Review: Bright & Findlay - NY Disco (Smile) (Athens Of The North)

This will bring a big smile to every face - especially those folks that can't get enough vintage synth disco funk that's on a yacht.  

Yeah, Bright & Findlay are at it again with a brand new single, 'NY Disco (Smile)' that's stripped to its machine drum Peechy-ness and just rocks.  

What about the b-side you say... will their be a 12"  mix? Will there be a Flying Mojito Bros Refrito?  Will there be a Hectic Extension?  Who knows, but for now, revel to this one and smile.  

If you need some background reading on James Alexander Bright, check out 'Tigers Roar (Flying Mojito Bros Refrito)' (review HERE) the orginal version of which Tom (he of Groove Armada) heard on the radio and which then brought the pair of them together to work on new material as Bright & Findlay.

Artist: Bright & Findlay

Title: NY Disco (Smile) 

Release date: 31st March, 2023

Label: Athens Of The North

Cat. No: 

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Beatkozina ft. Abirah Shah - Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) (Afroterraneo)

Fans of the last release on the Afroterraneo label, Kiko Navarro's 'You Take Over' featuring Nader Behravan that included an Osunlade remix (see review HERE) might think they'd know what they'd be getting with this latest release; but would they?

Well, they won't be surprised that this is an excellent couple of tracks that you'll want to hear again and again but whilst you may want to head for the Kiko remix to start with - hold on and get absorbed with the original version, not only because it's nearly 10 minutes long but it's got the "truly show-stopping performance" vocals of Abirah Shah.

This track is a glorious mix of Afro-Arabic-Indian subcontinent with deep house and as Kiko loves his spiritual Alice Coltrance/Tai Chi you can tell he's up for the remix.  If someone was to update ex-CAN member Holger Czukay's 1979 classic 'Persian Love', this would not be that far away.

Bearkozina formed out of Gregory Jouandon travelling from is London home to Marrakech where he met fellow multi-instrumentalist Marehdi Naami and this is there first release and is a tribute to internationally renowned performer of Qawwali (Sufis spiritual music), Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  Not only is this a fitting tribute, both versions are totally dancefloor ready so be prepared to be surprised!

And featured on the latest Colour & Pitch Session with Sumsuch

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

Artist: Beatkozina ft, Abirah Shah 

Title: Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) 

Release Date : 31st March, 2023

Catalog Number : AFTNE054 

Label : Afroterraneo

Format: 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

1. Nusrat Passion (9:16)

2. Nusrat Passion (inc. Kiko Navarro Afroterraneo Remix) (7:54)

Review: Twelve Caesars - California Sleaze EP (F*CLR Music)

We've got the follow-up to Wearing Shoes' EP, 'Never Pretend' on F*CLR [pronounced F.Star.Clear] and it's shows that as a label have got their finger on more than one pulse with Twelves Caesars' 'California Sleaze'.

It's odd that we've just had the Flying Mojito Bros "Refrito" version of 'Tigers Roar' by James Alexander Bright (review HERE)  and other West Coast soft rock "finds" (with BBE's compilation by Paul Hillery,'Once Again, We Are The Children Of The Sun') (review HERE) which is where 'California Slease' sits in vocal and instrumental versions.

Hardly surprising as the duo that is Twelve Caesars (aka Andrew Pipe and Stephen Ennever) cruise along Pacific Coast highway taking inspiration from Mahalia Jackson’s ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ and Blind Willie Johnson ‘Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed’ plus a bit of Robert F Kennedy.

Well, there's a bit of a Weatherallisation to this as add to a sunny CS&N just a bit of dobro (I think it's a dobro - with slide?), added organ which just falls short of Ms Smith's, "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" ('Glora'). 

Great artwork (as was their last release, 'Swan Fendered Mercury') but this time we've got to wait for the North Street West remix versions (really looking forward to see if they can match the 'Swan Fendered Mercury' dub with 'California Sleaze' with that organ and some added horns; it'll be brilliant).  Even now, if Charlie Gillett/John Peel were around today this would be high in their charts so I say it should be on yours too!

In the review of 'Never Pretend' I said, "lets have more from F*CLR" and they haven't let us down as this follows George T's 'Automatic Self On Hold' featuring Joseph Malik (review HERE).

Artist: Twelve Caesars 

Title: California Sleaze EP

Release date: 31st March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Once Again, We Are The Children Of The Sun (Compiled by Paul Hillery) (BBE Music)

Paul Hillery has long been a on the trail of 'Folk, Funk & Trippy Troubaours' and last year released a complilation of the same name on the Re:Warm label as 'Volume 1' in black vinyl (and blue, to match the stunning cover).

So, fully expecting a 'Volume 2' and we then see that he's on BBE switching from cool blue to hot of orange/yellow of  'We Are The Children Of The Sun' with another incredible selection of electronic, folk, soft/yacht rock, Balearic, Latin lounge ambient tunes that so fit the mood.

So this new compilation keeps this winning formula with BBE re-issues by, Will & James Ragar's 'As The Day Grows Tired' (what a great title to open up with) followed by Forest's 'Crazy Days' which is the way to set the tone.

Apart from the Greg Foat Band track (apparently a previously unreleased version of 'Milk And Honey' featuring Kat Barnard), all the other artists/tracks are new to me as that's what you want in a compilation. 

As you might expect there's more than a hint of West Coast trippy folk-pop-jazz CSNY/Byrds like Varela's 'Come and Take Me by the Hand' or Cunningham Corner's 'Free And Easy' that hits more than just the Grateful Dead psychedelic fans out there (previously just a rare 45 and now in all its Part 1&2 5 minute glory) or the stunning 'Moonshine' by Orion from 1987 but sounds more like '67 (also, there's a touch of June Tabor about it).

And flute gang jazz-dancers, here's the Patrick Forge/G. Peterson classic 'More Than Hope' to match all their other goodies - Wendy Grace is the lost "Janet Lawson"? And those two would not be amis if they had 'Kayenta Crossing' by William Easton Ensemble in their chill out warm up section.

It's a triple LP's worth/18 tracks so you might not be the biggest fan of all of it but with the skill of Hillery, you feel like the new areas of 80s/Euro/funk/pop/AOR need further investigation or even the Level 42 'tribute' one hit wonders Corill (Who?)

If you're looking for some modern day social comment, there's Garth Fletcher's 'Peace Train' and Mark Capanni's 'If Life Was A Ferris Wheel' (careful, both of these are ear worm growers) but the one to fall in love with as you're next favourite track, Aria Rostami's 'Golden Hour'.

You get the idea, this album is packed full of goodies and 90% of them are only available on this compilation or at incredible crate digging cost so get it while you can.

Can we expect more from the "esteemed collector and vinyl hunter" after Hillery's previous compilation, 'We Are The Children Of The Sun' and now 'Once Again, We Are The Children Of The Sun'?  Well, it shines on the righteous so I suspect so but I wonder what the follow up is going to be called.

And as mutual fans of Drift record store in Totnes here's his Paul's mix to celebrate the album's release: Drift'in with Paul Hillery

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Once Again We Are The Children Of The Sun

Release date: 31st March, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE708 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: George T ft. Joseph Malik - Automatic Self On Hold (F*CLR Music)

We've been long time fans of Joseph Malik having made his name 20 years ago; even a record label took their name from his track  'Futuristica'!

More recently he's been working with Ramrock Records and they've been promising us something special from Joseph for some that.  Adding a Roy Hargrove-esque trumpet (by David Rosenthal) to Joseph's soulful vocals with deep space synths from old-skool Detroit/Chi-Town plus jazzy keys, this is as good as next gen house gets.

And it doesn't stop there as there's the instrumental and a dub that's even brillianter as it merges on Isaac Asimov meets King Tubby at the Peechy NYC Boy disco; but guys, surely it needs to be at least 12" length? 

George's background is as deep as Joseph's with numerous remix releases classic labels like Glasgow Underground, NRK, 2020 vision, Crosstown Rebels, Tirk, and more recently Greco-Roman and Toolroom so together they make a great team and folks will be flocking to Scotland to be as hip as they are on the back of this no doubt [well Rebecca Vasant (Tru-Thoughts) got a "Jazz Warrior" moving from the South Coast to Glasgow a couple of years ago so it's not that far fetched]. 

Releasing this a few days ahead of Twelve Caesars' 'California Sleaze EP', (review HERE), F*CLR have their futuristica heads on as I'm calling it now, 'Automatic Self On Hold' track of the year!

Artist: George T ft. Joseph Malik

Title: Automatic Self On Hold

Release date: 27th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number :FCLR020 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lorenzo Morresi e Le Isole - Pop Flop (Space Echo Records)

Following the acclaimed 'Cosmica Italiana', Lorenzo Morresi returns with the new project Lorenzo Morresi e Le Isole; musician/producer Luciano Cantone being 'Le Isole'.

The two of them found their love of golden age of Italian library music with blending contemporary styles and sounds. 

There's a couple of other collaborations on 'Pop Flop', the title track features 22a label boss Tenderlonious on flute and it sets the tone as it sits in between disco, jazz funk and library, all the electronic sound were made with the rare Italian vintage synth called Davoli 

And there's the fourth element to this album as in part, it has been produced at ‘Museo Del Synth Marchigiano & Italiano’ which is home to an incredible collection of rare Italian vintage synthesizers located in Le Marche region (where Lorenzo was born).

These synth are so old, rock mamoths like Led Zep, ELP and The Doors used these models and more recently(!), Jean-Michel Jarre.  

All the 10 tracks are like a diggers find / love letter to the Piero Umiliani's of this world with beats/breaks and twangy guitars of 60/70s OST with 80s synth pop and all things library.

There's some killer tunes like the funky 'Odeon' (also featuring Tenderlonious), 'Rio De Janeiro Filter' and 'Beta Erotica' are very Penthouse magazine/BBC2 TV theme from the early 70s and wasn't 'Allegro Funerario' a car by Austin?

It's all beautifully produced and if you like a vintage synth, this is even better as you know these are real analog knobs that are being twiddled and not some computer software; J-M Jarre nerds check out 'Track ID'! 

 

Artist: Lorenzo Morresi e Le Isole 

Title: Pop Flop

Release date: 24th March, 2023

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number  LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Produced by Lorenzo Morresi
all tracks written by Lorenzo Morresi and Luciano Cantone

Lorenzo Morresi: Guitars, Bass, Crumar Composer, Davoli Synth, Elgam ES-200, Farfisa Polychrome, Roland Juno-60, Synket by Paolo Ketoff.
Luciano Cantone: Drums and Percussion
Archelao Macrillò: Drums on “Odeon”, “Allegro Funerario” and “Track ID”
Edward Cawthorne aka Tenderlonious: Flutes
Giovanni Guerretti: Electric Piano
Fabio Mina: Hulusi Flute on “Savana Urbana”
Alberto Napolioni: Electric Piano on “Savana Urbana”
Francesco Savoretti: Percussions on “Savana Urbana”
Agostino Maria Ticino: Synthesizers Supervisor at Museo Del Synth Marchigiano

Review: Reel People - Love2 (Reel People Music)

If you're thinking, Reel People, what happened to them?  Well don't because this new album is like nothing has happened to them over the 20 years since their debut album except that they are even better now!

Hard to believe I know but lets reel off who has joined the trio of soul/jazz/house legends Oli Lazarus, Mike Patto and Toni Economides on this ten track album; Raheem DeVaughn, Muhsinah, Chantae Cann, Michael Champion, Paula, Jill Rock Jones, Eric Roberson and Arrested Development’s Speech.

If we go back to Gilles Peterson's Golden era V1.0 (pre-BBC 6 Music, No iPlayer, very early Internet, Etc...), you'd see Reel People regularly on his Radio 1 late night show tracklisting and their 12s would be in all the trendy London records shops with the sleeves showing who all the 'guest' singers are like Vanessa Freeman, Angela Johnson and even flautist Nathan Haines.

So there's been a big buzz about this especially as the single, 'Everything’s So Crazy' featuring Jill Rock Jones is so good low slung beach beats with Jones proving orange is the new black.  But before that, Eric 'Erro' Roberson (who, back in 2004 shared a Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives 10" with much missed TY - RIP) shows he's still serious soulful on 'Save A Lil Lov' which has enough synth bump to be the next single.

And you could say that of lots of the other tracks here, 'If I Was Your Man' (feat. Michael Champion), 'Deja Vu (featuring Raheeem DeVaughn; yep! that's Grammy nominated Raheeem) and 'Dance In Her Eyes' (feat. Chantae Cann & Dayne Jordan).  Sounding very Jazz FM / Solar Radio "bringing you soul, jazz, funk, soulful house, R&B and so much more". 

And on that subject, Speech gets out his inner Incognito / Brand New Heavies on 'I Never Knew' (massive at Southport Weekender I hear: that Peterson still gets all the best tunes early - be prepared for his We Out There Festival later this year) and you can match that with 'Something New' with Muhsinah on a bossa tip that's been beautifully produced (a favourtie of DJ Andy 'Delectabeats' Garvey).

Atlanta-based singer Paula gets on two tracks, the downtempo 'Vibe' and 'Fly' that are beyond love; "Love2" you might say.

There is no denying that this is fantastically crafted with great vocal performances and musicianship which will be playing on repeat.  I predict, this'll be massive worldwide as it feels like deja vu all over again.  

Artist: Reel People
Title: Love2
Release date: 24th March, 2023
Label : Reel People Music
Catalog Number : RPMCD008 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Various Artists - Stay True Sounds Vol.5 Compiled By Kid Fonque (Stay True Sounds)

It's increasingly hard to keep up with Kid Fonque but if you need just the one place to go, Stay True Sounds Vol.5 is the place  for 15 of the finest that have been selected here.

Chances are that you know the linch pins of the label of Kid Fonque / Jonny Miller so Vol. 5 is another opportunity to highlight the label’s creative agenda of finding and nurturing new talent, "a new generation" you might say. 

Tracks by Wapo Jije and SpheraQ stand out and there's a couple with vocal efx that I'm not too keen on but hey, when you get a dreamy track like 'Nothing' (TebzaLiquid featuring Cashboy) you can overlook that small gripe.

'1 Million Failed Attempts', 'Heart Of Spade' and 'Ubuntu (Unity)' are big tunes but there's nothing overtly South African sounding here; the warrior cries of 'My Mothers Wish' (Buddynice) is about as close as it gets along with Khulife's 'Another Problem' where there's crickets on the Serengeti but even then we're electronic/synth dominent. 

And don't forget the sub-label STY TRU BTS for more South African talent like EMAMKAY (see review HERE).

Whilst this compilation is released with the backing of Defected Records; but don't worry, this is not a Defected album, we're very much still same qualifty as normal that is, Stay True Sounds.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Stay True Sounds Vol.5 Compiled By Kid Fonque

Release date: 24th March, 2023

Label : Stay True Sounds

Catalog Number : STS156 

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Tudo Ben (Jorge Ben Covered) (Mr Bongo)

There's some massive names here from Latin/Bossa/Samba/MPB as you'd expect when dealing with a 26 track compilation of Jorge Ben cover versions. Jorge Ben you'll recognise as the guy who wrote two of the biggest tracks you'll ever likely to hear on two extremes of dancefloor culture, the 'original' of Rod Stewart’s ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy?’ and the go-to Latin track ‘Mas Que Nada’.

Originally released on only CD in 2009 when vinyl was a dying medium for LPs, Mr Bongo have now had the bright idea to release on a double vinyl set which features Elza Soares (the aforementioned 'Mas Que Nada'), Wilson Simonal (you gon't get much bigger than these guys) plus Osmar Milito, Sonia Santos ('Speed' is one of many top tracks), Doris Monteiro, Doris Monteiro, Os Originais do Samba and many more. 

Not surprised to have already seen Dom Servini with one of these in his record bag but you know all ya jazz dance guys will have it too; Peterson, Forge, Beadle (Kev) and I'd expect Ashley (Beedle) to have one too! Whistles Cuíca and dancing guaranteed, what ya waiting for?

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Tudo Ben (Jorge Ben Covered)

Release date : 24h March, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP265

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Hunee - "powerful collection!"

Carlos Nino - "Excellent Concept & Collection!"

Coco Maria - "I love this, he is the best."

DJ Marky - "Pure classics."

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