HENRY WU 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: 2015 is fast turning into Henry Wu's year. Having already delivered killer 12s of baked deep house/instrumental hip-hop fusion for Ho-Tep and Odd Socks, he now pops up on Rhythm Section International with another brilliant EP. While as deep and blazed as previous excursions, there's a sun-bright freshness to the pleasingly varied selections on offer. Contrast, for example, the deep space, boogie-house slickness of "Yellow Brick", the bruk revivalism of "Neezy (Wok)" - think I.G Culture after a few too many bongs) - and the brilliant deep house/jazz-funk fusion of "Dubplate Special". Arguably best of all, though, is the Latin jazz-goes-deep house warmth of "Croydon Depot". Everyone will have a different personal favourite, though; it's that kind of EP.

Review: Fresh from the runaway success of his Yussef Kamaal project with Yussef Dayes, Henry Wu returns to Eglo Records for the first time since 2015. While it's jazzy broken beat opener "Deep In The Mudd" - co-produced by Hardhouse Banton - that's naturally getting most attention, there's plenty to get excited about elsewhere on the EP. Check, for example, the hissing jazz of "Boards & Skins", Kaidi Tatham's deep, sparkling and effortlessly soulful re-make of "Just Negotiate", and the ultra-deep, Rhodes-laden bliss of "Reflections", a beat-less treat. Also worth checking is the EP's other Hardhouse Banton hook-up, "Century", which charges off on a high-tempo, mutant P-funk tip.

Review: 22a/Eglo alumni, Henry Wu and Jamal Banton complement each other with every spacious, measured groove. The power is evident from the supreme jazz funk of "T-Slap Biz" - show us a body that isn't popping when this drops and you're playing the wrong parties. "2011" techs us up to a notch with an UR style pace and trippiness while "Natural" is 100% 22a soul, all loose limbed, warm, harmonic and fuzzy. "Dutty Dubz" tips a nod to the deep foundations of Dego and Marc Mac with its jazzy breakbeat introspection and "Street Brukka" brings us home with woozy far-away trumpets, shuffling swinging drums and chord washes that are up there with Iz & Diz's legendary "Mouth." Stunning.