Crucial Material – Best Releases of the Week (July 14th, 2018)

Every week our heads are spinning from the amount of new music that lands on the “to-listen” pile. The sheer volume of new material to go through is absolutely dizzying to say the least, but it’s always worth it to come across some amazing gems such as these.

So here are our favourite releases of the week. All killer no filler!

Children of Zeus – Travel Light

Soul / Beats / UK Rap
Label: First Word Records – Purchase

Manchester, UK duo Tyler Daley and Konny Kon have been making some heads turn and ears perk up in the last couple years with their 4 EP’s on the always brilliant First Word Records. Finally, their first album has landed and it doesn’t disappoint! Every ounce of British Soul flavour finds its way onto the 13 track “Travel Light” from Rap, Soul, Jazz, Broken Beat. A no-brainer for the soulful heads!
– Lexis

Clara! Y Maoupa – Meneo

Future Dancehall / Digital Dub / Techno
Label: Editions Gravats – Purchase

I never thought that records with any mention of Reggaeton would be something making its way in my DJ crate but there’s no denying the movement that is coming from labels like Editions Gravats, Bokeh Versions, No Corner pushing Dancehall, Digi Dub and yes Reggaeton forward. After headlining a few Reggaetoneras mixtapes, this is the first original material from Spain’s Clara! Of course the show stopper is “El Raton” a brilliant take on the classic 90’s Playground Riddim but the whole EP is just killer! For anyone who are fans of Equiknoxx, Kode 9, The Bug or just forward thinking bad ass bass music.
– Lexis

Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad Presents: The Midnight Hour

Soul / Hip Hop / Jazz
Label: Linear Labs – Purchase

Comprised of Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge alongside a tight rhythm section and a full orchestra, The Midnight Hour features artists anywhere from CeeLo Green, Raphael Saadiq, Marsha Ambrosius, to Bilal, Eryn Allen Kane, Karolina and many more. Really beautiful stuff right here, filled with unparallelled musicianship and plenty of tracks to satisfy your craving. This one actually came out last month but slipped under our radar, shhhh!
– Mike

EOD “Named”

IDM / Braindance / Jungle
Label: BBBBB Records – Purchase

Sounds like if Venetian Snares started chewing bubblegum and jumped in the rave with with a bunch of plushies. Light and bubbly braindance madness for cruising Rainbow Road, with brief contemplative moments which don’t dwell. Pull it up and let it go!
– Mike

Benny Sings – Beat Tape

Soul / Beats
Label: Self-Released – Purchase

Brand new (old) material from Dutch singer and producer Benny Sings in the form of a lovely 18 track beat tape while we wait for his upcoming album. I think Benny is a criminally slept-on artist. Over the years, his music has always put a smile on my face. This beat/demos tape, like all of his music, has a certain sing in the shower or beautiful bike ride type of vibe to it. Summertime!
– Lexis

Jura Soundsystem – Transmission One

Dub / Balearic / Techno / Ambient
Label: Isle of Jura – Purchase

Australia’s Isle Of Jura Records / Temple Of Jura Records have really came out strong since their debut releases in 2016. The impeccable curation of Kevin Griffiths a.k.a. Jura Soundsystem always brings out serious nuggets for fans Cosmic vibes found across many genres like Disco, Electro, Ambient. This serious comp rounds up a load of dub, downtempo, boogie and synth cuts + some really lovely (and useful!) DJ sound effect tools!
– Lexis

Pablo’s Eye – Bardo for Pablo

Electronic / Ambient / Leftfield
Label: StroomTV – Purchase

There is quite a fascination right now in the digging world for 80’s and 90’s obscure leftfied/cosmic/ambient/balearic sounds. I’m certainly not complaining, I get to discover Belgian experimental groups like Pablo’s Eye. “Bardo for Pablo” is a collection of 6 unreleased experimental tracks plucked out by the peerless Stroom label.

Mkwaju Ensemble – Ki-Motion

Jazz / Fusion / Ambient / African
Label: We Release What The Fuck We Want – Purchase

Another bang on release from WRWTFWW, one of my favorite names for a label ever. The “official reissue of legendary album ‘KI-Motion’ by Japanese percussionist Midori Takada’s Mkwaju Ensemble. A highly creative and transcendental fusion of marimba, vibraphone, bamboo percussion and synthesizers, ‘KI-Motion’ was recorded in 1981 and captures the birth of Midori Takada’s exploration of minimalism, African rhythmic tradition, and ambient music.”

Bo’vel – Check 4 U

’90s R&B / UK Soul
Label: Be With Records – Purchase

I consider myself quite the 90’s R&B expert but I must admit I did not know about this absolute heater before the reissue project from always on point reissue / archival label Be With Records came out. A truly incredible slice of UK Soul from 1996 that still sounds futuristic. This checks all the boxes we love from a reissue project: a) giving unheard dope music a second chance of being heard b) making the Discogs shark stay thirsty (one seller is selling a copy for 2,000 US! slow down there…)

The Sound of Love International – Complied by Gatto Fritto

Dub / Balearic / Techno / Ambient
Label: Love International – Purchase

Love International is a festival held in Tisno, Croatia now moving into its third season. Held to a soundtrack of the very best of underground dance music and running 24 hours a day – from noon to night and back through again – full circle.  #001 is a truly incredible compilation that is definitely in the running for one of my favorites this year. A very well rounded selection ranging from Dubs, Techno, Ambient, Leftfield and beyond. Everything you’d love to hear under the Croatian sun! Massive shout out to the first compiler – Gatto Fritto a.k.a Ben Williams.”

Ted Dicks “Virgin Witch OST”

Soundtrack / Library / Groove
Label: Trunk Records – Purchase

Unreleased baroque Jazz horror score for the controversial lesbian sex cult witchcraft exploitation drama from 1973, released on Johnny Trunk’s very own.. no more needs to be said.
-Mike