Mutual Intentions Norway Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Formed in 1973, Cake was a New York band that recorded only one 7" at Arabellum Studios in Colony, Albany. It proved a huge hit, making many appearances in DJ sets and mixes over the years, and then going on to fetch eye watering prices on second hand markets. It achieved holy grail status some time in the last decade and now has been remastered form the original tapes. The original 12" single is served up here with an instrumental version and the funky backside gem, 'Let Your Body Go.' This is timeless disco funk that will prove irresistible to all.

Review: Fredfades is a well-regarded modern beatmaker and master sampler who crafts soul drenched and atmospheric hip-hop. For this new record on Mutual Intentions outta Norway he works with Sraw to hypnotic effect. Right from the off, the dusty vibes and lo-fi aesthetic is heartwarming and a perfectly laid back tonic to busy modern lives. Guess like Planet Asia & Waz, Pink Siifu and Blu November add their own character to this spaced-out and stoned late-night listening companion. It might be one of Fred's best yet.

Review: Ivan Ave's new album - his first for three years - has all the makings of an essential summer classic. Hazy, humid, languid and quietly colourful, it offers a soulful, sun-soaked fusion of modern soul, yacht rock, jazz-funk, drowsy electrofunk and hip-hop that sounds superb blasting out of speakers on a sweltering summer's day. It's immaculately played and produced too, with the Norwegian's own sung and rapped vocals being complemented by the voices and musical skills of a fine cast list of guest artists. Impressively, this cast-list includes Silentjay, Byron The Aquarius, Kiefer, multi-instrumentalist Sasac, Hiatus Kaiyote's Clever Austin and chanteuse Sarah Naero.

Review: German Ivan Ave is a core member of the flourishing contemporary beat scene and has put out a coupe of crucial record on labels like Berlin's Jakarta. Now he branches out to Norway's Mutual Intentions with a crisp new EP, Mid Season, on 10". It showcases the dexterity of his voice which goes from offering up classic bloom bap era par's to more stylised Prince-esque deliveries on 'Mid' and downbeat, almost mumble rap styles on 'Names.' Four instrumental versions of the originals are included on the flip and will be sweet in the club, but you can't beat the vocals.