Back catalogue: All genres

Review: QASB's Kono Machi De single, released on Soul Garden Japan, is a vibrant blend of Japanese soul with jazz funk and city pop influences. Side-1 features the Shuya Okino edit of 'Kono Machi De Aka In This Town,' which emphasises a groovy rhythm, enhancing the track's infectious energy. Side-2, has the original version which delivers a feel-good mix of disco strings and a lively horn section, reminiscent of Taste of Honey. Written by Moritaka as a tribute to her hometown Kumamoto, the song includes a nod to Tomari River, a location tied to collaborator Yuichi Takahashi. Having the option of both versions make this 7" a great little 45 to have.

Review: Stretching across four sides of vinyl, this double LP from Worcestershire-born producer, bandleader and serial collaborator Will Holland traces his journey through transcontinental rhythms and dusty dancefloors. The carefully spaced tracklist opens with JJ Whitefield's deep-thinking 'The Mind Is A Palace', before the record quickly dips into London fusion with The Heliocentrics and Alfa Mist's 'In My Defence'. Dialect's fragmented ambient textures play the foil to Holland's own 'Twang', while JKriv's 'Pifeiro Malandro' evokes smoky Rio funk as filtered through downtown New York. Later on, Frente Cumbiero and a rework of 'Theme From Selva' provide a humid middle section before things sharpen up. Club-leaning selections like 'Eko Eko', 'Scintille' and Anna Morgan's 'Throw Dat Azz' burst across the later sides, pushed by bass pressure and broken-beat finesse. Meridian Brothers' 'Un Grande Nubarron Se Alza En El Cielo' and Sobredosis's 'No Llores Por Mi' bring an eerie sweetness to the close i a reminder that for Holland, emotion and groove are always entwined.

Review: Quiet Dawn's latest offering, Celebrate, is an 11-track testament to the eclectic talent that has made him a cornerstone of the First Word family for a decade. Following in the footsteps of his previous ventures, particularly the Movements EP, this album seamlessly blends broken beat flavors with a diverse range of influences. Featuring luminaries like Bembe Segue, LyricL, and Oliver Night, Celebrate is a terrific drift through soulful grooves, lively bars and infectious rhythms. From uplifting jazz samba vibes to downtempo boom bap, Quiet Dawn effortlessly melds organic and electronic elements, creating a good dose of positivity and good vibes. Tracks like 'Celebrate,' composed with his son on his lap, and collaborations with talents like Bembe Segue and Oliver Night, highlight Quiet Dawn's ability to translate personal moments into universal celebrations of life, love and cultural diversity. With infectious energy and a message of turning negativity into positivity, Celebrate invites listeners to dance, reflect and embrace the richness of our individual journeys.