Review: Blvck Spvde & The Cosmos - Overjoyed Through The Noise (Mello Music Group)

When your influences are as diverse/equal as Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, Madlib, Q-Tip and more, this is an area where a new generation is taking us even further out and Blvck Spvde & The Cosmos don't need a Musk$ spaceship to get us 'Overjoyed Through The Noise'.

Blvck Spade has been making hip-hop beat in St. Louis and with a group of free-jazz thinkers, The Cosmos, they are going cosmic.   It's a full live band of Joey Ferber (guitars), Precious Brown (vocals), Kudda (keys), Dhoruba Shakur and Dorian Simms (both drums), Hodge (perucssion), Vintvage Vibes (saxes), Joshiah Burton (trumpet) and Antionio Brown (keys/arrangers).

Mr. Spvde has said that this group is akin to "bring[ing] the feel of my Dad back in the Room" and as it's record live, I get it as I recall seeing Gil Scott-Heron at Dingwalls many moons ago and this club recording has the same vibe to it (plus the jazz-funk heritage of a Brian Jackson; who is still bringing it live as recently as WeOutHere Festival this year and on BBE).

Two drummers and a percussionist certainly helps with the 70s vibe, especially on the title track, 'Never Be Another' and there's a poetic lilt on 'What You Won't Do' and a great horn section. 

So somewhere between a less-political Gil Scott-Heron band and a small Sun Ra Arkestra - and who wouldn't want some of that?

Artist: Blvck Spvde & The Cosmos

Title:   Overjoyed Through The Noise

Release date: 18th October, 2024

Label : Mello Music Group

Catalog Number : -

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: D.B Cohen - Manchild (Ramrock Red Records)

Troubadour D.B Cohen has a new album coming out and if it's all as good as 'Manchild', Ramrock fans (and everbody else) have got something great to look forward to.

DB Cohen's been drinking at the corner of 'Scratchcards & Wine' (see album review HERE) but on this new single, 'Manchild' he's channeling his inner Muddy 'Mannish Boy' Waters with a bit of Captain Beefheart.

And if you're recording in the hear of the Essex delta, you've just gotta call Mark 'Snowboy' Cotgrove - Latin jazz dance legend last seen on YATM supporting Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21 album on Wah Wah 45s, 'The Confluence' (see review HERE).

The 'difficult' (not in Dan's case') second album, 'On Target' is due out in November and  Snowboy production so more excitement next month.

Artist: DB Cohen 
Title: Manchild
Release date: 18th October, 2024
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR067
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mackwood - Master Changes (5dB Records)

London-based drummer, producer, songwriter and bandleader Mackwood release a debut album that is diverse and talented as he is.

We've been following Mackwood this year with 'Habits' featuring anaiis and Quinn Oulton (see review HERE) and 'Yella!' featuring Charlie Stacey (see review HERE) but the album is fantastic!

Another track similar to 'Habits' is 'Thunder' that features Eert Evil and Klanja (it's BRUK, soulful, proggy and great all at the same time), 'Talk' and the rest of the album is instrumental modern nu-jazz funk electronica at its best; particularly 'Master Changes' (Parts i and ii), 'Dog' (brilliant post Roy Hargrove 'Golden Era')  and 'Flush Draw'.

'Master Changes' has got it all as you'd expect from an album inspired by artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield to Nubya Garcia to Holst to Four Tet (I'll tell you the story of me one and only meeting with Kieran Hebden one day; that's enough about me).

There's an album launch party at Peckham Audio next Tuesday (22nd October) so it would be a good idea to catch this before Mackwood gets to be massive 

 

Artist: Mackwood 

Title: Master Changes

Release date: 17^th October, 2024

Label: 5dB Records
Cat. No: 5DB24004

Format: Digital

 

Review: Frits Wentink - Together EP (Wolf Music)

If you're a fan of the label Wolf Music, you know that they are more than together when it comes to the best in disco / boogie / house and so when, Frits Wentink comes on strong, "It's all about you" and getting down.

When you hear 'About You', you'll know exactly why Stu Clark and Matt Neale (they being Wolf Music) were spot on going back to the Frits for their next big release as it's been a while since Wentink went all glitchy with 'Frogs, Toads & Newts'.

Fair to say, that raised eyebrows in 2019 (having been originally produced in 2014!) but you'll find tracks on the 'Together' EP more mainstream, even if 'Idle Dancer' is anything but idle; more of a heavy percussive manic race whilst 'Ambassador' take a more soulful dubby space synth vibe. 

Talking of which, any label that starts with remixes of Atmosfear's classic, 'Dancing In Outer Space' (The Revenge and Greymatter reworks) know their history and dancefloor.  And whilst they been equally adventurous with the Medlar 'Cub Dubs' release (yeah, the Medlar that works with Wah Wah 45s' Dele Sosimi - see review HERE), the simple "steal" of a 80s classic bassline with some soulful vocals and a repetitive "we do", "ha" and "together" with a bit of a sax break has got Frits top of the pile on 'I Want It All'.

If you were lucky enough to hear Frits plays these track at the Paorama Bar in April, you won't be able to contain youself six months on to get this, put your orders in now.

 

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Together EP 
Release date: 17th Octomber, 2024
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP076
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Zé Nigro - Silêncio (NuBlu)

Still totally overwhelmed by the recent single by  

Zé Nigro?  Well wait 'til you here the full album 'Silêncio' as it will open your eyes to the fantastic soundscape that you can't hear as loud as you can.

Opening up with this years' classic, 'Gorjeios' that features the Don, Arthur​ ​Verocai, (as released with 'Trincheira' featuring Saulo Duarte - see review HERE) this might only be a 9 track album but each one is superb as it's modern-Música popular brasileira with yacht rock, cool reggae/dub (a la Fat Freddy's Drop) and jazz-funk electronica.

The cover of Bob Marley's 'Reaction' fits in with the album vibe with many collaborations; Fernanda Broggi 'Calor', 'Nem um Pio vs. Silêncio' (featuring Russo Passapusso, the singer/composer from Bahia) and I think this beats the title track in its dreamy version.

For the dancefloor 'Andarilha das Galáxias' with Souto MC which brings the Latin rap to soul-funk-rock and some dubby-out electro-funk 'Jararaca Snake (Remix)'.

If there is a gripe, could these tracks have been longer - it's so varied, perhaps Crooked Man could do a job on this (the full Crooked Man version of Transmission Towers is on its way - check the single review HERE).

Back in Brazil, this is a great companion to the work Mr Bongo is doing with fellow Brazilians like Dora Morelenbaum, ('Pique' is out tomorrow, see review HERE) so expect to here more from Zé Nigro as 'Silêncio' is a must have this year.

Artist: Zé Nigro 
Title:  Silêncio 
Release date: 17th October, 2024
Label : NuBlu
Catalog Number : -
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Waaju featuring Majid Bekkas - Alouane (BBE Music)

This is a bit of a surprise as Morocco's Majid Bekkas joins forces with Waaju to produce the most 'WOMAD' of albums that surpasses the live album experience with 'Alouane'.

Majid is in his 60s now and acknowledged as one of the top performers of Moroccan Gnawa music that has attracted collaborations in the past with top jazz artists as varied as Pharoah Sanders, Peter Brötzmann, Archie Shepp, Nguyên Lê and many more. 

So who better to ask to join Waaju for a live recording of 'Alouane' (translates as 'Colours' in Arabic) which was Bekkas first visit to the UK at the time of recording. The inspiration for a 9 track album came from Waaju's drummer Ben Brown and it's his arrangements of traditional Gnawa songs give the feel on Mali desert blues meets a jazz-rock fusion trip.

Heavily percussive and supplemented by some busy guitar and sax, Majid's vocal performance easily enhances the album and it's the likes of existing fans Gilles Peterson, Jorda Rakei, Jazz FM et al will be on top of this one.

Artist: Waaju featuring Majid Bekkas 

Title:  Alouane

Release date: 11th October, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :BBE608

Format: 2 x LP, Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Franck Biyong - Radio Masoda Remixed (Tangential Music)

Tangential Music are celebrating Fela Kuti's birthday today with a 4-track EP from Franck Biyong's album 'Radio Masoda', its like icing on the cake.

As fans of the album 'Radio Masoda' that came out back in May, (see review HERE) is supplemented with 'Jela Kubwa' remixed by Aint4perfect (getting a bit of a groovy slo-jam vibes), 'Oladipo' featuring Chief Udoh Essiet and Fela's co-hort at the  formation of Afrobeat Tony Allen (RIP) with a Yann Jankielewicz remix, 'Mbopi Road' (Max Doblhoff Remix) and the 'original' Aint4perfect / Franck Biyong track, 'London to Nairobi'.

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome Kuti was born this day in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938 and there's no better way to celebrate his birthday with remixed tracks of Cameroonian guitarist/singer/composer Biyong who spent 12 years working with Tony Allen with 'Oladipo' being a tribute track.

Aint4perfect (aka Woni Kimani) has really worked the 'Jela Kubwa' into a Afro-baleriacs funk that's a really is the groovy baby - a must have in a top quality release.

Artist: Franck Biyong 

Title: Radio Masoda 

Release date: 15th October, 2024

Label : Tangential Music

Catalog Number : TAN0038EPG1

Format :  Digital 

Review: Phil Dawson ٤-tet - Shifting Sands (Mainline) ft. Khadijatou Doyneh (Funkiwala)

The second single from the forthcoming album is just as impressive as the first, Phil Dawson ٤-tet is on solid ground with  Shifting Sands (Mainline) featuring Khadijatou Doyneh.

It's fairly amazing how we get links from Phil Dawson to Medlar, in this case via the previous single, 'Ilé (Iyesa)' that featured Rowland Sutherland plus Dele Sosimi and Biola Dosunmu (Dele having worked with Medlar on Wah Wah 45s - see review HERE) and, unsurprisingly, what a great combiation of vocal and Afro-jazz for flute gang fans.

The second single to be taken from Phil Dawson's forthcoming new album ‘Don’t Waste Your Ancestors’ Time’, 'Shifting Sands (Mainline)' centres itself around a poem by spoken word artist Khadijatou, philosophising from her immediate surroundings (kinda reminds me of Kameelah Waheed - see reviews HERE & HERE) with a warped Ghanaian-style highlife guitar, 70s jazz-funk-inspired Fender Rhodes, with more flute futurism from Sutherland sounding more Jimi Tenor than Jimi himself (see review HERE).

Like Mr. Tenor (in his Philophon role), UK guitarist, composer and bandleader Phil is embeded in Hi-Life, Afrobeat, South African music having worked with a who's who including Hugh Masekela, Tony Allen, Mulatu Astatke, Osibisa (don't forget Sol Power All-Stars' 'tribute' that's just come out - see review HERE) as well as London based Lokkhi Terra and Soothsayers.

The band will be performing at Pizza Express Dean Street in London on October 22nd https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/phil-dawson-quintet-feat-khadijatou-doyneh
to promote the album, 'Don’t Waste Your Ancestors’ Time' will be released on November 29th

Artist: Phil Dawson ٤-tet
Title:  Shifting Sands (Mainline) ft. Khadijatou Doyneh
Release date: 25th October, 2024
Label : Funkiwala
Catalog Number : -
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra present Terra Coda (Tru Thoughts Recordings)

A truely ambitious project for Tru-Thoughts as only a 25 year old could imagine: ladies and gentlemen, Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra present Terra Coda!

After celebrating Tru Thought's 25th anniversary compilation 'Shapes 25' (see review HERE) we know the label is diverse to say the least, but then there's 'out-there' and  Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra present 'Terra Coda' is definitely out-there.

Benji Bower (aka Unforscene) has left behind his nu-jazz, boken, boogie past for the time being, organised a 60-piece orchestra of Bristol's finest and put on his composer, pianist, producer, musical director hat to combine and record a modern classical/part operatic, part OST "ode to Earth'.

This has the professionalism of BBC at the Proms but with solemness of a cathedral service for the long lost.  It's superb and it comes across like a soundtrack to a horror movie at times (like 'Descent') but it does leave you somewhat drained; but in a good way. 'Love Letter' features Kathleen Frances, a track Benji descibes as "beautiful yet crushing" (it''s a bit Anohni & The Johnsons with big strings) and that probably descibes most if not all the tracks here. 'Kalaallit Nunaat' featuring James Gow seems really sad as does 'Whale Lament' (as you'd expect from its title) whilst on the upside, there's 'Leviathan' that features the vibes of Harriet Riley) (what's with Bristol and leviathans? Check Ishmael Ensemble's review HERE) 

Many of the musicians here have played with The Heritage Orchestra, Portishead, Massive Attack, The Cinematic Orchestra (and many more) and it certainly comes across.

This is a magnificent work that's Benji has based on Taoist theory of 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) and even a QiGong practictioner would be left breathless after hearing this - at least check out the beauty in 'Perpetuus' to get a feel for this.

Artist: Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra
Title: Terra Coda 
Release date: 11th Octomber, 2024
Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings
Catalog Number  TRU460D
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Matt Wilde - It's A Delight EP (DeepMatter Records)

This is Mancunian jazz in the footsteps of Dilla/Glasper where his debut album 'Hello World' caught the ear of BBC 6 Music friendly with fans including the main DJs Gilles Peterson, Deb Grant/Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan amongst many more.

Wilde has already been involved in Peterson's Brownswood Basement 'academy' and it shows in this new 6 track EP as it also feautres other Mancunian alt-soul artist [ K S R ] (who you'll recall from the Searchlight track 'We Could Be More' (see review HERE) and trumpet player Aaron Wood (who stands out on 'Good Things Happen').

The instrumentals are as stand out as the vocal tracks and he's definitely more of a Robert Glasper pianist than say, a Jamie Cullen; there's even some Robert Mitchell classiness too on the title track and 'Timekeepers'.

On the heals of Myele Manzanza's 'Homesick' - the Marble SunTh Remix (see review HERE), Matt Wilde is another name to watch out for in the beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove and lots more folks are going to love this.

Artist: Matt Wilde
Title:  It's A Delight EP 

Release date: 11th October, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp