Written by Lee Hodkinson Published in DRUM Magazin

1. Drum: BEATS 105
Album Reviews
From premium nu – soul and broken beat from some of the UK’s finest, to a modern
jazz classic, Lee Hodkinson takes us through some of the biggest recent releases.
THE BUGZ IN THE ATTIC VARIOUS ARTISTS KING BRITT SILHOUETTE BROWN
REMIXES COLLECTION PRESENTS JAZZMENTAL SILHOUETTE BROWN
V2 Slip n’ Slide Ether
The Bugz In The Attic Various Dego & Kaidi Tatham
The Bugz are about to explode A fine selection of nu – jazz Dego & Kaidi create a sublime
and broken beat soul treat.
Working with artists as diverse as
Zero 7, Macy Gray and Jazzanova, Just describing King Britt’s résumé UK giants Dego (4Hero) and Kaidi
the West London collective’s would take up several pages, so I’ll Tatham (Bugz In The Attic) team
sound does that typically English spare the details. Let’s just say he’s up, gently blurring the line between
thing of taking different styles one of the most important figures broken beat and neo – soul, with
(reggae low end, big scrappy in progressive music of black origin, crisp drum beats and lots of warm
drums, 80’s rare groove and funk from hip hop to broken beat, future keyboard melodies sprinkled in
keys) and merging them together jazz and more. Unsurprisingly, this between Deborah Jordan’s clean
to create something new. Fans collection of music from like–minded voice. Whose In Charge is a paean
such as Giles Peterson and Jazzy individuals is of high standard thro- to self determination and focus.
Jeff can’t be wrong and unlike ughout. From the exclusive King The poignant keys and lilting vocals
many artists who drop anthol- Britt/Scuba & Lizz Fields tune Our of Monday’s Coming are highly
ogies/collections as their creativity’s Time to highlights from last year, addictive and Just A Little More is a
fading, the quality of the more such as the lush Tell Her by classy serenade. A lot of the album
recent tracks (remixes for Rhian Cosmosis (more Dego/2000Black is in the same low – key vein, but is
Benson, Amp Fiddler and their goodness – see Silhouette Brown) short and sweet enough to not
own monster Booty La La) are the double bill from Mark De Clive become repetitive. This is refined
testament to the fact they’re -Lowe and that Bugz anthem, this and understated forward–thinking
getting stronger. is a good album to get if you are soul by two of the most respected
curious about the nu–jazz/broken names in British dance music.
scene, but don’t know where to start.
Highlights: Say How I Feel
(RMX), I Believe In You (RMX), Highlights: Whose In Charge,
Booty La La Highlights: Our Time, Slide, Tell Her Monday’s Coming, Just A Little
More

2. Drum: BEATS 107
MOS DEF: THE NEW DANGER
GEFFEN
Mos Def, Minnesota, Kanye West et al
The Mighty Mos’ last venture proved he could be the (Black) Jack of
all trades
When Mos’ solo debut Black On Both Sides dropped in 1999, the variety of
styles and influences meant he avoided the ‘backpacker’ pigeonhole some listeners
had prepared for him since his days as one third of underground rappers UTD
(Urban Thermo-Dynamics). ‘Rock n Roll’ made his passion for rhythm and blues (and disdain for the ‘rap/rock’
of Limp Bizkit) clear. ‘Black...’ has since been vindicated as a classic, so, late in 2004 and with his rock group
Black Jack Johnson at the forefront, Mos dropped this epic, which was more ‘rap inspired blues and rock’ than
vice versa. Just as he did on earlier work like Umi Says and A Tree That Never Grows, Mos sings just as well as
he raps, case in point; The Panties an absolutely stunning ode to his love (arguably as sublime as, say, Marvin Gaye’s
Distant Lover). The few bona fide hip hop joints show he’s not lost his hunger for spitting. For those who prefer
the Universal Magnetic Mos Def; UTD’s Manifest Destiny has been re–released (get digging) but with excellent
production and a range of genres, emotions and topics flipped by one of the most talented, charismatic cats in
music, you ignore The New Danger at your own risk.
Highlights: The Panties, Ghetto Rock, Bedstuy Parade &...
IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME BY NOW
Highlighting recent, underrated gems that you really need
FERTILE GROUND BLACK IS...
Counter Point
James Collins
A master class from start to end; life - affirming music.
The triumphant Spirit World (based on a Yoruba prayer) serves as a great opener to Fertile Ground’s latest opus.
Another Day sees songwriter/ producer James Collins take healthy inspiration from Innervisions. Whilst the first
half of the album is worthy of much praise (although An Artist Prayer may have worked better if truncated) the
second half finds Boston’s finest reaching their zenith. The delightful Yellow Daisies leads into the glorious title
track, Narasha Davis’ vocals soaring over the beautifully sweeping arrangement on what is an obvious highlight of
their career. The following triad maintains epic heights; the pensive words and hypnotic time signatures of Naked
drift into the sensual You. By the time the reprise to the inspirational On This Day (a track equally profound
whether taken as an ode of religious devotion or good ol’ fashioned romance) fades out, you’re sure to be
enraptured with this modern jazz classic.
Highlights: Black Is, You, On This Day