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)

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

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...

Randomer - Be Electric/Zabu
(12"/Digital) Tru Thoughts TRU230, 2010-11-08

This is an exclusive limited vinyl only 12" release. Having remixed The Bamboos for Tru Thoughts - which has been rocking loads of DJs' sets (including Danny Krivit) - Randomer signs two tracks to the label, aimed straight at the dancefloor but with his magical musical ear. Be Electric and Zabu mix up heavy percussion, bassline and synths in a sound that is pure 2010. With only a handful of releases under his belt, Synth Geek Rohan Walder, aka Randomer, is officially hot property and demand for his eclectic brand of bass-driven electronic dance music is rocketing sky high. With sounds emanating from drum & bass, dubstep, UK funky, garage, house and more, this is music that cannot be pigeon-holed. Randomer has had releases on Hospital, Soul Jazz's Future Bass compilation (alongside Fourtet, Coki, Untold & Ramadanman) and a remix for Placebo. With massive support from top names in drum & bass and dubstep as well as some big players at BBC Radio, Randomer is armed and ready with a batch of new tracks winging their way to a dancefloor or stereo near you soon!

The Bamboos - You Ain't No Good feat. King Merc
(Digital single) Tru Thoughts TRUDD014, 2010-06-21

You Ain't No Good featuring King Merc is the second single from The Bamboos' fourth album, 4, and it drops on 21st June at the height of the Australian band's long-anticipated UK and European tour (see the mix they did for Paris DJs for dates). Recently released to widespread acclaim, 4 has launched The Bamboos beyond the boundaries of their deep funk and soul scene and into the consciousness of an appreciative wider audience. You Ain't No Good, with a killer hook and wigged out Gnarls Barkley-meets-Phil Spector-esque mix of pop, psychedelia and soul, is set to continue the trajectory.