Unfold

As from today not one, not two but five Fluid Ounce ‘Unmeasured Compilations’ are finally available digitally. Volume One was previously released on CD but all the tracks on the other four compilations were ONLY ever available on 12″. Including classics from zero dB (Come Party), Carmel (Nujazzkiller) and Frank De Jo Jo (Turn Off The Lights) amongst many other fantastic cuts, these compilations are a superb introduction to the Fluid Ounce label. To celebrate there’s also a super exclusive 7″ from Kids In Tracksuits (see below for more info).  Head to your nearest quality download store now, we recommend our very own Etch Shop

Following the immense 90 track DVD entitled ‘Fluid Ounce Presents…’ the 7″ is a seriously exclusive release of two tracks by the Steve Lamacq-championed, Rob Da Bank-session-recording Kids In Tracksuits. One, “Zone” feat. Mr. Lif, is exclusive to this 7”; the other, “No Hooks” feat. Non Genetic, taken from the aforementioned DVD.

This 7” also serves as ‘one last roll of the release dice’ before we see the disbanding of the Kids (in Tracksuits), which makes this an outrageous vinyl rarity; one half of the Kids package has now split away and set up stall under the guise of ‘Lone’, yep - that king of wonk, now sharing the playlists and platters worldwide with the likes of the much hyped and respected Martyn and Flying Lotus.

This release also coincides with the first ever digital release of all five Fluid Ounce ‘Unmeasured’ compilations, which have seen support over the years from the likes of Seiji (Bugz In The Attic), Peter Kruder, Masters At Work, Andy Cato (Groove Armada), and Radio 1 DJs including Gilles Peterson, Pete Tong and Mary Anne Hobbs. And to celebrate this veritable treasure trove of music all being made available, there will be a re-push of the ‘Fluid Ounce Presents…’ DVD (Did we mention it has 90 tracks on it??) which first came out last year, showcasing an eeeenormous array of top quality tunes to the delight of DJs and music fans everywhere.

Head to the Etch Shop to bag / DL you copy now, a hole week before they are available anywhere else in the world.

Impossible Ark recognises that music is many things to many people, and believes in celebrating that diversity and delivering World class artists, concepts, performance and production to your turntable, CD player or iPod with every release. The label is the brainchild of producer Ben Lamdin (aka Nostalgia 77) and bassist Riaan Vosloo, whose highly successful collaborative work on Tru Thoughts has produced six popular albums - from the live recordings of the Nostalgia 77 Octet to studio-based explorations on an experimental jazz and funk tip - and most recently saw them joining forces with the legendary Keith and Julie Tippett for the uniquely brilliant and highly acclaimed ‘Sessions’ LP.

Lamdin explains the motivation to found the label, which was borne of the vibrant and eclectic London jazz scene: “When I started the Nostalgia Octet I met so many great musicians but I was surprised that there wasn’t really a recording culture. In that respect Impossible Ark was a response to a need. It’s about focusing musicians’ minds on creative statements, but above all it’s about making some classic modern records.”

And on this stunning compilation you will find the blue-eyed country soul of Jeb Loy Nichols sitting harmoniously alongside Lamdin’s hotly anticipated new Afro-funk project, the Skeleton; the other-worldly sounds of the Rhythmatic Orchestra rubbing shoulders with the highly regarded experimentalism of Examples Of Twelves; and many more treasures besides.

The Guardian - “Makes the Cinematic Orchestra Sound like dabblers”
Gilles Peterson - “When it comes to jazz of a sure blessed quality it doesn’t get much tighter than the work of Impossible Ark”
Bobbito Garcia - “I got the African Mailman 12”, love every single song on both sides [it’s] on my voicemail today”
Andy (Mr) Scruff - “Quality, life affirming up tempo dancefloor jazz, soulful & heavy the way it should be…. blows my mind every time I hear it.”

‘Tru Thoughts Covers’ is a mighty selection of the most pivotal and interesting cover versions to have peppered Tru Thoughts’ ten year history of releases, boasting many crossover hits; from Nostalgia 77 and Alice Russell’s epic take on the White Stripes; to The Quantic Soul Orchestra’s version of 4Hero; via the Bamboos’ mod-soul re-imagining of Kings Of Leon; and Hot 8 Brass Band’s rambunctious, world-renowned version of “Sexual Healing”, taking Marvin Gaye to the Mardi Gras. Between them these songs have gained tremendous acclaim, and radio play on a huge spectrum of stations, including BBC Radio 1 & 2, 6Music, BBC London, XFM and NME Radio. In addition, this 17-track collection also features new exclusive tracks from the likes of Lizzy Parks, Woon, Aldo Vanucci and Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro.

The different twists and turns a song takes when genres collide can spark great and unexpected musical explosions, and for the artists on Tru Thoughts, covering tracks in heavy funk, soul or leftfield styles has always been part of the game. In the early days, The Quantic Soul Orchestra turned label-mate Bonobo’s downtempo anthem “Terrapin” into a dancefloor bomb; Bonobo returned the favour, twisting the QSO’s debut funk track “Super 8” into a deep downtempo excursion (featured on this CD). Then, in 2004 (pre-dating the high profile high-jinks of one Mark Ronson by a country mile) Nostalgia 77 enlisted the vocals of Alice Russell, and unleashed his stunning, double bass-heavy take on the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”, repackaging the song for a whole new audience while bringing two huge talents in the jazz and funk world to the attention of an appreciative wider crowd. And now for a fact you may not know: later on when Ronson, teetering on the brink of world domination, decided to go live and form a top-of-the-range funk band for the purpose, he approached Ben ‘Nostalgia 77’ Lamdin and Will ‘Quantic’ Holland, asking their advice and looking to borrow members of their bands; doubtless coveting Nostalgia’s jazz-inflected vintage cool and the deep, authentic dancefloor-rocking funk sound of The Quantic Soul Orchestra. (Will and Ben, busy with their bands at the time, declined to get involved, but the significant - if unsubtly deployed - point remains!)

Plenty of people habitually pigeonhole music, but this album connects the songs of the White Stripes, Portishead, Marvin Gaye, 4Hero, Max Sedgeley, Mr Scruff, Frank Sinatra, Kings Of Leon, Fedde Le Grand, Michael Jackson, The Strokes, The Kooks, Eminem, Roni Size/Reprazent, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Jeff Buckley, and Olive. And you don’t see those names on the same sleeve-notes every day.

Head to the Etch Shop to buy your copy now.

Following on from his in store at Rough Trade Jeb Loy Nichols releases his on Impossible Ark Records, via Unfold. Jeb  is an artist, writer and musician living a sustainable life in Wales. ‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is his new album. With a glowing review in The Independent on Sunday this is one album you shouldn’t miss.

Since moving to the UK from his native America and finding himself living in an East End squat with Neneh Cherry, Adrian Sherwood and Ari Up from the Slits, Jeb has variously been art director for Pressure Sound records, performed guest vocals for Groove Armada, designed prints and fabric for Paul Smith and compiled the celebrated review of blue eyed southern soul, ‘Country Got Soul’. Throughout this time he has also had a successful career as a musician, both with his band The Fellow Travellers and as a solo artist; his previous albums have received glowing reviews in publications from the Independent to Mojo.

Described by many as a modern day Renaissance Man, Jeb has led a creative life spanning countless records, exhibitions and more recently books. Artist, writer, musician; for Jeb it’s all part of the same journey. And quite a journey it’s been: from Middle America and its soundtrack of country music and southern soul; through ‘70s New York, the loft scene and a sound clash of free jazz and rap; via London, reggae and the creative resistance to Thatcher’s Britain; and finally to Wales, a place to build a home, print, write and record, at least for a while.

‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is a relaxed and candid album of songs. Set against the shifting seasons of his remote Welsh retreat, they reflect back on Jeb’s search for place, a personal voice and the different musical scenes he’s passed through.

The accompaniment on ‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is provided by a group of revered musicians hailing from London’s vibrant jazz scene, including Tim Giles and Mark Hanslip; the rich bass comes care of Riaan Vosloo, who also arranged these songs, and who co-founded the Impossible Ark label with close contemporary Benedic Lamdin (better known as the rising jazz producer/musician Nostalgia 77).

Benedic Lamdin: “For those of you who, like I, had never heard Jeb before, I can say it’s a wonderful world to discover. For those of you who already know and love Jeb’s songs, hear them here with fresh ears, pinned as they are to a chiaroscuro of shifting jazz drums, of double bass and of strings.”

Head to the Etch Shop to buy it now.

Jeb’s own work as a songwriter and artist is based on a life as a dedicated music fan and record collector. Amongst other projects his collection of southern blue eyed soul found it’s way into the world as the celebrated compilation “Country got soul”. Other archivists have made use of his collection too - notably a recent compilation of the Capsoul made use of Jeb’s completed discography for several masters.

There’s snippetts of both these collections in this mix alongside music that Jeb says influenced his approach to songwriting and gives the listner an insight into the world of Jeb’s new record for Impossible Ark.  “Andy Bey is my favorite singer” says Jeb.  Need we say more?

The mix also features a rare momento of Jeb’s friendship with the legendary memphise songsmith Dan Penn.  Which track? You Decide.

Be sure to check out www.jebloynichols.co.uk // Strange Faith and Practice by Jeb Loy Nichols is released 09 /09 on Impossible Ark Records.

Download the mix HERE