“Last year Tsuba Records and Isle of Jura founder Kevin Griffiths returned to the studio, eschewing his house and techno past to create deliciously warm, Balearic-minded grooves under the Jura Soundsystem alias. It was, it seems, a smart move, because the music contained on “Monster Skies”, his first ever full-length, is undoubtedly the best he’s made to date. Warm, humid and wonderfully horizontal, the album sees him fuse a variety of influences – most notably dub, turn-of-the-’90s ambient house, Italian dream house, new age, synth-boogie and those hard-to-define mid 1980s cuts that turn up on Music From Memory compilations – in a myriad of colourful, saucer-eyed ways. The results are uniformly superb, making “Monster Skies” a superb, must-check set.”
Thanks so much to Test Pressing for the review of the new EP.
“Following on from their EXCELLENT compilation album ‘Transmission One’, those Isle of Jura lads (here reconfigured as Jura Soundsystem) lay some of their own productions on us. And it feels so good. Stylistically this comes from a similar place and explores the outliers of leftfield dance music, touching on our old friends boogie, proto-house, blown-out balearics and a heavy, heavy dose of dub.”
Thanks to the The Vinyl Factory for the news piece on the debut Jura Soundsystem EP.
“Like a breezy drink of coconut funk. Isle of Jura founder Kevin Griffiths is releasing a new 6-track EP called Monster Skies, this March on his Temples of Jura imprint. Its 6 original tracks span from proto house rollers (‘Carafe Denim’) to lo-fi calypso tinkles (‘Mamma Capes’) via balearic and ’80s funk (‘Parrot Rhythm Space Jam’, ‘Boogie Tune’). Monster Skies follows Isle of Jura’s Jura Soundystem Transmission One compilation, as well as its ‘The Voice Of Q’ 12″ – one of our favourite reissue singles of 2018.”
Thanks to Phonica Records for including ‘Transmission One’ in their 2018 Best Compilations of the year round up.
“Isle Of Jura have reissued some of our favourite records over the past few years (Q, Ozo, Brian Bennet and Holy Ghost Inc. to name a few) and the brains behind the operation Kevin Griffiths unveils yet more gems never previously released on vinyl. The selection focuses on Balearic ‘un-classics’ touching on ambient, boogie and proto-house. The last side of the comp also features four useful DJ tools and sound effects.”
Thanks to Rob for the interview opportunity on his wonderful Banbantonton blog. Its an in depth read covering all aspects of the label and running ‘tings from a shed in deepest South Australia!
