CD Album Recommendations February 2010

Review: It's been almost five years since Four Tet's last LP. However, you could never accuse Kieran Hebden of being lazy, having spent the years since 2005's Everything Ecstatic working on a number of EPs, collaborations and mixes, not to mention enough remixes to keep any student going throughout their perpetual revision period.

His fifth studio album to date forms a combination of minimal dance and amalgamations of sounds and ideas from his career so far. It serves a timely reminder of the joy of genre mashing in what is one of the first important releases of the new decade.

After the delicate and disjointed vocal-led opener 'Angel Echoes' we move into what will be Four Tet's next single, the hypnotic nine minute colossal, 'Love Cry.' Jazz percussion is layered over a sprawling house sentiment that builds exponentially throughout the saga. The aptly named 'Circling' uses hazy synthesizers to progresses from a soft, folk-like beginning to flamboyant end before we are treated to the fantastically warped female vocal that gives the defining factor on 'Sing.' Following 'Plastic People's' clap-infused melodic wandering, we reach 'She Just Likes To Fight' which seems to capture the emotional undertones that lay covered throughout the whole LP in a heart-warming sense of utter contentment.

It seems the long wait for an LP was more than worth it as Four Tet delivers guides through a labyrinth of musical tastes and genres whilst never losing his way in experimentation or self indulgence. Pushing limits, but in an ear-pleasing way, 'There Is Love In You' is yet another reason to jump aboard Four Tet.

Review: As someone who briefly escaped 70's Glasgow and got a taste of the golden age of NYC Disco, Al Kent is a perfect choice to lead you through a classy selection of some choice and rare Disco treats. Having used his huge collection in the past for re-edits and originals, he also took the bold step of forming his own band in 2007 under the name The Million Dollar Orchestra.

The selections here reflect the point at which Funk and Soul mutated into Disco, with most of the tracks capturing that pre-Moroder organic sound. Lee Alfred's Rockin-Poppin Full Tilting for example has a laid back vibe similar to Curtis Mayfield's more uptempo tunes. New Ghetto Express's version of Standing On The Verge of Getting It On (originally by Funkadelic) up's the tempo on the wigged-out classic, again combing the Funk with a Disco groove.

Lypso Disco by Smile Street People, as you'd guess from the title, has a playful Calypso lilt and bounce to it. Cosmic Disco by Patricia White on the other hand doesn't sound like something that Todd Terje or Lindstrom got their cues from, but it is a fun song with some brilliantly random thumb-piano playing in the background!

Anyone looking for samples will have a field day among these tracks, Sweet Daddy Floyd's I Just Can't Help Myself for example has a break in the middle to die for. You could loop up 4 bars practically anywhere and have something pretty damn funky to work with. For that reason alone, it's well worth having a listen and broadening your horizons.

Review: Deep Medi Musik continue their retrospective series with the second instalment that follows 2007's first volume. Largely keeping things smooth and ultra deep, the release stays true to the label's underlying roots. Featuring the likes of Kromestar, Silkie, Quest, Tunnidge, Goth Trad and Mala, this sees Deep Medi Musik exploring the history of dubstep in wonderful fashion.