Say what ? Could it be that you still haven't voted for the best of 2K4 ??? Well it's still time doing it using the Polls page on our forum section…

US young producer Alix Alvarez has made quite some noise this year and is no doubt amongst the most talented faces to have appeared recently. Is he to be your favourite out of 2004 ? This we shall see. At least, he's our fave this week answering our Q's (Interview). Meanwhile, on the opposite corner is a heavyweight champion who needs no introduction. Probably the #1 in his genre since day 1 some… 25 years ago. Ladies & gents : Prince, scoring our Single of The Week with his famous "Digital Garden" as relifted by Adam Goldstone on some white label. Regarding our Album Of The Month to be online tomorrow, it's none other than Jazzy Jeff with his In The House delivery for Soulheaven on Defected and believe this, it could well be the comp of the year ! As for our current issue, it's definitely as groovy by the likes of JM Irie with his Nu Groove column. We know you're gonna dig this…

ISSUE #73

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

It's with big sadness that we've been told about the sudden collapse of Old Dirty Bastard aka Dirt McGirt aka Baby Jesus aka Russel Jones, other known as founding member of the Wu Tang Clan a bit more than a week ago. This furious rapper with unequaled charisma & noisy blues, although facing numerous problems with the justice, was working on his forthcoming album project at Jay Z and Damon Dash Roc-A- Fella label's studio. He'll be remembered for ever in the heart of those into hardcore hip hop ! May he endly rest in peace. This said ODB's production (the amount of which remaining unknown at the present time) should inspire many new generations of rappers, from Brooklyn to Paris… Starting with Versailles based Fuzati, exquisite vocalist of le Klub Des Loosers, whose first LP has just been released on Record Makers (Air's label). If not the psychotic Parisians TTC whose new piece of plastic on Big Dada is as arty as dirty ! Who by the way has said that art was made to chock the upper classes ?!

We've Been Said That TTC'd reached the cult status in Japan. Well, surely not as much as those 2 Nippon groove Yakuzas better known as Kyoto Jazz Massive. The Okino bros are currently celebrating the 10th B-day of their much sought after Especial Records label with an exquisite series of EP's full of delicate goodies such as Restless Soul featuring Rasiyah "Time To Fly" (seing Phil Asher back in full effect after a sort of sabbatical year) Afronaught featuring Alison David "Now Or Never" (already looking like a future hit at the Co-Op nites!),Face "No Fear" (another wonder by the likes of Dego/4Hero) and Marcus Enochson featuring Ingela Olsson "Listen 4 It". Vol.2 features Domu "Taking Flight", Dego & Kaidi Tatham "Come With Me. And #3 has Kyoto Jazz Massive themselves on board with "Endless Flight (12" Edit)", Lars Bartkuhn "First Friendship" and Reel People featuring Vanessa Freeman "Tomorrow Never Comes.

The latest are also making their come back as classy as usual on their own Papa Records label with a new seasonnal gem called avec la classe qui les "The Rain". Could it be all those marvels hailing from UK find life because of the rain pushing our British neighbours to try to find some better time in their studios ? See Dominic Stanton for instance, equally on board on the KJM comp. Domu, that genious breakologist whop remains one amongst the most prolific producers at the present time whatever the genre maybe ; that one touted by some people as a sort of Miles Davis within the broken beat area, can do everything good, should it be house, techno, broken, disco, beatdown ou hip hop. From a moniker to another, he manages to extend the width of his expression, should it as as a post-producer for Unforseen on Wah Wah 45, Pianorama on Obliqsound or for Break Reform. Not to mention his works with Shifty under the Yokoto on Neroli (following his superb "Discotheque EP"). I wonder when this guy's sleeping… And if you ain't got the time to see him behind the desk, let me invite you to come along on Dec.11 at le Nouveau Casino, rue Oberkampf à Paris where he's awaited to spin for the RPM collective/ rootspeople.com alongside Tony Nwachuku (ex-Attica Blues/Nepenta), Landslide (Hospital) and yours trully. A bon entendeur, salut ! IRIE

J’M IRIE’S NU GROOVE HOT 10

AFRONAUGHT featuring ALISON DAVID Now Or Never (Especial)

ANTHONY HAMILTON Lucille - Theo Parrish ugly edit 9 (Ugly Edits)

JERU DA DAMAJA featuring LIL’ DAP “Don’t Get It Twisted” (Tygereye)

MOS DEF Modern Marvel (Geffen)

VISIONEERS Roll A Small One (For The Ride) (Omniverse)

MAGIC NUMBER ? - Domu Hip Hop Mix (CD-R)

REEL PEOPLE The Rain (Papa)

PLATINUM PIED PIPERS Saturday Night (Ubiquity)

THE REBIRTH Evil Vibrations (Ubiquity)

CYBERWORKS Funk Cluster (Twisted Funk)