Review: New King - Summer Sun EP (Original Vocal + D.Foe Remix) (Ramrock Red Records)

Any sun kings out there beware, there's a New King in town and about to be crowned!

Of course, a summer season can't pass without a summer sound coming out of Ramrock's HQ and 'Summer Sun' is it.

Dreamy and hot, the original is the one for the airwaves whilst the D.Foe takes it all the way to a Balearic dub pillow for some late nite swaying .

New King are Rob Clydesdale and Mark Daniels from D.Foe, featuring the "amazingly ethereal vocalist" Noah and guitarist Ruben Campos.

And this is just the start for New King as I'm told there's another two EPs to follow shortly.

Artist: New King

Title: Summer Sun EP  ( Original Vocal + D.Foe Remix ) 

Release date: 23rd August, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR065

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Babon - Desert Rose / TNT (Batov Records)

Batov Records continues to release excellent nuggets on 7" and here's another one,  Desert Rose' / 'TNT' by Babon.

Slipping from the Middle East heartland, Babon are a duo based in Indonesia with Wahyudi T. Raupp (drums) and multi-instrumentalist Rayi Raditia.

'Desert Rose' is a great oasis of twisted Afro-funk-reggae and 'TNT' is the explosive B side which they call "Tropical Desert Music'.

Very different to Bolbec's 'Victime De l'aube' Eastern Grooves base (see review HERE) or is it?

Artist: Babon

Title:  Desert Rose / TNT 

Release date: 23th August, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR101

Format:  7" Vinyl [500 copies only] / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Midnight Workouts, Nash La Musica - Losing Me feat. Eva Essa (Be Adult Roots)

This comes as a little unexpected as Nash La Musica gets to mix Midnight Workouts' 'Losing Me' that features Eva Essa.

This comes out after Be Adult Music started with Midnight Workouts' 'Losing Me' (original with remixes Nikos Diamantopoulos, Mauro B,St.Ego (see review HERE) and now it's been supplemented with sister label, Be Adult Roots delivering this 3-track alternative.

Nash La Musica have  done Afro and a 3-step remixes with the bonus of Ms. Essa's acapella.

Trust me this release is a cool and dignified as the cover artwork and if you're in the business of warming up, this is class above and must have.

Note: As chosen by Will Sumsuch to start his months' Colour & Pitch Sessions mix (see below)

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - August 2024

Artist: Midnight Workouts

Title: Losing Me feat. Eva Essa ( Nash La Musica mixes )

Release date: 21st August, 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAR016

Format: Digital / Bandcamp.

Review: The Jennifer Ewan Band - Space Girl (Ramrock Red Records)

On the space ship we find the high flyin' The Jennifer Ewan Band who has us in orbit with 'Space Girl'.

Nearly a year to the day that we found out 'Something Ain’t Right' on the EP by The Jennifer Ewan Band as it was our introduction to Celtic Cajun on the Clyde estuary banked by the Louisana bayou (see review HERE).

With an accent as strong as Susan Calman/Val Mcdermid (for the avoidance of doubt, that's a good thing), Ms. Ewan gives this tremendous swagger as we get the blast off.  

Be prepared for the instrument too with full accordion swing-a-long for Cajun and Zydeco types.

If you're in the Highlands for some golf or holidays, the band have been supporting Bill Bailey this summer and can be regularly seen at Edinburgh's Jazz Bar with their 'Bonnie Bayou' show and as part of the Fringe Festival.

Wonder if these guys could do a cover of 'Sea Cruise'?

Artist: The Jennifer Ewan Band 

Title: Space Girl

Release date: 19th August, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR064

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Halo feat. Maiya – Glory (Atjazz Galaxy Aart Remixes) (Foliage)

As it's summer, I've found myself enticed into watching 'The Hundred' but thankfully the good guys at Foliage are still on the ball with their 99th release, 'Glory'!

With a deep dreamy house mix by the Aartist Atjazz, we're bouncing and looking up to the celestial galaxy.  The repeated dramatic piano chord and vocal give the feeling that there's danger in them dark skies and redemption all at the same time.

And as good as the original vocal is, you're going to love the instrumental version as that'll keep you on your toes too!

Great news for DJs as there's also a radio edit included - go for glory and play 'em all.

Artist: Halo feat. Maiya 

Title:  Glory (Atjazz Galaxy Aart Remixes)

Release date: 16th August, 2024

Label: Foliage Records

Cat. No: FN099

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Cee ElAssaad feat. QVLN - Ore Yeye O (Ensouled)

Ensouled, the label run by Cee ELAssaad, has got themselves a worldwide hit with 'Ore Yeyo O'.

It's only been a couple of months' since the  release of Cee's 'TRIBE' featuring Masaki Morii (see review HERE) and this is another monster tune.

We know the Cee is albout Afro-House Yoruba style but what do you expect from a "genre-defying" QLVN?  Well, the vocals have the peace and love of a Bob Marley, a world/Mali/rock guitar solo, massive jazz organ, prog. electric violin/synth and more.

In thre forms, orginal, reprise mix and a very short vocal only, there's only going to be positive vibes about this one baby.

Next years' WOMAD set already guaranteed.

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - September 2024

Artist: Cee ElAssaad ft. QVLM

Title: Ore Yeye O
Release date: 16th August, 2024
Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : ENSLD005

Format: Digital  

Review: Arrumar - Handwork EP (Ostowana)

Dubbed out Indo-House fusion, you've got it with Arrumar's handywork on a new EP out on Ostowana.

A bit different for the label as Arrumar's Balearic is closer to the Goa shoreline on the eight minute lead track, 'Matsena' with Henrikraabe.

Like I say, somewhat different to their last release, Mzala Wa Afrika's 'Resurrection EP' (see review HERE) but then 'Africa Dzonga' really does give it the full Afro-House Serengeti treatment.

Two huge tunes that'll get everyone excited about the forthcoming album which reflects on Arrumar's village life; what a night club of a village that must be! 

BBBBB

Artist:  Arrumar  

Title: Handwork EP, 

Release date: 16th August, 2024

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST068

Format: Digital

Review: Tamil Rogeon - Gift Of The Gab/Ascend It (BBE Music)

From the home of all things musically good downunder (that's Melbourne don't you know), yet another super talent, Tamil Rogeon!

It's not going to be often that you can find a guy and jazzy and funky as a Herbie that's playing a violinviola!  Not even Jean-luc-Ponty!

Equally Mr. Ponty had more strings to his bow [No pun etc..] and Tamil can turn his hans to modal and spiritual jazz, fusion and classical.  

'Ascend It' gets very 70s Miles/Herbie fusion and if you're into the 100mph jazzdance; this is definitely boiling up to it.

With fans as varied as Laurent Garnier, Rebecca Vasmant, Cerys Matthews and Gilles Peterson (expect Tamil at next years' We Out Here Festival).  That said, you don't need the gift of the gab of these DJs to be talking about this one. 

Artist: Tamil Rogeon 

Title: Gift Of The Gab/Ascend It 

Release date: 16th August, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :BBE642SDG

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Silver Man - Don't Leave Me (Chamba Remix) (3 Bar Fire Records)

Always interested in some melancholic, downtempo so it's a good opportunity to check out a new track by Silver Man.

Not so keen on the vocals on this but if you DJ mix it into the mostly instrumental drum and bass remix, by Bristol-base Chamba, there's a real bounce up that echoes some of Bristol's trip-hop/dnb heritage.

This is the part of a "new batch" of released we've been promised from Silver Man as he returns to producing music after several years away.

Artist: Silver Man

Title: Don't Leave Me (Chamba Remix) 

Release date:16th August, 2024

Label : 3 Bar Fire Records

Catalog Number :   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Be Adult Music 8th Anniversary (Be Adult Music)

It doesn't seem like a year since we were celebrating Be Adult Music 7th Anniversary but here's another compilation of all the best in a Be Adult Music world. 

In truth, it's been a little over a year since (see review HERE) but they've treated us to many a great release in the meantime that's emanated from the Ibizan beaches.

Typical of this is the dreamy opened, Hovak's 'The Day Before' and the ever present St. Ego (here with 'Stay') Also check out his Midnight Workouts remix of 'Losing Me', see review HERE) as the exclusive David Ol remix fits in so well here. 

 

Can't say I know the work of T.Picker, Erdi Imak, Viel and Death On The Balcony (their track, 'Follow The Beat' is a bit of a beachside Carrib steel pan-gospel grower) but it all has that Be Adult dancefloor quality.

Back to another artist we know, Julian Marazuela from the recent 'Seven Islands' release (see review HERE), and talking of the seaside, 'Atlantic Creatures' is a glorious multi-house genre firework of a track that wraps up this collection.

No surprise that there's much of a Balearics Island heat to all this and it's definitely one you should pack for your summer hols with the tan lotion and flip flops.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Be Adult Music 8th Anniversary 

Release date: 15th August, 2024

Label; Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM375