A mish-mash of sounds and style

Edan is up to his neck in monster grooves.

With mega-labels like Sony and Universal so bloated with acts they have become meaningless, it's always nice to cotton on to a label that comes with a sound and credo in tow.

Tru Thoughts is such a stable, think Flying Nun with better bands and a bigger budget, a collective that celebrates in the explanatory tagline"jazzbreakshiphopsoulfunkbeatsounds'.

William Holland, aka Quantic, has become one of their main performers since he wandered into their offices as a 20-year-old.

As a solo artist he specialises in knob-twiddling, beat-based efforts that draw on America's grand black tradition, but when in band mode with Quantic Soul Orchestra, the multi-instrumentalist keeps it strictly live and real. He says it's about giving something back to music that inspires him. Ain't that sweet.

Pushin' On has the big ask of following QSO's much-admired debut Stampede, and while it doesn't have the tiptoes to reach the same heights, it still offers a few right-on good times.

The title track and single is fabulous as a smoky, mid-tempo funk and their cover version of Nina Simone's Feeling Good is dressed down in a nicely understated groove.

As with Stampede's oh so cool remake of 4Hero classic Hold it Down, there is a clever nod to the present day. This time round their spiky makeover of Mr Scruff's Get A Move On is a thank you to the eccentric pommy DJ, who also helped out with the arrangement.

The highpoints inevitably feature emerging soulstress Alice Russell, who has finally stepped out from the contributing artists lists to release her debut album Under the Munka Moon.

It's a quasi-solo album, mixing together a few of her own efforts along with remixes of previous collaborations with each of Holland's incarnations, as well as Natureboy and Bah Samba.

At times she evokes Carleen Anderson of the Young Disciples, and isn't shy of poaching a vocal melody or two from kd lang, but while she could be vulnerable to Joss Stone-esque carpetbagger accusations, Russell isn't a grave-robber and keeps the setting current. Her moon is rising.

Meanwhile, the shortcomings of her collaborator, William Holland, are starkly exposed when you slip into Funky Disposition, the double CD retrospective of largely unknown early 70s instrumental funksters, The Propositions.

Holland ain't really got his bottom end down. He can be too much brain, not enough ass, and The Propositions are all about ass.

If you've heard anything of them at all it was probably Africana, their best selling single, which, due to a typo on the label, forced a sudden name change from The Prepositions.

Drop yourself into Bad Seed, a two-movement opus of primeval funk blessed with Dr Teeth keyboards, honking horns, rough as guts drums and big, phat ole bass. Righteous.

Also up to his neck in dirty, dirty, monster grooves is Edan, an indie producer-rapper and minimoog enthusiast who presents a convincing case for self-aggrandising, acid hip-hop.

Bask in the beast that is Rock and Roll, set against what sounds like some long-lost War Pigs-era Black Sabbath track. Forget sound beds, this stuff flies out of your speaker with the entire bedroom in tow. And it's messy, his production bares no comparison to the slickness of The Neptunes, it's the 'hood meets Woodstock by way of 60s psychedelic rock' - check the Pink Floyd bassline on Torture Chamber - and early 90s hip hop. It used to be open your ears and your ass will follow, but Edan turns that sentiment upside down.

Far more polite and coy, is French Kiss, a chilled out collection of contemporary Parisian grooves purpose built for late night horizontal folk dancing. The tacky title sets the vibe: "Got a frog in your throat? Well, would you like some?"

It's all very girlie, not a bloke to be heard in the house, and saucy in a lacy socks kinda way.

The Quantic Soul Orchestra: Pushin On
Herald rating: * * *
Blighty-made funk that reeks of dusty old 45s.
Label: Tru Thoughts

Alice Russell: Under The Munka Moon
Herald rating: * * * *
Classy work that spans genres, time and moods
Label: Tru Thoughts

The Propositions: Funky Disposition
Herald rating: * * * *
I see you baby, shaking that ass.
Label: Ubiquity

Edan: Beauty And The Beat
Herald rating: * * * *
Old school rock meets old school hip-hop and make weird whoopee together
Label: Inertia

French Kiss
Herald rating: * * *
Ooooo, is it me or is it getting warm in here?
Label: Intentcity Records