Hello To The Wind EP

Seven years ago, United Future Organisation founder member Toshio Matsuura pitched up on Blue Note with his (then) latest future jazz collective, HEX. The resultant album's highlights included a fine cover of Joe Chambers' song 'Hello to the Wind' featuring lead vocals from Cinematic Orchestra member Grey Reverend. Here the track returns, this time in evocative and occasionally dancefloor-friendly new forms. Matsuura offers two unheard takes on side A: the blissful ambient style 'Starry Version' - all acoustic guitars and mountain stream electronics - and the jazzy, stripped-back 'Z Groove' instrumental. Over on the flip Parisian producer Hugo LX takes over, delivering two superb late-night house takes that sit somewhere between atmospheric deep house and bass-heavy Chicago jack.

RUSTAM OSPANOFF., Ionik (Traveller Records, KGS)