Jamie T - Chaka Demus

New Singles - Electronica & Hip Hop Singles

Written by Katherine Smith

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Jamie T’s latest release "Chaka Demus" has the same relaxed feel of the title’s namesake band without the distinct reggae flavour; an afternoon anthem that will resonate more with Kingston, Surrey than Kingston, Jamaica.

The single’s release should be enough panic prevention for Jamie fans that were afraid he’d end up a flash in the pan, or worse, a radio-friendly reinvention. Although "Chaka Demus" is slightly more melodious than lyrical, Jamie’s voice maintains the same grit and charm that shot the South-London local to fame.

If the support for Jamie T’s new material can match or out-last that of his Mercury-prize nominated debut, then sticks and stones may break his bones but ‘Kings and Queens’ will break the charts.

9/10

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VA – Smoove pres: MO’ RECORD KICKS: Act II

This latest collection from label Record Kicks is easy on the ear.

If it doesn’t have you dreaming of better days in the snap of a second, there is something wrong with you. This record is an aphrodisiac for the modern workplace.

From "The Young Patter" by the Baker Brothers and "Prophets Bound to Christ" by William Joseph Fowler & the Disciples, DJ Smoove mixes up a storm on record Act II. With the types of sounds that would be at home at a funk club in the funkiest of cities in the funkiest of countries, there is no denying that DJ Smoove is, for want of a better description, a cool cat.

A particularly favourite track of this reviewer is "Rags to Riches" by the Liberators, a fresh afro-funk act hailing from Sydney, Australia. The track is so rich with the sounds of Africa, it is a wonder it was not produced in, ummm, Africa.

The Diplomats of Solid Sound have been on my radar for a while, and so have Lack of Afro. So it does not surprise me that the Lack of Afro remix of the Diplomat’s tune "Give Me One More Chance", is an outright classic.

Similarly to a lot of the new releases from the team at label Record Kicks, this is highly recommended!

Label: Record Kicks

8/10