Just a run down of some records I’ve picked up recently that have been doing it in my earhole, new releases, reissues and older finds.

First off there’s the latest Moodymann mini-album, Anotha Black Sunday, once again released under the Moody alias. It’s not as experimental as Det.Riot 67, but is a better album overall imo. The feel is (as the title suggests) of a downtown Detroit Sunday service turned jazz club. Jazz, gospel, soul and funk are twisted into his trademark soulful sample house style. There has been some criticism that it doesn’t represent good value as much of the material has been previously released in one form or another, which is fair comment, but just judging it in isolation I think it’s a great album, I’ve been listening to it a lot. Also comes with a tongue-in-cheek poster warning what happens to those who download his music for free.

We’re proud to announce that one of our own contributers, Jitterbug, has released his debut, the Raw Winter EP on the quality UK deep house label Uzuri. It’s a nice four tracker, Dream Memory showing an obvious Larry Heard influence, Speakers Corner is a more stripped down minimal percussive jam and No Pressure beefs things up a bit more with a funky workout for the dancefloor. DJ Qu then provides a remix of Pressure, slowing things down again with a spacey reinterpretation. It’s already been getting plays on Jus Ed’s weekly show on myhouse-yourhouse radio and that’s not surprising as it fits in nicely with what Underground Quality have been putting out. So big congrats to Jitterbug, good work mate!!

I also picked up the Juju Music Sampler which features a new track from ISM favs Juju & Jordash. They’re easily one of the more interesting acts in electronic music at the moment, forging a unique take on house music which takes in many diverse influences and refuses to follow any established formula. Same Ol’ Day further emphasises this by incorporating elements of italo, funk, avant-garde jazz and deep house. The live bass and saxophone give it an improvised feel and combine with the electronic elements perfectly. I know it’s early but I’m pretty sure this will end up on my end of year lists, it’s stunning! I’m not really feeling the A-side but the other track on the B-side is excellent too, a mellow track with some nice African percussion and sweet lilting guitar. Check their myspace for samples of forthcoming Juju & Jordash material, including an album due out soon, can’t wait!

Next up is one I mentioned in the comments section on a previous post, it’s the new Eargasmic release by Chicago Skyway Bells. Quality old-school Chicago sound here, but still sounding fresh. For all that Chicago has given electronic dance music, it’s a shame that so little quality original material is coming out of there these days, but Daryl Cura’s label is one keeping the flag flying for the home of house music. Recommended.

I also picked up the latest Terrence Dixon, the Below Radar EP. He’s been on a bit of a roll of late with a number of quality releases in the past year (View From Above and Point Of View being 2 that I’ve really been digging). Not really feeling the remixes here, but the 2 Dixon originals are top notch. Below Radar is a hard funky minimal workout, whereas Change is a slower more experimental spaced out track.

And I already mentioned Leonid’s Mora EP in a previous post, nice deep house with a beautiful ambient cut.

Also managed to pick up the Nami Shimada Sunshower reissue on Créme, a classic Japanese deep house cut originally released in 1992. I guess some people may find it a little cheesy but I love the vocals on this, but there’s instrumentals too if you’re not into the camp Japanese singing. Although not a reissue, I managed to get a copy of Paperclip People Steam recently (well it’s over a month ago now but I think Rushhour may still have copies, a warehouse find I was told). An absolute classic and one of the highlights of Carl Craig’s impressive back catalogue, nice beats and percussion, a whispered vocal urging you to “let off steam” while the tension mounts before a killer organ/keyboard solo takes it off into the stratosphere.

In terms of older music on reissue, I picked up a couple of bits on the Peoples Potential Unlimited label, which is specialising in reissuing ultra obscure boogie and synth funk from the late 70s/early 80s. Definitely worth checking them out. Got a nice 7” reissue on the German Sonorama label, Ikwezi’s Get Down And Do It Right, a tight afro-funk cut from 1980. It was written by Donald Ridgeway the bassist from Mombasa. Added to my small but growing Brazilian collection with Gal Costa’s brilliant self-titled album reissued on 4 Men With Beards, classic psychedelic Brazilian pop from 1969. Came across a new label, Academy LPs, who are  reissuing classic african titles. Their first release is Ofege’s Try And Love, a rare and much sought after rock album by a bunch of young Nigerian students from 1973.

In terms of second hand stuff I managed to get a few things I’d been looking out for for a while. Got a copy of ex-Temptations front man Eddie Kendricks’ People Hold On. It’s a solid album from start to finish but the title cut and the classic disco track, Girl You Need A Change Of Mind make it absolutely essential. Also got the Lowrell LP with Mellow Mellow Right On and Lamont Dozier’s Peddlin’ Music On The Side LP which features the full version of Going Back To My Roots, another all time disco CLASSIC! This track was co-arranged by Hugh Masekela and the African chanting was written and arranged by Nigerian Afrobeat legend Orlando Julius, in my opinion it’s one of the great vocal refrains on record, sends a shiver down me timbers. And keeping with the African theme I managed to get a nice cheap copy of Ekambi Brilliant’s Africa Oumba, which features the brilliant afro-disco track Aboki.

Also, just want to remind any Irish readers that Convextion is performing Live for Test at the Underground in Kennedy’s tonight. His recent live sets that have been floating about on line have been pretty special so I’m really looking forward to this.