Coming from the crew behind the eponymous London-based night, Broadcite Unplugged: Volume One ? New Beginnings is a stand-out compilation of electronic soul goodness. Consisting of tracks from both the Broadcite catalogue and those of like-minded labels (Sonar Kollektiv, Public Transit etc), there's a variety of styles represented. Notably, there's a real cohesiveness to the choice of tracks, meaning that the album works both as a showcase of up-and-coming artists, and as a consistently-vibed soundtrack perfect for chilling on a lazy weekend afternoon.
Stands out tracks include T-Roy's The Sweetest Time featuring Ayuco is a sun-drenched Brazilian-flavoured soulful house number - a flute, caixa, horns and keys backing track playing a lovely foil to Japanese singer Ayuco's smooth vocals. The Groovement Orchestra's Declaration To The Groove featuring the dulcet spoken word of Marshmello, is excellent Herbie Hancock-circa-Thrust material that would sit nicely in a set alongside tracks like Agent K's Orbit and Mr Scruff's Shrimp. And then Method Unique's Travesty is a bouncing broken beat riddim paired with mellow vocals that, on the dancefloor, will stand it's own ground against pretty much anything currently being put out by bruk's better-known protagonists.
The album is rounded out by, on the one by quality nu-jazz numbers like Ras's 'The Old days' and Brown's 'Black Rain' and, on the other, lush downtempo vocal jazzy-soul tracks like Kelsey Jones's Jazz Rooms and Afreex's Perfect Combination. There's not a dud in sight, which is really quite impressive in my book. All in all, a damn fine album of 21st century groove; don't sleep?savour.
Rounding off the album is Tubbs, whose debut single was described by Gilles Peterson as 'the best piece of leftfield infused jazz he heard that year'. 'Its Love' is an addictive afrobeat influenced number taken from his first album on Carbon Recordings.
Know the ledge magazine: 'A damm fine album of 21st century groove, Don't sleep? savour.'
Mark P (Solar Radio): 'Wow! This is worth every second of your attention. Winner! '
Bruce Q (Liquid Fusion/ UK Vibe): An exceptional compilation, oozing with pure quality. This is the real deal '
Mr Scruff: 'Very good showcase, Soulful and Varied'
DMC update: 'The Sounds of a good cigar being smoked and a drop of good stuff being poured'
Straight No Chaser: 'Nice Nujazz / broken soul flavour. Just the way we like em'
DJ Magazine: 'Never had a chance to say how good 'inside out' was! More please'
Universal vibes / Samurai FM: 'Absolutley blinding. Wicked selection of tunes. Playing this lots 10/10'