We Stay True レコード& CD

Review: The Cromagnon Band's debut 7" back in 2019 was a sell-out and critically acclaimed success. They make a welcome return here with another natural fusion of all of the tastes and styles of the individual band members. They have said before they make music in a reverse engineering fashion after years honing their skills producing beats on MPCs before moving to real instruments. They've already featured on compilations from Andy Votel and Doug Shipton's Finder Keepers label and these two nuggets are likely to become crate-digging delights of the future. 'Green Smoke' is a tumble of funky drums and jazzy keys that never let up and 'Thunder Perfect' is a deeper, more spacious approach to funk.

Review: DJ Nappa is a UK hip-hop originator who digs deep into his love of film for this superb new album of instrumentals. Specifically, Midnight Music looks to the world of horror, thrillers and sci-fi from the 1970s and 1980s and turns out some wonderfully inspired joints for We Stay True Records. As such there is an expectedly creepy vibe with eerie pads, slow-motion beats and plenty of haunting vocal samples weaving their way in and out of earshot. It all plays out like an absorbing mind movie full of shadowy corners and menacing moods. Another triumph for man like Nappa.

Review: Instrumental beats don't get much slicker than those cooked up here by Ken Long. It is a different take on his Version Control album that goes deep into Roland arps and thick electric pianos. The individual tracks are short but they all add up to a coherent story that ranges from lounges late night beats to more spacious and pensive moments of cosmic introspection. The frayed edges and analogue textures lend it an air of authenticity that Long usually gives to the other acts he spends time producing. Originally made on cassette, it features SP1200 grooves and percussion, plenty of lush reverb and space echo and adds up to an immersive listen.