UKU KUUT Vinilo y CD

Review: We have long had a soft spot for the sounds that come out of DC label People's Potential Unlimited, which is affectionately known as PPU. It's always lo-fi but hi-class whether in original or reissue form. It's the latter here with leftfield Estonian artist Uku Kuut's 'Funky' 7" reappearing on wax. The opener is all singing synth lines and jumbled analogue drum funk with an oddball vocal and generally stuffy arrangement making it all the more lovable. On the flip is 'What's Happening Today', another unusual mix of sounds - synth, disco, funk and goofy vocals that will have the floor in a spin.

Review: Tallinn-born, Swedish-bred, America-based Uku is largely known for his production work and his records as Zuke with his sister Marju but "Funky" predates that to the early 80s with one of his earliest recordings in the boy band We Are. Living up to its name with a synth boogie groove (already entrenched in the soft jazz he later made his stomping ground) and a Sugarhill style playground rap, this is a bonafide piece of Swedish pop history.

Review: The music of estranged Estonian producer Uku Kuut is becoming something of a personal obsession for Washington DC label Peoples Potential Unlimited and that's fine with us! First surfacing on PPU some three years ago with a dinky 7", Uku Kuut has graced the label with numerous subsequent releases of varying length with last year's Visions Of Estonia LP a stand-out. Grand Hotel represents another album length trawl through the archives of Kuut's instrumental funk, offering a ten track selection of material he recorded on his travels through the Soviet Union, Sweden and Los Angeles. Kuut's first ever recorded track dating back to 1982 is included, as is material recorded in Herbie Hancock's personal studio. Superb artwork to match some superb lo-fi funk.

Review: Following the superb Visions of Estonia album from last year, estranged Estonian producer Uku Kuut resurfaces on Washington DC imprint Peoples Potential Unlimited with I Feel Love. This two-track EP is yet another perfect example of the label's speciality in dealing with obscure and unknown dance music gems from the '70s and '80s and highlights why PPU is an eternal favourite at Juno HQ. "I Feel Love" sounds like a combination between Todd Terje's heralded disco-edits and the Norwegian's pumping originals, while "Santa Monica Pier" shuffles and slides like Steve Wonder and Ray Charles knocking heads, drum machines, keys and synthesisers in a sun-drenched Californian studio.

Review: Originally out in 1985, Peoples Potential Unlimited reissue this soul boogie jam from Uku Kuut (who was born In the Soviet Union, raised in Sweden and now lives in Estonia) featuring Marju Kuut on vocals. On the flip is a mellow instrumental in homage to Uku's home for the past 20 years, now available for the first time on cute 7" vinyl. Top release!

Review: Estonian musician-turned-producer Uku Kuut was recently the subject of a curious collection of unreleased 1980s demos on People's Potential Unlimited. Since he recorded those demos, Kuut has moved to the US, where he now resides. He still likes to champion Estonian music, however, and here curates a collection of home grown Eastern European soul, broken beat, nu-jazz and slinky electrofunk. It's mostly material he's recorded (some with regular collaborators), with a few surprises thrown in, but it's certainly pretty tasty. There's an authentic soulfulness that prevails throughout, even on the booming bruk moments (see Kuut's own "Main Funk").