FREESTYLE MAN Vinilo y CD

Review: It's been a while since we heard anything from Bristol's best dressed chicken in town Borai, so it's great to see him leading the way on this second edition of the Jackoff Beats series from Berlin label Jackoff Records. Indeed this is Boris English's second contribution to the series, having appeared on last year's inaugural 12" alongside Iron Curtis and Oli Deutschmann. "The Rejection" demonstrate's Borai's lost none of his production verve for emotionally loaded house music and sets a high bar for what follows. Deep88 rolls deep on a lo fi filtered disco flex with the excellent "Works" whilst Oliver Deutchsmann also maintains his 100% Jackoff Beats appearance record with the stripped down acid burner "Straight Up My All". A welcoming titular vocal hook is the key element around which the Freestyle Man lays down a classic dusty house groove on the closing "Give It To Me".

Review: Two jazz house hip-swayers from Freestyle Man and Henrik Schwarz, strongmen of the style who have yet to collaborative until now. 'Moabit' comes to Mule Musiq, and features the living legend Jimi Tenor on sax on the eponymous A-side; a must for anyone seeking out an expressionist edge to their blue-noted party-starters. 'Dub 5', meanwhile, steps backwards into steam-stacked fogs and city backalleys, a dub techno take on neo-noir. An impressive exercise in style from the German pair.