From Roy Ayers to Stanley Clarke, not to mention these numerous remixes of classics from James Ingram, Kool & The Gang, The Emotions and the likes that have recently appeared on white labels, this first week of 2K4 look like marking an enthusiastic revival of the (true) groove. Meanwhile, the ones leadin' us straight into the future put their hands on what's gonna appear as the 2000's classics in the years to come. That's the way life grooves…

NU GROOVE (SOUL, JAZZ, BREAKS, BROKEN BEATS+ MORE…)

Best wishes to you and yours in 2004, a year bound to be placed under the sign of a groove renewal …

First of all, the funk dinosaurs are not all dead,! After the amazing return of Roy Ayers, it’s now time for legendary 70’s fusion bassist, Stanley Clarke to resurface, backed up on the first single by the abstract poet, Q-Tip (Sony). The later whose come-back with A Tribe Called Quest is sounding so good judging only by "I C U" featuring with the beautiful Erykah Badu. Waiting for ATCQ’s LP, the fans will have a little taste of things to come regarding the “tribe vibe” with Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s solo effort.

Ready to bet for some healthy disco revival…. or how to go backward (in time) to move (up and) forward ! From the superb Danny Krivit’s (to be found on his Strut compilation) to a good part of Salsoul’s catalogue reissued ( Leroy Burgess, Double Exposure etc) and the tons of bootlegs invading the racks of our favourite record shops like the classic James Ingram's "Yah Mo Be There" relifted by Grant Nelson amongst others. A contagious fashion that also affects the broken beat micro-cosmos such as breakologist, Domu whose new record on Neroli is named…"Disco EP" ! Meanwhile, a lot more confidential - if not obscure - the enigmatic Theo Parrish keeps on dazzling us with his "Ugly Edits". Tasty retouches of dusty treasures from jazz to funk and disco signed by Freddie Hubbard, Minnie Riperton, The Dells or even Sugarhill Gang.

As for the exploration, this 2004 millésime could be really special. First of all, hands down for Domu who remains busy, gifted and unlimited On Sonar Kollektiv. Before the stunning Umod album, the massive "Wah Wah" and "Story Of An Age" tracks are to appear on a 12" under his Zoltar pseudonym (another project put together with Volcov after Rima on Compost). The latest who's new single has just been remixed by Amp Fiddler, himself seing his infectious "I Believe In You" receiving sheer class treatment from BITA. Better known under the Bugz In The Attic name, the West London clan keep on running things as usual. After the excellent DKD's Future Rage album (DKD standing for Dego, Kaidi & Daz), Kaidi and Dego follow their path, mysfiying us once more with their Cousin Cockroach & Shoxx ‘s masks on "My Hi-Fi" for Archive. Meanwhile, Seiji has just offered his magic touch to one of England's soul sensations of this winter - Amy Winehouse – on "Take The Box" (Island). Also from this area, the secret Dons of Ladbroke groove, Ne-Grove aka Leroy Smith and Marcus Begg bless us with a grandiose debut-LP transcending the clichés to raise their love songs to the heights of good ol' Brit soul best remembered like Loose Ends !

But let’s get back to Volcov who’s also on the team alongside other ruff players like Domu, 4Hero, Viper Squad, IG Culture, Alex Attias and Tony Nwachuku (Attica Blues) for Big Bang’s compilation (aka Pete Herbert & Simone Seritella) on his own label Arision.

Meanwhile the Nuyorican grand brothers of bruk (a new nickname to broken beat for those who care, or if you prefer the killing syncope) … Masters At Work (and more precisely Kenny Dope) step up to claim their piece of the pie … judging by the hook on his last hit, "I Got Rhythm" from Soulfuzion featuring V : All I need is a broken beat ! A prelude to Mr Dope’s solo LP (which is cool if not absolutely breathtaking) graced with the sweet voice of V (revealed last year on the sublime "In Time" co-signed by Little Louie Vega and Touch Of Jazz (aka Jazzy Jeff & co).

The battle for global supremacy bet NYC and London stays on even though other cities usually add their names on it like Philadelphia with Vikter Duplaix’s return for a second opus (Singles - Prelude To The Future"). Graced with always more and more sexyness on obscures B-sides and other remixes (like "Galaxy" revamped by Charlie Dark and Recloose). Our perpetual traveller has put his vocals to "Moments Of Lust" first single from hot like fire DJ Marky and his man in the shadow, XRS. IRIE