Review: Robert Burbridge ft. André Espeut - Leaf (Tangential Music)

We often think of turning over a new leaf every year in January and what better way to start with the single by Robert Burbridge ft. Andre Espeut called simply, 'Leaf'?

  

Well, it's a bit of a surpise actually as we know Mr Burbridge as he's mates with Richard E (now a LA resident and he's OK post fire) as he did a remix to Richard's 'Too The Moon' track (see review HERE).

And he's teamed up with the well known voice  of André Espeut, as in Inkswell (see review HERE), King Bee (see review HERE) - Ed. André Espeut is always in demand.

And there's definitely some synchronicity between the two of them as André's "lyrics and hook-laden vocals" top the string laden 'stadium' pop-rock sound of the track.  

It's a bit of a grower as it's like a Balearic friendly version on the Stones with touches of Mod, gospel and soul.

Quite a lot different to the last release from the label on YATM, Franck Biyong's 'Radio Masoda' that came out towards the end on last year (see review HERE) but equally as likely to get on the radio: perhaps this does mean everything.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/leaf

Artist: Robert Burbridge ft. Andre Espeut 

Title: Leaf

Release date: 16th January, 2024

Label : Tangential Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :  Digital 

Review: Franck Biyong - Radio Masoda Remixed (Tangential Music)

Tangential Music are celebrating Fela Kuti's birthday today with a 4-track EP from Franck Biyong's album 'Radio Masoda', its like icing on the cake.

As fans of the album 'Radio Masoda' that came out back in May, (see review HERE) is supplemented with 'Jela Kubwa' remixed by Aint4perfect (getting a bit of a groovy slo-jam vibes), 'Oladipo' featuring Chief Udoh Essiet and Fela's co-hort at the  formation of Afrobeat Tony Allen (RIP) with a Yann Jankielewicz remix, 'Mbopi Road' (Max Doblhoff Remix) and the 'original' Aint4perfect / Franck Biyong track, 'London to Nairobi'.

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome Kuti was born this day in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938 and there's no better way to celebrate his birthday with remixed tracks of Cameroonian guitarist/singer/composer Biyong who spent 12 years working with Tony Allen with 'Oladipo' being a tribute track.

Aint4perfect (aka Woni Kimani) has really worked the 'Jela Kubwa' into a Afro-baleriacs funk that's a really is the groovy baby - a must have in a top quality release.

Artist: Franck Biyong 

Title: Radio Masoda 

Release date: 15th October, 2024

Label : Tangential Music

Catalog Number : TAN0038EPG1

Format :  Digital 

Review: DJ Oil - Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer (Tangential Music)

The oil industry may not be the shiny future it once was but DJ Oil is an altogether different matter as he charts the 'Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer' on his new album.

Couldn't have been better timed with all the current chatter of privately funded space walls by billionaires but equally, as it came out l week, this takes a little while to absorb how massive these 11 tracks are (similar to his 2015 BBE album 'The Phantom'; the one with the scary "death mask" cover image).

In fact, were told DJ Oil (aka Lionel Corsini) has been working on this collection between 2007-2013 and it's a proper smorgasbord of Franco-Afro-futuristica house jazz Detroit hypnotic boogie; like a Sun Ra inspired Theo Parrish World album.

 

Like I say, it's quite a lot to get your head around, from the near 12 minute awesomeness of 'Ithaka Dancer' and the also lenghty 'Ashes In Namibia', 'Kwani And Ashes', 'Yaka Di Bongo' and the 'Garifunas Ley Del Fuego' featuring Ji Dru.

There's cosmic links to Frank Biyog's 'Radio Masoda' (Ji Dru for one) that was released earlier this year (see review HERE) but in truth, 'Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer' is a one-off that's out of this earth.

Artist: DJ Oil

Title: Rise Of A Cosmic Dance

Release date: 5th September, 2024

Label : Tangential Music

Catalog Number :  

Format :  Digital 

Review: Franck Biyong – Radio Masoda (Tangential Music)

Do you have the post-WOMAD blues?  Well, they're not going to last long when you tune into 'Radio Masoda' with Franck Biyong!

The Cameroonian guitarist, composer and singer releases his 20th album and be prepared for "the creator of the Afrolectric" getting deep with the traditional sounds of makossa, Afrobeat, Highlife, Congolese rumba and all things West African with elements of jazz, funk and rock.

"Makossa, as in 'Soul Makossa'?". Yes, the great Manu Dibango was Frank's mentor and there's some other big names that Frank's called upon from his Paris base, Tony Allen (RIP), vocalist Sandre Nkaké and the horns of Pat Thomas' Kwashibu Area Band.

And talking of Paris (Olympic City and all that), there's a touch of French jazz histoire in this album too (which isn't a great surprise) but 'Jela Kubwa Na Viboko' is so gentle and cooling it's an instant classic for me (very 'Nostalgie Ya Mboka' to my Resonance ears) along with 'Liwa Ya Wech'.

But most of the album is upbeat and 'Diamane Abele' is another dancefloor killer and 'Elephant Rumble' is exactly what it says on the tin.

I like the cover image as it's DJ/Soundsytem but it's a bit diceptive as it's an album for DJs, Paris or not!

Franck Biyong · Radio Masoda

Artist: Franck Biyong 

Title: Radio Masoda 

Release date: 3rd May, 2024

Label : Tangential Music,

Catalog Number : TAN0038ADG1

Format :  Digital 

Review: Dj Toner Q4rtet - Camina feat. Erik Truffaz (Tangential Music)

Dj Toner and Erik Truffaz go way back to their days as the Domestic Jazz Collective and the 2021 Dj Toner Q4rtet album, 'Blessed Are The Weird People' so how weird is the new single, 'Camina'?

As it's Easter, they'll be lots of 'Camina' talk this time of year; especially, Camino de Santiago (other relegious prilgrims are available).  But that's not what we'll,be thinking about here.

For fans of Swiss born Truffaz's jazz horn, who is not shy of working with 'weird' people like Murcof and Syl Johnson,  That's in addition to releasing his own music, like the 2007 album 'Arkhangelsk' and last years 'Rollin'', both on on Blue Note.  So he's got form mixing the jazz with the hip-hop; albeit, I did see him live some years ago with, at the time teen icon, Ed Harcourt!

And Erik's cool Miles Davis tone al la "we got the jazz"/MC Solaar suits Dj Toner's beats (also check out 'Affective Computing','Natural Love' and the Grandmaster Jazz supergroup, 'Free-Remix').

There's a new album promised, 'OutSide' with a further nine tracks; seems ideal for fans of DJ Shadow (but not his 'The Outsider' period); 'Camina' has got a touch of the southern Cal. Latin scratchin' and a walkin' about it.  

As Dj Toner (aka Antonio Herrera) himself might say, Cadizfornia Dreamin'.

More Dj Toner Q4rtet please. 

Artist: Dj Toner Q4rtet

Title: Camina feat Erik Truffaz 

Release date: 28th March, 2024

Label: Tangential Music

Catalog Number: Digital  

Review: Maya Blandy - B.I.B (JMJ Recordings)

Judging a release by it's cover artwork is a risky buisness but it's clear to see that Maya Blandy's 'B.I.B' is it's very classy act indeed.

Working with 50% of The Herbaliser (that's the Jake Wherry half and not the Ollie Teeba), this 'B.I.B' is trade mark Herbaliser "jazzy hip-hop" that's gone big band with a capital 'B' with the addition of the sultry vocals of Maya  who's definitely a young star at the start of her career (abeit, this is already her third single). 

'B.I.B' is the 'clean' version as it stands for 'Bitch In Black' and has more of a Amy Winehouse vibe that the more poppy previous single 'Stardust' just to show-off how versatile she is.

I like a full blown jazz big band as much as Mr. Wherry by the sounds of these tracks and it's good to see the arrangements were by trombonist, Trevor Mires who's been part of some hugely influence jazz combos like Examples Of Twelves, The Heritage Ochestra, Ben Lamdin's Nostalgia 77 Octet, The Rhythmagic Orchestra and Incognitio to name just a few.

I'm sure there's potentially a re-visit to a 'Something Wicked' (an old Herbaliser track) haunted house dub (well, it is that time of year) but the original here is close to perfect as it - very recommended!  

P.S. 'Stardust' the album is due early in 2024.

Artist: Maya Blandy 

Title: B.I.B

Release date: 24th November, 2023

Label: JMJ Recordings

Cat. No: JMJ00004

Format: Digital / Bandcamp / Kudos