London in the early 2020s may be beset by gentrification, cruel government and more — but there is also living, vivid culture buzzing with optimism in it, and it’s epitomised by the youthful Touching Bass collective. Headed up by life and DJ partners Alex Rita and Errol Anderson, it’s a place where the dots are joined between the thriving London jazz community, the global beat scene, and deep roots of British-Caribbean soundsystem and rare groove culture. Their first compilation album doesn’t adhere to any tempo or genre constraint over 22 tracks. However, there is a consistent sense of the deepest of connecting threads around technical excellence, love and respect for Black culture, and absolute commitment to the groove. Whether it’s high tech broken beat (Ben Hauke, AshTre Jenkins), tripped-out neo soul in the Erykah Badu mould (Ego Ella May, keiyaA), a cosmic radiophonic jazz miniature (Nala Sinephro with Lyle Barton), a sunrise trip hop space dub dream (Molinaro) or any of a dozen other flavours, it’s consistently warm hearted, mentally stimulating and inspirational in its constant invention.