Belleruche - Turntable Soul Music

Belleruche are a thre piece from London, and have massed quite a following through live performances and support from notable BBC sidc jockeys. Turntable Soul Music is their debut album, but does contain tracks previously released on a 4 track EP.

I’ve had this album for a while now, but put it aside in favor of Waldeck and other lounge / groove releases in ‘07. Now that I have time to look again, I see that they are worth revisiting. On first listen they sound too like Zero 7 for my liking, but repeated listens reveal the soulful jazz samples and deft guitar work that surpass likes of Morcheeba.

I’m loath to call Turntable Soul Music a dinner party album, but that’s exactly what it is. While there is enough to sustain your headphone space if you’re pounding on a keyboard, it is sparce enough to not be too distracting when your guests are complimenting the chinese pork neck your girlfriend whipped up. (Incidently, it was delicious but the Gow Gee stole the show!)

THINK: A happy Portishead meet Cut Chemist
WATCH: Northern Girls on YouTube
READ: their homepage and myspace
BUY: Turntable Soul Music from TruThoughts 

Waldeck  - Ballroom Stories

Klaus Waldeck is one of the original purveyors of the Vienna Sound. Together with the likes of Kruder & Dorfmeister, Tosca and Madrid del los Austrias (snigger snigger) he took the world by storm with a unique blend of nujazz downtempo beats.

Waldeck is back with Ballroom Stories, and it’s a doozey. Waldeck guides us through jazz and swing, with hints of Tom Waits along the way. Joy Malcom and Zeebee purr over sublimely produced beats, strings and keys. I featured ‘Addicted’ on the October Edition of Borrowed Beats, and ‘Make My Day’ is featured in a Mercedes add at the moment.

This is a sophisticated album from a sophisticated individual. I thoroughly recommend it to all my sophisticated readers and listeners.

THINK: K&D Meets Zero 7
READ: Waldeck’s Home and myspace pages
WATCH: Get Up Carmen Clip
BUY: Ballroom Stories At Amazon