Brokenbeat / Nu Jazz Recommendation April 2016

Review: In the two years since the release of the Rye Lane Volume 1 LP, Al Dobson Jr has been busy. This belated, mixtape style follow-up is something of a beast, with 28 cuts, interludes and quick-fire rhythm tracks to enjoy. Like its' predecessor, Rye Lane Volume II & III is similar in ethos to the work of his friend and contemporary Mo Kolours, with tropical rhythms, African drums and low-slung hip-hop beats being combined with dusty vocal samples, rich Rhodes chords, freshly baked electronics, and all manner of tasty global influences. Highlights come thick and fast, from the Middle Eastern shuffle of "Overseas Lebanese", and Afro-jazz drum workout "Malful (Nebetia)", to the eyes-down deep house bliss of "Peru Timing (Part 2)

Review: Renegades Of Jazz are back to hit us with some powerful tribal gear, a blend of tropical rhythms that don't belong to any category per se, but that certainly satisfy the tastes of many a digger! The much wanted band are back on Austria's Agogo with two pure killers, the first is a funky head-nodder packed with perfectly executed guitar riffs, percussion that goes by the name of "Afro Cookie", while the flip goes into a more tribal territory, offering a gorgeous groove made of sweet vocalism and the sort of groove that would literally be enjoyed by just about anyone who's into 'good' dance music. be quick, these don't usually last! For fans of Mukatsuku, and the like.

Review: Lascelle Gordon's latest creative brainchild, Vibration Black Finger follows a long line exciting, unique and highly accomplished fusions: Brand New Heavies, Campag Velocet and Helliocentrics are just the tip of the iceberg. Here we find him launching a new community style project with multiple collaborators all sharing the same spiritual jazz vision: Vibration Black Finger. Free loose and layered in dizzying textures and ideas, it sits somewhere between Donald Byrd Band & Voices, Mary Lou Williams and Sun Ra but arranged and produced with the future in mind. From the hypnotic urgency of the vocal refrains on "In Rhythm" to the ghostly space of "Empty Streets", this is yet another exciting new chapter for Gordon.

Review: Eglo continues to offer up choice reissues of killer cuts from the back catalogue of Sam Shepherd AKA Floating Points. The latest to get the treatment is 2011 12" Marilyn, which appeared at a time when Shepherd was just beginning to expand his sound palette following a few years of distinctively-swung deep house singles. The title track still boasts the distinctive, jammed-out synthesizer lead lines that were then a hallmark of his productions, as well as the shuffling house beats that we all love dearly, but also makes use of lots of extra percussion, Motor City-influenced chords and some sweet scat singing. Flipside 'Farukx' is a little more revolutionary, with the Eglo co-founder wrapping jazz-fired broken beats in drowsy chords, twinkling synth sounds and wavy female vocal snippets. Likethe A-side, it's one of Shepherd's best.

Review: Baltimore house legend Karizma steps forth with his debut album as Kaytronik, which continues his long running association with UK label R2 Records. At 17 tracks long, Thee Album is somewhat conservative compared to Chris Clayton's last Karizma outing, 2013's 39-track Wall Of Sound, but canvasses the full spectrum of his widely lauded production talents. Leading out with some vintage string heavy boom bap, the Kaytronik sound unfolds to encompass classic US house, tougher DJ tools, jagged brukked up rhythms, jazzy beatdown and everything in between. In simple terms Thee Album is a true master at work. Don't Sleep!