First Word Vinyl & CDs

Review: Takuya Kuroda is a highly respected trumpeter and arranger from Kobe, Japan but now based in New York City. Midnight Crisp was his seventh studio album and now First World has had a selection of cuts from it remixed. 'Choy Soda' gets superb treatment in the form of Waajeed's Hi-Tech Jazz remix which jumbles the trumpet motifs with shuffling drums and future soul. On the flip, 'Dead End Dance' gets a signature Kaidi Tatham remix that brings the broken beats and sunny sounds to the fore with more languid jazz notes adding sultriness.

Review: Victoria Port, one half of the acclaimed electronic soul duo Anushka, steps into the spotlight with her debut solo EP, an accomplished exploration of soulful melodies and heartfelt lyricism delivered via powerful vocals and introspective songwriting. The EP features a diverse range of sounds, from the soulful grooves of 'Cigarette' and 'Haunting' to the more intimate balladry of 'Keep Love For Me' and the title track, 'Did It Again'. Port's lyrics delve into themes of vulnerability, resilience and the transformative power of motherhood, drawing inspiration from the legacy of her Dominican grandmother and the powerful women in her life. A very promising debut.