2008... A year which will go down in history. The financial system is in shambles, people are losing their jobs, hunger riots are spreading, Israel is about to invade Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan are 2 wars which can't be won anymore.

However there was new hope this year: Obama's election in the US and Liverpool is at the top of the premiership .

We'll see you all next year, I hope that we have brought you as much pleasure in reading as we've had writing for you. Don't hesitate to leave your comments. It motivates us!

Time to introduce Creative Controle, a Dublin based hip-hop crew, which unfortunately seems to have more or less disappeared. "Bloodrush" is their first single and one of my favourite rap tune ever. A hard-to-find record, full of raw power and energy.
See you all next year

Creative Controle - "Bloodrush" from the 12" vinyl (2002, Volta)

Dong-Hwa Jung, alias Towa Tei is indeed Japanese despite what some may think. In the Land of the Rising Sun, tradition mixes with a keen culture of classic jazz, Brazilian and more modern sounds. This cultural hodge-podge had an irreparable effect on Towa Tei.

Exiled to the land of Uncle Sam, the artist first came to our attention in 1990 with his hit "Groove is in the Heart" from the trio Dee-Lite. However, all good things come to an end and Towa Tei went on to launch his solo career in 1995 which this first album "Future Listening". Composer, keyboard player, DJ, Producer, this smorgasbord of talents resulted in a work of art which can be classified as comfortably under Classic Brazilian as well as under modern day groove. We even come across the singer Bebel Gilberto before she became known in her own right.

Towa Tei "Future Listening" (1995, Elektra)

NY musician collective, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials have been playing for some time in the big apple groove scene.

A surprising blend here with this Istanbul Twilight, mixture of Turkish strong coffee and Jamaican weed. The beverage is pretty tasty, strong and generous.

What else ?

Guy Ritchie, formerly known as Mr.Madonna, released his second film, Snatch, in 2000. He came to public attention 2 years previous, with his film "Lock, Stock and two smokin barrels". Much in the same vein as its predecessor, Snatch, launches us into the underworld of the British gangster scene, with its mishmash of criminal minds and even more eclectic mugs all tangled up in a web with a diamond at it's centre.

An eclectic sound track, with the tracks brilliantly accompanying  the cut-throat action and the atmosphere of the London underbelly. We'll focus on the "diamond" by Klint, incisive electro jazz to set the scene and we finish with The Specials and their well known "Ghost Town", which so aptly accompanies the trio of blundering black dudes who think they can play with the big boys.

Snatch - Original Movie Soundtrack (2000, Universal Soundtracks)