Is it Spring yet? As usual, a diverse selection this month but I suppose the one thing they all have in common is their fusion of ideas and cultures, a fluidity of influences that creates something new and fresh. Music from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, ESINAM & Sibusile Xaba, Nadeem Din-Gabisi, Céline Dessberg, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly, João Leão and Joe Armon-Jones. Enjoy!
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YAHYA a.k.a. Constantine Weir ‘Service Rendered’ (ITEZ) - a review
Aligned with his own path, Constantine Weir has travelled from the hothouse days of co-founding Galliano and their subsequent fame and splintering in the 90s’ to spending a decade studying the mysteries of Sufism in Senegal. Firmly back in London town, his music that he has returned to, carries the tales and wisdom of his experiences, spirituality merging with earthly love on this gorgeous Afro-folk-soul EP that channels the greats of Black music. With a voice and musical aesthetic that suggests heavy listening of Terry Callier, Curtis, Richie Havens and even further afield, ‘Service Rendered’ is a majestic collection of songs that, hopefully, signpost a full album to come. Read / Listen.
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Artwork by www.beckyhatchett.me
Kʒːlu ‘Vol.II Cortis’ (Creeping Curtain Records) - a review
The West Cork based guitarist and composer Pat Hatchett returns under his Kʒːlu (curlew) moniker with a fantastic album of introspection, leftfield soul and cosmic Afro-disco. An amazingly eclectic musician, he was hit with a serious and debilitating ear problem that forced him to think outside of the box to fix himself physically and spiritually. Aiming for connection and optimism in a time of personal and geo-political upheavals, Pat has created a sensational record with stellar musicianship and spiritually positive vibes that is as visually rich as it is sonically electrifying. Read / Listen.
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Transmission Towers (É Soul Cultura) - an interview
The debut release on Luke Una’s brand new label É Soul Cultura is a quite brilliant album of electronic soul from the Liverpool based duo Transmission Towers. Interstellar atmospherics, deep emotions and bass-charged grooves are allied with post-punk invention and hooks that will attach themselves to the listener for days. On the day of the release of ‘Transmission One’, we asked production wizard Mark Kyriacou and vocalist Eleanor Anorbea Mante a few questions. Read / Listen.
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Dina Ögon 'Orion' (Playground Music) - a review
The Swedish quartet Dina Ögon seemed to appear from nowhere a few years ago with two perfectly realised albums that merged their wide influences into some kind of perfect ‘pop’ hybrid. Not chart fodder pop but the old-fashioned kind that harnesses extraordinary songwriting with amazing individual performances that deserve to crossover everywhere. Anna Ahnlund’s voice alone demands that you listen, instantly recognisable as something very special. Sung in Swedish, their perfectly constructed songs contain traces of Brazilian and West Coast soul music, Scandinavian folk, deep funk, and other influences that combine to create their wondrous sound. The new album ‘Orion’ takes another step forward without losing a drop of their magic serum. Read / Listen.
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The KBCS / Shirley Turner - I Wish You A World Of Happiness (Sonar Kollektiv) - a review
The ace German label Sonar Kollektiv have a superb double-headed 7” coming soon that includes an unheard and remastered take of Shirley Turner’s 1965 Northern Soul stomper ‘I Wish You A World Of Happiness’ and a brilliant Modern Soul / 2-Step Soul interpretation by The KBCS who have taken it into Bobby Caldwell / Roy Ayers territory. Read / Listen.
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Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats from Apartheid's Dying Years compiled by John Armstrong
The ‘Bubblegum’ sounds of 80’s Black South Africa was a broad church of celebratory dance music fuelled by new technology and an escapist need to party during the last hellish years of the vile Apartheid regime. Somehow some of the happiest sounding music ever was created during the hardest of times and this forthcoming compilation by legendary curator John Armstrong for BBE contains the signposts for what would become SA’s particular brands of House music (Kwaito, SA House, Amapiano, Gqom etc). We asked John a few questions about the background to the record. Read / Listen
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Tagua Tagua 'Tanto' (Wonderwheel Recordings) - a review
Tagua Tagua is São Paulo’s Felipe Puperi and his first LP for Nickodemus’ label Wonderwheel Recordings contains ten love songs of sun-drenched, hook-laden gloriousness. “Imagine Marcos Valle, D’Angelo, John Carroll Kirby, Eddie Chacon and Bobby Caldwell in full lush mode, loved up and subsisting on a diet of Philly Soul and the orchestral ambition of SAULT’s Inflo and you’re nearly there.” Read / Listen…
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Jazzanova 'Face At My Window' (BBE/180 Proof) - rehearsal video exclusive
Check out a sneaky video exclusive of Jazzanova in rehearsal mode in support of the release of the second single from the DJ Amir led project: Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit - Reimagined By Jazzanova
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Blue Dream 'Trip To LA' (Tangential Music) - a review
Andy Compton and friends have created a woozy, sunshine album of Californian sunset music utilising vintage synths and drum machines, warm guitars and the cool soulful voice of Irantzu Pujadas. The sound of a white isle bar or of falling in love, this is a must for fans of Eddie Chacon, Shuggie Otis or A Man Called Adam. Pure vibes. Read / Listen
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DJ Amir Presents ‘Strata Records - The Sound of Detroit’ Volume 1 (BBE) - a review
A holy shit compilation of tracks from Detroit’s short-lived but essential Strata label compiled by 180 Proof founder and Strata catalogue curator DJ Amir…….jazz for people who like it soulful, grimy and real..this is the good stuff! Read / Listen here
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vbnd 'Scum Funk' (DeepMatter) - a review
Check out this brand new album from Canada’s vbnd. Contemporary soul jazz that sits on the same sofa as SAULT and the Soulquarians with its funky, soulful jazzy tunes that make perfect sunshine food for the soul.. Read / Listen here…
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Photo credit: Sven Marquardt
Olivier St. Louis 'M.O.T.H. Matters Of The Heartless' (First Word Records) - a review
Olivier St. Louis’ debut release for First Word Records is a deep dive into his alternative soul universe. Produced by the man Oddisee, it’s released this week! Read / Listen here…..
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We Are KING 'Space Oddity' (BBE) - preview
Fans of David Bowie’s music take note, BBE Music have curated an album of Bowie compositions viewed through a Black music lens that will be coming out in May 2021! Have a listen to the first single here - a respectful but soul-laden update of ‘Space Oddity’ by Grammy-nominated twin sisters We Are KING!
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Photo by Andreanne Gauthier
Dominique Fils-Aimé 'Love Take Over' - video
Dominique Fils-Aimé is a class act. The Canadian-Haitian singer has just released a new single “Love Take Over” from her forthcoming album “Three Little Words” and the video promo is a work of colour drenched emotion. Watch here….
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Various Artists 'Covers 3' (Tru Thoughts) - a review
Tru Thoughts bring out the cover versions once again in the third installment of their ‘Covers’ series and there are beauties within. Hot 8 Brass Band, Quantic, Mark de Clive-Lowe, sUb_modU and J-Felix amongst many stirring up the ingredients and coming up with something fresh! Read / listen….
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Music that Speaks To....Pete Josef
Bristolian multi-instrumentalist and producer Pete Josef’s new album ‘I Rise With The Birds’ is due to be released on Sonar Kollektiv on October 16th and he has kindly shared with us some of the ace music that has inspired him during the making of it…Read / Listen here….
Read MoreSons of the Sun 'Underwater Dreaming' - VIDEO
Check out the video and pure jazzy soul vibes from transatlantic duo Sons of the Sun who give us the first single off their self-titled album out soon on BBE….
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Simon Jefferis brings his Vibrations - an interview
Multi-talented Simon Jefferis’ new album ‘Vibrations’ is a self-produced soul jazz beauty with one foot in London’s vibrant jazz scene and another in classic 90’s US hip hop … the sound of a hot summer…Read / listen here….
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Albert Ayler 'New Grass' (Third Man Records) - a review
Jazz avant-gardist Albert Ayler never chose the easy path…a fearless musical adventurer who went his own way but didn’t live long enough to realise his enduring influence outside of jazz. Here on his 1969 LP ‘New Grass’ he smashed down the doors between jazz and soul music creating something brilliantly unique but at the time, hugely polarising. Nashville label Third Man Records have decided it’s worth our reappraisal and are reissuing it on vinyl. Read / Listen here…
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