Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (September 16th, 2019)

Back at it again with your weekly roundup of unmissable albums and EP’s and reissue projects.

As always we hope you make some nice discoveries and feel free to encourage these artists/labels if you do! Enjoy and have a great week.

NEW EP’s & ALBUMS

Sampa the Great “The Return”

Label: Ninja Tune
Stream: Spotify / Apple Music
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Superb new hip hop from Sampa the Great. Sampa’s relentless & clear flow, and positive content, over fresh and soulful music courtesy of the likes of Steam Down, Blue Lab Beast, Silentjay and Clever Austin, blending jazz, hip hop, soul, R&B, boogie, funk, traditional music, etc. A journey of moods, from club to wind down, that works well as a complete listen.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Tenderlonious “Think Twice”

Label: 22a
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Tenderlonious makes a strong return to house music after an acclaimed run of jazz albums. Authentic house & techno, key influences such as Larry Heard are worn on his sleeve, with song titles such as “Uncle Larry”. However, what sets this apart from a lot of so-called deep house with its abundance of jazzy samples and pre-sets is actual jazz chops, and it bumps hard too!
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Dego “Too Much”

Label: 2000 Black
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Brand new album from broken beat, jungle & DnB pioneer, Dego. Continuing on from 2015 LP “The More Things Stay The Same” and recent 12” EPs, Dego has created another double length dose of futuristic boogie, soul, jazz and hip hop. Full of variety, melodies and a few vocalists but all with that magic Dego touch on the keys, bass and swinging drum patterns. Do not miss!
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Ashley Henry “Beautiful Vinyl Hunter”

Label: Sony
Buy: Vinyl (via Juno)

One of the finest young (not just British) pianists returns with his second album, and his first release after 2017’s acclaimed “Easter” EP. “Beautiful Mind Hunter” sees Ashley in full control of his music, a modal and soulful affair with that ever-present UK underground vibe. Don’t let the stellar guestlist that include Makaya McCraven and Theo Croker distract you, it’s all about the main man on this one. Album of the year? Quite possibly.
– Selected by Spacewalker

The Nat Birchall Quartet “The Storyteller: A Musical Tribute to Yusef Lateef”

Label: Jazzman Records
Buy: Vinyl (via Juno)
Stream: Spotify

One of the most accomplished and acclaimed UK saxophonists, Nat Birchall, releases a new full-length album paying tribute to the late jazz legend Yusef Lateef. Birchall takes on some of Lateef’s greatest compositions like “Brother John”, “Morning” and “Ching Miau”, as well as some signature works that the jazz great made his own, including the classic “Love Theme From ’Spartacus’”. The recording, which also features a few originals, sees Birchall playing a wide range of instruments outside of the saxophone including the Turkish zurna, the mbira from Zimbabwe, the balaphon from Mali and the arghul from Egypt.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Moonchild “Little Ghost”

Another album of infectious and sweet neo soul from Moonchild. This group has a beautiful sound. Mature writing, catchy melodies and a beautiful soulful sound with a subtle electronic hip hop edge. If the likes of D’Angelo, Erykah and even Sampha, is your thing, check this out.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Lee Funksta “The Formula/What U Wanna Do”

Label : Voyage Funktastique
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)
Stream: Spotify

For our 4th vinyl release, VF called up one of their closest collaborator, our good friend Lee Funksta. The Amsterdam resident delivers a stellar double sider, teaming up with L.A. talkbox prodigy B.Bravo on the slapper “The Formula”, while on the flip side, he’s joining forces with Future Soul Legend Reggie B, delivering a Minneapolis dark ballad “What U Wanna Do”.
– Selected by Walla P

Rojai “Strut Down”

Label: Austin Boogie Crew
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Rojai made a name for himself over the past few years with his project, Hard Pressed, with E.Live and lately with his duo group, Kool Customer, with B.Bravo. His debut full LP “Strut Down” is a perfect combination of Funk, Soul, RnB, accompanied by a stellar production.
– Selected by Walla P

TC4 “Ola”

Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

There seems to be a bit of a Garage revival in the air! Not to say that UKG has ever went away but it seems to always be going through cycles of new forms that push the sound forward while honouring the foundations. This new EP by production duo TC4 does just that. I recommend each and any of their releases!
– Selected by Lexis

Basic Rhythm “2 Da Core”

Label: Planet Mu
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Another winner on Planet Mu, one of the few electronic labels that always pushes the boundaries. London-based Basic Rhythm defines his sound as “modernist hardcore” and i’m just a huge fan of his work. Hugely intricate yet effective dancefloor material. Sounds like putting hardcore, grime, techno tunes in a blender.
– Selected by Lexis

REISSUES, COMPILATIONS & ARCHIVAL

Various Artists “Night City Life compiled by Ilan Pdahtzur”

Label: Spacetalk Records
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Outernational soulful & electro boogie funk sounds on the amazing compilation by crate digger supreme and 80s disco specialist Ilan Pdathztur. Drawing inspirations from London’s city panorama, Ilan has crafted a perfect pre-club Saturday night soundtrack as you’re cruising through those city streets.
– Selected by Spacewalker

Various “This is Mainstream!”

Label: We Want Sounds
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

WEWANTSOUNDS has released a brilliant new compilation featuring some of the best early seventies jazz-funk and soulful selections from Bob Shad’s Mainstream Records. The double-LP includes some of the best music ever recorded from artists like Blue Mitchell, Hal Galper, Pete Yellin, Buddy Terry, Reggie Moore, Sarah Vaughan, Maxine Weldon and others. The perfect introduction to this legendary label.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Ana Mazzotti “S/T”

Label: Far Out Recordings
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

Ana Mazzotti was an enigmatic brazilian vocalist with a knack for experimental grooves and bending genres to her creative will. She left us way too early tragically passing in her 30s, but blessed the world with two deep recordings. She would go on to influence a lot of modern musicians and the good folks at Far Out Recordings continue in their quest to highlight the more creative side of bossa history with the reissue or her self-titled opus.
– Selected by Asma

Lord Echo “Curiosities”

Label: Jakarta Records
Buy: Digital & Physical (via Bandcamp)

It’s only been 6 years since producer extraordinaire Lord Echo released his sophomore effort but it is already getting the reissue treatment and is an essential part of any music lovers collection. Reggae tinged electro vibes that flow as ephermerly as the tides and sound as sweet as the sea breeze will transport the listener to a sonic cove. Playing multiple instruments and using the most serious of analog recording equipment make sure you experience the Lord Echo sound with gorgeous artwork to boot.
– Selected by Asma