Review: Enrico Bracco - Flying In A Box (A.MA Records)

Italian jazz has a huge history with labels as Black Saint and Soul Note to Schema Records and A.MA Records.

A.MA Records/Edizioni you say? Yeah, not so well known but that's changing as DJ Bob Hill (BBE, TWR, ReddSugarBlack Creative) as he is championing their releases with a compilation series and there's some remixes by Elbert Phillips.

 

Their latest album release by electric guitar maestro, Enrico Bracco is just out.  

'Flying In A Box' is his fifth album an very much modern jazz from the opening track 'Flow', with it's gentle stream like quality into the more angular 'Unresolved'.

'Urge' finds the band - personnel: Daniele Tittarelli (as), Pietro Lussu (p), Giuseppe Romagnoli (db), Enrico Morello (d): Drums - in more of a swing mode before the reflective gentleness of 'Cold' (in fact, I think 'Cold' is my favourite track of the eight on the album). 

There certainly is a sense of drama throughout the tracks that the band interpret prefectly as with the title track, 'Proved Honestly' and the more upbeat, 'The Same Way'.  

Bracco is certain not at all flashy and whilst jazz guitarist come in many forms these days, from the ever active/popular Bill Fisell to Lionel Loueke (who's recently announced a Herbie Hancock tribute album with Gilles Peterson!).  But if you're a fan of Kenny Burrel and Barney Kessel or even Stanley Jordan and Bireli Lagrene, this album is for you.

Artist: Enrico Bracco 

Title: Flying In A Box 

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label : A.MA Records / A.MA Edizioni

Catalog Number : LP / Digital / Bandcamp

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: Deborah Jordan - The Light (2022 Reissue) (Futuristica Music)

If you've recently discovered the music of singer/songwriter Deborah Jordan from her work with Marc Rapson (on 'I'll See You Again') and K15 plus new remixes by DJ Spinna and Kaidi Tatham, you'll no doubt be surprised that yesterday's release of her debut album, 'The Light' is the first time it's been on vinyl.

I remember that we were so excited after the 7" of 'Nothing Lasts' (prod. Jneiro Jarel) and 'Home' featuring Replife (prod. Marc Rapson & Soulpersona) for the then forthcoming CD  (this was 2009 after all).

Both these tracks are on the reissued album and they don't sound at all dated; particularly 'Home' and 'You Could Be'.   Indeed, all these tracks sound "2022" which is a testament to the love that Mr. Futurisica Music (aka DJ Simon S) put into this as there are tracks produced by Aardvark (appropriately titled, 'This Is The Future' where soul meets hip-hop meets space bruk), Simbad and the ever consistent and still as active as he was when this come out, Atjazz (check out BBE's MF Robots 'The Love It Takes' (Atjazz Remix) if you need any proof).

The mix with the underground soul, hip-hop beats community like Replife, Rise (now better known as Mecca:83) and Kamara was more than a surprise as Deborah was better known back then for being in Silhouette Brown and Robert Mitchell's avant guarde jazz goup Panacea, a relationship that continues to this day as Mitchell has just released his own "Monument" (Gilles Peterson) of a double album called 'The New Resistance' that features Deborah on many of the tracks.

We haven't got an Atjazz 2022 update on 'Let Go' which is great because it is perfect as it was/is along with 'Nothing Lasts', 'Breathe' and the timeless title track.

And now you've seen/heard 'The Light' you can also add vinyl version of her previous solo album 'See In The Dark' and the previously mentioned recent collaboration with K15, 'Human' - both available on Futuristica Music.

 

Artist: Deborah Jordan 

Title: The Light (2022 Reissue)

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label : Futuristica Music

Catalog Number FUTLP10

Format : 2 x LP

Review: Wütrio - Wütrio (BBE MUSIC)

When BBE have focusing on jazz from overseas (from the UK) of late, it's been from Japan and Norway for their internationslist musical forays, but what is/who are Wütrio?

Recorded in Hamburg 1987, here's more high quality 'modern' jazz that's aborbed the 60s Brit-Jazz spirit (think vocalist Beate Kynast as a Norman Winson) and free-jazz-Latin dance.

The nine track album has been long overlooked except by Rainer Trüby, he of Compost Records, many a compilation and a huge record collection (particularly MPS label), founder of the Root Down club and member of both A Forest Mighty Black and the Trüby Trio.

Featuring Robert Schulte Hemming (Trumpet/flugehorn), Wolfgang Puschnig (sax/flute), Martin Kübert (piano/synthesizer), Rudi Engel (bass), Peter Wirth (drums/percussion), it's a post MPS German odyssey - a sort of European jazz-rock on the M-Base with a electro/hip-hop kinda in the queue along with the avante-garde - you get the idea why this was overlooked at the time of release?

Almost impossible to pick a favourite track but 'Lament' stands out as it features Beate and is a 'standard' laid-back style and the trumpet solo is so cool. In fact, any of the tracks which feature Beate singing or her wordless improvisations, like 'Scarcely Had We Left The House',  the out-there 'Rush Hour' and all the trumpet, sax and synth solos.

The diverse nature of this album is definitely a strength.  If this had come out of a New York loft, I'm sure we'd all have a copy but now's the time to redress the balance (especially as original copies are much sort after at silly high prices).  

And even better than that, much like the J-Jazz series curated by Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, this is the first in a series to redress the obscurity of Thein Records (Bremen) that Rainer Tüby is putting together - is this going to be B-Jazz or G-Jazz then?

P.S. Great cover artwork that's a bit Günther Uecker without the nails.

P.P.S. Wonder if DJs Miche and Chris Wheatley picked up anything from their recent visit to Rainer's massive 22k strong collection?  

P.P.S. Bob Hill (BBE, TWR, A.MA) was playing this out at WARM last weekend and it sounds great.

Artist : Wütrio

Title : Wütrio

Release Date : 11th November, 2022

Catalog Number : BBE717

Label : BBE Music

Format : LP / CD / Digital

Review: Chancha Via Circuito - La Estrella (Wonderwheel Recordings)

If the nearest you've got to the Argentine world/electronica/dance scene is the Gotan Project/Astor Piazzolla Remixed, here's you're chance to explore further and deeper with Chancha Via Circuito (aka Pedro Canale) with the release his fifth full length: 'La Estrella' on Wonderwheel Recordings.

Chancha Via Circuito has made a name for himself as the originator of electronic South American folk meets Cumbia dance and it's really seductive; like an Argentina Tango that's full of expression and warmth.

The eleven tracks are split between instrumentals and vocals tracks featuring Fémina ('Cometa'), Lido Pimienta ('Amor en silencio' that's more summer folk-pop with vibes), Meridian Brothers ('El pavo real') as well as Las Añez ('Ese peso'), Manu Ranks ('Ouh Lord ouh Dios') and María José Montijo.

'Comenta' was released as a single and I said then that it's an "Erotic garden of eathly delighs on a mountain temple" but 'El pavo real' even tops that as it's a proper slow dance in Cumbia-space folk-dub with a touch of vibe and wobble; with the beautiful vocals - who are the  Meridian Brothers? 'Ese peso' is nearly as good and both tracks would be great future singles.

I wouldn't like to give you this impression that this album is non-mainstream, like Manu Ranks's track as a downtempo reggaeton folk-stylee in a damp basement [Ed: that's mainstream?] and the almost Baile jazz-funk of  'El arbol y el hacha' featuring Moninja.

All this instrumentals shine, like opening track 'Dandeleon' (one for WUTMK), the walk in the rainforest 'Vedanta' and the closing track, 'Monolina' that shuffles and glides in dark alleyways. 

Chancha Via Circuito has come a long way since he was included on Daniel Haaksman's Funk Mundial compilation in 2009 with MC Pretinho 'Buçetao' [history update: I'm pretty sure I was at the UK launch of that album when Daniel DJ'd at Camden Stables with Dom 'Wah Wah 45s' Servini!] and even then, he was a bit off the normal 'Funk Mundial' template so this album is futher confirmation that he's forging his own musical path.

This is a great album that's varied and hypnotic all at the same time and it's about time the 'world' scene caught up with him. 

Artist: Chancha Via Circuito 

Title: La Estrella

Release date: 11th November, 2022

Label : Wonderwheel Recordings

Catalog Number : LP / Digital / Bandcamp

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: Rat Child – My Morning and Afternoon's Work (Independent)

First things first, don't be put off by the name 'Rat Child' as it's no indication that this is a tribute to The Stranglers or the drummer of The Damned.  

Indeed, it comes as a great surprise that the opening track is more like a modern Billie Holiday meets Jill Scott ('Introduction' featuring the spoken word ode to the world of Zimbabwean-Australian post Tariro Mavondo) before the theme continues to cry for 'Changes'.

This message is the heart of Naarm (Melbourne) based, singer/songwriter as the neo-soul can get beatifully downtempo/down south(ern) soul as in 'Joy' (so easy to visualize this as a live performance on Jools Holland's show) along with the suggestive 'Love Facilitator' that's got a touch of Rickie Lee Jones to it. 

'Love Interlude' featuring Cazeaux O.S.L.O is a short skit to LOVE which introduces the stunning 'Hard' that's anything but as the 'church' choir accompanies Gambian Kora master Amadou Suso (who is also based in Naarm) as a lament to suicide.  The sad love song 'So It Goes' (very Amy Winehouse with such an cool trumpet solo) closes this eight track set.

This release is full-on for social and ecological justice (a la Nina Simone) in a rather ugly world that done is a angelic way where you get a wide range of modern soul influences from along with R&B, pop, gospel, world and jazz all going on. 

It's a lot to take in but definitely a sound or a name you won't forget.

And great cover art too!

Artist: Rat Child

Title: My Morning and Afternoon's Work

Release date: 10th November, 2022

Label : Independent

Catalog Number : 12" LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sol Power All-Stars - Nyah​-​Rock (Rocksteady Disco)

There's a lot of interest in the band Cyamande at the moment with the release of their biop film (see details below) but some folks have loved this band for many years and here's something that really prooves it that's coming out on Rocksteady Disco.

Now you don't have to subscripe to Wax Poetics to know of Cymande, even if you don't recognise the name you'll have heard their music on the dancefloor from top DJs like DJ Shadow, Mr Scruff, Gilles Peterson to Bob Hill (BBE, TWR. A.MA and collector of Polish issued Cymande LPs), DJ Chris Wheatley (60MPC, Camden and new friend of Rainer Trüby - more of whom very soon) and Peter Croce!

Who's Peter Croce you might ask?  Well he's the head honcho of Rocksteady Disco and post-covid, he's now re-establishing himself as a go-to DJ for all the best parties over the US (recently having played at Razor 'n' Tape's big 10 year birthday bash in NYC).

So it's his label that's releasing thier own tribute to Cymande with 'Nyah-Rock' by Sol Power All-Stars; a mini-supergroup in their own right that features keyboard wiz Daniel Meinecke.  I've been after this release for what seems like 6 months ever since Peter teased us with a preview of 'Genevieve' on one of his radio shows.

The actual release comes as a 5 track special with 'Genevieve' as two magnificent versions; a vocal version featuring Zeek Burse with the Ibibio Horn Section and an organ dub mix.  Whilst I'm saying this is cover version of the year, let's not overlook the rest of the tracks as there's two version's of 'Anthracite' (the dub is like FK NYC 'white label' special) plus the funk-rock-groover, 'Getting It Back' featuring Jean-Francis Varre who really gives it some.

No news as yet of a cover version of 'BRA' but you can hear 'Genevieve' on Pete's recent posting Sol Power Meets Rocksteady Disco At MotorCity Wine 2022/08/07 but then, I think you'll agree, "girl" needs the vinyl version with the brillaint artwork!

Hoping to get a little closer to Peter regarding the label in the near future so stay tuned (so to speak).

Artist: Sol Power All-Stars 

Title: Nyah​-​Rock

Release date: 28th November, 2022

Label : Rocksteady Disco

Catalog Number : 12" LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Links:

https://www.docnrollfestival.com/

 

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

Review: 30/70 - All 4 U (Energy Exchange Records)

If you're unfamiliar with 30/70, it's a great time to support Bandcamp Friday today.

30/70 are a collective (some might say "Supergroup") that include Allysha Joy, Ziggy Zeitgeist, Josh Kelly, Finn Rees and Matthew Hayes who are all solo artists and band leaders in their own right that are full of soul, jazz and beats so that thier fans are as varied as Gilles Peterson (via his Brownswood label) and Peckham's finest Bradley Zero (Rhythm Section International).

This single, 'All 4 U' is their neo-soul broken beat that puts "70s Herbie and Fela in the darkroom of a Berlin club" - doesn't that sound fun?

So, big from South London to South Melbourne; your new favourite supergroup. 

Artist : 30/70 

Title : All 4 U

Release date : 4th November, 2022

Label : Energy Exchange Records

Catalog Number : EXRECLP001S2