Review: Oren Ambarchi and Eric Thielemans' latest collaboration emerges from a recorded performance in Poitiers, France, in November 2023, showcasing their extraordinary duo chemistry. The single continuous performance, spanning over 45 minutes, encapsulates their shared language and willingness to push boundaries, blending meditative calm with unexpected melodic and rhythmic moments. 'Kind Regards' (Beginning) opens with Thielemans' entrancing tom patterns, which provide a steady undercurrent for Ambarchi's guitar, transformed into swirling tones by a Leslie speaker. As the music unfolds, it moves between introspective calm and more forceful bursts of energy, with Ambarchi's guitar eventually taking on an electric organ-like quality, echoing the soulful depth of Alice Coltrane. Later, 'Kind Regards' (Conclusion) takes on a more jazz-oriented direction, as Thielemans' delicate rhythmic shifts showcase his mastery of accents and cymbal work. Ambarchi counters this with jittery delayed tones, and a more active use of his fretboard, weaving through dissonant harmonics before concluding with a massive, yet detailed, climax of distorted guitar and crashing cymbals. The performance, free from any flashy tricks or filler, draws power from the deep intuition between the two musicians, and their shared commitment to exploring the limits of their instruments.
Review: Jacob Long's fourth full-length LP for Kranky hears the artist otherwise known as Earthen Sea expand his repertoire to an almost full reimagining, taking to the now longstanding Earthen Sea moniker from the fresh incarnation as a "piano trio", rather than a solo production effort. Though we gather this might not genuinely be the case, all it took was a simple shift in self-imagining to fashion a completely different take on a still so far meditative sound. Here elements were chopped and resampled, then layered with bass, drums, percussion and additional keys; the result is a fusion of live band acoustics and downtempo loops, sculpted into nine smoke-and-mirror dubs of fractured jazz, soft-focus noir and trip hop dust.
La Mujer Serpiente (with Lido Pimienta & Oliwa - album version) (3:55)
Quiero Que Mami (with Verito Asprilla) (4:25)
Limones (with Oliwa, Numu & Semblanzas Del Rio Guapi) (5:46)
Dei Dream II (3:43)
Selam (with Etsegenet Mekonnen - dub) (3:17)
Salta La Cuerda (with Huaira) (4:18)
Song Of The Wind (2:07)
Selam (with Etsegenet Mekonnen) (4:02)
Waves (2:27)
Review: Earthtones land on Wonderwheel here with their first full-length album. The title encapsulates a message of unity and hope for humanity and aims to emphasise our interconnectedness and the universal bond of love. Rooted in Folkloric Futurism, Earthtones merges global folk traditions with modern technology inspired by pioneers like Mr. Fingers and Kevin Saunderson. Analog synthesisers, vintage drum machines, and folk vocals create a truly unique sound that celebrates the past and the future, spirituality, feminism, and peace. Highlights include '??sanyin' featuring Maikel Alberto Salazar and 'La Mujer Serpiente' with Lido Pimienta.
Explanation Of The Funk (feat Dre King & DJ Stylus) (4:08)
Three-Season Crank (feat Raja Kassis) (6:11)
Slip 'n Slide (5:22)
Alligator Confrontation (5:09)
Off The Rails (5:57)
Pull My String (4:50)
Bleeps, Sweeps, & Creeps (2:30)
What Happened To Yesterday? (5:07)
Black Bird Dub (4:47)
Review: Glenn Echo & Daniel Meinecke won plenty of acclaim with their last outing What Happened To Yesterday?! and now they quickly back it up with a third outing on MotorCity Wine Recordings What Happened To Yesterday? Vol 2 is another blend of heady, dubby sounds with cosmic dance vibes that span serval sub-genres with ease. 'World In My Head' kicks off with lo-fi and low-key depths, and further downtempo tracks like 'Explanation of The Funk' with Dre King's trumpet and DJ Stylus's cuts, and 'Three-Season Crank' with Raja Kassis's guitar further sink you into blissed-out beats. The flip side has dancefloor-friendly jam 'Off The Rails,' then moves into dubby, meditative territory and ends with the gorgeous 'Black Bird Dub' which allows Echo's eclectic production and Meinecke's keyboard mastery to shine.
Review: Glenn Echo and Daniel Meineck are back on Detroit label MotorCity Wine with their first new music in two years following their well-received Partly Cloudy album. What Happened to Yesterday? is, we are told, the first of two albums from the pair that will arrive several months apart. It finds the pair get super hazy and dubby, with psychedelic charm swirling around their absorbing grooves next to subtle cues taken from the diverse likes of DJ Premier and King Jammy. There is a superb Moog-based cover of De La Soul's 'I Am I Be', Afro-Carribean disco in 'Dancehall of Grandeur' and epic jazz-rock on Volcano Sound' so dig in and prepare to be wowed.
(Baby Can We) Lift This Up? (feat Hemi Moore) (3:57)
Table For Two (feat Tilly Valentine & Bran Mazz) (3:12)
The Way Things Were (feat Isaac Waddington) (3:38)
Breakfast In Bed (feat Joe Bae) (2:27)
Review: edbl is a dynamic producer based in South London who is synonymous with a mellow, soulful sound and collaborations with over 60 different artists. His acclaimed work South London Sounds played a pivotal role in establishing his popularity in Japan and Asia not least his signature track 'The Way Things Were' featuring Isaac Waddington. This all new long player compiles carefully selected songs that take in some superbly smooth and soulful tracks. Highlights include the jazzy flute-infused 'I'll Wait' and the beautifully vocal-driven 'Table For Two,' which sure do solidify edbl's status at the forefront of the global music scene.
Review: Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer edbl aka Ed Black's new album 2010 Mixtape is another wonderful journey through an array of hip-hop styles, great songwriting and standout production skills. Following his edbl and friends series, this project highlights his love for hip-hop and features a host of UK artists from the alternative r&b and soul scenes. With mellow grooves, jazzy chords and vibey keys, 2010 Mixtape pays tribute to the great influence those styles have had on edbl's own sound. Named after the year he discovered hip-hop, the album features tons of highlights such as collaborations including Guvna B on 'Symbols,' Manik MC on 'Arcades' and KinKai on 'Too Much Shit To Do', all of which bring with soul.
Review: El Buho's fifth studio album may be his most personal yet. Strata draws from Robin's attempts to grapple with the tension of experiencing happiness, joy and gratitude in our daily lives with loved ones or through sharing music, while the world falls apart around us. This dynamic of trying to live in the moment and enjoy the privileged life we have, yet in the back of your mind there is an overwhelming sense of dread that the world will never be the same and, as climate change really starts to hit home, there are incredibly difficult times ahead. It is about our attempts to find a place of peace, balance and fulfillment between these powerful strata above and below us.
Biomigrant - "La Muerte" (feat Tono Garcia & Fredys Arrieta - El Buho remix) (4:44)
Eat My Butterfly - "Dann Ton Zie" (feat Sibu Manai - El Buho remix) (5:51)
Minuk - "Pura Flor" (El Buho remix) (4:13)
The Garifuna Collective - "Ideruni (Help)" (El Buho remix) (5:19)
Maarja Nuut & Ruum - "Kuud Kuulama" (El Buho remix) (4:04)
Review: UK producer and remix wizard Robin Perkins aka El Buho has collected together a land more of his works for this second volume of his Tributaries remix series. It shows there evolution of his style across the selections as he serves up his unique reinterpretations of traditional music in his own electronic-organic style. Along the way, he tackles Galician, Estonian, Colombian, Irish, Garifuna, Reunionnaise and French folk music, with the result ranging from club-ready bangers to more pensive and slow psychedelic jams.
Review: Viaje Sideral is a cosmic journey led by El Leon Pardo and his ancestral instrument, the kuisi, which is a pre-Colombian flute that traditionally symbolises resistance and survival. This second album from Pardo explores humanity's connection with the stars by blending Caribbean percussion, analogue synths, deep bass, electric guitars and the distinctive sounds of kuisis and trumpets. The tunes channel the tropical psychedelia of the 70s and 80s while incorporating ambient and electronic influences from artists like Terry Riley and Kraftwerk. Viaje Sideral is a great mix of dreamlike astral sounds with tropical rhythms that mean both the earthly and the cosmic are explored.
Review: .El Michels Affair is nothing if not prolific. Fortunately, the band leader, composer and musician is also hella talented. This is one of his most famous and iconic albums in a discography that is full of them, not least because of course it tackles some of the most iconic source material in hip-hop, namely Wu-Tang Clan's seminal Enter The 37th Chamber. He flips it into an instrumental tribute to the world of the great band and no matter what format it appears in, it plays sells out. Cop this latest reissue now and sink into its lush orchestration, sweeping grandeur and elegant grooves.
Review: The instrumental version of the underground classic Glorious Game is a collaboration between El Michels Affair and Black Thought which showcases Leon Michels' signature "cinematic soul" sound in all its considerable glory. Since the release of Sounding Out The City in 2005, Michels has consistently pushed musical boundaries and has produced for many top names. In Glorious Game, he merges soul-tinged, bottom-heavy beats with Black Thought's deeply personal lyrics and, inspired by hip-hop's sample-based production, crafts new compositions that sample and reinterpret his own work to create dynamic, loop-driven instrumentals. The album is released on Big Crown Records which marks a debut partnership which will be interesting to follow.
Review: SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree is a much-anticipated follow-up to Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter's last album which was no less than 2021's eponymous and Grammy-nominated album. Once again this pair are blazing new trails and blending new genres across kaleidoscopic collection of new songs. They have reunited for it with Corey Fonville and DJ Harrison and along the way, there are some cheeky and pleasantly surprising covers as well as some smart and dynamic reinventions. A timeless jazz record if ever there was one.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Lifetime Supply (3:40)
Lonely Wealth (3:28)
The Real Deal (3:34)
This Is For Real (4:31)
Money Drives Me (Crazy) (3:54)
Comfort Zone (3:10)
First One's Free (2:28)
Empty Bed Memories (4:27)
Blurred (3:32)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
If you don't know (well, even if you do know it is still true), Californian multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis is Egyptian Lover's keyboard player, and is also a member of Campus Christi with Peanut Butter Wolf. He steps out alone here with a new and outlier funk album that shows off his idiosyncratic style. It is a raw and dense sound that mixes up bold funk and gritty psychedelic soul while embracing the darker edges of both styles. Along the way, Ellis explores themes of truth, authenticity and the pitfalls of wealth while reflecting on the cost of giving away one's heart. Tracks like 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy 'capture these ideas with unfiltered emotion.
Review: If you don't know (well, even if you do know it is still true), Californian multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis is Egyptian Lover's keyboard player, and is also a member of Campus Christi with Peanut Butter Wolf. He steps out alone here with a new and outlier funk album that shows off his idiosyncratic style. It is a raw and dense sound that mixes up bold funk and gritty psychedelic soul while embracing the darker edges of both styles. Along the way, Ellis explores themes of truth, authenticity and the pitfalls of wealth while reflecting on the cost of giving away one's heart. Tracks like 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy 'capture these ideas with unfiltered emotion.
Review: California multi-instrumentalist, Egyptian Lover's keyboard player and experimental producer Brian Ellis follows up his Quarantine Tapes with his first full-length solo album in four years. Unfortunately, we'll never have a lifetime supply of Brian's music, although that's forgivable since recorded music media also incorporates the genius invention that is playback, which means even one purchase can last for a lifetime as long as you keep your record in good nick! This one is a swirling bomb of bombast funk and dodgy-output psychedelic soul, one that is unafraid of the murkier ends of each sound. Ellis muses on the nature of truth, authenticity, dirty money and the consequence of leasing one's heart out, as on 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy'.
Dark As (feat The Maghreban & Tamar Collocutor) (4:52)
Tea Leaf Dancers (feat Vince Vella) (3:51)
The Volume Of The Light (feat Jessica Lauren) (4:43)
Review: London spiritual jazz man Emanative is drummer and producer Nick Woodmansey. He has put out some well received albums on Brownswood, The Steve Reid Foundation and Jazzman Records and also tries his hand - successfully - at electronic music. Vocalist Liz Elensky has been part of the project since 2006 and this album finds the duo head in a new direction that delves deep into electronic sounds but with soulful jazz vibrations and contributions from the likes of Rocketnumbernine, The Maghreban and Khalab & Jesica Lauren amongst others. It results in an album that is as alluring as it is inventive.
Review: Resonance is the superb new album from Essa and Pitch 92. Essa is something of a veteran who back in the early part of this millennium was putting out tunes under the name Yungun. He is a Londoner and lawyer who played a key part in the UK's golden hip-hop era and picked up props for his work from dons like Nas while also working with De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, Guru, Slum Village and Pharoahe Monch. This record taps into that time with its soul-drenched, low-slung and late-night beats, specially and politically aware lyrics and gorgeous samples. A contemporary classic steeped in authenticity.
Review: Peter Evans makes a dynamic entrance on We Jazz Records with Extra, a bold and energetic album set for rele. The trio includes Evans on trumpet, bassist Petter Eldh, and drummer Jim Black. This collaboration, recorded at Lisbon's legendary Namouche Studio, shows a tightly-knit group that thrives on pushing boundaries together. Evans, known for his exceptional trumpet technique, brings a fearless approach to these eight original compositions, allowing the chemistry between the musicians to lead the charge. The album bursts to life with 'Freaks', immediately setting the tone with intense, forward-thinking jazz. Eldh and Black provide a powerful rhythmic foundation, allowing Evans' trumpet to soar and explore new musical territories. Tracks like 'In See' and 'Boom' are fiery and unpredictable, while 'Movement 56' and 'The Lighthouse' offer unexpected twists and shifts in direction, revealing the trio's playful and exploratory nature. This is creative, modern jazz at its finestia celebration of musicians pushing each other into uncharted sonic landscapes while still maintaining a strong, cohesive unity throughout.
Nho Antone Escarderode (Kerri Chandler album mix) (5:40)
Besame Mucho (Senor Coconut Chachacha remix) (3:49)
Bondade E Maldade (Osunlade Yoruba Soul mix) (4:52)
Sodade (DJ Rork & Demon Ritchie mix) (7:01)
Negue (Cris Prolific remix) (4:01)
Miss Perfumado (4Hero remix) (6:00)
Angola (Pepe Bradock Get Down dub) (6:17)
Angola (Pepe Bradock Bateau Ivre rework) (4:32)
Nutridinha (Kerri Chandler album mix) (5:30)
Sangue De Beirona (Francois K main Pass) (8:26)
Review: Great Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora was pretty prolific and put out several still well-regarded albums, from Distino Di Belita to Cafe Alantico via Vox D'amor. Many of them have been reissued recently and next up to get that treatment is Club Sodade, which finds a bunch of her tracks getting a contemporary club rework by a wide array of musicians. It comes on heavyweight red vinyl so is ready for serious DJ deployment. Carl Craig's mix of organic hand claps and fizzing techno synth intensity on his rework of 'Angola' is one of the most well-known cuts here but deep house heads will also know and love Kerri Chandler's percussive take on 'Nho Antone Escarderode.'
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat Yazmin Lacey) (4:11)
Ajala (0:42)
The Traveller (4:48)
N29 (3:56)
No One's Watching Me (feat Olivia Dean) (4:57)
Hear My Cry (3:31)
Shaking Body (3:14)
Expensive (6:10)
Streets Is Calling (feat Manifest & Moonchild Sanelly) (3:08)
Why I Smile (5:20)
Have Patience (2:35)
Everybody (4:01)
Review: One year on from making history as the first ever jazz band to be awarded the Mercury Prize, Ezra Collective are continuing to pump out their sensational, unique blend of jazz, roots, afrobeat and calypso. 'Dance No One's Watching' is the highly anticipated follow-up to the aforementioned award-winning 'Where I'm Meant to Be'. Set to release in September, the two singles 'God Gave Me Feet For Dancing' and 'Ajala' set the bar high. The prior is a jazzy, drum-led groove backing the buttery smooth Yazmin Lacey, a name to watch in the soul scene (famously she was scouted after being persuaded to sing on a drunken night out.) The track is a sunny interpolation of Cy Grant's 'Feeling Good' (though let's face it, Nina Simone truly made that record) with a quintessential British soul sound that brings to mind the stylings of Greentea Peng, early Jorja Smith work etc. To boil it down to 'easy listening' would feel reductive but, my God, it's easy on the ears for sure. Single number two, 'Ajala' is quite a stark contrast. Incorporating the hectic feeling of bebop classics, it's a blaring and fast-paced brass session with some great high-tempo percussive afrobeat. Taking its name from the Yoruba slang for fidgety, derived from the Nigerian journalist who one day decided to travel the world on a moped, the track does just that: it begs you to get up and move. If these two tracks are anything to go by, the world is set for a future award winner this Autumn.
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat Yazmin Lacey) (4:11)
Ajala (0:42)
The Traveller (4:48)
N29 (3:56)
No One's Watching Me (feat Olivia Dean) (4:57)
Hear My Cry (3:31)
Shaking Body (3:14)
Expensive (6:10)
Streets Is Calling (feat Manifest & Moonchild Sanelly) (3:08)
Why I Smile (5:20)
Have Patience (2:35)
Everybody (4:01)
Review: The Mercury Prize-winning British jazz group returns this September with the greatly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning 'Where I'm Meant to Be'. The first jazz group ever to win the prestigious accolade, their unique blend of jazz, calypso, afrobeat and roots has carried over into the two singles 'God Gave Me Feet For Dancing' and 'Ajala'.The former features up-and-coming star Yazmin Lacey, whose sudden scouting has made her a necessary one to watch in the British soul scene. Interpolating Nina Simones's 1965 classic 'Feeling Good', the track proposes the group's manifesto of dancing not just as an activity confined to the club, but as a God-given ability - an act of spirituality and community. 'Ajala', by contrast, is a fast-paced afrobeat-cum-bebop jam named after the Yoruba slang for being unable to sit still. Lucky fans were able to hear the recording live at the 'Beyond the Bassline' exhibition at the British Library - with some of the live adlibs and crowd work being included in the single version currently on streaming. Pressed on an indie-exclusive deep red stain disc.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Intro (1:08)
The Herald (3:46)
Palm Wine (5:14)
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat Yazmin Lacey) (4:11)
Ajala (0:42)
The Traveller (4:48)
N29 (3:56)
No One's Watching Me (feat Olivia Dean) (4:57)
Hear My Cry (3:31)
Shaking Body (3:14)
Expensive (6:10)
Streets Is Calling (feat Manifest & Moonchild Sanelly) (3:08)
Why I Smile (5:20)
Have Patience (2:35)
Everybody (4:01)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Dance, No One's Watching is a joyous celebration of the unifying power of dance. Written during Ezra Collective's world tour in 2023, which also saw them become the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize, this album is full of vibrant energy, a complete sonic journey through a night out in the city, this album succeeds from the opening anticipation to the dawn's quiet conclusion. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios amidst a live communal celebration, Dance, No One's Watching resonates with love, music, and the infectious spirit of dancing. The band's dynamic compositions and rhythmic power are showcased in every track, making it a powerful addition to contemporary British music. The Deluxe 2 LP set on black vinyl, housed in a gatefold jacket with exclusive artwork and a fold-out poster, makes this limited edition the copy to have. Ezra Collective's are innovative with a unifying musical vision.
God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat Yazmin Lacey) (4:11)
Ajala (0:42)
The Traveller (4:48)
N29 (3:56)
No One's Watching Me (feat Olivia Dean) (4:57)
Hear My Cry (3:31)
Shaking Body (3:14)
Expensive (6:10)
Streets Is Calling (feat Manifest & Moonchild Sanelly) (3:08)
Why I Smile (5:20)
Have Patience (2:35)
Everybody (4:01)
Review: Dance, No One's Watching is a joyous celebration of the unifying power of dance. Written during Ezra Collective's world tour in 2023, which also saw them become the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize, this album is full of vibrant energy, a complete sonic journey through a night out in the city, this album succeeds from the opening anticipation to the dawn's quiet conclusion. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios amidst a live communal celebration, Dance, No One's Watching resonates with love, music, and the infectious spirit of dancing. The band's dynamic compositions and rhythmic power are showcased in every track, making it a powerful addition to contemporary British music. The Deluxe 2 LP set on black vinyl, housed in a gatefold jacket with exclusive artwork and a fold-out poster, makes this limited edition the copy to have. Ezra Collective's are innovative with a unifying musical vision.
Tall Black Guy - "Solar Coaster For The People" (4:11)
Tall Black Guy - "Constantly Moving" (4:24)
Tall Black Guy - "Super Heights" (3:25)
Eric Lau - "Chop For Mr Thing" (2:46)
Eric Lau - "Dedication A, B & C" (3:02)
Eric Lau - "YNWAJP" (2:35)
Eric Lau - "Lau Left The House" (2:10)
Kidkanevil - "Loopin'" (III) (1:51)
Kidkanevil - "Explorer Flip" (2:11)
Kidkanevil - "A Love That's Worth Sampling" (2:02)
Kidkanevil - "Sun Gonna Shine" (1:56)
Mr Thing - "Changes" (2:54)
Mr Thing - "Carnival" (3:12)
Mr Thing - "Higher" (3:01)
Mr Thing - "Funky Coffee Thing" (3:06)
Review: Nothing Leaves The House: The Anthology brings together four talented producers who each bring their own flavour to instrumental hip-hop. Tall Black Guy kicks things off with 'One to One,' a jazzy, laid-back track with a smooth groove, followed by 'Solar Coaster For The People,' which ups the energy with its infectious rhythm. Eric Lau's 'Chop For Mr Thing' is a standout, with intricate beats and soulful layers, while Kidkanevil's 'Loopin' Ill' brings playful, quirky melodies. Mr Thing closes the collection with 'Changes,' a funky, groove-driven track that wraps things up on a high note. An essential compilation for fans of soulful hip-hop and jazzy beats.
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