Review: Joseph Malik - Trouble With A Capital T (Natasha Kitty Katt Remix) (F*CLR Music)

If you're lucky enough to find 'Trouble With A Capital T', in life, the chances are that you're likely to find double trouble with capital 'T's, "TT" you might say.  Well, the good folks at F*CLR Music have found their 'TT' in the form of a NKK.  

And it is in those Lothian streets you'll find a Natasha Kitty Katt remix. I didn't hear this at last week's We Out Here Festival (Ed. that was last week so please stop going on about that now) but if I had, I know that the tent/field would have erupted in post-The Communards NRG synth disco 80s pop boogie frenzy.

You may know Natasha by reputation from disco/house residencies at high profile gigs such as Glitterbox, Soul Heaven, Southport and more; so when you add that talent to some additional production work by the North Street West crew, we're talking some serious disco fun even with a longer 'club vocal' and 'club instrumental' versions plus "two left feet".

But don't forget the original version (see review HERE) and, talking of which, if you're still around Edinburgh after the Festival in September, check out the Voodoo Rooms as this is where Mr Malik's new album, 'Proxima Ebony'  is going to have a launch party (check the details HERE) along with the magnificent Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms), Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) plus Natasha Kitty Kat and no doubt members Ramrock's Scottish contingent of The Jennifer Ewan Band (see review HERE and HERE) will show up to have a great time.

Artist: Joseph Malik 

Title: Trouble with a Capital T - The Natasha Kitty Katt Remix Ep [Additional Productions by North Street West]

Release date: 25th August, 2023

Label: F*CLR Music

Cat. No: FCLR026

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Maxine Scott x Alf.E - SXC (Ramrock Blue Records)

Ramrock Records are back with a new release on their Blue imprint as Maxine Scott x Alf.E follow up thier fantastic 'Ya Energy'.

You can guess why her first release was called 'Erykah U Bad' as there's obvious comparissons with her Badu-ness (but that's not at all, it's got to be better than good).

With a vocal and a beats version you might be thinking, "where's my fix of North Street West's usual trio of superb vocal/dub/instrumental remixes"?  But please don't as, in truth, you don't need them as this is so hypnotically groovey. 

It ain't X-rated or blue but definitely deep and SXC is already feeling it's going to be new 'golden era' in a blink of an eye.

Artist: Maxine Scott x Alf.E

Title: SXC

Release date: 14th November, 2022

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RRB015

Format: Digital

Review: Suddenly WOW! - Little Things (Ramrock Records)

More from Ramrock you say, yes it is and all of a sudden, it's Suddeny WOW!   

And this is a perfect little thing in original vocal and instrumental versions as Darren Morris and Otti Albietz (together as a duo, aka Suddeny WOW) get lost in a Joy Div/David Byrne/Franz Ferdinand meets Can/Neu/Krautrock at a 90s synth pop fish-eyed disco.

So whilst my description might not get the pulse racing, you'll soon find that it's gets that ear worm familiarity to it that makes it a Ramrock Red winner.

Already getting lots of plays on forward looking radio stations of BBC 6 Music, TWR, Soho Radio, 1BTN etc.

The question some may ask is where's the  North Street West remix attention that a Ramrock release is reknown for? I'd say, it's perfect as it is!

Artist: Suddenly WOW!

Title: Little Things

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR035

Format: Digital

Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe - Who You Gonna Run To EP (Ramrock Records)

Don't be fooled by the cover as this isn't the 'blue' version of Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe's recent Snapshot Of Reality EP but a brand new 4-track EP with original version vs. The North Street West team.

There still the strings, the dubness, soul, jazzy-funk keys and a wicked trombone reminiscent of Rico in the echo chamber with an overiding funk groove so that there's some Herbie (lots of buzz about the 50th aniversary of 'Headhunters') and Cymande (lots of buzz about the Sol Power All-Stars 'Nyah-Rock' being Cymande cover versions and the Cymande film that's recently been released).

I think it's fair to say that the The North Street West's approach to a remix trio is pretty hard to the dancefloor.  You get 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Vocal Remix), 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Vocal Dub Remix)' which sees more of that echo chamber for fun disco-dub and 'Who You Gonna Run To (North Street West Instumental)' which is so good, I'd put it in any OST set is the funky 70s or Daniel Wang's DJ box. 

This is yet more fantastic goodness from Ramrock Records and we're so lucky to have them in these (mostly) dark times. 

P.S. Just to let you know, the cover artwork is from fellow Ramrock artist, Greg Blackman (yes, he of Mr Bird ft Greg Blackman - Over Again (Ramrock Records)

Artist: Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe 

Title: Who You Gonna Run To EP

Release date: 4th November, 2022

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR033

Format: Digital

Review: Ghetto Priest X D.Foe - Snapshot Of Reality EP (Ramrock Records)

When it comes to the team behind Ramrock Records, who would be surprised that their latest release is Marvel styled 'dystopian' goodness.  

This 4 track EP is themed with an end of the world vibe brought on by toxic waste (are you listening utility companies?) via a Bristolian dub heritage.  The title track speaks for itself but you want to get heavy?  Yes I do - the deeper 'Self Dialogue' goes off into a strings vs. spaghetti western dub, twangy guitars seem to be 'in' at the moment.  The Sly remix is fully dubbed touching Bauhaus way (good one for forthcoming Halloween - I take it Bela Lugosi is still dead]'

'Land of Origins' is a anitdote to the dystopia with a theme of "love not hate"; it'd be cool mixtape starter but so is 'Self Dialogue' as there's lots of tension and growing hypnotic angst.

Equally mad is that the cover artwork is from fellow Ramrock artist, Greg Blackman (yes, he of the last review on YOU AND THE MUSIC with Mr Bird ft Greg Blackman - Over Again (Ramrock Records)  Who'd have guessed and more evidence that it's best to buy all of the label's releases.

Ramrock/ Ramrock Blue/ Ramrock Red · 01. Ghetto Priest X D.Foe - Snapshot Of Reality

Artist: Ghetto Priest x D​.​Foe 

Title: Snapshot of Reality EP

Release date: 19th September, 2022

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR032

Format: Digital

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