Review: Bantu Spaceship - Bantu Electro Sungura (Nyami Nyami Records)

So you think you know South African/Zimbabwean music and then the Bantu Spacehip lands and you're dancing like a King Sunny Ade meets Ladysmith Black Mambazo's lovechild. 

Joshua Chiundiza is the pilot on this ship and what really tweaks this track, or should I say, plugs-in, is Sam Mabukwa - lead guitarist of Ngosimbi Crew would released a couple of albums/cassettes in Zimbabwe with Admire Kasenga (who passed away in 2004). 

Only complaint, too short - Nyami Nyami Records promise an album in March so lets hope the 'flights' are a longer and watch out for the new Jit Wave to take off! 

Album release: March 10th 2023 on vinyl and digital formats.

Artist: Bantu Spaceship 

Title: Bantu Electro Sungura

Release date: 20th January, 2023

Label : Nyami Nyami Records

Catalog Number : NNR014 / Bandcamp

Review: Urbs - Im Geheimland (Compost Records)

If you were in Vienna in the mid-00s and part of the party 'Dub Club' scene (which included Stereotyp, Makossa & Megablast, Rodney Hunter, Hubert Tubbs (ex-Tower Of Power) and many more) you might be surprised to hear that 10 years earlier a young Paul Nawrata (aka Urb) was taken under the wings of the Austrian version of Tony Wilson (aka Werner Geier) and took his first steps (along with Chaoz) in dance/hip-hop beats production that would become better known as trip-hop.

And by the time his debut in 2005 on G-Stone Recordings (co-produced by Peter Kruder (he of the Kruder & Dorfmeister sound and latterly, Voom:Voom), this also became a big European success (partly due to Gilles Peterson fandom) such that Urbs began producing other Austrian musicians and doing loads of remixes for the likes of Tosca, Marsmobil and Daniel Haaksmann (another Dub Club 'influencer').

Urbs has been busy ever since with film, TV/documentaries, commercials so it's about time he got back in the public eye and this 3 track EP will definitely do that. This is soulfully deep beats of lush nu-jazz instrumentals; 'Mighty Amethyst' gets his Miles dub up, 'Mandarine Sparrow Song' is Acker Bilk vs. Toots Thielemans (ask your grandparents) on the shoreline in space and 'Im Geheimland' start the journey in secret land far, far away where OST meets hip-hop beats and synths. You will not be surprised to hear that this is being released on Compost Records as Urbs had managed to sneak the tapes passed the boarder guards whilst they were watching a re-run of the Third Man; no zither on this as far as I can make out but what a great start to 2023! 

P.S. Don't forget the pre-holidays release of Urbs' 'Levitation' (also on Compost Records)

P.P.S. Harry Lime was a bad man.

Artist: Urbs

Title: Im Geheimland / Mighty Amethyst / Mandarine Sparrow Song

Release date: 20th January, 2023

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT603-6 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Dave Mayer & Deeplomatik – Hustle Tribes (The Deepshakerz Remix) (Adesso Music)

When was the last time you did the Latin shuffle?  Too long ago I bet so lets take a continental shift and get down in Africa with The Deepshakerz as they remix Dave Mayer and Deeplomatik's 'Hustle Tribes'.

In extended and radio edit versions, it's definitely chunkee down on that African jungle dance floors with a touch of Latin too!

Junior Jack's Adesso Music label seems to just get stronger with each release - and there's a podcast too! The latest being by Oliver Knight including Acid Remix of 'Colombia' by Eldeanyo.

Junior Jack Presents - Adesso Music Radio Show on Apple Podcasts

Adesso Music Radio Show 007 (Oliver Knight)

Artist: Dave Mayer & Deeplomatik

Release: Hustle Tribes (The Deepshakerz Remix)

Release Date: 20th January, 2023

Label Adesso Music

Catalog Number: WP1341

Review: Si Tew - UIHIA (feat. Georgia Copeland) (Atjazz Record Company)

It seems like the underground hip-hop soul sound is the hot ticket at the moment and Si Tew starts the new year leading the way.

This new single, 'UIHIA' standing for 'Until I Have It All' (that features of the soulful vocals of Georgia Copeland) and will see him further develop after the release at the end of last year of 'An Apology' which we also loved.

Being on Atjazz's label, you might think this isn't very house, but on the flip side you've got this uptempo dance synth groover that's totally different to 'UIHIA' and you'll see 'Logos' in Martin's charts and many others no doubt in early 2023.

I'll be very surprised if this in not included in Sumsuch's Colour and Pitch Sessions - January tracklisting [Ed. update: yes it was - see below].

So get yourself prepared so that one day you'll have it all too! 

PS. As Si is down the road from Ajazz and both are hot on the remix front, expect something special for the forthcoming album, 'Quietude'.

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - January 2023

Artist: Si Tew

Title: UIHIA (feat. Georgia Copeland) / Logos

Release date: 19th January, 2023

Label : Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number : ARC200ADS2 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: DJ Muro - Diggers Dozen (BBE Music)

Originally this was going to be a  'PHYSICAL ONLY release!' and 'very limited stock' as esteemed DJ Muro gets into a 'Diggers Dozen'.

So you were warned that you needed to get the vinyl but somebody has had the bright idea to list a digital version on Bandcamp; "PHEW!".

And this is brilliant as Takayoshi Murota, better known as Muro, the DJ, producer, remixer and digger, presents his first compilation on BBE Music.

So he's been getting dusty with the 70's archive of Nippon Columbia for the gems of composer and musicians of Japan's jazz & latin and soundtracks. You've got Kiyoshi Yamaya, Kifu Mitsuhashi, Toshiyuki Miyams, Tadaaki Misago & the Tokyo Cuban Boys and many more.

You can imagine any original vinyl of these releases will cost a few million yen but here you've got sumptuous jazz, funk, beats and OST soundtrack souding tracks that have absorbed the US '70s influences with, at times' the Japanese traditions such as 'Asadoya Yunta' and 'Nanbu Ushiou Uta' (both by Kifu Mitsuhashi on Shakuhachi and band leader Kiyoshi Yamaya).

There's the super Japanese version of 'Superstition' (listed here as 'Souma Nagareyama'), over 9 minutes of Toshiyuki Miyama and His New Herd's 'Seijinshiki (aka Adult's Day)' and four tracks by Tadaaki Misago & the Tokyo Cuban Boys (a "Latin hits covers band" formed in 1949) to complete this set; watch out for the 'Soran Bushi' karate chop and the jazz dance 'hit' 'Sakura Sakura'.

What with the sucess of the J-Jazz compilations and masters series releases, I can't see this being the first and last 'Diggers Dozen' by Muro; he's not known as 'King Of Diggin' for nuthin' and lets hope we can see some DJ sets from him soon.

Artist : DJ Muro

Title : Diggers Dozen

Release Date : 13th January, 2023

Catalog Number : BBE633

Label : BBE Music / Bandcamp

Review: Conic Rose - Learn To Be Cool / Goodbye

Is that 'Teardrops' you hear in 'Learn To Be Cool' or is it a modern version of the "Pioneering jazz-rock, progressive, psychedelic, funk & pop" group, Ian Carr's Nucleus or an electronic jazz version of Cinematic Orchestra? 

We'll it is hard to try and tie down some bands to a unique/tribal genre and Conic Rose is definitely one of them. 

Love 'Learn To Be Cool' as the 'Teardrops' sounding line is almost like a taped Short Wave radio show with super lovely keys and a funky bassline; quasi 'Baba O'Riley' meets OST. 

This German band have all the background of playing arenas filled with fans of pop stars Clueso, Jan Delay and Samy Deluxe together with supporting jazz bands too. It's German; it's post-Compost/Jazzanova/Sonar Kollektiv/MPS Records and it's great. 

'Goodbye' is similar in a glitchy/bruk/downtempo 'Miles' jazz way which is super cool. 

Album due soon and don't forget last year's release Gleisdreieck / Chopin Rosé / Honeylake but you've got to learn to be cool first.

Artist: Conic Rose 

Title: Learn To Be Cool / Goodbye

Release date: 13 January, 2023

Label: Conic Rose

Cat. No: ConicRoseS04

Review: Pedro Ricardo - Déhéba (Soundway Records)

I can guess you're first thought, is Pedro Ricardo's single 'Déhéba' as stunning as the image artwork?

Well, my answer is yes as the ever dependable Soundway Records continue to dig and delve to find us the best music from around the world.

DJ and producer Pedro Ricardo is from Portugal and 'Déhéba' drops ahead of his debut album on Soundway Records, 'Soprem Bons Ventos’ that is due out mid-February.

This is classic bassy Brazilian folk flamenco electronica!  This guy's music seems as eclectic as his DJ sets and radio shows on Balamii and NTS. 

Pedro Ricardo · Déhéba

Artist: Pedro Ricardo
Title: Déhéba
Release date: 13th January, 2023
Label : Soundway Records
Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Audio Dope - Round & Round ft. Noah Slee (Radicalis Music)

There seems quite a lot of the downtempo, electronica, lo-fi hip-hop and trip hoppy mixtures going on at the moment.

And here's Audio Dope adding to that list with a single, 'Round & Round' with Auckland/Berlin 'resident', Noah Slee on vocals.

It's a bit potty mouth so a instrumental version would be cool to highlight those keys and percussion so we'll keep out fingers crossed for the album release. 

The album title is 'Gone' (to keep in with the vibe?) which is scheduled for release in March on the eclectic Swiss based Radicalis Music.

Artist: Audio Dope

Title: Round & Round ft. Noah Slee

Release date: 13^th January, 2023

Label : Radicalis Music

Catalog Number : Digital / Deezer

Review: Anchorsong - Windmills (Salamanda Remix) (Tru Thoughts Recordings)

Tru Thoughts ended last year with their best release of the year [Ed. that's because you're Edit was on it - see A Different Style EP by Biggabush] so what will 2023 bring?

Well, compared ot the 8 tracks on 'A Different Style' this release has a very different style with just the two; the original Anchorsong (aka Masaaki Yoshida) version of 'Windmills', a short and atmospheric track and a Salamanda remix.

Salamanda are new to me and the track itself has 'moved' to a gentle shinto water garden at the break of day with sunlight shimmering on the water (just like the cover image).

Apparently, Salamanda are based in Seoul, South Korea and have already found fans for thier electronic ambience on a number of labels around the globe and have a thier own NTS radio show.

'Windmills' was one of the many highlights on Anchorsong's 2021 album 'Mirage' so let's hope that there's more stunning remixes in the pipeline like this one.

Artist: Anchorsong 

Title: Windmills (Salamanda Remix)

Release date: 12th January, 2023

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Eight Minutes - An American Family (BBE Music)

Another fantastic re-issue by BBE from the vaults of Perception Records but who are The Eight Minutes and why haven't we heard of the album, 'An American Family' before now as it was originally released in 1972!

Well, I don't know all the answers but the cover would suggest we're looking at some type of type of Jackson 5 on an expansion programme to 8; as in The Eight Minutes.

And would you believe the music is very 'Jackson 8' with the addition of The Undisputed Truth, and other soul-pop incarnations of the time together with healthy dose of Curtis, Isaac, etc.

And they flit from pop ('Loneliest Girl In Town') to anti-war ('Time For A Change'), funk '(I Can't Get No Higher') to do-wop and modern life love, 'Behind To Times' to 'Oh Yes I Do' is quite a jump but then. 'I Love You' is like a quantum leap with it's lush string arrangements; somebody tell me that this was a big hit/modern Northern Soul monster.

There's also the tease of what they could have done with the 6 minutes of 'Take My Love Don'y Set me Free' plus four bonus tracks that weren't included on the original release.

So that's not to say that this was a disfunctional  American entertainment family al a Jacksons/Osmonds/Partridge whichever way you slice the America pie, the three Goggin sisters plus three Sudduth sisters with Juwanaa Glover and Carl Monroe might have dodged the train wreck of a bullet of fame and in doing so, have left us with 14 tracks of a great period in musical history.

'I Love You' is worth this album on it's own and really fits in with the other re-issues from BBE of this time like the two Black Ivory albums (review HERE), Johnny Pate's 'Brother On The Run' OST (review HERE) or even the Julius Brockington album's (reveiw HERE).

Artist: The Eight Minutes

Title: An American Family

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE657 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp