Review: Ella Thompson - Ripple On The Wing (Hopestreet Recordings)

Fans of Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, Ziggy Zeitgeist, Godtet, JK Group and no doubt many more, will know that there's lots of interesting sounds coming out of Australia from a hip-hop, jazzy, soul, funk, beats base.  And here's another as Ella Thompson's new album, 'Ripple On The Wing' comes out this today.

The Hopestreet Studios are definitely busy as this is Ella's second album on the Hopestreet label and whilst the cover looks like some lost 70s folk album, she's definitely not a lost offspring of Richard and Linda.

In fact this his more of a soul-pop 60s beats vibe a la to Amy Winehouse (Ed. Did I ever tell you the story of having a chat with Amy in Camden High Street outside the Cobden pub - now closed!) with US sixities soul entrenched nodding to The Shangri-Las and Daptone channelled into a while back Sharon Jones/Charles Bradley and Timmion Records are still doing to this day.

These are heady comparisons but the house band has all the Memphis soul you could wish for and she's a star ready to happen outside of the recent singles ‘Let There Be Nothing’ and 'Omen' (both outstanding) that BBC 6 Music have supported with DJ(and more) legend, Craig Charles.  Particularly, 'Don't Be A Taurus' that wraps everything together with a warm glow.

Totally different from another favourite from down under, Audrey Powne or even Ella in The Bamboos (can 'Medicine Man' really be 2012?) but we do live in blessed times and , I urge you all to take this out for a spin, it's another stunner! (or should that be ripper?)

P.S. just spotted, the backing band on the album is the Surprise Chefs, a Hiatus Kaiyote and co-produced with a Karate Boogaloo! get 'em on Celebrity Master Chef Australia - they need a new soundtrack and get Mel back.

PPS. A bit different to Hannah Macklin's 'Mu' (see review HERE) also from Hopestreet Recordings.

Artist: Ella Thompson

Title:  Ripple On The Wing

Release date: 15th November, 2024

Label : Hopestreet Recordings

Catalog Number : 

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Hannah Macklin - Mu (Hopestreet Recordings)

Hopestreet Recordings are big on new talent so if you're not up to date with what's going on down under, in addition to The Meltdown, and Immy Owusu, here's another new name with her debut album, Hannah Macklin.

'Mu', the Zen Buddist state of 'nothingness' and 'awareness'. Jazz fans will be aware of Don Cherry''s 'Mu' album period (originally released in the late sixties on Actuel) as an early 'free' jazz experiment.

Ms. Macklin's inspiration for this ten track album doesn't go back that far.  Her musical inspiration is in a neo-soul, trip hop that merges Potishead and folky/spiritual beats of Mia Doi Todd/Build An Ark. 

The huge strings and jazz leanings give this album a cinematic/OST tension like the opener, 'Mono No Aware' (equally, its got a touch on Robert Wyatt's 'Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard' about it) whilst the previous singles 'Otherworld' (featuring Cazeaux O.S.L.O; remember the incredible 'Saints' by PreQuel?) and  'Stars' are just waiting to break out of the underground (or should that be 'Otherworld'?)

That said, this is not singles orientated 'Nitrogen' is angular in comparision to the sublime, 'The Essence' that's pretty close in feel to Minny Ripperton's 'Les Fleurs'; yes, that good!  Whilst 'Sunday Best' seems to fall somewhere between the two; is that a distant Radiohead echo in there?

The tenuous link between the aforementioned jazz great Don Cherry and trip hop/Bristol scene is, of course, Neneh Cherry and Hopestreet Recordings seems to in a similar musical hot spot at the moment that's not to be overlooked. 

And great artwork too!

Artist: Hannah Macklin

Title: MU 

Release date: 2nd June, 2023 

Label: Hopestreet Recordings

Cat. No: -

Format: Bandcamp / Digital