Review: Mike Agent X Clark – In The House Club EP (Shadow Pressings)

If you were trendy 20 years ago, you'd beatin' down in the house club to names like Alton Miller, Theo Parrish, Norm Talley and Mike 'Agent X' Clark; and here is Mike doing it today 'In The House Club' on a new EP just out on Shadow Pressings.

By coincidence, I was chatting to this DJ is the car park before We Out Here festival this year and he was telling me how he and his mate had a club at the world famous Cavern and they booked headliners like Ron Trent (who was playing at WOH) and Theo Passish.  I thought I'd out-trump him as I'd met Mike 'Agent X Clark' in Bournemouth (apparently there was a connection with his management at the time) and yep, they'd had Norm Talley and Agent X too!

Already picked up by Marco Weibel (Darker Than Wax) on this Love Injection Takeover on Worldwide FM (see HERE) and if you were a fan of the Beatdown, you'll love this with it's life affirming spoken word rap of the joys of house from Detroitian Dr. Tinglefingers.

Three tracks plus a Jimpster remix (quite a bit different to his last appearance on YATM - see review HERE) and whilst you won't be disppointed with 'Get Up' and 'Fresh Air', it is the two versions of 'In The House Club' that's going to get the dancefloor going.

Big times in Detroit as the moment as there's 10 years of Rocksteady Disco (see review HERE) and the Tigers and Lions are winning!

Oh yeah, and it turns out there was a ground breaking club at the Cavern called T-funkshun with Scott McGill & Dan Bell - who knew - but, if further proof was needed, the EP is that proof that house is worldwide and still going strong: Detroit beatdown forever!

Artist: Mike Agent X Clark 
Title: In The House Club EP 

Release date: 4th October, 2024

Label : Shadow Pressings

Catalog Number: SHDW03

Format: Digital 

Review: Plantfood - Carnivores (Bridge The Gap)

Plantfood's 'Carnivores' is for meat and fish eaters and is Vegetarian/Vegan friendly, that's if you're into full on jazz-fusion meals that's for heavyweigths - the music is as vibrant as the cover artwork!

This debut album of 6 tracks has developed over the past three years with live gigs over the country and at Glastonbury.

If your into Erza Collective, corto.alto et al and at the same time can slip in some prog/OST/Latin themes at the same time with a bit of hip-hop (prepare yourself for 100mph 'Y.U.S' featuring Yung Yusuf), Plantfood is your new favourite band.

With Joe van der Meulen (saxes), Wolley (baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute), Ruben Maric (piano, keys, synths), Woody Hayden (bass and more synths), Finn Hamilton (drums) and Jaya Jack Petrie (Congo and additional percussion) they can easily switch for the growling of 'Y.U.S'/'Monstera' (with Mr. Yusuf coming back to tell us all about plant life) to the (surprisingly) gentle 'Carnivores' and the almost Latin-Sons Of Kemet-esque 'Executive Decision'.

Perhaps it's this versatality that has found fans in BBC 6 Music's Jamz Supernova, Craig Charlies and a soon to be recorded sesson for BBC Introducing.   What is clear is this debut dozen is mostly jazzdance friendly and it they must be great live!  Monsteras all.

Artist: Plantfood
Title: Carnivores 
Release date: 4th October, 2024
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : -
Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: L'Orage - Water Tower (L'Orage Records)

L'Orage's third album 'Water Tower' has got to be their best yet as the Swiss "jazz groove pholyryghmix beat" exponents have refined and redefined themselves.

The seven tracks blend Alpine beach Balearic jazz dub and ballads into a OST to nature and all surrounds us in the water tower of life. 

A quartet led by saxophonist Ganesh Geymeier and Robin Girod (guitar) with Nelson Schaer (drums) and Fabien Iannone (bass) have sparingly used synths/electronics and other percussion to that gives the album a bigger sound whilst a track like 'Mohan' goes all world/minimal and 'Mountain Light' gets the twang sorted.

Very much in Swizz jazz heritage of Lukas Traxel's 'One-Eyed Daruma (see review HERE) and J&F Quintet's 'Contrast' (see review HERE) and it would be great to see the band live.

Live Dates

September 28  : Le Singe, Bienne 

October 09: Café de la Plage, Geneva

October 10 : Waxy Bar, Zurich

October 11 : Werft Proberaume, Lucerne

October 12: La Spirale, Fribourg

October 13: Le Bout du Monde, Vevey

November 02: L’Ecurie, Genève

January 16 : Winter Jazz Festival, Bern 

March 22 : KVO, Neuchâtel

April 09 : Bird’s Eye, Basel

Mai 03: Stanser Musictage, Stans TBC

Artist: L'Orage

Title: Water Tower

Release date: 4th October, 2024

Label : L'Orage Records

Catalog Number :-

Format: Limited LP, Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: DJ Andy Smith presents Reach Up – Disco Wonderland Vol. 3 (BBE Music)

If by some freak of nature you're new to the works of DJ Andy Smith, don't worry as his 'Reach Up - Disco Wonderland Vol. 3' is a great place to start.

As the selector of choice for Potishead in the 1990s and curator of countless perfect compilations from 'The Document' in 1998, Northern Soul, Greensleeve reggae/dancehall, rare funk and the Disco Wonderland series.

The first two volumes had quite a diggers approach with most artists you'll have been unlikely to have heard of.  This edition follows the formula but has more 'Reach Up' edits, some tracks the BBE Afro should have released, like Orlando Julius' killer 'Disco Hi-Life' which is exactly what it says on the tin, some Risk Assessment (see review HERE) and the leftfield disco-funk of Buscrates' 'Five Days' (taken from his album released before 'Control Center' - see review HERE).

It's been nearly 20 years since I first say Mr. Smith play in Portsmouth for the first John Peel Day and this album shows he's lost none of his love of great tunes that make people dance which couldn't be better timed with party season on our horizon.

Apparently DJ Chris Wheatley (a regular on the south coast) had a influence via his Twitch gigs here so credit where credit is due.

Artist: DJ Andy Smith presents Reach Up 

Title: Disco Wonderland Vol. 3

Release date: 4th October, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :BBE712CCD

Format: 3 x LP, 2CD,  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Illa J & Ash Walker - Off Days in London (BBE Music)

Here's a interesting combo of Detroit x London when Illa J and Ash Walker have some 'Off Days In London'.

Four tracks, 'Peace', 'True', What?!', 'Vibe' and the instrumentals on this classy EP from Dilla's younger brother and Late Night Tales' Ash Walker (who has also remix WahWah45s premier Afro-beat band, The Resonators).

Expecting that mix of hip-hop to jazz, you've got it where the two shared production and Illa provides the vocals/rap; 'True' is particularly soulful even with the potty mouth rap - repeated on 'What?!'.  

Illa J and  Ash Walker will be having an Off Days in London Launch Party is on 2nd October at the BBE Store in East London with limited amount of signed copies being available.

Artist: Illa J, Ash Walker 

Title: Off Days In London

Release date : 11th October, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE783

Format: LP / Digital

Review: Ishmael Ensemble - Butterflies (Severn Songs)

Fresh from taking over the airwaves of Worldwide FM, the new sound of Bristol that Ishmael Ensemble is a prime mover release another single from their album 'Rituals', its enough to give you 'Butterflies'.

For all fans of pollinators everywhere, this follows the release of singles 'Madrid' / 'Dust' (see review HERE), 'Ezekiel' / 'Fever Dream' (see review HERE) and the album (see review HERE) and comes with an equally impressive instrumental.

I did say that there's going to be lots of focus on 'Butterflies' that features the vocals of Holysseus Fly - see of 'Out Of The World' (see review HERE) and it's caught the ear of BBC 6 Music friendly with fans including the main DJs Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Tom Ravenscroft, Mary Ann Hobbs amongst many more.

In supports their tour dates, it's a gig not to be missed.

UK/IE Tour Dates

02/10 - Concorde 2, Brighton
03/10 - Village Underground, London
04/10 - NAC, Norwich
05/10 - Goods Shed, Stroud
10/10 - Ulster Social Club, Belfast
11/10 - The Grand Social, Dublin
16/10 - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
17/10 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
18/10 - Rum Shack, Glasgow
19/10 - Gorilla, Manchester
24/10 - SWX, Bristol
07/11 - Botanique, Brussels
09/11 - Bird, Rotterdam
14/11 - Hydrozagadka, Warsaw
15/11 - Jazzclub Tonne, Dresden
16/11 - Badehaus, Berlin
17/11 - Sala Villanos, Madrid

Artist: Ishmael Ensemble

Title: Butterflies

Release date: 1st October, 2024

Label: Severn Songs

Catalog Number: SEVS30

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Dan Jose presents Larry White Vol.3 (Mushman Records)

Digger or not, there is no way on earth that anyone can not spot a Barry White vocal or his Love Unlimited Orchestrations, which makes Dan Jose's 'tribute' even more impressive as he brings a deep love of beats to some of the best of the disco/soul legend.

Now on Vol. 3 (and you'll want to check out the earlier ediitons) this is just a fabulous 're-imagination' of Bazza's top tunes that received the

assistance of some names like Hector Plimmer (Albert's Favourites), Arthur Sajas (Total Refreshment Centre - one of Emanative's favourite hang outs), Fergal McBride (The Rayvelles), Ryan Galvan, Dusty Ohms Bay Area.

Back in the day, there was a R.E-edit series that put some of Barry's productions to the sword (well edit anyway) and that's when I realised that we shouldn't be flicking through Barry's back catolgue in the chazzas/thrift stores and taking this music more seriously than his one global hit.  Dan, has taken this concept one step further with a re-birth as Larry White on the MPC.

Recorded in the Bay area and London (and why not) what with Luke Beat'sequally impressive 'Cream' (see review HERE), this this a new (49er) golden era? 

Artist: Dan Jose

Release: Dan Jose presents Larry White Vol.3
Release Date: September, 2024
Label: Mushman Records
Catalog Number: -
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP

Reveiw: KAT-TET - Women (Symbole Records)

Fans of Jazz Room, Jazzman and all things jazzdance floor action, get yourselves ready for this 'unique' album that's straight outta Guadeloupe in 1985! 'Women' never sounded so good.

Unbelievably, the only studio album of pianist Patrick Jean-Marie its got all for the derivations of jazz-funk dancefloor from the Caribbean, Gwoka, Biguines and more that all your US big heads used to such great effect like McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver and so many more.

And what a start for Symbole Records as DJ Mambo chick fell upon this album on a trip to Guafeloupe (sounds like something Princess Margaret might have done in the 70s) but what a fantastic re-issue and a chance to re-assess how great this album is, even if the cover looks 40 years old, the music is just as good today.

Joined by Toto Jean-Marie (bass), Erick Danquin (drums), Charly Chomereau-Lamothe and Christian Mtahurin (percussion) and Luther François magnificent on sax.  It might only be 5 tracks, 'Nikita', 'Sky 2000', 'Swing Hibiscus'  'Solange' that are all heavily Latin and the more spiritual 'Hommage'.

KAT-TET "Women" - PRE ORDER - | KAT-TET | Symbole Records (bandcamp.com)

Artist: KAT-TET

Title: Woman

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Symbole Records

Catalog Number: 

Format: Vinyl / Bandcamp.

Review: Raz & Afla - Shikor Shikor / Eno Be Me (Wah Wah 45s)

As you'll have noticed, the WAH WAH 45s 25th anniversary celebration is at it's peak this month and here's a couple of party tunes from the label.

We're long term fans of the label as you can tell from the many reviews on YATM and this is another excellent release.

Raz Olsher (electronics) and Afla Sackey (percussion and vocals) have settled nicely into the Wah Wah 45s Afro-beat section along with Shrine 'legend', Dele Sosimi, Soothsayers / Youthsayers, Eparapo, Léa Mondo and more.

'Ebo Be Me' (nothing to do with the former Roxy Music/producer/ambient family) has some heavy 80s pop synth in it which makes it ideal for radio plays whilst 'Shikor Shikor' is the run-a-way train percussive groover with Afro-Anglo vocals, its dancefloor ready.

Both tracks are in original and vocal formats which is ideal for the DJ community and there's a little bird that tells me a certain Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s top man, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and many more) has been playing out the Hectic Extension of the previous single, 'What's Going On' at special times in his set.

These tracks are taken to the follow-up to their debut album from 'The Cycle' in 2022, 'Echoes Of Resistance' is due out next month so stay tuned.

Artist: Raz & Afla

Release: Shikor Shikor / Eno Be Me 
Release Date: 27th September, 2024
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHDIG193
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP
 

Review: Aliza - Aliza EP (Siyal Music)

Get yourselves ready for Aliza for some Mediterranean psych-jazz funk Bollywood bass house; yeah, it's leftfied and further out there - but in a good way.

As neighbours Batov Records haven taken a recent side step on their last release, (Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel's 'Nijerusalem' - see review HERE), the leading talent behind Aliza and the label, Siyal Music, has thrown all of his multi-talents into the melting pop with these 6 tracks on the 'Aliza EP'.

It's all held together with Lala Tamar's Morrocon vocals with the most accessible tracks 'Hear Us' and 'All The Way' which are very dancefloor ready; 'Hear Us' would go down a strong at We Out Here festival recently on The Grove stage as it's got heavy Sufi stompin' beat like some Northern Soul meets World.

There's a some amount of vocals in English which I find a little distracting but apart from that, any merging of "Levantine bass, futuristic Middle Eastern Dabke, Moroccan R&B" with electronica is going to be a little distracting anyway!

Quite a long way from Kutiman's contribution to Batov's 'Middle Eastern Grooves' compilation of last year (see review HERE) but this has huge potential.

Kutiman - Tabla, Drum Programing, Percussion, Keyboards
Dekel - Vocals, Keyboards
Uri Brauner Kinrot/Ouzo Bazooka - Baglama, Guitar
Lala Tamar - Vocals, Karkabes on 'Hadiya'

Artist: Aliza

Title:  Aliza EP

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Siyal Music

Cat. No: -

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp