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Review: The second part of Omar S' You For Letting Me Be Myself album in vinyl form sees another 8 tracks across four sides of wax; aside from the '80s inflected sounds of the album's title track, the 303 workout of "Ready My Black Asz" finds itself with the dubbed out loops of "Messier Sixty Eight". As a bonus for those who already have the album, this part contains two vinyl exclusive tracks; the soothing deepness of "She's Sah Hero Nik" and the delayed organ weirdness of "Broken Bamalance Horn" - both more than worth the price of admission alone.

Review: **RAUM REPRESS** Although Ricardo Villalobos has already appeared on Raum Musik under the RiRom moniker together with Roman Flugel, the Baby EP is his first full release for the label. The title track sees a firm kick and wood block snares forming the backbone for a drifting piano chord and sensual vocals which lead to a climax of delightfully glitchy vocoder. On the flip, "hansup" takes on a tougher groove, as sprung bass and minimal house stabs are joined by ethereal chords and twisted vocal samples.

Review: For the best part of 17 years, Theo Parrish's legendary re-edit of Made In USA's "Never Gonna Let You Go" was available only to those willing to pay serious sums for a copy of his first "Ugly Edits" release. Thankfully De-Lite has done the admirable thing and made it available to all via this essential new edition of the 1977 jam. It allows those who've never heard Made In USA's heartfelt and surprisingly laidback original to compare the two versions, which only highlights the brilliance of Parrish's re-edit. His ten-minute take speeds up the track, adding choppy edits effects to increase energy before rolling into the most righteous and celebratory bits of the original version. In our opinion, it's one of the greatest re-edits of all time.

Review: YES! Any self respecting music fan will no doubt already have fully acquainted themselves with Black Messiah, the long promised new album from soul artist D'Angelo and know that it already stands as one of the long players of the year if not the decade! The real fans have probably been waiting for the vinyl release and it's great to see the correct decision has been made to grant Black Messiah a double LP pressing. Everyone no doubt has their favourites on Black Messiah but it's great to have cuts like "Sugah Daddy" on wax, that one is perfect for the house party situations.

Notes: USB 5v input and output to 5.5/2.1mm barrel plug.

Notes: The SlingBag is a medium size bag that holds approximately 50 Vinyl records or a (MIDI) controller, an Audio Interface, a Headphone and cables. A perfect bag for the starting DJ.

It has a pocket on each side and one full size pocket in the front. Next to this the bag features the special steel bolts which make it impossible for grips and straps to break loose from the bag. The SlingBag can be used as a set in combination with the UDG SlingBag Trolley. A perfect size bag for a quick DJ set!

*Photographed records are not included

Notes: This bag which accommodates 40 records and additional accessories, is absolutely perfect for shorter DJ gigs or for the weekly record shopping trip. With a lot of small accessory pockets, the bag can also be used as a multi-functional courier bag for office or leisure time.

Notes: Special self-acting liquid that removes dust, dirt and dried liquids groove-deep and without residue.

Review: Leron Carson may not be the best-known Midwest producer, but he has history. Carson's first release came way back in 2001, with Theo Parrish putting out a track he'd recorded way back in 1987 and has appeared on Sound Signature intermittently over the years. This new 12" from Carson for Theo's label is HEAVY! "Lemonline" is a deliciously breezy concoction, with Carson's jazzy piano riffs working in perfect unison with bouncy, Latin-influenced drum rhythms. Flipside "Sofnthik", on the other hand, sounds like a previously unheard 1980s Chicago deep house concoction, with warm, loved-up chords swirling around a clattering drum machine groove. Whether it was recorded 30 years ago is unknown, but it certainly boasts a similar lo-fi, analogue feel.

Review: Omar S teams up with Atlanta based producer Kai Alce for this killer new 12", with the FXHE boss openly suggesting the second B-Side offering is 'ringtone worthy'! The Jive Time EP features three original productions - "Not Phazed", which takes up the whole A Side, while the EP's dancefloor-friendly eponymous track shares the flip with ambient house track "Incognigro". Alce, a Detroit native who now resides in Atlanta, has had a fine year, releasing a tidy little 7" on FXHE back in April as well as a collaborative EP with Englishman Phil Asher and Atlanta vocalist Kayenne. Killer release.

Notes: The 7" white paper record sleeve is made in very strong record industry standard white paper compete with the centre holes.

Review: For lovers, for dreamers, for anyone who knows a beautiful remix when they hear one... Maurice Fulton adds his magic to Alice's gospel-level 2006 album finale "Love Endeavour". That lavish piano hook, those powerful layered backing vocals and Alice's striking, yearning lead are all paid full respect by Fulton as he colours in the spaces with his warm signature discoid soul. Quintessential remix business with an instrumental thrown in for good measure. Feel the love.

Review: What can be said about this timeless banger that hasn't been said before? From the iconic throbs of acid to the delirious string hook, the menacing intonation of "ecstasy" to the eerie plastic strings, this is as seminal as a rave track can get. While many out there will no doubt have this jam tucked away on any number of techno compilations or cramped up on one of the original single issues, "Energy Flash" is a track more than worthy of its own luxuriant single-sided release, and in doing such a release so many years on R&S are making a powerful statement.

Notes: Incorporating a new hidden trolley system, smooth rolling in-line wheels, electroplated zippers and integrated combination lock, the world's best selling 12" trolley bag has been reinforced and strengthened to provide you with even greater protection and durability. The Slingbag will hold approximately 65 records.

Review: An original 7" of this gem will cost you upwards of 100 quid so Know How are doing us all a favour here. As EPMD, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith were a red hot duo who served up many quintessential rap gems. "So Watcha Sayin'" is taken from their second album "Unfinished Business", imbued with scratching by DJ Scratch, deeply buried chords and of course a slick verse that is pure old school. While flipside "You Gots To Chill" has some fresh vocoder work, dusty drum loops and body popping bass, the a-side takes all the glory here.

Notes: A modern classic. Superb little semi-modular monosynth in its own right, but comes alive when paired with other modular gear. A great option for beginners and experienced synth users alike.

Supplier's notes:
The 0-COAST is a single voice patchable synthesizer. Its name reflects the fact that it utilizes techniques from both the Moog and Buchla paradigms (aka "East Coast," and "West Coast," due to their locations), but is loyal to neither and thus implements "no coast synthesis."

While the 0-COAST utilizes classic modular synthesis techniques, it's designed to operate with or without the use of patch cables. The necessary connections have been made from circuit to circuit so it operates as an expressive, musical MonoSynth. Using only the MIDI controller of your choice you could apply new timbres to your existing musical forms!

Using the included Patch Cables you could get more scientific, experimenting with new ways to wire up the circuits. You might even forgo MIDI altogether, disappearing into a cloud of analog FM induced Sidebands and harmonics scattered around a single fundamental drone that has nothing to do with any form of music you've ever known.

Review: Dope selection of reggae fire versions of classics..

Notes: KeyStep is a new breed of portable musical tool combining the functionalities of a keyboard controller with a polyphonic step sequencer to control both analog and digital devices.

You need a portable USB MIDI controller but also want a keyboard that provides a musical playing experience? You have some MIDI modules you want to connect as well but don't want the footprint of a large keyboard? You have modular and analog gear you want to control via CV/GATEs? You want a step sequencer with polyphonic capability that can sync to your favourite modern and vintage gear? If only a single piece of gear could do all of this...

It's the touch...
The KeyStep controller does all this and more.
We started by designing our own "slim key" keyboard action, balancing the best features of compact mini-keys with the musicality of full-sized keys into this new keybed. The size, velocity and aftertouch of this new design provide the freedom of portability without sacrificing playability.

We also designed a new polyphonic step-sequencer with 8 programmable memories that you can recall at the turn of knob. You can choose gate times and swing settings instantly to change the feel of your sequenced performance on the fly. We also included the ability to record, overdub, and transpose your sequences in real time and still play the keyboard live.

Add a flexible and fun arpeggiator mode and chord play mode and you are set for hours of musical adventures.

...and the possibilities
These features alone would make KeyStep the best portable keyboard controller on the market. But we take it further by giving you a wealth of connectivity options: USB MIDI (of course), standard MIDI in and out (check), clock sync and DIN sync jacks (yes!), and CV/GATE outputs, plus a separate, assignable modulation CV output that can be used with the mod wheel, velocity or aftertouch. To say KeyStep is an amazing little controller does not say enough.

Keystep is the perfect performance controller in a compact package.

Adapts to your setup!
KeyStep was imagined and designed to become the modern musician's trump-card.
Whatever your setup, KeyStep will merge into it to overdrive your workflow and effectiveness. With KeyStep and its range of connections you can control any digital or analog synthesizer from the past, today and even tomorrow. Sequence them all!

Review: The inexorable rise of Purple Disco Machine continues, as his wholehearted tribute to machine disco originators Hot Streak, Patrick Cowley and Giorgio Moroder - the throbbing, anthem-like "Body Funk" - is given a deserved single release. The producer's own "Extended Mix" is quickly followed on side A by a punchy Claptone remix that places the original's sampled vocals over a suitably massive backing track high on piano stabs and big room house grooves. Over on side B, the mighty Carl Cox re-imagines the cut as a cowbell-driven chunk of techno/electrofunk fusion, while Dom Dolla douses it in mind-bending electronics, thrusting analogue bass and glitchy, hard-wired house beats.

Notes: The UDG Starter record bag is a medium size bag that holds approximately 50 vinyl records. It's the perfect budget priced padded DJ bag for the starting DJ and a perfect chance for every DJ to have an original UDG product.
It comes with a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap and 2 hold-all straps that make it easy to carry. Your records will be extra protected by the foam padded PVC reinforced walls.

The UDG Starter record bag is a perfect bag for the starting DJ.

Review: Crooklyn Dodgers have had three different incarnations with members including Mos Def, Memphis Bleek, Masta Ace, Buckshot and Jeru the Damaja, making them something of a hip hop supergroup. They recorded soundtracks for Spike Lee films in 1994 and 1995 and always muse on topical subjects from urban life in New York City to there state of social and political affairs. Buckshot, Masta Ace and Special Ed was the line-up when they laid down their first single "Crooklyn", a sweet rolling bit of classic boom-bap with fluid vocal flow, then Chubb Rock, Jeru the Damaja and O.C came together for next single "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers" which makes the b-side here. It's a piano laced late night jam with soul to spare and slick DJ Premier production.

Review: Australia's Choi Records drop their second release in the shape of two powerful cover versions either side of a devilish little 7" by The Traffic. The A-side, "White Lines", is a funky, horn-led reinterpretation of Grandmaster Flash's original tune : an instrumental brass ode to the original beast. On the flip, there's "Smack My Pitch Up", another mighty instrumental rework of The Prodigy classic, complete with a string of trumpets that imitate the original's inimitable vocal loop.

Review: Having previously worked with SBTRKT, Kanye West, Drake, Jesse Ware and Frank Ocean, amongst others, Sampha is no newcomer. This, though, is the British singer, songwriter and producer's debut album, and it's something of an understated gem. One particularly enthusiastic reviewer called it "an R&B album for the ages"; while that may be pushing it a bit, there's no denying that Process is an impressive collection of tracks. The beats are inventive, the electronics crisp, the samples carefully chosen, and the musical touches pitched just right. At the centre of it all stands Sampha, delivering thoughtful, heartfelt and sometimes poignant lyrics in his wonderfully evocative voice.

Review: As long as there is hip-hop, debate will rage as to which album by A Tribe Called Quest is their finest. Of course, they're all superb, but 1993's "Midnight Marauders" - their third full-length - may well be the best of all. That's a big call, but we'd ask any doubters to give it another listen. The New York crew is in particularly fine form on the mic throughout, while the backing tracks, which make great use of crunchy, head-nodding beats and hundreds of superb, hand-picked samples, are amongst the most intricately produced, groovy and deep ever committed to wax. It's one of those hip-hop sets that should be in the collection of any committed music head, and not just rap fans.

Review: Can any film hope for the perfect synergy between curated soundtrack, moving image and mood that Lost In Translation achieved? Sofia Coppola's melancholic reflection on Tokyo through Western eyes plays out like an especially emotive dream, and that's thanks in no small part to the regal tones of Kevin Shields' shoegaze imprint punctuating the thoughtfully selected songs. From Squarepusher at his most tender to Shields own My Bloody Valentine and fellow guitar-drone legends The Jesus & Mary Chain, there's heaps of atmosphere spilling out of this soundtrack, and so tethered to the film is the music you could drop the needle on this one and find yourself right back on the streets of urban Japan.

Review: Japanese outfit Inokashira Rangers are the world's finest group of Hammond-heavy reggae cover version maestros. They turn their hands to a range of stone cold Western classics and always bring a little sense of fun to their versions. Here it is Nirvana's Smells 'Like Teen Spirit' which they tackle and it is a much loved cut that always sells out, so now gets a reissue. On the flip side is the equally brillaint but more comic 'Summer Madness' with its pillowy drums and liquid synths. A left of centre brace of tunes but essential none the less.

Notes: High quality audio leads for exceptional sound quality and reliability. High grade cable comprises 2 insulated pure copper cores and global shielding. The durable PVC sheath has a soft texture and is reinforced with cotton cord to avoid tangling. Terminated at one end with a 3.5mm stereo (TRS) jack and at the other end with a 6.3mm stereo (TRS) jack plug.

Review: Red Greg, on Moton, delivers a trio of edits of obscure cuts from his seemingly endless record collection. Ten-minute A-side "Movin" is an undulating disco treat built around a killer bassline, twinkling melodies, punchy orchestration and one hell of a female vocal. On the flip you'll find the jaunty, horn-heavy disco-funk bump of "Desire", a superb rework of a barely known, bilingual gem, and the spiraling Caribbean disco-funk insanity that is peak-time workout/synthesizer wig-out "Trinidad Duke". All three edits have been "secret weapons" for the dusty-fingered DJ for some time, and can now be yours for less than nine English pounds. What's not to like?