Review: ROY INC x Darren Morris - Rivers Of Blood (Original Version) (Ramrock Red Records)

There's been much social media talk of the lack of protest songs these days at a time when stuff is hitting the fan even more regularly than previous decades. So, ROY INC and Darren Morris should be given loads of credit for taking on 'Rivers Of Blood', an infamous phrase given prominence on April 20th 1968 by a Tory Government minister speech in Birmingham, as they fight back with words and music.

It's nearly been a year since the ROY INC & Darren Morris EP, 'Credit Me' (see review HERE) and the new single is equally as stunning as the artwork.

The theme is typical of a spiritual style with the hope of brighter day in times of trouble; we're told, "This begins with the ‘right word’, perhaps alluding to keeping discussion and negotiations going in the best interests of peace, against a dystopian backdrop not too dissimilar to the ongoing atrocities in our present day confrontations."

It's particularly stunning; it deserves to be heard on the radio airways along with 60's soul protest classics.

If you're a radio station boss or presenter, or more likely, someone who appreciates some awesome music production (Ed. a given with these Ramrock guys) with some spine tingling strings plus backing vocals from a choir of Roy, Darren and Suddenly Wow's, Otti Albietz (see review HERE).

If you're a Joseph Malik's 'Adjust Like That' and the Oddball Creative's remixes (see review HERE), you'll love this and we're promised more ROY INC x Darren Morris collaborations and remixes of 'Rivers Of Blood' later this month on April 21st.

ROY INC: Lead vocals/ backing vocals, lyricist
Darren Morris: Keyboards, drum programming, string arrangement, bass guitar, composition, production, arrangement, mastering
Otti Albeitz: Back vocals

Artist: ROY INC. & Darren Morris 
Title: Rivers Of Blood (Original Version)
Release date: 7^th April, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR078

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Dinings Rooms - Sensibili Alle Foglie (The Lost Soundtrack) (Schema Records)

How d'ya fancy a 'lost soundtrack' of a tribute to 20th Century cultural icons including Joe Strummer (The Clash), Pier Paolo Pasoline (Italian poet, film director, writer, actor and playwright) and Francesca Woodman (American photographer).

Well there's nothing 'garage band' Clash about 'Sensibili alle Foglie (Titoli di testa)' as The Dining Rooms (aka Cesare Malfatti and Stefano Ghittoni) drift into their brand of downtempo jazz electronica ambience.

Great artwork collage of 'icons' (not as chaotic as Dan The Drum & Stuart Patterson's 'UK House Sermon' - see review HERE) but great to have The Dining Rooms back at their Schema Records homeland (Ed. hard to believe it's been 20 years since the 'Experiments In Ambient Soul' album - also recommended).

Artist: The Dinings Rooms

Title:  Sensibili Alle Foglie (The Lost Soundtrack)

Release date: 4th April, 2025

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC554

Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Alexander Flood - Artifactual Rhythm (Atjazz Record Company)

Atjazz Record Company have done it yet  again with the timing of this new album by Alexandere Flood with a trio of 'finds' like Vivian Sessoms, Kara Manansala, Erica Tucceri: the floodgates are open!

After the singles, 'Life Is A Rhythm' featuring Cazeaux O.S.L.O (the album opener - see review HERE) and 'Can’t Get Enough' (featuing Vivian Sessoms - see review HERE) we've now for the full eight track album ‘Artifactual Rhythm’.

'Don't Wait For Me' could have been another killer single with Flute Gang/garage/bruk leanings that fits nicely in with 'Can't Get Enough' as 2025 favourites; big up Finn Rees (also Close Counters - see review HERE) and Erica on flute!

In fact, you'll find that the tracks on this album have that retro feel of the house come jazz-funk mix with DNB and all those other influences that merged in the a 90s 'what next period'.  'Artifact', 'Sidestep' and 'Vibraçāo' are particulary post-Lonnie Liston Smith great, a vibe that's also been picked up by Charles Petersohn on his recent 'Children Of Zu Zu' EP (see review HERE) and put that together with the Naarm/Melbourne dynamic, this is the dancefloor equivalent.  

Yes, this is another album that eminates from Oz; co-produced the Lewis Moody (Energy Exchange Records) and in addition to Erica and Finn, features Dylan Paul (bass) with Flood on drums, keybass, additional keyboards, production, programming.

And if you were to push me, lets put 'Cinnamon & Clove' in the jazz-funk cake mix it's one for Gilles Peterson's Worldwide 2025 All Winners show and shall we add 'Vibraçāo' for it's Latin cultura: yes, lets.

We know you can't get enough of this body of work and watch out for the name Alexander Flood: even it I'm not so keen of the dopey artwork.

BUY LINK: https://orcd.co/arc260advpre

Artist: Alexander Flood 

Title: Artifactual Rhythm
Release date: 4th April, 2025
Label: Atjazz Record Company
Catalog Number: ARC260AD 

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

Review: Gerardo Frisina - Insight Vol. 1 (Schema Records)

If I was a jazz dance optician, Gerardo Frisina's new album 'Insight' is the sound version of Latin spectrophotometry - you need this!

Well we would say that as being big fans of the Schema 'school' of Afro-cuban, Brazilian, Latin and all points south of the Italian base of the label for man years.

In fact, it's a great testamony that they have managed to keep the quality so high and 'Insight' is no exception.

'Mindoro', 'Desejar', 'Tarab' are all beautifully jazz dance smooth plus there's an instrumental version of 'Samba Skindim' that first appeared on Frisina's 2009 10" EP.

And if you're more Fania, 'Coherente' is the track to go large with and 'Some Soul' slips into a jazzy poolside groove and even more laid back, 'O Soñho'. 

It's been a couple of years since his last album, 'Joyful Sound' (see review HERE) so we got excited about the collaboration of Frisina & Toco feat. Luzia Dvorek 'Deixa Passar' (see review HERE) but just as exciting with this release is that it's Vol. 1 so there's a Vol. 2!

Artist: Gerardo Frisina 

Title:  Insight Vol. 1

Release date: 4th April, 2025

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC550

Format: LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sean Haefeli - Flying Broken Form (Sonic Density)

Sean Haefeli's album 'Flying Broken Form' is due out later this year but here's your chance to get acquainted with the next big thing even before Gilles Peterson knows about him!

Jazz vocals with a touch of gospel and hip-hop groove in the soulful way of a Gil Scott-Heron meets José James that touches Roots Manuva,golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove and Bobby McFerrin - and that's just in three tracks: 'Drop', 'Battle Cry' and 'Ride To The Beat'.

Mr. Haefeli was born in Indianapolis (as was jazz legends Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard and J.J. Johnston) and now living in Berlin, where the rest of the band has been drawn to from various parts of the world; Francesco Beccaro on bass (New York/Italian), Dima Bondarev on trumpet (Ukraine), Ben Kraef on sax (Berlin) and a Nigerian drummer Clinton Agu with Mathis Grossmann (aka Magro, Ludwigsburg) also on drums.

Not sure how a jazz-rap, 'The Hustle' lands with today's kids but the band are fantastic on this track and the instrumental 'Continuity' whilst for the ballad lovers, it's time for a 'Breakup'.

You'll remember that Sean was invovled in Jazzanova's 'Strata Records' project (see review HERE) and 'Better Days' could be a Jazzanova track itself and it's yet another highlight ot his solo album that many are predicting is going to blow up like Gregory Porter's debut of a few years ago, this is definity flying, not broken and in perfect form.

P.S. Update, I've just been told Gilles Peterson loves this - I knew he would.

Artist: Sean Haefeli 

Title: Flying Broken Form 
Release date: 4th April, 2025
Label : Sonic Density
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Album / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Rosettes - Lifestyles (Timmion Records)

Hey, the lets 'Make Jazz Smooth Again' campaign gets another kick in the right direction as Lifestyles gets a badge of distinction with Rosettes.

Released on the influencial Timmion Records label (one of the homes of Jimi Tenor - see review HERE), Rosettes tone down the funk of Cold Diamond, up the soul of SAULT and re-find the smooth of Sade.

At the jazzy end of Emilia Sisco (see review HERE), not surprisingly, Jazz FM and BBC 6 Music will be playlisting this one and apparently they'll be in Shindig! Magazine with their psych soul side!

I wonder how long it'll be before they get featured in Lifestyles Magazine?

Artist: Emilia Sisco 

Title:  Lifestyles 

Release date: 4th April, 2025

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: FloFilz - Dim Down EP (Melting Pot Music)

Berlin jazz-beat producer FloFilz continues his streak of high profile collaborations with leading voices from the UK soul, hip-hop & jazz crossover scene. 

‘Dim Down EP', continues his association with UK trenders Alfa Mist, Summers Sons, Blu  Lab Beats and Lord Apex this time with Kofi Stone, Jerome Thomas, Kojey Radical, Raelle ('Peace Of Mind' current favourite on the YATM jukebox) and Matt Wilde.

And if you want some hot buttered soul to go with your 'Ohio Players' artwork inspired hip-hop, check 'Butter' (the one that features Jerome Thomas and Kojey Radical); hot and sticker than peanut butter jams.

Perfect jazzy hip-hop on Melting Pot Music with classy artwork too!

 

Artist: FloFilz 

Title:  Dim Down EP 

Release date: 4th April, 2025

Label : Melting Pot Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various Artists - Fermented Grooves Volume 4 (Stereo Ferment)

Stereo Ferment's 'Fermented Grooves' compilation series is now on Volume 4 and is now also available in debut double vinyl pressing!

Following on from Volume 3 from a couple of years ago (see review HERE), the latest is another chunk of worldly funk-disco-dancee compilation with influences from Afrobeat, flamenco, disco, funk and all inbetween in a mere 9 tracks.

And it doesn't take long before you get excited that this is on DJ friendly vinyl kicking off with Josh Ludlow's 'Vikram' for some yogic disco: you may recall Ludlow from his big hit 'Bumper Thumper' (with a Medlar Remix) from earlier this year and he's still hot and sweaty.

In keeping with the health and fitness theme, Kraftwerk goes 'Y.O.G.A.' with Oreku who you'll recall went "NaNaNa" of 'Little Fly' from Vol. 3.  And since then, The Patchouli Brothers have shown us what they can do on JKriv Razor-N-Tape's edit 12" (see review HERE) and they're at it again with 'Sidi_93'  (Ed. is that some sort of road cycling shoe?) that's big on the Indo-piano house bang (that's how they roll).

In fact, there's quite a bit of an Indo-vibe with Anish Kumar's 'Unity Drum' before you get to 'Deli Gönül Neylersin' by FOC with it's mod-psych-funk organ.

Joint label boss (with Oreku), Coy Haste (he of 'Bancha Bounce' (see review HERE) who goes all Gwen Stefani macarena (and more) bouncing but I'd prefer the Turkish-space-funk of 'White Lights In Summer' by Dialtone or the big room of 'Shamim' (by the inappropriatly named Moving Still).

These guys love to experiment and have a smile on their face at the same time and this is another joyous release.

Many thanks to DJ Bob Hill and his Illicit Grooves crew for pointing this one out to us.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Fermented Grooves Vol 4

Release date: 3rd April, 2025

Label : Stereo Ferment

Catalog Number : SF017

Format:  2xLP Vinyl / Digital / ONLY available on Bandcamp 

Review: Peter Matson - Hotel PM (Bastard Jazz Recordings)

We knew this album would be good, but it gets a full 5 star Hotel rating for PM, AM and all the bits inbetween!

Fans of Hotel Inspector, 4-In-A-Bed and all those other shows know that after you've booked in, you've got to go digging for the dirt, stains and long hairs.  Well, there ain't no bad bits on this 10 track debut solo album of  the Brooklyn based musician/producer/DJ and co-leader of the band Underground System

We were pretty excited a couple of months ago when we heard Peter Matson's 'White Noise' together with his collaboration with Toribio on 'S.Y.G' (see review HERE) so he's more than delivered with thit bastardized jazz with groove and funk and boogie and disco and Balearics and even synth-pop.

'Alien' is typical of the bright disco vibe the underpins the album with with lots of electronic twiddling big strings whilst for a 'solo' album, he ropes in his mates Pahua (on 'Melancolía', she also check out the new JKriv EP, 'Intuition' - see review HERE), Kendra Morris ('White Noise'), members of The Rapture and Poolside [lovetempo is so hot right now] plus Ibibio Sound Machine which gives it a 'live' sound. 

Phenomenal Handclap Band (another JKriv favourite) feature on 'Never Know' whilst 'Shaky Escalator' (featuring Underground System) ain't going to get much in the way of many radio plays in this form as a clean edit/instrumental/dub might be a good idea.

Talking of instrumentals and no ideas, where's 'Lew Beach'? (Ed. or is it a person?) Even so, you'll want to spend you're summer there and it's one of three instrumental tracks that stand-out like the dubby jazz horn on 'Lobby Call'.

'Alien' is one of the hit tracks with super lush strings and it's summer ready beach appeal and I'll challenge you to not have it as a bed fellow to lovetempo this year (check out 'But I Do' remixes HERE)

'Hotel PM' is a bit like a chain in that is was recorded across cities like London, New York, and Mexico and has different room themes but all are variants of dancefloor, from the opener 'Lobby Call' or the closer, '18th Floor'.

Can't say enough good stuff about this album that'll definitely feature in the 'Best Of' 2025 list!

BUY LINK: https://ffm.to/hotelpm.GC

Artist: Peter Matson

Title: Hotel PM

Release date: 4th April, 2025

Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings

Catalog Number :  TBC

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

Review: Diogo Strausz - Caramba EP (w/ Kai Alce and Lex Wolf Remixes) (Razor-N-Tape)

"¡Ay, caramba!", you might say, not another essential release on Razor-N-Tape?

Yes that's right!  Diogo Strausz who brought you  'Emancipação' that many thought was a modern Azymuth, returns with a new verson of 'Canto Das Três Raças' and a Kai Alcé NDATL Vocal Mix.

No surprise that the Brazilian producer's track sounds, feels and dances like Clara Nunes' original version on a 'Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls' (with Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge) - perfect London [or insert you're own Capital] Jazz Dance samba/música popular brasileira classic.

It's bound to appear on a Mr Bongo compilation in years' to come but no need to wait as if you get this, the Atalanta based Kai Alcé knows how to make it even more dancey.  You'll recall what he did on 'The Symington Avenue' EP by Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (see review HERE) so if you you want to be in the groove as those musclecars, you know what to do.

Not only that, on other side, 'Caramba' is more NY percussively heavy with a disco ball of synths, whistles and cuíca.  And on the remix, try the Lex Wolf Technobloco Mix where the Lextension master (Ed. did you see what he did there) reformulates 'Caramba' into over 8 minutes of "Kraftwerk meets Marcos Valle".

We're always impressed with a Razor-N-Tape project but this is "¡Ay, caramba!" even for them.

 

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/diogo-strausz-caramba-ep-vinyl/1077536-01/

Artist: Diogo Strausz 

Title: Caramba EP
Release date: 4th April, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTR079
Format :  12" - 4 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp