Release date : 29th May, 2023
Label : Mr Bongo
Catalog Number : MRB269R
Title: Homeland
Release date: 26th May, 2023
Label : Deep Mountain Records
Catalog Number : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
Both 'N' Fumbei' and the even deeper Jungle synthed disco of 'Esanah' are Afro-Latin tracks that you can spin from beach to jazz house.
But the 'bonus' track is even cooler as it's the beat "dub" 'N'Funbeats' that should only be played in a darkened backroom disco with all the other illict grooves: so raw it'll make chafing a pleasure - for serious dancers only; and for you nerds, there's a slightest of references to Yello's 'The Race'.
If you're used to DJ Pippi and Willie Graff's more downtempo grooves you'll need to up the tempo to more like fans of Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' with the Osunlade remixes (see review HERE) and the incredible Beatkozina.Abirah Shah 'Nusrat Passion' (see review HERE) you'll going to love this too!
Artist: Kiko Navarro, DJ Pippi, Willie Graff
Title: Tempistica Mistica
Release Date : 26th May, 2023
Catalog Number : AFTNE055
Label : Afroterraneo
Format: 12" / Digital
Title: Small Axes
Release date: 26th May, 2023
Label : BBE Music
Catalog Number : BBE726 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
The four tracks are well known being 'Blackstar', one of Bowie's most atmospheric and haunting of tracks, 'River Man' (Nick Drake's classic that's equally atmospheric and haunting), 'Windmills' (Michel Legrand's big pop his and the recent passed Wayne Shorter (RIP) most popular, 'Footprints' (with new original lyrics by Sheila).
As any undercover agent will tell you, it's all about the added value and this large band with harp, flute and cello certain add a large amount to this project along with Sheila's words/vocals (she trained in New York with Andy Bey!)
We've recently seen that the electric guitar is much under-used in jazz (see Enrico Le Noci's 'Electric Nuts', review HERE with covers of 'Voodoo Chile' and 'Maiden Voyage') and Eric Klerks rocks out on 'Footprints' with Sheila doing her best ship wrecked ghost siren with the violin in 1930 swing with that harp; what was I saying about " atmospheric and haunting"?
Title: Modal Forces / Percussive Forces
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label : BBE Music
Catalog Number : BBE722 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
Artist: Robb Scott and Leee John
Title: Gotta Get Over You (North Street West EP)
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label: Ramrock Blue Records
Cat. No: RRB020
Title: Prayer
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label: The Soundgarden
Cat. No: SG086
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
Artist: Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21
Release: The Confluence
Release Date: 19th May, 2023
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP
Artist: Psyché
Title: Psyché
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label: Four Fllies Records
Cat. No: FLIES59
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
Artist: Various Artists
Title: Middle Eastern Grooves
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label: Batov Records
Cat. No: BTR
Format: 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp
Artist: Sphere
Title: Inside Ourselves
Release date: 19th May, 2023
Label : BBE Music
Catalog Number : BBE714 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp
Brandon has got a great Chicago soulful voice that's so suited to the deep house scene and he's worked with some big names in his 3 years with Toucan Sounds, like musclecars (as in the big Jazzanova remix from January this year, and recently repressed - see review HERE), Anthony Nicolson, Dee Diggs and most recently, 'legend' Derrick Carter and Rogue Vogue.
The rap on the track is by Fat Tony and it's not an average token 'rap for rap sake' as the label indicates, it has an old skool quality to it.
The single comes with the original version as as slow grind upbeat soul jazzer; it grooves along for over 6 minutes and then they fade the keys solo: we need a proper full length of this one!
And one of our favourite producers/remixes that crosses the genre identities of deep house and beats, Byron The Aquarius who picks up on the "Back Hand" adds some ping-pong bounce and does a Theo Parrish; but a short version!
There's a bonus track, 'Losing Side' by Brandon and Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue just to show how talented he is.
There's definitely no losing sides to this game of 2 halves with radio and clean edits.
Colour & Pitch would have loved to have had this one but it you want to be in the place to be, the release party is in Brooklyn on 25th May at the fabulous, The Sultan Rooms' rooftop with both Brandon and Byron doing live performances; now that's a party.
Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes & Toribio
The first single, 'Clock Tick Tock' is classical minimalism Kruder-ed. and 'Bella Arp' would be a brilliant alt. version to the theme tune of Randall & Hopkirk (Dec'd)..."can you hear me Jeff?"
This album does concentrate on the downtempo with tracks like 'Kusine Limusene', 'Rache' (with added sense of foreboding) and 'Sequenz' all have that OST theme of mysterious synth and footstep keys, comparisions have been drawn with the recently passed Ryuichi Sakamoto who excelled in this area. But even he would have loved 'No Love On The Enterprise' (great title) and 'Meteoriten Schluckauf' for thier miniminal electronic romanticism.
Kruder's own 'Chordal'/'Law Of Return' (2009) was an indication of where his dancefloor vs. Tchaikovshy would go but don't suppose he'd thought it could take us to „————————„, which kind of makes it even more special in a way.
If you enjoyed LILAMORS' 'Home' at the start of Sumsuch's May mix (see link below), you'll find „————————„ just as mesmorisingly cool; a must for the summer.
Artist: Bruno From Ibiza
Title: Infinity "The Remixes"
Artist: Lord Echo
Title: Rarities 2010-2020: Japanese Tour singles
Release date: 5th May, 2023
Label : Soundway Records