Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz Recommendations Best Of 2016

Review: In the two years since the release of the Rye Lane Volume 1 LP, Al Dobson Jr has been busy. This belated, mixtape style follow-up is something of a beast, with 28 cuts, interludes and quick-fire rhythm tracks to enjoy. Like its' predecessor, Rye Lane Volume II & III is similar in ethos to the work of his friend and contemporary Mo Kolours, with tropical rhythms, African drums and low-slung hip-hop beats being combined with dusty vocal samples, rich Rhodes chords, freshly baked electronics, and all manner of tasty global influences. Highlights come thick and fast, from the Middle Eastern shuffle of "Overseas Lebanese", and Afro-jazz drum workout "Malful (Nebetia)", to the eyes-down deep house bliss of "Peru Timing (Part 2)

Review: Having co-founded the now mythical Eglo Records, Sam Shepherd aka Floating Points has, more recently, begun to release his music through his own Pluto label, an imprint with a clear vision from the music to the artwork. Moreover, the label also gives Shepherd room to explore outside of his more traditional housey framework, and the majority of the releases on Pluto have consisted of wild and diverse shreds of broken beat and nu jazz. "Kuiper" is his latest excursion and it's a psychedelic journey through high-powered percussion and airy synth experimentations all wrapped up in a suave jazz coating. "For Mamish (part 2)" is something altogether sparser and less concrete, but there is still plenty of movement amid Shepherd's crystal sounds and Balearic riffs in what sounds like the perfect new age sort of amalgamation. Excellent.

Review: It's over to Groningen. Netherlands based producer Duke Hugh for the latest outing on Bradley Zero's always impressive Rhythm Section International; what a way to present a debut LP! He follows up some impressive releases by the likes of Earth Trax and Hidden Spheres, so he sure does have his work cut out for him. Be assured he does indeed deliver, starting out with the latin infused charm of "Butterflies" or the smooth lo-slung soul boogie business of "Church In The Wild". There's a wide variety of moods and grooves on here, such as the rather Theo Parrish sounding deep house of "Home" or the sultry, broken, nu-jazz excursion "Your Number" reminiscent of legends like Atjazz or Phil Asher.

Review: The "Firecracker EP 3" is a tasty 10" that's blowing up all over the shop. The main cut is the Linkwood Family's "Piece Of Mind". You'll be hearing a lot of this over the summer for sure. This release is not to be missed.

Review: Last time we heard from Cleon and Jazzy Pidjay, otherwise known as Last Bongo In Paris, was back in 2013 on EDR...and here they are back on the same label, and out the bottom of a hat. Similarly to last time, "Bahia Swing" manages to conjure the right balance between jazz, funk and something a little more tropical, a sound and panache that is carried through to the following four cuts of juice. Our favourites are "Ritmo Loco" for its Latin energy, and the delightfully broken "Jarumba". If you're looking for something a little jazzy and saucy, but that pushes beyond the genre's natural confinements, this is it.

Review: Ninja Tune know how to come up with the goods for RSD, and they've truly hit the nail on head with this epic two-tracker from legendary French jazz bassist Henri Sexier, reimagined by the mind of Bonobo. The original cut of "Les La-Bas", which resides on the B-side, is a wonderfully loose blend of raw guitar strings and violin cello strings held together by a delicious beat jingle; the Bonobo remix manages to carry that musical power onto an effective house swing that ends up somewhere in the region of a Larry Levan classic. Don't miss it!

Review: Back in 2012, the collective talents of Dego, Kaidi Tatham, Mr Mensah and Matt Lord combined for a superb album on 2000Black. Last year saw the quartet reconvene in the studio for a 12" snappily titled Off The Christmas Card List (possibly named in homage to anyone calling their music broken beat) which was mooted as a precursor to a new LP! Another taster now arrives on 2000 Black in the shape of the Cascade 12", brandishing a triplet of toasty future boogie standards primed for dancefloor deployment. The warm Rhodes, shuffling percussion and occasional twisted FX of "The Inside Is The Outside" stand out, as does the sweet soul strut of "The Believer", though there is a reason the title track hogs the A-side. That reason? It's a delight!

Review: The third album from Brainfeeder soul man Thundercat gets the coloured vinyl treatment. His haziest, softest and most consistent set so far, his falsetto dulcets wrap around a whirlwind of styles that are tailor made for vinyl. Sloping and sliding into each other all the way, from the slippery wah-wah guitar disco of "Them Changes" to the Plantlife-style funk of "Lone Wolf & Club" to the trippy ambience of "That Moment", we're gradually moved slowly, softly and sweetly throughout.

Review: It has only taken two albums for Chris Illingworth, Nick Blacka, and Rob Turner to land with an LP on the legendary Blue Note label, but they've done it, and they've done it in fine style. Moreover, it's also a bold move from Blue Note, who only usually steer away from pure jazz for the likes of Madlib and co, but in hindsight, the Gogo Penguin trio have what it takes to be remembered as fine producers of beat-driven free jazz. Mixing up elements of nu-soul, together with broken beat and classic jazz, the trio's music is wild and diverse, and fully representative of the label's vision and charisma. Also, it's exactly the sort of thing that Gilles Peterson is in to, so sit back, relax, and let Man Made Object take you away.

Review: When they decided to commission remixes of Amp Fiddler's recent - and undeniably excellent - Motor City Booty album, Midnight Riot cast the net far and wide. They've gathered together the results on an expansive album - available on digital download - and a string of vinyl EPs. This first wax installment boasts reworks of two album tracks: "Superficial", and "Steppin". Mark E steals the show with his remix of the former, placing the Detroit veteran's sterling vocal over a dreamy, hypnotic deep house groove. Similarly inspired - to our ears, at least - is Qwestlife's bustling flipside of "Steppin", which re-casts the rolling, organic house original (also included) as a jaunty chunk of two-step garage/synth-boogie fusion.

Review: The first release from the Axis Audiophile Series. Jeff Mills has formed an electronic jazz fusion band and this 12? is a recording of their recent performance in Kobe during the TodaysArt.JP Festival. Mills manages the decks, drums and percussion and is joined Detroit legend and Underground Resistance stalwart Gerald Mitchell (Los Hermanos/Galaxy 2 Galaxy), keyboardist Yumiko Ohno and bassist Kenji Jino. "Eventide" has the same kind of urban, uplifting soul as anything Kaidi Thatham or Mark de Clive-Lowe have made and isn't bad at all! On the flip "Happy Gamma Ray" features uplifting keys and emotive chords backed by funk bass and one of Mills' unmistakeable 909 drum machine workouts. It really seems that there's no limit to this Motor City legend's creativity which has spanned nearly 30 years and we're excited about this new chapter in the Wizard's sonic universe.

Review: German soul troupe Hi-Fly Orchestra let rip on a serious cover version session with four tightly sewn showdowns: Karl Frierson adds bounds of gutsy, gritty soul power as he takes care of the vocals on the turbo-soul take on Lenny Kravitz's "Let Love Rule" and the deep-swing vision of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". Flip for two deliciously dreamy takes with Rayla Sunshine as "Purple Rain" gets a super-swoon shine while "Like A Virgin" is given a jazz twist that's so immense you'll pinch yourself it's not the original and Madonna's is the cover.

Review: Mercury-nominated Soul subverters The Invisible drop the second single from their album Patience with top shelf results: not only are we treated to brand new non album track "First Time" (a slinky exercise in futureproofed electro boogie), not only do we enjoy the hazy string safari "Life's Dancers" but we're also provided with an immaculate Floating Points extension. Doubling the length of the already beautiful original with his own subtle kaleidoscopic soul textures, it's a triple win scenario for all concerned - especially you.

Review: While he may have been spotted in Gentlemen's Dub Club amongst other festival friendly acts, as Xoa Nick Tyson is going it alone to create globe-trotting sounds that speak to his musicianship and keen instinct for other kinds of grooves. There are in fact additional vocal spots on this EP including Anthony Joseph and Monika Liu, but the record is definitely pulled together by Tyson's focused, refined vision. "In So" is a notable delight with its skittering beat and laconic guitar lines. Watch out for the B side though, where the tracks get appropriate club revisions. Byron The Aquarius' remix particularly stands out, injecting some broken beat bump into "In So".

Review: You will no doubt have spotted Marcel Vogel's handiwork steering the good ship Lumberjacks In Hell, or perhaps even his choice edits under the Em Vee banner, but increasingly the Dutch artist is turning to his own name to get some fine records laid down outside the realms of pure edit territory. This second outing on Intimate Friends comes on like a mini-album of sorts, with eight tracks made up of remixes as well as originals. It's a powerful step on for Vogel, touching on a grounded variation on neo-soul with a house kick in the rhythm department. Soulful vocal spots from Mey, Milos Gersi, Gianni Tam, Khadija and Tim Jules all add to the sensation, heading away from the dancefloor as an expansive EP for all time.

Review: Stuttering off-beat fractured dancehall wizardry, Spacek smashes it once again with "Follow Me". Nothing fits as it should - and that's exactly how we like it. The keys ripple just behind the drums while the bass bumps ahead of them and Steve keeps his own time with his clipped falsetto falling just on the rhythmic sweet spot - but you're never quite sure how he made it in time. Loaded with an instrumental and acapella, there's heaps of creativity to be had right here.

Review: A couple of years back, Optimo Music reissued a classic chunk of NYC downtown experimentation from Peter Zummo, a post-modern composer arguably best known for his work with Arthur Russell. Thrillingly, this follow-up marks the multi-instrumentalist's first new album for many years. Full of his delay-laden trumpet lines, tumbling trombone, and spaced-out beats, Dress Code (Don't Look At My Car) feels like the products of an unlikely collaboration between Holgar Czukay, Konk and the Idjut Boys. It's all devilishly hard to pin down, but never less than inspired, with Zummo serving up both downtempo and upbeat compositions in his unique, fusion style.

Review: Soundway has high hopes for the third album by "underground super-producer" Lord Echo. That set is due to appear in early 2017, and as a taster, they've decided to drop this fine single. "Just Do You" features the vocals of Mara TK of Electric Wire Hustle fame, and is a deliciously cheery chunk of Caribbean inspired dub disco indulgence. It's accompanied by a fine Dub - which, naturally, features more tape delay and a tougher, stripped back groove - and an instrumental version. There's also a bonus cut in the shape of "Only You", which features regular Lord Echo collaborator Toby Laing, best known as a member of globe-trotting Kiwi supergroup Fat Freddy's Drop.

Review: The unmissable, inimitable, and supremely funky Shoes crew are back with number 17 in their catalogue, and it's another mash-up of styles and vibes on this tight four-tracker. "Bonne" is a slinky, Afro-led gem driven by some powerful hymns, whereas "Computer (dub)" is straighter, deeper, and closer to house than anything tropical. The B-side contains the excellent "Sun, Sun, Sun", an ode to the Gods above that recalls Caribou at his best, and "Heart Made Of Stone (On The Left)" is a return to the wild, cavernous jungles of Africa. On point from start to finish.

Review: Few people have the CV to match Mark Ernestus, who's accolades encompass membership of Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound, co-founder of Hard Wax, electronic dub pioneer and all-round master beat specialist. The Ndagga Rhythm Force project has been his main focus of late over a series of essential 12" releases and the latest precedes a mooted album due out later this year. Consisting of three tracks and a locked groove, Walo Walo Version offers a glimpse of how that as-yet untitled LP is shaping up with strictly instrumental versions of cuts Ernestus plans to include on the Ndagga Rhythm Force album. Opening track "Walo Walo (version)" version sets the tone, as Ernestus oversees a mind-bending track that features Ibou Mbaye's percussive synth-work, Mangone Ndiaye Dieng's kit-drumming, and Bada Seck's rigorous jolts of lower-pitched Thiol drum. Play this one or the accompanying Rhythm Version in a club and see jaws drop!

Review: For the second instalment of the ongoing Sonzeria project, Gilles Peterson and pals have "reimagined" one of the Worldwide radio show host's favourite Brazilian albums - Jose Prates' ludicrously hard-to-find 1958 cast recording of touring cultural show Tam Tam Tam. The original album is considered to be one of the most important artefacts in the story of modern Brazilian music. On this re-imagining, Peterson and collaborators Will Horrocks (LV) and Rob Gallagher (2 Banks of Four) have taken key phrases and snippets, and used them as starting points for new compositions. Drawing heavily on samba, bossa-nova and Latin jazz, as well as dub and contemporary electronics, it's a set that skillfully tiptoes the fine line between paying due reverence to Prates' album, and using it as an inspiration for fine new works.

Review: From time to time, Italian drummer Tommaso Cappellato lets loose and heads down more electronic pathways and branches out into the abstract realm of music. He is joined by Astral Travel on this new single for Le Disque's Ambiwa imprint - a Northern Italian music store and distributor - and "World Traveller" is more of a lo-fi, acid jazz sort of song than anything techno or house-related. The real magic comes on the flipside, however, where master technician Donato Dozzy totally deconstruct the song with his cinematic reinterpretation that goes way beyond both the original or his usual flex of stripped-back four-to-the-floor. Although subtle and perhaps less tangible than other Dozzy productions, it is a fantastic piece of work nonetheless.

Review: Experienced producer Shafiq Husayn first appeared on Eglo back in 2014, delivering a fine EP of hip-hop framed modern soul, with the assistance of a battery of collaborators. Two years on he returns to Alex Nut and Floating Points label, with Eglo regulars Fatima and Jimetta Rose lending a hand. It sounds like Husayn has been listening to Floating Points, because "On Our Way Home" is a sumptuous, string-drenched affair, with orchestral parts rising and falling over a skittish electronic rhythm. The focal point, of course, is Fatima and Rose's harmonious lead vocal, which is as sweet, evocative and addictive as you'd expect. It may only be a single-sided release, but it's one killer cut.