Review: Jonson, Jonson & Jonson - Keep Falling For It (Ramrock Blue Records)

It's like waiting for a Jonson, like a London bus phenomenon, three come along all at once - and boy/girl, will you keep falling for this one!
 

It's rare for a Ramrock Blue release these days, you have to go back to last April for The Descendants featuring Mazen Bedwei 'Telling Lies EP' (see review HERE) and Eeskra's 'Belong EP' (see review HERE) but as soon as you here the start of both/either/and/or of the vocal and instrumental versions of 'Keep Falling For It', you'll know that it's been worth the wait.

The 'Blue' imprint of Ramrock is for their soul releases but this is deeper than blue, more Marvin than Marvin; like Marvin, Marvin & Marvin you might (but won't) say!  

I'm not sure if it's disappointing to find out the vocals are by Joe Cang and not Joe Jonson (not the snooker player) but it's hard to reconsile that this track wasn't recorded in some Motown studio in the 70s as, apart from Joe on vocals and bass, it's just Danny Schogger (piano) and Phill Thornalley (drums) because this is so soulfully lush.

Get it on people as this is going on repeat, repeat and repeat so expect to see the group picking up industry awards for this one with thier proud mother, Mrs Ramrock (Jo Wallace) next to them.

Artist: Jonson, Jonson & Jonson 

Title:  Keep Falling For It 

Release date: 9th September, 2024

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RBR023

Review: Maxine Scott - New To This EP (Ramrock Blue)

More new releases from the Ramrock stable finds a more mature Maxine Scott being 'New To This'.

As the last release, with Alf.E, 'Guard Down (see review HERE) was a step up from the previous single, also with Alf.E, 'SXC' (see review HERE), even with some child like giggles, this is shows further evidence that Ms. Scott is one to follow. 
With the instrumental, the beats are matched with some strings and dreamy harp to the slightly saucey lyrics.

If you're new to the work of Maxine, you may have heard her 'Erykah U Bad' track last year that was popular on BBC 6 Music and then there was 'Ya Energy' which was more hip-hop than the tracks already mentioned.  And we're still promised a No'West remix of the new track, working with the Black Science Orchestra (so looking forward to the return of BSO) and a house EP with Andrew Sant!

Artist: Maxine Scott 

Title: New To This EP 

Release date: 30th June, 2023

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RRB021

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: EESKRA - Belong EP (Ramrock Blue)

The blue side of Ramrock returns with something that is a little bit of a surprise as it belongs in the long hot summer campfires of a Balearic coastline disco.

Yes, they've done it again, as we find EESKEA as a new project of Petar Dundov, Ilija Rudman (who both have decades of house/disco/beach/Croatian sea breeze vibes experience behind them) and Yannah on vocals.

Both the vocal and instrumental versions of 'Belong' have the summer drenched into them even if the hook line is, "you throw me crumbs" is somewhat ironic as Petar and Ilija have been throwing us great big loaves/cakes of dance music and loads of remixes for ages.

And if you mention remix in these parts, even names of 'Dundow' and 'Rudman' will not get you infront of the North Street West experts.  And they've moved the original yatching transport mode into a NSW narrow gauge puffa steam train vibe that'll get you shuffling onto the dancefloor; again, vocal, instrumental and there's a Peechy dub mix with huge organ - can I hear Sharon Redd down the corridor trying to get out of the carriage whilst going over the points?   Froggy would have loved this but expect to see all five versions on playlists all over.

It's quite a difference from Ramrock Blue's last two releases, 'Guard Down' by Maxine Scott x Alf.E (see review HERE) and The Descendants' 'Telling Lies ‘JP’s Unplugged Cuts’ EP featuring Mazen Bedwei (see review HERE) but there perhaps a common bond to all that's not just the label.  I'd say, great music for starters.  

Artist: EESKRA

Title: Belong EP

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RRB018

Format: Digital

Review - Robb Scott & Leee John - Gotta Get Over You (North Street West Remix EP) (Ramrock Blue)

It's been a couple of weeks since we had the original release of 'Gotta Get Over You' (see review HERE) but have the North Street West collective outdown themselves with the remix version?

Well, they bloody well have as Beedle/Morris/Wallace give us vocal, dub and instrumental versions to give you excited for the weekend.

It's hard to believe that it's been 40 years since Lee and Imagination burst upon us (both on radio and Top Of The Pops) or that Robb has been working himself as a singer/songwriter, musician, composer, arranger for nearly as long and has worked with some of the very best in soul/jazz on both sides of the pond.

Whichever way you want to hear this (and I'd suggest both options of original version and the North Street West remix EP), we won't get over you anytime soon.

Artist: Robb Scott and Leee John

Title: Gotta Get Over You (North Street West EP)

Release date: 19th May, 2023

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RRB020

Review: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei - Telling Lies ‘JP’s Unplugged Cuts’ EP (Ramrock Blue Records)

It's a spot of luck that Ramrock Records have three varieties, Ramrock for Reggae, Ramrock Red for Balearic/Hip-Hop/Jazz/Electronica and Ramrock Blue for soul.

Whilst the cover is looking Balearic, this is very blue (as in soul) as it the stripped back version 'third' version of 'Telling Lies'.

This is jazz cat cool bongos backed with poolside keys and strings and super soul vocals for Balearic cafe lattes and mochas; not a hint of those awkward MTV unplugged productions of years ago.

All the people involved in this project have got experience in everything from D'n'B to Acid Jazz so believe me, there's no hint of horse flogging even if this is the third 'version' of the 'Telling Lies' trilogy of releases (following on from the original version, Telling Lies (see Review HERE) and the The Remixes EP) (see Review HERE) (both out on F*CLR being the dance sub-label of Ramrock).

What with Record Store Day and Ramrock's own release of Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers album on the same day, make sure you don't overlook this one.

Artist: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei

Title: Telling Lies ‘JP’s Unplugged Cuts’ EP

Release date: 21st April, 2023

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RBR015