Fun Lovin' Criminals: "100% Columbian" (Chrysalis)
No-one treats the funk like the Fun Lovin' Criminals. This, the follow-up to their highly successful Come Find Yourself debut, is another freestyle trip on a BMX bike through the streets of New York or, as lead singer Huey would have it, Noo Yawwk. Funk, hiphop, soul and a mess of the blues can be found on the palette that FLC use with such abandon. From first single Love Unlimited (a homage to Barry White in suitably sultry soul style) to Big Night Out and its tale of hedonism and heroics with some supermodels, 100% Columbian is a feel-good freestyle urban ripper. It's an album with such a cocksure sense of sassy style and cinematic attitude that it could well pose as the alternative soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's next New York tale. Jim Carroll
Various: "Sonar 98" (So Dens)
Sonar is Barcelona's annual shebang celebrating the yin and yang of European electronic dance music and this four-CD set is a monumental souvenir from the acts which took part in this year's gathering. Alongside such leading lights on the scene as Laurent Garnier, Coldcut and Surgeon, there are a number of hidden nuggets to relish. Like Jay-Jay Johanson - Sweden's Scott Walker if you like but with more hi-fi beats and breaks - or Oriol Ainslie, a Spanish fusion of Daft Punk and diva glamour, or Coco Steel & Lovebomb, deep and dubby vibes from long-time Brit-dance contenders. And if that's not enough, the mighty minimal funk of house pioneer Francois Kevorkian or the nu-disco delights of Whirlpool Productions will get you on the good foot. With 54 tracks taking in all manner of electronic grooves, you can take it that the European underground is thriving. Jim Carroll
Terry Callier "What Colour Is Love"; "Occasional Rain"; "I Just Can't Help Myself" (all MCA)
A welcome re-release of three timeless albums from the uncrowned prince of Chicago soul: Terry Callier's renaissance has been of the highlights of the year, his intricate and emotional comeback album Time Peace sending many in search of his back-catalogue. The highlight is Callier's voice, a pure soul force which has much in common with other Chi-Town greats such as Curtis Mayfield and Gene Chandler, yet can switch seamlessly and effortlessly into jazz and folk idioms. While I Just Can't Help Myself is a fairly conventional Northern Soul stomper, both What Colour Is Love and Occasional Rain are much more unique and mysterious collections. Tracks such as the deep and epic Dancing Girl, the beautiful I'd Rather Be With You and the uplifting blues of Ordinary Joe are subtle and sublime glories. Jim Carroll
