Various Artists - The Soul Revolution 3 (Soulab)

It's no secret that I'm an enormous fan of the Soulab label over in France. Consistently dishing out incredible quality nu-funk and soul, it was with enormous anticipation that I saw 'The Soul Revolution 3' drop into my Inbox this week.

Featuring all the usual suspects, including Weeland and The Urban Soul Collective, Soul Motion Replay, Isaac Aesili and Uptown Funk Empire, this album delivers. The selection sees the label reaching out into slightly new territory, with a bit more of an electronic, housey edge. Regardless, this compilation is another flawless example of a soul label at the very top of its game. Think the kind of output Naked Music was putting out back in the late-90s, and you're there.

Check Isaac Aesili's 'Freedom Cry' below - one of my favourite cuts from the album from one of my favourite labels - Project: Mooncircle.

What's interesting is the inclusion of tracks from JetTricks and Mr. Confuse; only this week I had a rather enormous package through the post from Légère Records in Hamburg - the home of these two artists, so I was already chugging through their back cat before receiving this. I guess that's what finding a great label is all about - you find yourself on a practically identical wavelength in both music and time.

Anyhow, expect super-soulful cuts aplenty on this album in a multitude of styles and forms. If you're into uplifting, dance-orientated nu-soul, you won't go wrong.

'Soul Revolution 3' is out now via Soulab and you can purchase via Juno Download here. | soulab.com

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #9

It's a gorgeous yet somewhat chilly Autumnal Saturday here is Sydney. I'm feeling pretty mellow today (I blame all that Carlton Draught last night), and so is the podcast this week.

Featuring a heap of brand new tracks from Chris Coco's Melodica label, a new Plexus joint (one of my new favourite labels), more from SLL faves Soulab, Record Kicks, Bastard Jazz (check the new Colm K track - it's INSANE!), as well as my pick of the brand new Daft Punk album.

Anyhow, sit back, relax, grab your choice of beverage, and press play.

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #9 by Sllmusic on Mixcloud

#9 - 13th May 2013

01. Pablo Bolivar - Rise Your Demons (Avantroots Records Promo) [download]

02. Jamie Isaac - Hollow Words (Melodica Promo)

03. Debian Blak - Dive ft. Kate from Mt.Wolf (Audio Doughnuts Promo)

04. Thomas Prime - Two Below (Cult Classic Records) [download]

05. Scarper - Surfing the Cosmic Belt (Plexus Records Promo)

06. Kelpe - Go Visible (Drut Promo)

07. Sweatson Klank - Blow (Project: Mooncircle Promo) [download]

08. ARP 101 - Mystery Man (Eglo) [download]

09. L.A. Mitchell - The Ease (Soulab Promo)

10. The Hi-Fly Orchestra - Sambinha feat. Paula Morelenbaum (Agogo Promo)

11. Marta Ren &a The Groovelvets - 2 Kinds of Men (Record Kicks Promo)

12. Laberge - Yesterday (Original Mix) (Homecookin' Promo)

13. Casbah 73 - If You're Leaving Part 1 & 2 (Lovemonk Promo)

14. Colm K - Good Fridays (Bastard Jazz Promo)

15. Joss Moog - Sweet Mary (Robsoul Promo)

16. Daft Punk - The Game of Love (Columbia Promo)

17. Robot Koch x Sieren - Melville (Scullcandy Promo) [download]

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Steve Mill presents Anna Cavazos - Upside Down (Muak)

With strong echoes of that 90s club vibe, yet laced with classic deep house grooves, Steve Mill presents Anna Cavazos on 'Upside Down'.

Punchy drums, crisp hats and ravey filtered keys are perfectly fused with a speed garage-esque bounce and warm deep house harmonies; it almost plays like an Innervision reinterpretation of Todd Edwards' earlier work.

Within seconds of hitting play, this was already a favourite. With summer just around the corner in the UK, this would definitely be one of my picks for this coming Ibiza season. Just wishing I could be jamming on the terraces to hear it this year. Never mind ay, I can always pop down to Bondi on the 380 bus. Just hope the DJ's spinning this.

Anthem.

'Upside Down' is out via Muak exclusively through Traxsource in late-May. | traxsource.com

Colm K - The Love EP (Bastard Jazz)

I'm rarely more excited than when I get a Bastard Jazz promo through on the email. This morning was no exception, particularly as it came in the form of Colm K's new 'The Love EP'.

Hailing from Cork, Ireland, Colm has been making ways on the Bastard Jazz label since graduating from the Red Bull Music Academy back in 2004. Touching on a wealth of influences from right across the music spectrum, Colm's tracks are sprinkled with vibes equivalent to a life time's listening - everything from J Dilla to Floating Points - it's in there.

This latest release tickles the pleasure senses once again, as you're immediately struck by the sheer clarity of the production work on this EP. Deep house influences are aplenty here, subterranean basslines and stratospheric builds sit alongside typically crisp percussion and warm, enveloping key progressions.

Whether it's the more laid back pace on 'The Attic', the big room twist on 'Good Fridays' or the electro-funk inspired 'Spaced', there's something for any soulful head here. You need to own this, and anything else Colm K has put out.

Trust me.

'The Love EP' is out on 3rd June via Bastard Jazz. | bastardjazz.com

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Columbia)

Okay, here goes...

I've had a couple of days to digest the new Daft Punk album 'Random Access Memories' which was unleashed on the world via an iTunes stream earlier this week (as well as the inevitable leak via a well known file sharing site). Rather than get into the debate, I've just been trying to absorb what's set to be one of the music events of the year, regardless of what side of the fence you might be on currently.

This exercise has bought me to one conclusion: it's impossible to judge the merits of this new album on a few day's play, as compared to Daft Punk's previous longplayers which have now had years to settle into the psyche of their fanbase.

For me, this album is more of a grower than Human After All, Discovery or Homework, which were all peppered with instant club hits. This plays more like a true artist album the duo have no doubt been waiting to write for years. A coming of age story, this new 13-tracker showcases a new, more mature Daft Punk sound which places their biggest influences right at the forefront of every track (Giorgio Moroder, Nile Rodgers, Todd Edwards). It's almost a modern reinterpretation of the very sound they were sampling heavily in the earlier days, the whole album driven by live session work rather than filtered disco cuts that have dominated much of their sound for years.

Anyhow, I'm loving it. It's all there - that same fresh, innovative vibe, with all the trademark Daft Punk compression and vocoder work. A triumph - there, I said it.

Check one of my favourite cuts from the album - 'Lose Yourself To Dance'. Be sure to catch the killer Chic-esque lead guitar - lovely.

'Random Access Memories' is out via Columbia on 17th May. | daftpunk.com