Sababa 5 like to collaborate but this is a little leftfield even for them with India born singer Sophia Solomon as Sababa 5 featuring Sophia Solomon - Shenzadi / Ranjha (Batov Records) they go Indo-Middle Eastern grooves with this new 7" single, 'Shenzadi' / 'Ranjha'.
With this meeting of psych-funk with Bollywood disco fans of Batov will get excited for authentic classic sounds of 'the new' Asha Bhosle that has a touch of Asha Puthli (Ed.she was brilliant at We Out Here festival last year).
After the album with Yurika, 'Kokoro' (see review HERE) where else in the world are they going to go?
Meet a visionary of the next hip-hop instrumental generation called Veezo who has Veezions, a 5-track EP that's out today.
Turning up the Robert Glasper hip-hop heritage, jazz pianist and producer Veezo has gone totally wired (Ed. Isn't that a great cover photo?) and push it all into a house/disco/funk blender as if Madlib was in the chicken run and DJ Shadow wearing claret and blue in the East Stand.
'Kinky' sounds particulary "live" and fresh for a jazz background that we're told has been crafted into a "fully electronic live solo show" with synth, MPC and vocoder.
Clearly impressed the ears of Turbojazz and Parker Madicine this one to follow.
Detrás Del Vitral is stuck in a Valentine frame of mind and finds 'Unwritten Loves' as a Balearic anthem!
To follow up 'Memories In Motion' see review HERE) that came out at the turn of the year, Detrás gives us 3 more tracks to match the "emotionally charged" 'Painful Choice' and 'Ripples Of Memory': plus such great cover artwork.
'It;s All For You', 'Lost On My Way' and 'Leav Me In Silence', all in original formats (no remixes here) all play on painful memories and lonesome piano which is pretty awesome in it's dance as this is adult music afterall
In case you need a recap, Be Adult Music have had a great year in 2024 [again] as they celebrated their 8th Anniversary (see review HERE) along with their sister labels, Be Adult Roots (as with Prosis - see review HERE) and Be Adult Weapons: 2025 looks likely to be be adult than usual.
Step back into 2024 for the best of Afro House from the Ostowana label with Rønhöff, Blade SA, SMALL F, Thabiso Vocalist, Omary, Saint Evo, Meryame, Mr. BABOO, DJ Danjer, Klarck, Mzala Wa Afrika feat. Nhlanzeko, AfroNerd, Yozif, Zulu Mageba & Lilyass - and this is only Vol. 1!
The best thing about this compilation is that Ostowana's selections emphasise the range of styles of 'Afro House' last year (and indeed this year, don't miss out on D4NYO's lastest EP, 'Mutujo').
There's lofs of Afro-house branded tracks, but to have the 'real' thing all on one album (10 tracks) starts off with the ironically entitled, 'I Don't Want You' (by Rønhöff) with it's fantastic synths and percussion is a magic opener and keeps going with Yozif & Zulu Mageba's 'Cahabasini' and the 'saxy' play on Klark's 'Bomba' which is a "BOOM" track!
We've previously featured some of these tracks (Ed. well it is a 'Best Of') like 'El Amal' by Omary, Saint Evo and Meryame (see review HERE), Small F featuring Thabiso Vocalist with 'Remember Me' (see review HERE), AfroNerd's 'uMsindo weNdlovu' (see review HERE).
None of these tracks is going to disappoint a dance floor so there's no surprise that you are encouraged to "let the beats take you on a journey filled with passion, rhythm, and emotion, as you experience the stand out tracks from some of the genre's most talented artists.
They say, "whether you're a long-time fan or new to Afro House, this compilation is a must-have for any music lover's playlist" and it won't take you long to have to agree!
Manic disco dub in the mists of house is ideal for a Ray Mang remix but don't ignore the originals as we find those Lumberjacks in Hell without any fool's gold.
Lumberjack's In Hell head honcho Marcel Vogel has teamed up again with Lyma after their previous collab on Boogie Angst with 'Games Change' and 'No Time' a couple of years ago but this time, Lyma is on his own with two tracks, 'Mist' and 'The Fool Ain't Me'.
Now 'The Fool Ain't Me' sounds pretty high tempo soulful and because of this, it's a little reminisent of lovetempo's 'Live Or Die By Love' with Prince on synths in the solar winds; yes, it is that good.
So you've already got a fabulous six minute track that's killer dancefloor ready to boogie your disco with so how are you going to make it even better? Lets ask Ray Mang to bring put in some remix magic on 'The Fool Ain't Me' but blimey, what you didn't know you need is the Ray Mang Instrumental Dub of 'The Fool Ain't Me' for you spaceship disco ball.
Ray has done remixes on nearly every disco/nu-disco-house label going for over 25 years now and Lumberjacks In Hell is clearly impressed as much as Compost, Sonar Kolletiv, Is It Balearic? Recordings, Gomma, Nang, Rong Music and all our other favourites including his own Mangled.
You might be thinking by now, that's too much! Don't believe it as you can't overlook 'Mist' that's funks that Prince feel on a slo-mo groove.
You'll recall Lyma was part of the Goshawk 'Loyalty EP' that featured Greg Blackman (see review HERE) but in Lyma we've got a Dutch master of the dance.
From the title you might think lovetempo has been watching too many Bond movies over the festive season whilst in reality his lovefinger will send you into raptures.
You may know lovetempo from previous singles 'But I Do', 'Maybe In Another Life' or even 'Turnaround' on Razor-N-Tapes' compilaton 'Family Affair Vol. 2 (see review HERE) but the track 'Live Or Die By Love' is so uplifting it's joyous in every sense as, to misquote Miles Davis, Gospel Not Gospel, Disco Not Disco, Toucan Not Toucan.
Gilles Peterson got "boyhood fan" over excited in his recent interview (see below) with the Level 42 comparisions but 'Live Or Die By Love' is lovetempo's "manifesto statement" and nothing like 808 BEACH & Amy Douglas 'WHATEVER DADDY SAYS' (see review HERE) or is it?
Well it is if you're of the Toucan Sounds Co-op view, get your club card out for this one. It is anthemic and manifesto; it's only problem is that it's too short, the sax, vibes, piano could work out a mix a mega 12", dub and/or instrumental. Its irresitable and addictive, it's got me in raptures (Ed. that's enough of that). Oh! I did I say Mattie Safer used to be in The Rapture and Poolside.
'We Can Make It Happen' squeezes a bit of West Coast meets Disco string stabs into Fania's back yard that's added to with the cheatin' 'Part-Time Love Affair'.
This release is a great companion to Mattie's previous hits 'The Sun' and 'But I Do' and it's clear he's a super talent. If you like the work of Jkriv, Toribio & Sharin, Clive From Accounts you'll be as excited as Gilles Peterson with this as it is blessed with sunshine and love.
P.S. Gilles Peterson's interview with lovetempo on Lot Radio (in association with Worldwide FM) from NYC for the Winter Jazz Festival starts 12:00 and the whole show is worth a listen
Artist: lovetempo Title: Live Or Die By Love Release date: 21st February, 2024 Label: Toucan Sounds Cat. No: TBC Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp
A normal man would not release a debut album when they reach 100 years old, Marshall Allen is no normal musician, man, saxophonist, bandleader and linch pin of all to Sun Ra's bands for 70 years!
You might have noticed that he's been doing the promo rounds with all the super fans, Gilles Peterson being at the fore (see below) but let's start at the beginning.
'Prologue', is the gentle starter before we slip into our lounge suits for some gentle Come Dancing in the Sun Ra Ballroom, Philadelphia with 'African Sunset' - a modern retro of the glamorous 30s jazz set.
The title track 'New Dawn' is the one that features Neneh Cherry (daughter ot Don, sister of Eagle Eye, prominent figure in the Bristol post-punk scene etc) and as a statement for a bloke in his 100th year, it's typical Ra-ness.
As fresh as an 'African Sunset' in the jazz lounge, the rest of the album will be of more interest to the Sun Ra students. 'Are You Ready' is a return to the rock'n'roll blues of Yochanan Rocket Ships. And then buckle up for a quick trip to destination avant-garde with 'Sonny's Dance' - Sonny Sharrock, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Ra, who knows? And even closer to today is 'Boma' which has a fantastic string section and, as with the rest of the album, Allen is joined with the "brightest" young jazz musicians (in Philly of course - it is the teachings of Herman Poole Blount after all).
At talk of Ra as a teacher, there's lines on here that sound a like snatch from his biggest hit, 'Space Is The Place' and, just as likely, equally a popular Xmas carol. He loved that type of thing and if he if listening to now to 'Angels And Demons At Play' he'd be more than happy with linchpin protege.
Back in 2015, when Marshall Allen did an interview to promote the Peterson currated double CD of space-age, avant-garde free jazz, 'Presents Sun Ra And His Arkestra - To Those Of Earth...And Other Worlds' (on Strut), he told 'Crack', "Sun Ra had a futuristic view of things. All the things that happened, he already know was going to happy". With respect, he wouldn't have known about 'New Dawn': or did he?
"The one thing that I'm really looking forward to, and I think this is the best thing ever, is the fact that Marshall Allen is about to release, at the age of 100, his debut album under his own name. There is no greater feat of durability, working at your craft, and putting your ego to the back of the room while you're supporting other artists and performers.” – Gilles Peterson
Santrofi are on their third album in three years and they are definitely 'Making Moves' to the top of modern Highlife/Afrobeat/Funk.
No matter how experience you are, if you are supported by folks that have collective worked with Ali Farka Toure, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab, Kronos Quartet, Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, and AK Yeboah (he of 'Nde Yen Da' see review HERE) you've got to be on your best form: and these eight guys are with this eight track album.
It's been 5 years since they released thier debut album but 'Making Moves' is a shift of gears opening with 'Amina' in a rock/funk/chant/horn that's more Jame Brown influenced than some of their other tracks that are soaked in their traditiona' Ghananian musical heritage; like 'Su nkwa', 'San su', the beautiful 'Domebi' and the even more beautiful vocal/guitar duet 'Woara wosempa'.
Could 'Gyae me how' be Sly Stone meeting up with Fred Wesley in Accra with the Tower Of Power under the supervision of Fela? Probably not, but tracks 'San su' and 'No Money, No Honey' sound like Saturday afternoon's 'Nostalfgie Ya Mboka' with the twangy guitars.
The title track 'Making Moves' includes a rather clunky rap in English which kinda of lets it down as I'd have prefered a longer sax solo but I think we can forgive that as we look forward to seeing them live at festivals somewhere near you in the summer.
Is 14th Feb a significant date in the diary? Well, you might be just about ready to fall in love with Ritch Satch as that's the day that her album 'Meet Me In The Garden' is released.
Rita has already impresed with the single 'Breath' (see review HERE) and since then (only November mind) we've even found more musicians from the Melbourne/Naarm area, Rami Iman (see review HERE) and Close Counters(see review HERE) to name just two (Ed. but we don't know anymore that were born in Uzbekistan!).
And even though they are the same city, Rita has definitely gone her own path in a luxouriously produced R&B, soul pop way - particularly on the appropriately named 'Lifeline' and whilst the cover looks like the Eygptian Queen has dressed up for the Secret Garden Festival, the hook on 'I Give It All to You' is another track to get folks excited.
It's another track that's got the benefit of Daniel 'The Bamboos' Mougerman's strings which weaves cinematic drama that's so drenched on this one; and don't forget the title track! It's a 12 piece orchestra on the album!
You'll recall that us Yogi/QiGung/Tai Chi types knew the inspiration for 'Breathe' was the result of some meditative exercise which is nice, but 'Meet Me In The Garden' will take her on a higher plane, if not levitation and I'm expecting end of year awards for this one; 'Meet Me In The Garden' is going to fly.
Cesár and Sharin Toribio have seen the light of day; with Crackazat on the remix for our favourite pre-seasonal fesitval track of the year, 'Daylight' as yellow as a sunflower.
Unseasonally, summer sunshine themed release with artwork like Carlos Niño and Mia Doi Todd have gone to Kew Gardens' Hot House for a photo shoot.
But 'Daylight' ain't West Coast, it's a great house anthem track as Cesár adds his production skils and drum programming in his New York studio with piano, Fender Rhodes, Juno 60, Moog and anything else available to Sharin's stunning vocals.
And if the original was hot, the ever in demand Crackazat is on the remix. Whether its Stay True Records, Freerange (with Jimpster), Local Talk (where he was embedded in Sweden) or any other label he's been on, Crackazat (aka Ben Worral from Bristol) knows how to weave his improvised jazzy keys and 'Daylight' becomes very active nightime entertainment.
In the original and alternate mix options it's a track that certainly hit the funky, soulful, jazzy brief and if you need more Toribio, there's no better place than the collaboration with Brandon Markell Holmes, 'Go Ahead' (see review HERE); not least because it comes with another Byron The Aquarious remix (like Igor Jadranin's 'Contemporary Outdoors' that's 'Massive' for 2025). And he's even popped up on Peter Matson's track 'S.Y.G' on the single, 'White Noise' (see review HERE).
If you're familiar with Toribio and Sharin as Conclave, you'll know how good these guys and that Juliet Records have seen the 'Daylight' with this one.
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