Review: J&F Quintet - Contrast (BBE Music)

This was originally released in 1976 by J&F Quintet on a little know Swiss label, Delta Production.   The group were clearly into Miles' fusion in a deep way so why isn't this better known with original copies demanding £350 prices!

Well, it is a bit of a mystery but thankfully IF... Music's Jean-Claude Thompson has a finger on this type of thing in Europe (check out his 'If Music Pressents You Need This' series  which has compilations covering labels like Enja Records, Black Saint & Soul Note and more) and he's managed to get this LP re-issued from the original master tapes!

The band, Stefan Schneller, Donat Beer and Toni Schädler, with the addition of drummers Gieri Bievi and Peter 'Huck' Hug and bassist Andri A Piorta, split up after this release; presumably Jazz-funk experimental mixed with trad. Swiss-Romansh isn't going to pay the mortgage.

Well, I say that now, but trad vocal/flute and jazz-funk-synth-out, 'White Arena' should have as it's got Can meets Jazzdance nonsense all over it; where's the 12" mix?

If you need "tips for tourist in Switzerland", this is the album you need and you jazz nuts will got for the longer tracks, like the 'Basilio' and the killer, 'Shagalak' plus the flute gang favourite, 'Sint-Flute'.

I'm guessing this won't be around for long so pre-order your copy now to avoid disappointment.

Artist: J&F Quintet 

Title: Contrast

Release date: 16th June, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE728 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Pigeon - Backslider EP (Soundway Records)

There's many types of Pigeon; Wood, Stool, Spatchcock, English, Racing, etc...but the best is signed to Soundway Records and the new EP is called, 'Backslider'.

The band is lead by Guinean singer Falle Nioke with Graham Godfrey (d), Steve Pringle (keyboards), Tom Dream (gtr) and Josh Ludlow (b).

Following on from the success of the previous EP 'Yagana' that came out last year and their mix of Afro-disco, no wave, grunge, jazz got them fans like BBC 6 Music's Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan and Gilles Peterson.

This year they added some more space funk into the mix and the title track, 'Bacslider' is an instant hit with Mutant Disco-fication that it could have been an Ze out-take with Cymande vs Material: this is track of the month [is the that Pigeon entering the loft at the end?]

But don't over look 'Mama Yo Mama Yo', 'Ikanabore', 'Trust' and the three versions of 'Infinity' (Extended, Radio Edit, Josh's Extended Disco Mix).  They're all brilliant but for my festival gigs this year it will be Josh's never ending 'Infinity' for me as it's  got a the energy of early Bloc Party with a psych/rave/dance mindset - this extended version is nearly 12 minutes long: Josh Ludlow, the new Prins Thomas?

And talking of festivals/dance tents, Pigeon's festive appearances this year include Glastonbury, Latitude and The Great Escape so if you're lucky enough to be at any of these events, make Pigeon your 'must see' experience.

.Artist: Pigeon

Title:  Backslider EP

Release date: 16th June, 2023

Label : Soundway Records

Catalog Number : 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kyra - As Things Grow EP (Other Projects)

When you're getting the spotlight from Nick Grimshaw (his ‘track of the week’ on BBC Radio 1 at the time) to Jamz Supernova (BBC1Xtra) to JazzFM's playlists you must have lots to offer.

And West London based Kyra certainly has from her singing and songwriting.  There's that soul and jazz mix going on Nina Simone/Amy Winehouse/Terri Walker/Minnie Riperton and many more.

She seems totally 'arrived' on this seven track EP; especially on 'Blossom Spring' and 'Sweet Mahongany' (yes, there's Minnie Ripperton going on) and as this project is backed by PRS Women Make Music Foundation, she has used as many females as she can on this release; even the string arrangements were composted by an all female orchestra - check 'Need More Time Pt.2'.

The collabs with Blue Lab Beats will get attention like the jazzy-jam 'Excellent' but there's going to be more growth here than with a whole series of Gardeners' World; just beautiful.

Artist: Kyra

Title: As Things Grow EP

Release date: 16th June, 2023 

Label: Other Projects

Cat. No: SGLR068

Format: Spotify / Digital

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