Welcome back to our Beatjoint news section. This week we go even deeper indeed as we are starting with a spotlight on –hear me now- the complete catalogue of Basic Channel records! Remember who brang back the classic reggae dub sounds of Wackies (check our blog section for a full focus on Wackies)? Yes Basic Channel did! Who? Basic Channel, the legendaryminimal techno production team and record label, composed of Moritz Von Oswald and Mark Ernestus from Berlin, Germany… always hidden in the shadow, remaining elusive as their music is…but they are still strong and they are actually in the business since 1993. We bring you nothing less than their extensive collection of essential dub techno releases (which had been -ever since it came out- rare and highly collectable items, vinyl-only tracks under various aliases that became some kind of holy grail for many Detroit Techno and Dub appreciators to the point where it is regarded reverently like King Tubby or UR best works). The mysterious duo set up a studio in Berlin, in a building which was eventually to house Mark Ernestus’ distributing company and shop Hard Wax, and the label's mastering studio Dubplates & Mastering, set up to ensure a unique sound with a desired dynamic quality for the vinyl.The Basic Channel imprint ceased business in 1995 (apart from two releases almost a decade later that were originally issued on Carl Craig's Planet E label), but were followed by a string of similar labels. Among the most important were Chain Reaction, which released non-Von Oswald/Ernestus productions and helped launch the careers of dub-influenced minimal techno producers such as Monolake and Porter Ricks; Basic Replay, which specialises in reggae and dancehall re-issues; Main Street, for house-related releases; and Burial Mix and Rhythm & Sound, which saw the duo's sound move away from the Detroit blueprint and closer to vocal-lead dub and reggae. Their With The Artists album, released as Rhythm & Sound and featuring celebrated reggae and dancehall vocalists such as Sugar Minott (not forgetting all the aforementionned re-issues for Wackies).

Next up, as we announced you before right here comes Robert Owens on Michael Reinboth’s unstoppable German label, Compost records hitting us with a new album, “Night-Time Stories”. On this splendid record the man proves that he was and still is ever on point ever since the birth of house music in the early 80’s (he was the voice behind anthems like Mr Fingers’s (aka Larry Heard) “Can You Feel It?” or Franckies Knuckles “Tears”). To make his first artist album in ten years Mister Owens has hooked up with Wahoo, Charles Webster, Jimpster, Atjazz and Kirk Degiorgio to create a beautiful soulful journey…night times stories as sweet musical alegories that evolve from r’n b to techno and a lot of deep house moods in beetween.

We slow it down (like Brand Nubian used to say ha ha ) with another voice to be reckon with…the man they call OlivierDaySoul (we were some of the firsts to big up this singular soul singer– also hold tight for a focus on him in our blog section very soon)…now hear this all soul and beat headz, keep your ears widely opened as we keep digging…somewhere far out and exuberant between Prince or Andre 3000 / Outkast, Madlib, Wajeed and Flying Lotus…there lies gracely OlivierDaySoul from Washington DC! With a bad first album called “Kilowatt” on 4 Lux confirming his promissing vynil debuts full of dope modern day soul songs (remember our recommandation for "Brain" a tight leftfield joint à la Spacek produced by him and Paulo. while the flip "Potion 9" produced by Unknown explored more R'n'B territories), well don’t you stop boucing and check this record produced by Oddisee, Unknown, Planet Mohawk, Hudson Mohawk, Gerd, Paulo and the phunky polymorphic Dutch dude known as Gerd.

Also check Eye Beta Rock “Super Rock Body Shock”, great limited re-issue of an obscure disco synth bomb from the early 80's by Daryl Cameron. Includes a very nice Gerd dub. Just a 400 copies limited edition run, no repress. electro-disco alert !

And again rejoice! Who said you can’t find nu soulful voices in the music game nowadays? Yet another one to show them wrong! Memorize this name: Middle Child. She’s teaming up with J.Rawls on a project simply named J.Rawls & Middle Child presenting an album with a even more simple title “Rawls & Middle” (here available in his prestigious Japanese edition). Spread the word: Middle Child is a golden voice from Youngstown, Ohio who hooked up with local producer, the very talented J.Rawls. Her voice is kind of reminiscent to India Arie and her lyrics are clever and catchy. For those connoisseurs who praise him for years to the average hip hop head-nodeer J.Rawls reminds us his great taste and diversity beatmaking wize, from making classic R&B to soft rock to hip-hop sampladelic jams. A lack of decent soul this year you said? Maybe on Mtv Base ‘s whack playlist but look further, there is more than meets the eye…like Rawls & Middle who definitely hit raw in the middle! Such as Nicolay & Kay from North Carolina. A dynamic hip hop duo influenced by Tribe, De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers and the whole Native Tongues family…hip hop like we’ll always love…here with the release of their “Time:line” which is a concept record about the life cycle. Hard to sell? Well even with a great LP on BBE a few years ago, Nicolay still doesn’t get a lot of mainstream attention but it won’t stop them, as striving dedicated indie artists they maximize on the quality of what they do and keep it up. Just like them we believe that true good music with integrity lasts longer than big disposable quantity. Support the cause! An ethic close to DJ Buzz on a adequatly named label, Personal records. Having all those good examples in music history in mind, no matter if it is Jazz, Hip-Hop, Brazil, Rocksteady or Disco, the Personal team celebrate their[/strong] ten year anniversary with DJ Buzz “In Between Blue & Black”. Their brand new recent release after a 4 year hiatus with some 7-Inch biz from DJ Buzz, well known as 1/3 of Austrian Hip-Hop/Funk/Electronic-Combo Waxolutionists and mastermind of the Supercity Soundsystem. The Waxolutionists Band with Rappers Deph Joe & Manuva and Musicians like the Twin Towas, etc... Too much names? Just let the music do the talking!

And let us also recommand you Metropolitan Jazz Affair’s “MJA”. Metropolitan Jazz Affair is the initial project from 3 main figures on the French Jazz and Soul scenes. They intend to dig a little deeper in a modern souljazz direction, without forgetting what originally is : a music for the soul that can shake your legs ! This album, originally released in 2003 is produced by Patchworks, a French producer known for his successful projects such as The Dynamics, Uptown Funk Empire and more ! The crew features Stephane Ronget (also know as the Rongetz Foundation) on trumpet and Benjamin Devigne on Pianos. Guest vocalist Mr Day is performing too on this record. He brings a soulful flavor to the MJA vibe ! This album was followed by a second one in 2007 on the german label Infracom.

And we finish off with Mombasa’s “African Rhythms And Blues 2”. Mombasa being a very respected afro-funk band created in 1976 by Lou Blackbun, Doug Lucas, Bob Reed, Don Ridgeway and Alan Tatham. This here is the seminal re-issue of their original second LP release by the legendary cross-cultural Mombasa band: Deep Afro Jazz Funk by Lou Blackburn and his wicked group recorded 1976 in Germany -a top rare album formerly released on the rare german Spiegelei label only, contains the sought after DJ-spins "African Hustle", "Yenyeri" and "Shango II", mastered in 2008 from the master tapes, with original cover artwork, and re-released for the first time. Monster album! Far out we went, from dub techno to afro-beat and beyond…roots & future we are for ever! So until next time: one love!

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