Review: Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers - Interstate 75 (Ramrock Red Records)

If you've ever been motorvatin' on the U.S. Interstates, here's a musical postcard to bring

60s soul into today's electric car Detroit offramp.

You can reel off the influences here of Stax, Motown and Cadet along with pre-glam rock funk, R&B V1.0, James Brown (of course) and a touch of Prince, you'll be getting this from ya Bruick to ya Memphis horns.

And if you didn't think Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers could back-up the previous single, 'Can't Take The Fight' (see review HERE), well they are back in the ring ready to punch ya soul lights out; starting with the opener 'Ain't No Telling'.

In fact, all ten tracks are a funk 'n' soul battering (in a more than good way) as there's definitely the "protest" in here that was totally lost from "modern" music at one stage; "Fight the power" as they'd say.

But this isn't all retrospecitve 60s soul with Woodstock idealism, there's a sexy blue machine on the cover and it's leaving Detroit on the I75 (come on you TV exec producers, there's a soul-umentary here following the boys on tour down to Miami, Florida, Georgia and the rest) and don't forget there's a single version out there with an instrumental.

You don't have to be a fan of Downtown Soulville to love 'Good Lovin' (love the the big horns and "loud" electric guitar solo) or the ballad 'Hurt Walks Out Of The Door'; but if you are, you're going to be shocked that 'If You See My Baby' isn't a long lost 45 on ATCO/Sue or similar.

Whilst the revival of Northern Soul never ends, this is old soul/funk/rock and is now now; and we need more.  And, talking of Northern Soul, Marcus was once a member of Mitch Rider's band 'Detroit Wheels'(!) so even stranger that he and Dan Smith (one time of The Noisettes) met in a Croydon club (that's Croydon, S. London not Croydon, Penn State).

This album has come out just in time for some holiday get away soundtrack and once you've heard Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers, they ain't never going to leave you... well they might if that blue Bruick has half a tank of gas in it.

Artist: Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers

Title: Interstate 75 

Release date: 21st April, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRRLP008

Review: Remi Kabaka - Son of Africa (BBE Music)

Short & sweet, as the saying goes... Clocking in at around a half-hour, in terms of length, there's not a lot here--but it's a quality over quantity situation going on. Some serious heat happening which might explain (along with the rarity) why before this reissue this album was fetching over 700GBP. Also, it turns out, Remi has been on a few music legends' radar as revealed by this anecdote from the artist: "Paul McCartney called me for an immediate session one day when I was already helping ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker set up his recording studio in Lagos. I couldn't be in two places at once so regretfully I had to turn down Paul's session work offer." The album is technically Afro-Funk but, if no-one brings that up, this could be easily mistaken for deep funk coming out of the USA in the 70s. All the skill of the groups mentioned in rundowns of important 70s funk groups, but raw production that digs in a bit more... Everyone can feel it, but the "heads" will flip--rare groove that is truly both. Like some of those classic 70s groups, there's a mix of vocal & instrumental cuts, the closer being "Follow Your Needs." I would suggest you need this...



Artist: Remi Kabaka
Title: Son of Africa
Release date: April 21st, 2023
Label: BBE Music
Catalog Number: BBE727

Review: Various - Brazil45: Mr Bongo x Mike D [Boxset] (Mr Bongo)

This might be the fourth in a series, but this one is compiled by founding member of the Beastie Boys, Mike D (aka Michael Diamond).

And it's diamond by name, diamond by hard cutting, sharp edged, shinning bright, obsure Brazillan 45s.

It's like Madlib's gone south again to revive Flight To Brazil/Brasilintime for a some rare 'n' dusty psych rock, funky MPB.

How do you find a promo 7" for Toyota that orginally came out in Portugal (that's one for the Jonny Trunk industrials of the world) and that's back with 'Dita Cuja' by Nicolas Marinao that's sounds like Black Monk Time tribute from Rio.

Odd? Not as rare as 'popcorn' Brazil-style of 'Cantico Del Agua' (Sebastião Tapajos / Pedro Dos Santos) which flips to the mainstream of Pedro Dos Santos Y Sebastião Tapajos' 'Tudo É Moda' with big horns.

You'll recognise 'KM110' by Hareton + Meta that's been 'underground' since 1971 and a big favourite of Gilles Peterson (and last released on the CD, '25 Years Of Mr Bongo 1989 - 2014' so it's great to have it on vinyl now) whilst the other side sound like it's a track from their version of the musical 'Hair' (suitably titled, 'Hippie 12').

The last two 45s in the set are by Módulo 1000 and Erasmo Carlos (with justs two of his 500+ songs he wrote) that's more on the 60s pop/rock side of MPB/funky - what would 'Big Mama' sound like it was sung in English? - but thankfully it isn't and Mr. Carlos' tracks are summer monsters.

Beastie Boys fans will get this immediately as it fits in with thier innovate hip-hop roots and this set is the perfect compliment to the Mr Bongo's recent compilation, 'Tudo Ben (Jorge Ben Covered)' (see review HERE); the other Boxsets are compiled by DJ Marky, Kenny Dope and DJ Format, all Record Store Day sell outs so get out sharpish to snap it up.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Mike D - Brazil 45s Boxset 

Release date : 22nd April, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB7209

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

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: Tilo Weber - Tesserae (We Jazz Records)

We know We Jazz Records but who'd have thought they'd be on the forefront of the baroque revival!

Who knew that there is a baroque revival I here you say.!  Well, over in France/Canada, they know that Pierre Chrétien and  Ed Lister are on it with their OST inspired Cinephonic album 'Visions' (review HERE) so here's a German/Finnish/Austrian jazz trio take as Tilo Weber (drums), Petter Eldh (bass) of Koma Saxo and Elias Stemeseder (various keyboards/electronics).

And it's not just the obvious harpsichord baroque as Elias can take us into the synth of the future, really Like 'In Expitaxy' as its got something of the Sun Ra about it.There's eight tracks on this album so I wouldn't get too tied to the 'Baroque' tag as there's more to it than that.

This is a fun trio jazz album that's not all dour or minimal; check out the lively Barry Lynden romp of 'Entrope Nestled' or the wild flute on 'Sacre Sacre' and sax on ' Soul Redoubled'.
All the compositions are by Weber and it's so far from a typical drummer led trio as all three migrate from their 'instruments' as it does get a little wild at times

As we do know We Jazz, even thought this is far from the label's most recent releases. the Big band of 'Agatha 2 (with Ricky​-​Tick Records - see review HERE) and Antti Lötjönen's 'CircusCitadel - see review HERE), it's got me and more please. 

Artist: Tilo Weber Trio
Title: Tesserae 
Release date: 21st April, 2023
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP53 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Ken Hayakawa - Mute Air / Unity (Stripped Down)

Keeping up with the Stripped Down Record's love of all things Austrian, yeah! Ken Hayakawa is from Salzburg (his mother is Japanese) and here's two brand new tracks.  

Towards the end of last year we loved his two remixes of Parallea's 'Waypoint': the original remix was very much for the dancefloor whilst the 'Auhof' starts like a dub of sorts before it fully "lets go".

Well it's about time that Ken released two of his own tracks now and both show his formal/classical training as a pianist, especially 'Mute Air' that has trademark minimal techno feel to it.

'Unity' is the opposite as it's BIG synth and bang that he somehow unites; solidarity Ken.

I first came across Ken with a promo back in 2009 on Musik Gewinnt Freunde (MGF) with 'Outside The Walls' (Ed. Sounds very 'Funeral In Berlin') and he's been releasing great tracks like this ever since on Schönbrunner Perlen, Trapez, The DJ Hell Experience and this is no exception.

Austria is the place to be? 

Afterhour Sounds · PREMIERE: Ken Hayahawa - Mute Air

Artist: Ken Hayakawa 

Title: Mute Air / Unity

Release date: 21st April, 2023

Label : Stripped Down Records

Catalog Number : Digital  

 

Review: Fred Und Luna - Im Fünfminutentakt (Compost Records)

There's a new Ralf & Florian in town! Fred Und Luna are a strange double-act (in more ways than one) but if your looking for the sound of version (or more accurately of one the many versions) of Kraftwerk, this is it!

The new album, 'Im Fünfminutentakt' has lots of 'Fün' in it and if you've never heard Kraftwerks 1973 album 'Ralf & Florian' this is pretty exciting stuff and it's quite sparse electronics/synths but also includes bi-lingual vocals on some tracks; perhaps not as 'poppy' as Kraftwerks' big hits.

And then there's reflections of Kraftwerk in that most recently the "band" have been often computer generated whilst Fred Und Luna are, in fact, just "Sugar Ray" Buckmiller (aka Rainer Buchmüller) as Fred whilst Luna is a variety, from the extremes of a showroom dummy (sounds familiar?) to random "volunteers" from the audience at gigs!

This all sound like a modern day computer based Amon Düül II and to emphasis the digital craftwork (no pun etc), all of the tracks are around the 5 minute mark; three being 5:00 exactly.

And then, it sounds fun too and now boardering on the Prins Thomas remix of 'Im Klanggarten' (from 2016) which is all good and in keeping with the "Kraftwerkian edge" of "Krautelektro" and the instrumenatals to listen out for are 'Aurum C', 'Nur ein Viertelstündchen' and the vocals that work best are the unemotional, 'Tanz mit mir' and the two tracks featuring Luna(?!), the duet 'Es ist so schön' and the appropriately entitled, 'Wir atmen digital'.

What's not so representative is the beautiful piano/synth based 'Sommer' which will get picked up for some TV Theme/OST I bet or even 'Morgan' on some synth pop retro show.

I'm also getting some Bowie V2 Schneider going on with this so it's more than just a tribute act so that putting 'Im Fünfminutentakt' in with Compost's other 'leftfield', act Felix Laband (with some incredible remixes just out, see review HERE from his album, 'The Soft White Hand') and other electronic/synth early Cluster releases, you've definitly some worth more than a 0-1 soundscape.

Artist: Fred Und Luna

Title: Im Fünfminutentak

Release date: 21st April, 2023

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 613

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sumsuch, Will Brock, Kameelah Waheed - Don't Know Where I'm Going (Gavin Boyce Remix) (Colour & Pitch)

If you've recently danced to Terry Farley and Wade Teo's hit, 'Why We Dance' you'll recognise the name and the voice of Kameelah Waheed as the girl from New Jersey who is now on the new release from Colour & Pitch, Sumsuch and Will Brock's 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' that comes with Gavin Boyce remixes.

 

It's been a while since the Sumsuch / Will Brock release 'All Along' and even longer since their collab album project, Mega Jawns' 'Ten Letters From Home' (BBE) so it's great to have them back as they connect over the pond with this tale of being lost.  Original sessions started in May of last year so it's about time we can hear Brock's soulful vocals that are so perfect for this track.

Waheed is now based in Philly (as is Brock) and also recently appeared on Honey Dijon's Defected album ‘Black Girl Magic', so she's really in demand at the moment and taken to heart the spoken word part similar to born and raised Philadelphian poet. activist, artist, Ursula Rucker.  

Ireland's Gavin Boyce (Nordic Trax) is on the buttons with a vocal mix and a dub. If you know his 'Anywhere Here' album, you'll expect some deep synth spacewalk from this guy; and that's what you get and putting the two tracks together, it's a magnificent 15 minutes!

Really think that BBE should have a look again at Mega Jawns (it's more than just a one way ticket to 'Joy') but in the meantime, I know where I'm going with Brock, Sumsuch, Waheed and Boyce, straight to the 'play again' button.

Artist: Will Brock & Sumsuch

Title: Don't Know Where I'm Going (inc. Gavin Boyce Remixes)
Don't Know Where I'm Going (feat. Kameelah Waheed)
Don't Know Where I'm Going (Gavin Boyce Mix)
Don't Know Where I'm Going (Gavin Boyce Dub Mix)
Don't Know Where I'm Going (Instrumental)
Release date: 14^th April, 2023
Label Colour and Pitch
Catalog Number CAP087
Cover artwork and photography by Zoe Childerly, as part of her project ‘Beneath The Waves'. More information at: www.zoechilderley.co.uk

Review: Twelve Caesars - Scenes From Wild Eyed Dreams (RamRockRed)

If you're familiar with the earlier singles, you'll have been dreaming about the release of the debut Twelves Caesars' album, 'Scene From Wild Eyed Dreams' for a while but it's finally here.

The cover looks a bit B-movie and the title sounds a bit prog but Andrew Pipe and Stephen Ennever (for they are Twelve Caesars) have pulled together 12 tracks of 'thumbs up' tunes to get ya rocks off to.

Kicking off with 'Swan Fendered Mercury' (I bet Peter Frampton had one) and the BBC 6 Music hit, 'Calfiornia Sleaze' (see review HERE).

But it's not all Americana folk rock Byrds/CS&N/Eagles as the 'prog' is represented by the the idea that there are 11 ways to get to/from the underworld and here some portals include US Civil Rights ('California Sleaze'), Tiananmen Square uprising ('When The Revolution Dies') and the fall of the Berlin Wall ('Fall Of The Berlin Wall').

It's quite tense, like 'City Of Angels' and 'Palestine Hotel', so in British terms, it's like a softer John Cale/Kevin Coyne (which is a good thing) and at it's most dramatic, 'The Human Race' gets almost Peter Hammill and ' 'When The Revolution Dies' it's a bit Billy Bragg (when he played with Ian McLagan - definitely a good thing).

You'd really want to see these guys live (especially, if they were playing with with their label mates, Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers - see review HERE) and be prepared for their next big hits, 'Ride The American Wave' and 'Eleven Ways From Hell'; choose one and get the album.

Artist: Twelve Caesars

Title: Scenes From Wild Eyed Dreams

Release date: 14th April, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRRLP009

Review: Fybe:one - Don't Let Go - You Go Down Smooth (Tru Thoughts Recordings)

Here's some hot nu-soul/R&B,dubby/bruk double A side tracks; 'Don't Let Go' features. Liam Bailey and 'You Go Down Smooth' features Georgia Blackwell.

Fybe:one is the South London based multi-talented Greg Haynes and he's linked up with Liam Bailey (the singer/songwriter from Nottingham not Leon Bailey, who has worked with El Michels Affair and Chase & Status and not the Aston Villa winger as someone tried to convince me).

And 'Don't Let Go', the instrumental version is like a spiritually hypnotic drunk fest; something that doesn't come over with the great vocal version that tells of the fear of lonliness and longing.

'You Go Down Smooth' is more upbeat and another track about the pain of love and the vocals work so well with the strings and the dubby bits.

Tru-Thoughts are known for being a little bit/a lot "different" - this is a long way from Palm Skin Productions' 'Trickle Up EP' (see review HERE) or Biggabush's 'A Different Style EP' (see Review HERE) but equally essential. 

Artist: Fybe:one

Title:  Don't Let Go - You Go Down Smooth EP

Release date: 11th April, 2023

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp