SHAPES: MOUNTAINS – VARIOUS ARTISTS [TRU THOUGHTS RECORDINGS]

This week’s Morning Mari* album of the week is Shapes: Mountains by Various Artists out on the 12th of October, 2018 on Tru Thoughts Recordings, available on digital and limited green 2XLP.

Hot 8 Brass Band’s party-starter “Can’t Nobody Get Down” is refreshed with brass and 808 bass by Alphabets Heaven and Prince Fatty and Nostalgia 77 illuminate the shared roots and spirit of rebellion at the heart of dub and jazz in “Little Steps Dub”. Prolific producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Will ‘Quantic’ Holland teams up with long term friend and collaborator Nidia Góngora on “Amor En Francia”, reworked into a breathtaking dancefloor track with soulful 150bpm magic by Philadelphia-based producer Sideswipe, as the Quantic y Los Míticos del Ritmo acordeon band cover Drake’s “Hotline Bling”.

These iconic tracks are joined by releases from J-Felix, Space Captain and Magic Drum Orchestra, alongside “Vortex Number 9”, the first single from new signings Uniting Of Opposites, who bring to life a melting pot of cultures and musical inspirations on their debut album ‘Ancient Lights’, and Te’Amir, who highlights five new tracks of beat driven, rootsy and soulful explorations on his “Abyssinia EP”. Further showcasing the wide-ranging Tru Thoughts roster, infamous Roll Deep MC Flowdan teams up with dancehall MC Irah on new track “Bodybag”, 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”.

Stepping into the mix, electronic producers Ivy Lab and Chug each put forward their take of tracks from Rhi’s debut album ‘Reverie’, while Eric Lau and Kadi 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 Ed West adds a touch of soundsystem, dancehall and jungle on his remix of the unfadable “Still D.R.E.”, taking a track from Sly5thAve’s acclaimed ‘The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute To Dr. Dre’.

‘Shapes: Mountains’ also includes reworkings from within the Tru Thoughts family; Rhi delicately brings The Seshen’s “All I Know” into a dusk-filled and haunting space and Uniting Of Opposites founder and legendary dance producer Tim Deluxe explores movement and progression in his remix of “Car Number 27/Mr. Alpo”.

Tune in for our Tru Thoughts Takeover: Rob Luis with Anchorsong, Te’Amir, Uniting Of Opposites (Live), on October 25th 2-5PM (BST).

Vinyl Tracklist

A1 The Seshen – Distant Heart (Wrongtom Remix)
A2 Rhi – Night Driving (Ivy Lab Remix)
A3 Hot 8 Brass Band – Can’t Nobody Get Down (Alphabets Heaven Remix)
A4 Moonchild – Run Away (Eric Lau & Kaidi Tatham Remix)

B1 Nonames – Passing Time feat. Alexa Harley
B2 J-Felix – J-Freq
B3 Sly5thAve – Still D.R.E. (Ed West Remix)

C1 Uniting Of Opposites – Car Number 27/Mr. Alpo (Tim Deluxe Remix)
C2 Aurora Dee Raynes – Find My Way
C3 KXNGS – Air Sign

D1 Magic Drum Orchestra – Original Nuttah feat. Bunty
D2 Durrty Goodz – Foundation feat. Flowdan & Sharky Major
D3 Flowdan – Bodybag feat. Irah

Digital Album Tracklist

1. Moonchild – The List
2. The Seshen – Distant Heart (Wrongtom Remix)
3. Uniting Of Opposites – Vortex Number 9
4. Rhi – Night Driving (Ivy Lab Remix)
5. Werkha – Glass Games feat. Bryony Jarman-Pinto
6. Space Captain – Blue
7. Te’Amir – Habesha
8. Sly5thAve – California Love feat. Cory Henry (Edit)
9. Quantic & Nidia Gongora – Ojos Vicheros
10. Hot 8 Brass Band – Can’t Nobody Get Down (Alphabets Heaven Remix)
11. Moonchild – Run Away (Eric Lau & Kaidi Tatham Remix)
12. Belleruche – It’ll Come
13. Quantic y Los Míticos del Ritmo – Hotline Bling
14. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – A GCSE In Dub
15. Prince Fatty Meets Nostalgia 77 – Little Steps Dub
16. The Seshen – All I Know (Rhi Mix)
17. Manu Delago – Freezing Point (Poppy Ackroyd Reimagining)
18. Hidden Orchestra – Wingbeats (Max Cooper Remix)
19. Nonames – Passing Time feat. Alexa Harley
20. J-Felix – J-Freq
21. Uniting Of Opposites – Car Number 27/Mr. Alpo (Tim Deluxe Remix)
22. Anchorsong – Testimony
23. Aurora Dee Raynes – Find My Way (Clean Version)
24. KXNGS – Air Sign
25. Jonny Faith – Backbeat
26. Quantic & Nidia Gongora – Amor en Francia (Sideswipe Remix)
27. Rhi – Cherry Glow (Chug Remix)
28. Magic Drum Orchestra – Original Nuttah feat. Bunty
29. Durrty Goodz – Foundation feat. Flowdan & Sharky Major
30. Flowdan – Bodybag feat. Irah
31. Sleepin’ Giantz – Raving Bully
32. Sly5thAve – Still D.R.E. (Ed West Remix)