Tru Thoughts A&R and Co-owner, and respected DJ, Robert Luis rounds up a stunning selection of the best music to have launched from the Brighton based label in its 16th year, ranging from cutting-edge electronica and future soul through dub, dancehall and jungle to psychedelia and jazz and beyond. 2015 has been a great year for breakthrough talent on the roster, and this eclectic collection brings 22 tracks encompassing an exciting crop of rising stars from all over the world alongside some of the biggest and most established names on the imprint.

Label heavyweights include the Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band, fresh from celebrating 20 years in the game with their hugely lauded ‘Vicennial’ album and tour; the ever-prolific Quantic, exploring the instrumental jazz of the US with his latest project The Western Transient; and Nostalgia 77, showing two of his many musical personalities here with acclaimed jazz side project The Monster and the country-infused Jeb Loy Nichols collaboration Strange Faith. Much-loved London producer Wrongtom brings a slice of jungle perfection with Ragga Twins, and Björk collaborator Manu Delago demonstrates his unique gift as a producer, composer and Hang player with one of the big singles from his ‘Silver Kobalt’ solo album.

Glasgow-based leftfield electronic producer Werkha (who counts Bonobo and Gilles Peterson amongst his champions) appears here, featuring the glorious vocals of new label signing Bryony Jarman-Pinto, to top off his debut album year; two more producers to have launched their debut LPs this year are Brighton’s J-Felix, whose ‘80s funk- and disco-laced style has seen him booked to support the likes of George Clinton and Roy Ayers live, and Australia-based Jonny Faith with his sparkling instrumental hip hop style. The roll-call of rising talent continues with Harleighblu, widely referred to as the UK’s answer to Erykah Badu, whose current exploration of soulful future beats is exemplified here in collaboration with genre-bending D&B duo SpectraSoul. London-based Japanese artist Anchorsong previews his second album with a slice of deep, Afro-influenced electronica.

The label’s UK Sound System Culture platform Sharp And Ready has blazed a trail this year, spearheaded by Ghost Writerz with their debut album as well as the huge Pete Cannon collaboration “How We Living”, and also bringing music from Sleepy Time Ghost and the duo Ed West & RTKal; all gaining heavy support across BBC R1, 1Xtra and beyond, these fresh new artists are all represented here.

With its worldwide appeal, Tru Thoughts is increasingly providing a home to some of the most exciting acts coming out of the US. The sound of LA is channelled through producer Lost Midas (whose 2014 album scored the BBC 6Music Album of the Day and Guardian Guide Single of the Week among other accolades) and nu-soul/jazz trio Moonchild who count Jill Scott and Stevie Wonder among their fans. San Francisco seven-piece The Seshen are ploughing their own furrow with a fusion of rock, soul, psych and bass music, while over on the East Coast, young collective Space Captain are melding jazz-influenced R&B with their own psychedelic excursions.

- See more at: www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/release/va-tru-thoughts-2015-trudd162#sthash.drDmNbsl.dpuf