Review: T.O.E - Lies feat. Marcus Malone (Tangential Music)

Marcus is back, T.O.E is back, lies never really went away but get in early with the radio edit of 'Lies' that's out today!

Marcus and T.O.E are back from what you might ask?  Well, Marcus was last on the I75 (with the Motor City Hustlers  - see review HERE) and before that, there was the "modern classic", 'Say It Loud EP' with T.O.E (see link HERE) (both on Ramrock Red Records).

But this is a bit different in that there's more Latin disco, space synth boogie and touch of the Hall & Oates backing vocals.

Perfect for the summer groovin' season and lets hope there's a proper 12" with more guitar solo and  instrumental versions to be made available.

For more Tangential Music, check out the link below for latest show on 1BTN with Lee Bright, it's always worth a listen (or more than one)

Review: Suddenly WOW! - Plastic Life EP (Ramrock Red Records)

Now, '42' was thought of as a significant number somewhere in the universe but for Ramrock Red Record's Cat. No RRR042 can only mean one thing, Suddenly WOW!'s 'Plastic Life EP'.

If I'd been told that the 'Single Of The Week' was a modern discofied take on 80s pop sensations Haircut 100, Orange Juice, Au Pairs with Beggar & Co. horns and a bit of AWB with some 'Holiday', I'd have a meltdown on the beach.

We're told, "What better way to start the week than with a bit of dystopian pop - the promise of a shiny future filled with virtual reality headsets, manufactured dystopia and ten minute microbreaks taken in your lunch hour."

Well, I'm sure about that there's some 'Mutant Disco' (respect Ze Records) remixes by the North Street West trio soon [which can only be outstanding with sun cream factor 50) so in the meantime, have a really good time with the vocal and instrumental orginals.

And if you don't know Suddenly WOW!, time to check out their 'Little Things' (see review HERE).

Artist: Suddenly WOW!

Title: Plastic Life EP

Release date: 12th June, 2023 - Remixes 19th June, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR042

Review: BCUC - Millions Of Us (On The Corner Records)

If you've ever wondered what Afro spiritual post punk funk avant-guarde experimental psych jazz from South Africa sounded like, this is it! 

We've already experienced 'The Woods' and 'Pieces Of Ish' as a single/toe dipping (see review HERE) but the album, 'Millions Of Us' is the full plunge in the ocean.

It doesn'f take long to get immersed in their Fela shamenism of 'Thonga Lami' or the break neck 'Ntuthwane' which you can see as a reinvented South African gumboot dance.

What you get in loads from this album is an energy that as mesmeric as the album cover artwork.

The album was recorded in Soweto and mixed in London.  And with that in mind, in some ways, this seems like the taking back of Malcolm McClaren's vision of 'Duck Rock' [1983] after 40 years with a rebrand of his Bow Wow Wow venture; could they have not squeezed in New York Dolls/Sex Pistols to complete the set?  That said, the title track, 'Millions Of Us', at nearly 20 minutes long, may have an inner Rotten/Johansen still looking for a kiss: "don't stop the music" as they say.

BCUC are a 7-peice band and they're on tour all through the summer - see gig and festival listing below - and expect to see this listed high in the 'Album Of The Year' lists and 'Millions Of Us' as track of the year.

 

Artist: BCUC

Title: Millions Of Us

Release Date : 2nd June, 2023

Catalog Number : -

Label : On The Corner Records

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

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?

/

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 

credits