Trad Vibe Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Those who've followed the career of French producer Moar will confirm that his hip-hop productions have always been rooted in "boom-bap", that head-nodding, toe-tapping variation of East Coast rap music that first rose to prominence during the style's "golden era" of the late '80s and early '90s. It makes sense, then, that his latest full-length is a celebration of his love of the style which draws on cuts and collaborations made (and sometimes released digitally) at various points over the course of his 16-year career. It's a highly enjoyable set all told, with plenty of killer cuts, jazzy instrumentals and vocal workouts that benefit greatly from the contributions of such rap talents as Guilty Simpson, Aima The Dreamer, Disraeli and Raashan Ahmed.

Review: Moar is a French Beatmaker who'se made beats since 1995, opting for a 'traditional vibe' of digging & sampling wax, complemented with all-in-one sets using an MPC or SP. Of course, tradition is one of the few ways we stay grounded to our roots; artists like Moar ensure that we don't go insane with experimentation and tradition-breaking. That being said, this beat collection from 2002-2006 is remarkably experimental in sound, showing that Moar's 'trad' ideology is more focused on the process rather than the end result. A diggers' delight, for the few turntablists out there still keeping the tradition alive.

Review: French jazz-fusion act Cortex's 1975 debut album Troupeau Bleu has long been in demand amongst record collectors and dusty-fingered DJs, not least because it's14 tracks contain all manner of killer drum breaks, fast-fingered electric piano solos, surprise 1970s synth sounds and nods aplenty to French lounge music. As this essential Trad Vibe issue proves, the album is every bit as good as you'd expect, with floor-friendly jazz-funk freak-outs sitting side by side with samba workouts, laidback jams of the kind associated with Bob James, piano jazz interludes, jazz-rock slam-downs and much more besides. Basically, it's the kind of freewheeling but impeccably produced set that deserves a place in any jazz-funk fan's record collection.

Review: Arising phoenix-like from the flames of a film soundtrack originally thought to have been lost in a blaze, 'Psychose' and its partner in crime 'Oh! Lord' now come as the latest reissued musical tidbits from French jazz fusion masters Cortex. Though the name of the film for which they composed these two tittilating trinkets is unknown, the vibe of the picture is certainly inferable from the tracks' light restlessness and hard-to-pin-down contrast. Bright clavs, electric pianos and rough-edged drums whirl about both mixes in stereo-optimized fashion, sultrily portraying the headspace of a 70s street urchin with a chromatic relish for life.

Review: .No, this is not a surprise jazz-funk outing from Dan 'Caribou' Snaith, but rather a reissue of the sole single that French outfit Cortex released as Caribou, way back in 1977. Copies of that record are now very hard to come by, so it's great that Trad Vibe have delivered this fresh edition. It's worth picking up for 'Californie' alone. The track is a near perfect fusion of the Gallic ensemble's usual loose jazz-funk sound and energetic, sun-drenched disco - all breathless electric piano solos, memorable guitar licks, dancefloor-friendly grooves and spiralling group vocals. Original flipside 'Stevie', a more relaxed and loved-up affair closer in tone to Cortex's usual material, once again resides on the reverse.