Review: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil - Merhba Remix EP (Compost Records)

Afro-futuristica flute gang house (with cover artwork to match) with a release on the always adventurous Compost Records label - gets remixed!

We know of Beatkozina after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE) and the 'Merhba EP' itself (see review HERE) but now we've got the remixes via some masters like Laroye, Moodorama, Chocolate Garage Productions, Sax Conversation and the always excellent Inskwel featuring Colonel Red making 'Merhba' sounding even better.

So that six more mesmerising afro-house jazz flute gang goodness that's rooted in Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Ron Trent, Joe Clausell, Osunlade, Louie Vega, King Tubby (and more)": that is excepting the 'Sax Conversation' mix that's a nice jazz up and Inkswel's instrumental synth up.

'Merhba' is 'Welcome' in Arabic and these guys have welcomed Beatkozina (a London and Marrakech based duo of Mehdi Baami and Gregory Jouandon) with open arms.  The smart money is on at least one of these remixes witll be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch but I wouldn't wait, the 'welcome' is remixed.

Artist: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil

Title: Merhba Remix EP

Release date: 11th April, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT652-3 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Awa Khiwe - African Women Arise (Outhere Records)

These guys are so Out Here with 'African Woman Arise' by Awa Khiwe, 'Zimbabwe's Rap Queen' as this is more than a call to arms.

Produced by Ghanaian Stallion (who has worked with Joy Denalane, Black Sherif, Burna Boy and more) this is Africian hip-hop blended with the sounds of Malatu, Fela, Pat Thomas et al as the music label based in Munich does a take of Philophon (Berlin). 

As strong as Awa's vocal performance, the music is perfect "WOMAD" by Zimbabwe's Mokoomba band with the horns of Ghana's Kwashibu Area Band on selected tracks.

For Awa's debut album this is very impressive and having a release on the day before Record Store Day is very brave' don't overlook this one.

Note: "Huge thanks to Lomedy Mhako for the beautiful artwork"

Artist: Awa Khiwe

Title:  African Women Arise

Release date: 11th April, 2024

Label: Outhere Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Luna Soul - First Move (Légère Recordings)

'First Move' is produced by an Australian (Joel Sarakula) and is the debut album of German-Spanish duo Lisa Michèle Lietz and Jordi Arnau Rubio (aka Luna Soul) with 10 tracks of soulful disco-pop inspired by the sounds and atmospheres of the late 70s and early 80s.

Légère Recordings will be 20 years old next year and they've introduced us to a variety of funky soul masters like Boca 45, The New Mastersounds, Eddie Roberts, Gizelle Smith/The Mighty Mocambos and many more including Young Gun Silver Fox/Shawn Lee (watch out for Shawn's contribution to Flying Mojito Bros' new album 'Just Passing Through' - review coming soon) and many more including a heavy Australian focus (Ed. and for a label based in Hamburg!)

This is like a European beach club Sophie Ellis-Bextor that's a bit more pop on a funky yacht with 'Hold On', 'No Way Home' and the previous single, '1979' standing out. 

'Obivious' is a obvious choice for the poolside dancefloor and something of a grower and one for smooching in the garden sun is 'Just For Us Tonight'. 

The is definitely an album that's worth repeated listens and get in quick before Record Store Day.

 

Artist: Luna Soul
Title: First Move
Release date: 10th April, 2025
Label: Légère Recordings
Cat. No: TBC
Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Los Jaivas - Alturas De Macchu Picchu (40th Anniversary RSD Release) (The state51 Conspiracy)

It's fair to say that state51 are maverick when it comes to releasing music and whilst we're not big fans of Record Store Day, it's always a good idea to keep an eye open to see what's going on; and is there lots going on on the summit of Macchu Picchu!

"Maverick" would definitely spring to mind as the label released 40th Anniversary Edition of Malcolm McClaren's 'Duck Rock' a couple of years ago.  An album that somehow managed to capture both good and bad elements of 'electronic, hip-hop, Latin, funk, soul, non-music, folk, world, country, African, ambient and experimental'!

Whilst not as well known as a big head like McClaren, Los Jaivas' unique Chilean prog-folk from the summit of Machu Picchu is a mad malenge from the obligatory flute/pan-pipes, that starts the album (Ed. the most typical of 'world' music instruments?) to 11 minutes of proggy cathedral synth rock-opera ballad, 'La Poderosa Muerte' - it's so fantastic in a mutant, (White?) Sabbath vs. Yes in the Andes Mountains; spiritual? Tommy Vance is loving this.

'Antigua America' is more ELP prog whilst 'Amor Americano' flips almost McClaren like. in it's Tex-Mex-folky square dance.  And it doesn't stop there, it 'Sube a Nacer Conimgo Hermano' was played in Castro's Cuba, it'd have been banned for it's US rock guitar leanings but it's a great dance track. And the album ends appropriately enough with 'Finale' as a pseudo-classical piece that Rick Wakeman would have been proud of. And on the subject of political unrest, there's some tango in there also, possibly because the band left Chile when Pinochet took over their home country, heading first to Argentina and then Paris where the album was recorded.

Thankfully, after 40 years, an Anniversary 12" vinyl in gatefold cover is not viewed with the eyes of a Spinal Tap docu-soap - see below 1981 TV broadcast from Peru to Chile - that's enough to challenge Pink Floyd at Pompei.  Even McClaren would have to take his (Buffalo) hat off to such a venture.

Of course, 2004 saw John Peel collapse on a trip to Macchu Picchu and subsequently pass of a heart attack so this 'find' puts Macchu Picchu back is our good books; a seven track album that leaves you as breathless as the thin air on the summit of Macchu Picchu itself!

Artist:  Los Jaivas

Title: Alturas De Macchu Picchu (40th Anniversary RSD Release)

Release date: 12th April, 2025

Label : The state51 Conspiracy

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" vinyl gateflold / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Nadav Schneerson - Sheva (Kavana Records)

If you were around the Tomorrow's Warriors tent at We Out Here last summer, you may have heard of Alumni Nadav Schneeron and now his debut LP 'Sheva' is with us and don't let the artwork and title lull you into a false sense of relaxation: 'Sheva' is heavy.

Of course, Gilles Peterson has had a very long association with Tomorrow's Warriors from their co-founder and artistic director, Dr. Gary Crosby OBE and lots of alumni but most recently led by Nubya Garcia, Joe Armon-Jones and Ezra Collective.  And I say all this as you can instantly spot that Schneerson's 'Sheva' (meaning 'Seven' in Hebrew) is very much an album of Lonnie Listion Smith/Andy Bey with Middle Eastern leanings with a Ezra Collective edge.

The title track and 'Juju Man' (featuring Afronaut Zu) are particulary impressive whilst 'House Of Pillars' boarders the jazz edge of Batov Records and the interplay between piano and drums (Nadav) on 'Negev' is fantastic and reminds me of Jez Nelson back in the 'Jazz On 3' days (Ed. kids, ask your grand-parents: or the 70s year old Dr. Crosby!) 

So it's a seven piece band, a seven track album and if you get the chance the album launch is at Peckham Levels in London on April 12th - Nadav and his septet will be showcasing new material alongside performing the album in full. Hosting the night will be UK Jazz community pillar DJ Gordon Wedderburn (Jazz FM and more), alongside special guests and DJs until late.

Artist: Nadav Schneerson

Title: Sheva
Release date: 11th April, 2025
Label :Kavana Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Drums & Band Leader - Nadav Schneerson
Trumpet & Flugelhorn - Sam Warner
Trombone & Live FX - Will Heaton
Tenor Saxophone - James Akers
Piano & Rhodes - Sultan Stevenson
Double Bass - George Richardson
Oud - Ekin Öykener
Vocals - Afronaut Zu

Review: Twelve Caesars - Cointelpro (Ramrock Red Records)

If you're familiar with earlier work of Twelve Caesars you won't be surprisd that the new album is named after a FBI counter inteligence program between 1956-76, a twenty year period of attack on the voices of civil rights luminaries like Fred Hampton, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, John F and Bobby Kennedy plus many more. 

Almost exactly two years to the day, Andrew Pipe and Stephen Ennever (aka Twelve Caesars) follow up the album 'Scenes From Wild Eyes Dreams' (see review HERE), a 12 track 'love letter' to the USA, bring us another investigation into the dark side of America with another dozen tracks to add to the single, the ballad of 'Ruby Ridge' (see review HERE) giving us a proper Bakers Dozen to get to grips with.

I don't know if they thought they'd 'Ride The American Wave' but they'd be lost of interest in from the current guys in the big white building about titles like 'Scorched Earth', 'Loves Loyal Emissary', 'Mission Creep', 'Trial By Fire', 'Freedom' along with 'Apartheid Street' and 'Falling From Graceland'.

Who know what folks in the future will look back on it these current times - has anyone heard anymore about the Kennedy file Trump has released on the public? -but we know that Ramrock are on top of this: also check out ROY INC x Darren Morris' 'Rivers Of Blood' with all proceeds being donated to Amnestt International (see review HERE).

BUY LINK: RRRLP014 - Twelve Caesars - Cointelpro | Twelve Caesars | Ramrock

Artist: Twelve Caesars

Title: Cointelpro

Release date: 7th April, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRRLP014

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

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: 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