Author: Tareck Ghoneim Page 3
Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music Society
American musician and songwriter Esperanza Spalding releases her fourth studio album on Heads Up International. Having been schooled in jazz in some of the best learning establishments in America, Esperanza showed noticeable talent and has...
Review posted on 19th April 2012
Dj Format - Statement of Intent
Matt Ford aka DJ Format is back with his third album 'Statement of Intent' on Project Blue Book Records. There's no doubt Format is a true DJ talent, dropping hip hop beats and break beat...
Review posted on 21st February 2012
Speech Debelle - Freedom Of Speech
The talented Speech Debelle returns with new album 'Freedom Of Speech', her second album following her Mercury prize winning debut 'Speech Therapy'. It was certainly a great victory for hip hop seeing Speech Debelle receive...
Review posted on 21st February 2012
Fabric - #62 DJ Sneak
Fabric Records are back with a new collection, this time showcasing the impressive and experienced talents of DJ Sneak! Any lover of house music may well have heard of DJ Sneak, whose impressive contribution to...
Review posted on 8th February 2012
Mungoâs Hi Fi - Forward Ever
Mungo's Hi Fi is a sound system based in Glasgow, Scotland, which follows the original Jamaican Sound System tradition. 'Forward Ever' is third album release on Scotch Bonnet and gaining more exposure from tours and...
Review posted on 8th February 2012
The Fantastics - The Wardrobe
I heard the Fantastics were playing at The Wardrobe in Leeds through the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show. Quite enamoured by their recent album 'All The People' and keen to see local girl Sulene...
Review posted on 7th February 2012
Jill Scott - The Original Jill Scott from the Vault, Vol. 1
When receiving this album I was a little surprised to be reviewing another Jill Scott album so soon to her last release 'The Light Of The Sun'. However, with a little investigation I soon realised...
Review posted on 7th February 2012
Classified - Handshakes And Middle Fingers
Canadian rapper Luke Boyd aka Classified releases his second major album release 'Handshakes And Middle Fingers' on Sony Music Canada; however, this is his fourteenth release on his own production label Half Life Records, highlighting...
Review posted on 7th February 2012
Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - Soul Time!
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings release their fifth studio album on Daptone Records. Certainly a band well known in music circles due to their first rate musicianship and professionalism that is dedicated to a...
Review posted on 7th February 2012
Prince - Dance 4 Me
Prince is back! Prince doesn't need much introduction: a man who's produced thirty Top 40 singles, released ten platinum albums - selling over 90 million copies and earning seven Grammys. it says it all really!...
Review posted on 7th February 2012
Southport Weekender - Vol. 9 Mixed by Mr Scruff & DJ Spinna
Southport Weekender release Vol. 9 to their already respected back catalogue of quality mixes. The SPW family celebrate their 25th Anniversary in May 2012 held at Butlins Holiday Resort in Minehead. It's a great achievement...
Review posted on 26th January 2012
Crazy P - When We On
Crazy P are back with a new album 'When We On' signed to 2020 Vision. Crazy P are certainly a favourite for many listeners of house, disco and soul music, with their unique live band...
Review posted on 12th January 2012
SMOD - SMOD
SMOD are a trio comprising of Sam and his friends Ousco and Dronsky and used to feature Mouzy's (until his departure) that made the name SMOD. Sam's parents are actually well known musicians: Amadou and...
Review posted on 19th December 2011
Ras G - Down 2 Earth
Well known LA hip hop producer Ras G brings another assemble of bits and pieces with 'Down 2 Earth', displaying a true reflection of hip hop production. 'Down 2 Earth' consists of 21 tracks, some...
Review posted on 19th December 2011
Lack Of Afro - This Time
Adam Gibbons aka Lack Of Afro, is multi-instrumentalist and producer, who has a variety of work available to him. This is Adam's 3rd album and 'This Time' displays a host of influences, providing shades of...
Review posted on 13th December 2011
Randa & The Soul Kingdom - What You Need
Randa & The Soul Kingdom release their second album 'What You Need' on Freestyle Records. Hailing from Perth, Australia, they take on funk, soul, rare-groove with the all the enthusiasm of lovers of this sound....
Review posted on 13th December 2011
Grupo X - As The Hills Go By
Funky outfit Grupo X, from colourful and creative Yorkshire, create 'As The Hills Go By' on Loft Recordings. Indeed there is a lot of genuine love of funk, soul and rare groove coming from these...
Review posted on 13th December 2011
Push - Wardrobe, Leeds, 25th Nov, 2011
PUSH is one of the most well-known bands in the UK in the funk, soul and rare groove scene, having played and pioneered styles of funk back in the Acid Jazz days, all the way...
Review posted on 13th December 2011
Captain Planet - Cookin Gumbo
Charlie Bethel (aka Captain Planet) releases 'Cookin Gumbo' on Brooklyn label Bastard Jazz Recordings. As his previous releases fused Latin, African and Indian sounds with his hip hop production sensibilities to produce progressive and upbeat...
Review posted on 21st November 2011
The Fantastics - All The People
The Fantastics release 'All The People' on Freestyle Records. This album features upcoming vocalist Sulene Fleming who certainly delivers great vocals on this album. The mix of sounds encompasses soul, blues, funk rock, afrobeat, latin...
Review posted on 21st November 2011
Sunlightsquare - Britannia Shing-A-Ling
Sunlightsquare is the brainchild of Italian pianist and composer Claudio Passavanti, who handpicked a host of talented musicians, to create a live album project recorded purposefully with very limited technology to produce a classic...
Review posted on 21st November 2011
Deep Street Soul - Look Out Watch Out
Australian band Deep Street Soul are certainly keeping the funk alive and well down under with 'Look Out Watch Out', released on Freestyle Records. This hard hitting, raw and stripped down funk band are keeping...
Review posted on 21st November 2011
Push - Band On A Mission
UK band PUSH is back with a new album, 'Band On A Mission' on Push Records. Indeed PUSH have been playing funk, rare groove and soul-jazz for a long time, from the 'Talking Loud' days...
Review posted on 21st November 2011
Emika - Emika
Emika releases her self-titled debut 'Emika' on Ninja Tunes. Born in UK but from Czech heritage she has spent much of her time exploring sound in Bristol. She currently lives in Berlin, fitting for an...
Review posted on 8th November 2011
Grey Reverend - Of The Days
Brooklyn based musician L.D Brown AKA Grey Reverend releases his debut album 'Of The Days' on new label Motion Audio, the label being the brainchild of Jason Swinscoe from The Cinematic Orchestra, supported by Ninja...
Review posted on 8th November 2011
Michael Franti and Spearhead - The Sound Of Sunshine
Michael Franti is certainly an inspiration to many, with a back catalogue of music that seems from the early days of hip hop to his contribution with Spearhead has influenced countless people. His conscious rhetoric...
Review posted on 2nd November 2011
Little Roy - Battle For Seattle
Influential and pioneering Jamaican artist Little Roy release the new album 'Battle For Seattle'. Little Roy's career is certainly prolific within reggae music, having worked with great reggae artists such as The Wailers and Lee...
Review posted on 27th October 2011
Limetree Festival - 26th/27th/28th August 2011, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire
Limetree Festival celebrates its 5th year, located in the rural area of Grewelthorpe, near Ripon in North Yorkshire. Anyone who has been to Yorkshire can guess that the site of Limetree is green, hilly and...
Review posted on 4th October 2011
Asa - Beautiful Imperfection
Nigerian singer Asa releases her second album 'Beautiful Imperfection' on Naïve. Born in Paris and having crafted herself there, her influences of great artists such as Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq...
Review posted on 22nd September 2011
Sade - The Ultimate Collection
Sade release 'The Ultimate Collection' showcasing a chronological history of hit tracks and some previously unreleased material for the delight of many fans. It's clear listening to this two disc compilation how memorable their hits...
Review posted on 22nd September 2011
Suggested
Leisure Festival - Dreamland in Margate
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Pretty Fierce talk to us about collaborating with Doja Cat, emetophobia, arena tours and staying "true to yourself" [EXCLUSIVE]
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Will Varley & Jack Valero - The Astor Theatre Deal Live Review
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
WYSE talks to us about her "form of synaesthesia", collaborating with Radiohead's Thom York and the prospect of touring with a band [EXCLUSIVE]
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
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Bay Bryan talks to us about being a "wee queer ginger", singing with Laura Marling and being inspired by Matilda [EXCLUSIVE]
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Keelan X talks to us about staying true to "your creative vision", collaborating with Giorgio Moroder and being "a yoga nut" [EXCLUSIVE]
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
![Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]](https://images.contactmusic.com/images/home/homepage/luke-de-sciscio-abof-a.jpg "Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]")
Luke De-Sciscio talks to us about having the courage to be yourself, forgiving that which is outside of one's control and following whims [EXCLUSIVE]
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Annie Elise talks to us about the challenges a female producer has to face and "going through a year of grief and sickness" [EXCLUSIVE]
Electronic music pioneer and producer Annie Elise says that the release of her first EP - 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' feels "both vulnerable and...
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