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I, Ced has been something of a “best kept secret” among creators and aficionados of modern soul music. His wide array of skills ranges from production to vocals, keys, and studio mixing. His talents have found him in the company of many heralded contemporaries, including Jean Grae & Quelle Chris, Coultrane, Jimetta Rose, & Dam Funk. After having lent his talents to so many other luminaries in the underground music scene, Ced is now poised to make an impact with his own material, via his next project on Los Angeles-based MoFunk Records. As a label best known for synth-heavy west coast funk tunes, the partnership with I, Ced marks a daring expansion of the MoFunk sound. After debuting on MoFunk with an XL Middleton remix of his “Percu” single, Ced is now prepared to drop his first full-length with the label, Interpretations.

Ced’s songs are cinematic, expansive, and lush, a world removed from simple loops with vocals on top. Every instrument played, every vocal inflected, every chord change implemented, is treated more like a singular brush stroke on a painting you have to step back and take in as a whole to appreciate. In a musical landscape driven by catchy singles and viral promotion, it’s become exceedingly rare to find an album which plays out as an experience. Interpretations is exactly this. If Ced’s inspirations were colors on a painter’s palette, you might see dabs of Jam & Lewis, or Prince, or maybe Shuggie Otis, or even Sun Ra. But Ced does far more than pay tribute to his influences by intimating their unique styles. Indeed, he pays them the highest tribute of all by working them into his own sound - his Interpretation."

Tracklisting

Reflect (I Thought It Was Me) (feat. Moniquea & Reesha Archibald)
Mind Over Matter (feat. Zackey Force Funk, Jimetta Rose, Quelle Chris, Moniquea, & XL Middleton)
You Look Good To Me (feat. Erik Rico)
Stay (feat. Leon Sylvers IV, Moniquea, & Stopha Vasquez)
Due (feat. Centipede)
Call Me Up
The Other Side
When Tomorrow Comes (feat. Coultrain & Erik Rico)

Has previously worked with a laundry list of notable contemporaries, including Coultrain, Jean Grae & Quelle Chris, Kutmah, Dam Funk, Mndsgn, Om'Mas and more
Limited pressing of 300 copies
Features on the album include Quelle Chris, Coultrain, Zackey Force Funk, XL Middleton, Moniquea, Leon Sylvers IV, Jimetta Rose, & Erik Rico

With his first album dating back to 2001, Poirier is a prolific, creative and eclectic Canadian producer / musician with a 20 year journey of creating music. Constant in his albums and DJ performances is a desire to build bridges between different languages, communities, and cultures. His open, uninhibited musical mind means that his works bend boundaries, resulting in compositions that mix several styles and eras. He now has produced a total of 11 albums and many EPs with labels such as Ninja Tune, Nice Up Records and, more recently, Wonderwheel Recordings. Active in Montreal, his successful monthly dance party Qualité de Luxe is dedicated to African and Caribbean music, attracting crowds for over six years. Poirier is also the man behind Bounce le Gros and Karnival, parties with legendary status in Montreal nightlife history.

As usual with Poirier, it's hard to pin point all the genres and references on his new album. Soft Power has an irresistible warm vibe that will make anyone move and dance. It's warm, it's acoustic, it's electronic. Tracks "Café Com Leite" feat. Flavia Coelho and "Me Leva" feat. Flavia Nascimento transport the listener to Brazil while "Sim Bombei" and "Sowia", both featuring Samito, while the Sounds of West Africa influence "Nidiaye Sam" feat. Daby Touré. Then it's across the Atlantic to Montréal and Mexico with "Contigo" feat. Boogat, while "Pull Up Dat" feat. Red Fox is a Jamaican jam perfect for any dancehall party. "Nou Pare" feat. Coralie Hérard captures the heart of Haiti while "Do Kase" feat. Mélissa Laveaux fuses Canada and France with Haïti in the background. In his instrumental tracks, Poirier throws an afro house party at 4am with "The Junction", travels back in time on an island in the Mediterranean Sea circa 1987 with "Forma", and, finally, relaxes in the sun with "Coconut Beach.

Tracklisting
1 Café Com Leite
2 Contigo
3 Pull Up Dat
4 Sim Bombei
5 Do Kase
6 The Junction
7 Nou Pare
8 Nidiaye Sam
9 Forma
10 Sowia Poirier & Samito
11 Me Leva
12 Coconut Beach

Influential jazz collective Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids return with an epic new opus, ‘Shaman!’, released on 7th August featuring a fresh line-up including original 1970s Pyramids member

Tracklisting
ACT I: FIRE RITES OF PENANCE
SHAMAN!
TANGO OF LOVE
ACT II: A GLIMPSE Of ETERNITY
ETERNITY
WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN?
ACT III: UPON WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND
SALVATION
THEME FOR CECIL
ACT IV: 400 YEARS: THE CLOTILDA
VIRGIN
THE LAST SLAVE SHIP
DOGON MYSTERIES

PACKAGING: 1CD DIGIPAK WITH POSTER BOOKLET

Influential jazz collective Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids return with an epic new opus, ‘Shaman!’, released on 7th August featuring a fresh line-up including original 1970s Pyramids member Dr. Margaux Simmons on flute, Bobby Cobb on guitar, long- term associate Sandra Poindexter on violin, Ruben Ramos on bass, Gioele Pagliaccia on drums and Jack Yglesias on percussion. The band transitions from the political and social commentaries of 2018’s acclaimed ‘An Angel Fell’ into more introspective themes. “I wanted to use this album to touch on some of the issues that we all face as individuals in the inner space of our souls and our conscience,” explains Ackamoor. “The album unfolds over four Acts with personal musical statements about love and loss, mortality, the afterlife, family and salvation.” Evolving around Ackamoor’s intricate compositions, the album takes us effortlessly across moods and emotions through a series of expansive, extended pieces. Starting with ritual, soul-searching, and masculine vulnerability on the title track, the band explores timeless existence on ‘Eternity’ and mourns the sudden loss of loved ones in the prescient ‘When Will I See You Again?’, a track which gains new relevance amidst the current COVID-19 crisis. Ackamoor pays tribute to his mentor Cecil Taylor on the angular ‘Theme For Cecil’ and renders homage to the ancestors on ‘Salvation’ and ‘The Last Slave Ship’, recalling the last ship to bring slaves to the US from Africa, the Clotilda. The superb ‘Virgin’ is an anthem of forgiveness, new beginnings and self-healing. ‘Shaman!’ marks another significant landmark in The Pyramids’ discography with the band at the peak of their powers. It is produced by Malcolm Catto at his analogue HQ, Quatermass Studio, in London. Cover artwork features an exclusive new painting by Japanese artist Tokio Aoyama.

Personnel:
IDRIS ACKAMOOR: Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Keytar
Dr. MARGAUX SIMMONS: Flutes, Vocals
SANDRA POINDEXTER: Violins, Vocals
BOBBY COBB: Guitar, Effects, Vocals, Mbira
RUBEN RAMON RAMOS: Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass
GIOLE PAGLIACCIA: Drums
JACK YGLESIAS: Congas, Percussion

KEY POINTS:
• Best album by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids since band’s early ‘70s recordings
• Explores introspective themes of love and loss, family and the afterlife across four ‘Acts’
• Produced by Malcolm Catto at his analogue Quatermass studio in London
• Featuring original Pyramids member Margaux Simmons and long term band associates Sandra Poindexter and Bobby Cobb
• Original cover artwork created by Tokio Aoyama in Japan

FOR FANS OF:
Sun Ra, Oneness Of Juju, Pharoah Sanders, Tribe, Black Jazz, Gilles Peterson, Gil Scott Heron, Pharoah Sanders, John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, International Anthem, Archie Shepp, Fela Kuti, Bobbi
Humphrey, Mtume, Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Der schwer fassbare Edelstein des Harlemer Soul und Funk der 1970er Jahre von der Ray Alexander-Technique wird offiziell zum ersten Mal mit Bonustracks und bisher unveröffentlichten Alternativabmischungen wiederveröffentlicht. Der Gitarrist und Songwriter Raymond Alexander Jenkin wurde in den Uptown-Clubs so verehrt, dass ihm die Möglichkeit geboten wurde, als Hausband des Apollo Theaters aufzutreten. Jenkins zögerte, hoffnungsvoll und zuversichtlich in Bezug auf die Chancen seiner Gruppe, es aus eigener Kraft zu schaffen, und "Let's Talk" ist das großartige Ergebnis ihrer harten Arbeit. Unabhängig veröffentlicht und mit einem ausgeprägten Lo-Fi-Charme aufgenommen, ist es eine Sammlung von unverfrorenen, aufrichtigen Liedern, die das berauschende Milieu des schwarzen Stolzes und des kulturellen Bewusstseins der Ära und das klagende Gefühl des Kampfes, Träume zu verwirklichen, während man durch eine Stadt und ein Viertel im Niedergang navigiert, perfekt verkörpert.

Beatmaker / DJ aus Rennes, J-Zen stach mit seinem ersten Album mit dem Titel Managua hervor, das während einer Reise in Südamerika komponiert und zwischen Rennes, Paris, Berlin, New York und Los Angeles aufgenommen wurde, ist ein Aufruf zum Reisen, seine erste Quelle der Inspiration. Vier Jahre nach diesem ersten Werk und noch mehr Passstempeln präsentiert er Standa Lone. Featuring Mankind & Kid Abstrakt.

Richie Spice ist wieder da und knüpft nahtlos an die ersten Höhepunkte seiner Karriere in den Nullerjahren an, die ihn mit der Anti-Gewalt-Hymne "Earth A Run Red" und vielen weiteren Reggaeparty-Hits wie "Open The Door" (für Bobby Konders' Massive B), "Blood Again" (für Pow Pow/Blaze Riddim), diversen Mixtapebeiträgen wie "Marijuana" (u.a. für Diplo/Santigold) zum unbestrittenen Star der Szene machte. Für "Together We Stand" hat sich der Künstler (gebürtig Richel Bonner) mit Produzentenlegende Clive "Azul" Hunt zusammengetan und einen Longplayer der Spitzenklasse mit drei Stargästen realisiert an dem kein Reggaefan in 2020 vorbeikommt. Die kurze Spoken Word Begrüßung, feinstes Nyahbingi Drumming, die rollenden Bässe, der exzellente Einsatz von Gitarren & Keyboards, fulminante Bläsersätze, die perfekte Dosis an Hall & Delay und Backing Vocals lassen keine Wünsche offen. Als ersten Einstieg seien hier die aktuellen Singles "Valley Of Jehoshaphat", "Beautiful Life" (in Kombination mit der Sängerin Kathryn Aria), das Titelstück - eine Hymne der Solidarität - die für Jamaikas Covid-19 Benefiz Gala "Together We Stand / Telethon" Pate stand, sowie "Unity We Need" und "Murderer" mit Chronixx bzw. Dre Island und "Mother Nature" genannt.

Formate
- CD Digipak mit 12-seitigem Booklet (15 Tracks)
- LP Standard-Stecktasche, schwarzes Vinyl (10 Tracks)

Die in Tel Aviv als Tochter einer Familie mit marokkanischen Wurzeln geborene, in Berlin lebende Künstlerin und Produzentin J.Lamotta hat sich seit ihrem 2019 erschienenen zweiten Album "Suzume" immer weiter entwickelt. Sie hat die Unterstützung der internationalen Musikgemeinde gewonnen und tourt durch Europa und Asien, darunter das ikonische Blue Note Tokyo. Jetzt ist sie mit einer neuen EP mit dem Titel "Brand New Choice" zurück.

Control is the incredible debut album from Sydney based vocalist Natalie Slade, produced by Hiatus Kaiyote's Simon Mavin and featuring contributions from other members of the Grammy Nominated group.

Combining Soul, Jazz, Folk and RnB, Natalie's timeless vocals dazzle across 10 stunning tracks, perfectly complimented by rich, live instrumentation and Mavin's vibrant production. The album is classic to its core, whilst taking a fresh and energetic approach to a long tradition of Soul/RnB long players. Familiar broken rhythms and jazz heavy motifs, notorious with Hiatus Kaiyote's writing and arrangement style are present, reminding us throughout that we are in the hands of true masters. The result is a kaleidoscopic reimagining of sounds and styles from an exciting new vocal talent.

Recording began after a chance encounter between Natalie and the Hiatus keys player Simon Mavin, resulting in a writing session that quickly escalated into a full blown album project. The chemistry was clear and the creativity flowed. Spontaneous recording sessions ensued, with visitors to the studio jumping in to play on tracks, the levels of musicianship on the album never fall short of stunning and Natalie's poetic and enchanting song writing shines throughout.

The album kicks off with an energetic flash on 'Cloud Cover', an arpeggiating bass line bubbles over skipping drums and aquatic synths. The title track 'Control' puts it's foot on the gas with a driving synth bass, broken beats and soaring vocals. 'Colour' see's Natalie pouring out her heart to the universe over a fluttering mellotron whilst the beautiful 'There Is Light In Everything' gives her a chance to show off her vocal prowess. Control is a truly unique and dynamic debut album from two masters of their craft, we hope you enjoy it just as much as we do

Recommend for fans of Hiatus Kaiyote, Rosin Murphy, Fatima, Yasmin Lacey, Khadja Bonet.

Tracklisting
1 Cloud Cover
2 Humidity
3 Control
4 Gimme Ya Love
5 Love Light
6 Letter to Myself
7 I Won't Cry
8 Colour
9 There Is Light in Everything
10 Sunday Morning

Modern roots artist Richie Spice gets a limited edition 7-inch single release for producer legend Clive Hunt in a picture sleeve. "Valley Of Jehoshaphat (Red Hot)" is a big tune for real and one of the feature tracks from the artist's forthcoming album "Together We Stand". Originally written-by and performed by Max Romeo in 1975, it's the perfect re-make and masterpiece for 2020 in a one drop style with full horn section. The deeply moving official music video on VP Records' YouTube channel has already over 500k views in just a couple of weeks.

Video "Valley Of Jehoshaphat (Red Hot)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsKphOyQr0s

C r e d i t s
Drums: Shawn "Mark" Dawson
Bass: Daniel "Axeman" Thompson
Guitar: Wayne Armond
Keyboards: Franklyn "Bubbler" Waul & Clive Hunt
Percussion: Keith Cunningham & Clive Hunt
Horns: Dean Fraser, Everald Gayle, Dwight Richards
Backing Vocals: Rockaz Element
Recorded and mixed by Hasani "Snysh" Williams at Courtney Recording Studio and Mixing Lab.
Produced and arranged by Clive Hunt.

Tracklisting
Side One
A1 Valley Of Jehoshaphat (Red Hot)
Side Two
B1 Di Dub Dance (Dub Mix)

The first ever international album from the Republic of Djibouti and Ostinato's first studio recorded album. While the music of Somalia is widely celebrated, its neighbor, Djibouti, formerly known as French Somaliland, is home to an equally deep reservoir of its own unique Somali music.

A stunning collision of Indian Bollywood, Jamaican dub and reggae, sleek horns inspired by Harlem's jazz era, and the haunting and joyous synthesizer melodies of the Red Sea by Groupe RTD, the national radio band of Djibouti and one of East Africa's best kept secrets.

Helmed by Mohamed Abdi Alto, possibly the most unheralded saxophone virtuoso in all of Africa, and mentored by guitarist Abdirazak Hagi Sufi -- both of whom feature as instrumentalists on our Grammy-nominated compilation Sweet As Broken Dates -- Groupe RTD is the finest expression of Djibouti's cosmopolitan music style.

Alto honed his trade from a steady diet of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. Abdirazak's guitar style draws heavily from his love affair with Jamaican music. Young singers Asma Omar and Hassan Omar Houssein are fluent in the classic hits of Bollywood and Indian music. Synth player Moussa Aden Ainan brings a distinctly dexterous Somali touch, reminiscent of the exceptional keys work of Somalia's Iftin and Waaberi Band. Their sound is kept afloat by measured Tadjouran rhythms, courtesy of drummer Omar Farah Houssein and dumbek player Salem Mohamed Ahmed's perfect interplay.

Recorded in three days -- as per the strict limit set by Djibouti's national radio authorities -- with a state-of-the-art mobile recording studio replete with the very best audio interfaces and carefully positioned microphones around a less than soundproof room to achieve a vibrant, professional sound while maintaining the analog warmth of decades prior.

Double vinyl pressed at 45 RPM, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Tracklisting
1 Buuraha U Dheer (The Highest Mountains) [feat. Asma Omar]
2 Raga Kaan Ka'Eegtow (You Are the One I Love) [feat. Asma Omar]
3 Kuusha Caarey (The Pearl Necklace) [feat. Guessod Abdo Hamargod]
4 Raani (Queen) [feat. Hassan Omar Houssein]
5 Alto's Interlude (feat. Mohamed Abdi Alto)
6 Uurkan Kaadonaya (I Want You) [feat. Hassan Omar Houssein]
7 Halkaasad Dhigi Magtiisa (That's Where You'll Leave His Reward) [feat. Hassan Omar Houssein]
8 Iiso Daymo (Look at Me) [feat. Guessod Abdo Hamargod]
9 Suuban (Joy) [feat. Hassan Omar Houssein]
10 Wiil Wille (The Jumping Man)