Review: Finest Wear - The Obsidian EP (Closer To Truth)

Here's something that's going to be on the Colour & Pitch Sessions for the rest of the year, the brilliant Finest Wear in all his musical finery.

So we know Finest Wear from a series of great deep house tracks, including 'The Night Tales EP (see review HERE) and 'Distant Memories EP (see review HERE) and his remixes but this new EP is out on the equally classy Closer To Truth label, but, truth, I had to search for what 'Obisdian' is: a hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization!

Why the London based Italian Cenzo Scoglio would call the lead track, 'Black Obsidian' is hard to gather as it's only hard in its club bangin' tempo topped with some smooth synths with a Detroit alarm going on; "Hhurrra, Hhurra ... give it to me baby" you might say.

'Lost In Paradise' is a like an urgent dreamy version with a manic church organ and which is followed, by coincidence, by 'Talk To My Lord' (well, the festive season is nearly upon us) and the softer 'Ocean Sounds'; has he been hanging out at Sea Road in Boscombe by any chance?

For those that don't really get Pre-Orders, The Obsidian EP is out now and I also love the look of the labels on all Closer To Truth releases (it's a bit like a worn 'Nervous Records' without the cartoon) and if you're new to the label, I'd also recommend recent releases by Sven Wegner, Tiptoes and Nic Soule to keep you Closer To Truth.

FinestWear · Finest Wear - 'The Obsidian Ep' ***Snippets***

Artist: Finest Wear 

Title: The Obsidian EP

Release date: 10th November, 2022

Label : Closer To Truth

Catalog Number : CTT114

Format: Download / Beatport / My Obsidian Chart - Top 10 Chart Traxscource

Review: A.K. Yeboah - Nde Yen Da (Asona / BBE Music)

Don't be put off by the artwork which looks like some African version of a 80s New Forest National Park callender [Ed. that's mean].

Antony ‘King’ Yeboah started out in the 1950s playing Highlife.  By the time of the 80s and the ever present upheaval in the area and the introduction of the nu-Burger digital sounds, how can you stand out from the crowd?

What about writing songs in Pidgin to attract a much wider listenership?  Good idea as this would then cross from Ghana into Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.  A few decades on, pretty meaningless over here but what you can hear is Yeboah's pan-African guitar style (twangy to you and me) that could equally have been on Malcolm McLaren's South African "disovery".

Like that 'township' sound, it's fast, energenic and sing-a-long, 'Nde Yen Da', 'Moma Yen Hwe Yie' and 'People Talk Of You' all gets you going. 

Meanwhile, back in the synth shot disco, 'Make Me Know My Position' would make Anita Ward ring her bell - big summer hit takes been released in November!  No problem as this is the fun track of the year; ha! har! as the King would say. 

A mere four tracks but the legacy is clear as to why "King" is still an inspiration to this date in the area.

Artist: A.K Yeboah

Title:  Nde Yen Da

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mr Cee - Nye Wonko (Asona / BBE Music)

Singer/songwriter Charles Kwadwo Kwarteng aka Mr Cee is off to a party and we're all invited.

'Nye Wonko', unlikely to be New Year's Eve Wonko - but if there is such a thing and they're playing Mr. Cee's album, make sure you can go.

The story goes that there was a low-budget digital version of this album which was clearly in need of a Highlife big band upgrade and thanks to the recording at Ghana Films Studios / Asona records, this is it.  Now even more enhanced with the BBE re-issue it sounds super funky and super dancey.

As ever, Mr Cee tells a storey with these songs, even thought I've no idea what he's saying, whatever trouble he's found - like 'Bribiara Wone Mmre' and 'Nanna', those horns (especially, Sammy lartey on tenor sax) and jangley guitars are going to see him get to a brighter place (and dancehall). 

'Joyce' is the almost obligatory track on the album that we can tag as "reggae" and it's definitely one of the better ones on this Asona re-issue series that you might be thinking is getting a bit overwhelming; and perhaps it is at BBE HQ as oddly, this seems to be a digital release at the moment but I hope there's going to be a vinyl version coming soon.

Just as good as the Thomas Frempong album, 'Anansi Shuttle' (see review HERE) and they saved the best 'til last, 'Yeda Mo Ase' - perfect highlife party.

Artist: Mr Cee

Title:  Nye Wonko

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Brandon Markell Holmes - Fuller (Toucan Sounds)

Well, I didn't think we'd only have to wait a couple of months since Brandon Markell Holmes' last single but now we've got the 'Fuller' sounds of a brand new single.

Brandon moved from Chicago to NYC where he's attracted attension from the likes of Derrick Carter, Dee Diggs, musclecars and more to do a remix of his songs after he appeared on Gorillaz album ,‘Humanz'.

No surprise as, once again, the latest single 'Fuller' features his deep soulful vocal (and a odd 'telephone' rap) but i would prefer the extended edit by label boss, Robert PM as it's longer and almost seems like an instrumental version; nice horns too! is is a vinyl release so there is a real B-side; 'I Bet' featuring Liam Berkeley is more R&B.

Toucan Sounds has been one of our favourite labels this year, not only did we love Bradon's 'Go Ahead' (see review HERE), I'm still tossing Dee Diggs' 'Toss It' and 'Brolorizo's 'Agua Bensita' (see review HERE).

That's a strong image for the artwork and if you're in NYC, and the final night of his 3-show residency on November 8-10th at  at Brooklyn’s Sleepwalk to celebrate the launch plus his second album early next year.

Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes  

Title: Fuller

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW114

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Thomas Frempong - Aye Yi (Asona / BBE Music)

More from the star of the Asona re-issues, Thomas Frempong is back with a 'new' album, 'Aye Yi' - and he's not from Yorkshire!

Mr Frempong looks great on the cover of this album, as part of BBE's Asona re-issue series and already a challenge to his other album as the 'Best in Series', 'Anansi Shuttle' (see reveiw HERE) 

The title track stands out not only for it's near eleven minutes but for a dubby trumpet section that shines on the Ghanian Highlife backing.

Orignally released/recorded in 1985, unlike some of these re-issues, the 'Dutch' influence,.doesn't deminish the highlift groove, particuarly on 'Mada Meho So' and 'Okwan Bi' (featuring that trumpet again) that swing so beautifully.

Frempong's a big star on the label and one can only hope that somewhere at the back of the shed are some unreleased tapes from a forgotten Agyemang / Frempong recording session; we can only dream.

Artist: Thomas Frempong 

Title:  Aye Yi

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE747 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Andrew Sant - Love Honor Respect ft. Kameelah Waheed (F*CLR Music)

Acid meets Philly CRT poetry that champions, 'Love, Honor, Respect'; we say, choose this for the dancefloor.

We know that Kameelah Waheed is much sort after from appearances on Sumsuch & Will Brock's last release, 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' (with Gavin Boyce Remix - see review HERE) and cropping up and most surpristingly on Joseph Malik's massive album on Ramrock Records (see review HERE).  Even so, the Ramrock/F*CLR HR Department must have worked overtime to get Andrew Sant (Mancunian now living in Oz) and Kameelah together.

But here's a label that can spot a dancefloor anthem after Darren Price's 'The Real House Music EP' (see review HERE) or the drac-tech-house of Natasha Kitty Katt's 'Batt Danse EP' featuring Billy Wirth (that came out for Halloween - see review HERE) but you get an additional scary-synth edged "choose life" accapella and an equally squelchy instrumental version.

Don't forget, we saw Andrew on the 'High Power 2023 Rework' release (see review HERE) so we know he's got a thing for an acid knob twiddle (Ed. Haven't we all!)

Artist: Andrew Sant

Title:  Love Honor Respect ft. Kameelah Waheed

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR029

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright – Dance For Me (Ezel Remixes) (Reel People Music)

If you were excited to here Mothers Favorite Child's last release, wait 'til you here Ezel's remixes of 'Dance For Me'!

You'll recall Mothers Favorite Child & Robin S on 'Tonight' as remixed by Opolopo (see review HERE) and you might be thinking, Saeeda Wright and Ezel aren't as well known as the last release - well forget that as this is even better!

But if you're after some name dropping, Ms Wright did work with Prince whilst Ezel is the Dominican Republic's version of Opolopo as he's done loads of remixes and run his own soulful house label, Bayacou Records for decades .

'Dance For Me' really bounces away in a 80s soulful synth way (to the fore on the crackin' instrumental version with the big organ and bubblin' bassline) and Saeeda's vocals on the original and edit versions: put all three together and that's neally 20 minutes of boogie to dance to.

This is the third in the series so far, the first being another with Saeeda that perhaps was too overtly a tribute to Prince, 'Purple Funk' again with Opolopo remixes but then we all miss Prince (RIP).

Mothers Favorite Child (aka Paris Toon) is clearly got his finger on the soul-funk pulse of Brooklyn so looking forward to more from him very soon. 

Artist: Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright 

Title: Dance For Me (Ezel Remixes)

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM120 / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Eric Agyemang And His Kokroko Band - Nananom (Asona / BBE Music)

In the continuing 'Don't judge a LP by its cover' series,  Eric Agyemang And His Kokroko Band's 'Nananom' is this week's straight to No. 1 in the charts!

Not sure what is going on in the cover, a Carl Lewis track suit for Olympic trials at the national stadium; dunno.  But what we do know is that if you want a party with the hottest Burger party, you need Eric Agyemang And His Kokroko Band 

'Gyae Su' opens up the dance lesson with twangy guitars and swinging horns plus some 'modern' (for the time) synths - that go crazy on 'Mentumi Nko Fie'.  

It's because this was recorded in Eric's 80s period following his sucess in a 60s pop-band and his 70s Highlife period.  The Kokroko band ups the ante to a more soulful sound for the dancefloor night club scene and 'Efa Nipa Ho' is a great example of why this band would be in demand.

It's incredible to think that this album came about due to a chance meeting between Asona's Anthony Frempong and Agyemang in North London and if you're still not a fan of this new series on BBE, check out the 3 tracks on the whole of side 2 that's "a sikyi -style Burger highlife medley" with some Herb style horn; phew, you'll need ya quick step dancing shoes for this one!

This is my favourite of the series so far and it's going to be a hard one to beat in terms of packing so much fun and life into the grooves - a big "Kokroko" thank you to all at BBE for this one.

Artist: Eric Agyemang And His Kokroko Band 

Title:  Nananom  

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE744 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review - Kantata - It's High Time Now (Asona / BBE Music)

So who's going to know what was the first 'Burger' hit was - and we're not talking McD, BK or German roots!

No! This debate relates to George Darko's 'Akoo Te Broto' vs. Lee Dodou who was the vocal and guitar on the 'Akoo Te Broto' back in 1983.  A mere 40 years on, I think we'll leave the Ghanaian Hi-life experts to it. But what is upper most is the Kantata's 'It's High Time Now' (great title and no metion of burgers) is that from 1986 feature Mr. Duodu on lead (vocals and acoustic guitar) is Steve 'Chief' Kwame (Highlife Time, Asiko) on bass and vocals,Ekow 'Savage' Browne on drums (Pat Thomas & Marijata); Oghene Kologbo on guitar (Fela Kuti, Afrika 70) and well known Fouad Amooo feauring on vocals, drums and percussion.

From the look of the album cover the band are having a great time in this 1986 version of Hi-Life.  And you get it straight from the start of 'Odo Beba (Ateaa)' with bouncey bass and synth, it's 80s but not overtly cheese; although there's a touch of pop-soul on 'Heartbreaker', boot-zippin' on 'Monsom' and reggae-euro-pop, 'Feeling So Nice'.

There's been quite a few of these Asona re-issues now on BBE as the 'Peckham' diaspora gives back the sound of the homeland.  And 'It's High Time Now' is a great place to start you're investigation into the party - especially the disco-funk-rap 'It's High Time' and the saxy, 'Saturday Night'.

Artist: Kantata 

Title:  It's High Time Now 

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE743 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jullian Gomes - Bruno & The Birds (World Without End)

At last, the full album of Jullian Gomes, 'Bruno & The Birds' is now out along with even more beautiful artwork.

It's seems such a long time since earlier singles, the collaboration with Jordan Arts on 'Home (see review HERE), 'uHambo' the track with Kuniyuki Takahashi (piano) and Sio, 'Let Me Go' (see review HERE).

So we know Gomes' deep Afro-house stylings with Hôtel Costes quality artwork (if not subject matter) is something just gets deeper and deeper into the dancefloor, like the opener 'Fear Flying' that's has a host of influences to levitate above the bass boost synths (also on 'Intruder' together with a bit of Balearic boogie).

Talking of Balearic, add some sublime jazz horn dub (provided by Robin Fassie and KJM Cornetist) and it's not going too far to say that 'Purple Trees' is Miles House!  Did I just say that?  

And then you're not quite on the beach yet as the closing track 'Amaro's Heart' chill-hops to the end but with a "love letter" from Julian's Dad but you can't ignore 'How?' (that features the vocals Sabrina Chyld) who's title is, as ever, appropriate in these troubled times - think this might take off and it's possibly the one that'll make Sumsuch's Colour & Pitch Sessions mix this month [Ed. yep, it's that good].

Artist: Jullian Gomes

Title: Bruno & The Birds

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label: World Without End

Catalog Number: WWE012