The 150 Best Records Of 2006 - Part 2

10 ELECTRONIC ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 2

01. zero dB - Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines (Ninja Tune)
02. Lost Idol - Utters From A Cluttered Mind (Cookshop)
03. Yppah - You Are Beautiful At All Times (Ninja Tune)
04. Doctor L - Forgotten Tracks From Da Hard Drive (Mind)
05. TM Juke - Forward (Tru Thoughts)
06. Thunderball - Cinescope (ESL)
07. Squarepusher - Hello Everything (Warp)
08. Herbert - Scale (!K7)
09. Kerrier District - Kerrier District 2 (Rephlex)
10. Koop - Koop Islands (!K7)

The "Electronic" selection was the hardest to build this year. There are so many new "electronic", "techno", house" or whatever, nowdays, that it's getting kinda hard to follow. One of our main sources of information was the Bleep website from Warp Records, but with nearly every "electronic" label going for some experimental pop/rock things now it's also hard to keep on getting informed. If you got some records that could fit in there which we missed don't hesitate to leave a comment! Meanwhile, we'll do with our own selection of "electronic" producers [even though everybody records with a computer today and most of the music produced can so be qualified as "electronic" - but that's for another debate...].
The smash of the year is undoubtly zero dB's album, with its heavy dancefloor action of grinning electro-rock techno-latin mashing-up. At least there's someone else than Amon Tobin trying to get things forward at Ninja Tune... Their new signing Yppah is also in our selection, it's a Joe Corrales guy from Texas mixing all kind of influences into a solid and beautiful electronic-low-fi-hip-hop-indie whole, and it's a real discovery.
We also loved Lost Idol's album, marketed as some kind of "Beck meets DJ Shadow", at the crossroads of categorizing with its electronic production and psychedelic sounds. Hard to describe, the album is at the same time cinematic and catchy, we could not classify it and could not put it out of the CD player. It's the new thing and comes from Brighton, as most UK treats this year. Take for example Alice Russell's producer TM Juke, who released his second album this year. You can call him "Catchy" cos' the guy knows how to write a song: at least two major BOMBS are hidden on his album ("Skin" & "So Good"), which should see the light as 12 inch singles with loads of remixes in 2007... Yummy!
If you like your cinematic beats to go trough the roof, big beat-stylee, infused with spices of Latin, Funk, Afro, Bollywood, Reggae & Soul sounds, check the new album from Thunderball, alias Steve Raskin with Sid Barcelona (from Fort Knox Five fame). For something more for the mind, Doctor L's new CD of electronic acid grooves, slams and vibes might be just what you're be looking for.
It's no surprise but we still love what we call here "the masters", among which come Herbert, Squarepusher or Luke Vibert (under his Kerrier District pseudo), which all released solid albums this year, keeping on being the best at what they do. The selection ends with some airy niceness from Swedish duo Koop and their sweet swinging Caribbiean melodies. Is it jazz??

13 FOLK ROCK POP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Brian Mitchell, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Mike Dillon - Rhythm & Poetry (Self released)
The Benevento/Russo Duo feat. Mike Gordon - Live From Bonnaroo 2005 (Phih Downloads)
The Benevento/Russo Duo - Instant Live: Paradise - Boston, MA, 12/2/05 (Instant Live)
The Benevento/Russo Duo - Play Pause Stop (Reincarnate)
02. Phish - Colorado '88 (Phish Dry Goods)
Phish - Live In Brooklyn (Rhino)
03. The Pnuma Trio - Live from Out There (Harmonized)
04. The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic - The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic (Relix)
09. The Slip - Eisenhower (Bar None)
06. Particle - Transformation Live For The People (Shout Factory)
07. Weird Al Yankovic - Straight Outta Lynwood (Volcano)
08. RAQ - Ton These (Harmonized)
09. The Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams (Bubbles)
10. Tea Leaf Green - Rock and Roll Band (Sci Fidelity)

Undoubtly, our "rock" artists of the year are keyboard player Marco Benevento and drummer Joe Russo. We found FOUR major releases for them just this year, starting with the SPLENDID album from Brian Mitchell (guitarist for The Yards, Carlos Washington's Giant People and Amayo's Fu Arkestra), an instrumental jazz guitar thing mixed with some rocking spirit of heavy psychedelic jams, to be classified as "Phish meets Blue Note" or something THAT big. The album is 100% independant, self-released, but it's easily findable on the internet... and if you liked the joyful inventiveness of the Benevento/Russo duo, don't miss their jam/jazz live album featuring Mike Gordon, their rocking Instant Live release or their new album "Play Pause Stop". Those guys are The White Stripes of the american jammy scene, soon to be as famous as Phish or John Medeski - don't say we didn't warn ya.
Talking about Phish, the band doesn't exist anymore but their live recordings are still the best out there. A 1988 triple CD set has surfaced, and you just can't believe its tracklist. Pure bliss. Their 2004 show from Brooklyn is also available, in DVD or 3xCD releases, and it's another essential buy for fans. If you're reading this site you might be one of them and will know what I'm talking about there... But the jamming action didn't stop with Phish calling it quits and bands from the next generation are kicking hard, with solid releases from The Slip, The Pnuma Trio, Particle, RAQ, Tea Leaf Green or John Popper (singer for Blues Traveler) with his new project featuring DJ Logic. The american underground "rock" scene is still bursting with sensational new talents and nearly a hundred excellent recordings each year if you include the more jazzy or funk ones (read below), but no medium is talking about them in Europe, djouls.com excepted. You'll just have to trust our selection!
Even though pop/rock is the mainstream now, and most releases tainted with major companies business direction (as opposed to "artistic direction"), we managed to fit a couple of favorites in the list, with a new album from the funniest composer alive on the planet, MISTER 'Weird Al' Yankovic, who brings the parody to another level with a DualDisc of songs and videos to laugh hysterically to (I must admit he's a genius in my France), and a nice electronic poppy one from Kings Of Convenience founder Elrlend Oye and his band The Whitest Boy Alive. We'd had loved to add more pop/rock albums here but... which ones?

10 HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Freddie Cruger - Soul Search (Tru Thoughts)
02. The Coup - Pick A Bigger Weapon (Epitaph)
03. Kid Koala - Your Mom's Favorite DJ (Ninja Tune)
04. Braintax - Panorama (Low Life)
05. Madlib - The Beat Konducta Vol.1-2 (Stones Throw)
06. The Procussions - 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents (Rawkus)
07. Mayday - Mayday! (Southbeat)
08. Pigeon John - And The Summertime Pool Party (Quannum)
09. Hydroponic Sound System - Mixtape Mentality (Swedish Brandy)
10. DJ Yoda - The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda (Antidote)

While we were still listening to Freddie Cruger's The 3 Foot People album "3 Feet High & Rising", REALLY one of this year best hip hop vibes of this year, Mr Cruger released another over-the-top flawless album, this time on Tru Thoughts Recordings. He comes from Sweden and is the hip hop artist of the year in our book. How strange is that??
Less surprising is the presence of The Coup duo here, with their "Pick A Bigger Weapon" drenched in p-funk influences. You might consider passing on the new Outkast soundtrack and get this opus instead...
Turntablism lovers will have jumped on the new Kid Koala release - as mind-blowing as ever, don't miss the Kid if he plays in your town tonight!! If more into lyrics, check the Braintax album, he's just one of the best British rappers out there words-wise (beats are good too - don't worry). If lyrics ain't your thing, you could put your ears on the new Madlib album/compilation of eccentric hip hop instrumentals...
More "classic old school hip hop" can be found on The Procussions new album on Rawkus Records, or the Pigeon John one on Quannum Projects. Not new, but fresh, don't hesitate. The mixtape from Hydroponics Sound System is more adventurous, rather dancefloor-oriented, mixing lotsa other influences in their hip hop.
To conclude this selection on a lighter note, we've chosen DJ Yoda's first album. After so many funny mixtapes, he's finally released his own thing with loads of guests, and it's one winner of a groovy hip hop humor thang.

22 SOUL JAZZ FUNK ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Eyal Maoz with John Medeski - Edom (Tzadik)
Scotty Hard John Medeski, Matthew Shipp's Radical Reconstructive Surgery - Scotty Hard's Radical Reconstructive Surgery (Thirsty Ear)
Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood - Out Louder (Indirecto)
02. DJ Logic - Zen of Logic (Ropeadope)
03. Bonobo - Days To Come (Ninja Tune)
04. Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up (Timmion)
05. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - What's Going On (Shout Factory)
06. Baby Loves Jazz Band - Baby Loves Jazz (Verve)
Sex Mob - Sexotica - Sex Mob - Sexotica (Thirsty Ear)
Steven Bernstein's Millenial Territory Orchestra - MTO Volume 1 (Sunny Side)
07. Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra - I'm Thankful (Tru Thoughts)
08. Stanton Moore - III (Telarc)
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet - Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet - Husky (Ropeadope)
09. Nostalgia 77 Octet – Borderland - Borderlands (Tru Thoughts)
Nostalgia 77 Octet - Nostalgia 77 Octet - The Impossible Equatio (Tru Thoughts)
10. Cadillac Jones - The Big Takedown (ATF)
11. Alice Russell - Under The Munka Moon 2 (Tru Thoughts)
12. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Sameness Of Difference (Hyena)
Jacod Fred Jazz Odyssey - Tomorrow We'll Know Today (Music Force Media Group)
13. Tommy Guerrero - From The Soil To The Soul (Quannum)
14. Club d'Elf - Now I Understand (Accurate)
15. The Baker Brothers - Bakers Dozen (Peddler)

Jazz, Funk & Soul were the new thing this year in music. So many good and solid records were released that we opted to select more than 20 references for the last 6 months alone!
Things start kicking with our man of the year (again!), John Medeski. We've already told ya he was "the Jimi Hendrix of keyboards", as a matter of fact we've started telling you this in 1998 in this website... you should start to believe. His collaboration with guitarist Eyal Maoz was released on Tzadik last year but it's still the best Medeski thing we've heard this year, that's why it tops our selection. But the Scotty Hard album with John Medeski and Matthew Ship is a solid contender. Scotty Hard is the sound engineer/producer for Medeski Martin & Wood and many others, up to the Wu-Tang Clan. His new album is as psychedelic as you'd want a Medeski Martin & Wood one to sound like. So, you know what to do: get those two albums fast!!
The Medeski Martin Scofield & Wood album (with John Scofield, you'd have understood) isn't as essential but quite cool nonetheless. The band is finally free of their Blue Note/EMI contract which had them releasing copy-controlled "discs" for too many years (which I don't buy cos you'll never know where it won't play, in your new CD player, in your car...), this is a totally independant release which implies new Medeski stuff coming our way very soon... You'll also find this John Medeski guy featured on the DJ Logic, Baby Loves Jazz, Trey anastasio and Club d'Elf releases this year, all selected on this page. He's just the musician of the year, so please John, keep on keeping on!
Scotty Hard can also be heard producing the DJ Logic album, a masterpiece of afro-funk-hip-hop-jazz. It starts to sound as if all those incredible jazz albums of this year were all recorded by the same bunch of people. Take for example trumpetist Steven Bernstein, who masterminded the Baby Loves Jazz release (grooving for kids and adults), a new Sex Mob album and another one for his Milenial Territory Orchestra.... Or take saxophonist Skerik, who can be heard on Stanton Moore's new opus (the drummer from New Orleans n°1 band Galactic) or with his Syncopated Taint Septet... We just can't get enough of these artists who grace our best-of selection every year and they all know each other. Is it a mafia thing or just an assembly of talent?
Unsurprinsing selections also comes from New Orleans and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, with their inspired cover of the "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye album, and Brighton with the new Spanky Wilson soul thing produced by Quantic (with his full orchestra), jazz cats the Nostalgia 77 Octet (who also launched a new label), or new soul queen Alice Russell. New Orleans, Brighton... hum... one can wonder when will those two groove scenes collide?
On the deep funk front, we've selected the Nicole Willis album, with Finnish funksters The Soul Investigators, an essential purchase finally distributed in France; from the UK The Baker Brothers, who's simply the best intrumental funk trio playing today; and from the US Cadillac Jones, who after a disappointing first album have released here their magnum opus in the form of a blaxploitation soundtrack that will rock your boat.
On a more laidback vibe, you shouldn't miss the new Bonobo album, the guy used to produce some the best downtempo instrumentals from England, he's now recording and touring with a full soul jazz band, with rising voice Bajka on guest vocals. His "Days To Come" album could have gotten to the number one spot if we were sorting our selection with the number of times we played the record... Tommy Guerrero is playing it cool too, with a phat, jazzy and roots "From The Soil To The Soul". He's one of the most underrated artist we've always loved, and he keeps on getting better with each new record! This selection ends with some peaceful New York modern jazz from the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, a keys/bass/drums trio which melts post-rock leanings and ambient electronica thingies into their improvisations.
Now you have a chance to know what jazz sounds like in 2006.

10 REGGAE DUB WORLD ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Various - Reckless Roots Rockers (Wackie's)
02. Grant Phabao - Remixed And Remixes vol.2 (T.I.M.E.C.)
03. Salah Ragab and The Cairo Jazz Band Present Egyptian Jazz - Ramadan In Space Time (Art Yard)
04. Various - Brazilian Beats Brooklyn (Mr Bongo)
05. Afrodizz - Froots (C4)
06. Paul St. Hilaire - A Divine State Of Mind (False Tuned)
07. Groundation - Upon the Bridge (Young Tree)
08. Forro In The Dark - Bonfires Of São João (Nublu)
09. Michael Rose - Warrior (Mrecords)
10. Various - Life Goes In Circles (Sounds from the Talent Corporation 1974-1979) (Pressure Sounds)

Even though Groundation and Grant Phabao are miles ahead of the rest of the world's reggae productions, it's been quite a good year for reggae music. A recent Wackie's reissue from the mid-70s tops our selection, it's pure instrumental roots reggae produced by King Tubby and played by the Soul Syndicate Band. Hear it and agree with us. On the reissue front we also enjoyed the "Life Goes In Circles" from Pressure Sounds... We didn't select any Soul Jazz or Blood & Fire record this year though cos' we never received any - ever : no support to those who don't support!
That's not the case with Max @ Nocturne who's been flooding us with more cool releases. Big Up Max! The new Paul St Hilaire (formerly Tikiman) album and the new Michael Rose one he passed on to us are among the best of today's reggae productions and should be hearable soon on a 21st Century Reggae mix on www.parisdjs.com... Don't miss this one, subscribe to the podcasts!
To conclude this reggae selection, let's go back to the 2006 reggae and dub masters, Groundation, with a solid new album in the vein of their previous efforts, proving that there have no competitors in today's roots reggae live scene, and Grant Phabao, who remixed reggae-wise everyone from Jon Kennedy to George Clinton, from Alice Russell to Ty, from The Procussions to Lee McDonald... while preparing 3 new reggae albums and a collaboration with Doctor L! Nobody sounds as good as he does. Nobody is even getting close to it, he's the Kenny Dope of reggae... don't say we didn't warned ya either! He's also been asked to mix the upcoming Seun Kuti album and remix an exclusive Khaled track too, among other upcoming projects. Expect a big 2007 year for Phabao.
The latest afrobeat stormer we could hear this year comes from Montreal with Afrodizz who released a future classic, and on the Latin front we couldn't miss the Brazilian Beats Brooklyn samba funk compilation or the Forro In The Dark spectacular eclectism. But what most stunned us at TIMEC and PARIS DJS headquarters are the 1968-1974 recordings from the Salah Ragab and The Cairo Jazz Band, mixing Ethiopian rhythms with latin, afro or free jazz influences. People talked about "the egyptian Sun Ra" which comes close to an absurd definition of what Salah Ragab is about, since there's a Sun Ra with Salah Ragab record out there too...

10 COMPILATIONS FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Various - Paris Djs Mixes (Podcast) (Kraked/T.I.M.E.C.)
02. Various - Let The Groove Move You - 20 Modern Funk Anthems Compiled By Adrian Gibson (Freestyle)
03. Various - Shapes Compilation 2006 Vol.2 (Tru Thoughts)
04. Various - Party Keller Vol.2 - Sons And Daughters Of Funk, Boogie, Soulful Reggae and Afrobeat (Compost)
05. Various - Underground Hits And Exclusive Bits! (Wah Wah 45s)
06. Various - Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal (Numero Group)
07. Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge - present Sunday Afternoon at Dingwalls (Ether)
08. Various - More MPM Sound (Melting Pot)
09. Hexstatic - Pick'n'Mix (Sanctuary)
10. Various - Secret Love 3 - Not A Secret Anymore - Compiled by Jazzanova and Resoul (Sonar Kollektiv)

I admit this might be perceived as self-loathing but the best compilations we could hear this year were the ones we did ourselves: a new 30 minutes thematic rare groove mix has been available for free on www.parisdjs.com nearly each week since October 2005! The selections are killer, including many very rare or exclusive recordings, mainly from vinyl, with a careful attention to the details (original artwork, credits, links, professional audio mastering by Grant Phabao), trying not to play tracks already available on current compilations... Subscribe to the podcasts (mixes and virtual 'releases') and don't miss this golden food for your iPod!
The rest of our selection concerns physical releases (mostly CDs), and stays on the groove, starting with the second volume of Adrian Gibson's choice of new Deep Funk gems. Hard to find in record stores but heavy value for your money... Seek it. For nearly half its price you might also want to get the new Tru Thoughts "Shapes" compilation, filled with hits and exclusives. It's a bargain AND a limited edition release so act fast.
Florian Keller's second mix of funk, soul, reggae and afrobeat in the "Party Keller" series is as perfect as the first volume, with rare vinyls tracks you might have missed this year if you were not harrassing record stores every week. The same reflexion goes for the Wah Wah records or the second Melting Pot compilations. We've been hunting those 21st century soul, funk & breakbeat for months and were more than happy to get our ears on these collections.
If you enjoyed the "Soul Gospel" compilations on Soul Jazz Records, we'd love a copy, cos' we've been told they're in the same vein as the Numero Group CD/double LP "Gospel Funk hymnal": top-notch quality godspell soul... Jazz Dance lovers will rather go for the new Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge glorious selection of 20 years of "Dingwalls" parties, while amateurs of eclectism will enjoy a new Hexstatic mix CD, "An Assortment To Suit All Tastes".
Ending this bi-annual "Best Of" selection is a 21st century folk selection by Jazzanova & Resoul, "Secret Love 3", a perfect end-of-nighter that makes us wish we had gotten our hands on the previous volumes...

10 ALBUMS WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR THIS YEAR (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

01. Boca 45 - Vertigo Sounds (Unique)
02. Dr Rubberfunk - My Life At 33 (GPS)
03. Joseph Arthur - Nuclear Daydream (Lonely Astronaut)
04. Juggling Suns - Tranzmutation (Aeria)
05. Radio Citizen - Berlin Serengeti (Ubiquity)
06. Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - Sharp Knives And Loaded Guns (EMI Norway)
07. The Breakfast - Moxie Epoxy (HMG)
08. The Motet - Instrumental Dissent (CageFree)
09. Trey Anastasio - Bar 17 (Red Int / Red Ink)
10. Vinyl - Fogshack Music Vol. 1 (In The Pocket)

All those records seem quite cool... but we haven't heard 'em. :/

Thanks to Max, Wendy & Stéphanie @ Nocturne; Elisabeth, Matthias, Lawkyz, Florent, Fred and the others @ Ping Pong; Diego, Clarisse & Dorothée @ Clarisseworks, Rob @ Tru Thoughts; Soulist & Freeworker @ 3ème Voie; Loik, Monte, Fourmy & Carine @ Kraked; Manu Boubli & Doctor L @ Mind; Erik Rug @ Les Disques du Telegraphe; Ness; Amaury & Mario @ Radio Latina; Aurélie @ No Fridge; Jessica @ Warm; Gregsky; Mr Moo; Paul @ Halbop; Guillaume @ Seven Dub; Professor Oz & Mag'; The Lone Ranger & Chester; Fatta @ Soul Stereo; Jeff de Paris; David°F; Captain Détendu, Jeanf & Grant Phabao @ T.I.M.E.C.; Theo @ Warp Records; Mafiagato & Mr Zam @ Ninja-Obsession.net... I must be forgetting a lot of people sorry.

The 150 Best Records Of 2006 - Part 1

12 ELECTRONIC ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 1

01. Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit - Secret Rhythms 2 (CD/2xLP)
02. Diesler - Keepie Uppies (CD)
03. Quantic - An Announcement to Answer (CD/LP)
04. Grant Phabao - Remixed & Remixes (CDR)
05. AFX - Hangable Auto Bulb (CD) / Chosen Lords (CD)
06. Senor Coconut - Yellow Fever (CD)
07. The Juju Orchestra - Kind Of Latin Rhythm (12") / Take Four (12")
08. Orgatronics - Moonfruit (CD)
09. Fort Knox Recordings - The New Gold Standard (CD/12")
10. Felix Laband - Dark Days Exit (CD/LP)

We've been amazed by their talent for years now so it's no surprise to find Burnt Friedman, Grant Phabao, Aphex Twin or Atom Heart (under his Señor Coconut guise) in this Top 10 once again. These guys are at the top of their game, each one creating an exceptionally unique sound and an incredibly vast discography. Seek them out. Diesler and Quantic are no real surprise either, as the Tru Thoughts label they're on was one of the best of 2005 for all connoisseurs. Breakbeat programming and fusion of groovy styles gets re-invented with the Brighton twist in there. Ask your record dealer for their albums and singles! Newcomers are also welcomed in this bi-annual "Best Of", whether they're cool and fun like the Juju Orchestra, roots and classy like Orgatronics, hip and shaky like The Fort Knox Five or dark and lovely like Felix Laband. You can start diggin'.

12 FOLK ROCK POP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 1

01. Mushroom - Really Don't Mind If You Sit This One Out (CD)
Caroleen Beatty (w/ Mushroom) - You're Only As Pretty As You Feel (CD)
Various (alias Mushroom) - Soul Sisters - The Sights & Sounds of the African-American Underground (CD)
02. Phish - Live at Madison Square Garden New Year's Eve 1995 (3xCD)
03. Loka - Fire Shepherds (CD/LP)
04. Benevento/Russo Duo - Raw Horse: The Benevento Russo Duo Live! (CD)
05. Les Claypool - Of Whales And Woe (CD/LP)
06. Brave Captain - Distractions (CD/LP)
07. Bobby Previte - The Coalition Of The Willing (CD/LP)
08. Keller & The Keels - Grass (CD/LP)
09. The Disco Biscuits - The Wind at Four to Fly (CD/LP)
10. Blues Traveler - Bastardos (CD/LP)

Yeaaaah we like our pop and rock to go psychedelic all the way. So what? You'd rather we'd opt for some formatted everybody-plays-the-same-shit-to-be-on-radio? Sorry, that won't happen. As pop/rock has became the mainstream in all major medias, some artists and bands are still re-inventing the realm each year, starting with the acidest we could find, Mushroom, who recently released three albums under different names. Those San Francisco guys love trippy music as much as record collecting, so you'd rather take their misleadings as a trasure quest... Next is an 11-years- old show from mammoth jamband Phish, but one of their bests, at a cheap price for a 3 -CD set.
Our American underground / jam bands / psychedelic US rock selection doesn't stop here, with incredible mind-meltingness from the Benevento/Russo Duo (now touring with Trey and Mike from Phish...), Primus frontman and bassist extraordinaire second solo opus as Les Claypool, Bobby Previte and his stellar array of guests (Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Steven Bernstein, Skerik...) for some loud "jazz meets rock" noise, Keller Williams' soft folk in the grass, The Disco Biscuits' cosmic live trance-fusion exploison, and Blues Traveler's recent comeback to their best with some heavy psychedelia.
Last year we had voted in this same section for Super Numeri, and we're still listening to that album. So it's no surprise to find the Loka album in this list this year, as Loka is a duo fronted by Karl Webb, one of the three founders of Super Numeri. Go seek - and yes, there are vinyls for those albums!! Cherry on the cake is the FREE album from former Boo Radleys frontman, Brave Captain, who simply still on the top of my pop idols list. You can download it on his site in WAV or MP3 format for free. Life's no bitch.

11 HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 1

01. Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo (CD/2XLP)
02. People Under The Stairs - Stepfather (CD+DVD/2xLP)
03. Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening (CD)
04. New Flesh - Universally Dirty (CD/2xLP)
05. Mocky - Navy Brown Blues (CD)
06. Freddie Cruger presents The 3 Foot People - 3 Feet High & Rising (CD/2xLP)
07. CunninLynguists - A Piece Of Strange (CD)
08. Ammoncontact - With Voices (CD/2xLP)
09. Speech Defect - Freshcoast Gettin' Rowdy (CD/2xLP)
10. Soul Position - Things Go Better With RJ And Al (CD/2xLP)
10. Rjd2 - Magnificent City Instrumentals (CD/2xLP)

Spank Rock is undoubtly the sensation of the year. He brought Baltimore's Hip Hop to us without warning and stormed to our dancefloors with the most innovative record of the year (so far). We've chosen another Big Dada joint with the upcoming New Flesh album, full of hits and inventivness. Sister label Ninja Tune isn't far with the Ammoncontact album, a pure masterpiece of L.A. jazz/soul/hip hop, and we're still very fond of Mocky's world, not so far from Gonzales one... The rest of our biannual selection is mostly old school funky hip hop, the one we like best, with "I-need-the-vinyl-absolutly" pieces from People Under The Stairs, former Jurassic 5 DJ Cut Chemist, recent Tru Thoughts signing Freddie Cruger (known as Red Astaire on the recently closed G.A.M.M. imprint), underground favorites Cunninlynguists, and swedish Ugly Duckling counterparts, Speech Defect. A couple of recent Rjd2 productions are thrown in there too cos' we still haven't got tired of his Shadow-esque style. Hip Hop don't stop.

12 SOUL JAZZ FUNK ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 1

01. The Bamboos - Step It Up (CD/LP)
02. George Clinton - U Ain't Runnin Shit (Grant Phabao Skank)
03. Darondo - Let My People Go (CD/LP)
04. The Broken Keys - Gravity (CD/LP)
05. The Cheebacabra - Exile In The Woods (CD)
06. Campbell Brothers - Can You Feel It? (CD)
07. The Wood Brothers - Ways Not To Lose (CD)
The Wood Brothers - Live At Tonic EP (CD)
08. Christian McBride - Live At Tonic (3xCD)
09. Nostalgia 77 Octet - 7's & 8's - Live At The Jazz Café (CD)
10. Charlie Hunter & Bobby Previte as Groundhunter + Dj Logic - Longitude (CD)
Charlie Hunter - Copperopolis (CD)

Running the game today in the new soul/jazz/funk roots "worldwide scene" is Brighton's finest label, Tru Thoughts. Three of their albums from the last 6 months have graced this selection: heavy heavy funk from The Bamboos (from Australia with love), soul-rock with hip hop leanings from The Broken Keys, and jazz café with the Nostalgia 77 Octet. The only other label we've found who could compete with that is New York's Ropeadope, with their gospel (The Campbell Brothers produced by John Medeski), their folk jazz (The Wood Brothers with Chris Wood from Medeski, Martin & Wood), a stunning document from downtown NY (a 3-CD live set from Christian McBride with many guests), and a new Charlie Hunter Trio album. There's nearly no competition against those two giant labels, but Ubiquity Records managed to find their way into this list, excavating supersoul from Darondo, and The Cheebacabra graced us with a second album of psychedelic keys and synths meets West coast jazz/funk lounge. And for something completly different, try the Grant Phabao remix of George Clinton for a few minutes of pure bliss. Dr Funkenstein never went reggae/soul before and he loved it. You can get it for free on www.parisdjs.com while stocks last...

12 REGGAE DUB WORLD ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 1

01. Various - Tropicália : A Brasilian Revolution In Sound (CD/2xLP)
02. Antibalas & Doctor L - Family Affair (7")
03. The Budos Band - The Budos Band (CD/LP)
04. Various - The Brazilian Funk Experience (CD)
05. Nomo - New Tones (CD/LP)
Nomo - Nomo (CD)
06. Various - Studio One DJs 2 (CD/2xLP)
Various - Studio One Soul 2 (CD/2xLP)
07. The Daktaris - Soul Explosion (CD/LP reissue)
08. Sound Dimension - Jamaica Soul Shake (CD/2xLP)
09. Fire Tongue and Chief Cook - Wayo Bring War (CD)
10. Groundation - Dub Wars (CD/2xLP)

OS Mutantes' albums are finally available on CD but if you don't know where to start, check out the Soul Jazz compilation, it's the best sum-up of the brazilian "Tropicália" movement yet. The booklet is, as usual, nearly perfect. If you'd rather get some 70's brazilian soul/funk instead, go for the latest Patrick Forge compilation, it's a bargain with a killer selection.
Hipsters into Afrobeat won't be disappointed with a new single from Antibalas (covering Sly Stone with Doctor L!!!), the first Budos Band album or the Dakataris reissue on Daptone Records, two Nomo albums (because we prefered the first one, released some time ago), and a french release from Fire Tongue and Chief Cook. That's what we call a grand buffet.
The reggae selection is 100% Soul Jazz Records, with their second volumes of "Studio One DJs" and "Studio One Soul" and a compilation of Sound Dimension instrumentals. Three major compilations of old school jamaican grooves in less than 6 months. Those Soul Jazz guys are just incredible. Their booklets are fantastic and the sound is what the music deserves. Send them love.

10 COMPILATIONS FOR 2006 PART 1

01. Various - Panama! - Latin Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus 1965-75 (CD/2xLP)
02. Quantic - Presents The World Rarest Funk 45s (CD)
03. Boozoo Bajou - Juke Joint II (CD/12")
04. Various - Stay On The Groove: 20 Modern Funk Anthems (CD)
05. Various - Shapes Compilation (CD)
06. Various - Bay Area Funk 2 (CD/2xLP)
07. Various - Let Rhythm Provide (CD)
08. Biggabush - Sound Sensation (CD)
09. Various - Trap Door - An International Psychedelic Mystery Mix (CD/LP)
10. Various - Fallin' Off The Reel: Truth & Soul Single Collection Vol.1 (CD)

UK afro and funk reissues label Soundway records is doing one helluva job. This time they've gove over to Panama and brought back an amazing selection of singles and tracks. The record is just unbelievable, but that's not all: a second volume should be out in 2007!! Whoa!!! A big friend of Soundway's boss Miles Cleret is Quantic, who also worked hard to gather his selection of supa-dupa-rare-and-collectable funk 45s for Jazzman Records. Don't pass out on this one cos it's a bargain. Another top-notch selection of funk titles if the second Luv'N'Haight collection of Bay Area grooves - killer stuff all the way.
If you're more into today's deep funk scene, the Freestyle Records compilation "Stay On The Groove" is heavenly. BUY IT and never regret it. It's 20 incredible tracks that costs 10 Euros each when you have the chance to find them, gathered here for a mere 20 grand. The whole worldwide funk scene of today is represented here... And another volume should hit the stands before the end of year - celebrate! More 21st century deep funkiness is also to be found in the Truth & Soul CD, "Falling Off The Reel", with its Wu-Tang Clan cover of "C.R.E.A.M." by El Michels Affair... Don't say we didn't warn you.
Even more new roots things can be found in the new "Shapes" compilation from Tru Thoughts (still 10 Euros, still top quality stuff), which might just win the "label of the year" polls again in 2006... Check our dedicated blog tru-thoughts.net for more info. Afrobeat lovers will be delighted to learn that Antibalas released a self-produced compilation called "Let Rhythm Provide" with 100% exclusive tracks from the family around them - only available on their website though.
Finally, we've also selected a few mixed CDs, with psychedelic and groovey delights from Boozoo Bajou, Biggabush and Groove Merchant DJs Cool Chris & Vinnie Esparza with collaborator Sean Julian. Of course, you can still choose cheap loungey compilations...

01. Ninja Tune Records / Big Dada Records (UK)
Cette année encore Ninja Tune et Big Dada ont occupé le terrain, avec un gros paquet de sorties, pas toutes complètement indispensables, mais d'une qualité globale inégalée, et incluant quelques merveilles à ne rater sous aucun prétexte: Skalpel, Super Numeri, One Self, Blockhead, Solid Steel presents Bonobo, Treva Whateva, Amon Tobin, Keep In Time, Dj Kentaro, The Herbaliser, Lotek Hi-Fi ou Roots Manuva, par exemple! Bien sûr tout ceci reste très "jazz, hip hop & DJs" dans l'esprit, mais qui pourrait le leur reprocher en cette année 2005 où tout le monde a retourné sa veste et s'est (re-)mis au rock?
[Pour info, messieurs dames et moutons de panurge, les meilleurs disques de rock sortis cette année furent des rééditions du Grateful Dead et de divers projets de Jerry Garcia, ainsi que quelques galettes de blues signées de North Mississippi Allstars, de Bettye LaVette -produite part Joe Henry-, de Gomez ou des White Stripes...]
www.ninjatune.net
À voir aussi :
www.ninja-obsession.net (réalisé par moi-même avec l'aide de Mafiagato -Espagne- et Mr Zam -Norvège-)


02. TIMEC / The Incredible Melting Entertainment Compagnons (France)
Le label le plus innovant de France et de Navarre n'a lui non plus pas lâché l'affaire de toute l'année, avec pas moins de 10 albums (le collectif TIMEC, Grant Phabao & Lone Ranger, Professor Oz, The Mackrosoft, Aja West, The Cheebacabra...) et singles, à coupler à une quinzaine de sites web, et un paquet de mixes inégalés (sur parisdjs.com). TIMEC n'est plus aujourd'hui seulement un label mais une "international music web agency", tournée à la fois vers les grand-pères (du funk, du p-funk, du rap, du jazz, de l'afrobeat, du rock psychédélique, du rub-a-dub, de la bossa...), mais aussi leur descendance, à travers le monde entier.
www.timec.net


03. Tru Thoughts Recordings (UK)
Bien sûr il y a toutes ces sorties sublimes (Alice Russell, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Nostalgia 77, Flevans, Diesler, les compiles "Shapes Yellow" et "Shapes Red"), qui risquent de faire oublier les shows radio et les soirées dédiées (Totally Radio, Samurai FM, Unfold, Phonic:Hoop, etc.), ainsi que quelques concerts inoubliables (Alice Russell, The Quantic SOul Orchestra!!). Comme pour Ninja Tune, point de rock ici, l'obédience est jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, la qualité globale des sorties très très élevée, et une approche artistique qui cherche et définit ce qui existe après le breakbeat.
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk
À voir aussi :
www.tru-thoughts.net (réalisé par mes soins)


04. Mind Service (France)
Le label de Doctor L et Manu Boubli fait suite à leurs anciens labels respectifs, Fat Recordings et Comet Records. Ici l'ambition a quadruplé, avec 4 albums afro-jazz-worldesques indispensables aux vrais amoureux de la musique (Psyco, The Real Thing, Broken, Not Your Frequency), des concerts hallucinés avec des invités de marque, et 5 mixes essentiels d'une demie heure sur parisdjs.com!
www.mindservice.com


05. Rhino (US)
Même si la série des "Dick's Picks" sortis en auto-production par le Grateful Dead continue sa route façon "Les Fous du Volant" (on en est au numéro 35 au moins!!), ce sont les sorties de chez Rhino qui furent les éléments indispensables à tous les amateurs de guitare, de véritables reliques de l'art de la six-cordes: Legion Of Mary, The Grateful Dead "Fillmore West 1969", Jerry Garcia "Garcia Plays Dylan", Jerry Garcia "After Midnight 2/28/80 Kean College"... pour n'en citer que quelques-uns.
www.rhino.com


06. Soundway (UK)
Pour beaucoup d'entre nous, sevrés de funk africain depuis des années, les rééditions de Fela chez Barclay s'apparentèrent à un don du ciel. Puis le label Strut commença à rééditer les Tony Allen produits par Fela, Segun Bucknor, Peter King, les compiles "Club Africa Vol.1 & Vol.2" ou la "Nigeria 70". De l'or en rondelles. Mais en Juin 2003 Strut mettait la clef sous la porte et les quelques compiles de chez Comet, Luaka Bop, Harmless ou Nascente, par exemple, ne furent pas suffisantes pour sustanter nos esgourdes de bons sonorité groovy africaines... C'est alors que le label anglais Soundway (basé à Brighton) commença à reprendre les choses en main avec la compilation "Ghana Soundz". 2005 fut l'année de l'explosion avec la "Ghana Soundz 2", une "Afro Baby - the Evolution of the Afro sound in Nigeria, 1970-1979", une anthologie de Orlando Julius "Aand his Afro Sounders", le TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo "Te Kings of Benin Urban Groove, 1972-1980", les deux vinyles de Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats, "Let's Have a Party" et "Afro Soco Soul Live", ainsi qu'une floppée de singles originaux (Orchestre du Bawobab and the Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination, Victor Olaiya St Augustine, Richard Stoute and the Telstars, The Blue Rhythm Combo, Mulatu Astatke...) et de remixes (par Quantic, Gerardo Frisina, Natural Self...) qui défouraillent sévère.
http://www.soundwayrecords.com


07. ATO Records (US)
Le label lancé par Dave Matthews à New York (distribué par BMG) s'attache à des valeurs traditionnelles, pop, blues, rock, jazz & world, certes, mais se préoccupe surtout de développer la carrière de ses artistes avant son catalogue. Les North Mississippi Allstars, Gomez, Mike Doughty (ex-Soul Coughing), My Morning Jacket ou encore Gov't Mule furent parmi les heureux élus de cette année, avec à chaque fois un album en forme de retour en grâce. Chapeau à la direction artistique du label!
www.atorecords.com



08. Stones Throw / Now Again (US)
Basé à Los Angeles, Stones Throw et son sous-label de rééditions Now Again sont plutôt très ciblés hip hop et funk, dans la veine du trimestriel américain Wax Poetics, sans le jazz, en gros. 2005 fut riche en singles époustouflants, qu'il s'agisse de nouveautés hip hop ou de rééditions et productions funk. Trois albums ont en particulier marqué cette année avec le Quasimoto ("The Further Adventures of Lord Quas"), hip hop, le Connie Price & The Keystones ("Wildflowers"), new funk, et la compilation "Cold Heat - Heavy funk Rarities 1968-1974 Vol.1", old funk. Trois albums qu'il est encore temps de se procurer, ou de télécharger pour vérifier avant si vraiment vous y tenez (vous pouvez y aller les yeux fermés).
www.stonesthrow.com
www.stonesthrow.com/nowagain



09. Ubiquity / Luv'N'Haight (US)
Ubiquity aurait pu être numéro 1 de ce classement 2005 si on avait tenu compte des sorties du label Tru Thoughts en licence pour le continent américain (Quantic et Nostalgia 77). En mettant de côté ces excellents albums qui ne sont que distribués par Ubiquity, il reste quand même le Breakestra, album funk de l'année, le Gilles Peterson "Digs America", une tuerie de compilation, le Ohmega Watts entre hip hop, funk et soul, le deuxième album du Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra, véritable bijou de funk cinématique, l'ultra-funky anthologie remasterisé des Propositions... et pour clore cette imposante liste la superbe sélection "Searching For Soul"! Sixtuple bravo!!!
www.ubiquityrecords.com


10. Anti (US)
Avec un nom pareil ("Anti"), et un pitch tel que le leur ("Real Artists Creating Great Recordings On their Own Terms"), nous attendions beaucoup de ce label découvert avec les derniers albums de Tom Waits. Et nous n'avons pas été déçus, avec les Black Keys, Joe Henry, les retours de Daniel Lanois, de Solomon Burke, et puis cette année la bombe hip hop de Blackalicious ("The Craft") et le blues gorgé de soul de Bettye LaVette. Le site du label est par ailleurs un des meilleurs du genre avec un vrai contenu rapidement accessible.
www.anti.com

Ont aussi été nommés :


Grand Central Records (UK) - pour les albums groovy de Boca 45, Jon Kennedy, Broadway Project, et le best-of de Fingathing.
www.grandcentralrecords.com


Lewis Recording (US) - le label de Edan, dont le deuxième album fut un des sommets de 2005, suivi en fin d'année par un excellent "I Gotcha" signé de Dooley-O.
www.lewisrecordings.com


Rather Interesting (Allemagne) - le label de Uwe Schmidt alias Atom™, qui nous a gratifié (en plus d'une pelletée de remixes, albums, compilations et collaborations sur d'autres labels que le sien) d'un "CYMK" assez tordant et d'un Los Negritos sous amphétamines.
rather-interesting.com


Truth & Soul Records (US) - Après Pure Records il y eu Desco Records, qui se scinda en Soulfire Records et Daptone Records (qui mérite sa petie mention au passage pour les albums de Sharon Jones et du Budos Band), Truth & Soul naît sur les cendres de Soulfire et sort en 2005 une anthologie -indispensable- de son ancêtre ainsi que le très bon album rare groove de El Michels Affair.
www.truthandsoulrecords.com


Sci-Fidelity Records (US) - Un des labels phare de la scène "jamband" américaine qui tente de survivre à la séparation de son groupe phare (Phish) et le la fin d'une époque qui s'ensuivit. On est loin de l'excellence du début des années 90, mais avec des très bons opus signés Steve Kimock Band, Brothers Past et The String Cheese Incident, ainsi que des DVDs d'Umphrey's McGee et de Keller Williams, on ne peut encore y croire un peu.
www.scifidelity.com

The 150 Best Records Of 2005 - Part 2

10 ELECTRONIC ALBUMS FOR 2005 PART 2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)

01. Pivot - Make Me Love You (CD)
02. Los Negritos - Speed-Merengue Mega-Mix 2005 (limited edition CD)
03. Uri Caine - Bedrock - Shelf-Life (CD)
04. Not Your Frequency - Communication By Transfusion (CD)
05. Skalpel - Konfusion (2xCD/LP)
06. Professor Oz - Professor Oz & Microlive (Limited Edition CD, 500 ex.)
07. Broken - Better Luck Next Time In Technicolor (CD)
08. Daedelus - Exquisite Corpse (CD/2xLP)
09. Roger Robinson - Illclectica (CD/2xLP)
10. Pest - All Out Fall Out (CD/2xLP)

12 FOLK ROCK POP ALBUMS FOR 2005 PART 2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)

01. Super Numeri - The Welcome Table (CD/LP)
02. Legion Of Mary - The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol.1 (2xCD)
03. The Grateful Dead - Fillmore West 1969 (3xCD)
04. Bettye LaVette - I've Got My Own Hell To Raise (CD)
05. Frank Zappa - FZ:OZ (2xCD)
06. Jerry Garcia - Garcia Plays Dylan (2xCD)
07. Brave Captain - All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace (CD)
08. North Mississippi Allstars - Electric Blue Watermelon (CD/LP)
09. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf (CD/LP) / Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Summer In The Southeast (CD/2xLP) / Will Oldham & Tortoise - The Brave & The Bold (CD/LP)
10. Ween - Shinola (CD/LP)

10 HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR 2005 PART2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)

01. One Self - Children Of Possibility (CD/2xLP)
02. Ugly Duckling - Bang For The Buck (CD)
03. Blackalicious - The Craft (CD/2xLP)
04. Blockhead - Downtown Science (CD+DVD/2xLP)
05. Dj Format - If You Can't Join Em... Beat 'Em (CD/CD+DVD/2xLP)
06. Dooley-O - I Gotcha (CD/LP)
07. P-Love - All Up In Your Mind (CD/LP)
08. Nickodemus - Endangered Species (CD)
09. Lotek Hi-Fi - Mixed Blessings (CD/LP)
10. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show (CD/2xLP)

10 JAZZ, SOUL & FUNK ALBUMS FOR 2005 PART 2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)

01. Breakestra - Hit The Floor (CD/2XLP)
02. Doctor John & The Lower 911 - Sipiana Hericane (CD EP)
03. Alice Russell - My Favourite Letters (CD/2xLP)
04. Flanger - Spirituals (CD/LP)
05. Garage A Trois - Bande Originale du Film de Outre Mer (CD)
06. The Boogaloo Investigators - Dynamighty! (CD)
07. Robert Walter - Super Heavy Organ (CD)
08. Benevento Russo Duo - Best Reason To Buy The Sun (CD)
09. El Michels Affair - Sounding Out The City (CD/LP)
10. Gregsky - Villa Mystique (Cristal) (CD)

12 REGGAE DUB & WORLD ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)

01. Carlton Livingston & Lone Ranger produced by Grant Phabao - (A Message To You) Rudie (12")
02. Geraldo Pino & The Heartbeats - Heavy Heavy Heavy (The long-lost hero of Afro Soul Funk) (CD/2 LPs)
03. Quantic & Nickodemus feat. Tempo of the Candela Allstars - Ritmo Tropical (12")
04. Tunde Williams Play With The Afrika 70 - Mr Big Mouth / Lekan Animashaun & Africa 70 - Low Profile (CD/2 LPs)
05. Seven Dub - Rock With Me (CD)
06. Chronic Sonata - Everyday (7")
07. Osibisa - Osibisa/Woyaya (2xCD) / Heads (CD)
08. Chávez Ravine - A Record By Ry Cooder (CD)
09. Willi Williams - Messenger Man (CD/2xLP)
10. Amayo's Fu-Arkist-Ra - Afrobeat Disciples (CD)

10 COMPILATIONS FOR 2006 PART 2 (+ MP3 DOWNLOAD LINKS)