Courtesy of Jon Freer (mosoul.co.uk) here are eight reviews of available and soon to be released albums (sorry no cover shots or tracklistings this time):

V/A – Kenny Dope Presents Randy Muller’s Best (Plaza)

Disco and funk-up soul master Randy Muller has had a number of his biggest tracks reinvigorated by the legendary Kenny Dope, who used the original masters to create his updates. Ostentatious disco, glorious butter-funk, pushy jazz bites and soul soaked groovers all feature on this first rate collection. “Express” from BT Express sees string-based flamboyance, wet-breathed steam parps and intricate guitar flexings roll into town. Hypnotic key work, measured guitars and straight-talking brass do their dance on Brass Construction’s “Movin’”. Skyy’s “Here’s To You” takes elating strings, kaleidoscope keys and a pirouetting bass on an enraptured journey. A most enjoyable journey in the company of MAW’s beat digging junky.

Rich Medina – Connecting The Dots (Kindred Spirits)

Philly based Rich Medina is known to many for his spoken word contributions, which have earned him the reputation as a sort of Gil-Scott Heron for the 00s. However, this is a dis-service to both, as Medina has his own voice and agenda. Rich is musically at home making comforting gems and harshly instrumentated cuts, with the commendable “Connecting The Dots” mixing measured spoken word efforts with silky soul-edged numbers and Detroit influenced warped bouncers. Calm keys and formal beats take some of the burden on “Weight”, as Medina divulges his troubles. “Out Of Nothing” calls on the vocal talents of Ivanna Santilli, Maya Azucena and Alma Horton to deliver an all-star chorus over gracefully drifting keys and expressive brass. “Emancipation Suite” takes a committed flute, loyal drums and wide-eyed keys on a broken hop journey, which is reminiscent of Theo Parrish’s lighter work. Rich Medina is a prophet of consciousness for the broken-jazz generation, and this album show’s that he’s as happy sat at a production desk as in front of a mic.

The Nostalgia 77 Octet – Seven’s & Eight’s (Tru Thoughts)

Complete with crowd whoops and a compere, this live album from the Nostalgia 77 Octet has translated rather well from the Jazz Café in London to this CD. Nostalgia’s brand of forward-thinking jazz-hop really lends itself to the live environment, and thus this set takes their emotionally challenging compositions to a level seldom reached on their studio recordings. “The Hunger” is nourished by a vivid key display, sterling drummed percussion and apprehensive brass. “Watusa” is a race between sprinting keys and frantic percussion. Bonus cut, “The Hope Suite”, is equally as epic as the live pieces, with a solid bass, optimistic saxes and ardent vocals colouring this three-part musical marathon. 21st century hopped out jazz for the open minded.
[also read jazz-not-jazz’s own review of Seven’s & Eight’s]

Quantic – One Offs, Remixes & B Sides (Tru Thoughts)

Will ‘Quantic’ Holland has been responsible for a ludicrous number of records over the last few years, and here he adds to the flood of proper albums with a collection of rehashes and obscure cuts that he probably found down the back of his sofa. Some of these tracks certainly deserve a wider audience, and tracks on this collection range from pensive downhop and soul-beaten hitters to animated faux Afrobeat and uptempo broken bustlers. “Archipelago”, is a slovenly Quantic original, with kind guitars, shadow casting brass and strings that twist and turn in their sleep. A definite highlight is Holland’s retooling of Handpolished’s “So Sudden”, where impenetrable synths join roughly smacked about percussion and brass that know their place. Seiji’s touch-up of “Don’t Joke With A Hungry Man” floats those words of warning over playfully jabbing drums, gorgeous string washes and an ugly yet appealing bass. This tasty snack should act as a good stopgap for Will’s admirers, until he drops the expected two or more albums of new material this year!
[also read jazz-not-jazz’s own review of One Offs, Remixes & B Sides}

Louis Slipperz & Rawdog – Bareback Instrumentals (Rawdog)

Rawdog is none other than Weird Hop champion Elmore Judd and here he hooks up with his brother, Hip Hop spinner and Taskforce collaborator, Louis Slipperz, and assorted musician friends. They’ve created an album of tasty funstrumentals, which weighs in at over twenty cuts. Unfortunately some tracks are a little short in stature and could have done with being developed further. “Eleventh Hour” bounces energetic beats against thoughtful keys and a bass that can’t sit still. The bassy “Saturn 3″ prepares for blastoff, as pained scratches and matter-of-fact guitars join in on the countdown. Crunching beats, anxious strings sit behind full-figured saxes on “Confucian”. Live Hoppety fun for all!

V/A – The Original Northern Soul Selection (Original Selection)

Ian Dewhurst turns his attention to Northern Soul, for the tenth instalment of the impressive ‘Original Selection’ series. Powerfully instrumented and earnestly vocalised compositions make up the majority of this double set, which lifts the lid on the exciting world of Northern Soul. Jackie Wilson’s loving vocals sweep across standing keys, brass slides and relaxed percussion on “I Get The Sweetest Feeling”. Cutting guitars, frustrated percussion and down in the dumps vocals meet on Joe Hicks’ “Don’t It Make You Feel Funky”. Bunny Sigler implores the listener to “Follow Their Heart”, as self-important brass and forcefully hit beats back Bunny’s vocals. Great stuff.

V/A – Bob Sinclar In The House (Defected/ITH)

Those familiar only with Bob’s releases on Defected et al, might be surprised by some of the choices on this 3 CD set, which is being re-released for 2006. However, those familiar with his work under the ‘The Mighty Bop’ name and the output of his legendary Yellow Productions imprint will understand that glammy funked-up House isn’t the only type of music that moves Sinclar. CD 1 is full of that shiny glossed up House and features hot tracks like Kenny Dope’s ecstatic string laced revision of Johnick’s “Play The World” and David Duriez’s sax stomping “House Ya Body”, alongside a host of frothy big room tunes. CD 2 is a collection of brilliant deeper House grooves, where highlights include the aggrieved “Power To Conquer” from Latina Café and Mousse T’s synthilating rejig of Nu Yorican Soul’s honest “Runaway”. CD 3 looks to quieter shores and features a clutch of gems from Yellow’s back catalogue like Calm’s meditational “People From The Sun & The Earth” and Tom & Joy’s lonesome guitar laced “Equisse”. This is worth checking out for the contents disc 2 alone!

Considerate Builders Scheme – Exit To Riverside (Combination)

The Considerate Builders Scheme aka one-man production powerhouse Justin De Nobrega, operates in that blurred area between instrumental Hip Hop and Electronica. Taking in everything from rambling drunken hop and salacious porn hop to intellectual highbrow rhythmics, perhaps all that’s missing here is the ‘right’ rapper’s flow. “Three Beats Short” places vocal exclamations in between incessantly moving keys and hard-hitting beats. “We Got It Down” watches a mad bass spew up all over knocked up beats and mind losing strings. “Back Space” is a robotically keyed offering, with fiddling synths and a shadowy bass. Intriguing stuff!