Review: Both of these funk gems are taken from a cult compilation Trans Groove Express, which explored the sounds of Express Records and was assembled by MURO. Fourth Wave now serve them up on a superb 7", starting with Maki Asakawa. 'Hohi Hitotsu' is a delightfully gentle and subtle dub with funky guitars adding movement while the sultry vocal soars. Yasuhiro Abe's 'Night Fish' is a brighter and more retro 80s soul and boogie sound with glowing chords and snappy hits. The Japanese language vocal is emotive enough to mean plenty without understanding the meaning of the words.
Sade - "Nothing Can Come Between Us" (2001 Tokyo House mix) (7:30)
Sade - "Love Is Found" (House dub) (6:18)
Jill Scott - "Think It Better" (dub Yinja re-edit) (6:36)
The Bongo Jam - "Love Disco Dub" (Yinja re-edit) (6:50)
Review: There will also be space in a real DJ set for a cheeky edit or playful mash up. This latest volume of just that from Yinja covers plenty of ground so is a brilliantly useful 12" to have in your bag for when you want to pump the party. First up, The Bongo Jam's 'Love Disco Dub' becomes a shuffling, vibey and deep cut soulful house sound, then Jill Scott's 'Think It Better' (dub Yinja re-edit) gets a late night make over for smooth sessions. On the flipside are two reworks of classic Sade tackle, and both come with signature r&b vocals and well worked drums.
Review: Disco and house deviant YSE Saint Laur'Ant is back with a dive into groove-laden sounds that have long been his signature, all while blending genres with real finesse. Side-A begins with a gospel-tinged track featuring ESG-style rhythms, raw beats and an addictive bassline. It is followed by 'Special,' where airy vocals over a laid-back groove create a dreamy atmosphere then flip it over and New York Boys delivers a spaced-out pulse with urban grit. The finale, 'Gone Fighting' is a midtempo closer that shines with its infectious Slavic sample wrapping up this EP with a reflective, groovy vibe.
Review: 'Sayonara Ha Syuppatsu No Kotoba' roughly translates as "Goodbye is the Word for Departure" and is a striking blend of Japanese indie and folk music. The album combines rich acoustic melodies with introspective lyrics to make for often poignant and nostalgic atmospheres with Yasuda's emotive voice at the heart of the sounds. The band's intricate instrumentation reveals more with each listen and the record explores themes of departure, self-reflection and the bittersweet nature of transitions. They might sound heavy but the delicate soundscapes also capture both moods of vulnerability and resilience which adds to the tender, affecting nature of the record.
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