Various - When Shapes Mix Together - Compiled and mixed by Rob Luis
(Mixed CD/Digital) Tru Thoughts Recordings TRUCD244, 2011-11-21

Produced as a giveaway mix for the huge Tru Thoughts night at Koko in London, this mix was so good they had to offer it for general sale. This mix shows the future direction of the label, with new signings alongside the long-standing Tru Thoughts family. It opens with a hip hop influence: Hint goes space-age hip hop with rapper T Fly; Quantic's Cumbia project covers Missy Elliot; and London legend Rodney P drops a track with a positive message (which we released after the UK riots in 2011) featuring Mighty Moe and other big hitters in the scene. Anchorsong takes us into slow disco/boogie territory before Beta Hector roughs it up with his psychedelic bass basher (helped by an Alice Russell classic scream) followed by Nirobi dropping the Bollywood beats. Sleepin' Giantz is a heavyweight project from Zed Bias, Rodney P and Fallacy, and the track you hear in this DJ mix has been a huge anthem in club sets for the DJs who have managed to get hold of an advance copy. The album it is taken from is one of the best hip hop albums you will hear! Zed Bias is then joined by Mark Pritchard (Warp / Harmonic 313 / Global Communications) for a bass anthem before we move into Debruit taking the Brazilian groove of Saravah Soul down a heavy club route. Hint shows his versatile production styles with his remix of Lanu before we hit drum & bass territory with A Sides' remix of Mark de Clive-Lowe. The set finishes off with the more mellow side of Tru Thoughts. Ambassadeurs take Nostalgia 77 through some synths and basslines; Kinny shows her powerful voice to full effect, and then Belleruche unveil their new style. I just had to include a snippet of the title track off the Quantic & Alice Russell album (you need to check the full version to appreciate those strings) and we finish off with a classic from Maddslinky's influential first LP. Please make sure you check out the other releases by any artists whose tracks you are particularly into on this DJ mix, as there is plenty more good music to be heard from them all." (Rob Luis)

Hidden Orchestra - Flight EP
(Digital Single) Tru Thoughts TRUDD032, 2011-11-07

The Flight EP, out digitally on 7th November, is the second single from Edinburgh based quartet Hidden Orchestra, who released their stunning debut album Night Walks on Tru Thoughts in September 2010, and have seen their star continue to rise in the intervening year with an ever-growing media and word-of-mouth buzz. Highly in demand as a live act, their touring schedule this year alone has taken in 20 countries as their incredible music has worked its way into hearts and minds the World over. This EP brings eagerly anticipated new material and remixes.

"The deep, spiritual and sensual folk-jazz with electronica touches of Hidden Orchestra is the one of the major discoveries of the recent months. Their album is a masterpiece, their mixes for Paris DJs are as much incredible as they are intensively addictive, and this new single is a cinematic lounge jazz monster. Remixes are trippy too but I keep on coming back to the tense & dreamy 'Flight' track again and again." (Djouls/Paris DJs)

Various - Shapes 11:01 - Compiled by Robert Luis
(2CD/LP with 2CD) Tru Thoughts TRUCD/LP239, 2011-10-10

The new bi-annual Shapes compilation from Tru Thoughts Recordings is coming out in october and once again it's full of classic tracks, new signatures and exlusives for a very cheap price tag. The first CD is a nice selection of horizontal grooves, songs & electronica from the vast palette of style from the label's recent output. Among the discoveries : new signings Anchorsong from Japan, and his trippy live downtempo music, Lossy from East London, a duo of jazz-infused electronica, groovy, soulful and uplifting trip hop, a new track from songstress Kinny, the kind of perfect sweetness for the ears to rub yourself into, the glorious reggae interpretation of the Dr Who Theme by the Smerins Anti-Social Club (only available on a strictly limited 45 for record store day before) and of the Dr. Dre hit Nuthin' But A 'G' Thing cover in cumbia mode by Quantic Y Su Conjunto Los Miticos Del Ritmo (only available on a limited Serato 12 inch before). The second disc is a more clubby, uptempo affair, with a tendancy towards crunchy or bassy speed-ambient. Among the notable new stuff are the afro-wobbly remix by Débruit of Saravah Soul is killer bouncy electro deconstructivism, Hint bringing hard to describe, crazy & addictive dance thingies to the table, and label honcho Rob Luis alias Nirobi who's also there with his heavy bass and percussive dancefloor beats to rock the roof off. Djouls - Paris DJs

Mark de Clive-Lowe - The Why feat. Nia Andrews
(Digital Single) Tru Thoughts TRUDD031, 2011-10-03

"Mark de Clive-Lowe has always ranked among the most prolific and soulful broken beat producers in my mind. He'll be releasing an eclectic (9th!) album on Tru Thoughts Recordings mid-november, called Renegades, and judging on this epic taster, it might be a wonder to behold... The Why is indeed an uptempo majestic soul number with stunning string arrangements by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and Nia Andrews vocal part is beautiful, something between Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu. Some deep and clubby remixes are available along with the a capella, but then it's the instrumental version that really brings the killer soundtrack vibe in there!!" - Djouls / Paris DJs

Omar and Zed Bias - Dancing
(12") Tru Thoughts Recordings TRU232, 2011-05-09 (limited vinyl)

These tracks are available on vinyl 7 weeks prior to digital release. An infectious summer anthem, Dancing is a collaboration between UK soul legend Omar and UK bass music don Zed Bias (aka Maddslinky), due out on Tru Thoughts as an upfront limited 12" on 9th May (followed by the digital single on 27th June). Morphing the talents of two heavyweights in their respective musical spheres Dancing manages to be both a catchy, radio-friendly modern soul song and a completely killer club cut. The staccato steel drum hook kicks in like nothing else, grabs you by the lapels and shakes you to your feet. True to its name, it's the ultimate summer dance track, and the mp3 is already making its way into the hands of the world's most high profile DJs, and moving dancefloors across the world. Dancing continues an immensely successful partnership: Omar featured on Maddslinky's 2010 single Special, which gained 5 star ‘Top Tune' reviews in Mixmag, iDJ and others, as well as winning a DJ Mag Best Of British 2010 Award and receiving coverage in the likes of Fact, XLR8R and more, plus tastemaker radio play across BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Ministry Of Sound Radio, Resonance fm and beyond. Also on this 12" you'll find the killer instrumental cut of Dancing, plus It's So... (Zed Bias Remix), which is exclusive to this single.

Omar & Zed Bias - Dancing

In the lead up to re-releasing the Omar album Sing (If You Want It) [TRUCD233] in July (featuring Stevie Wonder, Estelle, Angie Stone and Common), Tru Thoughts Recordings are proud to present the brand new single from Omar & Zed Bias. Already a favourite of Benji B on BBC Radio 1 this limited 12 inch will be released on may 9th, prior to the digital single on June 27th... the track wil be available on the reissue album as bonus material.

Maddslinky - Further Away feat Tawiah
(Digital) Tru Thoughts TRUDD018, 2011-01-24

A thoroughly modern ballad from this producer-vocalist dream team of Maddslinky (aka Zed Bias) and Tawiah, Further Away is one of the standout tracks off Maddslinky's hugely acclaimed Make A Change album and will be released as the second single on 24th January 2011. In perfect synthesis with Maddslinky's swirling, spacious and deeply atmospheric dub-flavoured beats, new Warner's signing Tawiah's unique vocals marry her contemporary and down-to-earth, homegrown style with a genuinely affecting sense of heightening emotional drama, giving Further Away an arrestingly immediate yet lasting appeal. The single includes a dazzling array of remixes from the hottest underground talent around, including Falty DL (Planet Mu, Ramp Records), Illum Sphere (3024, Hoya Hoya, Fat City), fellow Tru Thoughts bass monster, Hint; Funk Butcher, El B, Dawn Raid, Dubchild and more.

Various - Shapes 10:02 - Compiled by Rob Luis
(2xCD/Digital) Tru Thoughts TRUCD226, 2010-12-06

The new bi-annual Shapes Compilation from Tru Thoughts is a killer one. 16 tracks on the first CD that make for an enjoyable listen at home or on the mp3 player and 14 on the second one which has an ear to the dancefloor... Including lots of exclusives, new tracks, rare remixes, as always...

Maddslinky - Make A Change
(CD/Digital) Tru Thoughts TRUCD218, 2010-10-25

Brand new album from dubstep pioneer MADDSLINKY (aka ZED BIAS); collaborators include Skream, Mr Scruff, Tawiah, Jenna G, Ghost 1, Mighty Moe, Nile Sugar, and Omar, who lends his world-famous vocals to the lead single, Special. Album already in huge demand: many press features lined up and repeated upfront tastemaker play including Annie Mac (BBC Radio 1), Benji B (1Xtra), Gilles Peterson (Radio 1), Mary Anne Hobbs (Radio 1), Ras Kwame (Radio 1), MistaJam (Radio 1/1Xtra), James Mountain (Ministry) & many more. Album track Further Away feat Tawiah was voted No.3 track of the year in the 2010 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards; and another, Lost On Tenori St, was included in Martyn's recent Fabric 50 mix. 40,000 YouTube hits in 2 months for Special single, out 13th Sept with remixes by MJ Cole, Toddla T, Chimpo, At Jazz and Simbad. Zed Bias has had a UK Top 25 hit with the influential UK Garage track, Neighbourhood. Seminal underground hit album Make Your Peace to be re-issued on same day as Make A Change release.

Maddslinky - Make Your Peace
(CD/Digital) Tru Thoughts TRUCD219, 2010-10-25

Highly anticipated re-issue of seminal dubstep album 'Make Your Peace by Maddslinky aka Zed Bias. Originally released in 2003, heavily influencing the dubstep scene. New artwork, with sleevenotes by renowned dubstep writer Blackdown (including an interview with Skream about the huge influence that this album had on him) plus new bonus material. To be released on the same day as brand new Maddslinky album, Make A Change, featuring collabs with Skream, Mr Scruff, Tawiah, Jenna G, Ghost 1, Mighty Moe, Nile Sugar, and Omar/b>, who lends his world-famous vocal talent to the lead single, Special.