February Purchases......

Middlewood Sessions - Red Waters/Astro Blue EP (Wah Wah)

Phonica Records state......"New 12'' from the Middlewood Sessions boys - a double-a sided single on Wah Wah 45s that shows off the boys´ penchant for a club jazz banger - "Red Waters" - combined with a sublime, string laiden, timeless vocal cut - "Astro Blue". 2008 looks like being a big year for these chaps as they´re surely poised to take the next steps in their mission to bring cinematic jazz to discerning music lovers"

Gilles Peterson 'In The House' Exclusive EP3 (Defected)

Phonica Records states.....The third and final EP of utterly exclusive tracks and remixes comissioned solely for Gilles Peterson's 'In The House' compilation. Features tracks from Kings Of Tomorrow, Zed Bias, Season & Sygaire and an exclusive house mix from Carl Craig of Tribe's 'Livin' In A New Day' that didn't come out on the Planet E release!

For me, its all about the Carl Craig of Tribe's 'Livin' In A New Day'......amazing.

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 (LP 1)







Side 1
1. The Anambra Beats - "Ayamma"
2. Clestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National - "Okwukwe Na Nchekwube"
3. The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination - "Amalinja"
Side 2
1. The Funkees - "Akula Owu Onyeara"
2. Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band - "Oja Omoba"
3. WMA The Harbours Band - "Koma Mosi"
Side 3
1. The Semi Colon - "Nekwaha Semi Colon"
2. Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros - "Osalobua Rekpama"
3. St Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band - "Onwu Ama Dike"
Side 4
1. The Sahara All Stars Of Jos - "Feso Jaiye"
2. Mono Mono - "Ema Kowa Lasa Lle Wa"
3. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders - "To Whom It May Concern"

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 (LP 2)







Side 1.
1. Asiko Mi Ni - The Nigerian Police Force Band(The Force 7) (5:09),
2. Belema – Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown)(6:12),
3. Alabeke - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band of Aba (4:35)
Side 2.
1. I Want a Break Thru’ - The Hykkers (3:01),
2. Arraino - Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band (3:02),
3. Simini – Yaya - Collins Oke Elaiho & His Odoligie Nobles Dance Band.(3:39)
4. Buroda Mase - Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top beats (4:55)
Side 3.
1. Business Before Pleasure - George Akaeze & His Augmented Hits (4:36),
2. Omo Yen Wu Mi - Shadow Abraham with Mono Mono Friends (3:28),
3. Blak Sound -Leo Fadaka & The Heroes (4:53)
Side 4.
1. Torri Wowo - Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors (3:07),
2. Eguae Oba - Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7 (4:29),
3. Akpaisong - Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes (2:28),
4. Ugali - The Tony Benson Sextet (5:21)

Nigeria 1970. Highlife, Afro-beat, Rock, Jazz & Native Blues rub shoulders and are turned out at an unprecedented level. New styles meet old styles. Newfound national confidence follows the near break-up of the nation following the Biafran war. New fashions meet old fashions, creating new fusions. Soundway present this 2x Double LP of original and previously un-reissued tracks from the time complete with extensive liner notes, rare photos and cover art.

'A magical collection of Nigerian recordings from the 70s' ***** (Observer Music Monthly)

'A deep selection that yields more with each listen, this is recommended for aficionados and passing fans alike' **** (Songlines magazine) 'Nigeria Special is an aural and design classic' ***** (Mojo)

QUANTIC/NICKODEMUS feat TEMPO & CANDELA ALLSTARS - Mi Swing Es Tropical (7 Inch)

New York's finest Nickodemus meets Quantic in San Juan for 3 days of music making with Tempo & The Candela Allstars. Here is the result. Released and cultivated by Pablo Rodriguez of Candela Records and Candela Bar.

Fat City Records say..... "Originally released back in 2005, Tru Thoughts have managed to re-release it which is good news because as well as being a scorching club track it has been in high demand since being used on Apple's I Pod TV adverts.Quantic goes latin with the this scortching number. The young super producer and musician Quantic teams up with Nickodemus and Tempo and the Candela Allstars to produce this track. Recorded in Puerto Rica, this is dancefloor dynamite".


QUANTIC feat SPANKY WILSON/DJ AEON SEVEN - Modern Funk Sampler 2 (Freestyle 7 Inch)

"Another sampler from the recent "Modern Funk" compilation, mapping the biggest players of 2007 in the funk world. Retaining the style and ethics of original funk compositions, but giving them a new millennial twist, these 2 tracks should see some action on the dancefloor. Kicking things off is living legend Spanky Wilson is responsible for the anthemic cover of "Sunshine Of Your Love" - an end of night classic at clubs the world over. Hooking up with the closest contender to claim James Brown´s crown as "the hardest working man in show-business" - Mr Will Holland (aka Quantic), this is one of the finest examples of old meeting new and it works a treat! On the flip, a relative newcomer to the funk scene, France´s Aeon Seven gives us a drum heavy workout with some fat horns and fresh Hammond thrown into the mix". Phonica Records


Philip COHRAN & THE ARTISTIC HERMITAGE ENSEMBLE - The Malcolm X Memorial
Dusty groove "A brilliant tribute to the late Malcolm X -- served up by Chicago's legendary Artistic Heritage Ensemble! The record's got an even farther-reaching sound than the group's self-titled effort -- a flowing style that unfolds as their tribute to Malcolm rolls on -- starting spare and earthy at first, then picking up a fuller, prouder, much more righteous groove as things really get going! As before, there's plenty of heavy percussion at the bottom of most tracks -- topped by complicated horn passages that often verge on the exotic -- and which have a tremendously captivating sound. The ensemble's led by the great Phil Cohran, who played with Sun Ra for a bit, and also plays cornet on the record -- the rest of the group includes Charles Williams, Don Myrick, Louis Satterfield, Pete Cosey, Henry Gibson, Willie Woods, and Aaron Dodd -- a lineup of players who also worked with Sun Ra, The Pharoahs, and Earth Wind & Fire! The LP's a suite of 4 tracks dedicated to Malcolm X, each capturing a period of his life, "Malcolm Little", "Detroit Red", "Malcolm X", and "El Hajj Malik El Shabazz".