'TROUBLE MAN' Marvin Gaye

Whilst the blaxploitation genre yielded some musical gems (Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly', Earth,Wind and Fire's 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasss Song') lest we become too nostalgic, it did spawn a number of weak cash-ins (anybody remember 'Hell Up In Harlem' by Edwin Starr?). Fortunately this, the soundtrack to a forgotten 1972 revenge thriller stands up as some of Marvin Gaye's finest work.

Sandwiched between the double whammy of 1971's socio-political masterpiece 'What's Going On?' and 1973's sexually liberated 'Lets Get it On', 'Trouble Man' demonstrates that the soundtrack to seventies black filmmaking doesn't have to be just a succession of wah-wah guitar licks. Adding a number of new additions to the artist's trademark orchestral sound, 'Theme From Trouble Man' is a downbeat jazz solo whilst 'T Plays it Cool' proves to be an atmospheric, pimp-strutting album highlight.

After withstanding a systematic dismantling over the last fifteen years as sample fodder to a variety of DJs and producers, this LP still retains a passion and vitality that eclipses the dry rap/R+B crossover that provides the background to the majority of contemporary urban cinema.

'Trouble Man' captures an artist at the top of his craft- another stone cold classic from one of the original funk soul brothers.

"THE PLATFORM" Dilated Peoples

Laden with the collective anticipation of hip hop fanatics worldwide, 'The Platform' arrives with a lot to live up to. After so many heavily hyped disappointments, this LP should be able to satisfy even the most jaded of rap cynics.

With nearly five years of independent releases behind them, the question is, has signing to a major label watered down the Dilated Peoples sound? Maintaining the standard of the devastating lead single and title track, the group retain their bare bones approach to hip hop throughout.

Heavy beats and minimalist samples provide the backing for Iriscience and Evidence to drop intelligent, off the head rhymes and allow former Beat Junkie Babu to scratch and cut-up anything within sight. The ubiquitous guest production duties are ably handled by the hotly tipped heir to DJ Premier's throne, The Alchemist (Pointless trivia- The Alchemist once recorded an album with James Caan's son.) who puts in some of his finest work yet.

Though the album is solid enough, it's pure hip hop sound probably won't convert any hip hop non-believers, and some may criticise the previous release of six of the album's sixteen tracks. But for those who don't hoard five figure vinyl collections, owning all these tracks on one LP will be a bonus.

Highlights? The all out sonic and lyrical assault of 'Expanding Man', as well as a blistering  all star remix of 'Ear Drums Pop'. Ultimately, this 'Platform' is one that all aspiring MCs, producers and DJs should look up to, acting as a pedestal that firmly elevates Dilated Peoples above a flood of third rate acts.