I’ve been a huge fan of Japanese soul and jazz from the mid-nineties onwards, with artists such as Monday Michiru, UFO, Jazztronik and Shuya Okino being responsible for some of the most played platters chez SoulCuts. Pianist, producer and songwriter, M-Swift has become a firm SoulCuts fave over the past few years with his soulful aesthetic. His last album, the brilliant Rising Sun, was one of 2009′s best and featured possibly my favourite Eric Roberson songs in the shape of Game and Falling. Resolutely uptempo, positive and sophisticated house music liberally sprinkled with soul and jazz is, once again, the order of the day on the brilliant Sunshine of Love released a little earlier this year as an extortionate import CD.

Sunshine of Love features vocalists Eliana, Hazel Sim, Angela Johnson, Donna Gardier, NoMa and Pete Simpson on a set of joyous uptempo soulful house, in addition to some tasty jazz-funk instrumentals. You should now be able to buy the album online for a much more reasonable price, meaning there’s no excuse not to indulge.