Review: Eje Eje - That Rainy Dawn / Coral Sex (Single) (Batov Records)

You may recall that on the Batov Records' Middle Eastern Grooves compilation, one of the many stand out tracks was 'Saved From The Jazz' by Eje Eje (see review HERE).

Well, such was the response to that track, they've now got a 7" single with the 'traditional' funk of 'That Rainy Dawn' and the even more fantastic 'Coral Sex' - that strangely has the organ vibe of The Doors' 'Riders On The Storm' (a pretty rainy track itself!)

As part of Batov's 7" singles series, it's not one to miss out on.

Artist: EJE EJe

Title: That Rainy Dawn / Coral Sex

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR079

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bright & Findlay - Everything Is Slow (Athens Of The North)

If you're new to the combination fo Bright & Findlay, check ou the review of the second single 'NY Disco (Smile)' (see HERE).

And if a fan, you've been waiting for this album's other ten tracks since the first single, 'Fireflies' came out at the beginning of the year.

The big hitters like, 'Fireflies' and 'Tigers Roar' are in a dreamed out Hall & Oates meets Talc (see review HERE) but the opus here is 'Slow Dance' that gets ya beach Balearic deck chairs out a some free and easy cool breezin'.

The album is full of 'big hitters' like the most recent single, ''When I Look Into The World' (includes some whistle of a Morricone quality and some clippy hand claps that hang on the bed of some big strings and competing trumpet 'n' guitar - backed by a video full of 1971 Ibiza - sounds like a winner to me), the sub funky 'Flowers' and 'Everthing Is Slow' that is not as slow as the bluesy, 'It's Only Rain'.

I suspect there's more singles here that will get this duo even more attention; and that's before any remixes - more dub on 'Space & Time' please, or even Leee John! We'll that's what I'm imagining along with our favourites, The Flying Burritio Bros of course.

Artist: Bright & Findlay

Title: Everything Is Slow

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label: Athens Of The North

Cat. No: AOTNLP065

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: EESKRA - Belong EP (Ramrock Blue)

The blue side of Ramrock returns with something that is a little bit of a surprise as it belongs in the long hot summer campfires of a Balearic coastline disco.

Yes, they've done it again, as we find EESKEA as a new project of Petar Dundov, Ilija Rudman (who both have decades of house/disco/beach/Croatian sea breeze vibes experience behind them) and Yannah on vocals.

Both the vocal and instrumental versions of 'Belong' have the summer drenched into them even if the hook line is, "you throw me crumbs" is somewhat ironic as Petar and Ilija have been throwing us great big loaves/cakes of dance music and loads of remixes for ages.

And if you mention remix in these parts, even names of 'Dundow' and 'Rudman' will not get you infront of the North Street West experts.  And they've moved the original yatching transport mode into a NSW narrow gauge puffa steam train vibe that'll get you shuffling onto the dancefloor; again, vocal, instrumental and there's a Peechy dub mix with huge organ - can I hear Sharon Redd down the corridor trying to get out of the carriage whilst going over the points?   Froggy would have loved this but expect to see all five versions on playlists all over.

It's quite a difference from Ramrock Blue's last two releases, 'Guard Down' by Maxine Scott x Alf.E (see review HERE) and The Descendants' 'Telling Lies ‘JP’s Unplugged Cuts’ EP featuring Mazen Bedwei (see review HERE) but there perhaps a common bond to all that's not just the label.  I'd say, great music for starters.  

Artist: EESKRA

Title: Belong EP

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label: Ramrock Blue Records

Cat. No: RRB018

Format: Digital

Review: Guido Spannocchi Live at Porgy & Bess, Vienna, 2022 (Audioguido Records)

Here's a couple of dates for you, The Guido Spannocchi quartet will celebrate the release of their new album with 2 consecutive shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club (London) on 16 & 17th June 2023.

And what can you expect?  Well, Ronnie Scott's jazz club only has the best and if they've listened to the double LP of last years' gig, 'Live at Porgy & Bess, Vienna, 2022' they'll know that these four are so well matched. 

Featuring Ruth Goller (bass - how coincidental that we just referenced Vula Viel in which she also played bass in our review of Valia Calda's 'Homeland' album - see HERE), Danny Keane (piano and Rhodes) and Pete Adam Hill (drums) and, of course, Guido Spannocchi on alto saxophone.

There's no "popular" or "jazz standards" on the 7-track album being all originals/live arrangements of his previous album tracks (on which he's been accompanied by the likes of Robert Mitchell and Toni Kofi no less).  And as such, they cover areas of the jazz ballad to hard bop, avant-garde to contemporary, fusion to free!

What immediately strikes you is how good the sound recording is at Porgy & Bess, it must be a great venue to play and go and see jazz. And how good is this band?  Listend to the 10 minutes of 'Das Ist Die Frage' and you'll have no doubt.

And listen to him blow on 'Ganbatte'!

Apparantly, the band were'nt told that this mid-tour date was going to be recorded so there was no 'red light nerves' involved, is that why it sounds so good? Check out 'Strutting At Six' on Bandcamp and if you're in the London area later this month, book your tickets as it's going to be a sell out.

Artist: Guido Spannocchi Quartet

Title: Guido Spannocchi Live at Porgy & Bess, Vienna, 202

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label: Audioguido Records

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bon Voyage x Andrew Sant - High Power 2023 Rework EP (F*CLR)

Did somebody say, "I wanna see you sweat?"  You certainly did as Mr Sant get all raving acid Peechy NYC on the 2023 update of Bon Voyage's 'High Power'.

This is the third incarnation of the track as the original was released in 2000, the 2023 Rework came out in May (when it was up against label mates' George T ft. Joseph Malik  modern classic 'Automatic Self On Hold' (see review HERE) so now, the Aussie resident's version has a clear run of the dance floor. 

Hard to believe Andrew's inspiration for his rework was Gary's Gang's 'Makin Music (dub mix)' and part his love of Manc House; perhaps when Andrew's metaphorically stopped sweating, they'll be a fourth version as a longer dub?

We're told that Andrew has another project in the pipeline for F*CLR with Kameelah Waheed (who we last saw with Sumsuch and Will Brock's 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' on Colour & Pitch - see review HERE) and Ramrock Blue's protégé Maxine Scott (see review HERE).

This is definitely in the summer fun festival bags and isn't the artwork by Sean Brendog great!  Thinks I need a new bucket hat to go with this.

Artist: Bon Voyage x Andrew Sant

Title: High Power 2023 Rework 

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR023

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various - Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.2 (Mr Bongo)

If you missed last years' Mr Bongo compilation 'Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura' you may have wondered why said Luke Una is now a bit of a social media "hit" (and even immitated!), Festival "must have" and Gilles Peterson's 'go to' DJ for all things eclectic?

Well, such was the impact of Vol. 1, the Manchester based DJ seems to have taken over from Mr Scruff (can you believe 'Trouser Jazz' was 20 years ago this year?) as the areas' favourite spinner and digger (although the artwork is more Francis Bacon that Mr. Potatohead cartoon).

The new 'Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol. 2' is equally eclectic and odd(ly) mesmerising.   From chart toppers, the Real Thing to exclusive remix, 'Storm (Arp Duppy Chip Mix)' by Rare Silk; from Afro-space jazz 'Guadeloupe, île de mes amours' to a dub mix of Mr Scuff's classic 'Griffin' to LFO!

I don't want to mention how good Michael d'Albuquerque's 1973 album title track, 'We May Be Cattle But We've All Got Names' is (as I've got my eye on a copy) but here's an example of Luke being able to spot a 50 year old prog/art rock track that get's Paul 'Children Of The Sun' Hillery types very excited. And where did he find jazz rockin' Pyranha or post-punk jazz funkers Yargo?

And if you know Plunky (Nkabinde) of Oneness of JuJu fame, prepare yourself for his appearance on Afro-jazzdance-flute gang disco monster 'Play a sweet Rhythm on Them Drums' (Okyerema Asante & Black Fire) - there's even a fiddle solo!

It's more than likely that this album will even be bigger than Vol. 1 and lets hope it's just the start of a very long running series as you can just about count the DJs on one hand who are able to and do manage to have a set that encompasses many genres without losing the crowd; and Luke Una is definitely one of them - who else could follow a track by Bach Revolution with one called 'Bangalore Whispers (feat. MD Pallavi)' and not flinch?

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Artist: Various Artists

Title: Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.2 

Release date : 9th June, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP268

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

 

 

Review: Opus Trio - In Studio (A.MA Records)

Those that have sharp eyes and ears will have heard the news that Roy Ayers is on his last ever tour (he must have done one for every year, excluding Covid, for 40 years at least!) so one way you could hear "him" is by such "reimaginings" of tracks of his like the one here by the Opus Trio as they cover Roy's 'Fire Weaver' with some serious swagger funk.

But this is not a one track album as the trio of Ralph Moore (ts), Giuseppe Bassi (db) and Anthony Pinciotti (d) 'developed' after being put together for a tour of Italy by manager Nico Scotti and then realised that they have got something special on their hands.

There's eight tracks in total on the album and check the swing on 'Rafaele', the J-jazzy 'Anthony's Dilema' (one for the deep dancers) or 'Shoki Blues' and the only other cover version on the album, Lee Morgan's meandering 'Ceora'.

These guys have worked with nearly as many people as Roy Ayers has played gigs; can you imagine the learning curve playing with Horace Silver, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Gene Harris, Pat Metheny, Jeremy Steig, Randy Brecker, Gary Bartz? And they're just the ones that have appeared on Blue Note (mostly)!

The label seems to have got into a swing (no pun etc) with the artwork too after their last album, 'Electric Nuts' by Enrico Le Noci (see review HERE) so all they need now is a big summer festival?

Artist: Opus Trio

Title: In Studio

Release date: 9th June, 2023

Label : A.MA Reforged / A.MA Records

Catalog Number : CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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Review: Sababa 5 feat. Hoodna Orchestra - Eilat 22 / Elifelet 23 (Batov Records)

Hey! Sababa 5 get deeper into the psych-funk surf and need extra room on the longboard for the Hoodna Orchestra's horns.

Following on from the previous single, 'Funk #1 ' Funk #2' (see review HERE), these are finding their feet in their new studio on the outskirts of Tel Aviv that's the equivalent of 60s Holloway Road as they become more and more in their own version of a Joe Meek/Daptone/El Michels Affair world.

'Eilat 22' and 'Elifelet 23' double A side just goes to show how tight they are and can swing any dancefloor.

The single is on Batov Records.

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Eilat 22 / Elifelet 23

Release date: 2nd June, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR076

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Nik West feat. Larry Graham - Thumpahlenah

I know what you're thinkun', who in their right mind would have bassist Nik West on the same release as bass guitar legend Larry Graham?

All they could have had in mind was a funked up bass string thumpin' that's hot enough to bring Sly and Prince to the Graham Central Station for a big party.

Very 80/90s funktastic, 'Thumpahlenah'

brings a tribute to the bass guitar funk and they work so well together, there must be more than one single from this session? Please tell me there is or else I'm goin to have to find my bass, imitation Larry Blackmon codpiece and start to dance to this like it's 1999.

Nik West · Thumpahlenah Ft Larry Graham

 

Review: Thakzin & Ray T – Don’t Let Me See (Jimpster Remixes) (Foliage)

It was only a matter of time before we got the Jimpster remix EP of Thakzin & Ray T – Don’t Let Me See (see review the original verions HERE).

I wasn't surprised when I saw that top UK producer Jimpster was first to the gig as it could have been any of Thakzin's big fan base like from old and new a like; &ME, Rampa, Adam Port, Dixon, Atjazz, Osunlade, Louie Vega, Pablo Fierro, Eric Kupper, David Morales, Laurent Garnier. 

But Jimpster is more than capable as he's kept the beautiful vocals and upped the bass throb so that the "totally mesmersing" is synthed up to the max with "love" (repeat).

The South African thumb piano shines on the instrumental version.

I don't know if I can let myself consider that this is better than the original version - I think the answer is get all versions; but don't let me see it.

Artist: Thakzin & Ray T 

Title: Don’t Let Me See (Jimpster Remixes) Vocal/Instrumental/Radio Edit

Release date: 2nd June, 2023 

Label: Foliage Records

Cat. No: FN091

Format: Bandcamp / Digital