Review: Janek van Laak – Circle Of Madness (Sonar Kollektiv)

One of the many sayings usually attributed to Einstein, is that the definiton of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result; Janek van Laak's 'Circle Of Madness' is a musical merry-go-round that is so packed with ideas, it'll seem like a diffent result on every listen.

Sonar Kollektiv have always had more than a eye on the future and Janek van Laak's background of "punk loving father and cabaret/comedy performing mother" is a perfect grounding for this Berlin based drummer. composer and producer.

Having been a member of Liquid Brain Orchestra and 50% of Tutu Amuse (with Rosa Landers), 'Circle Of Madness' is the debut album that the single, 'The Killa Gorilla' (see review HERE) promised: like an unleashed cage fighter in a circus; and more!

There's diffinitely a lot of theatre here, even in the spacey funk of 'Left 4 Dead' there's a jazz big/marching band to be found.  Perhaps it's the German element where the legacy of Berlin Cabaret has dropped in on the fusion of Gong/Magma/Peter Brotzmann.  And then goes surfing? I think he recognises this throughout the 11 tracks with 'The Last Stylebender' (Ed. I wonder what that is in German), a sideways look at Can on 'Daiamondo' featuring Shiomi Kawaguchi on vocals (RIP Damo Suzuki) and an odd Avante-Afro-dub 'Sloppy Dreams' that's almost ideal for late-night radio (as played by Dom Servini on his new Jazz FM show).

I suspect 'Above Your Head' will get picked up for some TV crime soundtrack/bed for the vocal "Strange" in itself.  There's also a guest  vocals appearance by Australian Madeleine Rose on the jazz-creepy twang of 'Here To Slay' but the rest is instrumental and for there's the proper beach-jazzy 10 minute opus of 'OCTAPUSSY', the 70s Miles-esque 'Saints Blow' and the leftfield-fusion of 'Garlic Brown Junior' (Ed. don't tell me he's UFC too!).

I'm some folks would have prefered a whole album in one style of 'madness' but the mix of styles makes the squaring of the circle makig this is a great album with a great line-up of Janek (drums), Richard Maegraith (alto sax, flutes, bass clarinet), Gabriel Garcia (trumpet and flügelhorn), Isabel Rößler (bass) and Tim Foley on percussion.

So whilst this isn't totally mad, to mis-quote a well known space traveller, "It's Kraut Jim; but not as we know it" - one for the now and the future.

Artist: Janek van Laak
Title: Circle Of Madness
Release date: 15th March, 2024
Label : Sonar Kolletiv

Catalog Number : SK480 LP (Limited Edition Kistal-Violett splatter vinyl) / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Léa Mondo - Vices (Wah Wah 45s)

From a label that's celebrating it's 25th year, that "rediscovered" Dele Sosimi and has brought us many a "must have" release, a new voice originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that's now resident in North London via the home of Northen Soul, Wigan! What sort of musical vices has she discovered.

As the label admits, it's a glorious "smorgasbord of experimental styles fusing aspects of soul, high life, bossa-nova, jazz and reggae" with a big side of Sade (happy 65th this week BTW) and Red Hot Chilli Peppers (when they were good).

The band consists of Jasmine Burton (bass), Alex Karakurt (drums), Tawanda Manika (guitar), Olivia Cuttill (trumpet), Max Rodriguez (rhythm guitar) along with the singer/songwriter/arranger/guitarist.

She'll be playing incredibly innovate Grow in Hackney Wick (near the Copper Box Arena) on 2nd February along with legend Vanessa Freeman (last seen with Reel People, see review HERE), label head honcho Dom Servini (last seen, by me that is, at WeOutHere Festival orchestrating the main stage) and more Wah Wah 45s favourites.

This new single follows 'Heights Of Love' (see review HERE) so we're getting excited at the prospect of a debut album for what is definitely a long way from Wigan, pier or otherwise: did I ever tell you of my pilgrimage to Wigan Pier or the snowed off game at Springfield Park? Another time eh!

Artist: Léa Mondo 

Release: Vices

Release Date: 19th January, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Léa Mondo - Heights Of Love (Wah Wah 45s)

What! Wah Wah 45s find the new Sade?  Naaaw, this is far more promising than that!

A single recorded live in North London that's soul, jazz and bossa nova driven will find love at the heights and lows of love.

Léa, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then Manchester and now London based is backed by the band of Jasmine Burton (bass), Alex Karakurt (drums), Mousa Dembele (percussions), Allexa Neva (sax & flute), Max Rodriguez (rhythm guitar) and Léa on vocals, guitar, lyrics, arrangements and co-producing the track with producer Louis Auneau. 

There's a full 12" jazzdance mix in here (when Dom Servini has the time to find it) but there's lots more to come from Ms Mondo is guaranteed.

P.S. Crazy to release this on a Black Friday and so soon after Espen Horne's brilliant album, 'The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence' (see review HERE); just saying?

Artist: Léa Mondo 

Release: Heights Of Love

Release Date: 24th November, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Espen Horne - The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence (Wah Wah 45s)

You'll have noticed from SM postings that Wah Wah 45s head honcho has been smoching around various northern European locations with Norway's finest, Espen Horne.

Little wonder as these two go back a long way and the label is releasing Horne's first solo album for yonks.

As you might guess from the cover, it's very much in the northern folky landscape of his roots together with the soul-jazz-Latin-hip-hop influences that he's lived with for decades.

We loved the single that came out, 'Bergen Sunrays' featuring Selim Mutic (see review HERE) but you're not going to get stuck in a genre groove here.

Not sure that you can put a track like 'Belle Époque' into any one 'bag' but I'm thinking 

mark the bag up as 'brilliant'.

And then 'Den Franske Gitaren' (featuring Aich) is in English on a jazzy post-dn'b jazz tip that's

followed by 'Don't Fall Asleep' as a soul-reggae track as it features Faye Houston (of 

Resonators fame who have released no less than 3 stunning albums on Wah Wah 45s).

But if there is a stand out track(s), it's the tracks that feature Olav Wöllo's 'tropicallia' that's kinda 60s Jazzanova but totally intoxicating atmospheric jazz-folk?

Long time fans like Gilles Peterson, Craig Charles and Robbie Vincent as now joined by the 

next generation of influencers like Cerys Matthews, Deb Grant/Tom Ravenscroft as it's 

definitely, the best time to investigate 'The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence'; don't fall asleep on this one! 

 

Artist: Espen Horne

Release: The Anatomy Of Serene Eloquence

Release Date: 17th November, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21 - The Confluence (Wah Wah 45s)

Hot on the heels of his launch party show at the Jazz Cafe (London), the new Wah Wah 45's album by Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21, 'The Confluence' is out now.

Battling with loads of other Bandcamp Friday releases, this does stand out not only as it's meeting of Afrobeat legend, Dele Sosimi with Sam Duckworth (once aka 'Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly') it's the start “The Estuary 21” (see review of the single, 'Ride Out The Storm' / 'Mo Ṣe B’ọ́lá Tán' HERE). 

Since the connection with Wah Wah 45s, Dele has linked up with diverse musicians as The Milk, The 'meets' Prince Fatty & Nostalgia 77 project (Nostalgia 77 having just released their new album on Jazzman, review HERE), Lokkhi Terra, Eparapo and Medlar so we should not be surprised that The Shrine meets Southend-on-Sea at 'The Confluence'!

The six track have a stong afrobeat/pop sound, particualary the single and 'Open Up' which also features UK jazz legend and Essex resident, Snowboy (aka Mark Cotgrove - last seen live in Dorset at the time of his last LP, 'New York Afternoon' with the Latin Section).

Other highlights for me are 'Ori Mi' and 'Òt​í​tó Ti J​áde' but this is such a great production, all I can think is that we need the longer versions!

I'll save the story as to how Dele Sosimi got involved with Wah Wah 45s' Dom Servini for another day, but back in 2005 he was telling me of his philosphy "Any music that has that little twist, a bit of added spice that separates it from the norm is alright by me." (see Interview HERE); 'The Confluence ' has that "added spice" and it's more than alright by me too!

Artist: Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21
Release: The Confluence
Release Date: 7th April, 2023
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHLP022 / BANDCAMP