Released: 16/03/2009

Speech Debelle is definitively one to look out for in 2009! Coming from South London, she has kept the unique british sound. For me it was the wonderful clarinet on top of solid beats that caught my attention – incredibly catchy

Her lyrics are honest, getting to grips with reality without loosing a positive outlook for the future. A sexy modest voice, yet filled with attitude and smarts. Hopefully this young girl will get the same amount of recognition as Lilly Allen got a few years ago, from what I have heard so far the talent is certainly there. The song has got some of that organic old school flavor and is not too far off One Self in its expression (I posted One Self – Bluebird, some time ago). 

Her debut single was “Searching”, a chilled ballade – but “They key” is definitively her best single yet. Her debut album “Speech therapy” is expected on Big Dada in may.

MySpace | SpeechDebelle.com | Big Dada | YouTube |

Released: 06/11/2000

When Mark Rae started Grand Central back in 1995, it was in response to the bustling hive of activity that his Manchester record shop Fat City had turned into. The likes of Aim, Only Child, Rae & Christian, Boca45 and Riton constantly in the shop looking old records and new beats. At some point, probably whilst looking out over a rain-soaked Oldham Street, it occurred to him that he had established a breeding-ground for talent. Unfortunately, the label ceased to exist back in 2006 – but the artists and their music still lives on.

Taken from the album “Satellites & Constellations” the record I have picked out was engineered and mixed by Mark Rae’s partner in crime – Steve Christian. Kriminul lay down the vocals. There is also a Nextmen remix of “I’ve got a right” out, but my copy is “part two” of the release and includes the LP mix of “I’ve got a right” along with “Space disco latino” and the Aquanote remix of “Getting it on”. All good tracks that I have been playing a lot though the years. 

“Getting it on” is a soulful slow groover, with a lovely little piece of vocal, while “Space disco latin” takes the sound into disco territory, with just the right amount of filter, strings and funk fueled guitar – It slowly builds without the need to lift off. Perfect for those afterhours where you don’t really know if you wanna chill or continue to dance. But it is the title track that never really left my mind. It brilliantly samples Sarah Vaughn’s “I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues” and “Coming Soon” by Slave, and Kriminul laying down some great vocals that adds the hiphop element to accompany the beats. Love it!

Searching for the track online, I couldn’t find any of the tracks, or even Sarah Vaughn’s original. I find that amazing – someone sort it out! This is too good to be left in some dusty discography!

Grand Central | MySpace | Fat City

Released: 08/01/2009

Off the magnificent “Powers & Oils” album, this new 12 from Johnson & Jonson (aka Blu & Mainframe) is dope. ’Mama Told Me’ is a big band sampling floorfiller with old school rhymes and tons off quirky funk. A very good track for all occasions. 

But for all its qualities, it is still ‘Hold On John’ that the production of choice on here. It was also included on the album, as a hidden bonus track. A great piece of moody, indie hiphop and brilliant sampling using John Lennon’s brilliant ”Hold On” with backing from the Plastic Ono Band with fellow Beatle Ringo Starr on drums and Klaus Voorman on bass. The touch of optimism in Lennon’s voice is the perfect antidote to the rhymes describing a low point in life. 

Fat City | Underground Hiphop | MySpace | Juno | Tres Records

Released: 05/04/2006

It is always good to discover new labels. Soulclap is an imprint from the Above the Clouds crew. Apparently, it is dedicated to updating and re-editing old school Hip Hop classics. That goes down well in my book. Initiative, class and quality. 

London’s Hoop and Lil Gav aka Tuff Love works over “Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Take You There” and “OC-Born to live”.The first of the two is one of the best re-edits I’ve heard for a while, adding a beautiful and playful piano line to the original slow and groovy beats and keeping the vocal. I can’t get enough of it. Liv Gav’s edit of “Born to live is quality as well. Good downtempo beats with proper old school rhymes. This 12 is strictly limited to 500 copies – so get your copy asap.

Fat City | MySpace | Phonica Records |

Released: 30/05/2005

Take an American, a Russian and a Swedish-born Chilean/Brazilian and you got a truely international hip-hop collective. One Self consists of Dj Vadim and MCs Blu Rum13 and Yarah Bravo. “Children of Possibility” is still a classic hiphop album – where “Bluebird” is the stand out track. 

The trio formed as a result of DJ Vadims extensive touring under the Russian Percussion banner. When Touring North America, Yarah Bravo originally provided the vocals, but when Yarah couldn’t be part of the rest of the tour, Blu Rum  stepped up to the task. Vadim saw the potential of both styles and organized One Self as a proper artist collective – The result was the 2005 release of “Children of possibility”.

| NinjaTune | YouTube | LastFM | MySpace | 

Released: 02/03/2008

This tune is crazy! One of the best mashes I have hear for a while. Beastie Boys “Tripple trouble” neatly laid together with Billy Ocean’s 1980 smash hit  “Stay the night”. What a baseline! Manmade the latter gives it a up-tempo workout and the Beastie’s additional layer of attitude. This one could lighten up even the most uptight dancefloor!

Fat City Records