Always easy to complain about this or that… To have a look back at yesterday, say that it was our good times and there will be no (better) tomorrow… Pretend it's like this and that there's nothing we can do about it… Then what ? Get ourselves a gun and put an end to our existences ??? You dare !!! Although we're surrounded by bad news every day, let's not forget that it's no one but us who've generated both the situation and the system that gets its resources from it. Meanwhile, here or there, a bunch of people keep on delivering good vibrations (King Britt as interviewed this week and Rocco featuring Nicinha scoring the Single Of The Week to name but a few), making our day thus giving us hope in a better tomorrow. Enuff reasons for us to invest our energies in trying to give them the best exposure we can…

When mentioning 33 RPM, guess you've understood that it's now time for some x-tra album reviews…

33 RPM

Oh man, what a year ! Extremes facing each other. On one hand, a world (ours by the way) keepin'on going upside down as if yesteryears' horror was nutin' but an appetizer as compared to today's ones… On the other one, faithful people demonstrating that there's no other answer but LOVE to the situation we're living.

Our deepest thoughts go to them, from Chicago bluesman, Terry Callier to one third of German threesome Needs (in other words Lars Bartkhun) and Blaze for their commitment in the fight against AIDS, but also sharing the duties on the latest Southport Weekender comp with Joe Claussell + all the ones thereafter Goran Kajfes, Parov Stelar, Alex Attias, Nicola Conte, Nitin Sawhney & Osunlade. We love you(r) music…

No doubt folks, we're really spoilt with all these goodies around. Should this be what the emblematic (Frederick Hamilton) Bohannon used to call "foot stomping music" at the time or sort of seasonal introspective vibes, I would humbly suggest you to have a careful listen to what comes thereafter.

We've got indeed a bit of everything as mentioned above on the aptly called Dreamland, our forthcoming Album Of The Month which happens to be the first solo effort from 1/3 of German production team Needs, Lars Bartkuhn aka Passion Dance Orchestra. Melody, groove, depth and freshness from an exquisite home made blend of latin, jazz, soul and house vibes (Needs Music).

Temperatures droppin' and leaves fallin' down the trees remind us how firmly we are in Autumn. As a matter of fact and although released in Aprilich/May in his home country, Goran Kajfes's Headspin album is to be put out on a more wide scale incl. countries such as France, Italy, Japan and U.S. and it definitely looks like an… autumnal collection. Is it because of the artwork of its sleeve ? Its smooth content quite minimalistic ? Both of'em I would say from this versatile Swedish trumpeteer who, like Bugge Wesseltoft in Norway, seems like being torn between electro and jazz perspectives. Gotta say that the atmospheres he develops are quite intimate, with a drop of nostalgia if not sadness at some time while carrying his Croatian/Yougoslavian roots even though it's not only and solely downtempo (Amigo).

Not that far away in terms of spirit and vibes is Austrian self made man Parov Stelar's debut LP Rough Cuts (Etage Noir). If regular to those pages, you may have heard about him after the releases of his "Kisskiss" and "Wanna Get" EP's which we've championed right here. A guy already touted as the inventor of a nu genre called minimal jazz house… Who then cares at the end of the day as long as it's good and no doubt it is, although not that groovy. But those constructions, man… Hmmm. Not to mention the ultra sweet vocal parts courtesy of Anita Riegler. Typically what we might call Austrian pastries with some experimental edge.

It's almost one bus stop from Austria to Switzerland, where Alex Attias aka Mustang has decided to come back after spending a few years in London. A message that is definitely in his music, should it be in the title of his solo effort (Back Home) as well as in its content which he describes as close to what he was doing before leaving his homeland. And the truth is although he's as versatile as ever, ranging from house to broken beat with a bit of solid soul, hip hop and some bits & bops here and there, his works sound dark and sharp, if not somehow weird due to the futuristic approach of the man (Compost).  

Down to South (in Italy) is the man who, probably, has the most silky touch around in terms of latin groove. Ladies & gents : Nicola Conte and his 8 piece band, not only revisiting 60's (cool) jazz but adding his unique view thus giving a brand new life amongst others to organic (dance) jamming as brilliantly demonstrated on 'Kind Of Sunshine' (a recent Single Of The Week here @ IDMW.com), the first offshot to be taken to his debut-LP, Other Directions, for Blue Note.

Let's go back up North to UK where Nitin Sawhney hails from. Not only is he a musician but first and foremost a musicologist, transporting his Eastern background to new territories, the way his ancestors did bringing flamenco from their native North Of India to Spain. Well, our dear brother goes one step further, surrounded by a cohort of patented researchers revamping his repertoire. Amongst them, Free Form Five, Quantic, Atjazz, Seiji, Bugz, Landslide, London Elektricity and Joe Claussell for an All Mixed Up session delivered with an extra CD mixed by the man himself. Pfaow ! (V2).

If you think the series is already over, you're damned wrong, as Chicagoan bluesman Terry Callier is back in full effect with his Lookin' Out self produced album and the result is – you know what ? – AWESOME from big band blues/jazz jams to vibrant pieces of complain to get your hair straight up along your spinal column. Emotions at their very best from the first to the very last note (Emarcy).

In a scene (the house one) drastically lacking of images, aural identification is none other than quintessential. It's exactly what Osunlade has taken care of while providing a bit of his on the numerous remixes he's done so far, although not killing the original spirit of what he's been commissioned to revamp. But all on all,  isn't that what's supposedly expected in such operations ? Our man demonstrates his versatility while embracing diverse worlds such as those of Spacek leaving a drop of jazz vibes on it, Roland Brival, adding a touch of Roy Ayers inspired jazz/funkiness, a bit of cotton depth on 4 Hero's music and so on, from John Beltram to Keziah Jones, Tortured Soul, Erro, Roy Ayers, Salif Keita and Cesaria Evora to name but a few with a proper sense of aesthetism. Well, we happen to talk about nothing but The Yoruba Soul Mixes collection on Rapster/BBE at the end of the day…

There's been the anthemic Jazz In The House series, then there would be The Soul In The House one left care of (you've guessed it ?) Phil Asher. Have to say that it's somehow hard to make the difference as many soulful tunes are jazzy and vice versa. At least, the expectations remain the same : good music and, no doubt, everyone looks at the right place. Nu Life featuring Kenny Bobien, former IDMW.com Single Of The Week Reel People 'The Light' as revamped by Copyright, Franck Roger's 'If', the abyssal 'I'll Never Know' by Will Milton, Soul Central's’My Wow', Big Moses' fluid 'Deep Inside' and the Jazzissimo 'The Journey' by George Mena & Frankie Estevez. Is this soul, is this jazz ? Who gives a single sh** as long as it's definitely in da house… And it is ! (Slip'N'Slide).

This Is How Radio Should Sound Like… We all know how airwaved programs sound like nowadays generally speaking, but what do we do at the end of the day ??? Philly visionnaire King Britt (this week's Interview) gives us a brilliant response while putting out the album of the name where he alongside his pals (Tony Motzer, Dozia and Phillip Charles and Capitol A) provides us with a collection of atmospheric soulful grooves based on those deviant futuristic approaches which have consistantly contributed to his reputation. We may even get a bit of pop attitude with the freshly squeezed 'Starship'. The work of a true aesthet, which is not that surprising from the 5/6 clan where you can also find Jody Watley, Michele Shaprow, Spacek and Justin Paul with soon to be released new projects. A fine appetizer indeed (Fivesix Recordings).

Putting an end to this month's album selection with what has to be taken, not only musicwise but also in terms of spirit as contemporary (conscious) soul. In other words, that famous collection called Keep Hope Alive put together by Blaze with a whole bunch of people you're familiar with if regular to these columns (Kenny Bobien, Arnold Jarvis, Barbara Tucker, Ultra Naté, Byron Stingily, Michelle Weeks, Dawn Tallman…). Altogether, they've created a collection of absolute gems dedicated to raising funds against AIDS and (also for that) deserve our full attention, respect and support (King Street).

Last but not least a few extra albums where you might also find goods to feed your mind, body & soul from Chateau Flight's The Metal, full of various bits'b'bops of various nature thus creating a collection of breakdowns, former Telex member Marc Moulin droppin' a new series of cool electro jams on his Entertainment album for Blue Note, a finest selection of deep atmospheric house jams from The Rurals and their pals on their Pêng label called Leko The Lazy Beat Lion. A really classy effort – Inspiracion Espiracion - by the likes of Ya Basta! man Philippe Cohen-Solal better known for his work under the Gotan Project guise, providing us with a mix that looks like a travelling shot in the streets of Buenos Aires (Barclay/Universal). Then Benelux lounge pope Monte Larue going upbeat with his new gathering called New Wave Disco for those into contemporary electro dance vibes (United Recordings).

33 RPM TENNERZ

TERRY CALLIER Paris Blues – album version (Emarcy/Universal)

NICOLA CONTE Kind Of Sunshine – album version (Schema/Blue Note)

V/A : KEEP HOPE ALIVE – KENNY BOBIEN Hiya Love (King Street)

NITTIN SAWHNEY Sunset – MJ Cole Mix/album version (V2)

V:A : THIS IS WHAT RADIO SHOULD SOUND LIKE - SCUBA featuring MICHELE SPAROW Angel – album version (Fivesix Recordings)

GORAN KAJFES Nuclear War (Amigo)

PAROV STELAR Sometimes featuring ANNA RIEGLER – album version (Etage Noir)

ALEX ATTIAS presents MUSTANG featuring COLONEL RED, MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE & SWEET ABRAHAM Everchanging Time – album version (Compost)

V/A : SOUL IN THE HOUSE – WIL MILTON featuring LAURAIN CHAPLAIN I'll Never Know (Slip'N'Slide)

V/A : OSUNLADE present THE YORUBA SOUL MIXES – SALIF KEITA Moussoulou (Rapster/BBE)