Wagram France レコード& CD

Review: A new week means yet another new compilation from Wagram. The French label has become expert at myriad different genres from staples like house and techno to more esoteric world genre niches. This time out they launch a new series that looks into the rich sounds of Afrobeat, first pioneered by the likes of Fela Kuti and his drummer Tony Allen. Neither of them feature here but the four sides of tunes we do get all make for a deep dive into this compelling rhythmical music.

Review: The seemingly endless list of compilations that Wagram have been working on over the last years keeps on turning out gold. This time after editions looking into tech, soul, house and everything else, they serve up an overview of calypso. Arriving in a lovely gatefold sleeve, this one takes in key tracks by all the masters of this form such as Atilla the Hun, Lord Invader, Sonny Rollins Four, Mighty Panther and Henri Debs Sextet & Paul Blamar in a selection that will have you feeling the sun on your face in no time.

Review: Wagram has been busy putting together all sorts of authoritative collections on various different genres over the years. Next up the French label sets its sights to trip-hop - a distinctly British sound that emerged in the 90s quite specifically from Bristol and artists like Tricky, Massive Attack and Portishead. None of those pivotal names actually feature, weirdly, but there is still a wealth of love downtempo goodness here from the likes of Manchester's Mr Scruff, world music don Bonobo, disco divas Moloko and musical maestros Quantic and Thievery Corporation. It takes for a top listen.

Review: The Wagram label continues to impress us with its well researched collections that have focussed on a wide range of different niche genres and periods. The latest is Disco Music Gems From Vinyl Diggers with ten tunes here that are all gold-standard jams. These are tunes that mix up funk, soul and disco from the 70s and 80s and have been lovingly sought out for your listening pleasure. You may or may not know the tunes in question as they tend towards the lesser-known end of the spectrum and that in part is what makes them so good to hear.

Review: For its next compilation, Wagram sets its sights on underground house music and assembles what it thinks are the best of the genre. It's a collection that sure will get any dancefloor going, with a focus on the emotional end of the spectrum and plenty of big players. As you would expect from a French label, this is slated towards French artists with worthy inclusions from DJ Deep, I:Cube and DJ Gregory next to big names like the one and only deep house pioneer Kerri Chandler who offers 'The Way It Goes' with Troy Denari and Louie Vega & Jay Sinister's 'Diamond Life' amongst many more.

Review: French label Wagram is a go-to when it comes to quality compilations that take a broad look at certain sounds and scenes, and this one is an on-going series that focuses on house sounds with an Afro undertone. The grooves are lively and often come with plenty of percussion. The drums hit hard but with funk, the vocals are Afro-centric and plenty of irresistible hits come thick and fast from the jazzy tribal swagger of 'Imbalaye' to the big steel drum party sounds of 'Viet Dao' (Klement Bonelli & Yann DL remix). Another great collection of colourful Afro house sounds.