La Cumbia Me Esta Llamando (Kaidi Tatham remix) (5:04)
Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be (Nala Sinephro remix) (2:17)
The Message Continues (DJ Harrison remix) (2:57)
Inner Game (Blvck Spvde remix) (1:29)
Boundless Beings (Georgia Anne Muldrow remix) (3:04)
Stand With Each Other (KeiyaA remix) (3:19)
La Cumbia Me Esta Llamando (Suricata remix) (5:24)
Source (Dengue Dengue Dengue remix) (5:33)
Pace (Moses Boyd remix) (5:05)
Review: Nubya Garcia is one of the icons of the current, thriving jazz scene. Her album Source was a deserving Mercury Prize-nominee and here she reworks it through a series of new collars with the likes of DJ Harrison, Moses Boyd, Dengue Dengue Dengue and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Each of the new versions retains plenty of the soul and invention of the originals but adds in a range of other influences that take them in a more driving, groove-orientated direction. The results are stunning, with plenty of great options for DJs who like to play slow and sensuous. The Kaidi Tatham remix of 'La Cumbia Me Esta Llamando' is our personal pick.
Review: After the breakout success of his 2019 debut album Fyah, Theon Cross is back with his hotly anticipated follow-up. The British tubist and trombonist is right at the vanguard of young, modern jazz, playing an integral role in scene-leading bands Sons of Kemet and Moses Boyd Exodus, and his second album reaffirms his vision in dazzling style. The contemporary sound of British jazz is all about embracing new modes alongside the core skills and traditions of the culture, and Cross demonstrates this across every inch of Intra-I. The tuba never sounded so futuristic, and Cross' virtuoso playing folds into slick electronic processes with a fluidity that comes from within. Cross embodies this hybridised music like only he can, making a vital creative statement in the process.
Review: Simon Greene aka. Bonobo is set to put forth yet another album from his own personal ether; 'Fragments' was born from actual sonic 'fragments' that were later repurposed into twelve full 'sonic affirmations'. A later escape into the wilds of California's deserts formed the bulk of this album's downtempo magnum opi; watch out for collabs with a foray of world-downtempo electronica acts including Jamila Woods, O'Flynn and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. One of his most heartfelt albums, expect all from lilting future garage ('Rosewood') to rave-nostalgic slow builds.
Review: Has it really been five years since Migration? Time has flown, but the evergreen appeal of Bonobo holds true as he lands back on his spiritual home of Ninja Tune with another hotly anticipated opus. Fragments finds Simon Green digging deep, having forced himself to work outside of his usual tour-centric comfort zone during the global shutdown and developing a lot of new material in the isolation of the Californian desert. While that air of solitude formed a foundation for the album, he then folded in ample collaborations from Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Jordan Rakei, O'Flynn, Joji and Kadhja Bonet, resulting in a stirring soul soup of richly developed, danceable rhythms and patient musicality with that unmistakable Bonobo touch.
Review: Anyone who has seen Nigerian saxophonist Bukky Leo perform with his backing band Black Egypt will tell you how incendiary they are live, frequently delivering performances that blur the boundaries between Afrobeat, Afro-jazz and Afro-funk. It's fitting then that Bukky and his band's latest release is a live album made up entirely of their interpretations of tracks from legendary Nigerian musician William Onyeabor. It's simply superb, with the ensemble's wonderfully laidback Afrobeat interpretation of 'Atomic Bomb', a rousing, dance-along romp through 'Good Name' and an insatiable, deliciously low-slung shuffle through sensual classic 'Body & Soul' belong amongst the many musical highlights.
Review: Given their shared musical heritage - both are members of the extended Firecracker Recordings crew - it's perhaps something of a surprise to find that Face The Facts marks the first serious collaboration between Linkwood and Gav 'Fudge Fingaz' Sutherland AKA Other Lands. It's less surprising that the album is really, really good. Touching on warming synth-boogie, head-nodding downtempo jams, mutant beatdown, Balearic beats, sunset-ready soundscapes and warming analogue deep house, the 13-track set is notable for the pair's extensive use of dusty old drum machines, tactile instrumentation (think smooth Rhodes solos, languid guitar solos and blissed-out synths) and Sutherland's hazy, sometimes seductive singing voice.
Review: Fresh from dropping another essential seven-inch with his regular Sound Combo band, Misha Paniflov has joined forces with fellow multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee for a string of collaborative singles. This "45" sports two genuinely impressive cuts, each full to bursting with quality live instrumentation. It opens with 'Sigmund Jahn Bossa', a superb fusion of late 1960s library jazz (think Roy Budd's score for Get Carter and you're in the right ballpark), bustling bossa-nova and spiralling psych-funk. Over on the flip the pair continue to deliver lounge, influenced, tongue-in-cheek thrills via the cheap, Sideman drum machine rhythms, tumbling guitars, elongated Hammond organ chords and hazy backing vocals of 'Aquaria'.
The Midnight Hour - "Jazz Is Dead" (Georgia Anne Muldrow Geemix) (2:42)
Joao Donato - "Desejo De Amor" (Akili remix) (1:49)
Joao Donato - "Liaisons" (Dibiase remix) (6:03)
Azymuth - "Rendor Do Samba" (DJ Spinna remix) (5:27)
Review: Since launching the Jazz is Dead series two years ago, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muuhammad have released eight studio albums - each a collaboration with a different figure from the jazz and soul spectrum - and a compilation of instrumental takes. It makes sense, then, that volume 10 is a remix album, with a variety of producers putting their stamp on cuts from the pair's expansive joint catalogue. As you'd expect, it's packed to the rafters with killer hip-hop, downtempo and broken beat reworks, with highlights including Cut Chemist's head-nodding, cinematic hip-hop take on Gary Bartz hook-up 'Soulsea', Shigeto's contemporary spiritual jazz revision of Brian Jackson co-production 'Nacy Wilson', and DJ Spinna's squelchy, house-not-house rub of Azymouth collaboration 'Rendor Do Samba'. Soulful, jazz-fired perfection.
Review: A decade after it first surfaced on CD and digital, Kaidi Tatham's superb contribution to Jazz:Refreshed's now legendary 5ive series of mini-albums has finally made it onto vinyl. We don't expect these to hang around in stock too long, in part because it's one of the most consistently on-point and musically expansive sets in Tatham's vast catalogue - and that's saying something. For proof, check the soulful bruk-up business of 'To My Surprise' (reminiscent of the best of the collective Bugz in the Attic project he was a big part of), the fluid, spiritual jazz-funk brilliance of opener 'Don't Hide Your Love' and the expansive, up-tempo excellence of 'Organic Juggernaut', where fluttering flutes, squelchy bass and sparkling pianos catch the ear.
Review: The legendary Red Astaire aka Freddie Cruger has long been dropping red hot beats. His Biggest for the Needy series is well loved by beat freaks and now he serves up a whole double album of crucial instrumentals on his home label House of Godis. These tunes are infused with the sounds and styles that have defined Red's whole career such as 80s break dancing vibes, boogie and plenty of rap, electro and disco. It's sure to get those rumps wiggling whether digested as a whole album or used by DJs in the club.
Review: Instrumental beats don't get much slicker than those cooked up here by Ken Long. It is a different take on his Version Control album that goes deep into Roland arps and thick electric pianos. The individual tracks are short but they all add up to a coherent story that ranges from lounges late night beats to more spacious and pensive moments of cosmic introspection. The frayed edges and analogue textures lend it an air of authenticity that Long usually gives to the other acts he spends time producing. Originally made on cassette, it features SP1200 grooves and percussion, plenty of lush reverb and space echo and adds up to an immersive listen.
Dead Man's Tetris (feat Captain Murphy & Snoop Dogg)
Turkey Dog Coma
Stirring
Coronus, The Terminator
Siren Song (feat Angel Deradoorian)
Turtles
Ready Err Not
Eyes Above
Moment Of Hesitation (feat Herbie Hancock)
Descent Into Madness (feat Thundercat)
The Boys Who Died In Their Sleep (feat Captain Murphy)
Obligatory Cadence
Your Potential/The Beyond (feat Niki Randa)
The Protest
Review: Arriving with some truly mind bending artwork from controversial guro manga artist Shintaro Kago, the new Flying Lotus album You're Dead! Is quite alot to take in upon first listen. Some nineteen tracks deep, Steven Ellison uses all the available space to draw you deep into the afterlife as he sees it, veering through heavily psychedelic jazz passages and next level beat explorations that demand you pay full attention. The iconic Herbie Hancock leads a high profile cast of contributing artists to Fly Lo's fifth studio LP and his most ambitious to date with Kendrick Lamar, Captain Murphy, Snoop Dogg, Angel Deradoorian, Thundercat and Niki Randa also adding to what is a transcendental listening experience.
Review: Given his impressive track record, hopes are naturally high for Bonobo's sixth album, Migration, which is his first full-length since 2013. Happily, it's a majestic affair, with the producer delivering another sumptuous set of tracks. It was partly inspired by an extended period musing on the nature of personal identity, and the role that nationality plays in that. This concept is translated via thoughtful lyrics, and songs that draw musical influence from the four corners of the globe. It's not a big stylistic leap, of course - his bread and butter remains yearning, emotion-rich downtempo music built around gently jazzy grooves and impeccable live instrumentation - but given that few artists do it better than Bonobo, we'll forgive him for that.
Review: This Record Store Blanc Friday, US label Madlib Invasion serves up a CD version of this most classic of albums from Jackson Conti aka the one and only beat making behemoth Madlib with Mamao. Sujinho landed in 2008 and since then has often been heralded as one of the best few projects Madlib has ever been involved with. It is a smooth fusion of hip hop, jazz, Latin and soul that, on vinyl, has fetched eye watering high prices until now. A new reissue has landed on wax as well as this CD.
Review: Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder is Recoil. This musical project found him landing on Mute with a great series of albums including the likes of Liquid and Unsound Methods as well as his sixth LP, subHuman. This one dates back to 2006 and came after a 6-year break from recording. It is dark and broody electronic music "which sets the listener a challenge to analyse what makes us human and subHuman." It's a collaboration with bluesman Joe Richardson who served up guitars as well as harmonica and eerie vocals. Themes in the record include murder, death, and religion while guest singer Carla Trevaskis did a fine job of serving up ethereal sound on 'Allelujah'.
Review: Since releasing his second album in 2013, James Blake has become one of the most in-demand artists and producers on the planet, recently appearing on Beyonce's much-hyped "visual album", Lemonade. On The Colour In Anything, it's very much business as usual, with Blake only occasionally veering away from his drowsy, atmospheric, piano-and-vocal template. These variations on a theme - the subtle, 4/4 techno-pop of opener "Radio Silence", the autotune-sporting R&B pop of "I Need A Forest Fire", tactile warmth of "Always", and frankly quite odd accapella throw-down "Meet You In The Maze" - add interest, though Blake remains at his best when concentrating on his most emotion-rich and heart-aching songs.
Review: American music obsessive and archivist Jerome Derradji's Past Due Records label has got a fine compilation on its hands here. It gathers upside of the very best sounds that San Antonio-based funk band Horizon ever put out. They had a hardcore and devoted local following in the early 89s and secured a number of big radio hits. They were all released on 7"s that you will struggle to ever track down. Thankfully, each one gets assembled here across four fantastic sides of vinyl. What's more, no fewer than ten previously unreleased tracks also make the cut. These are authentic lo-fi funk gems with powerful rhythm sections and seductive vocal sounds.
Street Dreams (feat Miguel Atwood Ferguson) (2:12)
One More Time (3:10)
1989 (feat Miguel Atwood Ferguson) (3:25)
Toulouse (feat Miguel Atwood Ferguson) (2:48)
Pigalle (6:11)
Big Rick (3:29)
Save Me
Mr Wu (3:37)
Hold On (feat Lauren Faith) (3:12)
Early Prayer (5:02)
Review: Given that keyboardist and producer Kamaal Williams' 2018 debut album "The Return" was such a rip-roaring success critically and commercially, hopes are naturally sky-high for this delayed sequel. Happily, we can confirm that Williams has arguably excelled himself on "Wu Hen", once again blurring the boundaries between jazz-funk, seductive downtempo grooves, hazy space jazz, deep house influenced dancefloor workouts (see "Mr Wu", whose title references his other artistic alias, Henry Wu) and soft-focus soul - all with the assistance of an expanded line-up of guest musicians and vocalists. Perhaps the biggest impact is made by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, a composer whose string arrangements add an ear-catching new dimension to Williams work. Stunning stuff all told.
Review: People of Earth shakes things up for #016 with a limited 12" from Charolastra entitled Karuna. Only 200 copies pressed of this continuous play, crossover jazz release. Brought to the realization with some of ATLANTA's most talented instrumentalists. It is an amalgamation of genres but the underlying emotions are immediately recognizable. Grief, loss, regret and the transcendental power of the spirit to overcome these hardships. Blending elements of jazz, IDM, broken beat, drone, and dub, while it may be difficult to put your finger on Karuna it doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be (Shy One remix) (3:37)
The Message Continues (Mark De Clive-Lowe remix) (6:10)
Review: Long based sax supremo Nubya Garcia's debut album was a real thing of beauty so it only makes sense it now gets revisited by a team of super remixers for this special Record Store Day release. Presented on limited edition turquoise marbled vinyl it opens with Makaya McCraven's airy and floaty light remix of 'Source' before DJ Tahira layers up 'Stand With Each Other' with ethno-grooves that are loose and off kilter. That tumbledown vibe continues on the scruffy deep house version of 'Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be' by Shy One before big jazz house feels from Mark De Clive-Lowe close things down.
Review: Hailing from Salerno in Southern Italy, Bando Maje present their debut album on Four Flies Records. UFO Bar paints a picture of the pair's interests and experiences such as the local landscape, Neapolitan music, Italian soundtracks from the 70s, as well as B-movies, a passion for vinyl and cassette mixtapes, and afternoons spent watching third-division football. Peppe Maiellano (composer and keyboards) and Tonico Settanta (producer, rapper and DJ) head up the collective, featuring a revolving cast of members, all of whom are a bit like the lively port city they are from.
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