Acid Jazz レコード& CD

Review: The Ballistic Brothers' London Hooligan Soul, originally released in 1995 and now reissued in 2024, is a timeless masterpiece that effortlessly blends trip-hop, acid jazz, and downtempo vibes. From the smooth vocals of 'Portobello Cafe' to the funky horns of 'Soho Cab Ride,' each track delivers a unique sonic experience while maintaining a cohesive soulful atmosphere. 'I'll Fly Away' seamlessly combines breaks and killer basslines, while 'Jah Jah Call You' dives into dub territory with a steady groove. 'I Don't Know' adds a touch of strange easy listening by roughing up familiar samples, while 'Sister Song' infuses rhythmic excitement inspired by Brazilian beats. 'A Beautiful Space' oozes with downtempo funk, while 'Steppin' Into Eden' smoothly transitions into breakbeats. The old-school dub of 'Peckings' exudes joy, while 'Uschi's Lament' closes the album on a mellow, jazzy note. With its eclectic grooves and soulful funk, London Hooligan Soul is a brilliant album that captures the essence of 90s music.

Review: Chris Bangs is widely, albeit not so, known for coining the term 'acid jazz'. If it weren't for him it's likely we wouldn't have modern day future jazz pushers like Soul Jazz or Brownswood. This new compendium, 'Firebird', charts the DJ and producer's latest sonic explorations, blurring the boundaries between every influence from contemporary jazz, UK electronic dance, and Latin dance styles from bossa nova to salsa. It also contains several examples of what is known as his 'East Coast' sound, which pays homage to the fusion of jazz and funk and which spread throughout UK nightclubs as far back as the early 80s.

Review: If you've never heard of Dicky Continental, don't worry: this fine album of atmospheric, trip-hop influenced soul is his first release of note. Those au fait with the catalogue of Red Snapper may recognise the alias though, as it's a solo pseudonym of the band's drummer, Rich Thair, and was used back in the day for a handful of remixes. 'Un' - Welsh for one - is undeniably impressive, with Thair delivering killer drums (recorded expertly), as you'd expect, simmering synth-strings, woozy electronics and moody aural textures aplenty. Our picks of a strong bunch include the vintage Portishead style smokiness of opener 'Make Them Disappear' and the more joyful, hip-hop influenced 'Does She Know' - both of which feature lead vocals from Jo Sims.

Review: Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland's Acid Jazz (Not Jazz): We've Got A Funky Beat is a vibrant compilation that celebrates the eclectic and groove-driven sound of acid jazz. It takes in a well-curated and eclectic selection of definitive tracks from the genre's heyday that all perfectly capture the essence of the movement which is defined by its infectious rhythms, jazz melodies, and silky beats. Along the way, there are non-stop funky basslines and energetic brass sections. Each song exudes a sense of excitement and spontaneity that is so characteristic of acid jazz which rightly has such an enduring appeal to contemporary audiences.

Review: Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland have compiled a superb collection of underground 90s club sounds here for Acid Jazz. At that time the label was flying high and frequently selling millions of records by red-hot acts like Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai. At the same time, dancefloors around London were taking influxes from those styles and acid jazz was erupting in many different directions. Here we get a snapshot of that with plenty of floor-filling tunes from Acid Jazz as well as others from other important labels of the time. And what a time it was.