Keb Darge & Little Edith's Legendary Wild Rockers - A Collection of Rare Rockabilly, Surf & Exotica
(CD/2LP/Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE169, 2011-06-27

Let’s forget about the flavor of moment and take a trip back into music’s past. The guide on this trip is none other than Scottish Northern soul & funk scene legend Keb Darge; a man renowned for having a 1940's to 1970's musical knowledge second to none and it’s perfectly reflected on his BBE compilations. While recent Keb Darge compilations touched on underground dance music from black artists in the 50’s and 60’s (Keb Darge & Paul Weller present Lost & Found - Real R’N’b And Soul) and lesser known or forgotten lights of R&B music from the 50’s and 60’s (Keb Darge and Little Edith’s Legendary Rockin’ R&B), his latest compilation - Keb Darge & Little Edith's Legendary Wild Rockers - revisits some forgotten gems and rarities from the Surf / Rockabilly genres.

Various - David Rodigan's Dubwize Shower
(CD/2xLP/Digital) Barely Breaking Even Records BB170CCD/BBE170CLP/BBE170CDG, 2011-06-14

I read an interesting interview from famous UK reggae DJ David Rodigan, where he was stating that Jamaican music is not Jamaican anymore. "They’ve forgotten what Jamaica is famous for; the structure and melodic output of reggae... It’s empty, not mixed properly or mastered. There’s no substance, just a waste of time downloading them." Among the new stuff he rates, Konshens, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Alborosie and Romain Virgo... The man should get the news, there's a studio in Paris where Jamaican veterans are coming to record some new stuff he would be hunting for!! Meanwhile, David Rodigan keeps on turning is ears on the best stuff to come and to have been coming from the island, and he's selected here 20 glorious dub excursions from the master engineers in Jamaica, King Tubby, Errol T. and Sylvan Morris alongside some new additions from Alborosie and Da Grynch. Summer is upon us already!

Mathias Stubø - 1979
(CD/Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE180, 2011-06-14

My debut album under my own name will be released worldwide by UK label BBE Records. Genre-wise this record spreads from electro-acoustic deep disco, heavily inspired by late 70′s underground afro disco, hip-hop, and a bit of reggae. Everything with a great deal of soul. says Mathias Stubø. Even though he wasn't born before 1992 (now 18 years old) his love and addiction for the 70's is stronger than the average 70's soul boy. Especially 1979 is a year that stands out for him in his huge and ever growing record collection. The groove on its way to the boogie. Funk on its way to fonk. The balance and friction between electronic and acoustic instruments was at its finest. New electronics, synths and production tools on the market and the fact that musicians started taking control over the production made them burst with creative ideas. 1979 is the center of that "golden period": 1978-1982, when most of Mathias' all-time favorite music was released. Aritsts and bands like Don Blackman, Patrice Rushen, Harvey Mason, Sylvia Striplin, Logg and other music out of this world. Stubø's debut for BBE is an ode to the creative forces behind the funkiest and most mind altering music ever made. 1979 is an original album that combines and blends progressive disco, warm afro funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop and more. Still with a red thread and Stubø's sound strongly and steady in there throughout the record it all sounds and feels like it's coming from the same planet.

Mad Styles & Crazy Visions 2 - A Journey Into Electronic, Soulful, Afro & Latino Rhythms
Compiled And Mixed by Louie Vega
(2xCD/2xLP/2xLP/Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE161, 2011-05-24 (Worldwide) / 2011-06-06 (USA)

There are few labels who will get the opportunity to work extensively with the most dynamic remixers, DJ's and producers of this decade. BBE seems to keep coming up trumps. Grammy Award Winner Louie Vega has been on top of the DJ game for over 2 decades. He gained further notoriety as part of the collective known as Masters At Work with Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez form a formidable partnership reminiscent of the greatest producers of yesteryear. This compilation has been put together to highlight the fact that the high-energy dance music that graced dance floors throughout the seventies and eighties is very much relevant today. Full marks if you acquire this album - not only for supporting the movement but also for acknowledging the great fusion that disco was and still is. With sprinklings of African, Latin, jazz, funk and electro pop rhythms the production today is tighter in some instances but still breathy, sexy, up tempo and ultimately for the sweaty dance floor. Whilst Louie circles the globe spreading his musical message, this compilation manages to capture some of the magic he brings to the various dancefloors.

Seven Heven - Perfect Slices of Soul, Funk and Funky Jazz from the 21st Century New Music from the Original Compact Disc-Otheque
Compiled by Mark Webster
(CD/2LP/Digital/7" vinyl single) Barely Breaking Even BBE171, 2011-05-17

The revolution starts here! With World Record Store Day just behind us, bringing with it the news that vinyl sales were up 12% in 2010, what better time for BBE records to proudly announce the release of a compilation album that celebrates great new music, from across the globe, released by a series of independent labels, and all born on popular music's original and most natural format - the 7" single. Compiled by broadcaster, journalist, DJ and long time black music fanatic Mark Webster, Seven Heven brings together music released since 2000 by labels from the UK , Europe and America and highlights what is a burgeoning scene encompassing musicians, singers, DJs, clubs, gigs and an ever growing following of enthusiasts. And because this music is released by indie labels, a lot of it is already in the hard-to-get category - making Seven Heven an even more essential collection of music, Good is great, but good and rare, even better!! Seven Heven taps into all areas of the black music genre - sweet soul, organ-heavy soul jazz, pure funk, classy disco, vocal jazz, latin and all stops in between. Indeed, one of the tunes, 'Better Living', was only originally available on download so we became part of the solution, not the problem and pressed up our own 7" single. Thus, it's on the compilation. The 7" single is certainly making a comeback across the whole of pop - it always was and remains the symbol of 'youth music ' - and on Seven Heven we see that 'punk' attitude writ large. SAY IT LOUD, I'M 7 AND I'M PROUD!

Blitz The Ambassador - World People 02 (MP3 Podcast on ParisDJs.com) 2011-05-02 The World People concept is quite easy: we meet artists in Paris, shoot some photos, ask them for a playlist of what they're currently listening to, we publish a mix of the thing, and find in the artist' selection the next guest. Our first guest, Seun Kuti, had Blitz The Ambassador in his selection - and what a blast it's been to discover this Ghanean-American's Afro-Hip Hop bombs!! His new album Native Sun will be out this week and if you get the chance to go and check him onstage, don't hesitate!! If in doubt,...

T.R.A.C. - The Network (produced by Marc Mac)
(CD/Digital/Digital instrumental version) Barely Breaking Even BBE168ACD/BBE168ADG/BBE168IDG, 2011-04-25

T.R.A.C. was the featured MC on Lewis Parker's underground Hip Hop hit Grand Manoeuvres. This extraordinary Brooklyn based MC currently holds residency at the legendary Webster Hall in NYC. Here's The Network, 15 tracks produced by Marc Mac, One-half of the award winning production oufit 4hero. The album has been hailed as 'the return of real undiluted Hip Hop' and is getting great support through many eclectic Hip Hop online radio stations worldwide. Through the Mc's narration the album centers around today's personal world and societies troubles. All of which are metaphorically thrown into the fantasy of a cable TV Station. Think of each song as an episode on television that you might watch complete with the news, stories, adverts, reality and... good music! Some songs were inspired by the phenomenal Network movie as well as the sending of many wave files back and forth through the broadband. The combination of Marc Mac's melodic production and T.R.A.C.'s exceptional lyrics make these compositions a very worthy and addictive listen. Like it says on "Radio Heroes" they are "here to save you from the same old things"... through "The Network".

SOUL TRAIN presents
THE FUTURE SOUNDS... VOLUME ONE! From SOUL to HIP HOP
VENDREDI 22 AVRIL 2011 à partir de 21H à La Bellevilloise

La SOUL TRAIN vous propose de réunir pour cette première session THE FUTURE SOUNDS... VOLUME ONE! Les artistes de la scène SOUL HIP HOP les plus créatifs et prometteurs du moment. A découvrir un live de LADI 6 feat. JULIEN DYNE, un show Nu-Soul et Hip Hop Organique explosif! Et NATURAL SELF en DJ set qui signe son retour avec une sélection Soul Electronica Hip Hop détonnante! Notre hôte RADIO SALAH invite le duo NICK V & PSYCUT pour un set entre Soul Electronica & Hip Hop organique... Quelques mixes concoctés spécialement pour l'occasion à télécharger: NIck V Soul Train Mix, Psycut Soul Train Mix et Natural Self Soul Train Mix!!

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Benny Tones - Chrysalis
(CD/Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE167, 2011-04-04

Fondly considered as the 4th member of New Zealand future soul band Electric Wire Hustle, you may have already witnessed some of the audio magic of Benny Tones without realizing it. An obsessive collector of vintage music equipment Benny is a true audio artisan. His exquisite production is the result of hundreds of hours clocked up in the studio over the years and clearly his stunning ambient soul sound is infused by the beautiful Golden Bay community where he grew up. It was a natural progression from Djing that led him to start producing his own beats in 2002. This was the year he also moved to Wellington to immerse himself in the scene and to learn as much as he could about audio production and the music industry. He participated in 2 short audio courses but is largely self taught. In 2008 he set up OMW and has quickly built up a reputation as one of Wellington's best Audio Engineering facilities. After 4.5 years his solo album Chrysalis is finally finished and will be released in April 2011!

The Beat Generation 10th Anniversary Collection - Mixed and Compiled by DJ Spinna & Mr Thing
(2xCD/2xLP/Digital) Barely Breaking Even BBE162, 2011-03-29

The Beat Generation series which launched in March 2001 was BBE's first real foray into original artist albums and featured the debut solo albums for some of the worlds most respected essentially hip hop and modern r&b producers such as J Dilla, Dj Jazzy Jeff, Larry Gold, Dj Spinna and Will.i.am. It also included albums from legends such as Pete Rock and Marley Marl. In addition there were albums leftfield heavyweights King Britt and Madlib. Last but not least the set included a session of unreleased poetry from American literary giants - Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky and Greg Corso whose well documented movement lent its name to the series. These 10 releases have achieved global cumulative sales of over 300,000 CDs to date. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this cult series BBE enlisted the services of 2 of its stalwart associates and compilers to create a double mix cd featuring the best and most popular tracks from the 9 albums recorded for the series. Dj Spinna - (Beat Generation contributor and compiler of several compilations on BBE ) and DJ Mr Thing - former Scratch Pervert and DMC winner. For Digital customers they will be able to download a bonus mix by a Chris Read - UK Mixtape Maestro/ BBC 1 Xtra. The promotion of this release will be supported by events and re-releases of deleted titles, expanded version of some of the albums...