Resting comfortably in my spacious, plush lounge seat in the first-class section of my latest international flight, I’m anxious to keep noisy peeps outta my hair. Sure, there are missed opportunities for interesting conversations and the like. But after working hard to sort out batches of fresh music and writing about them, I feel like kicking up my heels, reclining my seat, tucking a pair of uber-cool, noise-canceling headphones in my ears and just lose myself in new sounds galore.

It’s a nice, long flight for me to rest easy; for you, though, there are treasures that await your finely-tuned ears.

So let’s go…

UK
Sick Trumpet is a label that has been flying out the gate since its first release earlier this year. All of the releases, from Opolopo to Landslide, have earned stamps of approval from DJs and choice radio jocks everywhere. Out now is OK Ma’s newest called “Switch” that has Stuey Love killing it with his gabby self. Then man the decks, cuz Spiritual South gives it a dubby, broken switching…err, rinsing. Phat, phat, phat! And if that release isn’t enough for ya, hold onto your seat cuz the Trumpet’s managed to snatch the one and only Danny Krivit, working his stellar editing magic on Phlash’s Restless Soul remix of Landslide’s “Conundrum.” More surprises are in store from the label in due course.

And on the subject of Landslide, he's also got tracks in the can for a new full-length release come next year. Not sure if I'm allowed to mention the vocalists just yet, but they are all ace talents. I can tell you, though, that while in wait you should go to Hospital Records site and get at his new compilation called Medical History; tracks include choice remixes, alongside those that have never been released before now, out-takes, and more. It's a digital-only album, so find it and get some Landslide biz to keep you satiated for a while.

More news from the Futuristica Music camp: some great future soul can be found on the label’s first album Stranger To The Ordinary from future soul gems Low Budget Soul. Just about all the tunes from the previous vinyl-only releases are there, alongside new ones, sustaining the warmth and quality that has made the group one of the new breed of 21st century soulsters. That influence has found its way to Paris, where the label’s latest comes from new signing Electric Conversation. Watch for the EP with the broken soulness of “Dancing” tempered with the mellow warmth “Vibe Change.” Should be out by the time you read this.

After a few EPs, DWH’s full-length is now out on Counterpoint. Follow Me capably picks up where the two pre-released EP’s left off. Top production just the way I like it (up to 25 instruments at once), and wonderful vocals from Genifa Edwards. And those cool remixes from soul pirates Blackbeard, Zagreb’s finest Eddy Meets Yannah and Tribal Winds’ head honcho Antonio Ocasio? Yeah, they’re on it. Also watch out for the label’s newest signing, UK-based Marcina Arnold, whose Introducing EP is now out to the world. Nice four-tracker from a talented force of one.

Sometimes, it’s good to get away from all of the electronics and seek refuge inna acoustic vein. So leave it to Far Out to hit ya with a couple of beautiful full-lengths. Democustico, a duo whose sensibilities fall into the realm of London-meets-India-meets-Brazil, has a fresh self-titled album for you. Gabriela Geluda’s gorgeous singing goes right up against the well-crafted organic loveliness courtesy of Mauro Berman and producer Roc Hunter…nice one for your collection As an aside, the mighty Seiji from the Bugz in the Attic crew moves left-of-left inna rockin’ vibe with his tweaking of the album track “Grito.” And I do mean rockin’…cuz there’s some guitar with that bassline amidst the syncopated madness. Sweet! Find the single; it’s out there.

Another album to look for from the Far Out peeps comes from Brazilian drummer Tutty Moreno. Magica, originally released in 1981, is a wonderful slice of old-school samba jazz biz. The album also features Joyce, lending her voice to two of the tracks while playing guitar on five. Along with her about Feminina, released around the same period, Magica has helped shape Joyce’s musical direction from that point onward. And the drumming from Moreno is just brilliant. Get some.


GERMANY
The Compost music factory continues to crank out via its own label, as well as its various side labels. The Compost Black Label series continues full steam ahead with a slew of releases: #12 comes with some synth-house bangers from Spaniards Wagon Cookin, #13 sees the newest from Phreak Plus One (fresh from #7) called Cosmic Slope doing some bumpin’ electro/disco, and #14 from Move D goes inna tech-house/dub-house mode with some wicked heavy-bass action, with the EP appropriately titled Nice & Shmoove. Also upcoming, Zwicker returns to the series fold with #16, and the mysterious #11 with T.J. Kong and Nuno Dos Santos will finally see the light of day.

Meanwhile, Compost’s Swiss-based imprint Drumpoet COMmunity (yes, just like it spells), is now four releases strong. Look for its debut release, a three-tracker from Foster featuring the lead track “Loud Minority.” Soultourist takes an electro excursion with the label’s second outing, featuring a sneaky little track called “Yeah” that builds up to some wicked dancefloor insanity. Geneva-based Quarion has the honor of being the next release on the label with a two-track EP to sock yo ears; it’s gonna be all about “Karasu.”

As ever, the mother ship continues to put out with its own set of releases. Look for the new EP from Muallem, a set of remixes from his dope Frankie Splits album called Mutations No. 2, featuring Phreak Plus One, The Glimmer Twins, Eddy Meets Yannah, and &me (not to be confused with Ame). And if that wasn’t enough, Mutations No. 3 is coming fast-and-furious. It’ll be all about the electro-disco bomb “Shanti Dance,” with Nick Chacona, The Light Command and Muallem himself on the remix controls. As for full-lengths, those of you into sexy basslines and phat boogie biz will do well to check out Jean-Paul Bondy’s seriously good album The Path of Most Resistors. This is some filthy, space-out future music that should shake up the dancefloor of techno/house/funk heads everywhere. Don’t miss it.

Not to be outdone, the Sonar Kollektiv label has its own slate of releases to dish out. Do check out the compilation Focus Jazz. Second in a series of explorations through the depths of the expansive but seldom-ventured vaults of elder music statesman Hans Wewerka (now in his eighties and still apparently at it with overseeing and recording choice music sessions), compilers Jazzanova and Stephen Steigleder have unearthed lost jazzy treats and soundtrack beauties from 1964-67. Jazz heads and music lovers will absolutely be blown away by the quality here…most relative unknowns over these shores, but plenty of choice gems to be had from the likes of Joe Haider, Dusko Goykovich, and Pavel Blatny among many others. With most of the tracks out there for the first time, it’s an essential addition to your collection. Also a quick note of the man called Soulphiction. His fine release, State of Euphoria, is future funk amped up with booming beats and spacious grooves. Don’t sleep on them gems.

Glyn “Bigga” Bush, arguably one of the masters of the modern dubwise sound, has branched out with his own label called Lion Head. And the first release, fitting enough, is his newest album called “BiggaBush In Dub.” It’s quality modern dub in full downtempo effect; indeed, it’s a great way to chill out, slow down, and unwind. Sounds almost like something out of Borders that last quote, but trust me that the album itself is anything but tepid; the right amounts of melody and bass are here. Want yours? Find the album exclusively on his web site. Jah mon!


ITALY
It’s been awhile since those Italian stallions known as Oragami has been heard from; its first EP dropped awhile back on Compost Records. This time, though, Chemikangelo and Jazzimo (who, by the way, are the culprits behind the Clubbity website) have lend their talents to remix Japanese producer Yukihiro Fukutomi’s “It’s Just” for Head-To-Toe, Irma Records’ nu-jazz/broken beat imprint. Nice bit of synth-heavy house rinsing from the Clubbity dynamic duo.


SPAIN
Gecko Turner does it again on his latest for Lovemonk with a fun afrobeat number called “Afrobeatnik.” His charming vocals, along with a rousing chorus chanting away, blend alongside some playful percussion. Then good gawd, there’s that Seiji guy again taking the tune for a spin with not one but three choice remixes for your pleasure. The two main vocal mixes veer between adding broken beatniks to the original and dirtying up the basslines…bad, bad Seiji! Also coming from the label is ”Celebro, Orgasmo, Envidia and Sofia,” a new single from Martin Buscalgia; it’s house, funk, and disco boogie rolled into one. Mixes come from the Swedish duo S.U.M.O., upping the boogie several notches, along with two mixes from an outfit called the Boogie Corporation.

Also from Spain, those bad bwoys the Barna Soundmachine are at it again with the third installment of its Funk In Your Face series of dope re-edits. “Gonna Get Ya” starts off with a very familiar sample, then mixes in some 70’s vocals from a longtime R&B diva for a rockin’ tune that kills it. Also some killers including a remix of Sharon Redd and an all too-short funk/boogie gem called “It Goes Like This.” Snatch it quick, cuz the pressing’s limited.


THE NETHERLANDS
Also going the DIY route is Dutch-based producer Dogdaze, whose full-length CD-only album In Dog We Trust is now getting love through Rush Hour. It’s mainly an instrumental broken affair, but the production is worth checking out after his previous releases/remixes for the Flying High label.


SWEDEN
A big of Gonky, a bit of London; Christoffer Berg (better known as Hird) & Daniel Nordh have launched a new eclectic leftfield label called Off The Wall. Seek out the first two releases, each of them limited-edition 7” singles; one from Little Dragon (a new project featuring the great Yukimi Nagano with her gifted vocals) and the other from Kompis and Erlene Oye. Two new ones are on the way, but get the first two before they disappear.


AUSTRIA
Vienna’s Klein Records has reached its 10-year milestone, and is moving along with the new album from elder crooner Louie Austen, whose previous works were for Kitty Yo among others. He may be old enough to be that suave, flamboyant grandfather you wish you had, but he has the Midas touch in terms of both his vocals and his lyrics on the album Iguana. Production comes from the likes of Phonique and Mummer, among others. Goes to show that you can never be too old if you still got the crooning gift of gab in ya; recommend/


BELGIUM
There’s a great web community called Beyondjazz that’s one of the first places to find news, interviews and feedback on some of the great music in the nu-jazz/broken beat scene. The site also cover a wide variety of future soul, abstract hip-hop, and other related genres, hosts an excellent weekly radio show (available for download via its podcast), and also hosts events in and around its hometown of Ghent. The crew is set to drop its third compilation simply entitled Beyondjazz Vol. 3, featuring a roster of old hands and new talents in the mix. Among the peeps on the album are Inverse Cinematics from Germany, Jonny Miller from the UK (whose label, Jus’ Listen, has, well, just launched), Flowriders from the Netherlands (whose album dropped for the 4Lux label) and Yosaku from Cali (remember the cool “Future Paradise” tune??). Visit the website for more info on the digital-only album.


BRAZIL
Time to sing the praises of fledging house label Grooveland with its third release. KC Jackson’s “All Things Praise” features a cool sample of what sounds like an evangelist with a raspy voice joyously and enthusiastically exclaiming of God, nature, and seemingly the beauty of life. Don’t let its religious undertones scare you; it’s very much in the vein of spiritual house. Mixes comes in three: homies e-deep (Grooveland’s co-founder), the Beat Brothers, and stateside’s Bradford James…all the mixes are quality house goodness.


USA
Big ups to Jerome from Still Music for some nice house goods, courtesy of his Chicago-based label. First up is the newest from Irfan; no, not the outfit that received oodles of attention with “Just A Little Lovin” a few years back, but the frontman behind the London-based Rainy City label. He’s on with a beautiful Latin house delight “Xiame,” made even better thanks to some incredible vocal and guitar work from Carlos Nascimento. There’s also an epic deep house beauty called “Our Raag,” with John Cervantes making a nice contrib on keys and Narayann lending her sweet Indian vocals. Seek, too, the new EP Brand New Love from Grupo X, a tune of love-gone-sour with Lisa Millett telling it in her own beautiful way. We go disco for the remixes, with Irfan and Parisian wunderkind Patchworks coming through. Both releases out soon.

Brooklyn DJ/producer Yellowtail is pushing his Bagpak label forward. Out now is its newest release from producer Arc_Typ. Check the burners “Do It” with Ahmad Miller crooning and the broken ish “Good Vibes.” Adding to the action is the new side label, Bagpak White Label, and its first is from Yellowtail himself alongside Jeni Fujita on the super-smokin’ ballad “Over It” with something called the Silverback remix. Pure soulful dopeness, if you ask me.

Remember that banging album from Jean-Paul Bondy I’ve mentioned earlier? There’s another killer long-player that you must dive from the mysterious outfit known as Plus Device. Like the Bondy album, Puncture has loads of future dance bombs steeped in techno and house that goes into outta space, and damn funky too. Out now on the uber-cool Hefty Records from Chi-town.


Damn, the flight attendant just woke me up! Looking around the plane, seems everyone else has left. I’m a bit embarrassed here, but that’s how my world rolls. Time to take an extended holiday to Never Never Land (sorry, not MJ’s ranch).

I’ll be coming back atcha in ‘07 with more fresh goods for you to savor. Til then, peace, one love, and safe travels and holidays wherever you are.