Review: Twospeak - Fictions (None More Records)

Twospeak's third album, 'Fictions' is getting a wider audience with its release on None More Records this week.We've been constantly impressed by None More Records, especially Joe Woodham's 'Worldwide Weather' (see review HERE) and the jazz-dub-reggae of Monzanto Sound (see review HERE) but it's clear that they do like a modern prog-jazz-rock as Twospeak have more that a forked tongue going on.There's a hybrid of Portico Quartet, 70s prog...

Review: Kenneth Jimenez - Sonnet To Silence (We Jazz Records)

We Jazz are expanding!  Not like you and me, but, more accurately, expanding their artist horizons as they release an album by Costa Rican/Brooklyn based Kenneth Jimenez. Leader/bassist/composer/photograph joins  Angelica Sanchez (p), Gerald Cleaver (d) and Hery Paz (sax) on 7 tracks that echo some 60s free-jazz roots.With a Latin influence but not too the obvious extent of a Carlos Garnet / Gato Barbieri / Chick Corea / McCoy Tyner...

Review: A08 - Waiting For Zion (Compost Records)

We've already had a taste of the 'new' A08 (formerly known as AFRICAINE 808) with the single 'Life' and 'Sunset' on Compost Records, but wait 'til you here the rest of the album!As mentioned previously, (see review HERE) that since they were releasing albums/12" on the seminal New York label Golf Channel there been a sideways step more to a Afro-tech-Carrib-dancehall-dub as the two Berliners,  Dirk Leyers and DJ Nomad...

Review: Sababa 5 - Aspan (Batov Records)

Apparently, mod-culture is back, but how mod are you without Sababa 5's new album 'Aspan', out on Batov Records?Filled with 60s inspired instrumental psychedelic funk rock and Middle Eastern grooves, this is another winner you can't do without.Opening up with 'Wembley' (no hint of a football chant but 1966 and all that; RIP Sir Bobby Charlton) and the 'Tri Li Li' isn't nursery rhyme influenced like the title hints at but comes with some dub vibes!The...

Review: BCUC - Thonga Lami (Gaudi Remix) (On The Corner Records)

I don't think anyone will be surprised that Gaudi is a fan of BCUC, but they'd be really excited to hear that One The Corner have got the two together to remix a track called, 'Thonga Lami'!As many of us are still trying to come to terms with the magnificent album from last year, 'Millions Of Us' (see review HERE), On The Corner Records share Gaudi’s remix of BCUC’s ‘Thonga Lami’ - it’s the first track from the Pete...

Review: Natasha Watts - Music Is My Life (NWM)

Feel the soul energy of Natasha Watts' 'Music Is My Life' as she re-affirms that she is she and more!First things first; we know that you can't judge a book by its cover and this is NOT the music to either a perfume advert or some Balearic wild swimming so with that out of the way.Natasha Watt music have been living 'Music Is My Life' as she's been getting praise for over 10 years for her previous 3 albums but this has to be the pinnacle to date.Eleven...

Review: Finest Wear - The Obsidian EP (Closer To Truth)

Here's something that's going to be on the Colour & Pitch Sessions for the rest of the year, the brilliant Finest Wear in all his musical finery.So we know Finest Wear from a series of great deep house tracks, including 'The Night Tales EP (see review HERE) and 'Distant Memories EP (see review HERE) and his remixes but this new EP is out on the equally classy Closer To Truth label, but, truth, I had to search for what 'Obisdian' is: a...

Review: A.K. Yeboah - Nde Yen Da (Asona / BBE Music)

Don't be put off by the artwork which looks like some African version of a 80s New Forest National Park callender [Ed. that's mean].Antony ‘King’ Yeboah started out in the 1950s playing Highlife.  By the time of the 80s and the ever present upheaval in the area and the introduction of the nu-Burger digital sounds, how can you stand out from the crowd?What about writing songs in Pidgin to attract a much wider listenership?  Good idea...

Review: Mr Cee - Nye Wonko (Asona / BBE Music)

Singer/songwriter Charles Kwadwo Kwarteng aka Mr Cee is off to a party and we're all invited.'Nye Wonko', unlikely to be New Year's Eve Wonko - but if there is such a thing and they're playing Mr. Cee's album, make sure you can go.The story goes that there was a low-budget digital version of this album which was clearly in need of a Highlife big band upgrade and thanks to the recording at Ghana Films Studios / Asona records, this is...

Review: Brandon Markell Holmes - Fuller (Toucan Sounds)

Well, I didn't think we'd only have to wait a couple of months since Brandon Markell Holmes' last single but now we've got the 'Fuller' sounds of a brand new single.Brandon moved from Chicago to NYC where he's attracted attension from the likes of Derrick Carter, Dee Diggs, musclecars and more to do a remix of his songs after he appeared on Gorillaz album ,‘Humanz'.No surprise as, once again, the latest single 'Fuller' features his deep...