Brighton based label Tru Thoughts, self confessed ‘jazzbreakshiphopsoulfunkbeatsounds’ specialists, are back with a new release, ‘Shapes 07:02’. A Whitman’s sampler of sorts, the album features a range of music from down tempo jazz to frantic drum and bass across thirteen tracks. Compiled by label boss Robert Luis, the album is a tasty little morsel that gives a bit of an idea what the label is about.

We kick things off with the cheeky Columbian number ‘Fiesta Tropical’, from French producer Azaxx. The jazz vibe continues with the 4×4 drums and sultry vocals of Nostalgia 77’s ‘Wildflower’, Danish duo Povo giving it a small bump in the remix. A highlight on the disc is DJ Vadim’s remix of Belleruche’s ‘Northern Girls’, a distinctive house/swing vibe is given to this number, Katherine DeBoer’s vocals are outstanding and thankfully have been left well alone by Vadim. More Latin grooves arrive with Quantic & Nickodemus’ ‘Mi Swing Es Tropical’, funky summery lyrics bounce across this light percussive piece.

Things get kicked up a notch with the heavy breakbeats of Lanu’s ‘Don’t Sleep (Maddsnliky mix) and Barakas’ Brazilian piece ‘Stabilo Bossa’. Aussie funksters The Bamboos get a guernsey on here with their instrumental ‘Get in The Scene’, great Hammond and funk guitar keep this piece moving along nicely. Lush strings and a sweet vocal give way to a brutal bass line in the 174BPM remix of TM Juke’s ‘Damn’ (Drumagick remix), the drum and bass damage continuing with Benny Pages touch up of Me&You’s ‘Last Night’. Proceedings close out with an Alice Russel cover of the White Stripes track ‘Seven Nation Army’, featured here in its Grant Pharao remix form. A reggae re-rub of the classic rock number is reason alone to buy this album.

Make no mistake, the roots of this music are borne of the jazz/funk scene, giving the tracks great percussion and melodies that get you moving. Tru Thoughts again shows why it is one of the leaders in the underground soul/funk revival. In a word: Fantastic!