The collective of producers that includes Phil Asher, Bugz In The Attic, Modaji, IG Culture, Dego McFarlane and Mark De Clive Lowe (amongst others) is often described as the 'West London' or the 'Broken Beats' scene.
Both these tags are limiting however as not all producers involve hail specifically from that area, and the music they make is not so easily squeezed into the latter category. This compilation, released on the Bugz' label, is a case in point.
It's starting track - Blacktonez' 'Pleasure Ride' is a funkadelic trip through low-riding bass, hip hop beats and soul vocals with a splash of jazz sensibilities and is one of the freshest, funkiest takes on modern soul that's around right now.
Then there's BB Boogie's 'Universal Sound' a futuristic slice of fusion that draws on soul, jazz-funk and disco; New Sector Movement's 'My History', a super dope cut that comes straight from the Roy Ayers school of fusion with added busted beat panache; and Afro Force's 'Goza' which combines raunchy samples with space age computer sounds and plenty of Afro-percussion before leading into a fuller afro-jazz hybrid with a cosmic twist.
And this is just the first few tracks. Further down the line we discover Paul Seiji's talents on 'Second Nature' which starts off with rich, soundtrack strings before breaking into some tough beats and cute funk licks. Kudu's 'Transit' stutters into action soon after, blending a tech-edged riddim with more fusion flavours while Dub Basement's 'Thrill Seeker' steps with more vocals and fusionistic funk with an underlying blaxploitation filmic feel.
There's a musicality and artistic authenticity here rarely heard in dance music and each of the ten tracks featured here is unique. As such, this is undoubtedly one of the compilations of the year.
by Paul Sullivan