Monologues レコード& CD

Review: London-based Ben Gomori is back with the fourth installment of "Dialogues" on his Monologues imprint. It's another various artists affair featuring four choice cuts that pursue all things deep, emotive and sensual. Copenhagen's Paxton Fettel kicks off proceedings with some boompty and disco-fied vocal business on the loopy "I'd Like To Know You Better", followed by the smoky late night groove by Kristy Harper's "Uncle Jungle" featuring some infectious roaring diva vocals. On the flip, go deeper into the night on the sweltering and hypnotic vibes of Manakinz' "Robopubez (Rust In Peace)" where Sub Club resident Harri collaborate with his bud Max, and finally Maxime Alexander reps South Africa on the sultry mood music of "BSA Freestyle #1" with $hakes on the mic.

Review: Monologues boss Ben Gomori has served up plenty of edits of African classics for labels like Sterns Music and Analog Africa, and now presents four Afro-Caribbean reworks licensed from tastemakers in the scene, namely Mr. Bongo, Soundway Records and Analog Africa. He injects South African legend Marumo's 'Khomo Tsaka Deile Kae' with big beats, while Black Truth Band's 'Umbala' is paired back to a disco bumper. Emmanuel Kahe Et Jeanette Kemogne's 'Ye Medjuie' brings 1980s Cameroon funk and Peter Britto's lo-fi soca gem 'I Want Your Love' is beefed up for the club. Useful tools for sure.

Review: Marking out ten years of Monologues Records, label CEO Ben Gomori proposes a wide-ranging retrospective, bottling the label's ethos as a border-bending housebreaker. This sampler 12" complements the full 35-track digital release, which latterly mixes deep house, disco, Balearic, kwaito, breakbeat, jazz house, Afro house, melodic techno and more, these are the label's most slept-on cuts and utmost personal favourites, charting past releases by Gilles Peterson, Kerri Chandler, The Blessed Madonna, TSHA, Colleen Cosmo Murphy and Kamma & Masalo. The MO is to buck trends, and simply "sign and support good sh*t, wherever it comes from."