Category Archives: Hip Hop

CULT CLASSIC:NIGHTMARES ON WAX-SMOKER’S DELIGHT.

Cult Classic: Nightmares On Wax-Smoker’s Delight. Four years after releasing their debut album A Word Of Science: The First and Final Chapter in 1991, Nightmares On Wax returned with their much-anticipated and critically acclaimed sophomore album Smoker’s Delight. It was released on the ‘24th’ of October 1995 by Warp and awas part of the soundtrack …

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CULT CLASSIC: DJ SHADOW-PRIVATE PRESS.

Cult Classic: DJ Shadow-Private Press.  On September the ’16th’ 1996, DJ Shadow released his critical acclaimed landmark debut album Endtroducing…..on the label Mo Wax Recordings. Endtroducing….which featured uptempo jams and slow, dark and broody tracks was inspired by early hip hop and was hailed as a genre classic-in-waiting.  It was no surprise when Endtroducing….was certified …

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EABS-DISCIPLINE OF SUN RA.

EABS-Discipline Of Sun Ra. Label: Astigmatic Records. Format: CD. Having orbited planet earth and ascertained that it was safe to land, the spaceship carrying the Sun Ra Arkestra landed in Kalisz, one of the oldest cities in the Polish People’s Republic on the ‘7th’ of December 1986. Martial law had been imposed by the Pro-Moscow …

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RONNIE HEREL PRESENTS NEO SOUL SESSIONS VOL. 1.

Ronnie Herel Presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘9th’ November 2020. DJ and producer Ronnie Herel began DJ-ing in London’s clubs in the eighties, and by the nineties he was already a familiar face as he continued to champion the best in soulful music in Britain. This was …

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IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS- SHAMAN!

Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids-Shaman! Label: Strut. Nowadays, not many groups are still together after forty-seven years. Many groups call time on their career after three or four albums citing “artistic differences” but are keen to reassure their fans that they’re “still friends” and that the band had “run its course.” This has happened to some of …

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DANIEL HAAKSMAN-BLACK ATLANTICA EDITS.

Daniel Haaksman-Black Atlantica Edits. Label: BBE Music. Release Date: ’24th’ of April 2020. Over the last few years, Berlin-based DJ, producer and record label owner Daniel Haaksman has been reworking tracks by everyone from CK Mann + Carousel 7 and Soul Brothers to Francis Bebey, Bonde Do Rôlé and Kaba Blon and these edits have become favourites …

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NIGHTMARES ON WAX-SMOKER’S DELIGHT 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.

Nightmares On Wax-Smoker’s Delight 25th Anniversary Edition. Label: Warp. Four years after releasing their debut album A Word Of Science: The First and Final Chapter in 1991, Nightmares On Wax returned with their much-anticipated and critically acclaimed sophomore album Smoker’s Delight. It was released on the ‘24th’ of October 1995, Warp, who have just reissued …

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THE DAISY AGE.

 The Daisy Age. Label: Ace Records. Release Date: ‘30th’ August 2019. When is a movement not a movement? When it’s the Daisy Age, which was  never really a movement. It’s been described more like an ethos or set of principles that for a short while, pervaded into hip hop, R&B and even pop. The ironic …

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COLOMBIAN SOUL COMPILED BY BAGAR AKA TRICKY D.

Colombian Soul Compiled By Bagar AKA Tricky D. Label: BBE Music. Release Date: ‘7th’ June 2019. During a long and successful career, Dean Bagar has done just about everything in music,  from managing brands and folding record labels to owning a record shop, DJ-ing and working as a producer. He also collaborated with General Electrick …

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ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA-MADVILLAIN VOLUME 1-VINYL.

Abstract Orchestra-Madvillain Volume 1-Vinyl. Label: ATA. On the ‘30th’ of June 2017, the Abstract Orchestra, who are led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, released their debut album Dilla to plaudits and praise. Buoyed the response to Dilla, the Abstract Orchestra headed out on a lengthy tour of Britain where the all-star hip hop band’s music found …

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IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS- AN ANGEL FELL-VINYL.

Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids-An Angel Fell-Vinyl. Label: Strut. Bruce Baker in was born in 1951, and grew up in Chicago, before moving to Ohio, where he studied at Antioch College, which was where he first encountered jazz pianist Cecil Taylor and became part of his Black Music Ensemble. Cecil Taylor also mentored Idris Ackamoor, …

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THE BETA BAND-THE BETA BAND-VINYL.

The Beta Band-The Beta Band-Vinyl. Label: Regal Records. Buoyed by the success of 1998s critically acclaimed The Three E.P.s compilation, The Beta Band’s thoughts turned to recording their debut album. Initially the plan for the Edinburgh-based band was to record parts of the album on different continents. However, financial constraints put paid to this plan, …

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ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA-MADVILLAIN VOLUME 1.

Abstract Orchestra-Madvillain Volume 1. Label: ATA. On the ‘30th’ of June 2017, the Abstract Orchestra, who are led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, released their debut album Dilla to plaudits and praise. Buoyed the response to Dilla, the Abstract Orchestra headed out on a lengthy tour of Britain where the all-star hip hop band’s music found …

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THE BETA BAND-THE BETA BAND.

The Beta Band-The Beta Band. Label: Regal Records. Buoyed by the success of 1998s critically acclaimed The Three E.P.s compilation, The Beta Band’s thoughts turned to recording their debut album. Initially the plan for the Edinburgh-based band was to record parts of the album on different continents. However, financial constraints put paid to this plan, …

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DJ SHADOW-PRIVATE PRESS.

DJ Shadow-Private Press.  Label: UMC. On September the ’16th’ 1996, DJ Shadow released his critical acclaimed landmark debut album Endtroducing…..on the label Mo Wax Recordings. Endtroducing….which featured uptempo jams and slow, dark and broody tracks was inspired by early hip hop and was hailed as a genre classic-in-waiting.  It was no surprise when Endtroducing….was certified …

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LEFTO PRESENTS JAZZ CATS

Lefto Presents Jazz Cat Label: Sdban Ultra Belgium. Each and every week hundreds of new compilations are released into what’s become an increasingly competitive compilation market. Many of the compilers hope that their compilations will be the first in a long-running series. However, only a few of these compilations will return for a second instalment. The …

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THE DELI-JAZZ CAT

THE DELI-JAZZ CAT The Deli-Jazz Cat Label: Cold Busted Record Company. Each and every week of the year, major and independent record labels in across the world release new albums onto a fiercely competitive and crowed global marketplace. It’s a market where often, resources are scarce and the consumer can only afford one of two …

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THE MAN FROM MO’ WAX (MUSIC  FROM THE MOTION PICTURE).

The Man From Mo’ Wax (Music From The Motion Picture). Label: UMC. Twenty-six years ago in 1992, eighteen year old British electronic musician James Lavelle, and DJ, producer and recording artist Tim Goldsworthy cofounded a new record label Mo’ Wax. Little did anyone realise that Mo’ Wax would go on to release some of the …

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FRODE HALTLI-AVANT FOLK.

Frode Haltli-Avant Folk. Label: Hubro Music. Release Date: ‘15th’ June 2018. Album Of The Week. Frode Haltli was born in Levanger, in the municipality of Trøndelag, on the ’15th’ of May 1975, and by the time he was seven, had already started to play the accordion. The young  Frode Haltli proved to be a prodigious …

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NICKODEMUS-A LONG ENGAGEMENT.

Nickodemus-A Long Engagement. Label: Wonderwheel Recordings. Brooklyn-based producer Brian J Nickodemus Nickodemus was only fourteen when he made his DJ-ing debut behind the wheels of steel, and just like many before him, he was hooked. Soon, he was playing out on a regular basis and throwing his parties where he played everything from hip hop …

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