(Exceptional/Pinnacle)

Side A: Ruby (Original Mix) 6.11
Side B: Ruby (Gerd Remix) 7.25

Bedford, UK-based nujazz / chilled house outfit Bluprint first turned heads with their 2002 debut album ‘Foundation’, released through the always forward-thinking London-based Exceptional Records imprint, and this latest 12”, ‘Ruby’ acts as a preview of their upcoming second album ‘Sleeping Giant’, expected early 2005. A quartet who play everything in the studio ‘live’ and then compile the resulting tracks as a composite of live takes, Bluprint’s latest 12” is apparently a tribute to a mysterious Spanish girl who seems to turn up at all of their shows -and Ruby might not actually be her real name at all – she simply wears the eponymous gemstone in her (apparently washboard) navel.

On the A-side of this 12”, the Original Mix of ‘Ruby’ drifts open slowly with wavering synth chords and delayed-out Moogs, before locking down into an airy broken-beat house groove peppered with lithe Brazilian-sounding percussion, warm bass runs and gentle keys. With an undeniably samba-oriented feel lurking behind the sparkling synths, funk bass runs and ambient drones that’s brought out even further by some fantastic dubbed-out batacadu-esque percussive crashes halfway through, the Original Mix is easily the more chilled / laidback of the two mixes on offer here, and is perhaps more suited to early morning listening than the dancefloor; think Jazzinho or Quant’s more chilled and spacious moments.

On the flip, Gerd (fresh from remixes for Delgui on his own 4lux label) pushes things back towards the dancefloor with his remix, draping an elastic funk bassline, creeping slide guitar samples and shimmering synths around a lithe backdrop of airy house beats, whilst also turning up the original version’s slow-burning sense of funk, with flecks of soul guitar and percussion scattered throughout the warm ebbing synths. With plenty of warm jazzy keyboard runs as well as snatches of Brazilian percussion thrown in alongside a beautifully understated jazz guitar solo, Gerd’s mix is sure to appeal to fans of latin / jazz-house fusionists such as Jazzinho, Nicola Conte and Da Lata.

A strong 12” from Bluprint that certainly promises good things to come on their upcoming ‘Sleeping Giant’ album, expected early 2005; look to the original mix for sultry downtempo chills, whilst Gerd’s tidy reworking provides dancefloor fuel with a Latin house twist. Fans of the likes of Hajime Yoshizawa, Bakura and Truby Trio’s chilled Latin house explorations should definitely investigate this. Recommended.

Check out http://www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk