$38.00
Some new generation singers do manage to step into the spotlight of course. Rita Ora parlayed her big hit with DJ Fresh into megapop ubiquity; Katy B, of course, has managed to outshine her producers consistently, as has Jessie Ware. But acts where the singer gets equal billing with the production are an interesting balancing act, and are few and far between. The ongoing partnership between SBTRKT and Sampha comes close, as do Alunageorge (although the latter feel like their personality has been workshopped out of them rather), but new duo Anushka on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label feel like the closest we've come yet to the nineties glories of, say, Moloko.
Max Wheeler and Victoria Port's songs fizz with the textures of modern house music – with occasional diversion into tougher or stranger rave territories – but their songs bubble over with something extra at every turn. Whether it's Port's massed jazz harmonies on “Never can Decide”, the casually sassy nineties R&B feel of “I Have Love 4 U”, the churchiness of the slow jam “This Time” or the raging social awareness underpinned by snarling bass in “Mansions”, these are complete constructions where the song is integral to the groove and vice versa. If the current wave of dance is to consolidate its success, bands like this are what we need. This is a brilliant album. – The Art Desk
Label: Brownswood Recordings – bwood0124lp |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: UK & Ireland |
Released: 02 Jul 2014 |
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop |
$39.00
After the 2019 release of their debut album "Dark Smoke", the Danish trio Athletic Progression has gone from strength to strength in Denmark. Multiple sold out shows in DK and abroad, as well two Danish Jazz Award nominations - and even one for Danish musician of the year! - later, the group is now ready to release their next album, an instrumental opus years in the making. Highly recommended for fans of Thundercat, J Dilla, Comet is Coming and the like. – HHV
Label: HHV – HHV813, Super Bad Disco – SBD03 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Europe |
Released: 03 Apr 2020 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz |
Style: Contemporary Jazz, Instrumental |
$39.00
Jazz, soul and hip-hop influenced the collection of nine songs takes you on a gorgeous journey with rap, instrumentals and soulful vocals.
The album opens with the immediately immersive Cloudy Day featuring the captivating vocal presence of Minna Forouzandeh. As an opening track, it’s a winner. Minna also features on several tracks such as Battlefield, Dark Smoke and Cut to the Cheese, and carries each into the highly-seductive genre of lo-fi/neo-soul. Elegant, and dreamy and all enthralling.
Between these sumptuous singles, the band produce two modern hip-hop tracks both of highly-listenable quality. UK Rapper Isatta Sheriff spits rhymes, fluid and sassy on Stepney Tale. Her life reflected in engaging verses. And the single – Stay Mellow features fellow Dane Blacc El who delivers a smoother rap, with a Q-Tip, Arrested Development style of flow. There are 5.41 minutes here to savour. And interluded between these tracks are three instrumentals, Danish Design Part 1 & 2 and Club Berlin, demonstrating their jazz-influenced roots, with edgy beats, electronic keys and samples. The groove on these is endlessly-playable. Each track earns its inclusion and announces Athletic Progression as a band with an exceedingly bright future.
Dark Smoke is an album to inhale, absorb and enjoy – Scandinavian Soul
Label: HHV – HHV690, Super Bad Disco – none |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Europe |
Released: 25 Jan 2019 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz |
Style: Jazzy Hip-Hop |
$39.00
Instead of re-releasing the entirety of ‘All Keyed Up’, Time Capsule and curator Pol Valls opted for a cut-down EP. Made up of ‘Eden Celebration’, ‘Melodic Heaven’ and the title track, which is presented in its original form, and as an extended Time Capsule Seaside Mix, it's a remarkable window into the freshness of creativity and vision that helped launch Tankard into a beautiful, lifelong career in music. And yet, as impressive as his story is, from the first listen, it becomes instantly apparent that the rainforest rhythms of ‘Eden Celebration’, the Linn drum jazz-funk of ‘Melodic Heaven’ and the sunset piano boogie of ‘All Keyed Up’ all stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the larger-than-life tales that swirl around Tankard. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. - Test Pressings
Label: Time Capsule – TIME 005 |
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, EP, Compilation |
Country: UK |
Released: 09 Dec 2019 |
Genre: Electronic, Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Smooth Jazz, Boogie, Electro |
$32.00
70s inspired modern soul!
In Another Life is produced by Adrian Younge, whose '70s-R&B-inspired live arrangements match the singer’s raw energy. Younge finds just the right mix of soul for the singer's ruminating ballads. Guests include Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., and Kimbra.
Label: BBE – BBE351ALP |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: UK |
Released: 09 Oct 2015 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul |
Style: Soul |
$30.00
From local imprint Darker Than Wax, reaching out worldwide!
Nomad’s Land is essentially an honest reflection of the artist’s life experiences - inspired by people, relationships, psychedelic experiences, and human existence. The album also represents Dominic’s first outing as a vocalist, bouncing between soulful singing, spoken word, and freestyle rap. This vocal element is crucial to the album’s impact, adding a layer of heart and truth to these deeply personal compositions.
Deep diversity can be found throughout the record, from the sino-grime inflected Time Unremembered, to the lush piano-trio vibes on Feeling, to the glitchy breakbeat jazz hybridity of DMT. Yet despite these seemingly disparate shades, Nomad’s Land is a singular statement and front-to-back listening experience, unified by beautiful production and grounded in raw musicality.
With early support from Alex Barck (Jazzanova), Soul Clap, Simbad, Ennio Styles, and Jad & The (Beats of No Nation) – Darker Than Wax
Label: Darker Than Wax – DTW056 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo |
Country: Singapore |
Released: 13 Mar 2020 |
Genre: Electronic, Jazz |
Style: Future Jazz |
$39.00
“The most curious element about the singer, however, the quality that makes her such a uniquely captivating vocalist, is the way she communicates these troubles—with a honeyed, masterfully wielded croon that leaves you with the impression she's comforting you about them.
It's that groovy, gentle-voiced extroversion that drives her debut LP Yellow Memories, a collection of "all soul music" that oscillates from genre to genre in keeping with the traditions of Eglo Records, the eclectic family of artists assembled by electronic producer Floating Points and label head Alexander Nut. Stylistically, Fatima could be compared to forebears Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and even—at her most whimsical—Janelle Monáe, but her delivery exudes a light sweetness, even when confronting heartbreak.” – Pitchfork
“Listen to Yellow Memories from start to finish and you're immersed in a distinct mood. Introspective R&B and soul is the theme. Much of the music is ambitious. Take the Flako-produced "La Neta," which switches times signatures halfway through, or the Theo Parrish-penned opener "Do Better," which has a sense of virtuosity and drama that's uncommon in modern music. Eglo boss Floating Points is a lynchpin to the operation, having produced five of the record's 12 tracks. His partnership with Fatima has created two of the best cuts here: the climactic "Do Better" and the comparatively pared down "Biggest Joke Of All." The latter is simply a boom bap beat, an amazing vocal performance and a keyboard jam, but its simplicity is exactly what makes it work.
Other guest producers here include Scoop De Ville, Oh No and Knxwledge. None of these are huge names, but all have cult followings in the world of leftfield beatmaking, and every one of these collaborations is a winner. Particularly worth singling out is "Circle," produced by Computer Jay and the ever-impressive Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra.” – Resident Advisor
Item description:
Artist: |
Fatima |
Title: |
Yellow Memories |
Label: |
Eglo Records |
Format: |
Vinyl, LP, Album |
Pressing: |
UK |
Release Date: |
12 May 2014 |
Genre: |
Electronic, Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: |
Soul |
Catalog No: |
EGLO36 |
Condition: |
New |
$36.00
In 2017, we’ve only caught a few glimpses of what Ivan has been working on, namely the soulful Kaytranada x Kiefer produced loosie “Also” and the jazzy MNDSGN produced single “Young Eye”. As it turns out, these two cuts are a good indication as to what the Oslo based artist has in store for us with his next LP release. On November 10h of this year, Ave presents his sophomore LP “Every Eye”.
“Every Eye”, with its symbiosis of different producers, musicians and vocal styles puts Ivan Ave in his own lane. Leaving behind the sample heavy sound he’s gained recognition with, Ivan embarks on his first musical journey free of chopped up jazz, soul and funk records. But it would be an understatement to say that “Every Eye” still has jazz, soul and funk for days. Enlisting musical homies like Fredfades, MNDSGN, DJ Harrison, Kiefer, Kaytranada and Dâm- Funk on the production side, Ivan carves out his path as an ever-growing MC and singer.
All-though “Every Eye” sometimes hovers in a state of weightlessness genre wise, there is no shortage of gravity in Ave’s lyrical universe. Ivan seems to have written this record as his own self help book, dealing with the mechanisms of the mind, the heart, and the world he sees (or doesn’t see).The title “Every Eye” refers to our various angles of view; the ones we choose and the ones we are assigned to. – Ivan Ave | Bandcamp
Label: JAKARTA – JAKARTA127 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Europe |
Released: 10 Nov 2017 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Jazzy Hip-Hop, Jazz-Funk |
$39.00
As with her previous work, Woods utilizes what’s functional—clapping games, lullabies, Paula Cole, headlines, statistics—to make music that defies categorization but not meaning. The result is unmistakable: HEAVN is protest music that sounds like a children’s playground. Every song here is resilient and steadfast without being angry and militant; almost each tune is a jingle. Produced largely by a coterie of ascendant Chicago stars—Peter Cottontale, oddCouple, Kweku Collins, Saba, and more—the tracks come off as if they’ve been cooked at a high temperature until all of the indignation has evaporated, leaving behind only hope and a rising strong vulnerability.– Pitchfork
Label: Jagjaguwar – JAG312, Closed Sessions – JAG312 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: US |
Released: 05 Oct 2017 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul |
Style: Contemporary R&B |
$39.00
Born in Assam, Gauhati, in Northeast India, but currently based in New York’s storied borough of Brooklyn, jitwam spent his formative years in New Zealand and Australia, before living in monasteries in Thailand, orphanages in South Africa, and washed out apartments in London. Of everywhere and nowhere, his music draws influence from a litany of iconoclasts including, but not limited to RD Burman, Moondog, The Velvet Underground, Yayoi Kusama, Jay Electronica, Jay Dilla, Moodymann, Leon Thomas, Madlib and Asha Bhosle.
Across the album he utilises knowledge acquired through years spent digging through dusty crates, and talents honed as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist. A series of stumbling, jazz/soul-rooted beat sculptures, each buried beneath a haze of fuzzy psychedelia, broken microphone blues, and articulated through a freestyled process he describes as “first thought, best thought”, ज़ितम सिहँ solidifies jitwam's spot as a major emerging talent.
Recalling the fourth world dreamscapes explored by oddball songwriters like Connan Mockasin, Clarence Clarity, Jai Paul, Silicon, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, it represents a time of transition and remembrance for jitwam, while still fulfilling the core qualities he looks for in song. In his words, “Music is a refuge. A shelter from the storm. A place you can go to close your eyes.” – Jitwam | Bandcamp
Label: Cosmic Compositions – CC017, HHV.DE – HHV670 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Germany |
Released: 15 Dec 2017 |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop |
Style: Downtempo, Leftfield |
$55.00
It's the utmost honor for Sonar Kollektiv to be in the position to introduce “Ankhor”, the brand new album by Liz Aku. Having recorded all sorts of music with different outfits as well as solo projects over the last fifteen years the Belgian soul singer and highly gifted songwriter definitely earned her stripes and is anything but a newcomer to this game. She seems to have found her own, distinctive voice, after traveling to New Zealand and a far-reaching encounter with Mara TK from Electric Wire Hustle.
With “Ankhor” (a combination of the Egyptian symbol for eternal life “Ankh” and “anchor”) Aku accomplished a masterpiece of Nu Soul, Jazz and Pop, which will make her join the upper league of the players on the scene. For this cause, several allies and befriended producers have helped her out. With Mara TK leading the way obviously, who co-produced three out of the album's twelve songs. On “Breathing Underwater” and the sublime, for the whole album groove defining opening song “The Drum Major Instinct” the native New Zealander duets with Aku. - Bandcamp
Label: Sonar Kollektiv – SK340LP |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Stereo, 180gm Gatefold |
Country: Germany |
Released: 05 May 2017 |
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Neo Soul, Contemporary Jazz |
$35.00
While jazz and funk are at the core of Michele Manzo’s musical foundation, the Italian artist deftly draws upon his inspirations in hip-hop, dub, and Brazilian music as both an instrumentalist and producer. But above genres, inimitable grooves are the key driver of his work, and in his grooves one can hear the vibe of a moment being captured and perpetuated for eternity. With this combination of musical depth and raw feeling, it is no surprise Michele has crossed paths with Darker Than Wax, and we feel truly blessed to present his LP ‘ALL RISE’ to the world.
‘ALL RISE’ is a genuine reflection of Manzo’s art form, which sees so many different styles and influences coming together in the most natural, organic way. Everything was recorded live using bass, synth bass, guitar, old analogue keyboards, blended together with modern synths, dub delays and ambient fx - giving off the familiar warmth of boom bap and progressive stimulation of neo-soul. The pervasive harmonies and clever use of chords give the album a real musical depth, but grounded with an effortless, natural approach to creation. - Bandcamp
Label: Darker Than Wax – DTW055 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Singapore |
Released: 25 Oct 2019 |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul |
Style: Neo Soul, Funk, RnB/Swing |
$39.00
Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker) fires off in a new direction while trying to bridge a gap with his diverse new EP featuring Afrobeat, R&B, soul, and Kaytranada—sometimes all at once. - Pitchfork
After teasing the project with a stylish Johann Rashad-directed trailer last week, Nick Murphy‘s Missing Link EP has arrived. Billed as “a new collection of tracks that bridge the sonic shift between Chet Faker and Nick Murphy,” Missing Link offers up five tracks in all and even kicks off with a collaboration between Murphy and Kaytranada, “Your Time.” The EP marks Murphy’s first post-Chet Faker project and follows the singles “Fear Less” and “Stop Me (Stop You),” both of which debuted in the latter months of 2016. - Hypebeast
Label: Future Classic – B0026427-01 |
Format: Vinyl, 12", EP |
Released: 10 May 2017 |
Genre: Electronic |
Style: Electro |
$30.00
For years, the music of UK vocalist Olivier Daysoul has been burning bright. A deep-voiced songwriter with a penchant for collaboration, the man has worked alongside Onra, Bibio and Hudson Mohawke in the studio and logged many a mile on the road with Oddisee‘s live backing band. If R&B were a kitchen, Olivier could rightly say that he’s worked every single station, from savory to sweet. But now, a change is happening. For his new Black Music project, the “Daysoul” moniker is being shed; Olivier is taking up his proper surname – St. Louis – as his new artistic identity, and from the sound of things the effect has been one of revitalization.
It only takes a few seconds for opener “Ain’t Cool” to find its stride, coasting Curtis Mayfield-like on the breeze. Things time travel to the late 90s on “Dog In Man,” which features a Dilla-level drum chop and more syrupy vocals. “Ship is Going Down” is an all-sneering strut, while EP closer “The Proud” gradually unfolds as a patient, tender ballad. With just one short and sweet record, the new Olivier St. Louis has already proven that there’s no groove he can’t bend to his melodic will. - Okayplayer
Label: JAKARTA – JAKARTA092 |
Format: Vinyl, 12", Single Sided, EP |
Country: Germany |
Released: 2015 |
Genre: Funk / Soul |
Style: Contemporary R&B, Neo Soul |
$32.00
After releasing a collaborative EP with Warp's Bibio, who is also featured as a producer on “Ever since the fall”, this 2nd solo release under Olivier St.Louis marks the starting point of worldwide live efforts for 2017 with continuous touring. He'll tour with German AnnenMayKantereit for a few dates & will join his partner in crime Oddisee for his “The Iceberg” Wolrd Tour afterwards. All of this comes after a successful UK Tour with Laura Mvula this fall. His upcoming release “Ever since the fall EP”, will be out on Jakarta Records in February 2017 and features productions by Bibio, Olivier himself and co-productions by Oddisee. 6 tracks somewhere in between lo-fi soul, drum computer sounds, warm basslines and funk trenched live compositions...
Label: JAKARTA – JAKARTA114 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, EP, Stereo |
Country: Germany |
Released: 03 Feb 2017 |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul |
Style: Soul, Psychedelic, Rhythm & Blues |
$39.00
Prince and his all-female backing band 3rdEyeGirl present Plectrumelectrum! A must have for the Prince completionist!
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 9362-49333-1, NPG Records – 9362-49333-1 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold |
Country: Europe |
Released: Nov 2014 |
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop |
Style: Funk, RnB/Swing, Soul |
$45.00
'The soul singer’s latest is a multi-perspective, multi-genre examination of addiction and family breakdown.'
'The R&B legend still stays close to the sounds that raised him, as on the straight-up gospel song “Belongs to God.” But even that inclusion belies an artist more willing to embrace loose ends, disorienting interruptions, and the unknown. On Jimmy Lee, Saadiq shout-sings, whispers, and croons with new abandon. It feels like a refutation of his old reserve, and it also represents a welcome stretch from Saadiq before he takes his sound all the way back to his beginnings: He recently announced that a Tony! Toni! Toné! reunion is in the works.' - Pitchfork
Label: Columbia – 19075965501 |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: US |
Released: 23 Aug 2019 |
Genre: Funk / Soul |
$48.00
"Husayn’s musical vision is fundamentally communal. And while The Loop’s big-name guests will likely draw attention to the project, it feels deeper and more complex than the typical big-budget, feature-heavy release. Much in the same way that classics by Parliament-Funkadelic, Rotary Connection, and Earth, Wind & Fire are group efforts that sprung from the brain of a single founder, The Loop is music born of Husayn’s singular creativity, but forged in the spirit of cooperation and egalitarianism." - Bandcamp Daily
Label: Eglo Records – EGLO53 |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo |
Country: UK |
Released: 16 May 2019 |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Contemporary Jazz, Contemporary R&B, Funk, Fusion, Hip Hop, Jazzy Hip-Hop, Neo Soul, Soul-Jazz |
$39.00
Language, the full-length debut from Starchild & The New Romantic, is the sound of Bryndon Cook occupying his space with unapologetic eloquence, envisioning a world where the crimson qualities of sensitivity and softness aren’t shamed, they are celebrated as magic.
“Black boys have a whole world of complexity that society makes us stomp out of ourselves.” Language communicates Cook’s refusal to do so. Describing himself early-on as a “young romantic boy from Maryland,” he’s long been a dreamer, a student of black music’s rich lineage and its intersection with pop. Cook is drawn to landmark moments where artists have found truth in darkness; the diverse language of music living in their core. These records in which phrases and motifs are deployed to document worth and define perspective, identity, calls to action. The pop album as artistic statement, as thesis. This record is his; lifting off from the monochrome world of Crucial, his 2016 EP on Ghostly International, up towards a dazzling blood-rush of sky-high defiance and autonomy. On Language, Cook refines his phonics for funk, electro, and R&B, and arrives at a revelation, best summarized by a single motto: “my sensitivity is my strength.” - Bandcamp
Label: Ghostly International – GI-310 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: UK, Europe & US |
Released: 12 Mar 2018 |
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop |
Style: Contemporary R&B, Funk, Synth-pop |
$39.00
'See You Soon’ is the third album from Tokyo-based UK native submerse on the Project: Mooncircle imprint. A mélange of Slow-Jams, R&B, Hip Hop and Soul created while on a steady diet of 90’s NBA basketball and Dreamcast games. ’See You Soon’ features collaborations from fellow Tokyo-based artist Fitz Ambro$e and L.A.-based Devin Morrison and Pink Siifu.' - Project Mooncircle
Label: Project: Mooncircle – PMC169 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Gold Marbled |
Country: Germany |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop |
Style: Instrumental, Downtempo, Chillwave |
$39.00
The L.A.-based singer and violinist makes her boldest and most fully formed statement yet.
“As the Greek myth goes, the goddess Athena sprang fully formed from Zeus’ forehead, wearing a suit of armor. Her purview included wisdom, the arts, wartime strategy, and cities, and she was revered as a model of righteousness and justice; her namesake city endured as a space for exploratory thought and bold ideas. The Ohio-born, Los Angeles-based Sudan Archives is the latest in a centuries-long parade of Athena enthusiasts, christening her first full-length album with the goddess’ name. The songs, her best yet, have the quality of revelation, and the album earns its namesake.” - Pitchfork
Label: Stones Throw Records – STH2412 |
$45.00
RSD 2020 Exclusive: Translucent purple vinyl release of remixes from The Weeknd's #1 album After Hours.
Tracklisting:
1. Heartless Remix (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)
2. Blinding Lights (Chromatics Remix)
3. Save Your Tears (OPN Remix)
4. Heartless (Vapor Wave Remix)
5. After Hours (The Blaze Remix)
6. Scared To Live (SNL Live)
Label: XO – 00602435160887, Republic Records – 00602435160887 |
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP |
Country: Europe |
Released: 27 Nov 2020 |
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul, Pop |
Style: Disco, Pop Rap, Trap, Contemporary R&B |