Review: Omar - Can We Go Out (Lyric Video) (IMPRESS!VE Collective - an imprint of BBE Music)

DIgital/Video singles are not our usual thing but when it comes to UK legend, Omar, we are prepared to make that exception as his voice is just a brilliant way to start the week.

'Can We Go(Come) Out Again' may sound like a post-pandemic throw-a-way or a LGBTQ+ call to arms; either way, it's a great start to the week. 

Not only that, it's the first full single from Omar's forthcoming 9th studio album called 'Bright The Days'.

You may recall that last year, we started off with the single 'Lovey Dovey' so if you were wondering what to do for the forthcoming Valentines Day.

NO DIGITAL : BANDCAMP LINK Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental) | Omar 

Artist: Omar

Title: Can We Go Out (Lyric Video)

Release date: 7th February, 2024

Label :  IMPRESS!VE Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE801SDG1

Format: Bandcamp  

Review: Peter Matson - White Noise ft. Kendra Morris (Bastard Jazz Recordings)

Peter Matson's 'White Noise' is the first single from Brooklyn-based musician/producer Peter Matson (co-leader of Underground System) with debut solo LP, 'Hotel PM'

It's been nearly a year since F.I.D.E.L's 'Out Of Sight' (see review HERE) and Buscrates' 'Control Centre' (see review HERE), Simon Mavin's 'Good Hair Day / Only You & Me' (see review HERE) and Casa Bonita (see review HERE) so, even as fans of the label, is it any wonder that a new release is quality?

If you're in the Razor-N-Tape, lovetempo, Star Creature post-disco envelope this is a monster for you!  No surprise that Peter knows all the local big heads having worked with JKriv and Ibibio Sound Machine in the past whilst Kendra Morris has connections with Cinema/TV and the hip-hop scene including MF DOOM (Ed. she'll be a fan of the MF Teen 'tribute' - see review HERE).

Not only that, fans of 'Daylight' (see review HERE) and friends of Toribio joined together with Peter on 'S.Y.G' - check it out below.

This 'White Noise' is nothing like BBC's Radiophonic Workshop's experimental 'White Noise'  but I hope we get an instrumental/disco-dub remix to go along with this as it's far too short (4:21) with all those lucious strings.

 

Artist: Peter Matson

Title: White Noise

Release date: 7th Februaty, 2025

Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format: Vinyl (pre-order) / Digital / Bandcamp  

 

Review: The Invisible Session - What Is Wrong With Your Mind? (Agosta Remix) (Space Echo Records)

The Invisible Session return with the funk - did someone say, "Fred Wesley"?  

When you're after some new Space age Afro-funk train ride with the best 'bone in the bizz (Gianluca Petrella) stoking the engine’s fire as Space Echo Records, this release this must have 7" single.

With the original and a equally cool Agosta remix this it's great to hear Petrella so soon after last months' Deiza Passer by Gerardo Frisina & Toco (see review HERE) on Schema but also The Invisible Session themselves as former Schema artists themselves when they started 20 years ago with 'To The Powerful'.

This is miles away from Lorenzo Morresi e Le Isole's album 'Pop Flop' that came out on the Space Echo Recordsa couple of years ago but with that same class and stylish cover artwork too!

Very Italian.

Artist: The Invisible Session 

Title: What Is Wrong With Your Mind? (Agosta Remix)

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number  Vinyl 7" / / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - The Original Sound of Mali 2 (Mr Bongo)

Thinking about a Mr Bongo Record Club compilation that focuses on the original sounds of Mali, this new compilation adds to 2017's Vol. 1 digging deeper into incredible sounds from the 70s and 80s.

French journalist and African music expert, Florent Mazzoleni joined forces with Mr Bongo's David Buttle to bring you this amazing, if not magnificent dozen of tracks by such household names as Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and many more.

Drawn from the 70/80s post-independent Mali, the freedom of traditional musicians with modern instruments went to their heads and ended up in the melting pot: none more so than Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako with 'Get Up James' - this is not a one track album, I repeat, definitely NOT as one track album, but if you love James Brown, this is one to get up to - it's 'James NOT James' to mis-quote.

Hotels in Bamako were the place to party back in the day and now it's a hot bed of recording studios due to the Tinariwen effect and those Ambassador's know how to switch to that camel jazz walk 'n' blues ballad ('Matou Kagni').  Of course there's lots on international visitors to the Hotels bringing western music and it's possibly best asseminated in the opening tracks 'Kefimba' and Bouba et Sakona Sacko's 'Mamaniya'. 

'Yayoraba' and 'Moussokéléyato' by Allata Broulaye are marvellously 'rock-guitar' based mixed with wailing vocals  you can see why Robert "I'm a Brummie" Plant is such a fan of Malian music.

And not to be outdone, there's a couple of jazz bands, Malian style of course; Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and Tentemba Jazz du Mali and possibly our favourite, the Rail Band ('Massaré Mousso') as Bamako would be for the rail terminous and all the hotels; that's how it all works.

And if there's any mod-revivalists still tuned in, the cover version of 'Midnight Hour' by Tjiwara Band de Kati to end on is pretty sharp in its own way; great guitar and drum solos which just about excuses the vocals not being up to Mr. Pickett soul quality. 

So whilst Vol. 2. still has the Mali/desert blues feel of Vol.1 . Zani Diabaté et Le Super Djata Band, Alou Fané & Daouda Sangaré et al, but if you do get it only for 'Get Up James', you won't be sorry.  And if you get the album for the other tracks, you won't be sorry either: Win - Win! And get on up and add this album to the collection. 

BUY LINK: https://www.mrbongo.com/products/the-original-sound-of-mali-2-vinyl-2lp-cd

Artist: Various Artists 

Title: The Original Sound of Mali 2

Release date: 7th February 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP278

Format :  2xLP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Alexander Flood feat. Vivian Sessoms - Can’t Get Enough (Atjazz Record Company)

Atjazz Record Company have done it again, the floodgates are open for 'Can’t Get Enough' for the new dancefloor season with vocal 'find' of the year so far, 'Vivian Sessoms!

Still hot on  Alexander Flood last release on the Atjazz label, 'Life Is A Rhythm' featuring Cazeaux O.S.L.O (see review HERE) and now we've got the second single, 'Can’t Get Enough' from the forthcoming album ‘Artifactual Rhythm’ and Ms. Sessoms gets all the love on the dancefloor.

And as you won't be able to get enough, even with a instrumental and radio edit, because it's already earmarked as a big Flute Gang favourite for 2025 already!

Increasing the demand for the album release in April, this is a big tune.

P.S. it also features Finn Rees who is 50% of Close Counters, with a review of their new release 'Lovers Dance Academy' coming HERE next week.

Artist: Alexander Flood feat. Vivian Sessoms

Title: Life Is A Rhythm
Release date: 7th February, 2025
Label: Atjazz Record Company
Catalog Number: ARC260ADS2

Vivian Sessoms - Vocals
Alexander Flood - Drums, keybass, additional keyboards, production, programming
Erica Tucceri - Flute
Finn Rees - Rhodes

Review: Knoe1 & Tim Tucker - Girl UR Freaky (Star Creature)

I'm happy to blame Rick James, Shalamar and all other spaced out funk and soul troupers for Knoe1 & Tim Tucker's blast-off track, 'Girl UR Freaky' - and lets throw the old Atomic Dog himself, Mr. George Clinton. 

That's some heritage these guys have found and they've really done an upstanding track that you'll love as the vocal plus more than grateful for the instrumental version to back this one up; especially if you're just got into the label's recent release, Stimulator Jones' 'Stimulator Tracks Vol. 2' (see review HERE) that's more new school than retro but you may well find a connection; especially on 'Cali Red'.

That might be because Knoe1 and Tim Tucker both come from California and Tim has prevously worked with the emperor of synth funk and boogie, the Egyptian Lover; don't even get me thinking about the posibility of a an Egyptian Lover remix - that really would be a freaky gurl.

Nailed the "This is tough groove for tender moments on the dancefloor" brief as it's hard to better this one.

Artist: Knoe1 & Tim Tucker

Title:  Girl UR Freaky

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7073

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp Link HERE

Review: Küf Knotz & Christine Elise - Inner G / Clean (Independent)

Here's the latest from Küf Knotz & Christine Elise, 'Inner G' / 'Clean', check it out here.

Following on from their incredible run of singles, starting with 'Hypnagogia' (see review HERE), 'Yü' / 'Cascade' (see review HERE) and thir last single that featured Christine's vocals on the two tracks, 'Somewhere' and 'Patience' (see review HERE) so you're getting the idea that .this combo of a couple are above average with R&B flava, conscious hip-hop soul and with 'Clean', dare I say pop?

'Inner G' is more of a 3G prayer with MCs Knotz, Philly's Boogieman Dela and Shad from London as we all look more to an inner peace and spirituality.

And we're getting closer to the release of their fourth album called 'Grow' so expect to start getting to know these guys more and more as their brand of cross-over radio friendly tracks take hold and bloom this summer.

Artist: Küf Knotz & Christine Elise

Title: Inner G / Clean

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label: Independent

Catalog Number: TBC

Format: Digital

Review: Nick Marks - Cinematic Chromatics Vol. III (Independent)

Nick Marks' 'Cinematic Chromatics Vol.III' is due out but blimey, if Melborne was a band, it would be one hell of a supergroup!

Since we last checked out Nick Marks, Cinematic Chromatics Vol.II EP (see review HERE), in addition to fellow Melbs music skool Finn Rees (see review HERE), we've now discovered another one, Rami Imam (who's Safara EP is today too! - see review HERE).

And much like Rami's 'Safara' mix of multi-genres, Nick's high-end "cinematic edge" with jazz, electronica, funk and hip-hop (as in  'Cinematic Chromatics Vol.I' - see review HERE - and Vol. 2), Vol. 3 has added a deep sandy Brazilian 800km coastline on 'Current Location' that features Chien Chien Lu (vibes), CARRTOONS (electric bass) and renowned Chilean pianist Benjamin Furman plus Dave Levy on trumpet (Norah Jones, LCD Sound System, Robert Glasper), Chris Ott (trombone), Leandro Pellegrino, Doron Lev (drums/programming), Brittany Harris (Cello/Violin), Damian Bolotin (Violin) and starring on flute, Sarpay Ozçagatay (watch out Flute Gang!)

Amazing the talent pool in New York where Nick is based now and as this is the last release in the trilogy, "Top Marks" for Nick Marks as he's got more hits than Luke Littler.

Title: Cinematic Chromatics Vol.III EP

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label: Independent

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital

Review: Various Artists - Paul Hillery presents Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours Volume 3 (BBE Music)

This is Paul Hillery's third 'Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours ' inspired compilation and arguably the best as fans and diggers alike will be thinking, where does he find these tracks?

Much like his "Sun Children" (as last seen as Part 3, Paul Hillery presents We Are The Children Of The Setting Sun (see review HERE), he finds them all over the globe but all having the same 'root' of folk, funk and trippy troubadours

If you can't imagine what that is Tim Green's 'Got More Love' and Stephen Whynott's 'What Have You Seen' are typical of Hillery's USP in the "unknown" world of 60s Greenwich Village/Haight-Ashbury that didn't make major label signings much like his Will & James Ragar "find" (see review HERE) and Forest (see review HERE).

That said, any 22 track compilation there's going to be a couple of odd-balls like the extremely beautiful 'Night Blooming Thing' (Robin Frederick) or the soothing slo-mo of 'Give Me Time' (Bobbi Keith).  Talking of which, Kirk Edwards' 'Provincetown' is sublime whilst if you crave a long lost Joni Mitchell (that never was 'cos it was by Dave Smith and Judy Dinning), 'Sail Far' is the track for you.

And more Canadian influence, Glastonbury denier Neil Young to be precise, can be heard on Dwight Druick (great name) with 'Joshua' or the soft-rockin' instrumental 'Going All The Way' (Robert Carlton) which was amazingly the b-side to a track called 'Punk'!

Going all the way is the skill of Paul as a curator, he was once the DJ for the 'out-there' Polyphonic Spree, and you can find Vol. 1 & 2 of  'Folk, Funk & Trippy Troubadours' on RE:WARM that's another mix of blue-eyed soul, jazz, folk, soft rock, AOR fusion that somehow sounds really cool.

Whilst the sun might of set on his other compilation series, this is evidence that there's many more trippy troubadours out there to be found and Mr. Hillery is the best placed to find 'em.

Artist: Various Artists

Title:  Paul Hillery presents Folk Funk & Trippy Troubadours Volume 3 

Release date: 7th February, 2025

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE793 

Format: 3xLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Rami Imam - Safara EP (Ponda Records)

If you've not heard the term, 'plunderphonics' yet or are after a definition, Rami Imam's 'Safara' is it!  Why should you care? Well... let me tell you.

We've been more than impressed with the musical energy pouring out of Melbourne recently, whether it's The Pro-Teens 'tribute' to MF DOOM (see review HERE), La Sapes enmergent jazz (see HERE), Ella Thompson's take on R&B (see review HERE) and more but if you pick all this up, add big slabs of disco heritage, world music, some acid and some strings and the plunderhonic combinations are endless in the hands of Rami Imam.

Where to start a plunder?  The six tracks on 'Safara' touch Afro-Funk, West African Highlife, Arabian Disco, normal disco, Bollywood, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Libyan Reggae, Alegerian Rai, throw in a bit of Blaxploitation/OST and it sounds like a series of compilations on Mr. Bongo, Real World, Stern's, Strut, Soundway, Real World, Rough Guide and even Womad.

And whilst that's a pretty comprehensive list, it doesn't reflect that attentions of a deep modern dance audience; so add in compilations from Cafe del Mar, Disco Discharge, Harmless, Suss'd, Rush Hour and even Soul-Jazz.

And even that might not cover 'Safara': "A testament to the endless possibilities of blending cultures, genres and eras into something that is not just heard but felt".

Based in Melbourne, Ponda Records is Imam's label and if he releases any other artists on it, what a high quality control bar Rami has set!  'Yale Yard' is the obvious choice to introduce you to the sound but all tracks are fantastic.

A truely awesome release, a must have for 2025.

CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH RAMI ON THESE LINKS: Part 1 HERE & Part 2 HERE

BUY LINK:  https://www.beatport.com/label/ponda/88735. 

Artist: Rami Imam

Title: Safara EP
Release date: 7th February, 2025
Label : Ponda Records.
Catalog Number : PONDA 001
Format :  Digital / Bandcamp