Compilation Recommendations August 2012

Review: With its emphasis on showcasing little-known, emerging and underground talent, Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Bubblers series has always been a "must check" for those with a passion for the soulful side of electronic music. This eighth volume is just as essential as its predecessors, delivering a pleasing mix of deep jazz, modern soul and hard-to-pin-down electronica. Highlights are naturally plentiful, from the cosy soul of Rainy Milo and Everett James, to the clarinet-laden nu-jazz vibes of Hello Skinny's "Crush" - a kind of "Stranger On The Shore" for the 21st century - and the breezy Brazilian beats of De Frente. As usual, it's all killer, no filler.

Review: A true product of the Wolf + Lamb family, Deniz Kurtel's second album comes drenched in the kind of 21st century boogie that has made stars of Soul Clap and the like. It's a thoroughly clean affair, as the Moog basslines and melodramatic pads get streamlined and twisted into a dark pop balladry that fits neatly into the trajectory being plotted by the new wave of US producers. With sizable contributions from Tanner Ross, Soul Clap, Wolf + Lamb and Thugfucker amongst others, lovers of this silken strand of house music will be in neo-romantic bliss.

Review: While re-issue specialists such as Harmless, Far Out, Strut or Mr Bongo enjoy a respectable following thanks to their long-established nature and strong track record, very few new labels rooted in the world of global rhythms have managed to make waves outside of the dusty-fingered world of record collecting. Since launching at the tail end of the noughties, the London based club night and label Sofrito have joined this select group. Focused primarily on 12" singles, often boasting new re-edits of little-known afro-disco, calypso or tropical gems, the label overseen by Hugo Mendez and Frankie Francis has tickled the fancy of a wide range of DJs. Here, they return to Strut - regular employers of Francis for his formidable re-mastering and engineering skills - for a second compilation. Whereas the first, 2011's Tropical Discotheque, had a distinctly tropical theme, Sofrito International Soundclash takes a more wide-ranging approach. The results are predictably enjoyable and deliciously heavy. Opening with the classic Soca of Lord Shorty & Vibrations International, the compilation moves through styles of pan continental music both past and present at a furious rate. There's some contemporary Kenyan beats with London/Nairobi collective Owiny Sigoma Band presenting a new version of "Nabed Nade El Piny Ka", a highlight from their 2011 debut for Brownswood, while the booming "Information Par Le Mistral" from Sartana et Son Groupe Mistral brings a taste of heavily-percussive gwo-ka. Sofrito's own editing skills with beautiful calypso rhythms are showcased with a reworking of Concept Neuf's 1979 cover of jazz-fusion mainstay "The Path," while Afro Festival bring some joyous but unlikely fusion sounds. Aside from the enthusiasts that gather at Sofrito parties in London and beyond, where many of these tracks are dancefloor staples, few will know much about many of these styles of music, let alone the artists who make them. But that's the point: through International Soundclash, the Sofrito crew is opening our eyes and ears to brilliant sounds we never knew existed.

Review: Electing to eschew the standard "best of" compilation route, this twelve track CD from the Karl O'Connor's Downwards stable is comprised of a smattering of tracks that have previously been released on the label's highly prized DO series along with unreleased material and some new Downwards signings. Focusing primarily on fuzzy tones of varying degrees, the whole compilation exudes a grey warmth, with the scuzzed out post-punk of Deathday's "Dropped Into Obscurity" and The Vivids "Mt Radiant" being placed alongside more industrial offerings in the shape of Colin Gorman Wieland's "Born To Burden" and Richard H Kirk's stunning remix of Tropic of Cancer's "Be Brave". Sandwell District stalwart Silent Servant turns up with the sonorous clatter of "Traumatic Age", while O'Connor also offers the drone based interference of "Untitled" in his Sandra Electronics guise. Essential listening for post-punk, industrial, and Downwards fans alike.

Review: This summer, Steve Lawler is hosting a midweek party at Sankeys Ibiza under the Viva Warriors title. Here, he joins forces with fellow resident Darius Syrossian to lay down a two disc mix set that touches on all of his usual inspirations. That means an atmospheric trawl through nuggety darkroom house, tribal flavours and murky tech-house, with additional helpings of basement-baiting New York deepness and European fluidity. In truth, Viva Warriors is arguably more fun and upbeat than many of Lawler's recent mixes, suggesting a new-found love of reaching out for the lasers and hip-wigglin' groovery. Maybe that's Syrossian's influence; either way, it makes for an enjoyable two-disc mix-up.

Review: Although her discography is surprisingly light, Laura Jones has been an integral part of the Leftroom crew for some time. Here she's given a place in the spotlight via her debut mix CD. It offers little in the way of surprises. Instead, Jones chooses to recreate the fluid, deep-to-tech house vibes of her acclaimed DJ sets. So, we get cuts from Matt Tolfrey, Guy Gerber, Gavin Herlihy (whose "C'mon People" is a highlight) and Giorgio Luceri, all mixed together with the smoothness and aural sensitivity you'd expect from Jones. Although dark and druggy early doors, it quickly morphs into a celebration of quietly melodic house.

Review: The Modernist series has always taken an open-minded approach to drum and bass. Inspired by the 'anything goes' attitude of jazz, the series regularly shuffles round the edges of convention, joining the dots between D&B, electronica, dubstep and broken beat. This third volume - again released in limited quantities - continues this theme. Justice/Invincible's "Devil & The Deep Blue Sea" sets the tone, fixing afro chants and drifting vocals to the loosest of D&B beats. What follows gleefully dashes between jazzual D&B (Diamond Eye, Control Remote), intoxicating bleep-step (Muted) and even some off-kilter 4/4 electronica (Betamax Herd's "Trash").

Review: Over the next few weeks, the streets of London will reverberate to the sound of visiting patriots chanting "U-S-A" at ear-busting volume as another one of their compatriots wins a gaudy Olympic trinket. It seems fitting, then, that Hed Kandi have picked this date to launch an American-themed edition of their popular World Series. Across three CDs (mixed, of course), Hed Kandi's yank cousins pick out a series of electro and funky house floor fillers - the sort of sweaty, pumpin' gear that provides a soundtrack to the silly shenanigans of spring break, or most weekends at glitzy Stateside clubs. For those seeking a fun soundtrack to a bit of unilateral action, you couldn't ask for anything more. After three: U-S-A!

Review: This third instalment of the popular Beach Disco Sessions offers an opportunity for nu-disco heavyweight Ilya Santana to pick out some of his favourite summery disco jams. While most of it falls into the "vaguely Balearic nu-disco" category (see Saint Etienne's luscious remix of The Time & Space Machine, or any of the contributions from Sare Havlicek or Santana himself), there are a few tougher, more disco-centric moments that impress. Check, for example, the previously vinyl-only Greg Wilson edit of Escort's ace "Cocaine Blues", Pyschemagik's "nu-disco goes big room" rework of Situation's "Barcelona", or Toomy Disco and Fernando's delightful Heaven 17-ish version of Hiem and Phil Oakey's "2AM".

Review: Having previously impressed with last month's Beach Album, Ibizan hotel turned venue Ushuaia once again joins forces with Defected, this time for a two-disc trawl through main room dancefloor pastures. Like the previous album, the tracklist is perhaps a little more interesting than you'd expect, with the likes of Scuba, Maxxi Soundsystem, Jay Shepheard and Recloose making appearances (the latter with the still brilliant "Feels Like Magic"). Sure, there's the usual Defected big tunes - remixes of Inner City and Storm Queen, plus cuts from Nic Fanciulli, Mark Knight, Blaze and ATFC - but they're relatively few and far between. As a result, The Club Album is surprisingly good.