Review: South Beach Recycling - C Dog's Wish (Craig Smith's Lightyears Dub) (Atjazz Record Company)

Do we love a mid-week remix? We certainly do when South Beach Recycling meets up with Craig Smith for a journey into the outer-reaches of Theo Parrish's excelsior space travel disco ball service.

South Beach Recycling (let's call 'em SBR) released one of our favourite albums of the year with 'Obsessive Compulsive Disco' (also on Atjazz Record Company - see review HERE) and this remix with the tolling bell of Whitby (or should that be Portland Bill) is so mesmerizing.  Throw in some disco moves and it's the perfect single for this time of year.

So there's the remix and the original version and you'll love 'em both whether you're in Detroit or Derby.

Artist: South Beach Recycling 

Title: C Dog's Wish (Craig Smith's Lightyears Dub) 

Release date: 19th September, 2022

Label: Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number: Digital / Bandcamp

 
 

Review: Scorpio Leisure - Give Us Some Space (Ramrock Red)

We are told that this is this the lastest in, "Ennio Morricone vs The Clash spaghetti western reggae....": you'll have to give us some space to let that sink in! 

If you're a little worn on the Clash's 'Bankrobber'/'Dub' and after a bit more rockabilly as in Brian Setzer (he's got a new album out too, 'The Devil Always Collects') with the Camden Cat (Daniel Jeanrenaud) and the spirit of Joe Meek, here's a reviver with a sting in the tail.

That said, you've got to watch those pinchers at the front as they've got a vocal version and an instrumental double punch.

The only thing this is missing is a full string orchestra OST version and a full on dub but that apart, this is another winner from the Ramrock Red team.

Artist: Scorpio Leisure

Title: Give Us Some Space EP

Release date: 18th September, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR051

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Léon Phal - Stress Killer (Heavenly Sweetness / Pura Vida)

On the face of it, Heavenly Sweetness/Pura Vida having a album led by a Franco-Swiss saxophonist Léon Phal might seem a little bit out of their comfort zone; but this ten track debut on the lable picks up from his last with the benefit of some label mates.

K.O.G. always sounds good but he's alongside Léon Phal's as guest on 'Stress Killer' - great lyrics for all of France and the rest of the world - jazzy hip-hop is here! For more K.O.G, there's 'Zone 6 Remixed EP (see review HERE).

On 'Something Inside' the band; Arthur Alard (Drums), Rémi Bouyssière (Double Bass), Gauthier Toux (Keyboards) and Zacharie Ksyk (Trumpet) is joined by Cameroonian born/LA based Lorine Chia on vocals.

The other tracks do have a mix of club and jazz club inter-meshed from a cover of 'Naima', the in your face, 'Fuck Yeah' and the title track which is a quirky bopper.

If you're new to the label, this is different but now we know that jazz is hip (after Ezra Collective have won the Mercury Prize this year), this is not as leftfield as it once was!

Artist: Léon Phal

Title: Stress Killer

Release Date : 15th September, 2023

Catalog Number : -

Label : Heavenly Sweetness

Review: Tatsuya Nakamura - Locus (J-Jazz Masterclass Series) (BBE Music)

Back in 1984, there was probably little interest inside or outside of Japan for what was seen as a jazz-rock album even though the band leader was drummer, Tatsuya Nakamura.

Now, nearly 40 years on, Nakamura's album 'Locus' is latest in the Tony Higgins/Mike Peden curated J-Jazz Masterclass Series to be re-issued on BBE Music.

Originally only four tracks, 'Ballad' and the previously unreleased shorter version of 'Ballad' as a bonus is more reflective of the album artwork than the actual title track that over the 12 minutes wanders from synth/electronic intro to full on Miles fusion rock-off including obligatory drum solo.

At times, you might think this is any of the Miles fusion supergroups especially where Airto Moreira and Chick Corea are present which says much for the group joining Nakamura (drums, percussion); there's Shinobu Fujimoto (trumpet), Jun Fukamachi (keys), Hedeto Kanai (electric bass), Kazumasa Akiyama (electric guitar) with more percussion by Tatsuji Yokoyama and Yuji Sakai.

'Wow' is more of a showcase for Fukamachi who, in addition to being a jazz-fusion composer, pianist/keyboards was a synthesizer pioneer and played with many of the US leaders in the 70s.

And talking of the 70s, in '79, Nakamura's debut album 'Where Is The Quarter?' contained a 5 minute track called, '¼ Samba' (with a different line-up) so by the time of the recording of 'Locus' the operandi (you could say) had progressed to '¼ Samba II' which made an re-appearance as the near 12 minute version on the compilation 'J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan (Volume 3)' a couple of years ago.

And if you do recall, it's monsterously mad sh*t jazz bonkers and needs to be any collection of anyone that loves jazz or J-jazz or even hates jazz; 'Ballard' is a well timed cool down after that!

Many thanks to Messrs Higgins and Peden for their combined dedication to this series and bringing to the BBE fan club music that would normally be totally unobtainable to us mere mortals.

My informants tell me that the J-Jazz team have a special announcement coming soon so consider me to be on the case and we'll bring it to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, 'Locus' awaits to thrill and entertain you.

Artist: Tatsuya Nakamura 

Title: Locus

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE6 1XLP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp .

Review: Charlie Hill - Yore EP (Middle Name Records)

You can see why Sampology is into this as jazz-loop-trip that Sun Ra would be proud of as Charlie Hill releases his 'Yore EP'.. 

There's so much great music coming out of Brisbane (and New Zealand) as 'Philly' is another great mix of BRUK/World/Jazz-Funk and our favourite, 'Space For Space' as spiritual jazz meets hip-hop vibes that so popular these days.

And Charlie likes his house too as 'Orleigh Sun' is his 4x4 drives to the classic Carlos Niño/Daedelus/Life Force Trio period and 'Her Four Thorns' is a little bit more experimental.

'Yemlaad' (Ed. is that a Black Country saying?) is more bass wobble-ish meets Mia Toi Dodd so that's one more for clubs/NTS than say, TWR but there's loads here to keep Charlie HIll in your charts for a while yet.

Artist: Charlie Hill

Title: Yore EP 

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : Middle Name Records

Catalog Number :  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Automat - Heat (Compost Records)

Just in time for some late summer festival excitment as here's the 'Heat' album from Automat. 

This new album is definitely hot as it reflects some Morcheeba, Massive Attack and even a sense of EasyStreet All-stars above and beyond the Stereolab-ish single, 'Climb' featuring Barbie Williams.

This is more than a one track album as Automat are as diverse together as they are apart with their previous associations, being Achim Färber (Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub, Skip McDonald), Georg Zeitblom (wittmann/zeitblom), Max Loderbauer (Ricardo Villalobos / Sun Electric / Moritz Von Oswald Trio), Scott Montieth (Deadbeat): not only that they play as a live band too!

They may have swapped Jochen Arbeit (guitar) for Mr. Loderbauer but it's a bit of a re-union as they'd worked together on 'Selekt 01' back in 2015 so we've still got a bit of surf guitar mixed in with dub-synth on 'Emperor'.

In fact it's surprising how dubby this is until you hear guests includ Prince Alla and R Zee Jackson ('Standing', 'Youth Man') together with Gemma Ray ('Cold').  In fact, the more you hear this album, the more impressive and commericial it is like, a bit like early synth pop;  as in 'Drift', 'Statues' or even 'I Was Never Here' (is it just me but I'm still thinking synth-pop Pink Floyd dub!)

After the return of Paul St. Hilaire (with his new album, 'Tikiman Vol​.​1'), the Compost assault on electronic dub is well overdue and this is brilliant companion release with the recent Fred un Luna 'Future Sounds Of Kraut (see reveiw HERE) compilation that's very different but very connected.

Artist: Automat

Title: Heat

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 619 LP / Digital / Bandcamp   .

Review: Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra - Family (We Jazz Records)

How many times to you hear on TV folks say, "It's all about [the] family"? Well, when it comes to Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra and We Jazz Records, it literally is all about the new double LP. 'Family'.

And "supersonic" the orchestra is - all 17 of 'em!

This set was recorded live at the Mondriaan Jazz Festival in Den Haag, Netherlands: it's not in the Congress Centre so I'm a little surprised they were able to get all these guys on the stage.  That said, it does seem to have made the music/atmosphere quite cosy, like being in a family of loved ones, even if there's a break out of some musical skirmishes at times.

Fans of We Jazz will know what to expect as it's modern jazz of Scandanavian discent (that Cherry, Ayler, Coleman influence) done today.

When the single 'The Healing Force Of The Trojan Horse' was released, I said "[I'm not going to be able to say this often] It's on the set list for We Out Here Festival on Friday!" and it was; surprisingly not a longer version on the album (at a mere 4:29s) it's the shortest track whilst the longest 'Dolphin Disco' (11:33s) and  'Spending Time With Ludde' (10:14s) are my personal favourites.

There's so much brass on 'Supersonic' it could be by a brass band from Houston and they explode on 'SP68' climax.  But the whole album is so good that you don't have to like Big Band Jazz/US High School/Uniiversity bands/Marching Bands etc to get this; ask Karem Gokmen (Dubmission) this is just a great album as each of the 8 tracks is crammed full of jazz.

Whilst it's not going to winning next years' Mercury Prize, (well done Ezra Collective for winning this year as the first 'Jazz' album), it might win a Scandanavian equivalent; still a few gigs to catch them live this year if you are lucky enough to be anywhere near them with a ticket. 

20.10. Stockholm Jazzfestival (SE)

22.10. Skopje Jazzfestival (MK)

2.12. We Jazz Festival, Helsinki (FI)

How does it go, "We(Jazz) are Family".

Artist: Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra
Title: Family
Release date: 15th September, 2023
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : 2XLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Abel - Jazz In The Room (Atjazz Record Company)

Talk about on a roll, here's the follow-up release to Abel's 'Can’t Let You Go' featuring Rona Ray (see review HERE) and it comes with two remixes.

It was only a couple of weeks ago we got very excited about Mr OFFBeat's 'ZEZEN' release on Atjazz (see review HERE) and here's Abel's new one that captures 'Jazz In The Room' like Paul Murphy, Gilles Peterson, Kev Beadle and Colin Curtis were on a 24 hour bender; all vinyl of course.

The beautiful guitar (Lloyd Wright) is dominated by te trumpet (Ferg Kisby) on the remix versions.  With beautiful 'Sun Ra'-ish artwork you get seven minutes of Jimpster's remix (one for the "flute gang") and another seven of Peacey's groovin' dub style remix which really works that trumpet/synth.

We're told that the album, 'Cosmic Law' is out at the end of October and it's definiitely in the "must have" folder along with South Beach Recycling (see HERE) and Si Tew (see HERE) which came out at the start of the year. 

Artist: Abel

Title: Jazz In The Room

Release date: 8th September, 2023

Label : Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number : ARC250ADS2 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Monzanto Sound - Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow Remixed EP (None More Records)

Can't believe it's nearly been a year since 'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow' was released and the year before, we were excited about the release of Monzanto Sound's debut on None More Records, 'Time Lapse' EP, asking, "Where has all the post-punk-funk gone?" And even then, the tracks themselves were also neo-soul-jazzy and much more.  

'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow' (see review HERE),has a fair amount of influences from  ESG to Kraut-rock to Erykah Budu along with reggae/dub; so what will you get on the remix?

Well, there's some might fine new age steppas on 'Tricksters' (Monzanto Sounds meets Natty Wylah) in original and dub versons whilst 'Eja' goes about bit more dubby jazz dream on the David Okumu remix ("You know Dave Okumu?" Yes I do, another who's been in many groups that's got the 'Gilles Peterson approved' badge).

I can't say I know Waz but he's morphed 'The Letter' from the kraut-rock to the kraut-techno-ambient-dub which is quite something and I think it's possibly my favourite of the four tracks save for 'Tricksters'. 

Monzanto Sound are the Alt.Ezra Collective and I'm ready for the Hectic Extensions as you can't have too much of these tracks. 

Artist: Monzanto Sound 

Title: Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow Remixed

Release date: 15th September, 2023

Label: None More Records

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: Ana Frango Elétrico - Electric Fish / Insista em Mim (Mr Bongo)

One of many reasons why I've never wanted to learn Brasilian/Portuguese is that I'm more than willing to accept that Ana Frango Elétrico real name is Ana Frango Elétrico... that is, until you're told that it translates as 'Ana Electric Chicken'!

But all is forgiven for that small 'pop' foopah when you discover that she is one of the leaders of Bala Desejo (yes, they of the best new Latin/Brazilian album in years, 'Sim, Sim, Sim' - see reveiw HERE) and that her new album is coming out soon.

'Electric Fish' (or should that be 'Peixes Elétrico'?) is the lead track and it's full of pop-boogie disco that'd be on the dancefloor of Blackpool Mecca as it's got touches on modern Northern Soul - think of it as Colin Curtis / Patrick Forge love child (if you can).

'Insista em Mim' (no translation available) is like the slowed down version but it's clear that this lady likes her funky soul a la Deodato as does her talented band which includes Alberto Continentino (who plays bass with Caetano Veloso), Sergio Machado (drummer of Negro Leo’s band) and Guilherme Lirio (who plays electric guitar in Gilberto Gil’s band).

The radio edit of 'Electric Fish' is sung in English which is just as good as the original.

Get onboard with this release now as by the time the album comes out in October ('Me Chama de Garo Que Eu Sou Sua') she'll be a big star..erm, should that be a big fish?

Artist: Ana Frango Elétrico

Title: Electric Fish / Insista em Mim

Release date: 13th September, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB273R

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp