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 - Acantha Lang - Carry The Weight (Self-Released)

Well know that New Orleans is, on the one hand, full of saints and on the other, it's a party town.  So when native of that city Acantha Lang finds herself in London, there's more than enough folks that are more than happy to ensure that she doesn't do it alone to 'Carry The Weight'.

The single starts like it's a bit 'Tumbling Dice' with that southern soul organ but Acantha takes over with the purest of vocals.  Her time in NYC was no doubt aided by the Brooklyn/Daptone deep soul culture with big horns.  And, there's a superb instrumental version too, like the old 45s A-B side days.

Craig Charles (BBC 6Music) is a big fan and this is another one that you can imagine her killing the Jools Holland Later show.  Apparently, Holland presented her with the 'Blues artist of the Year' at the Boisdale Music Awards so he's on it!

Love this: also try Rat Child's new release.

Artist: Acantha Lang

Title: Carry The Weight

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label : Self-Released

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mr Bird ft Greg Blackman - Over Again (Ramrock Records)

Once in a while a tune turns into a classic; even more rarely you know a tune has classic status from the very first play.  This is one of those occasions.

Make no mistake Mr Bird and Greg Blackman – with the aid of two genuine masters of the remix, Tom Moulton and Ashley Beedle – have crafted something very special indeed. “Over Again” is simply beautiful, a gentle masterpiece that oozes soul and Summer; if it was any more honeyed the bees would have claimed it back by now...

The original “Lo-fi Classics” version, previously available on digital from BBE, is genuinely great in itself (and always has been) but the Tom Moulton and Ashley Beedle reworks take it to an even higher level. It’s a matter of personal taste which one works the best for you (I love ‘em both!), but if it’s the Tom Moulton version you’re after, you’d best be quick – it’s vinyl only, and there are only 200 of them out there.

So – terrific song, great production / vocals and top notch reworks from the man who invented the art of the remix, and the man who’s done as much as anyone to redefine it. Sounds like an absolute monster to me.



Buy via Juno

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: Vursatyl - Super feat. Dion (BBE Music)

It’s really a pity that in the Abrahamic tradition (i.e., Judaism, Christianity and Islam,) that the snake got a bad reputation.  In the Native American and African tribal legends, the snake was revered for its changing skin, a symbol of rebirth or renewal rather than being the bad guy in the legends of Abraham’s descendants.  Its counterpart in ancient Egypt is Osiris and the Norse had Baldr—both gods who were regularly reborn.  Hip hop music seems to be shedding its skin at the moment, maybe doing a bit of soul-searching.  It started out as a Bronx thing, spread all over NYC, then the East Coast and then all over the USA and Caribbean before leaping across oceans to first infuse and then reproduce itself in the UK, Japan, the European continent and beyond…  It was underground, then crossed over before eating whole, then redefining mainstream music. 

Hip hop music has been pretty busy since the late 70s spreading its message of… 
…Well, that depends on how you were introduced to it.  Initially it was party music, then it got more sophisticated and realized there was more to be talked about—such as social issues.  There was Black Nationalism and the rise of violent gangs on the West Coast. Back in NYC (and the East Coast in general,) Black Nationalism gave way to Afro-Centrism and a particular strain of Islam (“5% Nation,” later known as “Nation of Gods & Earths.”) The 90s brought us jazzy beats & rhymes, paeans to Mary Jane, “Thug Life” and “conscious rap.”  Another equally important, yet understated development was the abstract and sometimes instrumental output of the Solesides (later called Quannum) collective, which included Latyrx (Lateef the Truth Speaker and Asia/Lyrics Born,) Blackalicious (Chief Xcel & Gift of Gab) and, most famously, DJ Shadow.  Although they weren’t major label talents, they were licensed in the UK by a very influential label: Mo’Wax.  DJ Shadow has gone on to be a hiphop legend based on his revered instrumental album, Entroducing, which really works as a long-form piece.  While Blackalicious never reached the stardom of Shadow, they have a lot of artistic capital.  Fortunately for us, they used some of that to back a group from the hip hop non-mecca of Portland, Oregon known as The Lifesavas. 

From this group, comes the MC Vursatyl, whose “Super” sounds a bit like J-Live produced by J-Dilla.  Dion’s vocals play the proper support role, yet stick in your head (isn’t that why it’s called a “hook?”) In place of J-Live’s “Gods & Earths” we get a quick reference to Vursatyl’s Christianity, “…the Messiah was on the cross between two crooks.”  Despite this, braggadocio is still on full “…You’re trying to reach your potential, but I keep raising the bar.” His delivery is confident and his flow dances around the beat, making him a joy to listen to.  He’s had a few years on stage going toe-to-toe with Gift of Gab and it really shows.  Rolling Stone tapped Lifesavas as “a group to watch” a number of years ago and they were onto something.  “Super” should be bumping in everyone’s car, iPod, home or what/wherever they dig on music.  I’m sure there’s more to come and I, for one, can’t wait to see where Vursatyl goes with Hip hop wearing its new skin…

'Super' is out now on iTunes and all major download stores.

Preview: The Boogie Volume 4 (Tokyo Dawn Records)

Tokyo Dawn's incredible compilation series 'The Boogie' shows no signs of running out of steam with this, its 4th installment.

Somehow treading the fine line between nostalgic and futuristic, this lovingly chosen selection of tracks hangs together beautifully as an album. Highlights include an incredible opener featuring Omar and deftly remixed by in-demand producer Opolopo, as well as a truly modern soul ballad from Chacho Brodas.

"Connecting the dots between early electro, hip hop and house, this compilation redefines boogie based on neon synths, soul chords and a decent portion of robot funk."

 The LP is out on February 23rd on CD as well as digital. Until then, you can grab a preview right here:

The Boogie Volume 4 by Tokyo Dawn Records

Album: Red Hot + Fela (Knitting Factory Records)

Fela Kuti lives on. AIDS awareness organization Red Hot has partnered with cross-genre collaborators representing rock, hip-hop, Americana, and classical for the release of Fela Kuti compositions on Red Hot + Fela. The album features classic Fela anthems like "Lady" recorded by tUnE-yArDs, Questlove, Angelique Kidjo, and Akua Naru, "ITT" by Superhuman Happiness, "No Buredi" reimagined as an electro-house track by Nneka, Sinkane, Amayo, and "Afrodisco Beat 2013" by Tony Allen, M1 + Baloji. It also includes cover versions by Spoek Mathambo, Brittany Howard (from Alabama Shakes), the Kronos Quartet along with TV On The Radios' Kyp Malone and Tunde Adembimpe, and many more.

Buy the LP

Download the incredible 'Buy Africa' for FREE

Podcast: Sumsuch - Tributes & Dedications

For a long while I've been planning a downtempo mix for those late night reflective moments. Sit back, turn the lights down low, pour a stiff drink and enjoy a journey through the more emotional, yet life-affirming corners of my record collection. This set is dedicated to those who are no longer with us, and those left behind to miss them.

Yesterday's news of the sad passing of legendary DJ, producer and lovely man Shem McCauley (aka Slacker) spurred me on to finally put this mix together, however Lee Bailey, Ian Jones & Amy Winehouse & My Gran also deserve special mention. Gone, but never forgotten. Rest In Power.

Sumsuch - Tributes & Dedications by Will Sumsuch on Mixcloud

Podcast: Jeff Daniels - Jazz Journey #1

The first mix to be posted on You and the Music comes courtesy of our resident blogger Jeff Daniels, taking us through a selection of utterly essential jazz beats. Anyone with even a passing interest in dance music should get stuck into this- the roots are laid out before us here (as well as some very tasty recent cuts).

In the words of the man himself: "I've been meaning to put together a selection of Jazz or Jazz influenced tracks for a while now, and finally, here it is. The 1st installment..."Jazz Journey #1", taking in all forms of Jazziness, and featuring some real dance-floor burners to get your jazz juices flowing, a few head nodders and a couple of spat scuffers thrown in there as well, merging styles and adding new dimensions. No weakness in the whirl. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice."

You can download the link here http://www.sendspace.com/file/xc67xq

Feel free to share and please leave a comment, it's all about connecting up!

For DJ bookings please email djjeffdaniels@facebook.com

Jazz Journey #1 by Jeff Daniels on Mixcloud