Review: Joe Probert - The Nose EP (Ramrock Red)

When you've got Tim Goldsworthy (DFA, UNKLE, Hercules & Love Affair) and Ramrock's Jo Wallace after a Bristolian living in New Zealand, you can be sure that they're sniffing out some super talent.

Over the last 20 years, New Zealand has proved to be more than just an musical outpost that produced Split Enz/Crowed House/Finn Brothers and Charles Tumahai (BeBop Deluxe) as the likes of Fat Freddy's Drop/Joe Dukie and Julien Dyne have seen them have album releases on cult labels in the UK and Europe.

And now it's Joe Probert's turn as his unique soul/funk/pop is right up Ramrock's as 'No Hot Fever' gets psych/funked-out, 'Toe The Line' that's classic Motown soul soaked vocal/organ (you get me, Mrs Ramrock?) and 'Tired Of Waiting' which is my pick of the three; that said, I can see all three getting played on all the great radio stations throughout the day.

Who know's why it's call The Nose (why not 'The Toe'?) but if you're a fan of Joseph Malik's new album, 'Proxima Ebony' (see review HERE), here's another must have and it's frightening to think how good these guys are and indeed, what's to come!

Did someone say, DJ Gerry Hectic was on the undercard to Tim Goldsworthy in Bournemouth many moons ago?  I thought not.

Artist: Joe Probert

Title: The Nose EP

Release date: 22nd September, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR052

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Nick Marks - Cinematic Chromatics Vol.1 (Independent)

How good is Nick Marks?  If he was a 100m athlete, he'd break the current world record by at least 4 seconds: one for every track on this EP!

We've loved everything we've heard as singles previously, 'Dorongo', 'Paradiso' (love the rock guitar solo at the end, who'd have thought it'd fit in so well) and 'Ride The Dragon'.

I've said before that is like a 'modern' interpretation of jazz-funk OST as Marks gets his 70s 'Thundercat' on with the Metropole Orkest for 'Enter the Dragon' (Lalo Schifrin) meets 'Death Wish' (Herbie Hancock).

So, you can tell from the titles that there's a big cinematic influence as there is with the new track, 'Prelude/Asrc Of Light'. You just know 'Prelude' is going to be the atmospheric tension before the opening 'Arc Of Light' orchestral jazz sunshower of sound.

It's like Miguel Atwood-Ferguson has teamed up with Lalo Schifrin, Quincey Jones and Eumir Deodato in an explosion of cinematic jazz funk disco goodness with a hint of Dilla.  

This guy's is far to busy for remix work and it's more than evident Mr Nick Marks is a cool dude that's as much Cinematic Chromatics as he is Snarky Puppy. People: this is Vol 1 and it's a set of 3! 

On your Marks, [Nick] you might say?

PS. The artwork by rtistry and vision. French artist matches the briliane of the music.

PPS. Thanks to the Jazz Chill Blog for quoting, “a twisted jazz fusion of orchestrated funk bruk electronica - dare I say, of Herbie Hancock proportions” (Gerry Hectic, You And The Music)

Artist: Nick Marks

Title: Cinematic Chromatics Vol.1 

Release date: 22nd September, 2023

Label: 

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: ENEMY - The Betrayal (We Jazz Records)

Whether it's big or small, We Jazz are not the enemy and there's no beytrayal going on whatsoever.

The reason I mention this is because they've gone from the magnificently and large 17 member Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra album release of last week, to the release of a trio, Enemy, that's made up of fantastic modern jazz exponents.  We'll known pianist Kit Downes, the magnificent Petter Eldh and drummer James Maddren.

I've said before on the single, 'Hollywood Bypass' that they make a very powerful trio; "... bypass Hollywood, straight to Frith Street/5 Corners" but even I was taken aback by the other 11 tracks.

Kit was once a member of the hard hitting "new London jazz revolution" group Empirical and he's no less powerful or inventive in ENEMY and he's know/played with Maddren for many years.  'Sun' is hot and manic, Croydon is represented by 'Croydon Shuffle' and 'Croydon Smash' - the later being the opening tease of a track; shame it's just shy of 2 mins long but the rest of the album makes up for it. 

Recorded in a day(!), this is their third album as a group (their debut on We Jazz) and even though there's no hint of the previous association with ECM trademark sound (the label of the previous albums) you're going to find that fans are already in the major jazz press and radio stations; consider this is more of a transfer than a betrayal.

PS. Petter Eldh plays the bass on Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra album 'Family' (see review HERE) so there's another reason to get both albums.

PPS. Apparently availabe in bring pink vinyl version.

Artist: ENEMY

Title: The Betrayal 

Release date: 22nd September, 2023

Label : We Jazz Records

Catalog Number : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Daniel Ögren - Fastingen 92 (Mr Bongo)

Sweden's Daniel Ögren (Swedish guitarist, composer, engineer and producer) was actually born in the late 80s so what's 'Fastingen 92' all about?

Well, the cover looks like Jan Akkerman might look as a young man in a studio of today and that's a bit of a clue as Akkerman is equally adept at jazz, funk and rock, Ögren beguiles us with a range of styles that sound a little synth pop, a little South American folk, Scandinavian folk, OST and a little ambient/Balearic too [Ed. not sure that we can have 'Scando-Balearic']. 

'Idag' is the "obvious" crossover track, but to where - 60s pop or Scando-Young Marble Giants(?)  It's definitely a grower and much the better for the inclusion of a bonus track, 'April' that's ideal for radio plays next spring (great pysch-ish climax). Then, not long 'til 'October (For Lo)', another dreamy won, and if you're not fed up of me mention Belgium's hero Remco Evenepoel at every desparate opportunity, previous Belgium legend get a mention on 'Maj (For TinTin)'; a bit more instrumental post-Joy Div that one.

It's been quite a year for Mr Bongo Records already and this is about as far as you can get from thier last release, Ana Frango Elétrico's 'Electric Fish' (see review HERE) or even fellow Swede (and mate), Sven Wunder (see review HERE).

This album's was original release in limited to 100 copies in 2020 version whilst this version of 'Fastingen 92' comes in both magenta and black vinyl versions, CD and download.

Artist: Daniel Ögren

Title: Fastingen 92 

Release date: 22nd September, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBLP277

Format :  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

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   .