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Building on from the first Bubblers success we begin with two artists popular at CDR — definite shades of Erykah with Duchess’ stunning soft soulful vocals on ‘Walking’, stomping beats produced by Gabriel Cornish. Then Daisuke Tanabe chops up New York pianist Elan Mehler’s ‘Scheme for Thought’ adding sumptuously pitched low bass and a sprinkled beat, these two terrific talents complement one another and I have great hopes for their separate future releases.

Boomclap Bachelors provide more choppy futuristic cum dreamy sounds, casting light on an intriguing Danish scene. ‘Combine’ preludes three superb soulful vocal tracks. Tawiah’s ‘Watch Out’ moves along beautifully with her lush vocals really impressing, Maya Azucena then adds to Sotu The Traveller’s excellent beats in ‘Flow’. Originally appearing on Domu’s 2003 album Up & Down, ‘Last Time’ continues to be one of the finest songs I have heard via Gilles Peterson’s radio show, here the majestic vocals by Nicole Kramer remain on a stripped-down mellow version taken from Kramer’s solo album, The Other Side, on TrebleO. Yet more magical female singing features with Sarah Ann Webb’s breathy voice bellowing beautifully in ‘Heaven’.

The soul sounds flow into jazz with a big Brownswood act, the Middlewood Sessions. ‘Fallback’ blew me away when I first heard it on Michael Rüetten’s Soulsearching Radioshow, with energy comparable to Soil and “Pimp” Sessions. Jazz dancer friendly! Marcina Arnold’s ‘Forefathers’ continues the aural thrills with awesome drums and Kebbie Williams’ saxophone aiding Marcina’s lush voice. Her debut album, Twisted Blue Folk and the Introducing EP on Counterpoint Records are well worth exploring.

A section of beats emerges with RAHJ leading into Probe’s ‘The Day’, love the melodic interplay between Rhodes and Nakia’s singing. Amazing heaviness arrives from IG Culture in NSM’s ‘The Hype’. A sure-fire dance initiator The Hype EP from Jazzy Sport is fantastic. Highly acclaimed LA beatmaker Flying Lotus is joined by brilliant UK vocalist, Andreya Triana, on the supremely atmospheric ‘Tea Leaf Dancers’. Andreya features on Aaron Jerome’s forthcoming album and is performing at the Sonar Festival.

A beautiful conclusion to the album begins with Jamie Woon’s distinctive vocals layered and looped in his rendition of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, I prefer the energy of Cliff Gobers original but Woon’s singing is unquestionably excellent. Grand Union’s ‘Wonderful World’ has gorgeous Double Bass complimenting the choral singing and Matsi finishes the musical festivities with ‘Free’, a delicious piano and vocal based ballad.

Long list of links:
Cornish Waters
Elan Mehler
Daisuke Tanabe
Boomclap Bachelors
Tawiah — check the lovely live version of ‘Watch Out’ on her Myspace
Sotu The Traveller
Nicola Kramer
Sarah Ann Webb
TrebleO
Middlewood Sessions
Marcina Arnold
RAHJ
Probe
New Sector Movements
Flying Lotus
Andreya Triana
Jamie Woon
Grand Union
Matsi