Review: Omar - Can We Go Out (Lyric Video) (IMPRESS!VE Collective - an imprint of BBE Music)

DIgital/Video singles are not our usual thing but when it comes to UK legend, Omar, we are prepared to make that exception as his voice is just a brilliant way to start the week.

'Can We Come Out Again' may sound like a post-pandemic throw-a-way or a LGBTQ+ call to arms; either way, it's a great start to the week. 

Not only that, it's the first full single from Omar's forthcoming 9th studio album called 'Bright The Days'.

You may recall that last year, we started off with the single 'Lovey Dovey' so if you were wondering what to do for the forthcoming Valentines Day.

NO DIGITAL : BANDCAMP LINK Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental) | Omar 

Artist: Omar

Title: Can We Go Out (Lyric Vi5deo)

Release date: 7th February, 2024

Label :  IMPRESS!VE Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE801SDG1

Format: Bandcamp  

Review: Omar - Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental) (IMPRESS!VE Collective)

We've been impressed by all releases so far on the Impressive Collective so, stating the obvious, Omar 'The Man' is going to be impressive on this new single, ' Lovey Dovey' / 'This Thing Called Life' due out on 10th January.

You can't help love Omar's vocals even if the title is a bit soft and then, 'This Thing Called Life' is a big string orchestrated instrumental that sounds 70s OST, but update!

Fits in nicely with Jessica Lauren's 'Film (see review HERE) and whilst it sounds heretical to say that an instrumental track by Omar is the must have of 2025; there, I've said it!

NO DIGITAL : BANDCAMP LINK Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental) | Omar 

Artist: Omar

Title: Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental)

Release date: 10th January, 2024

Label :  IMPRESS!VE Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE801SLP

Format: Vinyl 7"  / Bandcamp  

Review: Cotonete - Victoire De La Musique (Heavenly Sweetness)

Those old jazz funk and acid jazz album can sound a little hackneyed?  The answer in 2024 is to looking a little further afield with Cotonete's new album, 'Victoire De La Musique' on Heavenly Sweetness.

Starting out in the 2000's this "supergroup" were  fans of Latin-jazz big hitters like Deodato, Lalo Schiffrin, Azymuth, Banda Black Rio but they only got going after a recent reunion at the behest of Melik Bencheikh of Heartbeat Vinyl in Paris.

The album 'Super-vilains' came out in 2019 and caught attention of remixes by Dimtri From Paris and Alex Attias and Canadian rapper Drake has even sampled them (and look what that did for Norma Winstone and owners of her 1970s album, no going for £350!)

For their follow-up album Heavenly Sweetness' GUTS has not only upped the ante, they are joined by names as famous as a Gilles Peterson VIP guest list like Far Out Recording's  Sabrina Malheiros Leron Thomas, Gystere Pesine and legend, 'The Man' Omar (can't believe it's almost exactly 10 years since 'The Boogie Volume 4' on Tokyo Dawn Records (see review HERE).

 

In addition to the heavenly (no pun etc) vocals by Omar on 'What Did You Run For', there's a tribute to French film OST royalty Francis Lai with 'Cinq Pour L'aventure at nearly 15 minutes long and the synth-funk-disco of 'O céu é preto' feat. Gystere (I can hear Dimitri sharpening his faders as I type.

That said, all 9 tracks are great and a very early contender for Album of the Year and conviently released to coincide with the first Bandcamp Friday of the year - you know what to do!

Artist: Cotonete

Title: Victoire De La Musique

Release Date: 2nd February 204

Catalog Number: -

Label: Heavenly Sweetness