Back catalogue: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz/Nu Soul

Review: DJ DSK has released some heavyweight seven-inch singles over the years, with his 2016 45 "Laminate" - an original slab of funk made in cahoots with the previously unheralded "Lost Soul Collective". Here he gathers together the band once more for a follow-up four years in the making. "Lost Soul" is a two-part affair in keeping with the funk tradition. The A-side is an infectious vocal number that sits somewhere between Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the more psychedelic flavour associated with turn-of-the-70s San Francisco soul. As you'd expect, the flipside "Part 2" version strips out most of the vocals to allow the band's warm and heady instrumentation room to breathe.

Review: TakeFingz returns with its seventh release and offers up a double A-side 7" tailored for dancefloor devastation. On Side A, DJ Katch reworks classic funk breaks into a groove-heavy party igniter that betrays some seriously sharp turntable skills and crowd-moving instincts. It's a surefire weapon for any set in high-energy settings. On the flip, DJ Toby Gee drops a bass-driven boogie funk jam packed with vintage chants and break-heavy grooves. Both tracks are precision-crafted with nods to B-Boy culture among them perfect for bodypoppers and lockers alike.

Review: Street Corner's FliP Sessions is a great source of beats for hip-hop heads and this eighth volume is no different. It's limited to just 200 copies and features five more exquisite little sketches that are loveably rough around the edges and full of laidback and dusty soul. After the busted breaks of GREENMINDZ, Toby Glider zones you out with lo-fi loops and Beaulemaire brings heavier beats. Side 2 has a more jazz cut from Elusive and star gazing cosmic melody from Shri!. All five of these are delightful little pieces.

Review: In a rare backwards castling and killer checkmate, Friendly Records boldly re-press one of J Dilla's most beloved cuts, 'Geek Down', which appeared on his landmark Donuts LP. Known for its sample of the 2001 dark funk tune 'Charlies Theme' by The Jimi Entley Sound, this indelible, ringed hors d'oeuvre was essential for the critics' collective assessment that the 2005 LP was his magnum opus. Trailing pink sprinkles behind it, 'Geek Down' made Dilla's name. Sadly, the title would seem predict the artist's death just three days after the record's release. Dilla was a true productive geekazoid, and it shows in this track, with its untameable, above-the-law Western guitar wahs and tense, lilting strings keeping the goosebump hairs stood aright. The originally sampled track appears on the B, still only part-revealing the magic trick.

Review: Potatohead People's classic tune 'What It Feels Like' featuring T3 (Slum Village), Kapok and Illa J, first released in 2020 alongside an unmatched live video, gets not only a reissue on vinyl here but a remix treatment from in-demand bass player Carrtoons. Switching up the order of the verses, dubbing out the horns and adding in his signature basswork, Carrtoons brings a fresh flavour to the track's already steaming, boom-bap verve. Fans of Anderson Paak, Smoove or anyone operating in the crossover of neo-soul, jazz and rap will be much pleased by this one.

Review: Paul Sitter and Tony Lavrutz's collaboration on Eu e Meu Amor plays like a breezy stroll through sun-drenched sounds and smooth rhythms. Their work here pulls effortlessly from bossa nova and tropicalia, but without leaning too heavily on nostalgia. The production is tight and warm, with layered guitars and whispered vocals that could easily soundtrack a lazy afternoon. It's not overly flashy, but it doesn't need to be; the charm is in the simplicity, the way the melodies unfold and gently stick with you long after the record ends.

Review: German label Oonops Drops is ever more essential if you ask us and tidy 7"s like this prove why (as does their mission to focus is on "sustainability, climate protection and socio-cultural values".) 'Bird's Lament' is a top tier tune from Slick Walk x Sneaky with live drum breaks and serene strings making for a reflective late night vibe. On the flip of this limited edition and clear slice of wax is Avantgarde Vak with the sweet hip hop sounds of 'Keep Ya Eyes Up' then Toshiyuki Sasaki with his sublime 'Toshi's Bonus Breaks.'

Review: The Tee See Connection brings the raw essence of their final recordings at the Regent Drive studio in Middletown, OH, to a gritty 45. Comprising members of The Jive Turkeys, including Rob Houk on drums, Matt Amburgy on keys and Terry Cole on bass, this release encapsulates their dynamic musical abilities. Side-1's 'Skyline Chili Churner,' ignites with an organ burner, funky bass, and blown-out breakbeat-style drums. It's a high-octane fusion of funk and groove that sets the tone for the record. On the Side-2, 'Queen City' delivers straight-up boom bap vibes, with Matt Amburgy's keys taking center stage, cooking up a storm of rhythmic intensity. Both tracks offer rich sonic textures ripe for sampling, showcasing The Tee See Connection's ability to craft infectious rhythms and soulful melodies.

Review: The brilliant Jimi Tenor is adored in the scene by those how know his music. For over 30 years now, his discography shows his work for him to be labeled a genius. 'My Mind' was a track that was included on his 1999 album Organism. This new version is more akin to his recent live performances of it across the world in recent tours. This version is a bit rawer but doesn't lose the smoothness of the original. A classic of his discography and a signature song of his concerts, you get a glimpse into what makes Jimi Tenor once of the most beloved personalities in electronic music history.

Review: In recent years we've become accustomed to Jimi Tenor flitting between off-kilter jazz, Afro-soul and - most recently via a Freestyleman collaboration - oddball house. 'Mysteria', his latest single, recalls the easy-going vocal numbers that marked out his years on Warp Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Not quite lounge, synth-pop, deep boogie or jazz-funk but rather something in between, the song features a typical lead vocal from Finland's greatest export bar Teemu Pukki, some seriously squelchy bass, and plenty of retro-futurist charm. Arguably even better is 'Vocalize My Love', a kind of jumpy Afro-dancehall number featuring analogue bass, hot-stepping drums and superb vocals courtesy of Florence Addoni and Lizzy Amaliyenga.

Review: Jimi Tenor's latest single, ahead of his upcoming album, presents two contrasting moods that evoke his inimitable style with striking clarity. 'Summer of Synesthesia' conjures the feeling of long summer days, where sound melts into colour and colour into flavour. The track flows with a dreamy synth progression, subtly assembled over Cold Diamond & Mink's rhythm section, while Tenor's soft vocal adds a final touch of elegance. It's a sweet escape, a piece that envelops you from start to finish. On the flip, 'Tsicroxe' is a stark departure, opening with a menacing organ riff straight out of a horror film. The funk underneath from Cold Diamond & Mink grounds it, but Tenor's eerie flute solo keeps the tension high. It's a dark, ritualistic journey and the cryptic vocal snippets at the end are an invitation to rewind and discover something hidden.

Review: Jimi Tenor's collaboration with Cold Diamond and Mink on Is There Love In Outer Space produced an exceptional album of jazz, soul and broken beat that served as a portal to another universe. It landed earlier in the year and now two standout tracks from it are featured on a special limited edition yellow 7". The title track enchants with its cosmic balladry, while 'Orbiting Telesto' offers a delightful cosmic voyage with celestial keys and soulful vocal touches. This music transports listeners beyond the confines of Earth and up amongst the stars with its escapist melodies and smooth grooves.

Review: Jimi Tenor's collaboration with Cold Diamond and Mink on Is There Love In Outer Space made for a superb album that plays out like a transcendental trip. Now come two of the best tunes from it on this special limited edition yellow 7". The title track captivates with its galactic balladry, while 'Orbiting Telesto' is a super sweet cosmic voyage with celestial keys and warming vocal coos that add extra soul. This is music that takes you off the blue planet and up amongst interstellar bodies for a smooth and seductive excursion.

Review: Jimi Tenor's upcoming album July Blue Skies on Timmion Records is previewed with this single which offers two contrasting moods. 'Summer of Synesthesia' captures dreamy summer vibes and sounds that transform into rich colours and flavours. The track features building synths over Cold Diamond & Mink's rhythm with Tenor's soft vocals adding beauty. On the flip side, 'Tsicroxe' begins with a haunting organ arpeggio evoking a Dario Argento-inspired atmosphere. Cold Diamond & Mink's funk provides relief, but Tenor's eerie flute solo intensifies the ritualistic vibe.

Review: Jimi Tenor's first single from his upcoming new Timmion album Is There Love In Outer Space? evokes the 1980s cosmic sound of Nigerian keyboardist Mamman Sani. The psychedelic desert blues guitar solo transports listeners to a cold Sahara dune where you witness a magical sunrise on Earth. It encourages you to close your eyes and let the music paint vivid colourscapes in your mind as the minimal vocals feel like a welcoming chant for the rising sun. This collaboration between Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink is another delight that melds cosmic and raw soul music and very much gets us excited for the full length to come.

Review: Back in 2004, Japanese r&b artist Tina headed into the studio with self-styled 'king of digging' Muro - a prolific DJ, producer, record collector and re-editor - to record some tracks for her fifth solo album. The most acclaimed of the lot was 'Struttin With Muro', a dope, funk-fuelled jam that made use of some choice Roy Ayers samples. At the time, Muro also prepared alternate takes - utilising different elements of the sampled Ayers track - which then appeared on a now impossible to find promo 12-inch. This 45 offers up those two takes - vocal and instrumental - and both sound like guaranteed party-starting jams, the kind of hybrid r&b/funky hip-hop workouts that never fail to get things going out on the dancefloor.

Review: The latest in the 'Superfunkanova' series hears Woody Bianchi unearth little-heard-before rarities in the genre, with two rather naive and lo-fi but ultimately delightful songs peeking through the fold. The deep-friend strings of 'Calif Curl Calif Gurl' by the Together Band helms up the A-side, while the inflammable, instrumental soul mass that is 'Firebolts Hustle' by The Firebolts comes hits us like a Flaming Moe on the B.

Review: Melbourne, Australia based sextet The Traffic, headed up by Ivan 'Choi' Khatchoyan, serve up a special MJ feature funk 45. Presented in a special pressing in red vinyl with black splatter, we get awesome renditions of Michael Jackson tracks 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' from his iconic Thriller album from 1982. The big band energy of the players make these cover versions worthy your attention, with a killer horns section imitating the king of pop's falsetto to great effect.

Review: Grammy award-winner Tyla broke the internet with her viral track 'Water', becoming the first South African artist in over 55 years to enter the Billboard Hot 100 - as well as the youngest South African of all time ever to do so. The 'Water' challenge swept the internet, earning her top ten placements in multiple countries and nominations for various awards - rightly so, her voice is sultry, the beat is smooth and the hook is infectious. On the other side of the 7" coin is Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Rema with his career-defining breakout hit 'Calm Down', his vocal talent shining through the minimal instrumentation. It's easy to see why the world was entranced, bolstered massively by a remix featuring Selena Gomez that has since led the track to be nominated for several Billboard and MTV awards, as well as holding a long list of world records: Most streamed Afrobeat song on Spotify, Longest charting African song on Billboard, most watched Nigerian music video... we could go on.

Review: Get your lugs around this, the first single from Leo Vidal & The Rayvelles, and you will soon be keen to know more. 'Haunted By Your Love' is a modern take on the West Coast oldies sound from Leo Vidal, a 70s soul singer from rural Virginia who brings his East Coast harmonies to croon about lost love. The Rayvelles is the duo of Fergal McBride and Tuck Nelson and are the creative force behind Echo Ray Studios in London, a space that channels the soul of Motown into contemporary music. Backing vocals are provided by Cassandra Dali and Marietta Smith while the flip has a remix by Call Sender who layers in some inviting dub weight.