Nu Groove columnist Irie takes the command this week with a new selection of twisted corkers of the vein, while MFSB is currently having a (short) break by the seaside, putting the shpaes to some forthcoming projects of his own. Also on display this week, an interview with Ricanstruction honcho Frankie Feliciano, currently in France for two dates, and our new album of the month from French pair Oscar, amongst others…

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

Starting this column like the former one of the name with another wink of an eye to the great Groovement parties (monthly at the Rex club in Paris, thanks to Eva Gardner and Gilles Peterson) who are about to host a dream team formed by DJ's Pone, Lil’ Mike & Crazy B.

The French champions behind the turntables and their next project which is set to be a big event in the ever expanding world of turntablism. From the words of one of their closest partners, DJ Damage (Jazz Liberatorz), they’re about to give each and everyone a good run for their money, including the (supposed) unbeatable Ill Skratch Pikls (absolute legends in this discipline !). We’re talking about real compositions moving towards jazz/funk played totally live (armed with a pure feeling and not just a boring technique !) with decks as only instruments. Needless to say we can’t wait to experience this revolutionary show live and direct…

While Damage and his Jazzlib’ crew are also making us proud with their last releases in the deepest tradition of hip hop with a soulful twist. Whether it be their two last 12’s on Kif – the latter with appearances by Declaime and T-Love is definitely too cool - or their Rotation Result compilation proposing “la crème de la crème” of American independent hip hop from Jurassic Five to Wildchild or Asheru (Double H).

Another producer constantly expanding his horizons … Wajeed (discreet member of Slum Village). Just listen to his techno-logic "Tron" tune, gliding on an endless track like in a ghost train lost somewhere between Mad Mike, Jay Dee and Kraftwerk !

Our man (who calls himself boldly “Detroit’s best kept secret") not happy with driving mad all the beat freaks with dozens of fat and sticky instrumentals available on his own label, Bling47.com, has now signed an album – as Platinum Pied Pipers - for Ubiquity records. With the help of a versatile cast of people (mostly neighbours from the D) like the sweet soul singer Dwele, the absolute genius architect of the Beatdown sound Theo Parrish, the Philly poet Rich Medina or Jay Dilla (his alter ego in Slum Village). Not forgetting the participation of a collective hidden behind two syllables we’ve not finished to celebrate : Sa Ra…Also known as Sa-Ra Creative Partners (when they’re working for top dogs in hip hop/soul such as Bilal, Pharoahe Monch, Erikah Badu…even Dr Dre or G-Unit !). First of many heavy productions to come soon from their camp, let’s note the promptly named "Glorious", powerful title to be found on the excellent compilation from Mancunian label Fat City, Hip Hop Loves Soul…

Do we still have to spell it out for you, most of the artists here are true iconoclasts in their own right, each playing with and fusing many styles to reinvent the content… And which best example of a modern chameleon than the lord of Porto Rico, mighty priest of the deep groove ? Osunlade !!!. His Yoruba imprint comes back chanting the spring with a lot of good surprises. From the massive "Mr President" (a burning letter to Bush Junior…who said house didn’t had strong messages anymore ?) and the moving "Macao" to many deep house jewels with an infectious afro-latin vibe by Sin Palabras, Djinji Brown and a remix signed by new Parisians rookies, Hi Perspective (…already responsible for an elegant remix of Astor Piazolla, a 12’ with the breathtaking Marylin David on Nekho records and a great afro beat 7’ by Frank Biyong).

Ending up this hit list with a good old broken fix for the headz. Because if calm is apparent at the surface , there’s an arsenal of supersonic weapons of mass funktion waiting to burst out the labs to heat up the sound-systems worldwide. One out of many being the “killa ragga bruk song” going by the name of "Yin Yang" produced by Seiji with a bouncy vocal featuring by Spoonface, half of the dynamic duo called Ear Dis (which second 12’ on their Wunnademwunns imprint via Goya is also very explosive indeed !).

And if you desperately can’t wait to get your hands on those tunes… Only one solution to hear them : get to the Co-Op events…twice a month at the ultimate temple of sound, Plastic People, in London (England not Canada of course…).. IRIE

NU GROOVE HOT 10
JAZZ LIBERATORZ featuring T-LOVE “?” (Kif)
ISLEY BROTHERS & MOS DEF "?" (CD-R)
FRANCK ROGER & CHRIS WONDER “No More Believe” (Kenlou)
OSUNLADE "Macao" (Yoruba)
THEO PARRISH "Split Me Open" (Sound Signature)
EARS DIS “" Feel" (Wunnademwunns)
DOMU "The Long Way Up" – Nu Era Remix (Neroli)
SA-RA “Glorious” (Fat City)
TCHOK "?" (Astral Vibes)
DJ RELS "Broken Soul” (Stones Throw)