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

 

Review: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei - Telling Lies (The Remixes EP) (F*CLR Records)

Are you ready for more 'Telling Lies'?

You will be when I tell you that 'The Remixes EP' not only has the North Street West team (better known to their friends and family as Ashley Beedle, Darren Morris and Jo Wallace) but also a Dan Tenor-City and Laroye version as a NYC Dub!

For those that recall Dan Tenor City's 12" on BBE, 'Oba' it will come as no surprise this  remix partnership with Laroye (Freerange, Local Talk, If It Ain't Jazz and more) is deep house, jazz-funk, disco-boogie dub and "we can see what they've done to me".  The big strings, the atmospheric semi-Italo piano, hot organ and the vocals with that element of echo makes it just mesmersizing.

Fans of Ramrock Records and F*CLR will know that the North Street West remix pose can match that and they've done a vocal, a 'Step Up' Dub and included an instrumental version.  I defy you not to love 'em all but the instrumental really gets those strings in a Detroit position ready for the organ, synth and horn stabs. Brilliant!

I don't think that we went overboard with out review of the original release of this one (see review HERE) but the only way to get full satisfaction is to get both the original and the remix packages: they'll drive you crazy with love for all the tracks and you definitely won't be able to take 'em away from me.

Did someone say, "Hectic Extension"?

Artist: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei 

Title: Telling Lies Remixes EP

Release date: 24th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei - Telling Lies (F*CLR Records)

The Descendants 'Telling Lies' featuring the vocals of Mazen Bedwei on F*CLR Records is so good! And I'm not lying.

When I said, "lets have more from F*CLR [pronounced F.Star.Clear]" when reviewing Wearing Shoes' EP, 'Never Pretend' (review HERE), I didn't think we'd hear so quickly or with such a different sound!

'Telling Lies' is full-on with big strings (as if we're going to go disco), post Italo-piano, a little bit of dubby echo and massive soulful vocals that's as good as any UK club scene from Acid Jazz onwards. 

In fact, this is so good the instrumental version will kill you with the strings alone; if you're lying by a pool at sunset, you'll get ya boogie bathers on when the DJ plays this one for some deep end action.

The name, The Decendants, comes from the fact that this a a family affair with Johnny 'Primed' Cooper, his son Matt & Jeff Cooper.  All have been involved with music for a long time; from Incognito to Outside (D'n'B) to Mazen being on tour with Leroy Hudson.

You might think that this would tend to be derivative but F*CLR those thoughts and get busy with this.  

And rumour has it that some monster remixes are on there way so prepare yourself with these original versions.

Artist: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei 

Title: Telling Lies EP

Release date: 10th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR017 Digital / Bandcamp