Tag Archives: Tru Thoughts

Switched On – Footshooter: The Oasis (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Footshooter is South London-based producer and DJ Barney Whittaker. He describes his first album for the Tru Thoughts label as “a collection of moods from the last three years. As with all my projects, collaboration and sharing is at the heart of it.”

Music is Whittaker’s oasis, and always in the spirit of collaboration – which explains the plethora of artists appearing on this album. Under his Footshooter alias Whittaker operates in a number of musical styles, providing supple instrumental music that the vocalists can bend and shape into their own.

What’s the music like?

The great thing about Footshooter’s music is that it refuses to be pinned down, moving easily between different styles while retaining its identity.

The guests are really well deployed, especially Ezra Collective saxophonist James Mollison. He adds a brilliant solo part to the broken beat of Cycles, while Surrey Canal Road is a mellow yet descriptive musical portrait in his hands.

Obelisk enjoys a distinctive vocal pairing from Natty Wylah and brother portrait, while the excellent Boomerang dresses Ehireme Omoaka’s spoken word with a fine trumpet solo from Wilf Petherbridge. Wilf appears later on Parc de Belleville, this time his solo laced with a bittersweet melancholy.

Folding could easily be heard by a pool in the Mediterranean, but it’s an emotive track too, complementing an expansive piano line with sultry yet deeply felt vocals from Allysha Joy. Here To Learn moves a bit more towards deep house, in the company of a lithe vocal from Andre Espeut, but then Sermon steps back for contemplation in the company of Sara El Harrak.

Does it all work?

It does – The Oasis is nicely structured, and inhabits a place of positive musical energy.

Is it recommended?

Enthusiastically. It isn’t an exaggeration to call Footshooter a visionary producer, and the way he has written for the wide range of contributors on this record shows how versatile he is. A vibrant album.

For fans of… Joe Armon Jones, Seven Davis Jr., Jazzanova, Moodymann

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Published post no.2,532 – Wednesday 14 May 2025

On Record – Various Artists: Shapes 25 (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Since 1999, Brighton’s Tru Thoughts label have produced an annual Shapes compilation, showcasing the best of the label while offering rarities and remixes. As a way in to their output it has been consistently rewarding, while fans have the chance to expand their collections with the new music on offer.

The 25th instalment from label head Robert Luis stays true to the program, split into two parts. The first offers a taste of soul, downtempo and jazz releases, while part two heads to the club for some dancefloor action.

What’s the music like?

Typically varied and vibrant.

It feels right for Luis to start with Bonobo, the zither adding colour to Terrapin – taken from his debut album Animal Magic that the label released in 2001. Quantic is another essential inclusion, and Look Around The Corner has the irresistible combination his production quality and Alice Russell’s wonderful vocals. Nostalgia 77’s Cheney Lane is a highlight, as are The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist a guest on their breezy I Don’t Wanna Stop. Meanwhile Steven Bamidele’s enchanting Kaleidoscope is complemented by a smoky groove from the Hidden Orchestra’s Spoken.

Two extended mixes in the centre of the compilation are both winners – Obas Nenor’s loping dub remix of Sefi Zisling’s The Sky Sings, and Hot 8 Brass Band’s Sexual Healing cover, a triumph that you surely will have heard by now.

Quantic whips up another treat with Furthest Moment, before Omar & Zed Bias’s irresistible Dancing, featuring Fox. Tiawa’s Soldiers is a lovely bit of funk, while hazy sunshine pokes through in STR4TA’s warm remix of Anushka’s Bad Weather. Magic Drum Orchestra bring the carnival with Ragga Samba, Ebi Soda goes left field with Yoshi Orange, then the king of dubstep Zed Bias saves one of the best cuts until last with his remix of Sandunes’ Follow Me.

Does it all work?

It does – Shapes 25 catches the essence of Tru Thoughts, a huge range of colourful music.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. If by some freak of nature you’ve not heard the music of Tru Thoughts yet, this is the ideal place to start. Be prepared for a long journey of wonderful discoveries!

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Published post no.2,335 – Friday 18 October 2024

On Record: Various Artists – Tru Thoughts 2023 (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Tru Thoughts really are one of the most generous labels around. Not content with cramming their Shapes compilation series full of good things, here they are with a 24-track highlights reel celebrating the year 2023, curated by label head Robert Luis.

What’s the music like?

As always with their compilations, Tru Thoughts draw from a wide variety of musical styles but bring them together in an order that makes perfect sense – as well as ensuring there are liberal sprinkles of exclusive and essential content.

A few of the tracks are revived – among them Moonchild’s acoustic version of Cure, Hot 8 Brass Band’s now legendary cover of Sexual Healing, and a welcome remaster for Lightning Head’s highly enjoyable Me & Me Princess.

Sandunes – who made a strong impression on these pages – is represented by The Surge, along with tracks from new label talent including The Sindecut, Born74 & Onj, Nenor & Eyal Rob, Call Sender, and Running Loving Something.

Energy-wise all bases are covered, from the thrilling drum and bass given out by WheelUP and Abacus to the cool Salamanda remix of Anchorsong’s Windmills, a lovely time out moment. Yet perhaps the one track that best represents the feelings generated by the whole compilation is North Street West – aka Ashley Beedle – remixing the wonderful Grateful by Luman Child.

Does it all work?

It does – and as ever with Tru Thoughts the listener is left marvelling at the musical invention on display, drawn from such refreshingly large cultural and geographical spaces.

Is it recommended?

Yes indeed. Another good year for Tru Thoughts is complete, as the label close in on a quarter of a century tantalising our eardrums.

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Published post no.2,032 – Thursday 7 December 2023

On Record: Sandunes – The Ground Beneath Her Feet (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Sandunes’ third album is her first since moving to Tru Thoughts. On it she focuses on connecting the earth and the body, focusing on ‘humanity’s collective spirit, authentic expression’.

With the freedom to move between genres, the artist – real name Sanaya Ardeshir – gathers quite a guest list and a small army of instrumental collaborators, using stringed instruments but also a number of more exotic contributions from quena and mandolin.

What’s the music like?

The blueprint behind the album suggests a fresh approach, and that’s exactly what we get. This is a joyously creative piece of work, the rule book put to one side as Sandunes makes her music with a natural flair.

Pelican Dance is a good example of how she harnesses influences past and present, using a harpsichord but also marimba, creating a colourful backdrop that ebbs and flows very naturally. It segues into Masti, where scattered beats form the base of an evocative scene.

The vocal guests are well chosen and structured, the standout being KAVYA, who brings her strong personality and penetrating vocals to Follow Me and Time For This. Ramya Pothuri has a more languid style but is equally persuasive, lending an endearing smokiness to Signs and The Surge. Cyclone starts atmospherically, with thunder and rain, a song brought to life by Half Waif’s strong vocals.

Does it all work?

Pretty much. The twists and turns of the music lend themselves well to the album format, the levels of intensity rising and falling with the differing moods of each song.

Is it recommended?

It is indeed. Sandunes has a great deal of imagination in her music, and The Ground Beneath Her Feet is invigorating and fresh.

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Published post no.2,020 – Saturday 25 November 2023

Switched On: Various Artists – Shapes: Collide (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

The ‘Shapes’ compilation series has been an integral part of Tru Thoughts’ make-up throughout their 24-year history. Robert Luis’ label continues to bring a wide variety of music to the table, and this is the ideal platform on which to showcase it – whether soulful, song-based, cosmopolitan or beat-driven, a flavour of the label is here.

Luis curates the selection, bringing a healthy mixture of label staples, remixes and a few rarities to spice things up.

What’s the music like?

Eclectic and open-minded, as the label themselves describe.

Among the many highlights are a couple of sassy numbers in MELONYX’s Melanin Queens, which is soul music with an edge, and The Sindecut & Ijeoma, whose club mix of Stand Tall is firmly uplifting. The combination hit the jackpot a second time with Different, where multilayered vocals combine with a big screen backdrop.

Meanwhile Running Loving Something contribute the breezy I Love The Feeling, while there are two rather special remixes of Anchorsong – the Salamanda take on Windmills and the Azido 88 Remix of Common Ground, which makes a play of the wordless vocal and broken beat.

Label stalwart Rhi impresses with the close-up intimacy of Craving Your Love, while Luman Child – via the North Street West Vocal Remix – sing out a gospel house treat with Robert Gee in Grateful. Sunny climes are explored by STR4TA in an excellent remix of Anushka’s Bad Weather, while once the sun goes down Bruk Rogers impresses with the nocturnal LDN 313.

Does it all work?

Pretty much. There is such a wide variety of music on show here there is something for everyone – and to be honest there are many more hits than misses.

Is it recommended?

It’s a no-brainer – 2 hours and 40 minutes of the best of a wide-ranging label, available for the cost of a pint of beer. What’s not to love?

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