Staff Picks w / c 11th September 2020

Review: DJ Jus-Ed has taken the vocals from the original MADDAM Mind Twerking LP. AKA Madafi Pierre and recreated a definite cross over release, with the unforgettable voice and meaningful lyrics of Madafi Pierre. First heard 2005 on UQ-008 Unbelievabley Beautiful ep. This Four tracker works on so many levels.

Review: Luke Vibert is an ever green sonic inventor who can do whatever he pleases with sound. The latest in a long line of projects with Hypercolour and its associated labels is another gem: Rave Hop mixes up downtempo beats, hip hop and r&b with twisted electronics, rave and techno. It's something that could go horribly wrong in the hands of a lesser producer, but here the fusions are amazingly seamless. "No Competition" is a classic era boom bap tune with lush piano chords, "Styles" sounds like a reworked Slick Rick tune with huge breakbeats and "All Night" is as smooth as silk thanks to a buttery vocals and long legged drums that sink you in deep.

Review: Blue Note Re:imagined is a carefully curated collection of brand-new covers of classic material from the legendary label as served up by a selection of the UK scene's most exciting young talents including Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia and Brit Award-winning Jorja Smith. For this latest 7" it's Jordan Rakei, who actually hails from Aus, but let's not get mad about that because the super smooth soul singer reaches new heights on the free flowing, heart opening 'Wind Parade'. Jazz pianist Alfa Mist takes care of the flip with a suitably cosmic exploration on 'Galaxy' that pairs live, busy drums and soaring synths with rich chords.

Review: Juno exclusive green vinyl version of the best known Cypress Hill classic hip hop monster produced by DJ Muggs. Limited to 300 only copies

Review: The sound of filtered Amen breaks diving down and deep and then rising back up into the mix is not one that's ever likely to go out of fashion, and 'Transgressive Bells' makes the most of this evergreen sonic trick, counterbalancing the roughneck beats with floatation tank ambience. As its name suggests, '2093' has a futuristic vibe that echoes the ongoing drum & bass obsession with the Bladerunner soundtrack, set to hard but chopped up beats. If you're a fan of Dillinja's more celestial, soaring productions - we're thinking 'The Angels Fell', 'Jah' or 'Silver Blade' - you'll be lapping these two tunes up like the cat who got the cream.

Review: Teneil Throssell AKA Haai is undoubtedly a producer on the rise. After impressing with two self-released singles a couple of years ago, she debuted on Mute earlier this year via a six-track selection of suitably dark, foreboding and other-worldly techno (the must-check Systems Up, Windows Down). Her second missive for the legendary label, which arrives on translucent green vinyl, is equally as impressive. She begins with the skittish breakbeats, swirling audio textures and layered vocal samples of 'Head Above the Parakeets', before paying tribute to the hazier end of '90s IDM on 'Rotating In Unison'. 'Bon Viveur' twists moody and spacey early drum and bass into thrilling new shapes, while closing cut 'Bass Is The Place' is a clanking, lo-fi blend of slamming techno and throbbing EBM.

Review: There is one Hospital that you always want to visit, and that is the one overseen by these drum & bass legends. For the 12th instalment of their Classic Symptoms series they dive deep into the vaults to unearth four gems from the 2006 to 2009 era. Nu:Tone gets the appointment underway with the retells roller that is 'Missing Link' before things get super sweet with the liquid flow and soul drenched vocals of 'Gold Rush' feat Brookes Brothers by Danny Byrd. Logistics goes for a drilling old school beat with classic samples and heady vibes and closing things out is Commix, whose stripped back and shadowy stepper 'Bear Music' sounds as crucial now as it ever did.

Review: Tom Harris AKA Hidden Spheres is in a fine run of form. He's a talent who can vary his sound at will and after EPs on Church and Distant Hawaii he now finds himself on Oath. Opener 'Breathing Deep' is a richly percussive track that sounds like what Roy Ayers might make if he was into underground basement parties. The lushness of the sound pallet continues on 'Tiamo' which is awash with bird calls and new age ambiance. 'Ruhani' is a broken beat jam with a London vibe that keeps you on your toes and 'Believe' rounds out in lush jazz style.

Review: The first post-name change project for Dave Lee fka Joey Negro is a look back over his favourite West London sounds from the ZR catalogue. It's a widescreen offering that takes in plenty of the corner stones of the early broken beat and nu jazz scene. Things kick off with a Bugz in the Attic remix of 4Hero filled with lush synths and skipping kicks. Kaidi Tatham's 'Organic Juggernaut' is an even busier cut with big flute lines and Agent K appears twice, firstly with the deep grooves of 'Feed The Cat' then the mellifluous jazz-scapes of 'Hands'. It all adds up to an essential collection.

Review: Not to be confused with the mascara-clad indie rock band of the same name, Placebo was a 1970s Belgian jazz-funk combo founded by legendary European jazzman Marc Moulin. Within the rare groove and jazz-dance community, the group's sophomore set 1973 has long been considered a hard-to-find "must-have". Here Matasuna Records celebrates reaching a quarter-century of releases by offering up a seven-inch featuring two of the album's most celebrated cuts. A-side 'Polk' is a genuine jazz-funk delight: a storming dancefloor workout in which mazy, ever-more-intense electric piano solos ride a relaxed but floor-friendly groove. Flipside 'Balek' is, if anything, even better, with spacey synths, sharp horn lines and fluid electric piano solos sparring over another leisurely groove.

Review: Bristol's Lawrence Guy has already served up a killer EP on this label this year in the form of The Sun Is Warm And Directly Above You, and now he brings yet more happiness on this new four tracker. The title track is awash with neat guitar riffs and sci-fi sound effects, smart filter use and organic sounding drums that find their way into your affections in no time. 'Experience Health' is more bustling, with breakbeats and nice molten bass making you move. 'The Spirit' is perfectly loose and ramshackle house with proper piano playing and "Dreamer' ends this cosy and heartwarming EP on a surfing lo-fi house vibe that bubbles with new age energy.

Review: After a long wait, it's time once again to delve into the Shoebox and slip on some comfy new grooves. The eponymous label boss or bosses is or are behind the beats and they kick off with a deep and dreamy cut that is filled with incidental melody and subtle pad work. 'Stars & Bars' is filled with unusual sound sources, clacking hits and off grid tones that are underpinned by a stuttering bassline while ''Cornerstone' pairs pixel thin melodies with slinky hi hats and deep cut drums. 'Believe That' closes out with cloudy pad work and scuffed ups drums reminiscent of STL and in doing so rounds out one of the most interesting and original deep house EPs we've heard for a while.

Review: It's been a long time since DJ Kolt linked up with his brother DJ Noronha and DJ Peligroso for a Blacksea Nao Maya session - five years to be precise. But the wait has arguably been worth it... Taking their distinctive Lisbon kuduro brew to deeper, darker places, there's a strong theme of trippy timewarping as the trio push, squeeze and cajole us through eight new instrumentals. From the slo-mo tension and ominous weight of opener 'Terror' to the more hopefully, bubbly afrobeat finale 'Africanalidade' by way of stirring mid-point adventures like the woozy, Vangelis-facing 'Horizonte' and the curmudgeonly offbeat kuduro drums of '7even', it's another truly singular set from the Principe collective.