Review: Eric Hilton - Je ne t’aime plus (feat. Natalia Clavier) / Leave It All (feat. Puma Ptah) (Montserrat House)

Eric Hilton has been half of the seminal Theivery Corporation for decades and now is with singers Natalia Clavier and Puma Ptah on the new release on the Montserrat House label; what'dya mean, 'Je ne t’aime plus'?

We know Eric boarders on the trip-hoppy jazz side, check out 'Corazón Kintsugi' that also features the dreamy vocals of Argentinian singer-songwriter Natalia Clabier (see review HERE) so it's no surprise that je/tu/nous/vouse aime plus.

Moving away form the les parapluies de Cherbourg in the 60s, 'Leave It All' taps into Massive Atttack's Bristol without umbrellas but with a big groovy bassline that is tops my Mr. Ptah's soulful vocals.

Both single are taken from a forthcoming album called 'Midnight Ragas' so sitars at the ready?  

And don't forget Eric's excellent album from last year, 'Sound Vagabond' (see review HERE) and I feel contractually obliged to mention that Hilton (as Theivery Corp.) was so influencial (as masters of the trip/dub/downtempo/future jazz genre and check their many remixes including our favourites Rockers HiFi).

Artist: Eric Hilton with Natalia Clavier & Puma Ptah

Title: Je ne t’aime plus (feat. Natalia Clavier) / Leave It All (feat. Puma Ptah)

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label : Montserrat House

Catalog Number : MH029

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Joseph Malik - Proxima Ebony Variant Issue (Ramrock Red Records)

Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' is the stuff of prime taste makers Craig Charles, Don Letts and even more big wigs at BBC 6 Music - find out why as it's out now!

What a week it has been for Ramrock Records as it started with the release of ROY INC x Darren Morris' deep 'Rivers Of Blood' (Original Version - see review HERE), followed by the Bandcamp Listening Party for 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' (with lots of the contributors to the new album and bossman Mr. Malik himself in attendance: and I don't think he mentioned Celtic once!) and then the actual album coming out today.

Did somebody say, "we already have 'Proxima Ebony', that was rated 10/10 by Blues & Soul" (see review HERE).  Well, if you have, you'll be needing the 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' as this 'project' is far more than a remix, so much so, you'll be questioning yourself as to whether it's better than the original release (Ed. for the avoidance of doubt, you clearly need both). 

What with Kameelah Waheed (Philly, originally Camden, NJ - Not 'Camden New Journal' - Ed. did I ever tell you I once made the front page? Another day) featuring on two tracks, the Variant Issue Orchestra Vocal & an L'Opera Noir variant of 'My Whole World' plus the 'Be A Lion' (Sound Signals Vocal Remix.  There's a full on Shaka Loves You heavy on the string disco remix of 'Trouble With A Capital T' (so Craig Charles), Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms) plus Mike Keat (The Cuban Brothers) with another 'Adjust Like Dat' as remixed by the Oddball Creatives.  Plus Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) gets busy on 'Tokyo To Edbinburgh' and 'Adult Contemporary'

This album has taken two years to co-ordinate as label boss Jo told Joseph and Darren T to take their time to expand what was original going to be an EP.  It's a good job they did as we might have missed out on 'Crazy Days And Nights In Madrid - Interlude  #2' with DJ Pupilas and Nasty P on the kuts and my current favourite, Steven Christie's 'High Over Low' Rework.

So a wealth of talent and loads of 'ooooooooooooohhh' moments when the 'variant' issue of one of your (pre)loved Proxima Ebony tracks becomes your new favourite Variant Issue: if you're unsure, this is another 10/10 rating and in the 'Best of 2025' listing.

Artist: Joseph Malik
Title: Proxima Ebony Variant Issue
Release date: 11th April, 2025
Cat. No: RRRLP015
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Review: Medlar - Islands (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I remember Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM etc) telling me years ago that, "Medlar is brilliant" so a follow-up to the debut album is well overdue, but is it the difficult second album?

Well 'Sleep' came out in 2013 on Wolf Recordings so in terms of time you might say it was difficult, even the Medlar collaboration Dele Sosimi on Mr Servini's label Wah Wah 45s was 5 years ago and inbetween times he's released his South London influenced tracks on labels including Full Pupp, West End and Peckham Cuts along with Delusions Of Grandeur.

And with that back ground he's been album to call up some mates to help in out on the 11 track album including Dele, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters (one of our all time favs from back in the day & checking my notes, see review HERE) Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey (as in Raz & Afla, see review HERE) and Arnau Obiols.

The opener with Dele is 'Take A Trip' Tropical Afro-post-psych-dub that'll you'll hear everywhere at some stage of the set this summer.   Dele also appears on 'Jungle Ridge' with Arnau Obiols that takes Lonnie Liston Smith (on organ) to the rave (in similar style to some of Charles Petersohn's 'Children Of Zu Zu' EP (see review HERE).

Still in the jungle or Rio Carnival, 'Yeah' is a Finn Peter's special jazz flute gang Peech Boy jazz-disco: NYC!  Talking of NYC, if you're a lovetempo kinda person, 'Luv Interlude' (featuring Kim Anh) takes the 303 Acid up a notch and then in a flash, your in Ibiza (with Andy 'In Plain Sight' Blake).

More trippy jazz is the horn of Sam Virdie on 'Sun Spots' and you can't rule out the appearance of Alfa Sacke of Raz & Afla (see review HERE) on 'Atlantean' as track of the album (and we're not talking about the Leyland double-decker bus chassis - 1958-86 of the same name).

In fact, the album is full of great tracks including the single, 'Dot The T's' is a little bit different for the clever rap by Deevoenay and in terms of 'out there', 'Cicada Dance' is exactly what it says on the tin but a violin solo!  Is that taking the Jean-Luc Ponty?  Rebekah Reid's solo is perfect Transglobal Underground: violin and loop pedal is the new jazz harp.

One of the reasons Dom is so excited about Medlar is that he know how good the Dele Sosimi Meets Medlar featuring Tamar Osborn 'State Of Play' (and the remix EP) is from a couple of years ago.  'Islands' sounds more like a love letter to various places he's visited on holiday with some of his best mates and he was clearly saving it for the BIG album release.

There's a Remix EP on it's way so stay tuned - wonder if he's got Charles Petersohn's number? 

BUY LINK: https://medlar.bandcamp.com/album/islands

Also featured in the Colour & Pitch March Mix by Will Sumsuch.

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Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - March 2025

Artist: Medlar

Title: Islands
Release date: 18th April, 2025
Label :Delusions Of Grandeur
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

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