Review: Joseph Malik with Kameelah Waheed - My Whole World (The Variant Issue Orchestra 'L'Opera Noir' Mixes) (Ramrock Red)

"I introduced Kameelah on Ramrock Red on 5th May, 2020 with 'Holding On' then 'America The Beautiful'...and then the rest is history! That's when Honey Dijon bagged her for her album, then Kenny Dope etc etc!!"

That's Jo Wallace (Ramrock Records) exclusively tell us how she found out about the talent of Kameelah Waheed.

And to believe it's been nearly two years since we were introduced to Kameelah Waheed on what is now the Will Brock/Sumsuch classic, 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' (see review HERE) but Variant Issue Orchestra have taken her to the church with "Rev" Joseph Malik on the vocals and instrumental mixes of 'My Whole World'.

Originally on Joseph's 'Proxima Ebony' album (see review HERE) along with Kameelah's other appearance on 'Be A Lion' (that also came out as single, see review HERE), the message of human failings in 'My Whole World (Is Fallin')' with hope of rising again (in a good way).

But hang on, does this sound suspiciously like last months' 'My Whole World (Variant Issue Orchestra Mixes)'?  Yes it does and all still apply but this time.... it's even more variant as the orchestra goes 'L'Opera Noir' giving the spoken "next level Gil Scot-Heron" what's been describel as 'sombre'.  It's certainly deep as centre stage performance and, as I said last time, "Prepare to be mesmerized"; be prepared to be more mesmerized as this is like the MacBeth version where 'ld Bill has gone on a charabanc from Sratford to Dudley.

Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' album lauch is on Saturday 15th March at Ebinburgh's Voodoo Rooms with an amazing DJ line-up in support - check it out HERE.

Artist: Joseph Malik with Kameelah Waheed 
Title:  My Whole World (The Variant Issue Orchestra 'L'Opera Noir' Mixes)
Release date: 7th March, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR075
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joseph Malik with Kameelah Waheed - My Whole World (Variant Issue Orchestra Mixes)

"I introduced Kameelah on Ramrock Red on 5th May, 2020 with 'Holding On' then 'America The Beautiful'...and then the rest is history! That's when Honey Dijon bagged her for her album, then Kenny Dope etc etc!!"

That's Jo Wallace (Ramrock Records) exclusively tell us how she found out about the talent of Kameelah Waheed.

And to believe it's been nearly two years since we were introduced to Kameelah Waheed on what is now the Will Brock/Sumsuch classic, 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' (see review HERE) but Variant Issue Orchestra have taken her to the church with "Rev" Joseph Malik on the vocals and instrumental mixes of 'My Whole World'.

Originally on Joseph's 'Proxima Ebony' album (see review HERE) along with Kameelah's other appearance on 'Be A Lion' (that also came out as single, see review HERE), the message of human failings in 'My Whole World (Is Fallin')' with hope of rising again (in a good way).

This is true next level Gil Scot-Heron jazz-funk soul and what a taster for 'Proxima Ebony Variiant Issue'!  Blimey, going next level to Fred Everythings' 'Love, Care, Kindness & Dubs' as a Vol. 2. release, if the variants are all as good as this, we're in for a right blessing. 

Prepare to be mesmerized.

Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' album lauch is on Saturday 15th March at Ebinburgh's Voodoo Rooms with an amazing DJ line-up in support - check it out HERE.

Artist: Joseph Malik with Kameelah Waheed 
Title:  My Whole World (Variant Issue Orchestra Mixes)
Release date: 28th February, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR074
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joseph Malik - Only Fans ft. Digital Liquid (X-Press 2 Remixes) (F*CLR Music)

The Joseph Malik / Digital Liquid track 'Only Fans' gets a big remix treatment by the only fans that could, X-Press 2!

Well, Ashley Beedle might be on the cards but it's be a while since he, Darren House and Darren Rock were rockin' up at Top Of The Pops with David Byrne doing the chart hit 'Lazy'.

But since Ashley went off to do his own thing (and sometimes teaming up with Yam Who?), the two Darrens (aka Rocky and Diesel) really are X-Press 2 as the pair of them are they're anything but lazy these days having released a  brand new album last year, 'Thee' on Acid Jazz and remixing David Kitt's 'Till The End' (from the album on Warm, (see review HERE) and even more recently, having Jim's 'Phoenix - X-Press 2 On Fire remixes' release to heat up the dancefloor (did you see what they did there?).

And you always worry that a remix of a loved track might not be quite right.  Not with these guys as they clearly love 'Only Fans' as 5 versions get a near endless train of synth funk (in a good way).

A 'Front Room' original, radio edit, instrumental at over 20 minutes all together put you in a dancefloor daze but some of us DJ's don't get close to that front room and get intimate in the back room venues; and the 'Back Room' vocal and instrumental versions are perfect knob twiddle tracks - so much bass 'n' synth for those dark moments.

And did somebody say don't forget the backing vocals, original versions and the video? See review HERE.

Artist: Joseph Malik  

Title:  Only Fans ft. Digital Likquid (X-Press 2 Remixes) 

Release date: 5th July, 2024

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR033

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Joseph Malik: Lead vocals, BVs

Darren Morris: Keyboards, percussion
Daniel Walls: Bass, synth
Jo Wallace: BVs

Review: Joseph Malik - Only Fans ft. Digital Liquid (F*CLR Music)

OK, I know you expect some clever double entendre / entendres for this review with the title and the featured artist; but you ain't going to get it from me as this track (and instrumental) is for everyone.

 

The F*CLR massive have recently been on a dancefloor roll Miss N.K.K from her remix of Mr. Malik's 'With A Capital T' remix (see review HERE) and her own magnificent synthed out 'Galactic Love' (see review HERE).  For their latest hit, 'Only Fans', Joseph has jumped over the imaginery divide from Ramrock to F*CLR for his soul to be acided-up as inspired 70s ghetto funk groover in both vocal and instrumental options s.

'Only Fans' might get a few stray Google search hits but if you're looking for great dance music, this is the place to come... and don't forget the album, 'Proxima Ebony' (see review HERE).

And did somebody say X-Press 2 remix?

Artist: Joseph Malik ft. Digital Liquid

Title:  Only Fans 

Release date: 28th June, 2024

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR032

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joseph Malik - Be A Lion ft Kameelah Waheed (Ramrock Red)

Could this track possibly relate to a Lion of Lisborn? I think not as Kameelah Waheed takes the lead on 'Be A Lion', the new single by Joseph Malik on the Ramrock Red label.

"Philly's finest" appeared a few times on YATM last year, not only on Malik's "Album Of The Year", 'Proxima Ebony' (see review HERE) but also Andrew Sant's 'Love Honor Respect' (see review HERE) and on Sumsuch & Will Brock's' Don't Know Where I'm Going' (see review HERE).

This is for all "lionesses" everywhere as although the instrumental version is pretty powerful with string ladden funk, the Nasty P kutz don't distract from Kameelah's vocals (or the very nice old skool East Coast hip-hop cover graphics).

Mr. Malik might have grown up into the soulful legend he is today but there's no hidding the original Mk1 B-Boy swagger here so if you've got the album, you need this single - if you've not got the album, get both.

P.S. There's still some time before the transfer window closes but I can confirm exclusively that we're not in any negoitations to buy out our Ramrock/F*CLR contract, quite the opposite as we've re-signed in what's been described as a "win-win" situation - you might say, "Come on you Lions/Lionesess"!

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Be A Lion ft Kameelah Waheed 

Release date: 26th January, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRR056

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Reveiw: Joseph Malik - Adjust Like Dat (Ramrock Red Records)

Craig Charles' favourite track of the new album, 'Adjust Like Dat' has just got a single release on Ramrock Red Records as vocal and instrumental versions.

Can we possibly say how good the album is, 'Proxima Ebony' (see review HERE) but if Mr Charles plays any track on BBC 6 Music's flagship 'Funk & Soul' show 3 (count 'em) weeks in a row, you know it's a tune.  And even more gratifing that's it's Joseph's tribute to his Dad, Francis Ukachukwu Malik (hence the tradition Nigerian dress in Igbo tribal colours.

And for those with a ear for this kinda of thing, you might reckonise Darren Morris' backing track is a cover of Norman 'The Harris Machine' Harris' 'In Good Faith' that got a wider audience when the 1980 track turned up on Harmless' compilation, 'Jazzy Vibes - Soulful Jazz Licks From The 70s'. 

Getting back to Mr. Malik's track, did someone say Jo Wallace is on back vocals?  And what's Joseph's Bill Wither's story anyway?

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Adjust Like Dat 

Release date: 29th September, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRR053

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Joseph Malik - Proxima Ebony (Ramrock Red Records)

The eagerly anticipated album 'Proxima Ebony' by Joseph Malik (out now on Ramrock Red) is finally here and it's everybit as good as what Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson and Blues & Soul's 10/10 review rating have been telling us it is.

It's as soulful as Mr Malik is with hip-hop notes (from Capitol A and Kameelah Waheed - taking a break from Colour & Pitch - see review HERE), acid (Digital Liquid), spiritual (Alina Bzhezhinska - see review HERE) ,Latin/folk (Chris Franck) and it's super funky too!

Eleven tracks in total and some of which we're already totally obsessed with like 'Adjust Like Dat' (which Mr. Charles loves), 'Trouble With A Capital T (as previously reviewed as a single HERE and the remix HERE) and the one about the sex worker industry 'Only Fans' - brilliant acid trip that conjures images of the Acid Queen herself, Tina Turner.

And see if you can work out which one is "Joseph's vision of 'Psycho Killer' meets CBGB's with Otti Albietz on guitar (from Suddenly WOW!) and Daniel Walls on drums....and me [Jo Wallace] on BVs".

Mr Malik has been very clever in balancing the entire album with these great musicians and it really does feel very balanced from start to finish.

I can't stress enought that it's all so good, you don't want it to stop listening to it. In fact, it's so good, we've just got to repeat Blues & Soul's 10/10 rating - it really is that good [Ed. we get the idea].

Not only that 8th September, 7:30p,m in the The Ballroom, The Voodoo Rooms is where Mr Malik's new album, 'Proxima Ebony'  is going to have a launch party (check the details HERE) along with the magnificent Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms), Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) plus Natasha Kitty Kat and no doubt members Ramrock's Scottish contingent of The Jennifer Ewan Band (see review HERE and HERE) will show up to have a great time. 

I can't imagine the buzz when he walks out on stage to 'Introduction' - it's going to be fantastic!

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Proxima Ebony

Release date: 8th September, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRRLP010

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Joseph Malik - Trouble With A Capital T (Natasha Kitty Katt Remix) (F*CLR Music)

If you're lucky enough to find 'Trouble With A Capital T', in life, the chances are that you're likely to find double trouble with capital 'T's, "TT" you might say.  Well, the good folks at F*CLR Music have found their 'TT' in the form of a NKK.  

And it is in those Lothian streets you'll find a Natasha Kitty Katt remix. I didn't hear this at last week's We Out Here Festival (Ed. that was last week so please stop going on about that now) but if I had, I know that the tent/field would have erupted in post-The Communards NRG synth disco 80s pop boogie frenzy.

You may know Natasha by reputation from disco/house residencies at high profile gigs such as Glitterbox, Soul Heaven, Southport and more; so when you add that talent to some additional production work by the North Street West crew, we're talking some serious disco fun even with a longer 'club vocal' and 'club instrumental' versions plus "two left feet".

But don't forget the original version (see review HERE) and, talking of which, if you're still around Edinburgh after the Festival in September, check out the Voodoo Rooms as this is where Mr Malik's new album, 'Proxima Ebony'  is going to have a launch party (check the details HERE) along with the magnificent Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms), Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) plus Natasha Kitty Kat and no doubt members Ramrock's Scottish contingent of The Jennifer Ewan Band (see review HERE and HERE) will show up to have a great time.

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Trouble with a Capital T - The Natasha Kitty Katt Remix Ep [Additional Productions by North Street West]

Release date: 25th August, 2023

Label: F*CLR Music

Cat. No: FCLR026

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Joseph Malik - Trouble With A Capital T (Ramrock Red Records)

"Here comes trouble" and it's original soul boy Joseph Malik's 'Trouble With A Capital 'T'''; and that's a really big 'T' in bright pink!

The every productive soul train that is Ramrock Red Records are ruling the streets and airways with yet another killer track following on from the 'Track of the Year', George T's 'Automatic Self On Hold' featuring Mr. Malik (see review HERE) and the Malik album last year, 'Diverse Pt 3 : Variant Issue'.

So, as I was playing out my vinyl-only set with the deck filled with Ramrockians; Ashley Beedle on 1 (Edwyn Collins' 'You'll Never Know (My Love)' and Malik on 2 (as 50% of Blackanized 360°, 'Vibe'brations' - Ed. Show off), news that this new track with an instrumental version hit the internet.

This type of trouble is the sort that everyone want. No "go-go" (as in Trouble Funk) but definitive soul-funk with a bit of raw Prince, loads of fun and as many feet as it needs to fill a dancefloor.

Talking of which, what a fabulous gin palace the Voodoo Rooms is in Edinburgh is!  Why mention this, this is where the new album, 'Proxima Ebony'  is going to have a launch night in September; after all those 'Festival' types have gone home (check the details HERE) along with the magnificent Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all forms), Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive) and Natasha Kitty Kat (F*CLR and haircut with a capital 'H').

Artist: Joseph Malik

Title: Trouble with a Capital T 

Release date: 21st July, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR045

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: George T ft. Joseph Malik - Automatic Self On Hold (F*CLR Music)

We've been long time fans of Joseph Malik having made his name 20 years ago; even a record label took their name from his track  'Futuristica'!

More recently he's been working with Ramrock Records and they've been promising us something special from Joseph for some that.  Adding a Roy Hargrove-esque trumpet (by David Rosenthal) to Joseph's soulful vocals with deep space synths from old-skool Detroit/Chi-Town plus jazzy keys, this is as good as next gen house gets.

And it doesn't stop there as there's the instrumental and a dub that's even brillianter as it merges on Isaac Asimov meets King Tubby at the Peechy NYC Boy disco; but guys, surely it needs to be at least 12" length? 

George's background is as deep as Joseph's with numerous remix releases classic labels like Glasgow Underground, NRK, 2020 vision, Crosstown Rebels, Tirk, and more recently Greco-Roman and Toolroom so together they make a great team and folks will be flocking to Scotland to be as hip as they are on the back of this no doubt [well Rebecca Vasant (Tru-Thoughts) got a "Jazz Warrior" moving from the South Coast to Glasgow a couple of years ago so it's not that far fetched]. 

Releasing this a few days ahead of Twelve Caesars' 'California Sleaze EP', (review HERE), F*CLR have their futuristica heads on as I'm calling it now, 'Automatic Self On Hold' track of the year!

Artist: George T ft. Joseph Malik

Title: Automatic Self On Hold

Release date: 27th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number :FCLR020 Digital / Bandcamp