Artist: MOBY
Title: 18
Label: V2 Records
Link:http://www.v2music.com/
Root: US/ Pop-Electronica
Moby is the haiku poet of pop. No fluff and straight to the point, each track he produces delivers the perfect number of hooks and becomes an instant sing-along, yet remains metaphorical enough to let the audience fill in the blanks and meet him half way. Moby's music is a journey that spans over a decade and each cut, while more refined and evolved than prior works, also reflects every creative innovation that makes Moby's music unmistakably recognizable: driving bass lines, swooning keyboard drones, cinematic string arrangements, bouncy piano progressions as well as every techno tweakery are all applied methodically without farfetched eccentricities. The sum of all of Moby (from the new wave 80's tribute of the first two singles "we are made of stars" and "extreme ways", then revisiting the uplifting electro-gospel hybrid of his previous album, to exploring Eno-esque moody soundscapes haunted by the vocals of Sinead O'Connor and Azure Ray, then flirting with the classic Motown vibe on soul infused downtempo heartbreakers, to the MTV sure-fire hit ""jam for the ladies" featuring Angie Stone and MC Lyte), 18 is a masterful tour de force, emotional to the core, mature, unapologetic and bold, an unpretentious milestone that candidly captures the fleeting essence of our time.

Artist: NUSPIRIT HELSINKI
Title: SELF TITLED
Label:Guidance Records
Link: http://www.33rpm.com
Root:Finland/ Acid Jazz-Downtempo
It's all back to the basics with this 14 piece band comprised of DJ's, Jazz musicians, soul singers and MC's, getting busy resuscitating the funky vibes of the Brand New Heavies and the Groove Collective. More moody and beat conscious than the original, the acid jazz of Nuspirit Helsinki inspires conformable furniture, dimmed lights and intimate encounters. Muted trumpets and baritone saxes rule with cool under the soulful vocals of Brooklyn born Nicole Willis (aka mrs Jimmy Tenor), Lisa Shaw (here under namesake Mercury), acclaimed Chicago spoken word artist Chuck Perkins and Nuspirit's own Ona Kamu. Not retro by any means, the luscious production avoids the trappings of the current broken beat trend and would rather echo a not so distant past with a classic Jazz root, a downtempo feel and a neo soul sensibility. An afterhours high note that loves to be played low, the album exhudes the warmth and coziness of a smoky jazz club.

Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title: VERVE REMIXED / VERVE UNMIXED
Label: Verve Records
Link: http://www.vervemusicgroup.com
Root: Various/ Jazz-Soul-Electronica
What may first come across as yet another marketing ploy disguised as a remix project, is in fact a wisely crafted collection three years in the making. The brainchild of Verve execs Dahlia Ambach-Caplin and Jason Olaine, "Remixed" explores the love affair between classic jazz and the dance world. Trusting its vaults' treasures (Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Astrud Gilberto, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone to name a few), to the skilled hands of the most ingenious dance producers of our time (Masters at Work, Richard Dorfmeister, Tricky, Rae and Christian, King Britt, Thievery Corporation, MJ Cole et al), in an unprecedented move to revitalize its catalogue, Verve reintroduces timeless classics two generations later, with Downtempo, 2 Step and House remixes that preserve the essence of the original songs, but become the classics of a new century. The very low priced companion CD "Unmixed" compiles all the source material and offers a glimpse into what inspiration and process may have motivated this upscale undertaking

Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title: REWIND
Label: Ubiquity Records
Link:http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/
Root: Various/ Downtempo Electronica
In a classic Ubiquity style, Rewind is a sophisticated compilation that knows no boundaries. Tracks by Nat King Cole, the Doors, Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, the Stranglers as well as many other classics are reworked and reinterpreted by a global array of artists and producers who are here paying tribute to those who once inspired them. From the obscure downtempo of "Riders on the Storm" by Hungary based Yonderboi, to the loungy vibes of Pink Floyd's "Breathe" covered by Open Door, then over to the latin jazz of Jack Constanzo and the parisian-argentinian Gotan Project, the neo soul of Beatless with their cover of the Nevilles' "Hercules", to the show stopper "Billy Jean", here transformed into a Jamaican dancehall classic by Shinehead, the 11 tracks on "Rewind" form an eclectic patchwork tastefully executed, making it an essential addition to any record collection.

Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title: ASIAN TRAVELS 2
Title: ARABIAN TRAVELS
Label: Six Degrees Records
Link: http://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/
Root: Various/ World
Blending tradition with contemporary electronic textures, the two new releases from the "Travels" series live up to the awe-inspiring standard set by their predecessors. "Asian Travels 2" continues its' exploration of the tapestry of style and flavor emanating from the continuous evolution of the Asian fusion movement set in motion by Talvin Singh back in 1996. Now a new decade is seeing artists from around the world borrow from Indian and Pakistani roots to create hybrid dance gems with a global consciousness. From frantic drum and bass to lush ambient atmospherics, the roster of international talent featured include Outside, Banco de Gaia, Algerian born dj Cheb i Sabbah, label newcomer Karsh Kale, and world music producer / guru Bob Holroyd to name a few. Taking the same concept to different lands, "Arabian Travels" pays tribute to the fact that much of what constitutes modern western music is owed to the 6th. and 7th. century Moorish and ottoman invasion, who's cultural and musical influences kicked minstrels off the pop charts into history's oblivion. Meanwhile, arabic music has come a long way to regain acceptance, mostly through the explosion of Rai in the 80's, and the advent of a worldwide dance scene in the 90's. Today's cross breading involves musicians on each side of a cultural divide, borrowing from each other's sound. Like its' asian counterpart, arabic music is often devotional, which once mixed in with dance rhythms produces an uplifting experience. This flawless selection features Dissidenten (remixed by Shantell), 6 Degrees regulars dZihan & Kamien, Ekova, Banco de Gaia, Karsh Kale, as well as many new artists from the islamic diaspora.

Artist: TAYLA
Title: PRODUCER 04
Artist: LTJ BUKEM
Title: PRODUCER 05
Label: Good Looking Records
Link: http://www.thegoodlookingorganisation.co.uk
Root: Root: UK/ Drum and Bass-Downtempo
Bringing the focus to the artist rather then the genre, the two new offerings in the "Producer" series come as great news from the drum and bass label that has the very bad habit of recycling the same tracks over and over again on its various compilation. Tayla is a prolific artist who's beautiful melodic musical explorations span over a decade old career as a DJ and producer. What distinguishes him from his peers is his versatility. Equally at ease crafting the stunning downtempo chiller "Stargazing", as with the Deep House opener "Timefield" , as with the vaporous space of the Drum and Bass ethereal sound of "Bringing Me Down". Keeping a 70's funk sensibility at it's core, the deepest of bass builds the aplomb from which rhythm construction, vocals and instrumental samples soar to provide a flowing body and soul experience. Meanwhile, drum and bass godfather and label head LTJ BUKEM digs deep in the vaults, to resurrect a collection of early pre label productions available for the first time, from an interpretation of Herbie Hancock's "The Essence" and David Arnold's James Bond classic theme, to a multitude of tracks which broke new ground in 90-92, revolutionized the dance scene, and remain as vibrant today as they did ten years ago.

Artist: HERBERT
Title: AROUND THE HOUSE
Title: SECONDHAND SOUNDS
Label: !K7 Records
Link: http://www.k7.com/
Root: UK/ House
If you want to catch the vibe of this year's biggest buzz under the dance tent at Coachella, immerse yourself in the musical realms of Matthew Herbert. A classically trained musician who incidentally discovered the sampler, Herbert's personal and unwavering approach to making electronic music stems from an absolute rejection of the use of pre-recorded material, forcing himself to create his own music instead. Finally reissued, the rare "Around the House" is a bold concept, where domestic ambient sounds are captured, tweaked, looped and woven into a minimalist fabric from which beats and grooves are extracted to form one of the most original sound in dance music today. Add to the mix of snap-crack-pop-wizz the sultry and delicate vocals of Dani Siciliano, part Sade, part Astrud Gilberto, and you find yourself listening to an industrially engineered masterpiece of soul with a strong jazz undertone, which to no surprise, became an instant Gilles Peterson favorite on Worldwide. To further the experience, "Secondhand Sounds" delivers a collection of 21 rare remixes for his various project namesakes (Herbert, Dr Rockit and Wishmountain), as well as tracks where his methods are applied to the talent of Serge Gainsbourg, dZihan & Kamien, Moloko, Motorbass and others, whose original material finds itself transformed into a genuine new work of art.

Artist: MASTERS AT WORK
Title: OUR TIME IS COMING
Label: Tommy Boy Records
Link: http://www.tommyboy.com/maw/maw.html
Root: US/ Dance
What's in a name ? The masters in question are NY-based Kenny "Dope" Gonzales and Lil' Louie Vega, the most notorious dance production team in America, whose visionary production skills has helped shape dance music as we know it over the last decade, furiously blending Soul, Hippo, Latin jazz, Disco, African Funk into the MAW sound. Their prior project Nuyorican Soul saw collaborations with some of the biggest talents of the music world (Tito Puente, George Benson, Jocelyn Brown, Roy Ayers, India), a stunt renewed on "Our time is coming" featuring the vocals of Patti Austin, James Ingram and Stephanie Mills, a tribute and an attempt to measure up to the dance master of the 80's, Quincy Jones. The multi-layered live instrumentation speaks of that era and has more pop appeal then night club flava. Amidst many superb vocal tracks featuring India, Billie, Lynaen, Puppah Nas-T & Denise, an impromptu afrobeat tribute to Fela Kuti by singer Wummi flies a mile above the rest. Another lesson in the groove principles of MAW, these 15 tracks will get you dancing like no one's watching.

Artist: LO FIDELITY ALLSTARS
Title: DON'T BE AFRAID OF LOVE
Label: Columbia Records
Link: http://www.lofidelityallstars.com/
Root: UK/ Pop-Electronica
Don't be afraid of a record with more grit than the back wall of an english pub. This sort of bad boy punkish attitude serves Lo Fidelity Allstars well these days, especially when other electronic bands have fallen into oblivion faster than the dotcom industry. With a new singer and a new keyboard player on board, their sophomore effort oozes a balls to the walls assurance, a Stooges meet Parliament at the disco turnstile looseness that escapes genre definition, and could send music critics running to therapy. Bluesy organs, saturated guitars riffs, funky loops and testosterone filled breakbeats collide in a psychotic jam, with Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs) and Bootsy Collins lending their dysfunctional vocal talent to the cause. And if the big beat and party favors call for rambunctious mosh pit behavior, relax, it's only rock'n roll...

Local Spotlight
Artist: MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
Title: COOKIE: THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL MIXTAPE
Label: Maverick Records
Link http://www.maverickrecords.com/ and http://www.meshell.com
Root: US/ Rock-Soul
In a world consumed by hatred and materialism, Meshell Ndegeocello has chosen the red pill over the blue one to see how deep the rabbit hole really goes. The revolution she promotes is that of the mind, and her weapons are her faith, love and empathy for the soul of men, with an uncanny ability to transform the darkest emotional turmoil into digestible poetic words of strength, courage and wisdom. Maybe the brutal honesty of her husky voice, equally venom and honey, has alienated her from mass audiences, but the only truth she knows is to be herself, a lover, a mother, a warrior. Cookie is a less introspective effort than her last two records "Peace beyond passion" and "Bitter". Placing the emphasis on observing, never judging, Meshell goes in search of the truth in everyone, becoming an incidental mirror in the face of hypocrisy, brutality, and all forms of mental slavery. To speak of her words only would be to ignore her musicianship as an accomplished guitar, bass and keyboard player, and the leader of a seven-piece band. Her baselines are the foundation of every composition, giving the music its pulse and drive in a meshing of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, soul and prog rock that eludes any format. With that kind of talent, it would be easy for Meshell to craft a hit song and dive into the riches of pop stardom and MTV as she almost could have, first as a bass player for John Cougar Mellencamp, than with her 1993 pseudo hit "If that's your boyfriend (he wasn't last night)". But then there would be no one left in the music world to take on our sins and save our souls.

Local Spotlight
Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title: DEFINING TECH
Label: Orbisonic Records
Link: http://www.orbisonic.com/
Root: Various/ Tech-Electro
Furthering Electro's unstoppable conquest of the pop and dance world, LA based Manifesto Records launches their new electronic label Orbisonic, to release "Defining Tech", the definitive mix of what some have dared to call Nu-New Wave (repeat three times fast). Conceptualized by cosmopolitan hipster Summer Forrest, notorious for her collaboration with Interview and Annie Leibovitz, some documentary work on the New Orleans electronic music scene and a book on flyer designs of the American rave scene, the record combines influences of punk, synth-pop new wave, electronica colliding in a whirlwind of new sounds and rhythms championed by already famous Felix Da Housecat, Fisherspooner, Miss Kitten and the Hacker, Memory Boy aka John Selway, and a plethora of either fly by night or future stalwarts of the genre. Soon you'll be forced to pay attention, as the advertising and fashion industry are already betting on it as the next big thing. So while you wait for the Flock of Seagulls reunion tour, you can get your 21st. century party started.