Maddslinky - Special

Maddslinky - Make A Change (2010)

Dubstep pioneer Maddslinky – aka Zed Bias – is back, and he’s signed to Tru Thoughts to release his new album, ‘Make A Change’ on 25th October, with a stellar list of collaborators including man of the hour Skream (who cites Maddslinky’s early work as a major inspiration) plus Mr Scruff, Tawiah, Jenna G, Ghost 1, Mighty Moe, Nile Sugar, and of course Omar, who lends his world-famous vocal talents to the lead single, “Special”.

The album is already in huge demand with repeated radio play of upfront tracks by tastemakers including Benji B (1Xtra), Gilles Peterson (Radio 1), Mary Anne Hobbs (Radio 1), Alex Nut (Rinse FM), and a recent interview and guest mix for Ras Kwame on Radio 1. The album track “Further Away” feat Tawiah was voted No.3 track of the year in the 2010 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards, despite not being out yet; and another, “Lost On Tenori St”, was included in Martyn’s recent ‘Fabric 50’ mix.

Madds' Tru Thoughts page - Zed Bias on MySpace - 'Special' feat. Omar (Atjazz Remix)

Bonobo - Black Sands (2010)

There was little in Bonobo’s first two albums – 2000’s Animal Magic and 2003’s Dial ‘M’ For Monkey – to suggest that Simon Green could ever craft anything as grand, expansive and accomplished as Black Sands.

Back then his moniker could almost have referred to his tendency to merely ape other trip hop producers without adding anything substantially individual himself. 2006’s Days to Come might have scooped Gilles Peterson’s Radio 1 listener’s prize for Album of the Year, but even then few would have predicted that four years later Green would have become a one-man Cinematic Orchestra, responsible for an album that can stand alongside Every Day or Ma Fleur as a classic of its genre.

For it’s not just a record label that Bonobo shares with Cinematic Orchestra these days. Like Jason Swinscoe, Green has progressed from predominantly sample-based production to more live instrumentation, although Green plays most instruments himself rather than relying on an extended family of musicians. But, more to the point, Green has become equally adept at mastering mysterious and multi-layered atmospheres.

But although the parallels with Bonobo’s peers are obvious, his fourth album doesn’t just sit in their shadows. Rather, it’s an inspiring example of how, free of pressure and publicity, he has blossomed into something beautiful at his own pace.

read the full Paul Clarke (BBC-Music) article here

Bonobo @ MySpace - Bonobo Ninja Page - "Eyesdown" feat Andreya Triana video

Various Artists - The Instrumental Session (2010)

The Sonar Kollektiv label is an interesting one for us – the music we love at Meme Magazine has big funky grooves at one end of the spectrum and deep electronica at the other – Sonar Kollektiv sits right in the middle of this, bridging our diverse tastes. And this is no more obvious than when listening to the latest compilation from the boys from Berlin. Entitled ‘The Instrumental Session’, this is a collection of tracks showcasing the extensive talents of the label’s artists, from the jazzy vibe of DJ Ghe to the heavy bass lines of D’Stephanie, with all songs having a strong emphsis on those beats (in fact some tracks, such as ‘L.O.V.E. Beats’ is made purely from drum paterrns). Apart from the ‘instrumental’ theme (and two of the tracks do have vocals, so that’s not particularly true), this did, on first impressions, just seem to be ‘another label compilation’. Luckily for us all, the quality of the music is very high indeed – and it becomes almost a lesson for all in how to do instrumental music really well. Highlights for us include ‘D-D-D-Dance’ by Micatone and ‘Obviously’ by Stee Downes, but the important thing, as with any compilation, is that the whole thing hangs together, and this one certainly does. ‘The Instrumental Session’ is available now on Sonar Kollectiv.

MEME magazine

and a bow to ...Solomon Burke ((March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010)

Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (2003)

Born in Philadelphia, he began his adult career as a preacher and hosted a gospel radio show. In the 1960s, he signed with Ahmet Ertegun's Atlantic Records - home to Ray Charles. His first hit record was a cover version of the country song Just Out Of Reach. In 1962, he had another hit with the single Cry To Me, famously used 25 years later in the film Dirty Dancing. Two years later in 1964, Burke wrote and recorded arguably his most influential song Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. It went on to be covered by artists including The Rolling Stones and Wilson Pickett.

read a brief bio here...

Belleruche - 270 Stories (2010)

Eclectic English trio Belleruche appropriately titled their debut album of 2007 Turntable Soul Music. On their third, 270 Stories, they've made some subtle yet clear changes: turning away from the laidback bluesy and soulful elements of their sound for something scratchier, punkier and more claustrophobic, with increasingly cryptic lyrics to match.

click here to read the full BBC music review

FROM JAZZ FUNK & FUSION TO ACID JAZZ: THE HISTORY OF THE UK JAZZ DANCE SCENE

The book opens with Snowboy’s definition of jazz dance: “Not the ‘jazz dance’ of the 1930s in the US,” he explains, “It is a scene that was created here in the UK by innovative DJs daring to play jazz fusion next to the disco, funk, soul and jazz funk releases of the time – inspired (and probably cajoled, in some instances) to play harder grooves and faster tempos by the dancers.”
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