June 2001

  1. Afronaught - "Transcend Me/Outta Range" (Apollo)

  2. Former ambient label Apollo goes broken-beat for their 50th release. Orin Walters produces and Melissa Browne vocalizes on the jazzier A-side, with a stonkin' instrumental on the flip. Some state-of-the-art West London business.

  3. Alexkid - BIENVENIDA (F Communications)

  4. I have seen the future of downtempo and it's a kid named Alex! (Well, Alexis Mauri to be exact.) The first full-length from Parisian Alexkid includes a superbly chilled collaboration with Richard Dorfmeister, a spoken word contribution from Ursula Rucker, and much more. Lush and lovely.

  5. Fini Dolo - "Heart Beat" (People)

  6. An epic in four parts, beginning with a tribal drum intro, then moving into a deep and jazzy house version. Flip the record over for the broken beat treatment and a housey dub. Featuring the sultry spoken word talents of Miss Sonja Sohn ("Slam"), this is top-notch all the way.

  7. Landslide vs. London Elektricity - "Round the Corner" Remixes (Hospital)

  8. Is it two-step? Or broken beat? Hard to pigeon-hole, but Tim Land's vocal and dub mixes of this familiar London Elektricity track are the best so far.

  9. The Maxwell Implosion meets George Shearing - "Aquarius (Saltino Mix)" (Universal Jazz Germany)

  10. On the somewhat disappointing follow-up to the first MOJO CLUB remix compilation, this track stands out from the pack. A latin-fueled remake of the song from "Hair" that is certain to get dancefloors moving.

  11. Trio Eletrico - "Coconut Groove" Remixes (Stereo Deluxe)

  12. The original version of "Coconut Groove" was great in its own right: a jazzy slice of future lounge fare recalling that 60's classic "Spooky." Here we have two percussion-heavy remixes from Raw Deal (fresh off his brilliant remix of the "Freeform Arkestra Theme") plus Walkner.Moestl giving the track a proper G-Stoning on the flip.

  13. Sofa Surfers - CONSTRUCTIONS: REMIXED AND DUBBED (Klein)

  14. A stellar cast of remixers deliver the goods for this Viennese duo. Ian Simmonds, Richard Dorfmeister, Mad Professor, Enduro, Tom Tyler, and Howie B are just a sampling from the amazing lineup. Deep and dubby.

  15. Various - "The Brazil EP" (V Recordings)

  16. The hubbub around this 4-tracker seems to be focused on DJ Patife's captivating dancefloor smash, "Sambassim." But "Carnaval" is an equally delightful, piano-led excursion into Brazilian drum'n'bass.

  17. Various - COMPOST 100 (Compost)

  18. Compost's 100th release is a generous double-CD of all-new material which reasserts their prominence in the field of future jazz. Sure to please Compost fans everywhere.

  19. Various - OPENSOURCE.PLAYERS (Source)

  20. David Moufang (aka Move D) compiled this excellent downtempo selection from mostly-unknown artists, and thoughtfully provides links to many of their websites.


February 2001

  1. Bayaka feat. Jepthe Guillaume - "Mande Lanme Ya" (Flower)
  2. Alison David - "The Last Look EP" (Bitasweet)
  3. Bill Evans/Les McCann - "You Sure Look Good to Me" (Aromabar Club Mix) (Cream/Sony)
  4. Forum - "Blowing Notes" (Aspekte/Sonar Kollectiv)
  5. Charles Mingus - MINGUS AH UM (Columbia)
  6. Professor Longhair - Big Chief (United Eye's Motherland to Mothership Remix) (Afro Art)
  7. P'taah - DE'COMPRESSED (Ubiquity)
  8. Sidestepper - MORE GRIP (Palm Pictures)
  9. Suba - "Felicidade" (Funky Lowlives Breathless Remix) (Six Degrees)
  10. WR - "Love to Love You Baby" (DJ Cam 2 Step Club Mix)

Best of 2000