With an oustanding lineup of releases set for 2009, and having secured North American distribution through Caroline, groundbreaking UK record label Tru Thoughts brings us this exclusive DJ sampler featuring music from some of the biggest names on their roster. With killer new tracks by Quantic, Flevans, The Bamboos, Kinny, Hot 8 Brass Band, Hint, Belleruche, and Azaxx, this digital DJ promo is a sure sign that Tru Thoughts and their artists are staying one step ahead of the pack.

Streams/Tracklist

Quantic & His Combo Bárbaro - Tradition In Transition CD
In Stores: July 2009

On the crest of a burgeoning worldwide wave of interest in the lesser-tapped sources of music from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa, Columbia-based Quantic and His Combo Bárbaro are leading the charge. The stunning album Tradition In Transition will see this international cast of acclaimed musical creators fusing those rediscovered psychedelic, experimental and rhythmically rich sounds of the past with deep funk and soul elements, giving life to an explosive sonic snapshot of the eclectic and ever-evolving musical landscape of the Americas. In crafting the album, band-leader William Holland - the English producer, musician and record collector better known as Quantic (who has has sold in excess of 100,000 records in his various guises) - felt it was imperative to have the core stable of musicians in the same room, creating an organic dialogue between them (a simple rule which, in an age of drum machines, samples and voice correction, is all too often overlooked). The result is a multi-cultural patchwork - a record bathed but not exclusively rooted in Colombian musical culture, embracing the musical range of all the American continent - honouring and utilising its contributors' individual backgrounds while conjuring up a unique brand of contemporary music that is a joy and a celebration to listen to, and a live experience that defies comparison.

 

Kinny - Idle Forest Of Chit Chat CD
In Stores: 4/20/2009

Featuring producers whose albums have sold in excess of 150.000 (The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Nostalgia 77, Alice Russell producer TM Juke, Hint, Diesler, Souldrop and Unforscene), Kinny's debut solo album Idle Forest Of Chit-Chat is an original, colourful and up-to-the-minute brand of modern soul. Kinny was formerly the vocalist in the collaborative project Kinny and Horne, whose previous album on Tru Thoughts gained rave reviews and brought her to the attention of Daddy G - who expressed interest in working with her as vocalist and lyricist for Massive Attack. She is also currently working with Portishead collaborator Andy Smith on his latest album. A Canadian national with a mix of Jamaican, Native Canadian Indian, French and Swedish heritage, Kinny is a former classically trained opera singer who decided to follow her true passion for soul, reggae and jazz music. Kinny is a stunningly talented vocalist and with her culturally diverse background and her recent relocation from Canada to the hip musical melting pot of Bergen, Norway, her story and her songs are proving irresistible.

 

Flevans - 27 Devils CD
In Stores: 5/18/2009

Flevans' first hand knowledge of what works on a dancefloor has shone through since his earliest 12-inches on Tru Thoughts. As a trained multi-instrumentalist, Flevans had always incorporated some of his playing skills into his music, but never fully explored his potential, relying on a cut and paste basis to his records. After the release of Unfabulous in 2007, and ready for the next level, he took the bold step of throwing out all the vinyl that he had previously sampled from, freeing himself up to move towards creating a more organic, live sound, totally free of samples. And so, locked away in his studio throughout 2008, Flevans recorded his third album, 27 Devils. More diverse and polished than any of his previous releases, it features the incredible vocals of Sarah Scott and Shona Foster, as well as several instrumental cuts, covering styles from funk to breaks, electronica and soul, all with Flevans' original style and sound, and not a sample in sight. For the first time, Flevans also contributes his own vocals on a couple of tracks, completing his experience of crafting a fully live record.

 

Azaxx - The Exotic Bay Delight CD
In Stores: 4/21/2009

A native of Rennes in North-East France, Azaxx has long been a major player at the funkier end of the city's dance music scene, DJing drum'n'bass and beats in the early days through to an eclectic cocktail of Latin beats, jazz, soul, funk, breakbeat, broken beat and '60s and '70s grooves. With a knack for working a dancefloor, he has manned the decks at clubs across Europe and as far afield as Brazil, and is a regular DJ at the major Trans Musicales Festival. Cherry-picking from a vast array of musical sources, using an MPC, a sequencer and some carefully deployed VSTs, Azaxx has chopped, mixed, stripped, layered, added his own personal stamp, and built a unique sound which combines a 'less is more' aesthetic with big, friendly beats and track-defining hooks.

 

Hint - Driven From Distraction CD
In Stores: NOW!

Hint is back with Driven From Distraction, his first full album on Tru Thoughts. This killer mix of instrumental and vocal tracks sees Hint exploring the eclectic styles of music that have excited and inspired him over the years - from hip hop to electronica, fiery soul to straight up dancefloor bombs - whilst pushing boundaries for a new, unique sound. Stunning guest vocals are provided by long-time collaborator Laura Vane, the prodigious teenaged MC Rizzle, and Tru Thoughts and Zebra Traffic label-mates Kinny and Rup. Hint has been rocking dancefloors and releasing music of a stunning quality for the best part of the 21st century and this new long player is set to bring his unique and accomplished skills as a producer and composer into the limelight once and for all. He released his debut album, the cheeky and chilled Portakabin Fever on Ninja Tune in 2003 and has since released a handful of critically acclaimed EPs on Tru Thoughts. Driven From Distraction provides a first and long-anticipated CD release for some of the biggest and most sought-after cuts off those 12"s - such as "I, Silverfish" (with Rup 's masterful stream-of-consciousness MC'ing), "The Tremmuh" and "At The Dance" - along with a host of amazing new tracks.

 

Belleruche - The Express CD
In Stores: NOW!

When Belleruche burst onto the scene in July 2007 with their debut LP Turntable Soul Music, their unique, refreshing sound won them a dedicated fan base and it rapidly became the fastest-selling debut on Tru Thoughts to date. On The Express the trio have risen to the challenge and built on their distinctive handmade hip-hop soul style to create a stunning follow-up album with a more raw, bluesy edge, while still retaining their winningly simple formula of DJ Modest on turntables, Ricky Fabulous on guitar and Kathrin deBoer's inimitable vocals. The first single "Anything You Want (Not That)" has had heavy airplay on a long list of UK radio stations including BBC Radio 2, BBC 6Music and NME Radio, and is proving popular with DJs around the world for its combination of smoky velvet vocals over a tougher-edged beat that can hold its own on a dancefloor. Belleruche's international appeal has gained them playlisting and heavy rotation on the French national radio stations Radio Nova and FIP, and support and features in the press as far afield as Japan, Switzerland, Australia, the USA and Canada.

 

The Hot 8 Brass Band - Rock With The Hot 8 CD
In Stores: NOW!

Hailing from New Orleans, The Hot 8 Brass Band formed in 1995 and were the first US signing to Tru Thoughts. Their unmistakable fusion of modern styles and brass standards transcends both genres and audiences alike. Deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina, the members of the Hot 8 have been actively involved in both the political and social issues surrounding the aftermath of the tragic event. Well respected members of the musical community, The Hot 8 are dedicated to anti-violence campaigns, using their vibrant, energetic music to project this message. Four members of the band have died - two because of violent acts on the streets of New Orleans - but their loyalty to their community combined with the unmistakable Jazz spirit has earned them enormous credibility with their audiences and fellow musicians. Rock with The Hot 8 combines the traditional with the contemporary - Brass band covers of classics such as Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" and Snoop Dogg's "What's My Name?" along with original material. This album is a prime example of how traditional styles can be brought to new audiences, bringing an instant "cool" to Brass Band music whilst maintaining it's credibility as one of New Orleans greatest treasures.

 

The Bamboos - Side Stepper CD
In Stores: NOW!

On their hotly anticipated third album Side Stepper, Australian kings of funk The Bamboos take the beat-laden deep party funk of their previous LPs Step It Up and Rawville and push the boundaries of their sound with an injection of Northern soul and '60s Mod soul style. An amazing selection of guest vocalists - Kylie Auldist, MC Ty, Megan Washington and Swedish soul sensation Paul MacInnes - add their own unique flavours to the brew. Led by Guitarist Lance Ferguson (AKA Lanu), these masters of raw, old school Funk breaks and super-heavy Soul formed as The Bamboos in 2001, making a ome at Tru Thoughts in 2005.