Various - Tru Thoughts Covers
(CD) Unfold/Tru Thoughts UNFOLDCD008, 2009-09-07

Tru Thoughts Covers is a mighty selection of the most pivotal and interesting cover versions to have peppered Tru Thoughts' ten year history of releases, boasting many crossover hits; from Nostalgia 77 and Alice Russell's epic take on the White Stripes; to The Quantic Soul Orchestra's version of 4Hero; via the Bamboos' mod-soul re-imagining of Kings Of Leon; and Hot 8 Brass Band's rambunctious, world-renowned version of Sexual Healing, taking Marvin Gaye to the Mardi Gras. Between them these songs have gained tremendous acclaim, and radio play on a huge spectrum of stations, including BBC Radio 1 & 2, 6Music, BBC London, XFM and NME Radio. In addition, this 17-track collection also features new exclusive tracks from the likes of Lizzy Parks, Woon, Aldo Vanucci and Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro.

Various - Shapes 07:01 - All New Amazing Sounds Compiled By Robert Luis
(CD) Tru Thoughts TRUCD122, 2007-03-04

Tracklisting :
01. Alice Russell - Hurry On Now (Boub Remix)
02. Spengler - Good Things*
03. Freddie Cruger - Pushing On feat. Linn
04. Up Hygh - Compatible
05. TM Juke - Skin (remix) feat. Rup
06. Quantic - Politick Society Feat Noelle (Quantic remix)
07. Jumbonics - Last Nite
08. Spanky Wilson & the QSO - Waiting for Your Touch (instrumental)
09. Nostalgia 77 - Wildflower
10. Lanu - Disinformation (12" mix)
11. The Bamboos - Happy**
12. Me & You - Ze Zam***
13. The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Painting & Journeys
14. Diesler feat. Carla Alexandar - Into the Woods****
15. RUP - Step
16. Dirty Diggers feat Fourteen Corners - It'll Be Ok

* from upcoming "Shapes Y" 12 inch
** from The Bamboos' upcoming "Rawville" album
*** from Me & You upcoming "Foating Heavy" album
**** from Diesler's upcoming 3rd album

Links :
tru-thoughts.co.uk
myspace.com/truthoughtsrecords
Buy it at etchshop.co.uk

Jumbonics - Talk To The Animals
(CD/2xLP) Tru Thoughts TRUCD120, 2007-02-12

Review :
I must admit I passed on the first Jumbonics album, "Super Baxophone". Maybe there was just two much stuff released during summer 2005, or maybe I wasn't in the right mood, but I only gave it a quick listen and didn't feel it much... Maybe I was just plain wrong and maybe I oughta check it again cos' their second album is a real grower which I've been coming back too repeatedly during the last weeks.

As with their previous effort, the first impression is not the best. I mostly heard programmations, intention of soulfulness, influences... nothing really original at first sight. But then I insisted, listened to it a second time around, and found myself grading more than interesting tracks on my laptop, choosing a few for some upcoming Paris DJs selections... The songs in there were just starting to sound classy, like some hidden 21st Century Soul jewels you need to polish first a bit to make them shine.

Opening track "Auto - Magic" is nice example, the primary impression being one of some post-Beck mashing-up pop-funk, soon slipping into a need to come back to this addictive soul over cinematic hip hop beats. The following track, "Take Me With You", was already featured in the recent "Shapes Compilation" (the green one), announcing the shift from instrumental space-funk to full-grown soul songs.

One could argue that everybody's going the "let's do songs" way nowdays, in order to get live dates, money in the pocket, etc., so the leading single is not forgotten either, with a cool funk-soul cover of The Strokes' "Last Nite", and its instant-classic instrumental b-side, "Red One", an orchestral-breakbeat thing perfectly fitted for today's movies and series. To go on the contradictory road a little bit, two more instrumental tracks follow, the slow disco of "Roll Mop" and the breabeats'n'strings arrangements of "Arco"...

It's then easy too get lost in the album's organic spacey soul-funk vibes of "Carousel" and "Famished", before the stirring up party-going "Down & Round", with its old school bouncy bass, claps, and jazz guitar ending solo. All songs in the proper sense of the term, just like the closing "Moving On", blending disco, funk and hip hop with a DJ's touch. Is that intelligent dance music for the soul? Play again.
Djouls

Tracklisting :
01. Auto - Magic
02. Take Me With You
03. You're The One
04. Last Nite
05. Red One
06. Roll Mop
07. Arco
08. Carousel
09. Famished
10. Down + Round
11. Moving On

Links :
myspace.com/jumbonics

Jumbonics - Last Nite / Red One
(7") Tru Thoughts TRU7118 , 2006-12-18

Tracklisting :
A1. Last Nite
B1. Red One

Links :
myspace.com/jumbonics

Various - Shapes Compilation 2006 Vol.2
(CD) Tru Thoughts TRU111, 2006-09-05 (etchshop.co.uk) / 2006-09-25 (worldwide)

Tracklisting :
01. Alice Russell - Mirror Mirro On The Wolf (Bonobo Mix)
02. Nostalgia 77 & Capstone - The Moon
03. Jumbonics - Take Me With You
04. TM Juke - Skin (feat. Naim)
05. Kinny & Horne - Bangladesh
06. Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Waiting For Your Touch
07. The Broken Keys - Flow
08. The Bamboos - Pussy Footin'
09. Diesler - A Little Something (Gerardo Frisina Mix)
10. Quantic & Nickodemus feat. Tempo & The Candela Allstars - Puerto Rico Pa Gozar
11. Quantic - Electric Folklore
12. The Broken Keys - The With (The Bamboos Version)

Info :
Nine months, nine great albums and over half a dozen singles through 2006 already, Tru Thoughts & Zebra Traffic are set to release their second 'Shapes Compilation' of the year. Offering listeners a sneak preview of what the label has lined up for the next six months, allowing DJs to get their hands on some early exclusives and giving the turntable-less a chance to hear some essential non-album tracks, 'Shapes Compilation' is perfect for newcomers and impatient fans alike. Feat. exclusives from Quantic, Nickodemus and Nostalgia 77; also incl. unreleased material by Spanky Wilson & Quantic Soul Orchestra, TM Juke, Jumbonics and Kinny & Horne; a cover of The Broken Keys' next single by The Bamboos; Alice Russell remixed by Bonobo; Diesler getting the Gerardo Frisina treatment and a live recording by The Nostalgia 77 Octet....

Gum Drop - Hi-Falutin
(CD) Altered Vibes AVBPM005, 2006-03-27

Tracklisting :
01. Gum Drop - Reel (3:18)
02. Gum Drop - (Keeps On) Burning (2:51)
03. Gum Drop - Live Lounge Skit (2:09)
04. Gum Drop - Now I Rise (4:12)
05. Gum Drop - It's On (3:10)
06. Gum Drop - Sinking Feeling (3:19)
07. Gum Drop - Step By Step (4:01)
08. Gum Drop - Block Drop (3:38)
09. Gum Drop - Make It Easy (2:54)
10. Gum Drop - Bass, Drum & Snare Skit (1:01)
11. Gum Drop - Coming Up For Air (3:21)
12. Gum Drop - Electro Gum (2:25)
13. Gum Drop - Take Me Back (3:15)
14. Gum Drop - One Last Chance (4:52)