Quiet Village - Silent Movie

After three sought-after singles for the Whatever We Want label—plus remixes for the likes of Gorillaz, François K, Cosmo Vitelli and, um, The Osmonds—Quiet Village step out of the shadows to present their first full-length album, Silent Movie. Comprised of master crate-digger Joel Martin and rising dance-music star Matt Edwards (aka Radio Slave), and borrowing their name from Martin Denny's exotica masterpiece, Quiet Village make the old sound new (and vice versa). Influenced by Italian film soundtracks, BBC library music, disco edits, acid rock, vintage soul and easy listening, they smear the unlikeliest elements—bluesy guitar, chamber strings, air-raid sirens, shuffling breakbeats, even flutes and seagull cries—into an hour-long reverie with Vaseline on its lens.

Aaron Jerome - Time to Rearrange

Of course the history of dance music reveals an uneasy relationship with the whole album concept. It’s always been about the cut, the twelve inch, the killer track. As a relatively young branch of the popular music tree, dance music doesn’t have it’s roots entangled in that whole mythology, rock’n roll’s history can be persuasively told by just selecting a list of iconic landmark albums. Then there’s the addled old cliché of the faceless dance music producer, the image of the knob twiddler hiding behind some suitably exotic production moniker.

At least Aaron Jerome is just himself and even if he does have seven guest artists in tow on Time To Rearrange that’s just because he doesn’t sing! However he does play instruments and he does nurture great performances from his collaborators, and even with the humble means available to him he does have a way of conjuring epic music on a shoestring. One man and his laptop against the world, the boy who would be Quincy Jones; or Charles Stepney, or Larry Mizzell or even Marc Mac! No cast of crack musicians available, no big studio, no huge advance. Surely there must be better career options? A young man like Aaron has no choice, one of the afflicted, he’s got the bug and music is very much his master. What kind of music? Do we have to call it something?

This music is deeply unfashionable, if you’re reading this you’re probably painfully unhip. If jazz is a four-letter word then “jazzy” is a foul-mouthed string of expletives. Aaron Jerome’s music is undoubtedly jazzy, unashamedly so, but more to the point unselfconsciously so. That’s where he has an advantage. Young enough to be untainted by it’s history but old enough to have learned the lessons and absorbed the aesthetic; Aaron brings a new vitality to a familiar palette. Time To Rearrange mixes all the familiar colours, warm electric piano, crisp drums, lush strings, horns, and acoustic bass. A dash of hip-hop attitude and a whole heap of old-school musicality. Though sometimes these elements combine in a surprising way, it’s a record that
sounds both familiar and strange. Lurking beneath the surface is an attitude that is both irreverent and audacious, there’s a vein of positivity that runs through it that seems to say why not have a go? It’s the sound of talent falling in love with it can achieve, the sound of possibilities being explored.

21st century soul-fusion?

A BEE realese...

Bugge Wesseltoft - IM

Bugge Wesseltoft: Piano virtuoso, flag-bearer of "the new conception of jazz", centrepoint of Jazzland Records.

Bugge Wesseltoft: Who dares to take lovers of music, not scenes - to places unknown ... returns to ourspace with his long-awaited, self-dubbed "real solo album".

And what a joy it is to have Bugge back! Focused. Contemplative, and alone (almost).

Back to the "playing", the direct input emotion - with Bugge the composer and performer taking the studio centre stage.

Here on "IM" Bugge has the courage to let the Jazzland trick-nology take a temporary sabbatical - allowing the recordings to asborb the all the richness of his sound, melody and the depth. Yes, for Bugge Wesseltoft in 2007, 88 notes is all it takes - a black and white piano horizon where all the true Jazzland colours are there for the listener.

But this is not stictly acoustic pianoforte, no. In genuine Jazzland zeitgeist Bugge sequences subtle sound design, field-recordings, shocking news reports from around our f***ed up world, hand-played organic percussion grooves, and with Sami World music legend Mari Boine also providing a soulful "´jazzland-meets-blue-joik" guest appearance.

"IM" is perhaps Bugge Wesseltoft's most intimate and meditative release to date, and yet at same time, it is his most fearless. Bugge´s music and Jazzland output has always confronted musical boundaries, expectations and transient definition.

And the result ... well, once again, lovers of music worldwide get delivered "the latest conception of jazz" from the master himself. A wonderful "real solo album" indeed. Let yourself go. "IM".

Casbah 73 - Pushin' Forty

Convention kills creativity. Casbah 73’s second album shows that he fully understands this creed, combining his strong sense of musical roots with a healthy eclecticism. A soulfully fresh blend of jazz, disco, latin and electric soul, highlighted by a punky irreverence for styles and genres, "Pushin’ Forty" is also a great leap forward for the artist. Conceived in the studio, the results are nevertheless a totally natural mix of instruments and samples, combining his musical talents and technical skills with the welcome new addition of vocals, including several contributions by Casbah himself. Surprisingly organic, extremely danceable, this is a rewarding collection of songs the listener can identify with, not a grab-bag of random studio knob-twiddles.
Opening number "Freshly Squeezed!" kicks things off in style, with a hip-popping groove which won’t quit, featuring none other than Majka Edjo of Sweet Vandals fame laying down some liberated funk as only she can. And while we‘re talking party (we are!) "El Trafico Jam" is a slice of funky afro-disco hotness already slaying dancefloors everywhere with that instantly recognisable car horn sax riff.
Elsewhere, on "Welcome To The Casbah" we have underground NY rap legend Prince Po (who formed rap´s legendary Organized Konfusion with Pharoah Monche), spitting out some fresh & fiery rhymes in an uptempo style unlike anything he‘s done before. Up and coming New York singer Mariella Gonzalez shows she is a name to watch out for. Providing the vocals for “Vinyl Junkie”, she combines sassy soul with a raw funky delivery, even rapping at one point on the joys and pitfalls of a life spent digging in the crates.
Big bad basslines and funky beats, deep rhythmic journeys, trippy soul grooves or breezy skipping jazz vibes, it‘s all here. "Pushin’ Forty" is a reflection of Casbah 73‘s extensive musical background, a journey which is clearly gaining momentum. So it’s three cheers for those who celebrate life through music, "Pushin’ Forty" - because life’s too short for microgenres!

Parov Stelar - Shine

Like life, music must move on and progress. But like life, we must remember to reminisce and recall the past at times. It is the sole reason why we enjoy experiencing new and going back to old music, it is an extension of life. Shine the third artist album by Parov Stelar gratifies life's movements and moods perfectly, the new the old. What we already know about Parov Stelar and what we don't know.
This is obvious to Marcus Füreder aka Parov Stelar too. Sampling 'Charleston' and 'Jazz', conjuring up new 'Breakbeat' and 'Pop' into a creation of interesting music is no easy task, but Parov Stelar seems to have a sensibility about what it should sound like. Thankfully his worldwide fans agree as the Cinderella story of a new unheard artist from Austria's third largest city 'Linz' shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, things can only snow roll more as word gets around of the brilliant new music of Parov Stelar. Fans will enjoy traditional Parov Stelar tracks that offer sexiness and sophistication, these same fans will be delighted that this artist is not standing still and resting on his laurels and just repeating the same sound as he gets a little rougher and dirtier in places. This is not elevator music, this is not lounge, this is simply good music with influences and cognitive factors far and wide. Success in something in this case only encourages Parov Stelar to move forward and not to stand still.

So, who will listen to this CD? Well, we think the world just got a lot smaller for Parov Stelar? He has obviously opened up a lot of new doors with this new work. The jazz is still there, the soul is still there, but you will find new flavours and ingredients in the sound that will be universally appreciated and approved we think.
The guest artists come through with flying colours too. Singers like Kristina Lindberg (Laine), Gabriella Hänninen, Lilja Bloom and Luke (Music for dreams) add much property to the form. The third album brings out not just the best of Parov Stelar to date, but also the guest artists he has graciously asked to appear on Shine. He gets the very best out of them, and they get the very best out of him it seems. Even more interesting is that Parov Stelar actually sings on two tracks 'Autumn beasts' and 'Lost in Amsterdam'.

Shine is the brilliant third album by an artist that simply enjoys to make people happy with his music. No aloofness or emotional distance between the artist and fan. In fact, the key to the success of Parov Stelar has always been this true feeling of being intimate and of belonging together with the music fan and artist. Shine is like a good new friend.

Quantic Soul Orchestra - Tropidelico

The first three QSO albums pioneered the sound now being made popular by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson. This fourth album finds the QSO fusing Latin, Soul, Cumbia (a Colombian style rhythm) and Hip Hop with a funk production ethic. It embodies influences from a number of genres and the unmistakable QSO sound but with a new twist. QSO takes it to the next level! This style has been influenced by Will's relocation to Colombia where the album was recorded with legendary local musicians as well as key UK members of the QSO (including super tight drummer Malcom Catto). Not to forget J-Live and Noelle from The Rebirth who both contributed fine vocals.

Little Dragon - Little Dragon

Little Dragon are four school-friends from Gothenburg who play sparse, quirky, genre-bending music around singer Yukimi Nagano’s eerie yet heartfelt tones. This is sure to lead to comparisons with Bjork, as well as Kate Bush, but there is also a soul element to their sound (the progressive end, like Shuggie Otis or Prince; the level of whimsy on display here would not impress fans of say Ann Peebles) as well as touches of jazz and 80s pop.

Their eponymous debut starts with a ballad, “Twice”, a lilting but authoritative piano piece which turns on a distinctive sliding bass-line, before wandering into experimental dance (i.e. not very danceable) on the aptly named “Turn Left”. The soul influences don’t appear until track three, a small hours groove called “No Love”, but remain through the funky minimal “Recommendation”, and the slack, syncopated “Constant Surprise”.

Other ingredients feature in this musical smorgasbord too: “Forever” has some 80s digi dub sub bass, “After The Rain” skips along to jazzy high hat before arpeggiating wildly at the end, while “A Place To Belong” combines cascading synths with a murky, mildly threatening bass, and an unpredictable melody that just pulls back from noodling indulgence.

The pace picks up for “Test”, (their most danceable track, to a classic Prince style echoing phased drumbeat) and “Wink” which finishes with some enjoyably silly synth and vocal interplay; before coming to rest with “Scribbled Paper” - all pizzicato, jazz brushes and double bass.

The production hovers between trippy and minimal, refusing to commit; the trendy “bedroom” sound eliminating any grandiosity which might have rendered this record “out of” rather than of its time. Something tells me they’re a lot stronger and funkier live.

So while not as original as the hype suggests – Shuggie Otis did much of this decades ago to a funkier beat - Little Dragon have some nice songs and are experts in creating moods which are both ambivalent and poignant at the same time. This is music for lazy days in the park, late night trains, and small gatherings with close friends. A subtle ‘grower’ and a promising start.

via BBC

Belleruche - Turntable Soul Music

Belleruche are a new signing to Tru Thoughts. They describe their sound as handmade hip hop blues soul, like Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Christian and Cut Chemist stuck in a dusty second hand record store with wine and a sampler, Belleruche make turntable soul music.
Their sound is pure soulful jazz with scratch and samples aplenty. Influences range from DJ Vadim to Nina Simone to Hendrix resulting in an album likened to a weird trawl through a dusty basement full of the best records you've never heard, whilst a voice you can't quite pin down sings hooks you can't forget.
Their new album named 'Turntable Soul Music' includes tracks that conjure thoughts of Stax Records recording Django Rheinhardt with Dr Dre controlling the mixing desk. Or Eryka Badu jamming with Mixmaster Mike recorded onto analogue tape by the Dust Brothers.
The threesome is made up of Kathrin deBoer (vocals), Ricky Fabulous (guitar) and DJ Modest (decks). The band was formed after Ricky and Modest, who played bizarre turntable and guitar sets in London bars, bumped in to Kathrin in the market one day. She did some singing over a cup of tea with the pair and Belleruche was formed.
The trio have attracted attention from luminaries in the UK underground music scene; with vocalist Kathryn deBoer recording tracks with DJ Vadim and performing with the Bonobo live band, and remixing tracks for labels including The Elephant, Trojan & Quannum.

Waldeck - Ballroom Stories

After a long break WALDECK is back with his new longplayer "Ballroom Stories". Our musical journey begins in the Americas at the beginning of the 1920ies. Tango meets Swing. Delicous cocktails and a live that seems even richer than the thick smoke of Cuban Cigars. The opener "Make my Day" reminds of the days when Al Capone was making a fortune by selling booze. Singer Joy Malcolm gives us an impressive performance of how she would have sounded, if she were born 60 years earlier. If, this track sounds familier to you, it may be, because Mercedes Benz chose it, for its latest TV-campaign featuring the Formula 1 world champion Mr. Alonso. All there is to say: "Turn the radio on, the neighbour´s gone!" Another highlight "Addicted" sneaks in with an intriguing bass line and a healthy dose of tango-feeling. Zeebee is the new voice on this masterpiece.

Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth (reissue)

They are back again.

Young Marble Giants' Colossal Youth is a collection of sparse, evocative tunes emphasizing Alison Statton's floating vocals and minimal guitar/organ/bass/drum machine arrangements. Comparable to little else from its time or since, this is rock music at its most austere. The original album had 15 songs; subsequent CD editions added a few more. But the 2007 edition on Domino is the one to buy, pushing the total to 46 tracks, with additions from the Testcard EP, the 1979 "Final Day" single, the Salad Days album, a compilation cut, and a 1980 session for John Peel -- everything they ever did, in fact.

The Dining Rooms - Ink

"Ink"is the fifth studio album by The Dining Rooms. It contains 5 instrumentals and 6 vocal tracks. The instrumentals flows through different rhythms to take the listeners to a world of melodious and dark deepness. "Ceremony" and "On the beach" (dedicated to the Picasso painting) mix at best the funk (mid and slow) and the blues attitude while "Fatale", "Appuntamento a Trieste" and "Etage noir 2" go really deep in modern jazz. Regarding the vocals, for the first time they go not only with English language in the songs having one track from Brazilian singer Toco and another one by French actor Renaud Chaurè. Toco's touch in Cobra Coral is really contemporary Brazilian noir-wave while Renaud gives us a monster interpretation in "Etage Noir", written by TDR and Luca Lezziero, paying homage to maestros Serge Gainsbourg and Katonoma. Going back to English language, Sean Martin, from South Africa, is going deep in blues and soul in "Thank U ?"; for sure a new jewel in his TDR career, with echoes of Marvin Gaye in the chorus. A strong piece with politically conscious lyrics. The Dining Rooms usually have new singers for each new album and in this case we have Afro-German Dodo N'kishi and North American queen Georgeanne Kalweit. Dodo, better known being the singer and drummer of Mouse on Mars ( and member of other interesting combos as NatiMatti and Pet), sings the opening track of the album "Freedom" interpreting at best the instrumentals given to him, to create a meeting point between Nick Drake and Stevie Wonder, Georgeanne then, co-wrote "Hear us Now" and "Ink", two emotional gems to be intended as a sort of birth of nu folk. As some already know The Dining Rooms touch is a mixture between electronics, samples and live instruments: Leziero Rescigno on drums, Marcello Testa on bass and double bass and Patrick Benifei, Marco Rigamonti and Don Freeman on Rhodes.

Toco - Outro Lugar

"Outro Lugar" is Toco's second album. Born Tomaz Di Cunto, Toco is a Brazilian songwriter from Sao Paulo who despite his young age is a passionate connoisseur as well as admirer of original Bossa Nova from the 60's. He absorbed the archetypal characteristics of the harmonies and the rhythms of that genre to offer them again in his own personal, contemporary style. As his first album "Instalaçao do Samba" even this second one is produced by Stefano Tirone ( S-Tone Inc. ). Toco on the other hand collaborated in S-Tone Inc.'s most recent work "Luz y Sombra". He co-wrote and interpreted some crucial songs like "Beira do mar" and "Verao".
"Outro Lugar" benefits from the outstanding contribution of Roberto Menescal, the maestro as well as pioneer of Bossa Nova, who played the guitar in every track in the meantime offering a precious source of inspiration. The great majority of the album was recorded in Rio De Janeiro, precisely in the studio of Menescal with the participation of some amongst the best 'carioca' musician. Particularly double-bass player Adriano Giffoni, pianist Adriano Souza who played also in Rosalia De Souza's album "Brasil Precisa Balançar", which incidentally happens to be produced by Roberto Menescal. All these elements contributed in giving the album the exact taste that artist and producer decided to achieve: inspired from the past yet aimed at creating a sound resulting fresh and modern through thorough attention; lightly touched by electronic, filled with grooves perfectly blending into acoustic instruments. The second part of the recording was carried out in Milan. It features the collaboration of some among the best musicians in the Milanese jazz scene, on horns as well as cello. The album also sees the contribution of Rosalia De Souza, singing in several tracks and standing out in "Bom Motivo" especially. The French chanteuse Coralie Clement features in "La Conradiction", her own piece re-interpreted by Toco in this album. He did it also as an homage to the French audience who showed support to him from the start, showing a lot of appreciation for Toco's music. Several tracks in the album are worth mentioning, from the opening track "Outro Lugar" which spreads with smooth strings to then reach its peak as a classic Bossa; then "Litoral" , fresh and sunny; "Barracao", instead is one of the most elegant. "Zum Zum", is an vibrant cover of a piece already interpreted by the great Edu Lobo. In this version it becomes a Samba-Jazz highlighting the electric keys played by Donatinho, no less than Joao Donato's son. He also contributed to the the song "Voz da Lapa", which was written by Toco and featured previously in Rosalia De Souza's album "Brasil Precisa Balançar". The version in this album by Toco is a Soul-Funk though. Certainly the most distinctive piece in the album is "Samba noir", which is a slow, hypnotic Samba meeting 'cinematic' atmospheres as suggested by the title itself. This composition co-written with Stefano Tirone stands as an instance on how Brazilian music cam trace future directions still setting off from its own past. This album is for all lovers of Brazilian music, linked to the period of original Bossa Nova and Jazz Samba, yet wishing to hear a more modern and current sound of it. It does not have to be necessarily full of electronic, here it is merely used to complement the production without seeming too much ever. With "Outro Lugar" Toco ratifies his profile of refined and cultured musician (who wrote 10 of 12 tracks). A gifted performer of a warm and smooth voice able to awaken the emotions of the most sensitive ones in the audience.

The Juju Orchestra - Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime

Here is the long awaited debut longplayer from one of the most popular bands in the international clubjazz - scene of recent: Eight tracks, no filler in sight, everyone has the quality for a timeless diamond. Guest appearances by Carolyn Leonhart, Katia B, Robert Smith and Terry Callier.
The Juju Orchestra was founded 2004 by Rare Groove - dj & vinyl - nerd Fab DJ Sammy and producer/sound engineer Oliver Belz. They are based in Braunschweig / Germany, right in the middle of nowhere between Hamburg, Berlin and Hannover. Some of their musical idols are Caetano Veloso, Charlie Parker, Miles Davies, Steely Dan, Stan Getz ( just to name a few). Of course they are influenced by all of them, but the Juju's created their own language - like every real artist does. In some words: contemporary Soul, Jazz and Latin music with a vintage sound.
In 2005 the first single release 'Kind Of Latin Rhythm / Funky Nassau' entered the peak position of the German Club Charts. Great reactions from around the world followed, by famos dj's as well as by the audience. the next 12" 'Take Four / Hip Shake' did it the same way. On the album you can find a new vocal version of 'Hip Shake' with lyrics and voice of Terry Callier. It was absolutely a great honour for the band to work with such a blessed guest artists as Terry Callier, Robert Smith (who runs his own orchestra for Caribbean Music in Hamburg), Katia B from Brazil and Carolyn Leonhart (background singer for mighty Steely Dan), showing her outstanding talent on 'What Is Hip ?' and on the Steely Dan cover 'Do It Again'.

Wolf Myer Orchestra - Femme Fatale

Passion, emotion and life's other big themes are the threads, leading through this new recording. Demandig an active listener as with previous solo projects (Seven and Storm, Rough Cuts) Parov Stelar cooperates on "Femme Fatal" with Wolf Myer and his Orchestra.
Over 30 guest - artists helped to create a fresh and vivid album that is always aware of it's jazzy roots but definitively goes beyond any genres tight boundaries. Hip Hop meets Soul, Funk, Pop und Jazz in a perfect blend of analogue and digital. Leading the listener into a world full of intimate thoughts and capacious moments, "Femme Fatal" rejects all daily struggle and rush.

Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur

Ma Fleur, long-awaited fifth composition from suave electro-jazz pioneers, The Cinematic Orchestra, is a reeking letdown – and in a way which only a British album could be. Listening to it is not unlike waiting for a train which never turns up.

You’re longing to be transported somewhere – preferably to that realm of euphoria to which critics testified in their ardent praise of previous Orchestra efforts. And, quite typically, nothing comes. When the album finishes you’re still slumped in the same spot – fifty-four minutes older and a good deal more jaded.

Opening track ‘'To Build A Home'’ is a dismal forecast of things to come. It’s cheerless and aloof, and its wandering vocals and plodding piano will leave Orchestra fans heartily holding back Coldplay comparisons.

Follow-up, ‘'Familiar Ground'’, is a rare highlight, thanks to the sturdy vocals of accomplished soul singer Fontella Bass.

But it isn’t long before normal service is resumed, and we’re soon left tutting and sighing once more. The clutter of instrumental tracks in the middle of the album is painfully barren. The Orchestra seem far too eager to make an emotional impact. The result is clumsy and uncomfortable, with their sweaty-palms failing to get the slightest grip on our heartstrings.

In interviews, Orchestra main-man Jason Swinscoe has described Ma Fleur as the soundtrack for an ‘imagined film’. And we should be grateful for that – without the make-believe storyboard, it’s not hard to imagine this record lapping over into structureless self-indulgence.

On an emotional level Ma Fleur is far too acute and dreadfully artificial. Soundwise it’s dreary and directionless – most unlikely to secure your affection. Far more interesting will be the sound of multitudes of music critics, as they rush to retract their premature hailing of Swinscoe as a nu-jazz genius.

Hku - Soukha

Hku said:
"I have been trying to create songs like a short movie, each one telling a different story. There is also an accompanying text for each songs, which are a synospis aimed to explain the kind of mood I wanted to give them. All songs have been composed between Paris, Buenos Aires and Barcelona."

Trentemoller - The Last Resort

Anders Trentemöller has the taken the underground scene by storm over the last few months with such incredible tracks as 'Beta Boy', 'Polar Shift' and 'Sunstroke', not to mention his remixes of artists ranging from The Knife and Yoshimoto through to the Pet Shop Boys. He's become one of the leading producers in a considerably short space of time, and now is due to release his debut artist album 'The Last Resort' on Poker Flat. Due for release in October, and preceded by lead single 'Always Something Better', this is one to mark on the calender as it is definitely not to be missed.

He is a unique talent in the current music world. Danish producer Anders Trentemöller took dance floors all around the world by storm last year with funky minimal techno-tracks like 'Physical Fraction’ and ‘Polar Shift’, and subsequently was voted “Best Newcomer” by many of his peers and music fans alike.

Now Trentemöller returns with his debut album on Poker Flat, ‘The Last Resort’ – a beautifully crafted, astonishing masterpiece that will leave you breathless. The 13 instrumental tracks together form a wordless musical story, almost like the soundtrack of a movie. It manages to capture a whole range of emotions in subtle melodic miniatures, dreamy ambiences, dusty beats, deep dub-tracks and driving groove-excursions. An ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours and moods, ‘The Last Resort’ without a doubt contains Trentemöller’s best work to date.

Although it’s definitely an electronic album, it also incorporates live-drums, some guitars and other acoustic instruments like celesta, glockenspiel, melodica and even DJ scratching to create a more organic feel. Most tracks were recorded over the course of last year, often in the time between sessions for his 12” singles and remixes, which as Trentemöller himself says “Making these tracks was like having time-off. Moments to totally space out and let the music flow.“

It may come as a surprise that on ‘The Last Resort’, Trentemöller moves away from the dancefloor and instead produces an introspective album that’s especially great for home listening (or listening in the car, or on your i-Pod), but ever since his first release, it was clear the young producer from Copenhagen was able to fuse great melodies and chord progressions with subtle, yet driving beats.

His excellent remixes for Yoshimoto (‘Du What U Do’), Röyksopp (‘What Else Is There) and Pet Shop Boys (‘Sodom’) show yet another side of his multi-faceted talent, while his first releases on Audiomatique (‘Physical Fraction’) and Poker Flat (‘Polar Shift’) suddenly propelled him to dancefloor fame. But, as Trentemöller says now, he doesn’t see himself as someone who just produces dance-tech.

“I have always made all kinds of music. In the studio, I never think about which genre it is or what target group it is for, I just make the music I feel like. What came out of the recording sessions for ‘The Last Resort’ was a very personal album. It reflects my life, my thoughts, my needs, my insecurities, my longings, and it was a challenge, he to express these feelings and moods without words, only with music.” - Anders Trentemöller

It’s for this reason why he decided not to put the two vocal tracks he recorded during the ‘Last Resort’ sessions on the final album. ‘Always Something Better’ (featuring Richard Davis and the first single to be taken from the album) and ‘Moan’ (with Copenhagen-singer Ane Trolle) are featured on a second bonus disc of the limited edition version of of the album. The second CD nicely complements the first one, not only because of the two vocal songs, but also because it contains all the great tracks Trentemöller produced last year for Audiomatique and Poker Flat.

“When I listened to the final sequence of tracks, it felt as if I was listening to the soundtrack of a movie that unfolded before my eyes. For me it was important that the music would tell the story.“ - Anders Trentemöller

Together these two discs show the two sides of Anders Trentemöller – the introspective melancholy man versus the outgoing, funky techno-minimalist. A fantastic accomplishment from one of the greatest producers of this new century.

Koom.H - Koom.H

Koom.H is a Sicilian project manned by DJ's Salvo Borrelli and Massimo Napoli, resident DJ at Mercati Generali in Catania, with die-hard producer Salvo Dub. Working together, they unify their different musical origins giving life to an original sort of techno-jazz style. Their debut album opens with "Rain", an intense tune with deep atmospheres. A jazz trumpet mute converse with a classic piano, although almost in contrast. The same melancholic feeling starting the album resurfaces in the last track, which is a rework by The Dining Room of the same song "Rain" where the beat is more marked by the drum. The second tune is a cover of an Archie Shepp composition. The style is nearly lounge and could be associated to those collections of jazz classics remixed by contemporary producers. The third track "Mr. Cool" just displays how detailed the production is on this album. It is a thumping funky bass that trespasses the tune from cool ambient into acid jazz. It is almost visible the scene of Mr. Cool attending a party in France's Cote d'Azure at sunset. "Ghost In Paradise" starts with a jazz drum kick but sound effects and piano chords make it quite cinematic. It could be a spy movie chase-up in the streets of Paris, on the contrary the title suggests rather different moods: the ethereal and spiritualistic ambience of a ghost going around in paradise. "Come to Me" is the fifth track of the album reaching the peak of yearning as represented. Ambient meets jazz courtesy of the touch Marco Bianchi on piano but also from the emphasis in the singing style. The rhythmic texture is remarkably interesting as highlighted by percussions and bass. The following track "Home" was written with Stefano Ghittoni (The Dining Rooms/Double Beat) and is a piece of bastard jazz mixing together Detroit techno, batucada flavours and epic drum solos. Their first single "Move your funk" is track 7 in the album; a tune based on their Afro and soul background with influences from funk and breakbeat to spiritual voices. "Estate" is a tune that spreads all the heath of the season to which is dedicated. The feeling is relaxed. It's a track inviting imaginary moods where sound effects transcend, from the skilful touch of Paolo Fedreghini. "Don Vito Corleone" is a piece paying homage to a hugely popular, Sicilian character of literature and cinema. "Just for a while" is the second last track in the album, before The Dining Rooms' re-work of "Rain". Jazz colours melt into resonances that virtually recall Trip-Hop, a trumpet solo transcends remarkably but delicately.

Parov Stelar - Seven And Storm

The greatest attribute that Parov Stelar obviously has, is the ability to truly correspond with the music listener. As if asking the right amount of questions of someone who listens attentively! Enough that they don't get bored or uninterested and ultimately dissatisfied, and not too many of the listener as if the act of hearing music is some sort of university challenge that produces exhaustion! It's the success that has paved the way for Pavor Stelar to be Austria's greatest new export in the last two years. And so the story continues with the second album release from Parov Stelar. Seven and storm asks a few more questions this time, but we know that ostentatious behaviour and boastful self indulgence are far from the questions asked. Musical correspondence is still the total objective for Parov Stelar. 'Simple' and 'interesting' are the two words that come to mind when listening to the new album. Somehow you sense the two words should not be compatible but somehow Parov Stelar makes them so. There is a wonderful minimal feel to Seven and storm, as if Parov is stripped bare and exposed. There seems to be a sequence of musical drawings telling a story in all the tracks. Emotion runs high, tense, fragile, heartwarming, heartbreaking sometimes. As with 'Rough Cuts' the previous Parov Stelar album, Seven and storm seems to just be a perfect accompaniment to being a westernized young adult. Guest appearances from Phoebe Hall, Billy Kern, Odette Di Maio, Miss Anita Riegler and Leena Conquest add beautifully to the atmospheric smokey jazzy feel of Seven and storm. Their presence is wonderfully acted out. Another amazing belonging and security to Parov Stelar is the use of samples. We are sure no one right now is using samples in such a sophisticated and mesmerizing way. Sampling is a art form and Parov Stelar is a master of this principal activity.

Lushlife Project - Budapest Eskimos

Zoltán Palásti Kovács and Konrád Pilisi a.k.a. "The Lushlife Project" present an excellent fireworks of music on their CD "Budapest Eskimos", which excites with wonderful, catchy, and easy-going melodies. Joie de vivre, fun, enjoyment, and dreaming - Lushlife! Whoever finds their bodies moving to the rythm, just a bit at first, then more and more: Don´t panic. This is what every listener experiences. Just go on dancing or melting away. In Hungary, and especially in Budapest, Zoltán Palásti Kovács and Konrád Pilisi are an integral part of the music and underground scene. They are the pillars and pioneers of an electronic music that is fascinating people far beyond the borders of its home country. They have brought their decades of experience in music into their "Lushlife Project", which has started about two years ago. To their experience, they added hungarian heart, temperament and their history. Zoltán Palásti Kovács is musicologist and historian. He has studied singing and plays all sorts of instruments. Under his pseudonym "zoohacker", he has already published on internationally known compilation tracks. Konrád Pilisi is a radio presenter with his own radio show, and a well-known DJ with excellent references. Trip-Hop, Soul, Jazz, Ethno - a seemingly neverending row of elements makes up the wonderful Lushlife project sound. It creates emotions, pictures, and atmosphere. What is special: The sources from which the two artists draw their inspiration are inexhaustible - Hungarian traditional music (see for example the title "Essence Of Our Origins") and the complete history of music, which Zoltán Palásti Kovács knows from his heart due to his studies. Tibetian folk songs cannot be blended into Trip-Hop? They do not harmonize? Wide of the mark! Zoltán Palásti Kovács and Konrád Pilisi prove the contrary. Their creative and innovative music has vision and future. Special highlights are their live performances which both artists appreciate and love. On stage together with other professional artist, soon everyone knows: If you are hot and cold at the same time, it must be the "Budapest Eskimos"!

Tosca - J.A.C.

Fatherhood turns the life of a man upside down. Especially during his primal years. Suddenly there is someone in the house who needs to be taken care of 24-7. And, there are new sciences to be mastered: Swaddling, the cooking of baby food and dealing with the troubles of teething. In short: A new man is born. That is also why three male names (albeit abbreviated) grace the title of the fourth album by Tosca, ''J.A.C.'' which stands for "Joshua, Arthur, Conrad". These are the names of the sons of the two Viennese producers Rupert Huber and Richard Dorfmeister, a.k.a. Tosca. Between the release of their last album "Dehli 9" and their new masterpiece, the two became fathers, Rupert Huber even twice. As all Tosca albums relate to biographic events in the life of Huber and Dorfmeister, the birth of their sons was naturally the most appropriate for an album dedication. Thus, "J.A.C." is not music for babies. Rather, music for ladies. Moreover, the album is perhaps the most consistent formulation of the both carefree and melancholic sound of Tosca. The melodies quicken, the grooves are funky and laidback and the variety of musical styles are marked by a wide choice. The album breathes the characteristic sound of Tosca, yet it is shaped by a fresh understatement and a breathtaking musical authenticity. Moreover, there are new voices on "J.A.C.". The Egyptian-French singer Samia Farah from Paris sings with her Billie Holiday-esque voice on the wonderful "Heidi Brühl". Chris Eckman, lead singer with Seattle based band The Walkabouts sings on "John Lee Huber", a track for which Eckman paraphrised a John Lee Hooker-Song on Rupert Huber. Additionally - as heard on Dehli 9 - the former Rockers Hi-Fi MC Farda P, London´s Earl Zinger and the Austrian rock legend Graf Hadik appear on the microphones. To put it short: "J.A.C." is a great piece of music and an excellent new Tosca album.

Urbs - Toujours Le Même Film...

Reissue it is not! Found in a Parisian loft or basement it was not! 'Tourjours le méme film' was created and composed in a time long after the ideals and conformities pertaining to Paris in the 60's. The music is dramatic, romantic, mysterious, suspenseful. Often heroic in its ability to tell a personal truth unashamedly from the artist. The distinguishing facet of the album is the quality of being able to involve the listener. Engaged as a participant yourself, you find also stories, narration and recitals of that which has occurred past or present, or maybe even in the future. It's a wonderful and moving musical expression that is undeniably timeless. It was when Peter Kruder heard a six track demo that things really started to take shape for Paul Nawrata aka Urbs. Peter realising the warmth and sincerity in the compositions offered generously to mix down and co produce in his newly revamped vintage equipped studio. Hence this superlative album was born.

Madrid de los Austrias - Mas Amor

Heavy vino tinto, flamenco and other typical Andalusia flavours inspired the duo to their sound excursion combining a laid back laissez faire feeling with exotic rhythm shades. This second album and follow up to the acclaimed 'Amor' has all to become a future classic! The stunning result of a long and healthy production process. The boys went to Spain to record songs together with traditional flamenco artists. It's truly astonishing how worlds continue to collide in the electronic music world. The global village in action! Every imaginable cultural collage can be pasted together with amazing results!
Madrid de los Austrias, perfectly exemplify this multi-culti phenomenon. This fusion of traditional flamenco roots and the elaborate Madrid de los Austrias trademark sound proofs to be a perfect combination.

Bellcrash - Suzume Park

Bellcrash are Mark Bell and Paul McMahon. They are producers from Belfast who met each other 4 years ago through a mutual friend who thought that they should work together. The friend was right because Mark and Paul really clicked. They discovered that they not only had a mutual interest in jazz, funk and latin music but also in all forms of music technology. After immediate support for their first release "Coaltion Ep" from the usual suspects in the game, Mark and Paul had been so busy in the studio they decided to produce a full lenght album. They agreed that the album would have to be as diverse as their musical influences. Eighteen months later the album was finished and all that remained was to find a home for it. To celebrate the completion of Suzume Park the pair took themselves off to Barcelona where they ended up in the company of Nigel Hayes who loved the album and passed it on to Sunshine Enterprises where Bellcrash now call home. "Suzume Park", the album. "Open Minded" the first track out of the "Suzume Park" will get You in the mood for this jazz hipsters heaven. Follow on into the right groove with "Losing Gamble" & "Going To Ground". So there You have it "Suzume Park" 12 excursions into timeless and versatile jazz schemes for your listening pleasure from Mark Bell and Paul McMahon out of Belfast via Vienna.

[re:jazz] - Point Of View

The follow up to the phenomenal re:jazz vol 1. 'Point of View' is a majestic and noble journey into recent contemporary favourites. From Soul II Soul's timeless 'Keep on Movin', to Kruder and Dorfmeister's classic and mesmerising 'Deep Shit'. Wondrous acoustic jazz interpretations of modern day electronic classics. Music that is still and will always be characteristic of the present, past and future. A star studded line up includes Ultra Nate, Jhelisa Anderson, Lisa Bassenge and the amazing Viktoria Tolstoy, to name but a few. A truly sensational listening experience.

Parov Stelar - Rough Cuts

"Rough Cuts" - Parov Stelars first full album and most precious work so far is an absolute must for friends of smoked beats, jazz and house! After two years of hard labour and a lot of finishing touches in late-night-turning-early-morning sessions, the head of Etage Noir Recordings presents an album which deliciously floats between Old school Jazz and modern Hip Hop Break। Different from Parovs preceding Maxis on Vinyl this long player on CD seems to be most appropriate for the dimmed light easy listening area rather than the club. Deep samples and compositions groove regardless of the actual fashion and trends and lift this album into a timeless piece of art, not worrying about any durability date. In 10 songs "Rough cuts" tells us a story drawing new facings again and again, properly taking the listener on a pleasant journey. A journey that seems to start in the Jazz beginnings of the 30's and ends a long time after the computer revolution...

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Dublex Inc. - Eight Ears

In four short years, Dublex Inc has amassed an impressive balance sheet: two EP's, two highly successful singles, over 20 remixes, more than 60 licensing deals to the world's top compilations and a major foray into the world of big business, as well as the single Nifty Night and the forthcoming debut album Eight Ears. But let us not forget the day when talent and good fortune collided and Dublex Inc.'s world-wide sensation Tango Forte ended up on the desk of the producer of the Sugababes who overlaid the rhythms and melodies with those irresistibly infectious 'round round' lyrics taking the song to number 1 in the UK. As with the follow-up single Tocame. Dublex Inc. established two fundamental criteria for their debut album: firstly, it had to move beyond the dance-floor context. As a result, Eight Ears is fuelled by constantly shifting swells of tempo and mood which take hold of listeners without dragging them under or flooding their veins with squalls of adrenalin.

Rodney Hunter - Hunter Files

Family matters! You know, associations of people who share common beliefs and activities. Kindred could be another apt and resourceful word to use in situations like this I guess? Always similar and related in quality and character, this of course the G-Stone manifesto and code of conduct as we know it. It has always been a family related thing here in Vienna, like one giant belonging. Time now for the G-Stone family to share its newest member! Two years in the making and with guest appearances from outstanding talents such as Hubert Tubbs, Ken Cesar, Farda P, Hunterfiles is a worthy excursion into the new sounds of Vienna and beyond.

The Dining Rooms - Subterranean Modern vol.1

This record marks the start of the collaboration between Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti aka “The Dining Rooms”. Recorded during the summer and spring of 1998 it represents the most significant step in achieving a personal sound. A soundtrack for all our personal movies of our mind. Subterranean as in beyond and beneath our own skin. These melodies are the artists’ insight to a theatrical atmosphere, soundtrack for a life style.

Bugge Wesseltoft - Sharing

Bugge Wesseltoft's second album "Sharing" is built on the same concepts as his first record, to combine acoustic jazz and techno music. "Sharing" is not cold and strange techno, but a warm record with lots of grooves and beautiful moods.