Review: Aytiwan & Lizwi – Isimanga (Sunset Gathering)

Afro-house pre-orders for Sunset Gathering's 'Isimanga' by Aytiwan & Lizwi have been dominating charts this New Year already so no it's time to get your hands on the actual release.

You'll recall we've just had the Afro-house hit of Nico Efstratiou's 'Ndibize' as remixed by Aytiwan which followed the two mega remixes from Aytiwan  (who you will recall was called on to do the remix for David Hopperman's 'Mire' (including a Diamond Dealer Remix)(see review HERE). 

I hope there's going to be a longer version (Ed. is that because the original is nearly 7 minutes long?) or a remix with a vocal soundclash with Athimux that'd be a great mix elongates the track and adds a mystical tension vs. the South African 'tribal' Lizwi. 

Not sure if the cover image is a vision of the "Belgian Afro House architect" (that's Aytiwan) dream discotech as the sunset gathers but 'Isimanga' is definitely anthem bound.

Artist: Aytiwan & Lizwi 

Title: Isimanga

Release date: 26th January, 2024

Label : Sunset Gathering

Catalog Number : SG75

Format: Digital  

Review: MrMilkDee & Jill Rock Jones – 2 Positions (Sean McCabe Remixes) (Foliage)

I predict that you'll be in '2 Positions' after delving into the Sean McCabe Remixes and it won't be now forgotten New Year resoluation downward facing dog or Visvamitra's pose!

Last year, one of Foliage's 'go-to' people was Sean McCabe (see the review review with Turbojazz HERE and with the 'Don't Look Down' monster HERE) whilst it's Atlanta native Jill Rock Jones third venture on Foliage after 'Tell The Story' (with Daz-I-Kue) and 'I Don't Like' with The Realm.

These remixes are more deep house west London than MrMilkDee's South African origins but it's five versions including a dubstrumental and an instrumental which rightly shows of the synths and tinkering piano.  In fact, the 'Cosmos Dub' is a cross between those BRUK/Township flavas and it'll be charing on a dancefloors very soon.

Well there's only one position to be in this camp and it's getting up to the top for MrMilkDee,Jill Rock Jones and Sean McCabe remix. 

Bound to be featured on this months' Colour & Pitch Sessions mix by Sumsuch, this remix package is a must have; and that's all versions!

Artist: MrMilkDee & Jill Rock Jones 

Title:  2 Positions (Sean McCabe Remixes)

Release date: 26th January, 2023 

Label: Foliage Records

Cat. No: FN097

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Léa Mondo - Vices (Wah Wah 45s)

From a label that's celebrating it's 25th year, that "rediscovered" Dele Sosimi and has brought us many a "must have" release, a new voice originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that's now resident in North London via the home of Northen Soul, Wigan! What sort of musical vices has she discovered.

As the label admits, it's a glorious "smorgasbord of experimental styles fusing aspects of soul, high life, bossa-nova, jazz and reggae" with a big side of Sade (happy 65th this week BTW) and Red Hot Chilli Peppers (when they were good).

The band consists of Jasmine Burton (bass), Alex Karakurt (drums), Tawanda Manika (guitar), Olivia Cuttill (trumpet), Max Rodriguez (rhythm guitar) along with the singer/songwriter/arranger/guitarist.

She'll be playing incredibly innovate Grow in Hackney Wick (near the Copper Box Arena) on 2nd February along with legend Vanessa Freeman (last seen with Reel People, see review HERE), label head honcho Dom Servini (last seen, by me that is, at WeOutHere Festival orchestrating the main stage) and more Wah Wah 45s favourites.

This new single follows 'Heights Of Love' (see review HERE) so we're getting excited at the prospect of a debut album for what is definitely a long way from Wigan, pier or otherwise: did I ever tell you of my pilgrimage to Wigan Pier or the snowed off game at Springfield Park? Another time eh!

Artist: Léa Mondo 

Release: Vices

Release Date: 19th January, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Robert Babicz - Mahoya / Liquid Gold (Stripped Down Records)

Stripped Down Records get Robert Babicz back with a double banger for New Year!

We loved the re-emergence of Madrid De Los Austrias on Stripped Down Records last year (see review HERE) along with all their other releases and 2024 looks like another deep delve as long time favourite, Robert Babicz, turns up with his perchant for acid, techno, big beat, jungle, minimal and many stops in-between.

Now based in Malta, after spending most of the past 30 years absorbing electronic music in Germany and around the globe of house music. No wonder that Stripped Down Records wanted to start the year with 'Mahoya' and 'Liquid Gold'.

'Mahoya' leads the way for 8 minutes with a mix of space beams and multi-lingual haunting confident femaie vocals .whilst 'Liquid Gold' pumps it up a little for the clubs (although both tracks have their place in all environments) with what's been described as "muted acid" [Mr. Babicz was/is aka Rob Acid].

I'm confident that there's a longer 'Liquid Gold' in there as it's a proper dancefloor weaver - ideal for any island rave and the label and artist are an obvious coloboration for more great releases like this.

Artist: Robert Babicz

Title: Mahoya / Liquid Gold 

Release date: 19th January, 2024 

Label : Stripped Down Records 

Catalog Number : STRD030 Digital 

Review: Nico Efstratiou feat. Athimux - Ndibize (incl. Aytiwan, Mahandana Remixes) (Deep In Your Soul)

Afro House to go with South Africa's Nico Efstratiou's latest single 'Ndibize' featuring the vocal talents of Athimux.

The original version is a perfect soulful balance of the pair's talents to get the new year started.

The release also has two mega remixes from Aytiwan  (who you will recall was called on to do the remix for David Hopperman's 'Mire' (including a Diamond Dealer Remix)(see review HERE) who elongates the track and adds a mystical tension.

The Mahandana remix is currently our favourite as it's deep in percussive ambience (Ed. is that because it's over 7 minutes long?)

Must find out if Belgium international Youri Tielemans (and currently a Lion) is a fan of Afro-house, would love to DJ at his Xmas/New Year Party next year.

Artist: Nico Efstratiou feat. Athimux

Title: Ndibize (incl. Aytiwan, Mahandana Remixes)

Release date: 12th January, 2024

Label : Deep In Your Soul

Catalog Number : DIYS016 Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Anni Kiviniemi Trio - Eir (We Jazz Records)

A new name to us, Anni Kiviniemi Trio's new album 'Eir' is 'new' in terms of jazz trio albums that needs to be heard. 

Anni clearly has a 'jazz' in its widest sense view of a trio album that is aided here with the talents of  bassist Eero Tikkanen and drummer Hans Hulbaekmo from Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra and Moskus (you'll recall the GNSO's 'Family' album from last year, see review HERE).

The UK based composer/pianist has certainly cramed much into these eight original tracks with neo-classical to avant garde, light and dark, quirky and smooth, Scandi-North African folk but the common theme is outstanding class; particularly my favourite track, 'Atoms'.

Already booked for the We Jazz Festival later this year, keep your eyes open for this soon to be famous name on the jazz circuit.

Artist: Anni Kiviniemi Trio 
Title: Eir
Release date: 12th January, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP58 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Kanedo, Sumsuch, Lucky Sun - Deep Patterns (Be Adult Music)

Everybody knows 3 is a magic number but when your patent comes in, that's a Lucky 7 in betting terms so put your money on this one to be the first big 'un of the New Year.

So this is not just you're average EP of 3 tracks as we have:-

1. Sumsuch and Kanedo featuring RubenS on with 'Seaside Memories'

2. Kanedo on his own with 'With You'

3. Lucky Sun and Kanedo with 'T's Groove'

You may spot a similarity with the cover to that of the compilation of last year, 'Deep House Lovers' on the same label (see review HERE) and these new tracks feel deep [no pun etc] in that cross the Balearics afro-beach goove.

If you need to catch up, Lucky Sun's 'Balance' was also out last year (see review HERE) that featured Alison David and the Kanedo & Sumsuch remix of 'Sunset' so who knows how good that'd all be if they ever got in the same studio all at the same time?

Be Adult Music · Kanedo, Sumsuch, Lucky Sun - Deep Patterns (BAM345) [Out 04th Jan 2024]

Artist: Kanedo, Sumsuch, Lucky Sun 

Title: Deep Patterns

Release date: 4th January 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Cat. No: BAM345

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: ReKaB (Plus Remixers) - Diverse Pathways (Fourier Transform)

To say that ReKaB is a bit of a local legend in these parts is a bit of an under statement as his latest release on Fourier Transform is going to find many different pathways on his journey.

Indeed, this new release is also out in double CD format (Ed. the future retro?) and it's a proper exploration of techno inspired ambient acid house outta space music. 

Fans of his previous EP, 'Radom Signal' (see review HERE) will know what to expect and 'Total Control' (including 'Huckaby's Soul (Tribute)', that's a monster track and fitting tribute to Detroit's Mike Huckaby RIP) [P.S. RIP Amp Fiddler, another Detroit legend].

Back to 'Diverse Pathways', the 12 tracks by ReKab form the basis of this album and the titles are evocative of the music 'The Flow Keeps Getting Better' (post-Trans Europe Express acid), 'Drfiting Forward' and 'Talking Machines' are particularly excellent.

But not only that, he's managed to get the attention of a host of remixers on ten tracks which form CD2.  It's pretty diverse (no pun etc) as there's both darker and lighter moments like Kim Cosmik's take on 'Talking Machines' and William Courtice's 'Leaving For Mars' mix of the same track. And if you need a comparison, another transformation is [MXM]'s remix of the original track, 'Always Finding Time'.

So you'd expect the launch party to be in Berlin or a 'trendy' London postcode? So would I except, it's now time to declare an interest here, many moons ago I DJ'd with James (aka ReKaB) in Dorset and know that the party will be in the musically active town of Bridport (see details below) with 'Jazz Compacter' himself [MXM] which sounds like a great place to get the winter warmers out and prepare for a hectic New Year.

This album is a beautiful absorbion of modern electronic dance music and hopefully propel James into the spaceways.  

Artist: ReKaB (plus Remixers)

Title:  Diverse Pathway

Release date: 1st December, 2023

Label : Fourier Transform

Catalog Number : FTCD003

Format: 2xCD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various Artists - Batov Artists 3 (Batov Records)

So another stunning release from Batov Records and better than that, it's a nine track compilation of some of their biggest stars... but there's some even better news!

We've love a the sounds from Batov this year; from Eje Eje's 'Five Seasons' (see review HERE) who are represent on this album with 'Black Sea Majic (Autumn)' to some lounge samba for ya Jonny Trunk types with Moriah Plaza's 'Samba Moosh' (see review HERE).

The great news is that the Sandman Project (the Emanative / Jessica Lauren project) is here in the form of  Hamsa Remixes EP (see review HERE) and more proof that there's more to just 'middle eastern' grooves, Muito Kaballa's 'Luna' is 60s jazz proggy and middle eastern. 

Of course, the hous band/flag wavers of the label, Sababa 5 are represented with the new track, 'Aeolus' from the album Aspan' (see review HERE) but the album is all gems like this.

Oh! And the "even better news", this compilation by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi is on Bandcamp as a digital release as a "Thank you" for a mere £1.00 if you get in quick; indeed "Thank you" Batov Records and all the artists and fans alike.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Batov Artists 3

Release date: 15th December, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR090

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Raz Olsher - Rubato (Fossil Sounds)

So this festive season, there's much musical thought of choirs and classical settings but don't imagine that Raz Olsher's classical background means 'Rubato' is going to be all "sugar and spice and all things nice".

In fact, it's so much better than that as the opening track,'Prelude With Attitude', is all about the attitude.  And as it's a 'concept' album, the theme continues with 'Aquarium' [if there's one Youtube music video to watch this year, this is it - see below] as Dilla meets Harry Potter on the way to the dripping underworld.

'Daydream' is even more avant-garde but we never get quite as far as 2008's 'ReComposed' by Carl Craig and Moritz Von Oswald who delved into Deutche Grammophon's archives of Ravel and Mussorgsky.  But that could be avenue to suggest as I suspect Marina Lieberman-Haywood (piano) is a far bigger name in her concert field than I am aware of. 

'In Between' does sound like a start of an "emergence" from this underworld big choral theme's that could be Radiohead or Pink Floyd cover version (well, it is a concept album) when 'Field Day' goes deeply synth dub and the album ends on a strange d'n'b-maninoff pool match ('Minnesota Fats' is the strangest track I've heard all year, even beating 'Warm Fireplace' on WUTMK)

Click To Play (up/down arrows to skip tracks)

I suspect Raz didn't want to go Raz Olsher Trio as that would have made it sound too jazzy as his improvisations revolve around Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Chopin et al but if you like you're classical music al la Vince Guaraldi vs. Dick Hyman vs. Black Sabbath this time of year, this is the album for you: and you'll be delighted.

Artist: Raz Olsher

Title: Rubato

Release date: 15th December, 2023

Label: Fossil Sounds

Cat. No: RUB111CD

Format: Digital / Spotify / Soundcloud / Deezer / Youtube