With his classical training, natural flair for jazz and experience with electronic grooves, Danish master Cai has already managed to create some eyebrow-raising singles (“The Ghetto,” “Silver N Jazz”). On Confessions… he brings a whole album’s worth of lovely jazzy soulful joints to the table-some downtempo and charming, others shufflesome and eclectic. There’s a pleasant cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Black Maybe” which-along with a few other cuts-features the seductive vocals of Miss Malone, but this is mostly about Cai’s heartfelt tapestries.
Smithmonger Nobody Gonna Stop Us
Like XLR8R magazine, Britain’s longest-running breaks label has turned 10 years old, and they’re celebrating with a series of ten 10 singles (clever, yes), starting with this hot one by Autstralian knob-twiddler Paul Smith. Old Paul throws down a heavyweight little chunk of loping nu-beat with vocodered vox and an epic breakdown/buildup in the middle. Fellow Aussie Friendly gives it a marching, ’80s electro-pop-tinged rerub on the flip, and a limited-edition commemorative series is born.
Anthony Hamilton Comin’ From Where I’m from
Charlotte, NC man Hamilton’s first album, 1996’s XTC, was unjustly ignored in the first, D’angelo/Badu-dominated wave of nu-soul, but forget all that. He’s back, and this title track to his new album lets you know that he hasn’t fallen off a bit as a singer/songwriter. With a voice that evokes both Bobby Womack and Donny Hathaway, Hamilton throws down a bluesy chronicle of hard times and worry over a prime ’70s-era existential soul backing. You think you got troubles-get this single and check my man’s acapella. It’ll wrench the heart right out of you.
Cosmic Rocker Mirrors and Windows
Sasha Crnobrnja, co-founder of NY’s Organic Grooves, may have come from Switzerland, but his heart (and ear) lies in Istanbul. Eastern scales created from tatters and cut-ups of old records flow onto a dub canvas in a successful example of cultural globalism. There’s nothing metallic or angular here, as tracks sway and melt under layers of melody. While the occasional melodic motif strikes as a bit simple in counterpoint to its tripped-out underpinnings, the work as a whole is an enjoyable hookah-inspired dream.
Joyce & Banda Maluca Just a Litlle Bit Crazy
No Astrud Gilberto, Joyce’s 24 albums as a performer and songwriter balanced her wide-ranged vocal talent with bossa rhythms and added a welcome feminist voice to Brazilian music-something revolutionary at the time of her 1968 debut. Her latest is a playful album, soft and lilting, as birdsong woodwinds soar and dodge her dusky voice in light-hearted counterpoint. Joined by Brazilian percussionist Robertinho Silva and legendary drummer Tutty Moreno, she brought in Bugge Wesseltoft from Norway to add his own tilt to the combo, resulting in sly sci-fi touches that provide currency to timeless arrangements. Her reinterpretation of “A Hard Day’s Night” as a summery lullaby is one of many standouts.
Slowrider Historias En Revision
The latest in a line of socially and politically active East Los Angeles groups stretching back through War and El Chicano, Slowrider respect the sound of their forebearers while updating it with bilingual MCs and space-funk atmosphere (think Lonnie Liston-Smith in Havana). Down to six pieces from the nine-piece combo that released Nacimiento and toured with Ozomatli, their third album is a mixture of new tracks and remixes. The sound is tightly rhythmic, with horn flourishes countered by darkly introspective tracks like “Misconceptions” and “Acid Reign” adding their production skills to a stark and effective balance between string-laden dirge, beatbox and tongue-twisting rap.
Laroque/Vice Versa Someone Like You
Another split single from the long-running GLR. These are two new artists who are definitely worth looking out for. Laroque has a number of tracks around on dubplate at the moment that are causing a buzz. His track here has a super-crisp “live” break that underpins a warm bass groove and sparkling Rhodes and strings. Vice Versa comes with a catchy funk bass lick right from the start, which they then build upon as the tune rolls, gaining momentum with hi-speed percussion and a Calibre-esque vocal edit.
Konsta Flirt
Third release from the Hospital off-shoot, and both sides have been getting major support from Fabio, Peshay, etc. Flirt” is an epic, string-led Amen tune that rolls out nicely instead of being an ear-bashing tear-out. The flip’s “What I Need” is liquid funk at its best, with a cool, summery vibe reminiscent of “Barcelona.” Konsta hails from Helsinki-worldwide d&b, baby!
Matrix & Danny J Vertigo
I’m loving Matrix’s new housey d&b sound, as heard on the massive “Trippin’.” It’s not the usual Rhodes chords or disco loops-he takes influence from more contemporary artists like Rui Da Silva and Underworld. This track is really sweet, with a subtle vocal repeated and filtered in the background ? la Underworld, which leads into an emotive three-note chord/bass riff-very tech-house sounding. It’s a solid roller backed with a house mix by Goldtrix.
Various 7Heads R Better Than 1 Volume 1: No Edge Up In South Africa
Hip-hop has always been long on lyrical wordplay, but few emcees can best 7Heads’s staggering lineup (J-Live, Asheru, El Da Sensei). Using the tonsorial tastes of South African b-boys as a potent metaphor for the post-apartheid struggle, the visionary label’s latest comp includes new joints from Audissey (of Mass Influence) and NY up-and-comer Wordsworth (the name is apt, as his language skills are copious and free flowing), alongside a rare remix of J-Live’s seminal Braggin’ “Writes” and special appearances by Talib Kweli and jazz band Soullive. Moreover, in an age when hip-hop comps usually double as only Hollywood blockbuster sales tools, abundant collections like this are like diamonds hauled from those deep South African mines-precious, and the result of years of hard labor.
