New music from Omar, titled "The Man".

"When I grow up, I wanna be like Omar" - Stevie Wonder

There are precious few, if any contemporary UK artists whose creative credentials and influence extend as far and so consistently wide as Freestyle Records' most recent signing Omar. Since first breaking through to worldwide renown all the way back in 1991 with his first releases on Gilles Peterson's seminal Talkin' Loud label, and since going on to work with all manner of musical legends including a certain Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Syreeta Wright, Common, and Carleen Anderson.

Omar returns with a brand new album that many say is without doubt the strongest of his entire career. The buzz generated by the single release of the album's title track, The Man, confirmed beyond doubt that Omar is very much at the top of his game, with everyone from BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 2's Trevor Nelson and Jamie Cullum giving both major support and high praise for the simply magnificent new high point for Omar's renowned ability to write devastatingly catchy melodies.

Across the rest of this new album, opener Simplify sets the template, with its luscious and majestic string backed introduction raising the curtain on this deep, hard grooving number. Omar also joins forces with Germany's Hidden Jazz Quartett on High Heels - growling organ spars with the tough, jagged drumbeat on this tough, funk driven collaboration. Elsewhere, latin textures and rhythms have always been part of Omar's far reaching musical vocabulary, and on Come On Speak To Me and Ordinary Day restless south American beats underpin the crisp and fresh melodies.

Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler offers her distinctive voice on the duet Treat You, allowing these two legendary voices to unite beautifully. Completing the circle that began all the way back in the early 1990s, Omar has re-recorded his classic love song There's Nothing Like This, which this time features bass player to the Gods Pino Palladino. The touching sentiment remains undiminished, but the addition of soaring strings, soulful, jazzy horns, a vibrant live and acoustic feel, plus an extended and new arrangement.

This album will surely become known as the most eclectic, confident, mature and soulful album of his career. After all, Stevie Wonder knows, Erykah Badu knows... and now everyone knows; Omar is The Man.

New Jamiroquai - "Rock, Dust, Light, Stars" + "White Knuckle Teaser"

After a 5 year break from it all since their last studio LP, Dynamite, Jamiroquai’s new album Rock Dust Light Star is to be released by Mercury Records in November 2010 – and will be the British funk/acid jazz/pop/generally wonderful band’s 7th studio album.

According to the group’s official website, the sound of the new album has “moved on [from electronic, disco influenced tracks] and reverted to a more organic, live sound. The shift really helped revitalise the band who ended up producing a superb album – even if we do say it ourselves! We hope you all agree as you get to hear it.”

Head honcho Jason ‘Jay’ Kay says, “Everything on the record is live. It’s a real band record. The last album – fantastic – but the whole thing became a little sterile. This time we’ve captured the flow of our live performances".

Jamiroquai.com reports, “The album has been recorded mainly at Jay’s home studio in Buckinghamshire, and also at legendary Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire. The album is entirely written by Jay Kay and the band, and produced by Jay alongside first time collaborators Charlie Russell and Brad Spence.”

“White Knuckle Ride” is the first taster from the new album [teaser video below] – available only on strictly limited edition vinyl prior to the album. Described as a “hi-octane retrospective on Jay’s career experiences,” this will be followed by “Blue Skies” in November; “an epic, blissful, sun-kissed Californian mid tempo song with lush string arrangements and perhaps Jay’s most emotive vocal to date – pure class.”

p.s.

Jamiroquai is a BAND...not a person. The front man is Jay Kay, his name is not Jamiroquai.

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