The elegant and deep basslines continue in Spengler’s ‘Good Things’, a broken soul delight with David Price and Maiya James harmonious vocals gliding on top of Neil Pollock’s splendid beats. Spengler, whose core creators hail from Newport, South Wales, are an example of the wealth of talent in the ever-building UK scene. Definitely an act to watch out for, one I am excited to see develop and release future material.

As the album pushes on, quality songs from more well-known Tru Thoughts artists feature. With original, remixed, instrumental or extended versions of album tracks by Freddie Crugar, Quantic, The Dirty Digger, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Nostalgia 77 Octet, Spanky Wilson and Up Hygh - a Swedish duo with a strong sound similar to Sa-Ra.

Probing basslines, eclectic beats, chirpy organ riffs, deep funk & assorted tempos unite to make a superb compilation

Two creative covers of popular songs are included, Jumbonics rework ‘Last Nite’, originally by The Strokes, which amid the chirpy organ licks momentarily seems as if it will break into Esther Williams’ phenomenal ‘Last Night Changed it All’. Max Sedgeley’s ‘Happy’ also gets a firing deep funk instrumental shake-up by The Bamboos. Founder of The Bamboos, Lance Ferguson, a New Zealander residing in Melbourne, shows his production skills with another project of his, Lanu. ‘Dis-information’ is soulful broken beat with a Mizell Brothers glow - watch out for the Lanu album, This Is My Home, and the Ok-Ma remix.

Sandwiched amongst the eclectic beats and assorted tempos, it is a pure jazz song that impresses me the most. Nostalgia 77 Octet’s ‘Wildflower’ features the beautiful vocals of Lizzie Parks, and from the exquisite drums then probing bassline it begins with, it builds through four minutes of wonder. The Nostalgia 77 Octet have such a stupendous group of musicians contributing to their rich sound and must be seen live to appreciate quite how skilled they are.

A Zebra Traffic hip hop finale expertly closes the compilation, including amusing verses by Fourteen Corners “…moan so loud that they heard me in Burnley…”. Perhaps aided by the labels hailing from Brighton, they have the ability to transcend grey skies, making the Tru Thoughts/Zebra Traffic team one of the best labels in the UK.

Shapes 07:01 is available to buy now from the EtchShop.

Links:
Tru Thoughts
Zebra Traffic
EtchShop
Spengler
Nostalgia 77 Octet
The Bamboos
Fourteen Corners