Review: Another collaborative effort from the consistently fascinating US ambient kings Past Inside The President, this time with Hendrix - not that one - and Wayne Robert Thomas, whose atmospheric guitar-led work has featured several times on the label before. If the average ambient album has its head in the clouds, this is more grounding, more gamboling in the fields perhaps than floating in the ether, with gentle flute and guitar giving the walls of synth sounds some perspective. That said, the closing track of the four, 'Retract R (Type K)', sizzles away like something by Growing or even Spaceman 3 left to fry in the sun. Magnificent stuff..
Review: The music that makes up Harmony of Difference, Kamasi Washington's first EP of note since the release of acclaimed 2015 album The Epic, was premiered live as a "six-track movement" earlier this year. The "suite" - here stretched across both sides of an essential 12" - sees Washington continue to explore the idea of what it means to be black in America in the 21st century. Musically, the EP contains some of his smoothest and most laidback compositions yet, with all his musical collaborators being on fine form. The headline attraction is undoubtedly 14-minute flipside "The Truth", an almost operatic jazz epic full of swelling choral contributions, fizzing drum solos, rising horns and, of course, plenty of Washington's distinctive saxophone.
Review: Heads High keeps up the good early work with a third interesting offering, this time in the form of a meeting of the fiendish minds of Mike Misiu and Eddie Smilie, aka Wednesday Club. They offer up late-night club sounds with plenty of musical nouse and worldly nuance that comes as a result of late-night sample mining across the African musical landscape. Their tunes are crafted on nice analogue gear so have that lovely freed edge feel and from the space-house of 'Magic Body' to the swaggering dub of 'Magic Dub' via the cosmic expressiveness of cruising groover 'Love & Care'. This one gets dubbed out to close a fine dancefloor adventure.
I Don't Care What Mama Said (Baby I Need You) (2:35)
Review: Sebastian Williams assembles a fine cast of musicians for his new 7" on Deptford Northern Soul Club. The timeless sound of his voice recalls the great North Soul records of days gone by and on the a-side here 'Get Your Point Over' he is backed by some killer brass. The tune is a funky dancer with expressive stabs and prickly rhythms. It is short but oh so sweet. On the flip side is 'I Don't Care What Mama Said (Baby I Need You)' with a more rolling old school sound, uplifting sense of swing and an acrobatic and expressive performance from Williams.
Review: If you have ever tried to track down an original copy of this cult Northern Soul classic you will know it will cost you anywhere between L200 and L400 for the b-side, and around L80 for the a-side. They come from 1973 and 1967 respectively and are real classics of the genre now carefully, and cost-effectively, reissued by Deptford Northern Soul Club Records. The opening side is the sound of Jackie in fantastic form. 'Because Of You' is a truly pained tale of love that captures the intensity of such experiences perfectly.
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