Label: Drip
Country: Philippines
Release Date: 2008.03.15

Drip is an esteemed pioneer of the trip-hop genre with its acid jazz grooves, hip-hop loops and femme fatale vocals. Twisted yet whimsical, sensual yet shady. They don’t label themselves as trip-hop but embrace its essence nonetheless. “That’s the thing we’re dealing with right now, like we don’t want to be into the label of trip-hop because we do play drum and bass, electro, like all sorts of music. We use all sorts of electronic software and hard wares and what not. We can actually create any kind of flavors,” they say.
It’s the classic trip hop set-up: three quiet guys in the background to tweak knobs and play instruments, with a hot female vocalist to enthrall the audience with her voice. But Drip goes beyond mere trip hop band cliches: they are meta-glamorous, a little dark, and seductively experimental. “Capable of giving you simulated bliss,” wrote the Manila Times about the trio.

Label: ESL Music
Country: Argentina
Release Date: 2008.06.10

Natalia Clavier is an Argentinian vocalist who wants to cover a lot of ground on Nectar, which examines the juices of her inner being. The album features elements of soul, funk, disco, folk, pop, dub, electronica, down tempo, and jazz, creating sounds that will definitely appeal to fans of Portishead, Jazzanova, Jaga Jazzist, Supreme Beings Of Leisure, and and Soulstice. Those who are familiar with Clavier will know that she has often performed in English and languages other than Spanish, so for this one she decided to go back to her roots and sing for herself, her home, and her people. The album works as something to listen to as a chillout album, or something to dance the night away, but for those who may want to listen deeper, she has a lot to offer. Her songs would easily appeal to the likes of Laura Pausini and Alejandra Guzman, and with luck Clavier’s career and songs will last as long as these two ladies. Her voice is neither strong nor weak; she fits perfectly in the middle and even when she tries to sing in a manner that is beyond her capabilities, she realizes this and turns around in the hopes of finding another path to make the song stronger. This shows up in “Dormida,” but as far as showing her strengths, “Azul” is definitely a key track and one that will make Clara Hill fans turn around and take notice. (by John Book)

Label: Copenhagen Records
Country: Denmark
Release Date: 2008.01.21

Just in case you’ve inexplicably missed it, 80’s revival has been alive and kicking for what now seems longer than the 80’s themselves. So here’s another band getting on the, erm, bandwagon, Spleen United (most horrifically bad band name ever?) hailing from Denmark. Spleen United sound like a bastard child of A-ha, M83 and–hell, I’ll just say it–Kraftwerk – meaning this is 80’s music that can only be made in Europe which, let’s face it, is infinitely better compared to that American 80’s (and wannabe 80’s) crap. You’ll know you’re in for a synth-laden wild ride from the first second of the awesome opener “Suburbia”. Granted, this is a bit of a curse as well since it is scientifically proven that the human mind can take only so much 80’s synth rock before moving to a quaint Belgian village to open up a fruit stand and watching Tour de France on a portable black and white TV. In other words, Neanderthal could’ve benefited from being about 10 minutes shorter because the last three songs tend to drag on until you simply stop paying attention. (by UpInFlames)

Label: Nublu Records
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2008.04.29

3 Na Massa is a Brazilian group heavily steeped in the music of the last four decades. The debut LP borrows from styles as diverse as Bossa Nova to trip-hop. Consisting of São Paulo-residents Rica Amabis, Pupillo and Sucinto Silva, the group sought a different female vocalist to voice each song on their self-titled record. The result is a diverse disc with 13 different brazilian seductresses interpreting music that pays homage to both João Gilberto and Serge Gainsbourg. (Leandra Leal, Thalma de Freitas, CéU, Karine Carvalho, Geanino, Pitty, Simone Spoladore, Nina Becker, Cyz, Nina Miranda, Karina Falcão, Lurdes da Luz and Alice Braga)
The dynamic between the all-male band and the harem of female singers is palpable. Even their name — which translates to “three in the dough,” a Portuguese phrase for something that makes one’s mouth water — is a not-so-subtle reference to the sensual themes that permeate their music and lyrics. (by doug black)

Label: Death From Above
Country: United States
Release Date: 2008.03.10

Effectively the solo project of New York based DJ and producer Andy Butler, with the help of some interesting friends, Hercules and Love Affair is , unlikely though it sounds, the point where classic disco meets classical myth–the title apparently refers to the legendary hero’s fondness for his own sex. Although co-produced by LCD Soundsystem’s Tim Goldsworthy, Hercules and Love Affair is a flightier, more hedonistic proposition, filled with echoes of long gone clubs and ghosts of the pre-AIDS glory days of New York’s gay scene. Yet it celebrates rather than mourns the past as a series of guest vocalists leave their mark, Antony Hegarty the most familiar. The terrific, irresistible single “Blind”, reportedly some four years in gestation, stands out but the wistfully positive “Raise Me Up” isn’t far behind, Hegarty’s inimitably sad tones incongruously juxtaposed with a gleeful arrangement. Though even his voice has a hard battle with the lift from Frankie Knuckles’s classic “Your Love” which underpins the opener “Time Will”. The spaced out jazz of “This Is My Love”, sung by Butler himself, the dizzily ecstatic house of “You Belong”, the purest of flashbacks, and Kim Ann’s vocal turn on the elegant “Athene” are other highlights on a remarkably assured and entertaining first effort. This year won’t see a better example of danceable melancholy than Hercules and Love Affair. (by amazon)

Label: Schema
Country: Italy
Release Date: 2008.11.24

Other Ink is a collection of tracks previously released only on vinyl and EP (Ink EP 1, 2, 3) and unreleased tracks. The original versions appear on the Ink album and EPs except for “Exit a New York” which is taken from the French edition. Inside this tracklist we mention the remix of the title track of TDR’s album Ink which is the opening track of this project. The lingering atmospheres recreated by The Cinematic Orchestra make the track sound intense and dramatic yet not heavy and very enjoyable. “Fatale” meets the art of the Berlinese producer Christian Prommer, whose touch gives to the piece a brand new shape. Live, organic percussions are blended into a spacey and electronic vibe. The result is a full length, sophisticated club mix. The Juju Orchestra gives to Brazilian noir “Cobra Coral”, sang by Toco, a modern and Dance/Jazz flavour. Moody, jazzy, a mid tempo floater. Beautiful are the vocals performances from the singer. Also nice are the remixes by Populous and Santino Burnetto, both emerging producers and musicians whose electronic sounds embellish two of the most interesting pieces by the The Dining Rooms. (by soul seduction)

Label: Knife Edge
Country: Japan
Release Date: 2008.12.17

One of the strongest albums from Jazztronik in years — a soulful celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Ryota Nozaki’s great project — and a record that’s filled with the upbeat, positive grooves! There’s a sense of focus here that’s totally great — a mix of the dancefloor numbers that have always gotten international attention for Jazztronik, with some of the deeper strands that run through Nozaki’s compositions — hints of jazz, soundtrack, and Latin elements — swirled together beautifully with some strings, and really top-shelf production throughout! Lyrics are in English and Japanese — sung by Valerie Etienne, Robert Gallagher, Emi Meyer, and others — but the best tracks are almost the instrumental ones, as they stretch forth with a sense of mature brilliance that really shows the development of the Jazztronik sound over the years. Titles include “For You”, “Room 204″, “Hayabusa”, “Reminiscing”, “JTK”, “Click Clock”, “Black Dragon”, “LEAP”, “Real Clothes”, and “Peche Mignon”. (by dusty groove)

Label: Knife Edge
Country: Japan
Release Date: 2008.09.17

About M-Swift aka Shouhei Matsushita was born in Hiroshima in 1973. With the age of 14 he started playing guitar and listening to soul and jazz. When he was 18 he moved to Tokyo and started a career as a guitarist, playing for diverse bands in clubs all around Tokyo. In 2002 he started his production network called “M-Swift”. His first productions were released by Irma Records (Italy) and Flower Records (Japan), who licensed his songs to several compilations. In between he remixed artists like Yukihiro Fukutomi, Notenshun, Arcoiris, Donaldo McCollum, Real, Gazzara, Paris Match, etc… for labels like King (Japan), Columbia, Apperitivo, Dome, Victor etc…. In 2005 he moved to London, looking for collaborations with UK musicians. Straight after he arrived, he got an offer from Irma Records to produce his debut album during his stay in London. Currently he is working with Vanessa Haynes, Marcus Begg (restless soul, Nathan Haines, Isoul 8), Nick Cohen (Incognito, Bah Samba) on this project, which will be released in spring 2007. The debut single “Morning Light” feat. Vanessa Haynes, was released In October 2006 with remixes by Notenshun and Nubian Mindz.. and 2nd single “Kosmic Love” feat. Vanessa Haynes,was released at the beginning of 2007 woth remix by Tiger Stripes.

Label: ChinChin Records
Country: Germany
Release Date: 2008.11.07

Music is the only realised Utopia. Here utopia is realized by Martin Strathausen, the brain of the German, French & Russian project: Tape Five, the retro-neobossa-swing-latin-jazzy-pop-flavoured-happening! Are you a Tango-dancing spy, that is searching suitcase No.347 with very suspicious contents in Nice, Havanna or Moscow in 1972? Are you wearing your best white linen suite doing the cha-cha-cha in Rico’s Bar or would you recognize the legendary ‘rat pack’ in a 60ies nightclub in Las Vegas creating a “swingfood mood”? No, this is not a James Bond movie, not even a Humphrey Bogart classic in Casablanca, neither a cotton plant in the Southern States in the ‘Summertime’, nor is it “Avenue du Gare” where you smoke your last cigar… Keep cool – it’s just the film in your head! Or maybe just simply wallpaper your home bar on the South Cape or your Westend chillout-lounge with the right sound? A retro-modern “Cocktail d’Amour” of swing, bossanova, lounge-latin and ambient jazz elements.

Label: Chat Chapeau Records
Country: Austria
Release Date: 2008.10.07

After two successful full length records and five years of touring Europe, by now !DelaDap are considered among the worldwide respected fixtures in both, World Music- as well as in the club-scene. Some of the notable highlights in those eventful years were two nominations for the “price of German record critics”, the “Donauinselfest” performance in front of 10.000 thrilled fans and several live-radio-concerts on German WDR, Austrian ORF and Radio Troika in Poland. Furthermore !DelaDap seized the chance to present their spirited show to worldwide expert public at the Sevilla World-Music fair WOMEX 2007. In the neighbouring country Hungary they are already reckoned as an international top act, annually invited to the major festivals and steady broadcasted on popular tv and radio stations. In September 2008 the group around mastermind and producer Stani Vana finally release their third album “Sara La Kali”. This new longplayer even more emphasis the Magic of the voices of the three wonderful singers Melinda Stoika, Simona Senkiova and Kristina Gunarova. Also the Mystery that lives in the lyrics in the Roma-language that made it’s way from ancient India surviving centuries without a written word and transporting miracles and wonders from ine generation to another until now. And finally it is the Energy rooting in the emotionality with wich the musicians especially from the eastern parts of Europe are playing their typical Roma instruments, such as Violin, Guitar and Accordion, combined with powerful and tartfully set beats which gives the sound of !DelaDap it’s very original touch.