sounds of nature with deep electronics in a craftsmanlike way - excellent, excellent stuff.

Jingo - Fever (Strut promo)
Mounam & Trevor & Lisa - What Needs Mama, Dwilt Sharp rmx (Favourite promo)
Mandre - Magic Woman (Rush Hour)
Buddy Sativa - A Mystic Voyage Favourite promo)
Electric Wire Hustle - They Don't Want (Brownswood promo)
Marc Hype & Jim Dunloop - Al Naafiysh, Beatfanatic rmx (MPM promo)
Atki2 & Dub Boy - Tigerflower (Idle Hands)
Debruit - Changement (Civil Music)
Nochexxx - Sinbliss ft Sensational (Werk)
Ty - I Get Up feat D-Cross (BBE promo)
Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime - Endure feat M.E.D. & Big Pooh (Mello Music)
B. Bravo - Twilight (Frite Night)
Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulders (Car Park)
Monolake - Infinite Snow (Imbalance)

Here's a little taster of how Debruit rocks it live style - he's great live, trust me:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show Feb 21, 2010

2010-02-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

A nice mellow start to the show kicking off yet again with Lou Rhodes and a great track from her album which will be dropping soon on Jason Swinscoes exciting new Motion Audio label. Las Ondas Marteles then provide some great progressive bolero inspired acoustic niceness and La Brass Banda then show that music from Bavaria and Bavarian lyrics aren't as crusty as you might think. Dexter then got the beats flowing with some nice jazzy hip hop from the latest in the producer series from Melting Pot Music.

Fourtet's album is out and about and not disappointing and I'm liking, amongst others, the great delicate slice of electronic soul known as Angel Echoes. Just A Band are a Kenyan group with some nice ideas and an eclectic nature, not everything comes off but check them out you might be pleasantly surprised. Si*Se are self releasing their own music now and This Love is a slice of super sweet soul and then just before the sugar rush takes over I drop a cut from the darker side of soul - Gil Scott-Heron's new album. It's a welcome return for one of the most insightful social commentators of the 70's and 80's.

Wedge and Aesoteric are exploring the more melodic side of dubstep and starting to get some deserved props and the new Funckarma ep coming soon on Eat Concrete shows that dubstep is now established worldwide with Holland coming up trumps again. Joy Orbison is back and his good run of form shows no sign of abating with the snappily entitled 'The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow' on Aus recordings - deep and long, you know you like it....

Doc Daneeka is putting the UK into Funky from his Swansea studio and I'm loving the 'Drums In The Deep' tribal bassline workout, one to get even the stiffest wallflower sweating on the floor. Razia Said is coming up with an altogether different form of 140bpm dance music from her home in Madagascar with some sweet soulful vocals to boot. DJ Mujava has contributed another dance floor winner to a great compilation of African House music from Out Here records and George Levin gave the show a beautiful soulful poppy balearic end with 'I Need To Understand' from his great album 'Everything Must Change'.

Lou Rhodes - There For The Taking (Motion Audio promo)
Las Ondas Marteles - Love In Outer Space (Corida)
La Brass Banda - Rotes Hoserl (Trikont)
Dexter - The Future (MPM)
Four Tet - Angel Echoes (Domino)
Just A Band - Tingiza Kichwa (Akwaaba Records)
Si*Se - This Love (Si*Se)
Gil Scott-Heron - Me And The Devil (XL Recordings)
Wedge and Aesoteric - Use Only As Directed (Apple Pips)
Funckarma - Delibel (Eat Concrete promo)
Joy Orbison - The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow (Aus)
Doc Daneeka - Drums In The Deep (Fabric)
Razia Said - Salamalama Aby (Cumbancha promo)
Dj Mujava - Mugwanti - Sgwejegweje (OutHere promo)
George Levin - I Need To Understand (BBE)

If you don't much about Madagascar and it's music hit the video below - lovely:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show Feb 14, 2010

2010-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

Off we go again and the show is all over the shop this week, just how it should be. Kicking off with a track from the amazing sounding Vex'd album, if you like your dubstep dark, musical, leftfield and deep then forthcoming album on Planet Mu is for you - watch out for it in March. Gilles Peterson has orchestrated an interesting little Cuban project bringing together the old and new schools under the expert guidance of Robert Fonseca - nice stuff. Mr. Day is a very soulful French man and Small Fry is a great slice of Shuggie style disco pop. Silhouette Brown is a pseudonym for the creative talents of Dego, Kaidi Tatham and Bembe Segue with Lady Alma on vocals - the album is out and a great listen if you like you soul music progressive.

Ty is back with a new album and a new record label. BBE have snapped up this UK hip hop don, look out for the album in late Spring but in the meantime check a nice remix of the new single, Emotions and I'll hit you with the even better Wajeed remix next week. The Jose James album is out and is one of the best soul albums of the year, simply wonderful. Carrying on the soulful vein Fatima is making moves as part of the soul new school and she's another great signing for the super fresh Eglo records. The Love Supreme are a bunch of Kraut Rock inspired Milanese boundary breakers. To be honest I dont really like their album but Tiefferre is a great slice of tripped out drugged up Ital Disco.

Speaking of boundary breaking check the new James Blake ep due out on Hessle Audio - this boy is always coming up with something interesting and definitely a talent to watch. Charlie Alex March is a mellow fellow and his new album out on Loaf Recordings is very pleasant indeed - splendid, harmonious and melodic stuff. The Internal Tulips have made a great album of experimental pop with more than a touch of the Beach Boys but with some great twists and electronic turns - another Planet Mu gem about to drop in March. Daedelus has gone all concept album for Brainfeeder with a soundtrack to the last days of the Boxer revolution (check your Chinese history) and I would describe it as evocative, lovely stuff. Tru-Thoughts are releasing one of the their annual Shape roundups of what's floating around on the label and it's a great eclectic selection. Finally I drop a short little cover from Mocky and Gonzales of one of Mocky's album tracks from last year.

Gabriel Prokofiev - Sutring Quartete No. 2, Vex'd Remix (Planet Mu promo)
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - La Revolución del Cuerpo Pt.2 Featuring Roberto Fonseca (Brownswood)
Mr. Day - Small Fry (Favourite Recordings)
Silhouette Brown - Strawberries In Vinegar (2000 Black)
Ty - Emotions feat. Sarina Leah & Shaun Escofrey, Dego & Akwasi's 2000 Black Rmx (BBE Promo)
Jose James - Promise In Love (Brownswood)
Fatima - Soul Glo (Eglo promo)
The Love Supreme - Tiefferre (Tirk promo)
James Blake - The Bells Sketch (Hessle Audio promo)
Charlie Alex March - Mao (Lo Recordings)
The Internal Tulips - Bee Calmed (Planet Mu promo)
Daedelus - Order Of The Golden Dawn (Brainfeeder promo)
Nostalgia 77 Sessions Featuring Keith & Julie Tippett (Tru-Thoughts)
Mocky & Gonzales - Guiding Light, duo version (Crammed Records - freeload)

Here's a little taster of The Internal Tulips - album coming in March:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show Feb 7, 2010

2010-02-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Kanyor eases us into this weeks show with a wonderful slice of new soul courtesy of the French funk, soul and hip hop obsessed French label Padlem. Starkey then shows his versatility and keeps the mellow vibe rolling with a great slice of future soul coming to Planet Mu soon. You're going to have to wait until late summer for DJ Cam's album but from what I've heard it's going to be worth the wait and I'm loving the organic, cinematic slice of bassline music called Seven. Then to destroy the mellow vibe along comes Aarvarck with a track from his Bloom series of white labels on Kindred Spirits with a nasty yet hypnotic slice of leftfield dubstep.

Pretty much anything by Mike Ladd is alright with me and Kick Anthem from his Infesticons twisted rock project is no exception, album due sometime in April. First there was Akon, rather surprisingly and quite an inspired choice K'naan is the new musical voice of Coca Cola in this summer's world cup and now Nneka looks like she could be the next African to start making noise on the global urban music scene and I'm particularly liking the Changes track - album out now. The catchily entitled The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble is Madlibs latest project and it is a thing of jazzual wonder - Madlib has long left the tag of beat maker behind, this is just next level musical shizzle.

I couldn't resist dropping another slice of Cuban inspired vintage African music in the form of the late great Pedro Gnonnas and then one of his heirs apparent The Soul Jazz Orchestra follow with a great slice of uptempo Fela inspired Afro Jazz and it's whetted my appetite for the album no end - quality through and through. Keeping the vintage vibes I then dropped another slice of classic disco from possibly the best Disco compilation of the year Al Kent's Disco Love, lovely.

Alif Tree's Clockwork album from last year was one of my favourite albums of 2009 and Compost are keeping his vibe alive with some nice remixes via a remix competition and I'm particularly liking what Homegroove have done with Aurevoir. Prime Numbers are holding down the quality big time and the forthcoming Fudge Fingas ep is another winner, 3 tracks of quality house music. Bonobo's latest album is dropping at the end of March and an inspired set of remixes of the first single Eyesdown have just started to circulate. Personally I'm feeling the Floating Points rub but also check the bassline dancefloor winner remix from Warrior One.

Kaynor - Antidote (Padlem promo)
Starkey - Stars (Planet Mu promo)
DJ Cam - Seven, album version (Inflammable promo)
Aardvark - 1 (Kindred Spirits white)
The Infesticons - Kick Anthem (Big Dada promo)
Nneka - Changes, J.Period rmx (Decon inc promo)
The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble - Two Stories for Dwight (Stonesthrow)
Pedro Gnonnas - Adigbedoto (Honest Jons)
The Soul Jazz Orchestra - Agbara (Strut promo)
Smile Street People - Lypso Disco (BBE Records)
Alif Tree - Aurevoir, Homegrown Project (Compost promo)
Fudge Fingas - It's About Time (Prime Numbers promo)
Bonobo - Eyesdown, Floating Points rmx (Ninja Tune promo)

Look out for Ty's album coming in April on BBE, here's a little word with the man himself:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show January 31, 2010

2010-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

So it's all about the fresh beats this week. Hip hop beats, drum and bass beats, UK Funky beats, Balearic beats, deep almost spiritual 2-step beats, Baile Funk beats and from the motherland Kuduro beats.

Mancini & The Creepers are back with their trademark UK hip hop wonkyness - original delivery, great lyrics and fresh for 2010 beats, love it. The lovely people at BBE are rolling out the 'Kings of' series with 4 Hero and DJ Marky dropping a tight selection of some of the best drum and bass tunes of all time - essential. The Raah Project are a couple of Australian boys from Melbourne putting their slant on a variety of musical styles and they've rustled up some great remixes of their recent material with the Alex Patchwork remix being the pick of the bunch, 2-step never sounded so deep.

Robot Koch has also been given the remix treatment from some of the hottest names around and the Blue Daisy mix of his 'While' track is tickling my lobes no end. Hip Hop is big in the show this week. Madlib has just produced underground Californian crew Strong Arm Steady and what I've heard is sounding great. DJ Center is a long time party rocking Brooklyn boy who has finally got into the studio, his output is eclectic and I'm particularly drawn by the quality hip hop of 'Leave The City' featuring the vocal talent of Oddisee. The more established Mos Def has been given a hefty bass heavy rerub from my favourite New York bassline warriors Sub Swara, another in a great line of remixes from them, they've got that Midas Touch.

Silhouette Brown is back for 2010 and 2 Banks of Four have taken the quality 'Constant Questions' original into even deeper territory, lovely. My discovery of the week is the Elevator People label. I finally picked up their first release from last year on a rare vinyl buying excursion and it's a thing of balearic wonder and destined for discerning beach bars all over the world for a long time to come. So anyway the nice people at the label sent me through their next release, also from the mysterious Red Fulka and the original cut is a lovely warm slice of cosmic tropical house and i've put it in my beach bag already.

Werk records threw a Lone curve ball at me recently with a 125bpm old school flavoured feel good uplifting house track which has got sunrise written all over it, the man just doesn't do downtempo cinematic afterall - keep taking the uppers mate. It looks like Hyperdub are set for another major year with some quality releases in the pipeline and first off is a tropical tinged stripped back slice of UK Funky courtesy of DVA - dancefloor killer for sure. Greymatter is about to drop his debut album after teasing us with some great re-edits in 2009 and I am happy to report that 'Eu Fumo' from the album is going to be ripping up every Baile Funk dance from Dalston to Rio - absolute killer! I finish the show with a slice of Kuduro from Killamu made in a shack in Luanda but guranteed to get the sweat flowing worldwide.

Mancini & The Creepers - Trouble (Lula's Kitchen promo)
Q Project - Move On (BBE Promo)
The Raah Project - Will You Be There, Alex Patchwork Remix rmx (Summer Dawn Records promo)
Robot Koch - While, Blue Daisy rmx (Project Moon Circle promo)
Strong Arm Steady - Follow Me (Stones Throw Records)
DJ Center - Leave The City Outside featuring Oddisee (Push The Fader promo)
Mos Def - Quiet Dog, Sub Swara rmx (Free download)
Silhoutte Brown - Constant Questions, 2 Banks of 4 40 Degree Rinse (2000 Black promo)
Red Fulka - Crazy Meera (Elevator People promo)
Lone - Once In A While (Werk promo)
DVA - Natty (Hyperdub promo)
Greymatter - Eu Fumo ft Deize Tigrona (Unique Uncut promo)
Kilamu - Flaminguinho (Akwaaba Music)

Check out this intersting little Kuduro report about Kilamu:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show January 24, 2010

2010-01-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

This weeks show kicks off with the admirable sentiment 'World Peace Now' one of the many great tracks on the new Build An Ark album, Love Part 1, if folk vibrations mixed with spiritual jazz sounds interesting to you then I urge you to buy it and don't forget to dig out their past offerings. The Fromwood remix of the Atjazz track Together closely follows. This was the product of a remix competition held last year and goes to show how much production talent is hidden away in bedrooms across the nation.

Floating Points is back big style with a great new track called 'People's Potential' showing that his 2009 emergence wasn't just a flash in the pan and I can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve. Monnette Sudler is a little known guitarist, arranger and composer based in Philadelphia and Heavenly Sweetness have teamed her up with French soul boy Blackjoy and the product is a pleasing tropical palm wine flavored remix to warm away these frosty nights. Orchestre OK Jazz make an appearance courtesy of a nice new compilation on Honest Jons called Africa Boogaloo a nice selection showcasing the vintage cross pollination of Cuban rhythms with the traditional music of the mother land.

Carl Craig has come through with a great new jazz project, as is his want from time to time, and it's a winner. Reuniting members of the classic jazz collective The Tribe from Detroit they have recorded some brand new material as well as breathing new millennium life into a host of classics. More vintage grooves follow with a rare disco outing from Sun Ra, produced by disco production don Bob Blank whose work is being reappraised by an excellent compilation on Strut Records. Looking at his early disco work right through to his work with No Wave producers like The Aural Exciters this is a great retrospective. Thriller (not his real name) then comes through with a nice and scuzzy boogie edit 'Freak For You', who is this man of production mystery?

The Q4 are a great hip hop crew hailing from the smokey depths of Amsterdam who devote great attention to production detail. They lovingly segue obscure samples and sympathetically combine them with live instrumentation and vocal touches, look out for the album coming soon on Project Moon Circle. Pangaea is is one of the great new breed of bassline experimentalists pushing the boundaries of the genre into unchartered territory and Hessle Audio is his latest home, check out the new EP. Georgia Anne Muldrow is dropping her new album in February and from what I've heard it's sounding great, look out for that on Ubiquity who are increasingly leading the charge with forward thinking hip hop and nu-soul.

24-Carat Black's second album has just been released after a 30 odd year wait after being shelved for being too non commercial, always a good sign. Admittedly it's not the cheeriest album ever produced but I'm telling you it's deep with some crazy little leftfield touches and a worth successor to Ghetto Misfortunes Wealth. Funk Deluxe provide a fitting end to this show rich in soul and jazz and it's another choice selection from the now available comp on BBE, John Morales - The M&M Mixes a timely look back at the work of John Morales courtesy of those nice people at BBE Records.

Build An Ark - World Peace Now (Kindred Spirits)
AtJazz feat Mr. J - Together, Fromwood Old Summer rmx (AtJazz)
Floating Points - People's Potential (Eglo promo)
Monnette Sudler - Baby Erik, Blackjoy rmx (Heavenly Sweetness promo)
Orchestre OK Jazz - Ven Y Ven Y Ven (Honest Jons)
Tribe - Denekas Chant (Planet E)
Sun Ra - Where Pathways Meet (Strut promo)
Thriller - Freak For You (Thriller)
The Q4 - One Of These Days (Project Moon Circle promo)
Pangaea - Because Of You (Hessle Audio)
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Thrones (Ubiquity Promo)
The 24-Carat Black - The Best Of Good Love Gone (Numero)
Funk Deluxe - This Time (BBE)

Here's a bit more info about Carl Craig's Rebirth project:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show January 17, 2010

2010-01-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

So here it is a New Year and it's looking like a good one musically already although all years are good ones if you look hard enough. I'm happy to report that the show is now available in the Balearics in FM courtesy of Ibiza Sonica, the island's best radio station - check me out on Mondays at 4pm. Rather sadly the show is now no longer available on Planet Radio in Tenerife since it's takeover and impending metamorphosis into yet another commercial music radio disaster like every other station on the island. Respect goes out to Juan, no longer with the station, who worked hard the last two years to bring the island a much needed musical alternative.

So a bit of Miles Davies to kick off the show and the new year, amazingly recorded 52 years ago this is from his soundtrack to the old French film Ascenseur Pour l'Echafaud and has been lovingly repackaged and thrown together with some other recording sessions from that period by Jazz beat - lovely stuff. I received the Fog album Rebuilding Vibes this week and it could possibly be one of my albums of the year already, it's a wonderful exercise in deep, late night listening - smokey, sultry and cerebral - one for those candlelit, contemplative moments. Also soon to be released is the Jose James album which I'm thoroughly looking forward to if the sampler is anything to go by. The album is produced by Flying Lotus this is how I want all my soul music to sound.

I then dug out a nice slice of soulful hip hop from a couple of years back from Panacea given a nice DJ Spinna remix - timeless, thoughtful but to the point, if only the more commercial side of hip hop was the same. One of my favourites from last year, Bullion, has made a statement of intent for 2010 with his new single about to drop on One Handed music, I'll leave you to work out how to describe it, answers in an email please. Soundway Records released the Ghana Special compilation at the end of last year and it's another thing of African musical wonder. Two CDs (or 5 LPs!!), lovingly packaged and notated containing an impeccably selected collection of Ghanaian highlife, afro sounds and Ghanaian blues.

Rise Ashen provide a great dubbed out slice of Brazilian electronic trickery as Xxxy drop a some genetically modified UK funky post garage electronic mutation, or something like that. Taken from the new compilation on Fabric Records, 'Elevator Music' which documents the new wave of 140bpm bassline music currently sweeping across the UK, highly recommended and I couldn't resist dropping another slice of musical goodness from the IG Culture album, 'Zen Badizm' and his excellent version of the Eddie Kendricks classic, 'Girl You Need A Change of Mind' - inspired.

Maxmillion Dunbar has come up with a killer release on Ramp Recordings bringing soul and boogie into 2010 and perfect for warming you up in this cold mid winter. Al Kent is my favorite modern day disco don, Joey Negro is now officially number two there is no doubt and lucky us he is about to release a compilation of his disco inspirations, it's not only the artwork that is the real 70's deal, wait until you hear the selection - essential!! Andrew Peckler has made a nice album on Scape of downtempo dark experimental noodlings, great for those late night sessions and 2010 is going to be a big year for Gonjasufi, a rare and unique vocal talent sounding like no one else from LA way with all the right production friends from the locality, watch out for him on Warp records coming soon. A nice little mellow dubstep excursion ends the show from Ation on a Hot Flush subsidiary label, limited white label coming right about now.

Miles Davies - Generique (Jazzbeat)
Fog - Waterfall (Flau)
Jose James - Detroit Loveletter (Brownswood)
Panacea - Flashback To Stardom, Dj Spinna rmx (Rawkus/Glow In The Dark)
Bullion - Say Goodbye To What (One Handed Music promo)
Dr. K Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Noble Kings (Soundway Records)
Rise Ashen & Stephan Lefrancois - Venenosa, Sambastate Version (Balance House)
Xxxy - Sing With Us (Fabric promo)
IG Culture - Girl U Need A Change Of Mind (Freedom Sound)
Maxmillion Dunbar - Wouldn't Matter (Ramp)
Black Rock - New York City Bump (BBE promo)
Andrew Peckler - Arches (Scape)
Gonjasufi - Ancestors (Warp promo)
Ation - Love For The Heads (Abucs)

Check out a bit more about Al Kent and hold tight for one of the best disco compilations ever coming soon on BBE!

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show December 19, 2009

2009-12-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

So here it is my end of year roundup, my little addition to the abundance of end of year/end of decade charts though after the Copenhagen debacle I'm personally looking forward to the impending end of the world charts coming in the not too distant future - but that's another story.

So despite much doom and gloom in the record sales business it appears that music creation shows no sign in slowing down and whilst none of the brave new generation of producers and bands will be driving luxury cars into swimming pools more and more artists and groups are trying their hand in this murky and exciting business. The trick these days seems to be not the tricky second or third album but actually producing a coherent album if you manage to make it past the 3 weeks when you are suddenly the hottest new thing on the planet before the attention deficit disordered blogoshpere and public chews you up, spits you out and proclaims you are history and crowns a new king or queen.

Sure the digital age has democratised the music industry but it's becoming harder and harder sifting through all the hype, dross, RSS feeds, newsletters, record lists and badly mastered digital releases to reach the decent shit.

It's increasingly not about the quality, depth and longevity of the art, simply what's new or some apparently 'fresh' micro genre. What's the rush people? Stop trying to keep up with the Jones - it's a thankless task, sit back, have a listen to that album, think for a moment and then maybe even listen again, I'm sure your brain will appreciate the respite.

Rather perculiarly I start the show with a pre 2009 track but one which appeared on my favourite compilation and mix CD of the year - The Grandfather Paradox selected and mix by Ame, Dixon and Henrick Schwarz. It worked on so many levels for me, as an introduction into the world of minimal music, one which I had largely overlooked. The breadth of the selection spanning decades was truly inspired and the final mix was outstanding, a true labour of love.

Being a bit of a Balearic bunny the Brennan Green remix of Mudd & Fakround tickled my fancy and sounded particularly wonderful when I played it in a little festival in a beautiful location in the Pyrenees during the summer. Floating Points was one of the success stories of the year, managing a whole 9 months in the limelight, but for me his first release on R2 records was the best of his 2009 output. Mayer Hawthorne created one of the sing along tunes of the year and a track that will mature with age and just shows that soul will never die as new fads and genres mutate, cross pollinate and then rapidly wither.

Mount Kimbie produced one of the best dubstep eps of the year as they took the genre, swung it round by the balls and reassembled it's dna into an experimental and melodic thing of wonder. Kinnego Flux teamed up with Boxcutter to create a Belfast dream team and add some much needed musicality and soul into the bassline genre. Watch out for the Kinnego boys and their various guises, they're versatile, musical and I'm predicting big things for them in 2010.

Civil Music were undoubtedly one of the labels of the year with more good releases and artists than most and Kotchy created a wonderful album fusing a love of the latest studio trickery with some wonderful pop moments, weighty basslines and nice lyrics - a pleasingly rounded producer. After languishing with much credibility in the leftfield jazz scene for longer than I care to remember Mark Pritchard is finally getting the props he deserves and Wind It Up was a wonderful crazy dubstep banger, ignoring what everyone else was doing and carving it's own path through the sea of unimaginative clones and sheep.

Oblong produced another slice of wonderful pop as I started to dip my toe into a genre I had long decided was a dirty word - thanks to people like Oblong, Mocky, Alif Tree and Kotchy for fusing musical credibility with those pop hooks and showing me the light. The Nacho Patrol ep was a genre bending fusion that sounded like Mulatu Astake was fed pyschedlic drugs and ended up in a padded recording studio with Logic and the latest technology somewhere just outside Kinshasa - Love It.

Staff Benda Bilili were one of the feel good success stories of the year. Four paraplegic street dwelling polio suffers, one adopted street orphan with a home made one stringed instrument made from a tin can and 3 able bodied Congolese musicians came together to create a great modern rumba album with touches of funk and reggae. I had the pleasure to see them live as well and I can report they rock it and when you see a musician with no legs jump from his wheel chair and start rolling about the floor in time to the music with a big smile on his face you can only be amazed and humbled, check the videos below for a bit more info. K'Naan released his second album and unfortunately seems to be going for the money (good for him I guess but bad for those who liked his more quirky productions which have largely bitten the dust) but he still managed to produce the hip hop track of the year - America, tropical hip hop banger!

Lord Cobra was one of many great tracks I could have picked from any of the Soundway compilations that came out this year but special respect has to go out for their Ghana Special release and the Panama series of comps. Any labels looking to release a compilation should really have a look at the sleeve notes and packaging on the Soundway releases - BIG respect to the crew. Another young producer whose star shone in 2009 and who looks like he'll still be talked about in 2009 was Paul White and as well as loving the unique packaging on his great debut album I also loved his 'versus the BBC' single, hip hop never sounded so interesting and less like hip hop. Finn Peters, my favourite UK sax player, got the remix treatment for some of his Butterfly album tracks which took his spiritual jazz sound in some crazy dark electronic directions but it was jazz inclined producers 2b04 who really did the business.

So that's it for this year, I'm going to park my lazy arse up for a couple of weeks before I get back into the show in 2010. Big thanks to all the listeners on the various stations and increasingly the thousands on the podcast. Love to all the record labels and producers who send me their music to keep the show nice and fresh, I hope I repaid you by helping spread your musical message a little bit wider.

Over and out for this year, hold tight for 2010 and if you are in Barcelona for the end of the year celebration come and check me out here.

Besos..

Metamatics - Blue Water from The Grandfather Paradox CD (BBE Records)
Mudd & Fakroun - Drago, Brennan Green version (Claremont 56)
Floating Points - Love Me Like This (R2 Records)
Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No (Stonesthrow)
Mount Kimbie - Vertical (Hot Flush)
Boxcutter & Kinnego Flux - A Familiar Sound (Kinnego)
Kotchy - Check Out My Key Chain (Civil Music)
Mark Pritchard & Om'Mas Keith - Wind It Up, Freak Mix (Hyperdub)
Oblong - Playing On My Mind (Exceptional)
Nacho Patrol - Africa Space Program (Kindred Spirits)
Staff Benda Bilili - Je T'Aime (Crammed Discs)
Lord Cobra - Colon Colon (Soundway)
K'naan - America (A&M/Octone)
Paul White - Versus The BBC (One Handed Music)
Finn Peters - Moyse, 2bo4 rmx (Accidental)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show December 5, 2009

2009-12-08T01:13:00.000-08:00

Due to time restriction, no preamble, links or videos this week, just a list
of good music:

DJ Food - All Covered In Darkness, Mr P rmx (Ninja Tune promo)
Blockhead - Farewell Spaceman (Big Dada promo)
Sub Swara - Koli Stance, David Starfire rmx (Low Motion)
Sqaramouche - Thinkin (Nonine Records)
Skeletons - Marathon Man (Impossible Ark promo)
Gizelle Smith - June (Record Kicks)
Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - Vendendo Saude e Fei, DJ Obah rmx (ESL)
Osunlade - Break It Down (Defected promo)
Medline - Mercado Negro, Gusby rmx (Propaground)
Comfort Fit - Ask The Devil ft Howard Marks, Atjazz Deeper rmx (Tokyo Dawn promo)
Carl Taylor - Walk On By (Dust Science)
Martin L. Dumas Jr. - Attitude, Belief & Determination (BBE promo)
Sticky ft Natalie Storm - Look Pon Me (Mixpack)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show November 28, 2009

2009-11-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

Off to a mellow start this week with a track from the Paper Of Pins album courtesy of Bill Wells, Annie Whitehead, Stefan Schneider & Barbara Morgenstern a great album full of quirky folk, jazz, electronica with some nice avant-garde touches. I then dropped a track from Jay Haze's new album under his Fuckpony moniker - terrible name, great house music. Laroca have been given the remix treatment and the Aaron Jerome remix of Unit 125 is my favourite - lovingly stitched together, lush, intricate future breaks.

Protassov new material isn't half bad but A New Beginning is particularly nice and Lone is coming through with a new album of his trademark sounding beats. Mapstation aka Stefan Schneider has just released his excellent The African Chamber album on the reliable Scape label - full of great African percussion and deep electronica. Jah Wobble is a long way from his P.I.L. roots with his dub version of Roy Budd's, Get Carter theme tune and I for am all for it, great version of this well covered track.

Tapes is a super lo-fi digi-dub project with all the tracks getting transferred to tape and back for full analog hiss effect, a million miles away from the clean new digital world and all the better for it. Space were back in the day disco dons and Architeq has slashed the tempo and provided the remix highlight of the new single package on Tirk. BBE provide this weeks original disco moment with Maxx Traxx's 1982 gem, Don't Touch It - from yet another amazing collection of forgotten gems on the Mr. Peabody Records compiled, The Real Sound Of Chicago.

Silkie has just released one of those rare things a dubstep album that isn't half bad and I'm personally favouring the Turvey track as Faib, another of those rare dubstep things - a female producer, hailing from Moscow and with a great melodic sensibility drops a great double A side single. The Heritage Orchestra and DJ Yoda end the show with a track from their recent album that brings the world of classical music and Prokofiev in particular into the 21st century with an interesting collaboration and plenty of interesting remixes.

Bill Wells, Annie Whitehead, Stefan Schneider & Barbara Morgenstern - The Hermitage Of Braid (Karaoke Kalk)
Fuckpony - I'm Burning Inside (BPitch Control)
Laroca - Unit 125, Aaron Jerome 126 remix (Just Music promo)
Protassov - A New Beginning (Switchstance Recordings)
Lone - Karen Loves Kate (Dealmaker promo)
Mapstation - Holland Wax (Scape)
Jah Wobble - Get Carter (Pressure Sounds)
Tapes - Gold Love Riddim (Jahtari)
Space - Carry On, Turn Me On, Architeq Remix (Tirk)
Maxx Traxx - Don't Touch It (BBE Promo)
Silkie - Turvey (Deep Medi Music)
Faib - Ticking Clocks (Ranking Records)
Heritage Orchestra feat DJ Yoda - Tivannagh L'Abbe Overture (Non Classical)

Check out a this clip about Mr. Peabody Records from Chicago who have compiled the new, soon to be released, compilation on BBE.

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show November 21, 2009

2009-11-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

Gargarin provide this weeks gentle introduction to the show with the mellowest of the recent remixes of their material courtesy of Beesley Rothko, look out for the Robert Logan remix as well - an altogether darker nastier affair. The Heavy take a break from their more normally more raucous material with a nice mellow track called In Time. I then whip through a couple of beat snippets from the new Melting Pot Music double CD showcasing the talents of Uno, Testiculo & Suff Daddy.

The new Lizz Fields remixes are a pretty sorry bunch with the exception of The Journey remix of When I See Love which takes this soulful lady into, for her, uncharted leftfield territory. The DJ Bootsie album is sounding great, hailing from Budapest his album is a great collection of hip hop and cinematic beat excursions and a great listen from start to finish - look out for it really shortly. I also had to drop another Portformat track from his great interstellar debut this time including the vocal talents of Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Huess is a great new beat making talent from the seemingly endless UK production line. Taking his inspiration from people like Take, keep your eye on him it looks like he's developing into a unique voice. After the release of their acclaimed double CD earlier this year Senseless are gearing up for 2010 with some new material and the beatmaking talents of Ghosttown and rising vocal star of Badness are a great combination. One of my favorite party rocking DJs Saffrolla is also gearing up for a BIG 2010 as I tease you with a forthcoming release called Catch Their Breath with MC Angel, he's got some other more than tasty little tracks to come as well, trust me!

Martin Kemp, with the best haircut on Myspace, is providing some welcome deepness to the UK Funky scene, look out for his new 12 coming really soon on Blunted Robots. Ray Lugo is a NYC modern day Latin don and his latest cut for Milan's Record Kicks label is a dancefloor jazz winnner. Mamadou Barry's debut album during his twilight years is a great listen and I'm particularly liking his version of Take Five. Los Amigos Invisibles from Venezuela have always been worth a listen for some great electronic latin fusion and their new EP on Lovemonk is great and I'm particularly liking the Boohgaloo Zoo Rmx. To end the show I then finish with another killer track from the DJ Spinna compiled disco compilation on the mighty BBE.

Gagarin - Straiff, Beesley Rothko Bassic Mix (Geo Records promo)
The Heavy - In Time (Counter Records)
Suff Daddy - D.I. Luv (MPM promo)
Uno - 3rd (MPM promo)
Lizz Fields - When I see Love, The Journey Remix (Blue Fields Records)
DJ Bootsie - Kormenet/Procession (BBE promo)
Portformat - Mothership feat Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow (Tokyo Dawn Promo)
Huess - A Simple Method (Inaudible Answer)
Ghosttown ft Badness & Dajila - You Know (Senseless Records promo)
Saffrolla - Catch Their Breath feat MC Angel (Test)
Martin Kemp - After The Night (Blunted Robots promo)
Ray Lugo's L.E.S. Express - Roda de Samba (Record Kicks)
Mamadou Barry - Africa Five (World Village)
Los Amigos Invisibles - Plastic Woman, Boohgaloo Zoo rmx (Lovemonk Promo)
South Bronx - The Bottom Line (BBE Records)

Here's a couple of little tasters of the incredible new DJ Bootsie album - a little album sampler and a great video for the Mosquito Dance track from the album:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show November 14, 2009

2009-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

It's all about the soul music to start the show with a great new track from The Inns & Miles Bonny, beautiful stuff. I then trip down to Burkina Faso for some old school African Soul from the newly discovered vocal genius of Victor Deme, who's been singing all his life in local clubs with no recognition outside his local area - until now! Dokaka is a lunatic Japanese beat boxer but not as you know them. His album has now been released outside the land of the the rising sun and you can now discover more easily why he was involved on Bjork's last album.

Lou Rhodes from Lamb is the first signing to Jason Swinscoe's new record label Motion Audio, look out for the album in March 2010 with more releases planned. Mr. Scruff is about to release a rare non Ninja outing on Prime Numbers with multi instrumentalist and all round musical don Kaidi Tatham and it's a winner. To follow I drop a track from the excellent compilation coming on BBE very soon that takes a look at the disco remix talents of the under recognised John Morales check the killer disco of Curtis Hairston!

Analog Africa have recently released another lovingly packaged compilation (other labels take note!) this time focusing on the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou - just buy it is all I can say! Jose Roberto Bertrami from Azymuth has also recently put out a, rather too suave, album of jazzy bossa vibes but there are a couple of less cheesy tracks on there and No Tempo Da Bossa is one of them.

Medline hails from a funky crew running out of Paris, look out for a killer little 7" about to drop on his own Propaground label coming very soon. I've mentioned the new King Midas Sound album before and this week I'm treating you to yet another taster from the album - watch out and hold tight for the release at the end of November. Unni Lovlid is a great Norwegian folk singer prone to some little electronic leftfield excursions and ambient field recordings, I saw her live recently in concert and I recommend, if you get the chance, that you do as well.

Julien Dyne's album is about to drop on BBE and it's deep and just to show you how deep I drop a spiritual jazz inspired number from the forthcoming release. DJ Food is one of the best dj's in the world and his new LP, produced with the aid of King Cannibal, is about to drop, check the instrumental version of the The The cover which is fine way to end the show.

The Inns & Miles Bonny - J. Birly (MPM promo)
Victor Deme - DJon'maya (Chapa Blues Records)
Dokaka - Rest in Peace (Dual Plover)
Lou Rhodes - There For The Taking (Motion Audio promo)
Mr. Scruff & Kaidi Tatham - Fresh Noodles (Prime Numbers promo)
Curtis Hairston - I Want You (BBE promo)
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou - Agnon Dekpe (Analog Africa)
Jose Roberto Bertram - No Tempo Da Bossa (Far Out Records)
Medline - Mercado Negro (Propaground promo)
King Midas Sound - Miles and Miles (Hyperdub promo)
Unni Lovlid - Bak Vaker Verda (Grappa)
Julien Dyne - Spirits (BBE promo)
DJ Food - Giant, Instrumental (Ninja Tune promo)

For you visual obsessives here are a couple of videos one highlighting just how mental Dokaka is and one just to highlight why you should be listening to Victore Deme - enjoy..

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show November 7, 2009

2009-11-08T04:11:00.000-08:00

Straight in at the deep end this week with one of my new Womex music discoveries, Kouyate & Neerman. I was fortunate to see this due live a couple of weeks ago and the project with Kouyate on Balafon and Neerman on his vibes linked to an effects unit and distortion pedals is great forward thinking Afro Jazz fusion. The Jazz Chronicles album is out and although some of the beats are a bit rigid at times they really did the business with the One For Joe track. Portformat is a great new intergalactic hip hop project with an amazing roster of vocal talent including Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Shaunise amongst many others.

Robert Strauss is coming through with some nice new material with a future soul touch but using the decidedly old school vocalist and previous collaborator, the evergreen Leroy Burgess. Kylie Auldist has been given an amazing edit by Ashley Beedle to turn her In A Week, In A Day track into an end of night soul diamond. Tony Allen is working on more projects than your average government this year and his latest is a couple of tracks soundtracking an imaginary blaxploitation movie, deep afro funk flavour.

Soundway have just released a new compilation focusing on the vintage sounds of the French Caribbean and I'm happy to report it is up to their usual impeccably packaged and selected standards although the Biguine and Creole rhythms will be news to a lot of listeners, check it for some vintage global freshness. Another discovery at Womex was Cacique'97 a great Afrobeat project from Portugal taking the sound in interesting new directions with some pan African flavours and even the sound of Brasil, great project and top guys.

Debruit is going from strength to strength as I drop one of his new tracks on Civil Music, with nods to his Congo Whoomph track earlier this year but with some great more melodic African touches. Incidentally I saw him live last night in Barcelona and he rocks the party as well! Pinch has just dropped a new track with the vocals of Yolanda which I've dispensed with by playing the dub as the dirty tribal dubstep rhythm doesn't really need any help. The King Midas Sound album is on it's way this month so I give you a little taste with a great vocal track called Earth A Kill You. Look out for the album it's a really diverse bassline offering.

Scuba can always be relied on to deliver some bassline deepness and with his new EP on Hot Flush he's done just that with some nice tempo variations as well. I close the show with another of my Womex discoveries in the form of the Basque group Oreka TX who are single handedly reviving the old traditional regional instrument, the Xtalaparta - a great sounding wooden percussion instrument a bit like an oversized vibes played with wooden circular blocks rather than mallets - check it!

Kouyate & Neerman - Niokome (No Format)
Jazz Chronicles - One For Joe (Futuristica)
Portformat - Life Water feat Thesauras Rex (Tokyo Dawn Promo)
Robert Strauss - Love & Self Respect feat Leroy Burgess (BBE promo)
Kylie Auldist - In A Week, In A Day, Ashley Beedle Streetsoul Edit (Tru-Thoughts promo)
MC Jean Gab'1 & Tony Allen - E Nan Mian Nuku (Crammed Discs)
El Rego Et Ses Commandos - E Nan Mian Nuku (Soundway Records)
Debruit - Nigerian What? (Civil Music promo)
Pinch - Get Up Dub (Tectonic promo)
Kind Midas Sound - Earth A Kill You (Hyperdub promo)
Scuba - Ice Tx (Hot Flush promo)
Oreka TX - Ice Tx (World Village)

Check out another Cacique'97 track from their album and it's nice little video here:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show October 31, 2009

2009-11-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

Rejoice, all the albums Fela Kuti ever recorded are being re-issued by Knitting Factory records and let's face it you can't have enough Fela so to celebrate I play the whole 11 minutes of Water Get No Enemy one of my favourite Fela tracks. King Cannibal has finally released his album on Ninja Tune, a multi-genre specialist he revels in perverting accepted notions of genres and twisting them in his own image, usually taking them to darker realms - watch out for him, this is just the start. On another Afrobeat tip Jimi Tenor has teamed up with Tony Allen and they've brought out the best in each other, Allen reveling in the deeper Avant-Garde world of the maverick Tenor and the deeper jazz flavours - this album is the best of Tony Allens many projects this year.

Percussion master Trilok Gurtu is always doing something interesting and I'm particularly liking the Indian Middle Eastern fusion of Dive In. Lloyd Miller is an amazing jazz ethnologist and his constant experimentation with jazz and Eastern styles is being celebrated by a wonderfully selected Jazzman compilation. I had to drop another Reason or Romanza track from their forthcoming Civil Music EP, they really are that good and the same with Trus'me as I give you another taste of his new album on Fat City Records which segues perfectly into a slice of new old style house music courtesy of SE62. Boddhi Satva has given George Levin the remix he needed and turned his soulful vocal track The Better Life into an excellent slice of deep deep afrocentric house music.

A Mountain Of One are producing some great balearic prog/kraut rock cosmic mash up type of stuff and I'm particularly liking the Sky Is Folding from their recent album. To finish the show I had to drop a track from the latest Matthew Halsall album another great slice of modern jazz from this Manchester youngster who is punching well above his years with both his music and the fact he is self releasing his music on his own excellent Gondwana label which he is also using as a vehicle for some other excellent British players notably Nat Birchall and his amazing recent spiritual jazz album

Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy (Knitting Factory Records promo)
King Cannibal - Virgo feat Face-A-Face (Ninja Tune)
Jimi Tenor/Tony Allen - Ceila's Walk (Strut promo)
Trilok Gurtu - Dive In
Lloyd Miller - Hue Wail (Jazzman Records)
Reason or Romanza - Seven Uses Of Difference (Civil Music promo)
Trus'me - Pretend (Fat City promo)
SE62 - Wall Ride, Eddie C rmx (Home Taping Is Killing Music promo)
George Levin - The Better Life ft Clara Hill, Boddhi Satva Ancelstral Soul rmx (BBE promo)
A Mountain Of One - Sky Is Folding (
Matthew Halsall - Colour Yes (Gondwana promo)

Check Lloyd Miller live back in the day:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show October 24, 2009

2009-10-25T04:04:00.001-07:00

The Life Force Trio start procedings this week with a great slice of musical spirituality which was taken from the excellent Echo Expansion records compilation featuring a roster of 'who's who' and 'who's about to be'in the world of quality underground leftfield music. I then steal a Milt Jackson track from a possibly even better compilation, Peter Kruder's Private Collection one of the nicest selections I've heard in a while - essential purchase and the Portico Quartet have been given a great sympathetic dubstep remix from Sbtrk who beefs up the bottom end but keeps the musicality, great job.

Eskmo goes to show that not all dubstep comes from small bedrooms in South London as Planet Mu kindly showcase this great producer from San Francisco and Gang Gang Dance are given a nice remix by Dj Rupture and Matt Shadatek which has been lifted from their new mix CD - Solar Life Raft. Civil Music have come up trumps again with Reason or Romanza who are about to release their EP full of great original tracks and some excellent remixes - watch out for these boys and always keep an eye on what Civil Music are putting out.

Chickenwing All Stars are a South London reggae dub collective under the leadership of Anderson and Craig Tamlin, percussionist with Anthony Joseph & the Spasm band and their debut is a nice deep reggae cover of the classic Gary Bartz track Celestial Blues. Lambent is a hot Japanese producer now resident in Berlin who has just released an album of his mellower offerings on the always interesting Project Moon Circle and Eglo come through yet again this time courtesy of progressive soul boy Funkineven and a great slice of future boogie feat Fatima.

Happy Days - Trus'me is back with a new album after his acclaimed debut and you wont be disapointed, just wait till you hear it and look out for some great guests as well. Moonstar is still whacking out the fresh jazz beats in his inimitable style this time with the help of some crazy keys from Tony Ezzy and there's a great compilation coming out on Tirk of some of Greg Wilson's finest edits - you know that's essential. Keeping on the compilation tip, the disco compilation kings BBE are coming through soon with a DJ Spinna compiled disco selection and the Jan Leslie Holmes track is just a taster of the aural delights to come.

The Life Force Trio - Alice! Live At The Natural History Museum (Porter Records)
Milt Jackson With The Ray Brown Big Band - Enchanted Lady (G-Stone)
Portico Quartet - Lines, Sbtrk More Hang Mix (Real World Records promo)
Eskmo - Let Them Sing (Planet Mu Promo)
Gang Gang Dance - Bebey, DJ Rupture & Matt Shadatek rmx (The Agriculture Promo)
Reason or Romanza - Two Times Three Times (Civil Music promo)
Chickenwing All Stars - Celestial Bingi, Find Yourself version (Heavenly Sweetness)
Lambent - After All (Project Moon Circle)
Funkineven 1956 - Kleer feat Fatima (Eglo promo)
Trus'me - Put It On Me (Fat City promo)
Moonstar - Laham Baagine feat Tony Ezzy (PTR promo)
Klein & MBO - Dirty Talk, Greg Wilson edit (Tirk promo)
Jan Leslie Holmes - I'm Your Superman (BBE promo)

Reason or Romanza also do a nice line in videos as well as great music - check it:

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show October 17, 2009

2009-10-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Kicking off this week with some deep dub techno hybrid late night lushness courtesy of Rooflight, a promising talent if ever there was one. Tony Allen drops a raw percussive, surprisingly non Afrobeat, gem and Gamal Goma show that it's not just the Africans who do amazing percussion. Mordant Music provide a slice of mesmerising, leftfield, boundary pushing house music that you wouldn't know which section of the record shop to put it in.

The forthcoming Ogris Debris ep is so good that I drop the original late night floor destroying cut after dropping the more cerebral Dorian Concept mix last week. Troy and Shea Soul show that UK Funky can be well produced and super soulful and I also drop another track from the excellent new Paten Locke album, just how hip hop should be sounding.

DJ Devastate provides another slice of deep lazy jazzy hip hop taken from his excellent forthcoming album on BBE Records, all you beat heads looking for some chilled beats watch out for that one. To be honest I'm having trouble telling a lot of the Dam Funk tracks apart, as much as I like his sound but he's hit 'kick back with your girl' gold with the super mellow 10 West, pure easyness. The new Impossible Ark compilation of jazz covers is a wonderful thing as The Fiction Trio tune ably demonstrates, France's finest Afrobeat boys Fanga come up trumps yet again as do the ever excellent Soundway boys as I play a track from their incredible Panama II compilation - look out for Volume 3 coming soon, you know it's going to be essential..

Rooflight - In Your Hands (Styrax)
Tony Allen - Gbedu (Honest Jons)
Gamal Goma - Shara Saidi (Pirhana)
Mordant Music - Symptoms, Version (Mordant Music)
Ogris Debris - Raid The Itch (Compost Black Promo)
Troy and Shea Soul - Fools Gold (Broadcite Promo)
Paten Locke - Just Me (Tres Records)
DJ Devastate - Don't Stop (Tres Records)
Dam Funk - 10 West (Stonesthrow)
The Fiction Trio - Haitian Fight Song (Impossible Ark)
Fanga - Ni I Ma Toro (World Music Network)
Chilo Pitty - Piculina (Soundway Records)

Check a bit of the multi talented Paten Locke below, some proper hip hop in these troubled times for the genre.

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show October 10, 2009

2009-10-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

No rundown this week as I've been on holiday and I'm catching up on a million things, just a list of good tunes and links so you can do your own research on the artists and record labels involved.

VoicesVoices - Flulyk (Manimal Vinyl)
Collage - Ehted Kadunud (Wool Recordings)
Calima - Lunita (Putumayo promo)
DJ Devastate - Spoken (BBE promo)
Andreya Triana - Lost Where I Belong (Ninja Tune Promo)
Paten Locke - Auto Reverse (Tres Records)
Shed - Estrange (Ostgut)
Joy Rose - Waiting (Broadcite promo)
David Baxter - All This Broken Lushness (Unreleased)
Ogris Debris - G-Thong, Dorian Concept Restring (Compost Black promo)
Gold Panda - Back Home (Various Production)
Knalpot - AV 1 (Eat Concrete Records)
Talen - Sniper Sniper, A Cutty Ranks Tale (Mouthwatering Records)
The Very Best - De Cuba (Green Owl)
Ruth Tafebe And The Afrorockerz - De Cuba (World Music Network)

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show October 3, 2009

2009-10-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Not a show this week for people with attention defecit disorder as I cut down the track count and get into some longer grooves kicking off with a slice of new tango with an electronic jazzy twist from UK outfit Tango Siempre. Grackle have been one of my discoveries of the week and I'm liking the mish mash of styles from this US duo, friends since childhood. Nancy Elisabeth is producing a fine blend of folktronica from her Manchester base and Virgil Howe is a talented multi-instrumentalist who is making interesting music as befits the son of a member of prog rock outfit Yes.

Julien Dyne is a hot new producer coming through with a deep blend of soul and jazz inspired beats and probably the best thing to come out of New Zealand since The Lord Of The Rings, look out for his album on BBE coming out this autumn. Floating Points has just released a great EP on his own Eglo imprint and is finishing off the year how he started it - STRONG. Zwicker is a Swiss based deep house bod and the John Talabot remix has taken his 'Oddity' track into wonderful deep disco house territory.

The Revenge are just about to release some singles influenced by some of the classic sounds of years gone by aptly summed up by the title 'Forever In Their Debt'. The Bulgarian public voted for some of their favourite pop songs in a big public contest and the winners, in a fit of inter country collaboration, were given to some UK producers to remix. I don't know what they were expecting but Ramadanman has chopped up the catchily titled 'A Nie Dvamata S Bobi Piem Kafe' track from ska popsters Wickeda into an amazing broken percussive dubstep joint - tune! Still on the dubstep track I also throw in another more techno inspired cut from the new 2562 album and then finish with some Cuban inspired Congolese Rumba from Papa Noel just to give you a little warm feeling on these cooler autumnal nights.

Tango Siempre - Triphop & Fugue (Rough Guide promo)
Grackle - We Are It (Supersoul)
Nancy Elizabeth - Feet Of Courage (Leaf Recordings)
Virgil Howe - Someday (3 Bar Fire promo)
Julien Dyne - Fallin' Down ft Parks (BBE promo)
Floating Points - Argonaut (Eglo)
Zwicker - Oddity, John Talabot Dub (Compost Black promo)
The Revenge - Forever In Their Debt, Red Rack'em Remix (White)
Wickeda - A Nie Dvamata S Bobi Piem Kafe, Ramadanman Refix (White)
2562 - Love In Outer Space (Techtonic)
Papa Noel - Kin Havane (Tumi Music)

Here's a little video taster of Julien Dyne live in session with some mates at The Red Bull Academy in Auckland - I'm telling you LOOK out for this boy!

Tru-Thoughts 10th Anniversary – Various Artists. (Tru-Thoughts)

2009-09-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Tru-Thoughts, 10 years young, a major achievement for any independent record label especially in these turbulent time of falling record sales, thoughtless free loaders/uploaders and distributors going bust (which happened to the label last year).

To celebrate this milestone the label is releasing a 2 CD best of with CD1 focussing on the mellower side and CD2 on the arse shakers. The first CD kicks off with the gentle strains of a pre-Ninja Tune Bonobo closely followed by Nostalgia 77 who utilises the sweet vocals of Beth Rowley on a mellow jazz number that segues nicely into one of the UK’s finest soul voices, Alice Russell and the old time soul of ‘Hurry On’.

Natural Self lays down some soulful drum and bass with ‘The Rising’ before Milez Benjiman gets all big electro bass and fresh beats on us with the nu-soul of ‘Chop That Wood’. The dream team of Quantic and Nickodemus throw some Latin spirit into the mix with the catchy Latin beats of ‘Mi Swing Es Tropical’, which some of you might remember from an Ipod advert a few years ago!

The killer tracks just don’t stop and this is only disc one! Lizzy Parks injects more soul with the jazz flavoured ‘Raise The Roof’, The Hot 8 Brass Band show brass bands aren’t all situated in remote northern colliery towns as they get all funk and jazz on ‘Whats my name’, Flevans adds the disco flavour and Quantic injects some Latin reggae before Kinny adds her vocal prowess to an Afro flavoured slice of quality soul and Freddie Cruger goes all nu-soul to wrap up the first disc.

Disc Two kicks off with some new style samba rock and Quantic’s orchestra get all funky with the swinging ‘Super 8’. The Bamboos add their trademark raw funk and TM Juke goes all nu-jazz with ‘Come Away’ featuring the vocals of Sophie Faricy. Lanu reminds us of the glory days of broken beat with a great jazzy soulful dancefloor winner and that’s before we even get to Belleruche and more Alice Russell and you can’t forget about the soul genius of Kylie Audist and she reminds us why with the modern northern soul classic ‘Community Service Announcement’.

For those of you quick enough there is also a limited 3CD box set with the third disc consisting entirely of un-released material from the label roster but don’t sleep to get your hands on one of those.

Happy birthday Tru-Thoughts, here’s to another ten.

Jazz and Milk Breaks II (Jazz & Milk Records)

2009-09-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Jazz and Milk is now officially THE reliable home of great soul, funk, jazz and Afrolatin breaks and I’m glad to report they are they are back with another welcome compilation full of dancefloor winners for those more groove enlightened dance floors.

The album kicks off with the Envee rework of Pinnawela’s feel good vocal jazz dancer ‘You Can Dance’ before ducking into label boss Dusty’s beat heavy Afro rework of The Boogoo’s ‘The Journey/Ghana 74’ a dancefloor winner for sure. Dusty also throws in ‘Voodoo’ a funky beat excursion from his acclaimed debut album, because he’s nice like that.

Respected Panamanian percussionist Cesar Granados supplies an epic, super caliente version of Dizzy Gillespie’s classic ‘Manteca’, a Latin jazz monster to challenge the best salseros and Barcelona crew The Jivers supply some lively midtempo vocal jazz beats.

One of my favourite party rocking djs, Saffrolla, contributes ‘El Massivo’ a flamenco jazz flavoured party winner replete with some crazy gitano wailings over the top and Javi P3Z closes this excellent compilation with the great jazz rumba beats of ‘De Rhumba’.

Yet another great feel good selection from Jazz and Milk full of soul, jazz, funk and afrolatin flavoured beats and pieces ideal for livening up even the stiffest of parties.

Jeb Loy Nichols – Strange Faith and Practice (Impossible Ark Records)

2009-09-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

Jeb Low Nichols is an artist, writer and musician living a sustainable existence in Wales. He’s also just released an incredible album full of moving, delicate, beautifully arranged songs sung in his seductive and distinctive southern American accent.

Hailing from Wyoming he soon outgrew the artistic scenes of his native south and headed for New York art school, immersing himself in it’s creative scene witnessing the emergence of punk, the birth of hip hop and getting down to Larry Levan. London was the next stop where he ended up living in a squat with Adrian Sherwood, Neneh Cherry and Ari Up from the Slits where he pursued his musical career whilst designing prints for Paul Smith, working as the art director for Pressure Sounds and even performing vocals with Groove Armada.

This latest album sees Jeb teaming up with some of London’s best young jazz players including exciting young drum prospect Tim Giles, sax/flute player Mark Hanslip and bassist and arranger Riaan Vosloo who is also the co-founder of Impossible Ark, the exciting new label responsible for this release.

Jennifer Carr’s classical and jazz piano accompanies Jeb’s lyrical journey through these affairs of the heart to great effect and an added string section adds extra emotional depth to this already poignant album.

Highlights abound it really is an all killer no filler affair although the gentle caress of ‘Probably Never stop’ with it’s barely audible drums and carefully arranged strings tugs at my hear every time and the catchy piano line, restrained sax and more strings work wonders on ‘Lake Whitfield’.

Varied this album isn’t but when the vibe and overall feel is this good why change it? Definitely one of my albums of the year.

Mary Anne Hobbs – Wild Angels (Planet Mu)

2009-09-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

Mary Anne Hobbs is now officially the queen of the electronic new school with her weekly radio show offering a portal to the freshest electronic experiments and cutting edge urban sounds from across the globe. Wild Angels is her third compilation for the cutting edge Planet Mu label and is another great album showcasing where new electronic music is at in 2009 and beyond.

In true experimental style Mark Pritchard opens proceedings with his catchily entitled ‘?’ in which an electronic drone slowly morphs into a slow atmospheric melodic soundtrack to your favourite sci-fi movie.
Wobbly beat merchant Hudson Mohawke then wakes us from our deep space coma with his trademark messed up future take on hip hop before Dublin’s Mike Slott transports us into an instrumental broken nu-soul wonderland with the excellent ‘Knock Knock’.

Brackles gives your bass bins a medical with the relentless lo-end frequency attack of ‘LHC’ as some nice key work and sampled female vocals add a little light relief. One of the finds of the compilation for me is Gemmy who shows the UK Funky massive they need to up their production standards as he comes through with a deep bassline gem called ‘Rainbow Road’, miles ahead of most of the game.

So far so melodic but like any inner city soundtrack worth it’s salt the compilation is not without it’s darker moments. Untold twists some exotic percussion beyond recognition with the unnervingly entitled ‘Discipine’, Rustie’s ‘Zig Zag’ is an intense rave brain basher – only for the headstrong and Legion of Two hammers the final nails into the coffin of those left standing on the dancefloor with his brooding ‘And Now We Wait’.

Dark Star and Sunken Foal show that musicians can work in harmony with the deep electronic underworld and one of the break though names of 2009, Floating Points also lends his undoubted talents to the comp as do Starkey, Architeq and a host of other pioneering electronic souls.

An essential glimpse into the future of music.

Peter Kruder Private Collection – G-Stone Master Series #1 (G-Stone Recordings)

2009-09-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Peter Kruder is a bit of a compilation king racking up six and seven figure sales with some of his previous outings and once you’ve listened to this album you’ll know why they sold so well. The concept with this private collection is that Peter Kruder invites us into his living room to listen to some of his favourite records. Great! Milk, two sugars, thanks Pete.

Peter Kruder is one half of the legendary production duo Kruder & Dorfmeister as well as the driving force behind The Peace Orchestra and the best thing musically to come out of Austria since yodelling and with 35,000 records in his collection when he puts a compilation together you should really take note.

He kicks off with 80’s pop experimentalists Talk Talk and the deep bluesy electronic pop of ‘The Rainbow’ before post-rock, Chicago dons, Tortoise take up the mantle with the slow, atmospheric, guitar led ‘On The Chin’. Typical of a dj he he only plays a short section of ‘Waste Your Life’ from The Observatory as a bridge into the ever green soulful jazz of ‘Enchanted Lady’ from vibes virtuoso Milt Jackson before he launches into Gong offshoot Pierre Moerten’s Gong and the xylophone jazz fusion of ‘Adrien’ – a track he discovered through a mixtape handed to him by Gilles Peterson in the early 90’s.

House deity Charles Webster contributes one of his rare down tempo experiments, Tom Waits adds his dulcet tones on the leftfield, percussive gem ‘Clap Hands’. Jan Hammer provides some 80’s synth stylings and Kruder throws in a Peace Orchestra track from the next album, whenever that might appear, and an old K&D track called ‘Sleazy Rider’ also makes the cut – well he is the compiler!

The cosmic soul of Stargard rubs shoulders with an instrumental classical piano piece by Massive Attack vocalist Craig Armstrong and 80’s electronic pioneers Japan contribute their classic ‘Ghosts’. American composer, famous for his Hitchcock collaborations, Bernard Hermann pops up alongside fellow film composer and modern producer Jon Brion before versatile French producers Chateau Flight lead us into the album closer from one of my favourite African vocalists Rokia Traore and the beautiful ‘Mariama’

The album start to finish is a musical wonder and best listened to in its entirety preferably in the dark. Thanks Pete, now where’s your bathroom?

Collage - Forty Seven Minutes Four Seconds (Wool Recordings)

2009-09-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m guessing the late 60’s Estonian jazz pop folk section in your collection is pretty small? Well it’s time to change all that with this inspired re-issue from Wool Recordings of the genre fusing group of students known as Collage.

The group was formed by Ravio Dikson who recruited students from the Talinn conservatory and school of music. The name Collage was suggested by one of the group because it’s repertoire included jazz, pop, classical and, thanks to a commission from Estonian TV requesting music for an ethnographic program, Estonian folk.

Luckily Estonia’s geographical position on the edge of the Soviet Union allowed the musically interested to watch Finnish TV with its diverse music programs and radio stations with more varied playlists to the limited output of their Estonian counterparts were also within range. These two factors coupled with the rare lps brought back by travelling musicians meant influences as wide ranging as Les Double Six De Paris, Quincy Jones and Michael Legrand were all soaked up by the students and the lack of any international authors rights organisation in the USSR meant not only were tracks used as inspiration but also covered without the hassle of legal challenges or the inconvenience of having to pay the composers and money!

The album kicks off with the upbeat Estonian pop of ‘Suur Tamm’ before dipping into jazzier territory with ‘Petis Peiu’ where Estonian lyricism meets bossa nova and some inspired scatting from the female vocalist. Most of the tracks on the album contain vocals and even male barber shop style harmonising appears on several tracks. I’m particularly liking the great ethereal folk vocals on the gentle, soothing ‘Hallilaul’ which is the audio equivalent of a head massage.

Funk drums and guitar provide the backdrop for some amazing female vocal interplay on ‘Ehted Kadunud’. Great jazzy Hammond organ and more Brasilian vocal stylings, this time male, appear on the warm sounds of ‘Memme Vaev’ and ‘Laula Kuni Elad’ can only be described as Estonian folk blues fusion.

This is a really intriguing album from start to finish and a wonderful fusion of styles carefully stitched together by a bunch of Estonian students thirty-three years ago. I’m just hoping the other two albums they recorded are as good and see the light of day.

Kelpe - Cambio Wechsel (DC Recordings)

2009-09-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Kelpe is back with a new album and it’s another studied exercise in lovingly stitched together beats with more references than Wikipedia.

If you didn’t know Kelpe is the previously water obsessed Kel Mckeown who hails rather surprisingly from land locked Loughborough. Having been discovered by DC Recordings in 2003, he is a relative old boy in the brave new world of beat production already with a couple of albums under his belt as well as a string of remix work and some tasty mix cds.

Cambio Wechsel sees another wonderful exercise in restrained beat making where less is definitely more. A short introduction eases us gently into the album proper before we are greeted by ‘The Blackout Agreement’ a stripped back drum loop that ambles over a simple bassline wrapped in repeated and sustained edgy keys and gently building percussion before morphing into a more electronic beast that finally disintegrates into the ether. In fact the whole album has been pleasingly feng shuied with most tracks relying on just a few well chosen sound sources that are then carefully placed and then manipulated rather than dense audio collages.

Personally I am favouring the more melodic moments on the album such as ‘Eye Candy Bath’ with it’s soft voices and basic drums underpinned by a big fat electro bassline, ethereal vocal samples and occasional pitched down samples that sound like they were lifted from a 91 rave anthem. Another standout is the Eastern sounding strings that ride minimal drums and low-key effects on the sprawling, Doors like, ‘After Gold’ but don’t be deceived this is an album with something for everyone.

Stuttering hip hop beats, flute, bad arse bass and plenty of echo collide in ‘Closed Cup Headroom’ as similarly pissed drums crop up on the slightly worrying ‘Low Frequency Fumble’ and the minimal instrumental hip hop of ‘Clearance’. Minimal acid house with nice percussion and 8 bit sounds are the order of the day on ‘Microscope Contents and cut up jazz drums meet the electronic future on the short but sweet ‘Moving Picture Three’.

Another assured release from the man they call Kelpe.

Architeq - Green + Gold (Tirk)

2009-09-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Architeq is a young Scotsman called Sam Ammand now based in London where, after a minimum amount of fuss and not a lot of previous form, he has just unleashed one of the most accomplished beat driven debut albums that I’ve heard in a while.

Don’t be deceived by the simple melodic electro funk opener and the sleepy hip hop beats of ‘Krakatoa’ as the album rapidly takes a dive into musically deeper waters where hip hop beats old and new rub shoulders with the funk and cosmic disco, the ghosts of classic dub engineers come back from the other side to revive their art, scuzzy psyched out effects vie for attention with gentle melodies and a million and one samples are gently and lovingly positioned in just the right places.

‘Nothing’ feat Junior Williams is a twisted nu-soul gem propelled along by some simple but neat drum programming and one of three restrained vocal tracks on the album. The others being 'Spinning Plates' an urgent and unsettling twisted drum odyssey that anchors the floating pop vocals of Angele David Gillou and the homage to 80’s soul that is ‘Mind Games’ featuring the sonically distressed voice of Ilija Rudman who sounds like he’s a bit out breath.

The rest of the album is an instrumental wonderland full of inventive drums, great melodic moments, live percussion and some darker side excursions. Plenty of sonic twists and turns keep you on your toes, leaping out at you just as you think you’ve got the direction of a track sussed. This isn’t beat making by numbers this is Architeq and he doesn’t drive in straight lines or do obvious.

Highlights include the pitched down cosmic boogie of ‘Odyssey’, the stuttering beats underpinning what sound like an ornithologist at a dub lab, otherwise known as ‘Birds Of Prey’ and the constantly morphing dark future funk fusion of ‘Into The Cosmos’. The album is a really solid listen start to finish and an assured debut and I for one am predicting big things for this boy.

Global SoulJah and BBE Records Radio Show September 26 2009

2009-09-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

A great mixture of electronic experimentalism and soul music this week, kicking off with a great Japanese talent, Yosi Korikawa, a sound designer who likes mixing up the sound of the world with some great beats. The mysterious AFMB come up with a great house remix of the Maze classic 'Sunshine and Rain' and I pull out some old school Philly goodness with Executive Suite. The latest Dillanthology is about to drop and is another well compiled retrospective look at the mans work.

N'Dambi, one of my favourite nu-soul artists from the last few years, is about to drop a new album on the resurrected Stax records and it's sounding nice. I had to drop more vintage Estonian jazz pop folk fusion from Collage, the album really is that good. New York post garage soulful electronic fiddler, Falty DL, is coming through with a new ep on Planet Mu and 'Must Sustain' is a great slice of future electronic soul. Red Snapper return a recent favour and remix the mighty Robert Logan in their dark electronic jazzy style and The Eerier Child come through with my favourite track from the interesting new forward thinking Mindtricks/Redrum compilation Frequencies Of The Mind.

Fink is still putting out some remixes of his recent album and his Sideshow alter ego beefs up the bass to great dubby effect on his rework of Dub It All. Architeq is another of the seemingly endless supply of promising UK electronic producers and I play a track from his great debut album available soon on Tirk recordings. I'm liking The Baker Brothers reworking of the Steve Winwood classic 'Fly Like An Eagle', mainly because I'm a sucker for the original and Bei Bei and Shawn Lee have come up with an outstanding version of Billy Paul's 'East' and I'm looking forward to hearing what their forthcoming album is like.

Yosi Korikawa - Painting (Eklektic promo)
AFMB - Here & There (White)
Executive Suite - When It Comes To Loving Me (BBE test)
J Dilla - Crushin (Rapster promo)
N'Dambi - Can't Hardly Wait (Stax promo)
Collage - Memme Vaev (Wool Recordings promo)
Falty DL - Must Sustain (Planet Mu promo)
Robert Logan - Accurate Spit Boy, Red Snapper rmx (Slowfoot promo)
The Eerier Child - Into The Sun (Mindtrick/Red Rum)
Fink - Dub It All, Sideshow rmx (Ninja Tune promo)
Architeq - Birds of Prey (Tirk promo)
The Baker Brothers - Fly Like An Eagle (Freestyle Records)
Bei Bei and Shawn Lee - East (Ubiquity Promo)

If you don't know what a Gu Zheng is or who Bei Bei is then get clicking: