Collating some of the brightest talents on the leftfield electronic scene, Solid Session sets sail with the percussive storm of Akwaaba's 'Nights over Claremont', followed by the London deep house all-star collaboration of Fazed Idjuts. As you've no-doubt guessed, this is in fact the Idjut Boys teamed up with Faze Action's Simon Lee, with vocals supplied by Sally Rogers from A Man Called Adam.
Their full on conga charged track winds its way through ten minutes before handing over to Ray Mang's 'Orchestral Manoeuvres', which gets its first public release. Mang's soulful, earthy disco re-edit makes this album worthy of investment by itself. But then again the same can be said of the awesome Street Corner Symphony's 'Memories of Aphrodite', which is both beautiful and funky in equal measure.
Oddworx's fantastic but simple 'Sex And Non Persons' sits back on a mid paced kick drum while the percussion is dribbled sensuously over the top. Really very gorgeous. With further contributions from DJ Du Jour and Dr Bob adding soulful electro and African vibes respectively and Fug slipping in the nu jazz, this album covers the bases. And, as if to prove a point, Akimbo's 'Return To The Volcano' pops a serious jazz cherry on the top for good measure.
Proper music made for and by proper people.
by Ben Osborne