Tru-Thoughts Recordings have themselves a niche in the soul-funk-jazz saturated market with a load of artists that never let Rob Luis down when it comes to delivering top quality tunes. So every time it comes to releasing the next in the Shapes compilation series, it must be like a boy let loose in a sweet shop for him.

Even if some of the names are the same as Shapes 07:01 (The Bamboos, Lizzy Parks, Nostalgia 77, Quantic, Spanky Wilson) each Shapes gets better and 09:01 is the best yet as it’s crammed with exclusive tracks, remixes and top tunes. There’s a killer Examples Of Twelves remix of Lizzy Parks’ ‘Time’ but who thought that a dance mix of our/my favourite ‘Raise The Roof’ would be a good idea? Whoever it was deserves a bonus as do Madnus & Scogil who did the remix as it’s the stand-out track for me; but there’s still loads more.

If you’ve not got the Stonephace album yet, try ‘Wedgehead Gets Lucky’ as an introduction and a then there’s Hint’s ‘One Woman Army’ featuring Laura Vane and remixed by Mr. Beatnick (another killer track). And talking of the Vane family, Part-Time Heros remix ‘Dangerous’ but the big buzz is on the forthcoming and brand new Will Quantic project, now known as Quantic And His Combo Bárbaro. Peterson has been playing out and ‘Arianita’ is just right for the summer.

On the remix again, another of our favourites Paul White (now with his album out, The Strange Dreams Of Paul White) does another one of ours, Natural Self who does himself (so to speak) as 50% of The Broken Keys (along with Ben Lamdin aka Nostalgia 77) who released one of the jazz albums of the year with Keith & Julie Tippett, Sessions.

If you want funky, Flevans brings us some ‘Mad Perks’ and not forgettin a couple of our stars, Belleruche and TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio Boto And The Second Liners.

And I bet you didn’t think you’d need to hear Alice Russell on another version of ‘Pushin’ On’, well there’s a cheeky edit that’ll convince you otherwise.

On the second ‘DJ’ CD, the choice of getting Natural Self remixing Hot 8 Brass Band is so obvious, it’s a match made at the Devil’s Dyke crossroads in New Orleans. And Hint messes with Me&You (being TM Juke and Robert Luis), The Bamboos’ version of the breaks classic ‘Amen Brother’ gets a floor killin’ d’n’b remix by Kjell and we’re introduced to some new dancefloor friendly names, Azaxx and Opoloo. And if you’ve not come across Greymatter yet, Hello My Name Is… Greymatter - he’s going to be massive and if anyone has a spare copy of his edits knocking about; i’d treasure it if I were you! And who is this space-funk cadet Milez Benjiman? The spirit of ‘Atomic Dog’ lives.

With aspects of old-school hip hop, breakbeats, soul, funk, jazz, d’n’b, electro, Latin, afrobeat, disco, dubstep and house, if I’ve not convinced you that you need Shapes 09:01 (available to buy now from the EtchShop, see links below), you’re on the wrong site baby.

“I love the Tru Thoughts label!!” - Laurent Garnier
“Tru Thoughts is the type of label that inspired me to own and run a record label.” - Neal Sugarman (Daptone)

Reviewed: Various - Shapes 09:01 (Tru Thoughts) Cat. No: TRUCD194 2 x CD Release date: 8th June 2009
Tracklisting CD1 ‘Shapes’ :
01. The Bamboos - I Don’t Wanna Stop Feat. Kylie Auldist (Acoustic Version)
02. Lizzy Parks - Time (Examples Of Twelves Mix)
03. Kinny - Idle Forest of Chit Chat Feat. Souldrop
04. Belleruche - Don’t Let Them Push You Around
05. Stonephace - Wedgehead Gets Lucky
06. Unforscene - Dangerous feat. Phil King (Part Time Heroes Mix)
07. Quantic And His Combo Bárbaro - Arianita
08. Flevans - Mad Perks
09. Hint - One Woman Army Feat. Laura Vane (Mr. Beatnick Slow Jack Remix)
10. The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Pushin’ On Feat. Alice Russell (Situation Edit)
11. Natural Self - In The Morning (Paul White Remix)
12. Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno - Make Dub Not War (Version)
13. Bonobo - Shadowtricks
14. Nostalgia 77 Sessions Feat. Keith & Julie Tippett - Rainclouds
15. Milez Benjiman - Our House
16. Natural Self - The Rising Feat. Andreya Triana (The Broken Keys Remix)

Tracklisting CD2 ‘DJ Tracks’:
01. Hot 8 Brass Band - We Are One (Natural Self Remix)
02. Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra Vs. Lanu - Don’t Joke With A Hungry Mother
03. Lanu - Rise Feat. Abby Joyce & Simon Grey (Opolopo Remix)
04. Me&You - Sneaker Thief (Hint Remix)
05. Azaxx - Carioca Paradise
06. The Bamboos - Amen Brother (Kjell Remix)
07. Hint - School Bell
08. Azaxx - Pianissimo
09. Lizzy Parks - Raise The Roof (Madnus & Scogil Remix)
10. Greymatter - Bunda
11. TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio - Heads High(er) (TM Juke Remix)
12. The Broken Keys - Flow (Part 2)
13. Freddie Cruger A.K.A. Red Astaire - The Hustle

Links:
ww.etchshop.co.uk
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk
Greymatter - Forthcoming gigs:
12th June 2009 - Hello My Name Is… @ Soul Cellar Southampton +44 (0) 23 8071 0648 www.soul-cellar.com
27th June 2009 - Mr Bongo Soundsystem @ The Market Place w/DOMU, London
17th July 2009 - Bottletop Fundraiser with Will Saul & Evil 9 @ Fortune Of War, Brighton
www.myspace.com/greymatterbeats