Back in stock: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz/Nu Soul

Review: Amon Tobin's debut album under the Cujo alias is a sprawling, complex work that spans 21 tracks and blurs the lines between multiple genres. First released in the mid-90s, it introduced a unique blend of live instruments and innovative sampling that would go on to shape Tobin's entire career. This is first time all the tracks have been compiled together, providing a complete version of the album that had previously been scattered across different editions. From the moody, atmospheric 'Cat People' to the intricate jazz influences in 'The Brazilianaire', the album captures Tobin's knack for combining breakbeats with more experimental sounds. There's an almost cinematic quality to the compositions, with moments of ambient calm giving way to punchy, layered rhythms. The sheer variety of ideas packed into the album is remarkable, from the driving percussion of 'Traffic' to the rich, textural complexity of 'Cruzer.' Even now, nearly 30 years on, the album still feels fresh and ahead of its time, illustrating Tobin's pioneering approach to electronic music. This reissue is a fitting reminder of the innovative work that laid the foundation for a remarkable career.

Review: EABS' forthcoming album, Reflections of Purple Sun, marks a significant return to their roots while paying homage to the iconic figure of Polish jazz, Tomasz Stanko. Stanko's album, Purple Sun, recorded fifty years ago, heavily emphasized rhythm, serving as the central element of his work. EABS' interpretation of this landmark album is a profound study in rhythm, aptly reflected in the title. Recorded in Stanko's former residence in Warsaw, where his presence still lingers palpably, the album captures the essence of his musical legacy. The band's meticulous attention to detail is evident, from Marek Pedziwiatr's use of Stanko's piano to Jakub Kurek's selection of Stanko's last trumpet, the Monette XLT+. This instrument, chosen for its lively and spacious sound, perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Stanko's artistic vision. Astigmatic Records' comprehensive booklet accompanying the record provides further insight into the album's creation, while the cover art pays homage to Pia Burri's original concept. Overall, Reflections of Purple Sun is a compelling and evocative journey through the rhythmic landscapes of Polish jazz, honoring Stanko's legacy while forging new paths in musical exploration.

Review: Last year BBE released the latest project from nu jazz titans Jazzanova. Strata Records (The Sound Of Detroit Reimagined By Jazzanova) was an ambitious project which took the formidable troupe into new territory while doing great credit to the hugely important original works. Now we're being treated to a single pulled from the album with some additional remixes of 'Saturday Night Special'. The first of these comes from DJ Amir, who also served as executive producer on the album project, working alongside Re.decay, and on the flip you can hear Atlanta legend Kai Alce doing his thing with that high grade house sound that just gets better and better as the years go by.

Review: Sudden Records debut Les Hommes' latest LP Si Cosi, describing the record as a set of "pulsar-driven groovetronics, folky modalisms in waltz time; dreamvitations to the cine-lounge." The three piece combo known as The Men have been an active force on the easygoing London underground, having first made their debut in a tiny club in Soho in 1994. They've since occupied the proscenium of lounge and club, relaxedly dropping three LPs and four EPs since then. This fourth LP brings the latest face of lounge music to the fore, with a set of eleven more careful but languorous compositions. Deploying instrumentation from Lowrey organ to bass clarinet to electric piano, the sensibility throughout is one of disbarred ease, best felt on the most muted among the cuts, such as the cricket-chirping modal jazzer 'Veronique'.

Review: An homage to the golden era of soul-jazz, and recorded live to two inch analogue tape at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds, Doo Ha! sizzles with an electric soul undercurrent - perfect nourishment for the meditative but motivated dancefloor. Flaunting flautist Chip Wickham front and centre, it's the perfect complement for a lazy Sunday afternoon listen, whence groove and grit need not succumb to nostalgia. Inspired by jazz greats like Ramsey Lewis and Les McCann, the album's soul-stirring rhythms are driven by ATA's Sam Hobbs (drums) and Neil Innes (bass), plus contributions from Sam Bell, John Ellis, and Wickham on flute. The seven tracks range from the down-home swagger of 'Walk On' to the cinematic vibes of 'The Saint And The Stranger,' celebrating the totemic spirit of soul-jazz in the North of England.

Review: Following their acclaimed debut album Sugar Honey Iced Tea!, NYC duo Musclecars aka Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems are back with a double pack of alternate versions and remixes featuring house legends Louie Vega and Maurice Fulton. Vega reworks 'Tonight' with orchestral flair and festival-ready dub versions including the NV South Jersey Mix and his Bronx Dub. Maurice Fulton's remix of 'Hello?' blends his signature live bass and punchy percussion to add a whimsical touch to the introspective original. The pack also includes stripped-down versions of 'Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)' and 'Water' plus a full side of Musclecars' 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars.'

Review: Label regulars Roberta and Trilaterals are back on Worldship Music to take part in the latest Herald Tarccs instalment. Reelsoul is a new name to join the fun and pens up with 'La Costa' which is a throwback disco house sound with wild melodies and big horn leads vying for attention and getting hands skyward. Trilaterals bring plenty of percussive funk and jumbled drum brilliance to 'Flo Jo' and Teflon Dons taps into a Philly sound with the string loops of 'DONTWANTU2GO.' Roberta's "Hang Back' is a classy little jazz-house number.