Courtney Pine
I've Known Rivers

Known for his late 70's soul-jazz classic 'Rhythm Of Life', Mason's sound was phased out as trends shifted into (electronic) disco, leading him to release just that one album. This tidy release includes a remaster of the proto-house classic 'Nightgruv', a killer extended edit and on the flip, an epic 11-minute original version of 'I Want Your Love'; a soul classic. I mean... come on!

Alex Ho's debut album on Music From Memory is a sonic love letter to his hometown of Los Angeles. A pivotal player in the eclectic dance party scene in L.A and an NTS radio regular with his show 'Moon Habits, Ho slows things right down on this shimmering and hazy release. The eight tracks here are full of soft falsetto, gentle drum machine ticks, floating saxophone and soft vibes and keys to soundtrack a perfect golden-hour drive. A personal favourite of mine from 2022!

HUGE TUNE ALERT! South African Boogie that'll turn the dancefloor to lava, reissued on wax (from the analog master tapes) for the first time since its original release in 1986! Original heater on the A side but the 9-minute dub on the flip is where it's at... the minutes-long sax solo will have you levitating... Kalita Records, please don't stop digging!

Soundway Records re-issue of the massively in-demand Soca cover version of Sade's classic cut "Sweetest Taboo" by Caribbean band Rebels from 1986. In the late 80s, as electronic music permeated popular culture, Rebles helped define the soca genre outside of the Caribbean. The group were the 1980s house band for mega NYC-based Caribbean label, Strakers Records, who released hundreds of Calypso and Soca tracks from 1970 to 2000. HUGE ONE!

Napoli native Gigi Testa effortlessly carries forward the lineage of Italian dance music with this 4 track odyssey. A kaleidoscopic mix of Afro and Caribbean-inspired shufflers, Testa beautifully arranges drum machines, synths and a costal ambience to whisk you away to a tropical paradise. Big recommend!

London's mighty Honest Jon's Records, home to the most obscure of African recordings, is more of an institution than a label or record shop. Since the early noughties they've been masterfully releasing reissues and remixes of outernational groups and contemporary electronic musicians alike. On this LP, Berlin's dub lords Moritz von Oswald Trio link up with Nigerian Afrobeat icon Tony Allen for dubby, percussive, minimalistic and psychedelic heaven. 1000% recommended!