Whilst Gilles Peterson’s homepage is still showing the photos of Break Reform’s session of last year, their tracks are turning up on Worldwide Award winning compilations by Mad Mats (Raw Fusion) and Michael Rütten (Compost), they’re soon to release an album of some of the other artists on the label with a collection of “Past, present and future soul classics and remixes.”

They can be excused the inclusion of some of Break Reform tracks as they did produce the best album of 2005 in Reformation. ‘It’s Love’ is from the album but they’re also represented by a couple of remixes off 12” releases, ‘And I’ by Yam Who? (now on Ubiquity Records) and Domu (aka Domonic Stanton) with ‘Waiting’.

That’s 25% satisfaction guaranteed so it’s a good job the rest of the selections stand up on their own merits with Nanar or Break Reform there or there abouts lending support.

The first track features Nanar as she co-wrote ‘We As One’ with Ohaji Kamara and it’s due out on a forthcoming EP whilst Kamara’s ‘6 Senses’ is an exclusive track for this compilation.

Marcia Escoffery is the vocalist on Low Budget Soul’s ‘You Are The One’ and Simon S included it on his excellent SamuraiFM mix show (details below). This is very promising for the forthcoming album called Strangers To The Ordinary as we are also treated to Nanar’s vocals on ‘Fills My Heart’ and an Unknown Quantity remix of ‘She Won’t Let The Summer In’, which is coming out on a 12” taster. The album will also feature Randolph Matthews.

Ol’ English contribute two tracks, ‘Yesterday’s Boy’ and ‘You Can’t Tell Me’.

Alison Evelyn was the voice on ‘Longer (Wait)’ by the strangely named group, The Wach’ (a track that Peterson selected for his Eclectic Trust The DJ Vol. 4). On this CD, Break Reform remix her own track ‘Found A New Thing’.

Aztec Productions’ ‘Shadows Fall’ features Nanar and it’s going to be released on an album called Nocturnal Flavours featuring some of the first ever recordings of Julie Dexter.

Tyrrell of Interfearence (remember Take That Train on Ubiquity Records?) was recently spotted at Shiftless Shuffle’s Xmas Bash. Interfearence got involved with a remix of Plant-Life’s ‘When She Smiles She Hits They Sky’ and hope to be releasing some new material on Abstract Blue soon.

Getting back to Break Reform, there’s a new 12” EP ‘The Gift/ It’s Love’ with remixes by themselves and Mixed Moods in the not too distant future.

Whilst waiting for the CD, you can get a flavour of what Abstract Blue is all about by tuning into their Samurai.FM show. Simon S has compiled 80 minutes of some incredible stuff including a Maida Vale version of my favourite from Reformation, ‘Neptune’. The original version of ‘Neptune’ was picked by Michael Rütten for inclusion on the Soulsearching - The Compost Radio Show Vol.1 which came fifth in Worldwide Awards Compilation of the Year.

So with two tracks on two separate award-winning compilations, the Abstract Blue team are clearly not getting into any laurel-resting habits and this CD is a great introduction to them.

Reviewed:
Various - Abstract Blue Recordings
Tracklistings
1. Kamara - We As One (4:53)
2. Low Budget Soul - You Are The One (4:18)
3. Break Reform - And I (Yam Who? Rework) (5:31)
4. Ol’ English - Yesterdays Boy (3:04)
5. Low Budget Soul - Fills My Heart (5:37)
6. Kamara - 6 Senses (3:58)
7. Break Reform - Waiting (6:26)
8. Low Budget Soul - She Won’t Let The Summer In (4:24)
9. Alison Evelyn - Found A New Thing (Break Reform Remix) (3:53)
10. Break Reform - It’s Love (5:42)
11. Aztec Productions - Shadows Fall (5:21)
12. Ol’ English - You Can’t Tell Me (3:14)

Links:
www.abstractbluerecordings.com
Break Reform and Low Budget Soul – online at karmadownload.com, iTunes & finetunes.com
Gilles Peterson Tracklisting 23/10/05 : BREAK REFORM LIVE IN SESSION
Break Reform – Neptune, The Gift & Waiting
Catch Simon S for the Abstract Blue Sessions at Ruby Lounge’s in Kings Cross (3rd Sat, & 3rd Thursday), Hammersmith (4th Sat) & Notting Hill (2nd Fri), at the Broken Forms Sessions @ The Orwell Islington (2nd Sat) and with Richard E (Further Out) for the Saturn Radio Session at Market Place (4th Wed).
Tyrrell www.tyrrell-online.com
Samurai FM have wisely given Abstract Blue’s Simon S a regular monthly slot to play anything he likes!! Lots of forthcoming music from Abstract Blue then!!???!! Plus all the usual Nu Soul/Jazz & beats: Check out the selection at www.samurai.fm/abstractblue
Track Listing: Micah – ‘Revelation’ (Accidental)
Kamara – ‘Namaste’ (Abstract Blue) *
Silhouette Brown – ‘Looking Back’ (Ether)
Low Budget Soul – ‘You Are The One’ (Abstract Blue)
GB – ‘Simply So’ (Sound In Color)
D’Nell – ‘Lace’ (BBE)
Mark Mac – ‘Knight to Pawn / Pick A Color’ (ABB Soul)
Domu – ‘It’s You’ (Bling 47 Cover) (Archive) *
Hundred Strong – ‘Dream On Delay’ (Break Reform Remix)(Altered Vibes) *
Free Design – ‘Lullaby’ (Jazzanova Remix) (Sonar Kollektiv)
Nostalgia 77 Octet – ‘Freedom Part 2’ (Tru Thoughts)
Break Reform – ‘Neptune’ (Live at Maida Vale) (Abstract Blue)
String Band – ‘Nicas Dream’ (Flying Disk)
Stark – ‘Narita’ (Abstract Blue) *
Bembe Segue – ‘Effi’ (Visions)
Max Cole – ‘Untitled’ (Wah Wah 45’s) *
Sun Ra – ‘On Jupiter’ (Art Yard)
Nicola Kramer – ‘Last Time’ (CDR) *
* Exclusive to this show