Vinyl

From the label: "This EP is a dedication to the Amsterdam based Alkebulan Project. Philou and Villy are both members of this project, the project brings artists from Africa & African Diaspora together. The Alkebulan Project is on a mission to change the perception of Africa an it's citizens. Nigerian artist Villy and his group "Villy & The Xtreme Volumes" are on a mission to educate Africans with their message calling for a revolution in Africa, politically and socially in all aspects. Philou has a combination of Congolese, Nigerian and Sierra Leonean heritage and it is in these roots that he has built his sound. His passion for the continent of his ancestors is fervent and his projects are challenging commonly held preconceptions about Africa. His goal is to challenge negative stereotypes, by making African cultures more approachable through music. Much love for Rudy Asibey for founding The Alkebulan Project and bringing the artists together and many thanks to Marcel Vogel for giving us the opportunity to tell our story through."

Makcim & Levi have been taking their time sneaking out stone cold minimal house killers on Raum...Musik, Apollonia and Lazare Hoche in the past, and now they step up to Mandar's label Oscillat Music with the snappily titled On A Springroll EP. The title track is a bugging, funking workout with splashes of psychedelia swirling in between the chirpy bassline. "HW1" is a dreamier affair for the deep, late morning crowd, and "Jelmeratu" slips into that frame of mind perfectly as well. "Allwin" has sharper edges, keeping things as stripped as possible for the perfect functional micro house tool.

Having been rediscovered by labels like For Those That Knoe, cult deep techno favourite Derek Carr is on a roll and steps up to Distant Worlds in impeccable form. There's more than a little vintage techno mysticism to the tracks on New Planets To Conquer, which starts off in illustrious fashion with the swooning melancholy of "Scisor" before pinging into the dynamic electro delights of "Fading Fast." "Wraith" is a fast paced, bubbling but ultimately mellow techno jam, and "Sunrise System" cools the EP off with a chill-out cut carved from the same block of high-def synthesis.

XOA continues to lay out a formidable interpretation of African-infused dance music for the modern age, following on from lauded appearances on Shake, One House and Soundway. Alongside Contours, he comes to Banana Hill with some next level transcendental head-quaking business that reaches from the roots of Afrobeat right through to contemporary FX dubbing business. "Too Much Talking" is a proper eyes-closed roller for the hazy moment in the dance, and "Express" ramps things up to a strident tempo layered with a barrage of congas and djembes. The hectic pace is offset by swooning melodies, all wistful synth splashes and plucky guitar chops, stirring the soul as much as the feet.

Founder of White Rabbit Records and one of the hippest swingers in the Southern reaches of Italy, Giovanni Damico has more than proved himself in the field of boogie infused, disco flavoured house music. Following plentiful appearances on labels like Black Key, Movida, Geography and Bitter Moon, Damico returns to Lumberjacks In Hell with a serious serving of sultry grooves for discerning diggers to get all moist over. "Essential" keeps things hyped up and just a little feverish, with a distinctly funky stew of guitar chops, bugged out flute, Rhodes flares and more besides. "Look At You (Sugar Bomb)" is a deeper affair revolving around a particular looped up lick, and then "Drums & Keys" shifts the focus out into accomplished broken beat territory that confirms Damico's skill and adaptability across a range of styles.

Brazilian deep house maestro Apoena has hopped around all kinds of labels, shoring up at Underground Quality and Stuga Musik in the early days, but now you're most likely to find him rolling out the good stuff on his own Allnite imprint. This collection of Edits Brazuca are as potent as anything he's released since first coming to light back in 2010, kicking off with the bright and breezy horn-soaked "Track 1" before sinking into a Latin jazz flavoured groove on "Track 2". "Track 3" is a little more like a classic French touch jam, all looped up soul samples and sassy disco beats. "Track 4" takes an easy approach that feels like it comes from the Stevie Wonder school of funk.

The second round of crucial pop covers from alt-electronic scene darlings is here to tantalise your memory banks and delight your minds. After a fantastic first volume, this time around Suzanne Kraft has a laid back kosmische pulse at work on "Nordsee", while Minor Science does a brilliantly deconstructed dub out on "Heatwave". Sultan Shakes get somewhat frenetic after that subdued start with the headspinning cover of A Guy Called Gerald, "Oud Ou Ray", Eyedress plays out a raw guitar strumming version of "Girls" and Geller & Kaya do a remarkable job recreating chart-topping 80s funk on "Wham Dub".