VA - Tru Thoughts 2018 (2018)

The latest edition of the Tru Thoughts annual label compilation series. Curated by A&R, co-owner and respected DJ, Robert Luis, the digital album celebrates the best of the Brighton-based label’s wide-ranging and international releases from this year. Featuring the finest of Tru Thoughts’ classic artists, new signings and inspired remixes, this compilation highlights a diverse selection of sounds from R&B and future soul through to reggae, electronic, jazz, and grime.

Jazz FM’s Soul Act of The Year 2018 Moonchild are joined by releases from Anchorsong (whose new album ‘Cohesion’ was previously Album Of The Day on BBC 6Music), Nostalgia 77, J-Felix, The Seshen, Manu Delago and Magic Drum Orchestra, alongside singles “Vortex Number 9” and “Exotic Other”, from new signings Uniting Of Opposites and Animanz. Te’Amir, who highlights five new tracks of beat driven, rootsy and soulful explorations on his “Abyssinia EP”, also makes an appearance with “Habesha”. Further showcasing the wide-ranging Tru Thoughts roster, infamous Roll Deep MC Flowdan skilfully combines influences of dancehall and reggae to create a charged and rallying grime offering on “Shell A Verse”, Foreign Beggars’ Nonames teams up with Hybrid Minds vocalist Alexa Harley on “Passing Time” and London-based neo-soul duo Aurora Dee Raynes bring the blissed-out old school funk with “Find My Way”.

Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band reimagine Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” bringing their classic funky vibes and Carolina Lins & Os Planatos take on the Kaiser Chiefs’ “I Predict A Riot” in a track taken from the soundtrack of ‘Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Have Played Football’. Prolific producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Will ‘Quantic’ Holland teams up with long term friend and collaborator Nidia Góngora on “Amor En Francia”, reworked with layers of reverb and illustrious electronic accents by French-Ecuadorian producer Nicola Cruz, as the Quantic y Los Míticos del Ritmo accordion band cover Drake’s “Hotline Bling”.

Stepping into the mix, electronic producers Ivy Lab put forward their take of Rhi’s “Night Driving”, while Eric Lau and Kaidi Tatham blend the laidback ‘80s electronica of Moonchild’s “Run Away” with their unique character and rhythm to draw out a carefree groove that scintillates with plucky guitar licks. Further re-orchestrations include Max Cooper’s take on Hidden Orchestra’s “Wingbeats” and Stro Elliot puts his own futuristic soul spin on his remix of Sly5thAve’s unfadable “Let Me Ride feat. Jimetta Rose”. Chimpo brings Duppstrumental vibes to Nonames’ “Dads and Mums feat. Roachee and Killa P” and Jesse Fischer adds a little funk to transform Space Captain’s “Loveline”. From within the Tru Thoughts family, Rhi delicately brings The Seshen’s “All I Know” into a dusk-filled and haunting space.