Coming up in 2009...
Your exclusive guide to the exciting year ahead
2009 is the year of Tru Thoughts’ 10th birthday, and is set to be our busiest year yet for releases. After a few changes to release dates, due to circumstances outside of our control, the first release this year is going to be the 12” EP entitled “The Exotic Delight Bay” from new signing Azaxx, out in February (CD album out in March). The gifted French producer has crafted a set of quality modern dancefloor sounds, influenced by Brazilian flavours and rhythms with a touch of Gallic sophistication.
Also out in February is “Idle Forest Of Chit Chat”, the long-awaited full album from Kinny. Featuring cuts produced by Quantic, Nostalgia 77, Hint and a whole host of other hot producers, this album has so far received praise from i-DJ magazine and Laurent Garnier and comes very highly recommended. Click here to check out the single which came out in December.
Nostalgia 77 Sessions featuring Keith and Julie Tippett is the collaboration that’s got the world of contemporary jazz talking, with forums including jazzwise and allaboutjazz buzzing with anticipation for this intriguing project. In a nutshell, Nostalgia 77 and close contemporary Riaan Vosloo have hooked up with legendary pioneers of modern jazz and experimental music, Keith and Julie Tippett; the resulting album of original material makes for essential listening spanning blues, jazz, soul and experimental flourishes, with incredible vocals from Julie Tippett (formerly Julie Driscoll). The single, ‘Film Blues’/‘Rainclouds’ came out on 15th December and the album is out in March.
April sees the self-titled debut album from Stonephace, on CD and limited edition numbered vinyl. The brainchild of saxophonist extraordinaire Larry Stabbins, formerly of influential jazz band Working Week, and producer Krzysztof Oktalski, a mysterious figure who was instrumental in the Cornish rave scene, this exciting act also features Portishead’s Adrian Utley on guitar, Jim Barr on bass and trumpeter Guy Barker as you’ve never heard him before. A veritable supergroup then, Stonephace creates a unique universe where electronics, free jazz and Afro-tinged beats collide.
April will also see the release of Lizzy Parks’ acoustic album. Entitled ‘This And That’, Lizzy’s second CD album will feature a collection of brand new songs along with acoustic versions of a few tracks from her 2008 debut ‘Raise The Roof’, showcasing a whole new side to the talent of this exceptional singer.
Over the course of the year you can also look forward to new albums from the likes of Flevans, an old flame who we have re-signed to put out his addictively excellent new album; Domu, a new signing to Tru Thoughts but a well-established producer and DJ, who specialises in future jazz, broken beats and an eclectic mix of soulful sounds; Quantic, under both his Flowering Inferno moniker and the new project, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro, which is set to take over from the QSO with firm roots in his Colombian home of Cali; Hot 8 Brass Band, with an eagerly awaited second long-player; Kylie Auldist who will be delivering her second album; Hint will be bringing you more quirky beats and floor-filling basslines; Saravah Soul with another instalment of their carnival-fuelled brazilian funk; Nostalgia 77, back on his solo mission once more; Belleruche, continuing their quest for world domination; and Lanu, the studio-based alter-ego of Bamboos main man Lance Ferguson with a highly anticipated new album; and more besides, I shouldn’t wonder.
Tru Thoughts compilation goodness this year will include the new 2-disc Shapes Compilation, with one CD for the listening experience and one for the dancefloor; an amazing album of covers entitled (wait for it) ‘Tru Thoughts Covers’ which will be coming out on our Unfold label and is guaranteed to be one of the year’s most wanted; and a huge 10th anniversary boxed set, which will feature a Tru Thoughts greatest hits collection over 2 CDs, and a third disc of totally exclusive new material, all presented in top quality premium packaging. This will be an unmissable treat to celebrate this great milestone.
As usual there will be a steady stream of tasty vinyl releases throughout the year in the form of singles and EPs, not to mention the next instalments in the limited Black Gold series of exclusive DJ weapons.
So keep one eye on this very website for updates throughout the year, and head to the Etch Shop to get your hands on all Tru Thoughts releases before anywhere else, and at friendly prices too.
Have a great year!