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A cohesion of beautiful melodies and rugged beats, "Maps from the Wilderness" is an accomplished album that should earn TM Juke the same accolades as fellow Tru Thoughts album acts Quantic, Jon Kennedy and Bonobo (who now record for Grand Central and Ninja Tune respectively). Having recorded various songs for Tru Thoughts under the guise of Al Stylus, TM Juke took it upon himself to adopt a name suitable for styles and sounds he wished to explore with this album. The styles are varied and they seem to span the full orchestral range; rolling timpani drums underpin hazy beats whilst delicate guitars flitter amongst intricate strings. As a producer, TM Juke draws on funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz influences, but adds a greater depth and maturity with immaculate arrangements that belie his twenty four years and give "Maps of the Wilderness" a strikingly original yet strangely familiar feel. Owing as much to the sampler as the guitar, the TM Juke sound embraces atmospheric melodies and street savvy beats in equal measures: this is made apparent by the album's guest vocalists. Jim Oxborough and Alice Russell who join together for "Knee Deep", the first single to be taken from the album, a lush affair with a natural swing and memorable hooks. Taken from www.tru-thoughts.co.uk

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Bio

As a child, the infant Juke was schooled in both classical and jazz guitar theory before he began tinkering with samplers – a rebellious act calculated to annoy his father, who had forced him to attend formal music lessons from the tender age of seven.

This formal education has left an indellible mark on much of this young producer's subsequent work. Seamlessly blending the dexterity and verbosity of traditional jazz with the cut 'n' paste sensibilities of hip hop, TM Juke's productions resonate with crisp beats, earthy instrumentation and spellbinding arrangements.

Beyond the confines of the studio, TM Juke has continued to tour with his acclaimed eight-piece live band and as a DJ in his own right; gigging all over the UK and Ireland, Japan, Russia, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, and Serbia. On the wheels of steel, TM Juke effortlessly flips the switch between raw backbone funk, soul 45s, left-sided latin and state-of-the-art broken boogie, crafting sets that have moved feet, hearts and minds throughout the world.

Those intent on pigeon-holing TM Juke will name-check genres like funk, soul, hip hop and jazz; but his insatiable appetite for experimentation and ear for a great hook ensures that the music will always resist easy categorisation…

Label: Tru Thoughts