Following on from a string of successful releases on Tru Thoughts, CoOperation Records (Co-Op) and Future Bounce (Jamz Supernova’s label), that garnered support from all corners of the electronic and jazz world – including Gilles Peterson, Bonobo, Ben UFO, Emma-Jean Thackray, Laurent Garnier, Avalon Emerson & more – Danny Wheeler, the West-London multi-talented artist behind the pseudonym WheelUP unveils his highly anticipated debut full-length of the same name
Linking up with broken beat pioneer and founder of Bugz in the Attic – Afronaut (a frequent collaborator on the album and the act who knighted Danny with the name WheelUP) on title track "Good Love" Wheeler also enlists the help of Alabamian deep south rapper Brint Story and vocalist Destiny Will on the future bruk anthem. In the artists words: “Good Love is something that I generally want to see in the world. It’s timeless broken beat. Overall, this LP is my pursuit of broken beat excellence”.
As an artist, producer and DJ of dual heritage, Zimbabwean and British, growing up in the epicentre of bruk that is West London and around the likes of Goya Music, IG Culture and Kaidi Tatham it was only natural that Danny would gravitate towards the ‘West London Sound’; as WheelUP puts it: “It’s in my musical DNA”.
‘Good Love’, is a record that effortlessly fuses broken beat/bruk with hip-hop, neo-soul, nu-jazz and a host of dancefloor-ready experiments. The LP boasts collaborations with one of Puerto Rico’s most famous salsa musicians Roberto Roena on the broken-house groove “Elana”; drum and bass duo’s Pola & Bryson illusive alter ego Abacus on the jazz-improv “Les Deux Magots” and bruk-classic “Rise Above”; and one of the most well-known and loved voices in broken beat Bembe Segue, who has collaborated with the likes of Jazzanova, IG Culture and now WheelUP on the electro-boogie inspired “Fusion”.
‘Good Love’ also showcases WheelUP’s flair for highlighting and nurturing new talent, Alabamian rapper Brint Story meshes US hip-hop on Trump-diss “Stay For Long”, lead-single “Good Love” and the timeless closure “Raised Vibrations” while Tru Thoughts label mate and MC/singer-songwriter Tiawa adds her unique vocal flow on “Take Me Higher”.
A1 | Good Love |
A2 | Les Deux Magots |
A3 | Elana |
B1 | Fusion |
B2 | Rise Above |
B3 | Ndebele |
C1 | Stay For Long |
C2 | On Tour |
C3 | Ancestral Dance |
D1 | Vitruvian Man |
D2 | Take Me Higher |
D3 | Raised Vibrations |