01. Braintax - Last Tenner
(from 'Run The Yards / Last Tenner' 12 inch, 2006-10-02 / Low Life LOW45)

"Braintax is just one of the best British rappers out there words-wise (beats are good too - don't worry)" said my Best of 2006 part 2. The relaxed 'Last Tenner', opening this mix with its cat-like piano and bass and flowing vocals, is just about going out and spending the last of your money on partying, something we all relate to, one way or another. 'Run The Yards' is a classic one, going after the major labels, their lack of every talent or will to work you might be able to think of, on a self-produced kung fu/blues/hip hop instrumental. British hip hop at his best.

More info on Braintax on djouls.com

02. The Broken Keys - The Witch (The Bamboos Version)
(from 'The Witch' 12 inch, 2006-11-03 / Tru Thoughts TRU114)

UK Supa-duo uniting Natural Self and Nostalgia 77 over some heavy soul-rock/hip hop mashing up, The Broken Keys have been releasing STUNNING singles, starting with a smashing 'Slingshot' last april (on a limited 7 inch), and followed in November by this 'The Witch/Flow', a dancefloor destroyer in 5 parts. Things start with the hot'n'funky white soul rock of 'The Witch', fuelled by b-boying beats, heavy horns, soulful vocals, even ending on a DaftPunky break! You also get an instrumental take to play with, but the gem of this crown of an EP is the 'live in the studio' cover of the same track by Australian deep funk favorites The Bamboos, with soul jazz organ choruses filling with class the lack of vocals. Of course, breaks galore... Closing the EP is 'The Flow (parts 1 & 2)', James Brown-style, two more reasons to go and fetch this vinyl before it's too late.

More info on The Broken Keys on tru-thoughts.net
More info on The Bamboos on tru-thoughts.net

03. Fingathing - Apache
(from 'Apache' 7 inch, 2006-10-09 / Ninja Tune ZENF1NGA7)

The world famous Shadows instrumental surfaces once again, this time in bongos'n'scratches / breaks'n'organ fashion thanks to the deadly Fingathing duo. F-F-Fr-Fresh as hell.

More info on Fingathing on ninja-obsession.net

04. Bonobo - Nightlite (zero dB Reconstruction)
(from 'Nightlite Remix EP' 12 inch, 2006-12-04 / Ninja Tune ZEN12189)

Heavy shit! zero dB's remix goes electro/drum'n'bass, transporting Bajka's original vocals into 21st century extreme soul while Bonobo opts for some more straight'n'poppy drum'n'soul, which doesn't eclipse the original track as much as zero dB's rework.

More info on Bonobo on ninja-obsession.net

05. Coldcut feat. Roots Manuva - Truskool (Opensource-Teksupport Refix)
(from 'Truskool' 7 inch, 2006-11-14 / Whitelabel R20057/58)

Coldcut vs Roots Manuva clash of legends "True Skool" gets bootleg remix treatment by Open source and Tek Support, who beam the track into an electro/dancehall dimension, with grumbling bassvibe and crunchy percussion. The advice is simple: buy before thinking!

More info on Coldcut on ninja-obsession.net

06. DJ Yoda - Tip Toe (A-Skillz Remix)
(from 'Wheels / Tip Toe' 12 inch, 2005-09-25, Antidote ANTTW 018)

DJ Yoda is all about fun, records and scratches, kinda between Mr Scruff and Kid Koala with a pronounced love for 80's cheesy stuff. His new album is a sure winner if all this resonates in your heart. The first single is a double one, with both a funk/80's pop/hip hop banger ("Wheels") and a cheeky hip-folk scratchy waltz for kids of all ages ("Tip Toe"). B-side offers a radio edit of "Wheels" and an A-Skillz (myspace.com/djaskillz) remix of "Tip Toe" b-boy G-funk remix perfect for crazy gymnastics.

More info on DJ Yoda on djouls.com

07. Chuck Womack & The Sweet Souls - Ham Hock & Beans (A Quantic Remix)
(from 'Ham Hocks and Beans b/w Quantic Remix' 12 inch, 2006 / Dis-Joint)

Hard to find 12 inch but you gotta kee on looking cos' that's some heavy piece of rare breakbeatin' funk we're talking about here! Quantic speeds thing up adding his usual b-boy shit for maximum deep funk dancefloor action, while the original keeps its vintage cool and soulful funk vibe flowing for more than 5 minutes, with yeaaah-hhummmm-allllright breaks all along.

More info on Chuck Womack & Quantic on tru-thoughts.net

08. Ch3vy - Blue Boogaloo (Original Version)
(from 'Blue Boogaloo b/w Tombee Remix' 7 inch, 2006-12-04 / Jack To Phono JTP011)

This one should appeal to all remixing-orchestral-scores lovers. Former Catskills artist Ch3vy strikes hard with his new single, a slab of cinematic funk filled with blowing horns, layered flut, keys and strings, cartoonish vocal break and grand ending. Jack To Phono record label mate Tombee does the remix on the b-side, with Fingathing-like scratchings nearly all along a rolling cut'n'paste rework. Check also his MySpace page for a remix of Tombee's "Amelie In Dub", entitled "Amelie In Funk"..!!

More info on Jack To Phono on tru-thoughts.net

09. Hydroponic Sound System - Lone Star Uprising feat. Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada
(from 'Watch For Sound EP' 12 inch, 2006-10-10 / Alternate Take ATD1001)

It seems like the Hydroponic Sound System have been flooding the market with singles and mixtapes, official releases and bootlegs for too long (6 years!) for us not to start investigating this collective. The sound system revolves around producers Rube and Ski, who invite friends into mashing-up sessions of hip hop, dub, any any other kind of dancefloor goodness. We finally discovered them through their massive 'Uptown Shaketown EP' on Bastard Jazz earlier this year (which we've planned to play in an upcoming 'Block Party Vol.2' on ParisDjs.com), thanks to a cool package from label owner DRM. This new EP on Chicagoan label Super Bro Records lists 5 new tracks, starting with latin soul/funk stormer 'Lone Star' featuring no less than Adrian Quesada and his Ocote Soul Sounds, one of our 2005 winners. 'OST For Zonin' then recalls not-famous-at-all Mancunians Strangebrew, Martin Brew's pre-J-Walk dubby days on Rob's records many years ago, while 'Shock The Spot' blends soul jazz, crunchy hip hop funk, handclapping and blaxploitation spirit to elevate the dancing mood. 'Inevitable Comedown' calms things down with some tuxedo instrumental downtempo hip hop and the EP closes on a short on a breaks part from the first track. All in all a rocking blaxploitation/hip hop/soul piece of wax.

More info on Hydroponic Sound System tru-thoughts.net

10. Dr Syntax - Subcultures
(from 'Subcultures' 12 inch, 2006 / Dented Records)

If underground UK hip hop's your thing, you should have heard of Dr Syntax already , from his collaborations with the Foreign Beggars or the Steady Diggin Workshop crews, you might just have stumbled upon an article about this "Subcultures" EP in a well-informed blog, or you might have checked the beautiful 12 inch at your favorite record store... Either way, you're on the right track. If you're reading this, it also means you're one of those english-speaking people who's able to listen to the words in a rap song, a rarest secialty here in France. The title track's lyrics "Subcultures" is the main course here, observing all kinds of over-categorized so-called "communities", from weed-smoking hippy types to wanking garage ravers, bitching uk hip hop heads to hooligans, drag queens to nasty Barbie girls... The distance between artistry and all those fashion victims is obvious, but put it in rhymes on a phat thumping beat and bassline with cheesy samples and you got yourself a cheeky winner.
"None of these subcultures offered me a spot where I could be myself, I told them all: fine, do what you want to but don't let the limits of your pastime define you". Anyone reading this blog might want to meditate a bit on this...
The rest of the EP is quality boom bap, especially the "Pack Mentality" B-side with Brighton rappers Koaste, featuring frrresh scratching from DJ Manipulate and also starring Dented Records founder/Foreign Beggars rapper Orifice Vulgatron.
An "Off The Radar Vol.1" promotional mixtape from Dr Syntax is already out there but the real thing is his debut LP "Self-Taught" which should be available later this year...

More info on Dr Syntax on tru-thoughts.net

11. Fletch - One Of Them Days (Fletch Remix)
(from 'Feather Your Nest EP', 2006 / Chateau Disc Japan)

Beware - this is strange music! Fletch presents a new single of downtempo UK hip hop laced with a country/pop feel and chorus sung by Flevans collaborator Sweet Laredo. The remix is more of a hip/hop/blues thing, perfectly cool. Kepp on loopin' those guitars and hints of harmonica Mr Fletcher!! B-side goes heavenly downtempo sweetness on "Tattoos Of You", with on-the-porch acoustic guitar, Sweet Laredo vocal loops and lovely strings, before leaning towards dancefloor business with "Breakstoshaketo", where bass, breaks, horns and flute strugle for their piece of action.

More info on Fletch on tru-thoughts.net

12. Aldo Vanucci - Last Goodbye
(from 'Last Goodbye' 7 inch, 2006 / Ride Records)

Fresh roots reggae cover of the late Jeff Buckley by self-proclaimed "Plymouth's 14th DJ" Aldo Vanucci. Previous release was a cool Jurassic 5 cover, as unexpected as this one. B-side 'I am A King' features J Todd. After many cool bootlegs, Aldo started asking the artists and soon he's gonna start singing in key and then one day he'll be king of pop. Hey, who knows?

Send him props on myspace.com/aldovanucci