Review: Various Artists - Batov Artists 3 (Batov Records)

So another stunning release from Batov Records and better than that, it's a nine track compilation of some of their biggest stars... but there's some even better news!

We've love a the sounds from Batov this year; from Eje Eje's 'Five Seasons' (see review HERE) who are represent on this album with 'Black Sea Majic (Autumn)' to some lounge samba for ya Jonny Trunk types with Moriah Plaza's 'Samba Moosh' (see review HERE).

The great news is that the Sandman Project (the Emanative / Jessica Lauren project) is here in the form of  Hamsa Remixes EP (see review HERE) and more proof that there's more to just 'middle eastern' grooves, Muito Kaballa's 'Luna' is 60s jazz proggy and middle eastern. 

Of course, the hous band/flag wavers of the label, Sababa 5 are represented with the new track, 'Aeolus' from the album Aspan' (see review HERE) but the album is all gems like this.

Oh! And the "even better news", this compilation by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi is on Bandcamp as a digital release as a "Thank you" for a mere £1.00 if you get in quick; indeed "Thank you" Batov Records and all the artists and fans alike.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Batov Artists 3

Release date: 15th December, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR090

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: J&F Quintet - Contrast (BBE Music)

This was originally released in 1976 by J&F Quintet on a little know Swiss label, Delta Production.   The group were clearly into Miles' fusion in a deep way so why isn't this better known with original copies demanding £350 prices!

Well, it is a bit of a mystery but thankfully IF... Music's Jean-Claude Thompson has a finger on this type of thing in Europe (check out his 'If Music Pressents You Need This' series  which has compilations covering labels like Enja Records, Black Saint & Soul Note and more) and he's managed to get this LP re-issued from the original master tapes!

The band, Stefan Schneller, Donat Beer and Toni Schädler, with the addition of drummers Gieri Bievi and Peter 'Huck' Hug and bassist Andri A Piorta, split up after this release; presumably Jazz-funk experimental mixed with trad. Swiss-Romansh isn't going to pay the mortgage.

Well, I say that now, but trad vocal/flute and jazz-funk-synth-out, 'White Arena' should have as it's got Can meets Jazzdance nonsense all over it; where's the 12" mix?

If you need "tips for tourist in Switzerland", this is the album you need and you jazz nuts will got for the longer tracks, like the 'Basilio' and the killer, 'Shagalak' plus the flute gang favourite, 'Sint-Flute'.

I'm guessing this won't be around for long so pre-order your copy now to avoid disappointment.

Artist: J&F Quintet 

Title: Contrast

Release date: 16th June, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE728 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various Artists - Middle Eastern Grooves (Batov Records)

Those that have recently picked up on Batov Records via the outstanding releases by the mighty Sababa 5 will be more than interested in this new compilation, 'Middle Eastern Grooves' celebrating Batov's history from 2015 - 2023 that's been selected by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi.

This 2xLP set will also appeal to a even wider audience as it features a mix of new and old plus some previously unreleased tracks; like a proper label compilation. 

It's great if you're into your World funk surf rock and it stretches further as there's lots of hip-hoppy/psych going on like the monsters 'Saved From The Jazz' by Eje Eje (can you be post-Bongo Rock? See review of latest re-issue of album that's now 50 years old, HERE) and Baharat's 'Parsley Disco' or the eastern edge, 'Nasnusa' by Sababa 5 featurig Yurika.

There's no Sandman Project (see review HERE) but you get previously released tracks from Kutiman, Sababa 5, Boom Pam (who have just released thier album 'Royal' just in time for Charlie III), Şatellites and the pop-cornesque 'Six' by Romano.

This is the kind of album that can change your summer holiday destination choice and puting your big toe into the sea/pool/waters of the Middle East (it's a big catchment area) or just catch DJ Kobayashi as he's regularly at trend hot beds like Brilliant Corners and Spiritland plus he's got a bi-weekly show on Soho Radio too!

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Middle Eastern Grooves

Release date: 19th May, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR

Format: 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp

 

Review: Remi Kabaka - Son of Africa (BBE Music)

Short & sweet, as the saying goes... Clocking in at around a half-hour, in terms of length, there's not a lot here--but it's a quality over quantity situation going on. Some serious heat happening which might explain (along with the rarity) why before this reissue this album was fetching over 700GBP. Also, it turns out, Remi has been on a few music legends' radar as revealed by this anecdote from the artist: "Paul McCartney called me for an immediate session one day when I was already helping ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker set up his recording studio in Lagos. I couldn't be in two places at once so regretfully I had to turn down Paul's session work offer." The album is technically Afro-Funk but, if no-one brings that up, this could be easily mistaken for deep funk coming out of the USA in the 70s. All the skill of the groups mentioned in rundowns of important 70s funk groups, but raw production that digs in a bit more... Everyone can feel it, but the "heads" will flip--rare groove that is truly both. Like some of those classic 70s groups, there's a mix of vocal & instrumental cuts, the closer being "Follow Your Needs." I would suggest you need this...



Artist: Remi Kabaka
Title: Son of Africa
Release date: April 21st, 2023
Label: BBE Music
Catalog Number: BBE727

The Soul Motivators feat. Shahi - It Is What It Is (Do Right! Music)

Having a deep love of all things Canadian and Do Right! Music in particular, how great it is to see a new 7" with a red and white label that's full of funk and soul.

As Shahi says, "It is what it is"!

Artist: The Soul Motivators feat. Shahi

Title: It Is What It Is

Release date: 2nd December, 2022

Label : Do Right! Music

Catalog Number : 7" / Digital

Review: Monzanto Sound - Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow EP (None More Records)

Last year we were excited about the release of Monzanto Sound's debut on None More Records, 'Time Lapse' EP, asking, "Where has all the post-punk-funk gone?" And even then, the tracks themselves were also neo-soul-jazzy and much more.  

This year, the EP 'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow', takes on this theme further as on  'The Letter' we take their ESG leanings to more Kraut-rock Can and the Erykah Budu vocals are, at times, an Dagmar Krause operatic avant-garde with space synths too!  Just stunning stuff.

And that's not all as 'The Fool' is the vocal version to the dub that appeared on Mali-I’s debut album 'In Session'. There's no foolin' us they go all reggae/dub; I'd recommend vocal/dub 12" which would be so cool, so come on None More Records!

'Nuff Blues' is just as radio friendly as a neo-soul blues-jazz-funk grooves can be and the 4-tracker is completed with 'Eja' (being in part a tribute to ‘Yemọja’ the Yoruba goddess of the sea).

"Where has all the post-punk-funk gone?" Monzanto Sound are so much more and have passed the 'Gilles Peterson approved' test by a distance.

Artist: Monzanto Sound 

Title: Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Release date: 25th November, 2022

Label: None More Records

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe - Who You Gonna Run To EP (Ramrock Records)

Don't be fooled by the cover as this isn't the 'blue' version of Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe's recent Snapshot Of Reality EP but a brand new 4-track EP with original version vs. The North Street West team.

There still the strings, the dubness, soul, jazzy-funk keys and a wicked trombone reminiscent of Rico in the echo chamber with an overiding funk groove so that there's some Herbie (lots of buzz about the 50th aniversary of 'Headhunters') and Cymande (lots of buzz about the Sol Power All-Stars 'Nyah-Rock' being Cymande cover versions and the Cymande film that's recently been released).

I think it's fair to say that the The North Street West's approach to a remix trio is pretty hard to the dancefloor.  You get 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Vocal Remix), 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Vocal Dub Remix)' which sees more of that echo chamber for fun disco-dub and 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Instumental)' which is so good, I'd put it in any OST set is the funky 70s or Daniel Wang's DJ box. 

This is yet more fantastic goodness from Ramrock Records and we're so lucky to have them in these (mostly) dark times. 

P.S. Just to let you know, the cover artwork is from fellow Ramrock artist, Greg Blackman (yes, he of Mr Bird ft Greg Blackman - Over Again (Ramrock Records)

Artist: Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe 

Title: Who You Gonna Run To EP

Release date: 4th November, 2022

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR033

Format: Digital

Review: Fae Simon - Outrospective (BBE Records)

This is one of those albums that, even in these globalized times, could’ve only been made in the UK with its distinctive musical melting-pot.  From the first track, we’re given a taste of Fae’s diverse influences : her own vocals reminiscent of a hundred lovers rock singers from the early ‘80s, but also bringing to mind left-field artists from the ‘90s like Nicolette, while the underlying rhythm also combines  an organic, roots reggae vibe with those dark, stoned trip-hop gestures that were such a feature of the musical landscape of her native London twenty years ago.  Other tracks veer towards hip-hop, and there’s even a little jazz feel on track five, where you can really feel  the interplay between singer and musicians.

If none of that sounds like anything exactly new, then, yes, you’re right –this is perhaps not the most adventurous, forward-thinking album the very eclectic BBE label have put ever out. What it is, is a solid set which they might find it difficult to fit into contemporary music marketing categories, but which will definitely find a home with some of the more open-minded and inquisitive music-lovers out there.

This is definitely an album put together by and for someone who feels she has something to say, both socially and musically. ‘Outropective’ suggests she is looking out at the world rather than inside her own head.  Let’s hope the world is similarly inclined to notice her. Both classically and jazz-trained, according to the press release that came with our copy of this album, there needs to be a place for the Fae Simons of this world in an era when most music is put together through a computer programme.

Outrospective is available now via iTunes

Review: DJ Spinna - The Sound Beyond Stars: The Essential Remixes (BBE Music)

Spinna was an icon of the indie hip-hop scene who switched rides on an early lap some way round the course of his DJ/production career, and, if he hasn’t yet reached the finishing-line, has accumulated trophies already in the form of some sizeable dance hits. The biggest of those, his mix of Shaun Escoffery’s ‘Days Like These’ is inexplicably not on either of the two lavish double albums (one track per side apart from LP 1, side C, which has two) this comes as, though it IS found on the CD. That early release (and its immediate predecessor, ‘Space Rider’ which was particularly big in New York) immediately put Spinna up there with the big boys in the world of house, and he’s stayed there pretty much ever since. If there’s a better vocal record in the last few years, I’d like to hear it (and please post it to me via this site)!
 
A high proportion of the material here is also vocal, but there are a couple of deeper, techier instrumental  tracks to spice up the vibes (and one of those, his Acid Power mix of Karizma ‘The power’ seems to be exclusive to the vinyl). Anyone who likes their house music rooted in the black American tradition will find much to enjoy here, but don’t expect four sides of gospel-style wailing. The original material is quite disparate, but there’s a marked tendency for Spinna to work with bands, and tracks that start out more ‘musical’ in the first place. A Spinna sound, grooving and funky, but never ‘hard’,  unites all the material here. A few personal favourites: Louie Vega with Raul Midon ‘A Better Day’, like sounding like a 21st century Jose Feliciano.; Fertile Ground, ‘Live In The Light’ –fierce, spiritual – and Tortured Soul ‘Why’, deep and dark. This is a well-deserved first retrospective for someone that’s helping to keep alive a vital strain of our dance music heritage.

The Sound Beyond Stars is available on vinyl, CD and MP3 directly from BBE
Or via iTunes