Review: Inês Loubet - Olha O Rio (Tahira Remix) (Albert's Favourites)

If you're in the UK, or most of the other parts of globe for that matter, it's as hot as a Rio Samba school, so what better than to get Inês Loubet's 'Olha O Rio' on Albert's Favourites?

One of the most active labels you're likely to find under the stewardship of Adam Scrimshire (formerly of Wah Wah 45s), they always attract some fantastic artists and here's a new one in I

The original 'Olha O Rio' has that heritage that goes all the way back to the 'originals' of 

Nara Leão, Gal Costa and the rest and introduces us to the flute of Ruta Spinola.

The Tahira remix takes the track up to full Flute Gang frequency and expecting to hear this all over the We Out Here Festival from tomorrow onwards.

Artist: Inês Loubet 

Title: Olha O Rio

Release date:14th August, 2024

Label : Albert's Favourites

Catalog Number :   Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Ishmael Ensemble - Ezekiel / Fever Dream (Severn Songs)

Severn Songs have 'Fever Dreams' over 'Ezekiel' as Ishmael Ensemble get ever closer to the release of thier third studio album.

It's been a little over a year since the double-A single, 'Madrid / Dust' was released by Ishmael Ensemble (see review HERE) but this release is even better.  

Split over 'Ezekiel' (original, instrumental, radio edit) and the rampant 'Fever Dream' (original, instrumental) it really is a fix as to the whether there's more bang, indie, Balearics, dreamscape in which; but I'll put my tuppence on the 'Fever Dream' instrumental version as it's a proper ear worm of a rave-up.

The album, 'Rituals' is due for release next month so keep your eyes peeled here.

P.S. love the artwork here.

Artist: Ishmael Ensemble

Title:  Ezekiel / Fever Dream

Release date: 13th August, 2024

Label: Severn Songs

Catalog Number: SEVS30C

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Fouk feat. Debórah Bond – Loving At First Sight (Reel People Music)

Needless to say, some folks will say "Fouk me!" when they first hear this, and they'd me right - its the equivalent of love at first sight.

Need to catch up with Reel People Music after 'Dance With Me', the Ezel Remixes of Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright's top track (see review HERE) and this a winner from those Fouk brothers (double Dutch you might say) who clearly are in love with the vocals of US R&B star Debórah Bond.

The instrumental version is a urgent UKG synth house shuffle that wants to make you fall in love with the vocal mix all over again.

Ready for all those big tune summer festival sets; you'll be lovin' this.

Artist: Fouk feat. Debórah Bond 

Title: Loving At First Sight 

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM120

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Hardkandy - Yonder / Interflude (Full Length Version) (Wah Wah 45s)

By this time next week, Dom Servini will probably been on the main stage at We Out Here Festivial and done numerous DJ sets, so expect to here this new single from an old friend, Hardkandy.

Servini is, of course, head of Wah Wah 45s and now a regular must listen on Jazz FM so even more of a treat to welcome back Tim Bidwell to the label (remember my review of his album 'Second To None' back in 2008 (see link HERE).

These two, 'Yonder' is trippy, hoppy and classic Hardkandy whilst 'Interlude' is all out fuzzy organ from the church of funk, jittery guitar and even something of the flute gang at the end for the jazzy b-bouys.

If this really is a 'full lenght' 'Interlude', why only 3 minutes?!  

Totally different from the last releae on Wah Wah 45s (now in its 25 year you know) to Léa Mondo's 'Rising Woman EP' from earlier this year (see review HERE); but then again, that is Wah Wah 45s. 
 
 

Artist: Hardkandy
Release:  Yonder / Interflude (Full Length Version) 
Release Date: 9th August, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: -
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Emilia Sisco, Cold Diamond & Mink - Let Me In (Timmion Records)

'Let Me In' is not a tribute to footie fans bangin' on the pub doors for early orders - this is pure soul.

This is totally different from the label's last release, Jimi Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink's LP,  'Is There Love In Outer Space?' (see review HERE) even though the 'house' band is featured in that they've gone deep south for a soul that matches Emilia Sisco's vocals perfectly.

Artist: Emilia Sisco and Cold Diamond & Mink

Title:  Let Me In / Way Past Midnight (Let Me In (Instrumental))

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TR760

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Bolbec - Victime De l'aube (Batov Records)

Multi-instrumentalists Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet are Bolbec and as they've been friends from childhood, this album is crammed full of influences, a 'Victime De l'aube' youloung might say

This is an album that deep in the OST world of Piero Piccioni, Michel Legrand or Jonny Trunk's favourite, Basil Kirchin with a more than healthy dollop of library.

If you'd come across a track like 'Feuille D'orage' in a diggers vault you'd have to pay a hefty some to get your rare bossa flute gang banjo hands on it; worth the price of the album in itself.

Even then there's 'Vengeance Tropicale' for some Herb Alpert-ish jazz shuffle for a Sunday Afternoon or even they title tracks which is a strange blues walk al a Horace Silver meets Mark Murphy as an instrumental (wonder if someone will let it slip any of these in the Dingwalls 'tent' at WeHowHere Festival).

But there's 9 other tracks that are out there from the 70s synth pop-corn theme of 'Rue Nue',  the childrens TV theme of 'Funaise' or lost in a rain forest, 'En Bermuda'; it all sounds so familiar yet it's new!

The duo are supported by the rhythm section of Notalgia 77 (still love 'The Lonliest Flower In The Village; see review HERE) but as always with such albums, great tracks like 'Nuitée' and 'À L'instar Du Flair', whilst beatifully formed, just seem a little short.

As you can tell, it's a lot to the leftfield of Batov Records 'traditional' Middle Eastern Sounds but If you know your Bruton from your KPM's, this is the must have album of the summer.

Artist: Bolbec

Title:  Victime De l'aube 

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR101

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

. 

Review: Piero Scratch - Cumbia E.P. (Incl. Manu P & Andrea Rubolini + Marco Bartolucci & Mattia Minelli Remixes) (The Cage Music)

The Euro's may be over from some nations but we can still get down to some deep bouncy 'Cumbia' that's hot and firey in a couldron of electronic dance.

Here is DJ Manu P (head honcho of The Cage Music, Italy) that's got to grips with this track, 'Cumbia' by Piero Scratch that's full of Italian synth-boogie with a mesmerising vocal.

And there's two remixes! First up, the Manu P & Andrea Rubolini take the synths out for a Ferrari spin on Imola.  Then the Marco Bartolucci & Mattia Minelli just goes foot to the floor with the driving beat in top gear.

It's going to ingnite dancefloors as it's House with a bit of Italo-rap and Jack influences.

 

Artist: Piero Scratch

Title:  Cumbia E.P. (Incl. Manu P & Andrea Rubolini + Marco Bartolucci & Mattia Minelli Remixes) 

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label : The Cage Music

Catalog Number : -

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lucky Sun - Remember / Warm Breeze (Lucky Sun Recordings)

Lucky Sun Recordings are ready for the beach this August wit a bikini of a release for some hot times.

Hard to believe it's been nearly six months since the summer started with Lucky Sun's last release on his own label, 'Falling Fool' featuring Jaidene Veda (she review
HERE) and you'll remember those remixes (see review HERE); Yse Saint Laur'Ant is still turning heads!

Up top, 'Remember' has lots of swirling synths with a deep, almost dub like bass that grooves gets all echoy around the shoreline caves which then 'explodes' with some 'soft' acid!

It's addictive and if you're used to warm-up sets or the main room it's one to have in your box.  And talking of warm, the bottom half of the release, so to speak, is a track called 'Warm Breeze' and it's heavy at the deep end with a jazz-lounge-italo-disc.o-synth fusion thing going on - more than a snappy tune I'd say.

Whether you have seaside memories with Lucky Sun (and Mr. Sumsuch - see review HERE), this is so good, I don't think a remix could improve it!

Artist: Lucky Sun 

Title: Remember / Warm Breeze

Release date: 2nd August, 2024

Label : Lucky Sun Recordings

Catalog Number : LSR037

Format: Digital  

Review: SOYUZ featuring Asha Puthli & Sven Wunder - 'Spring Has Sprung' (Mr Bongo)

You need this!

Of course we've been looking forward to Mr Bongo's Record Club Vol 7 ever since Vol. 6 came out (see reveiw HERE) but when you have a track that features Asha Puthli (Asian space disco queen) and king of a modern dancefloor, Stockholm's Sven Wunder on a track by fan of both SOYUZ, you know 'Spring Has Sprung'.

Lush spiritual disco Swedish OST and you've got the idea.

Asha has been giging all over Europe and you may have seen her at Glastonbury and there's We Out Here Festival to come soon (can't wait).  And not only that, Mr Bongo are re-issuing her 'The Devil Is Loose' LP on gold vinyl no less later in the year!

Full album release in October.

Artist: SOYUZ featuring Asha Puthli & Sven Wunder 

Title: Spring Has Sprung 

Release date: 2nd August, 2024 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRB304BTI19

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jabzz Dimitri, Korie Minors, Tabia, Nokwazi – Makukhanye (incl. Aytiwan & Afro Brotherz Remixes) (Deep In Your Soul)

Deep In Your Soul have dug deep into the future of Afro-spirited house with three versions of 'Makukhanye'.

If your still on the Aytiwan & Kaudron & Nes Mburu collaboration on 'Es Vedra' (with the  Chaleee Remix - see review HERE), or anything to do with Aytiwan to be honest (also see HERE), you'll be excited to here that Deep In Your Soul have gone the extra mile after the original version with the atmospheric vocals of Tabia and Nokwazi with some mesmerizing beats and Serengeti synths.

There's two remixes, one from Belgian's Aytiwan (that get a European piano house tilt with some added percussion) and the duo known as the Afro Brotherz who take a 3step approach! (one for the adventurous will a cut-down shuffle).

If you're looking for some futuristic Afro-house designs, try today's 'Yeke, Yeke'.

Artist: Jabzz Dimitri, Korie Minors, Tabia, Nokwazi 

Title: Makukhanye (incl. Aytiwan & Afro Brotherz Remixes)  

Release date: 2nd August, 2024

Label : Deep In Your Soul

Catalog Number : DIYS044 

Format: Digital