VA - If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family (BBE Music)

This compilation is very hectic heavy as If Music... has an introduction to a couple of Brixton's finest Cyndi & Christian, aka the Handson Family.

After 'If... Music presents You Need This' (see review HERE) and the extension to 'An Introduction To Klinkhamer Records' (see review HERE), the series goes local to the eclectic taste of these two stalwarts of Brixton Market and supports of many of YATM's friends and family and if there is a focus to the 14 tracks, it's a Golden Era of artists emerging into Worldwide (Gilles Peterson)  acknowledgement with a Futuristica Music - South London axis.

Starting with Emanative's 'We Travel The Spacebeats' (Futuristica Music, 2009), Brixton's favourite and much missed TY (RIP) 'Dreams' setting the scene for two summer big 'uns; P'taah's 'Staring At The Sun' (2002/3) and Xantoné Blacq's 'Search For The Sun (Platinum Remix)' (2003); also included is MckNasty's 'Sundown'

And around this time, the voice of Koop's hit, 'Waltz For Koop', Cecilia Stalin was very busy on the broken beat scene and 'CPW' is a prefect example of the mix of West London and jazz skat.  And talking of West London(?), New Zealand's jazz-NSM-esque 'Hangers On' by The Nabatean needs a higher profile thanks to its inclusion here.

And talking of which, Ian O'Brien's 'Love Beams' certain owes some debt to Lonnie Liston Smith's chill out and then Outside's 'Moodswing' was originally released in the mid-1990s; perhaps overlooked at the time by Galliano but as they've reformed, perhaps Outside should consider? 

Shur-I-Kan has released many a great track either on his own or in collaborations but 'Bedtime Stories' is another 'lost' track that you need in your box.

Cyndi and Christian are clearly deep diggers that are happy to share their music love and knowledge. I remember when the Handson's guested at the Jazz Chronicles session back in the day and Cyndi was championing a compilation that had just come out at the time; it's now our time to spread the word about this expertly selected double LP - as they say, "You Need This!"

Artist: Various Artists 

Title:  If Music presents: You Need This! An Introduction to the Handson Family

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE

Format: 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Emanative - Abstract Intuition (Home Planet Recordings)

For those avid Emanative watchers/listeners, here's the latest on the long awaited next release, 'Abstact Intuition' is out digitally on 30th July and vinyl out first week in September!

After the interview fellow London lover DJ Kobayashi (co-founder of Batov Records) on the B-Side Sessions show (Soho Radio - 14:00 to 16:00, Wednesdays - Dom Servini was on there the other week too!).

Of course we've seen Batov and Nick together before on Sandman Projet's remix release (see review HERE) (with Jessica Lauren) and back in April with the Yellowtail/Mark Murphy remix of 'Seasons In My Mind' (see review HERE) so we kinda know what to expect?

Well, the first thing to expect is some of the best known names in 'modern electronic jazz' being long-time musical partners Jessica Lauren (not wife) and Ben Hadwen (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute) with Twm Dylan (upright bass), Peter Zummo (trombone), Sarathy Korwar (Tabla - he also featured on the 'Ominous Shanti' release), Magnus Mehta (Congas/percussion), Raimund Wong (Yamaha MT400/electronics) and Nick himself on drums/percussion (of course), vibes and synth.

This might only be 4 tracks, 'Spice Routes' (deep bass driven space jazz with Ben leading(?) the way with sax and bass clarinet as metaphorical walking sticks), 'Messimalism (Above Thought)' is the space-jazz-dub that you've always craved, 'Paradox' (not the challenge that you might expect as all the musicians push themselves deeper within a soup of gong baths) and the magnificent 'Pathways to Presence' but fans like the influencial DJs Patrick Forge and Michael Ruetten are lost for words to describe how good this is.

So you can tell Emanative is as much a band (family) as an individual and if you know your Art Enemble of Chicago from your Kahil El Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble to Amirtha Kidabi's Elder Ones (see review HERE) alond with th Coltrane's spiritual legacy, you'll get this immediately; especially the 18 minute long 'Pathways To Presence' that's includes all of the above and even dips into early Cinematic Orchestra vibe; that said, this is a "proper jazz walk to the cosmos".

This is perfect for the We Out Festival (next year Gilles?) but what with Nick's connections with the Sun Ra Arkestra and Tribe jazz royalty alumni, Ahmed Abdullah and Phil Ranelin, we have our own Carlos Niño & Friends, or could we rename the Emanative family an Emanumni?

The only thing that's missing is Nick's "real" wife of 25 years, Liz Elensky; lets hope that's not caused an argument. 

Artist:  Emanative

Title: Abstract Intuition

Release date: 30th July, 2024

Label: Home Planet Recordings

Catalog Number:

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yellowtail feat. Mark Murphy - Seasons In My Mind (Remixes) (Right Tempo Pro)

As Gilles Peterson starts his campaign to save UK club cultures, independent venues and radio all at the same time, here's a quick reminder of one of three vocalists that he more or less single-handedly re-discovered.

Whilst there were many more acts/performers, I'm specifically thinking about Slim Gaillard, Eddie Jefferson and Mark Murphy!  Peterson 'discovered' Murphy's 1961 album 'Rah' in his local library and the story goes, took him to the Dingwalls and that visit resulted in Murphy's love letter to the venue, Gilles, Camden Town and the young jazzdance community that was emerging in the 90s.

Over 30 years on, this jazzdance 'Ding Walls' / Acid Jazz scene has it's fans worldwide (no pun etc) and in the case of this 12", Milan's Right Tempo have returned to the Yellowtail track featured on their compilation album, 'The Congregation - Jazz Alliance International' with Mark Murphy on vocals (as an 'unreleased' Patchworks remix - Patchworks being a Peterson protégé himself).

So you got the immaculate Murphy on a track that he sings and skats on, Yellowtail (aka Hiro Awanohara) on production duties and another Peterson protégé from the early days of Brownswood Recordings and a dreamy Sunday afternoon original, 'Seasons In My Mind'.

Worth the price of the 12" in itself but as someone that was in on the boarders of Peterson's leftfield soul-jazz-hip-hop 'In Crowd' some years ago. I remember standing next to DJ Simon S at Emanative's first gig at what was Favela Chic in Shoreditch with Jessica Lauren, Liz Elensky, Deborah Jordan, Heidi Vogel and many more when Peterson turned up with Earl Zinger and they stood next to us!  I also recall giving Peterson a white label of Richard E's 7", 'Sometime I'/'Hear Her Call' at Peterson's other club night that he ran for over a decade, 'That's How It Is!'  So what's the reason for all this blatant name dropping?

Well, remember Richard E's 'To The Moon' (see review HERE), he's done a fantastic uptempo flute gang remix featuring Jake Telford.  And then there's the 'dream team' of Jessica Lauren and Emanative (last seen on Sandman Project's 'Hamsa Remixes - see review HERE) with a  jazzy spring garden and home remix and dub; descibed as, "Nick & Jessica playing drums and piano live and then all being chopped up and brought into the present moment, production-wise".

And if that wasn't enough, there's the 'Frankson' remix which is the favourite of Kev Beadle (TWR), who I happened to help into a cab at 3am in Shaftesbury Avenue after he DJ'd at the first "Last Ever" 'That's How It Is!' some years ago.

Other fans include, Harv-inder Singh (Point Blank FM), famed jazz dance royalty DJ Perry Louis (JazzCotech), Michael Rütten (Soul Searching; that coincidently celebrated its 19th Birthday show in 2016 with guest mix from DJ Simon S as mentioned above) and there's sleeve note by yet another scene name, Straight No Chaser's Paul Bradshaw.

Nearly as impressive as another 'Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls' and in addition to the 12", there's bonus digital content too! Get your pre-orders in now. 

Artist: Yellowtail feat. Mark Murphy 

Title: Seasons In My Mind (Remixes)

Release date: 10th April, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo Pro

Catalog Number : RT 001 PRO  

Format : LP (140g black vinyl)  / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: BCUC - Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix) (On The Corner Records)

I don't think anyone will be surprised that Gaudi is a fan of BCUC, but they'd be really excited to hear that One The Corner have got the two together to remix a track called, 'Thonga Lami'!

As many of us are still trying to come to terms with the magnificent album from last year, 'Millions Of Us' (see review HERE), On The Corner Records share Gaudi’s remix of BCUC’s ‘Thonga Lami’ - it’s the first track from the Pete OtC’s ‘Door to the Cosmos’ compilation series 

Gaudi is one of the most prolific producers on the electronica, reggae, world and dub scene for many a year now, he's credited with over 20 albums and countless remixes.  So, if you're after some South African Township space dub punk funk Pig Bag to Sigue Sigue Sputnik this is the single of the year for you.

Shame it's just missed Halloween as the Zombies will Batt Danse (these guys - see review HERE) to both original and radio versions but if you're anything like me, you'd want to play 'em back to back for the the full eight minutes.

What an excelled release to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the label's first white label release (Pete, where's the Emanative remix?) and if you're lucky enough to be in the US anywhere near a BCUC Novermber tour date, you must go and see them.

Artist: BCUC

Title: Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix)

Release Date : 15th November, 2023

Catalog Number : OtCRDIGI2023

Label : On The Corner Records

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

EU / US Autumn/Fall Tour 2023 Dates

Oct. 26 - Le Rockstore, Montpellier, France

Oct. 29 - Womex, A Coruña, Spain

Nov. 4 - Holyoke, US @ Race Street Live

Nov. 5 - Somerville, US @ Crystal Ballroom

Nov. 9 - Chicago, US @ Logan Center For The Arts at Uchicago

Nov. 14 - San Diego, US @ Artpower! At UC San Diego

Nov. 15 - Albuquerque, US @ The Dirty Bourbon

Nov. 17 - Santa FE, US @ Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery

Nov. 18 - Taos, US @ Daleee at The Solar Center

 

Sandman Project - Hamsa Remixes (Batov Records)

Lots of fantastic remix projects about at the moment and here's one not to be overlooked.

Batov Records have organised four different versions of 'Hamsa' by experts in their own fields as they take on the original track that's Mulatu Astatke of Ethiopia with a West African psychedelic rock vibe.

No. 1 for us is absolutely brilliant. This is usually the case with anything to do with Jessica Lauren and Emanative - typically in the Sun Ra meets Ethio Jazz.  We have to declare an interest as I've DJ'd with Emanative (aka Nick Woodmansey) way before the release of his critically acclaimed albums for Brownswood Recordings, Jazzman Records and Futuristica Music.  And he's not shy when it comes to remixes, (most recently, the far too short 'San Francisco Dance' for RE:WARM) and like any good DJ/producer/drummer/show-off he's reworked 'Hamsa' playing the drums himself and getting bests mate keyboard whiz Jessica Lauren to do a Farfisa solo plus Vince Vella adding an Afro-Latin kick, on congas, udu drums and other assorted percussion. 

Stunning I think you'll agree. But wait! What's this Ayala's Rhythm Mix?  Sticking to the theme but a bit more jazzy horn whilst the Koichi Sakai remix is Ethio with trumpet and housey keys that grooves then gets a little dubby sometimes and a little spacey too!  And not to be outdown in the spacey dubby groove, Italian DJ/Producer Woxow gets deeper into all aspects with some added spoken word 'thoughts'. 

Batov Records (they of Sababa 5 - see our review HERE) are getting in the party mood with this one and I'm expecting more of the same quality next year too!

Artist: Sandman Project

Title: Hamsa Remixes EP

Release date: 2nd December, 2022

Label: Batov Records

Catalog Number: Digital