Review: Fred Everything & James Alexander Bright - Breathe (Rocco Rodamaal Remixes) (Lazy Days Recordings)

We're definitely big fans of both Fred Everything and James Alexander Bright so we were super excited when they got together for 'Breathe', but who's Rocco Rodamaal?

Well, Rocco might not be the most prolific producer/remixer out there but he's definitely well connected with the likes of Atjazz, Osunlade and Afro-house communities.

That said, when he's come to one of the most popular tracks from Fred Everything's recent album 'Love, Care, Kindness & Hope' (see review HERE), the colaboration with 'friend of YATM', James Alexander Bright (see review HERE), there's a big chilled approach that includes dub and beat versions.

Definitely aimed at the DJ world and you can't go wrong with any of these versions.

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - September 2024

Artist:  Fred Everything & James Alexander Bright 

Title: Breathe (Rocco Rodamaal Remixes) 

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label : Lazy Days Recordings

Catalog Number : LZD

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel - Nijerusalem (Batov Records)

Those out there that ever thought that Batov should celebrate their 100th release with an electronic album by a duo that reflects their Middle Eastern/North African roots, 'Nijerusalem' is what you've been waiting for.

Mamman Sani (synths/vocals) and Tropickal Camel (various electronics) have created a bit of a lo-fi global album that hints at 'Who Is William Onyeabor?'

The eight track album was the unlikely result chance meeting of the two main players in Uganda at the Nyege Nyege Festival.  The single, 'Nomadic' has a North African space-ska groove that's sounds a little like some Madtone with sand on his sandals; the dub is cool too.

It's a shame that not all of the tracks have a dub take but you never know if there's enough support for this album, the 'Deluxe Edition' may well be on the cards. The vocal track 'Venusian Lady' is a bit Malian but watch out for the lyrics and prepare yourself for 'Fulani UFO' (flute gang friendly), 'Sultan Umnaru's Trip' and the dubby 'Touareg Spaceship'.

We loved Bolbec's 'Victime De l'aube' that was released August (see review HERE) but in terms of dancefloor friendly, 'Nijerusalem' will turn heads.

Artist: Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel 

Title:  Nijerusalem

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR100

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Raffy Bushman - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Bridge The Gap)

Raffy Bushman's name might sound like someone from Ned Kelly's gang fused with a 1930s Eton toff, but this guy is serious jazz-bad in a good good way with an EP that's so now and definitely not gone tomorrow.

Expect to hear modern fusion of post-bop, trap and hip-hop in the on reflective new album but what you really need is more of the lead track, 'Fitzcarraldo' - as mad a jazzdance juungle fever as the film (Walter Herzog - kids, it's a "must see" classic).  I'm in advance negotiations as to how we can make this track longer and still keep it perfect. 

There's four other tracks on this EP and you can't help but be seduced by the piano playing of the title track.

Expect all your big head to be on this already; Peterson, Forge, Parnell, Beedle plus Deb Grant (6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2) as it's a BedBadNotGood meets Roy Hargrove meets Mike Post meets Ezra Collective and more.

Artist: Raffy Bushman

Title: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label: Bridge The Gap

Catalog Number: 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jessica Lauren - Alefela / Shibuya (BBE Music)

Jessica Lauren's fans are many and it's no surprise at all that BBE have acknowledged her excellence with this brand new single. 

As part of the new IMPRESS!VE Collective roster is keyboard player, composer and producer Jessica Lauren debuts with a single release, 'Alefela' / 'Shibuya'

Known to us as the Mrs Emanative in Nick 'Emanative' Woodmansey's group (as recently showcased on the album 'Abstract Intuition' (see review HERE) but she's also been part of bands with Jean Carne, Tom Browne, Dexter Wansel, James Mason, UFO, The Heliocentrics and (really!) Demis Roussos (this was around the time Emanative performed at Favela Chic; but that's a different story).

However, that was around the time her 'Film' album was being touted for a re-issue so with these two tracks from that original 1997 recording that was originally released a couple of years later on MELT2000 as a CD only release.

After last months' 'Ascend It' by Tamil Rogeon (see review HERE) with its 70s Miles/Herbie fusion and if you're into the 100mph jazzdance; this is definitely boiling up to it.  This is so "Gilles Peterson / Patrick Forge Dingwalls" I fully expect both Lauren and Tamil at next years' We Out Here Festival).  

That said, you don't need the gift of the gab of a DJs to be talking about this one, "our Jessica" time is now and no doubt it'll be recorded on film too.

Artist: Jessica Lauren

Title: Alefela / Shibuya 

Release date: 20th September, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :BBE643SDG

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Rahaan Presents The Ones - The Ones (BBE Music)

You'll be a hard soul not to be moved by the disco funk of 'We Are The Ones' as it's a stonking loco of a track - and it's not the only one!

We remember the 3 track EP from last year, 'We Are The Ones', 'Fire' and 'Forever' (see review HERE) and new there's a further 7 funky drenched soul on the double LP release. 

As regular readers know with like a bit North African influence, fusion and jazzy vibes so  the melange of 'City Rain Supreme' takes the Michael White 'The X Factor' gold medal for this year.

Other tracks are more a mix of soul n' house like the Balearic  'What You Are To Me' and the inner city 'Toy Boy' before reaching 'The Promised Land'.  And then off to the beach with the sixties surf-twang of 'Star Seed' before getting Stevie Clavinet funky with 'Manifest Into Movement'

This is a fantastic album mix of Rahaan's Chicago house roots to his residency at Buddha Lounge along with musicians Todd Swope (electric guitar), Carnell Newbill (bass) and Kenny Anderson, ex-Ohio Players horn section.

This is The Ones you need.

Artist: Rahaan Presents The Ones 

Release date: 20th September, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE733 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lampen - Halogen (We Jazz Records)

Many have tried the post-ambient answer to Fripp and Eno's debut album 'No Pussyfooting' and Lampen's 'Halogen' shines a light on the jazzy end of the genre.

Lampen is Kalle Kalima (electric guitar and electric bass) and Tatu Rönkkö (drums, percussion and electronics) and their locational base is between Helsinki and Berlin and the tracks feel like that at times with the Krautrock/tech history of the German capital and the jazzy 5 corners culture of Finland with the guitar at the centre.

The nine tracks have a lo-fi continuity to them but then can sway between some Methany-esque Balearics ('Soleil Du Sud 1') that can go almost jazz-rock/fusion (in a good way).  On a track like 'Geborgszug' and the title track, with their long build-ups could even be thought of as prog with the Mars Volta-esque guitar trash/caress, but don't let this put you off, this is a sophisticated album and it's as hot as a halogen lamp.

This release has a timeline to the label's last release, Pauli Lyytinen's 'Lehto / Korpi' (see review HERE) and if you're lucky enough, you can see Lampen on tour with the album plus they'll in Helsinki for the We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, they will appearing together on the bill with The Necks.

Artist: Lampen  
Title:  Halogen
Release date: 20th September, 2024
Label : We Jazz Records
Catalog Number : WJLP67

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Tamil Rogeon - Wave Theory (BBE Music)

Yet another super talent from down under, Tamil Rogeon is the only 'Wave Theory' you need this year - BBE are on the crest of the wave!

We were very impressed with the taster single 'Gift Of The Gab'/'Ascend It' (see review HERE) and that's no surprise after having the the seal of approval from Greg Boraman for his 2021 album, 'Son Of Nyx'.

It's not going to be often that you can find a guy and jazzy and funky as a Herbie that's playing a violin/viola!  Not even Jean-luc-Ponty!   And when he's mates with the incredible Audry Powne (vocals/trumpet) as in, 'From The Fire' (see review HERE) we are all in for a proper treat with the six tracks on the album that are all proper 'jazz' length.

The launch party is on 3rd October at BBE HQ (see HERE) so get your tickets now 'cos this really is the hottest ticket in town.

  

Artist: Tamil Rogeon 

Title: Wave Theory 

Release date: 4th October, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number :
BBE642 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Egidio Rondinone - OOPARTS (Out of Plan Artists) (A.MA Records)

'Out of Plan Artists' sounds like A.MA Records' equivalent of the NFL's annual player draft lottery drama, but no - it's better than that!

If you can imagine DJ Shadow becoming a jazz drummer who has played with the Paolo Achenza Trio (which included US jazz-innovator Greg Osby at one point) turning his beat-matching/sampling skills on the A.MA Records back catologue with a jazz band to boot.

If that sounds contrived, the actual album definitely is not as 'Supa Dupa' is just that melange of techno frieght train in a deep soul house wagon ('One For Little P' by Paolo Achenza 4), the BRUK-esque Zappa/MOI, 'Gold Diggers' ('Sirena' by Walk Tall) with killer trombone by Gianluca Petrella (credits include Mario Biondi, Nicola Conti, Enrico Rava and 100s more).and 'Maha  Seenthy' ('Solo Ida' by Enrico Le Noici, who we know from 'Electric Nuts - see review HERE).

These tracks are going to be picked up by all the best DJs from Rimini to Margate to Melbourne to Miami; totally worldwide.

Very different to the label's last release, Katarina Kochetova's 'Beyond Motion' (see review HERE) but this is out of plan (whatever than means).

Artist: Egidio Rondinone 

Title: OOPARTS (Out of Plan Artists)

Release date: 20th September, 2024 

Label : A.MA Edizioni / A.MA Records

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Zé Nigro - Gorjeios (feat. Arthur​ ​Verocai) / Trincheira (feat. Saulo Duarte) (NuBlu)

With a career of 30 years already, is this the release to make Zé Nigro the next overnight sensaton like Seu Jorge a few years ago?

What better way to get attention than to get a superstar name on your record.  Ever since Arthur Verocai released the album 'Arthur Verocai' in 1972, there's breen adulation far and wide for a the Brazilian jazz-funk masterpiece.  

Even though Verocai approaching his 80s, he's happy to join Zé Nigro (they are mutual fans of each others' work) on a track called 'Gorjeios' and it's an instant classic of string heavy MPB/OST.

Saulo Duarte may not be so well known, he's a guitarist who lives in São Paulo, and 'Trincheira' is a bit of a trip-hop chill dub.

Both tracks are from a forthcoming album and are going to get lots of attention from all the usual suspects before then. 

Artist: Zé Nigro 
Title: Gorjeios (feat. Arthur​ ​Verocai) / Trincheira (feat. Saulo Duarte) 
Release date: 20th September, 2024
Label : NuBlu
Catalog Number : -
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: DJ Oil - Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer (Tangential Music)

The oil industry may not be the shiny future it once was but DJ Oil is an altogether different matter as he charts the 'Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer' on his new album.

Couldn't have been better timed with all the current chatter of privately funded space walls by billionaires but equally, as it came out l week, this takes a little while to absorb how massive these 11 tracks are (similar to his 2015 BBE album 'The Phantom'; the one with the scary "death mask" cover image).

In fact, were told DJ Oil (aka Lionel Corsini) has been working on this collection between 2007-2013 and it's a proper smorgasbord of Franco-Afro-futuristica house jazz Detroit hypnotic boogie; like a Sun Ra inspired Theo Parrish World album.

 

Like I say, it's quite a lot to get your head around, from the near 12 minute awesomeness of 'Ithaka Dancer' and the also lenghty 'Ashes In Namibia', 'Kwani And Ashes', 'Yaka Di Bongo' and the 'Garifunas Ley Del Fuego' featuring Ji Dru.

There's cosmic links to Frank Biyog's 'Radio Masoda' (Ji Dru for one) that was released earlier this year (see review HERE) but in truth, 'Rise Of A Cosmic Dancer' is a one-off that's out of this earth.

Artist: DJ Oil

Title: Rise Of A Cosmic Dance

Release date: 5th September, 2024

Label : Tangential Music

Catalog Number :  

Format :  Digital