Review

Jump Start: Various

Ginger Tony (as opposed to Swiss Tony!) gives you a little of what is good for you. Named after his Jump Start radio show, T kicks off the new DJ series of compilations with a selection of eclectic tracks featuring established labels such as Agogo, Jalapeno, Social Beats and Ralf GUM's Gogo.

'45' Ft Stephanie McKay 'I Believe' is a smooth anthem of a soul tune and gets you right in the mood for going out of a Saturday. The moody 'Something's Changing' by the wonderfully named Wet Cookies slides across my already rearranged senses from the opener. The harmonic structure of the song shows much sophistication with it's unusual semitone changes that seem to gel perfectly, adding drama to the pursuing nature of the lyric.

The Jivers - 'Do What', gets all "Iko Iko" on us and the jazzy two chord groove underpins the excellent vocals. Nice trumpet break too Dizzy inspired! A fun tune! Next up it's Smooth and Turrell, and boy the last few months have really propelled this turbo charged soul fuelled geordie duo. Here this 60's type latin work out sees them swinging in all the right directions.

Mo'Horizons 'Don't Bring Me Down' is my absolute fave on the album- kinda Sharon Jones and very dapper too! Love it, mad Maceo like sax and choppy rhodes, and a Motown tambourine ensures a good vibe is laid down a fresh mesh of funky blessedness that Heala Selecta would no doubt love too! If I was still doing my deejayin (Starsky & Hutch RIP) this would get rinsed incessantly.

Other highlights the cool Horace Silver swing of The Jazzinvaders 'Day By Day' which starts off as an instrumental, then low and behold a crooner appears! Yes love a bit of Jazzy crooning, cool daddio! Lack of Afro adds his remixing magic to the gloriously named 'Kraak & Smaak!' Shades of JK on this one and the midtempo disco beat gives it a nice, loose feel.

Ginger Tony must have had a lot of fun compiling this corker of unpretentious yet wildly different gems, the perfect pick me up to this long winter we seem to be having. Jazztastic and juicy pickings for one and all- it's title makes total sense.
Words Emrys Baird