Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz Recommendation March 2016

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: 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: Proudly pushing their music through Germany's Agogo imprint, the Hidden Jazz Quartett have always released stunning jazz music with a nod to the classics of the past, but with also an inherently modern twist to the sounds, arrangements, and mood. Their latest album, Raw & Cooked, is as smooth as silk, and instantly gets you in a soulful kind of mood with the sultry "High Heels", powered by the deep and luscious vocals of Omar. Tracks like "Tap On The Backdoor" are livelier, feature organs and push the jazz into funk territories, but then there's also plenty of downtempo via cuts such as the mighty "Kimberley Hotel", verging gracefully onto hip hop with the help of Anthony Joseph. All in all, this is the right kinda joint for those looking to get down, and zone out to some stone-cold future soul. Beautiful.