Anyone who has  worked in an office evironment knows a "Clive From Accounts"; the nerdy one, the one that has fun "executive" toys on his desk, an oversized mug and eats two Wheetabix for breakfast - one to avoid right?  Well, this Clive From Accounts also packs an anolog synth and a brand new album on Razor-N-Tape so definitely one to get to know better!  And I don't mean in an ACCA way either.

 

We last saw CFA on the remix of 'Soul Love' by Fred Everything (see review HERE) but there were rummers of an album was coming as he wasn't featured on Razor-N-Tape's last 'Family Affair' compilation (see review HERE).

Instead, we've got 'The Very Best of Clive From Accounts' as a ten track bumper album and it's more than excellent enough to pack up the day job and all that filing and get ready to boogie all day long.

The recent single, 'Save Me', a "303 acid-tinged gospel house anthem", if you didn't know already, this guy knows no genre limits ('Save Me' samples The Staple Jr Singers who are no relation to Pop or the Staple family and features real steel drums, analog synths is a 4x4 garage/breaks!).  Or the even more cosmopolitan, 'It Began' that's DJ Shadow doing some Batov tribute as "it began with the beat".

Still not convinced? 'Ambika' goes back to the club/glitchscene, 'Heavier' is old-skool Dub Club vs. Ragga Twins with Riko Dann as the badman blood clot that's followed by some hi-tempo 'E-Magik' house.  

Not exactly what you'd expect from that nerdy Clive from Accounts in the back office?  And then he tops it off with Japanese vocals (Maya Kuroki) and violin (Jessica Roch) on 'Konsumu Suru' that swings like Athur Russell origami on the dancefloor.  He seems to like this Jap-vibe as 'Did You See' takes it and runs with some 1930s string sweeps that whilst 'Economy Of Motion' and Kipp Stone's rap on 'All That Matters' reminds me of Daedulus at his West Coast/Ninja Tune warped jazzy hip-hop best.

So you get this idea, the influences are many but the results are more than tidy as the album bubbles up to its closing track, as rampant d'n'b based 'Spectrum'.  We're told in the title that this is 'The Very Best of Clive From Accounts' but I expect there's even more 'very best' to come in the future - lets love and dance to this first though!

P.S. The 12" vinyl is a eight track option with the inclusion of a 'bonus track' surprise! 

P.P.S. Don't forget to see our in depth interview with Clive From Accounts HERE!

P.P.P.S. And here's a link for his mixtape https://music.apple.com/gb/album/razor-n-tape-in-the-mix-031-clive-from-accounts-dj-mix/1795794368

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/the-very-best-of-clive-from-accounts-vinyl/1068697-01/

 

Artist:  Clive From Accounts 

Title: Razor-N-Tape,

Release date: 28th February, 2025

Label : Razor-N-Tape

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp LINK

Tracklist:
A1 It Began
A2 Save Me
A3 Ambika
A4 All That Matters ft. Kipp Stone
B1 Heavier ft. Riko Dan
B2 Konsumu Suru ft. Maya Kuroki & Jessica Roch
B3 Spectrum
B4 ?????

Interview: Clive From Accounts - The Very Best of Clive From Accounts (Razor-N-Tape)

It appears Clive From Accounts likes to play up to the 'beige' man of electronic music image but that is rather undermined by having a number of his own tracks released on well respected independent labels together with some higher profile remixes but what got him even more attention was the associaton with NYC's Razor-N-Tape label.  

So much so that our own Will Sumsuch has said that he's "one of my favourite producers"! And more folks are going to be saying this in the future as CFA moves from the the back office to front of stage with the release of his "greatest hits" debut album, so we jumped at the chance to find out more.

YATM: Sumsuch played 'Konsumu Suru ft. Maya Kuroki & Jessica Roch' on his latest show and even for a pretty diverse album, the funky track with Japanese vocals by Maya Kuroki & violin by Jessica Roch, how did that come about? 

CLA: Thanks! It started as a little jam with the Pulsar 23 and some modular bits sequenced outside of the computer, with hand played synth chords on top. I liked the feel but didn’t really know what to do with it. Fast forward a bit to randomly coming across Maya’s amazing band Teke Teke on an insta (Ed. @teke_teke_band - our new favourite Japanese psych-rock band). I got in touch and thankfully she was up for collaborating! I sent a main track and then this little jam loop, hurriedly cobbled together into some kind of structure. 

During the wait I was recording Jess and we had a go at the same track, doing some long takes: her on violin and me manipulating the recordings live with granular modular effects, space echo etc. 

Maya delivered some astounding vocals, particularly over this little secondary track. I then spent a long time adding to and editing everything together into a cohesive song where the violin and vocals could both shine. They sound meant to be together now but it’s funny they were completely unaware of each other at the time!

YATM:  I suppose we ought to start at the beginning, where did it all begin for you as a musician/fan, 'It Began' sounds influenced by early Ninja Tune?

CLA: Aside from growing up in a music loving household and soaking up lots of core influences from Prince to Sun Ra, the personal start for me was Drum n Bass in about ’98. Through to Dj Shadow, Deep funk and then into the world of digging for more eclectic sounds. I’ve always loved Coldcut, especially the early cut n paste stuff so the mighty Ninja Tune isn’t too far away.  I’d say almost everything I do is influenced by that Ahead Of Our Time era stuff. It blew my mind when I first heard it. 

With 'It Began' the loose idea was to blend early electro hiphop with more world flavours and see what happens. It morphed a bit but still has that DNA.

 
YATM:  Talking of Ninja Tune/Big Dada, 'Heavier' featuring Riko Dan and 'All That Matters' featuring Kipp Stone has that classic hip-hop meets Dorothy Ashby spiritual jazz vibe.

CLA: I’ve never actually met Riko in person either. It ws cold calling again from me and I’m just over the moon that he was up for it!  I sent him the beat and he just destroyed the vocals and sent me back the stems a few days later. Really incredible. 

[The] same with Kipp but that was all handled by Aaron at the label (Razor-n-Tape) as they’re all US based.

I like the fact they’re short and dense with ideas. I’d rather make something that warrants repeat listening than gets boring and repetitive!

YATM:  Then we flit from post-dubstep East London to NY disco 'Amibka' and 'e-Magik' in this diverse but dancefloor friendly approach attract you to JKriv's Razor N Tape label and vice versa?

CLA: It’s always a pleasure to work with them and I’m constantly inspired by their output. I also really respect the way they were so open to releasing all these different genres that are on the album. 

With 'Ambika' and 'e-Magic', alongside what you mentioned there was also a big French influence; I love Roulé Records particularly (Ed. always worth checking out Thomas Bangalter's history - and his Dad's!)

YATM:  That's funny as I was going to say 'e-Magik' has a Studio 54 meets Daft Punk sound and then 'Did You See' is another dance like Yellow Magic Orchestra vs.Arthur Russell uptown with big strings. Are there plans for a tour?

CLA: That’s high praise indeed, thank you! I’ve only done a handful of Clive Gigs so far, one of them being the super prestigious Low Life which was unreal. I actually played a very early version of 'Did You See' that night (Halloween ‘23). I have a gig at the Prince of Wales, Brixton [What’s On – POW] for Maizon on May 17th and I’m also toying with the idea of doing an album release party somewhere. [maizon.ldn]

Bill Brewster · CLIVE FROM ACCOUNTS | Low Life Halloween 2023

YATM:  Have you got a large collection of old syths/keyboards computer s/ware programmes - which are you favourites? 

CLA: Synths are my weakness! I’ve had a ton of them in my time, sold/traded most of them, and nearly always regretted it. I just don’t have the space to keep too many at once sadly. Current bits that are all over the album are the Oberheim Xpander, Minimoog, Octave Cat, Juno 6, Novation Peak, Mutable Ambika (hint hint), Prophet 10, Dinsync Re303 (a perfect clone), my DIY 808 I built and various modular pieces. The Bass and synth parts on 'Did You See are from my Jupiter 6 which I ended up selling.. it makes the song a real tearjerker for me haha. 

YATM: When are we going to find out what the 'bonus' track is on the vinyl release? It's not the Hectic Extension of 'Heavier' is it? (Only joking)

CLA:  I’m sworn to secrecy so you’ll have to get your hands on the vinyl to find out! All I can say is It’s one of my fave tracks from the album, quite different in style again and will never be released digitally so snap it up while you can. C x 

Well, that was an great insight as to how to producer an album that is 'The Very Best of Clive From Accounts'.  Not sure why Clive descided not to answer my questions on the very best tax avoidance schemes; possibly as 'The Very Best of Clive From Accounts' will be such a huge hit he'll leave all that bookwork behind him and (re-)buy a Jupiter 6?

Album review is HERE to check it out.

And here's a link for his mixtape https://music.apple.com/gb/album/razor-n-tape-in-the-mix-031-clive-from-accounts-dj-mix/1795794368

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/the-very-best-of-clive-from-accounts-vinyl/1068697-01/

Artist:  Clive From Accounts 

Title: Razor-N-Tape,

Release date: 28th February, 2025

Label : Razor-N-Tape

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp LINK

Tracklist:
A1 It Began
A2 Save Me
A3 Ambika
A4 All That Matters ft. Kipp Stone
B1 Heavier ft. Riko Dan
B2 Konsumu Suru ft. Maya Kuroki & Jessica Roch
B3 Spectrum
B4 ?????

Review: Padre & Bar.ba & Oe - Alterity (Aterral)

Padre & Bar.ba & OE have reached to out to the horizon with this EP of 'Holding Hands We're Feeling Power and 'She Dances Like A Painting' such that there's a real beauty in 'Alterity'.

I had to look it up but 'Alterity' is "the state of being other or different; otherness" and that perfectly descibes both tracks, with the radio edit of 'Holding Hands We're Feeling Power'.

When you're based in Málaga is it any surpise that there's a hot breeze that blows your Balearics in a different direction and with Padre (Pete Lazonby) there's a tension between your house sessions and Delia Derbyshire experimentation in sound; possibly a theremin?   It's hard to put your finger on it, is it "world", tape manipulation or avant-house gone Theo Parrish? 

Apparently, Pete says, "I need thrilling levels of beauty in my party music. I know other people look for other things like energy or attitude. I want beauty; Call it what you want to: romance, love, god? I want a big dose of what words can't describe, in every track with no exceptions." 

"Otherness" you could say and with Bar.ba the duo are clearly on the same wave length with the synth heavy 'She Dances Like A Painting' whilst Oe's aching soul vocals on 'Holding Hands We're Feeling Power' raises the hypnotic levels.

An EP for fans of Rami Imam to Sun Sone (and more); now there's an idea for the remix release? 

BUY LINK:  https://aterral.bandcamp.com/album/alterity

Artist: Padre & Bar.ba & Oe

Title: Alterity (Holding Hands We're Feeling Power ft. Oe / She Dances Like A Painting)

Release date: 28th February, 2025

Label: Aterral

Cat. No:ATRRL032

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: ANAN - Etna / Back (Space Echo Records)

Perfect for the weekend, this is Jazz Room magic!

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Space Echo Records brought us the return of The Invisible Session with 'What Is Wrong With Your Mind?' with Agosta Remix, and now they out Cumbia dub us with ANAN (DJs Roberto Agosta and Massimo Napoli (Galathea) on Etna and out-jazz dance Latin space vibes.

Apparently, there's a forthcoming album (Ed. can't wait) called 'Rooms' and let's hope it's as big as an Italian Villa with all sorts of psych, jazz, acid, dub, Afrobeat, Latin, soul rooms for us to get lost in.

Expect support from all DJ fans like Peterson, Forge, Beadle, Curtis, Parnell, Hill, Hectic and the like. 

Artist: ANAN  

Title: Etna / Back

Release date: 21th February, 2025

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Clavis - Drifting feat. KUBA (Lossless)

Aimlessly drifting on clouds of a purple hue, apparently it's a natural phenomenom, we find Clavis and Kuba up above 'em (the clouds that is).

The Lossless label had two Atelier releases last year, 'Lights Towards The Exit' (see review HERE) and 'Friday' (see review HERE) but this time the German label goes more route one with Berlin based KUBA adding vocals to Clavis' Lossless debut, 'Drifting'.

And who is this Clavis you say?  Well, it's some veterans of the scene in Manuel Tur and half of Paskal & Urban Absolutes, Adrian Hoffmann.

Tur is best known for his Freerange Record releases and countless remixes which Clavis gives him more freedom to use his talents.  Ontop of Hoffmann 'Drifting' floats a percussive raft supporting piano lines (a bit like Prepared's 'Modul Eins' on Compost Records - see review HERE) but equally like Radiohead-angst housey.

Perfect for a dub version you say?  And you'd be right as it goes more dreamy bringing out some Indo-Afro-house echoes

These tracks could fit into many a DJ set in many different settings; not only that, it's a brilliant listen at home too!

P.S. As also featured on February's Colour & Pitch Mix

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

Artist: Clavis feat. KUBA

Title: Drifting

Release date: 21st February, 2025

Label: Lossless

Cat. No: LL12 33

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sababa 5 featuring Sophia Solomon - Shehzadi - शहज़ादी / Ranjha - रांझा (Batov Records)

Sababa 5 like to collaborate but this is a little leftfield even for them with India born singer Sophia Solomon as Sababa 5 featuring Sophia Solomon - Shenzadi / Ranjha (Batov Records)  they go Indo-Middle Eastern grooves with this new 7" single, 'Shenzadi' / 'Ranjha'.

With this meeting of psych-funk with Bollywood disco fans of Batov will get excited for authentic classic sounds of 'the new' Asha Bhosle that has a touch of Asha Puthli (Ed.she was brilliant at We Out Here festival last year).

After the album with Yurika, 'Kokoro' (see review HERE) where else in the world are they going to go?

Artist: Sababa 5 & Sophia Solomon

Title: Shehzadi - शहज़ादी / Ranjha - रांझा

Release date: 21st February, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR108

Format: 72 Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VEEZO - VEEZIONS EP (Last Forever Records)

Meet a visionary of the next hip-hop instrumental generation called Veezo who has Veezions, a 5-track EP that's out today.

Turning up the Robert Glasper hip-hop heritage, jazz pianist and producer Veezo has gone totally wired (Ed. Isn't that a great cover photo?) and push it all into a house/disco/funk blender as if Madlib was in the chicken run and DJ Shadow wearing claret and blue in the East Stand.

'Kinky' sounds particulary "live" and fresh for a jazz background that we're told has been crafted into a "fully electronic live solo show" with synth, MPC and vocoder.

Clearly impressed the ears of Turbojazz and Parker Madicine this one to follow.

Artist: VEEZO 

Title:  VEEZIONS

Release date: 18th February, 2025

Label : Last Forever Records

Catalog Number : LFR030

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Detrás Del Vitral - Unwritten Loves (Be Adult Music)

Detrás Del Vitral is stuck in a Valentine frame of  mind and finds 'Unwritten Loves' as a Balearic anthem!

To follow up 'Memories In Motion' see review HERE) that came out at the turn of the year, Detrás gives us 3 more tracks to match the "emotionally charged" 'Painful Choice' and 'Ripples Of Memory': plus such great cover artwork.

'It;s All For You', 'Lost On My Way' and 'Leav Me In Silence', all in original formats (no remixes here) all play on painful memories and lonesome piano which is pretty awesome in it's dance as this is adult music afterall

In case you need a recap, Be Adult Music have had a great year in 2024 [again] as they celebrated their 8th Anniversary (see review HERE) along with their sister labels, Be Adult Roots (as with Prosis - see review HERE) and Be Adult Weapons: 2025 looks likely to be be adult than usual.

Artist: Detrás Del Vitral

Title:  Unwritten Loves 5

Release date: 20th February, 2024

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM407

Format: Digital / Bandcamp.

Review: Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1 (Best Of 2024) (Ostowana)

Step back into 2024 for the best of Afro House from the Ostowana label with Rønhöff, Blade SA, SMALL F, Thabiso Vocalist, Omary, Saint Evo, Meryame, Mr. BABOO, DJ Danjer, Klarck, Mzala Wa Afrika feat. Nhlanzeko, AfroNerd, Yozif, Zulu Mageba & Lilyass - and this is only Vol. 1!

The best thing about this compilation is that Ostowana's selections emphasise the range of  styles of 'Afro House' last year (and indeed this year, don't miss out on D4NYO's lastest EP, 'Mutujo').

There's lofs of Afro-house branded tracks, but to have the 'real' thing all on one album (10 tracks) starts off with the ironically entitled, 'I Don't Want You' (by Rønhöff) with it's fantastic synths and percussion is a magic opener and keeps going with Yozif & Zulu Mageba's 'Cahabasini' and the 'saxy' play on Klark's 'Bomba' which is a "BOOM" track!

We've previously featured some of these tracks (Ed. well it is a 'Best Of') like 'El Amal' by Omary, Saint Evo and Meryame (see review HERE), Small F featuring Thabiso Vocalist with 'Remember Me' (see review HERE), AfroNerd's 'uMsindo weNdlovu' (see review HERE).

None of these tracks is going to disappoint a dance floor so there's no surprise that you are encouraged to "let the beats take you on a journey filled with passion, rhythm, and emotion, as you experience the stand out tracks from some of the genre's most talented artists. 

They say, "whether you're a long-time fan or new to Afro House, this compilation is a must-have for any music lover's playlist" and it won't take you long to have to agree!

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1

Release date: 19th February, 2025

Label: Ostowan

Catalog Number: OST092

Format: Digital

Review: Lyma - The Fool Ain't Me (Ray Mang Remixes) (Lumberjacks In Hell)

Manic disco dub in the mists of house is ideal for a Ray Mang remix but don't ignore the originals as we find those Lumberjacks in Hell without any fool's gold.

Lumberjack's In Hell head honcho Marcel Vogel has teamed up again with Lyma after their previous collab on Boogie Angst with 'Games Change' and 'No Time' a couple of years ago but this time, Lyma is on his own with two tracks, 'Mist' and 'The Fool Ain't Me'.

Now 'The Fool Ain't Me' sounds pretty high tempo soulful and because of this, it's a little reminisent of lovetempo's 'Live Or Die By Love' with Prince on synths in the solar winds; yes, it is that good.  

So you've already got a fabulous six minute track that's killer dancefloor ready to boogie your disco with so how are you going to make it even better?  Lets ask Ray Mang to bring put in some remix magic on 'The Fool Ain't Me' but blimey, what you didn't know you need is the Ray Mang Instrumental Dub of 'The Fool Ain't Me' for you spaceship disco ball.  

Ray has done remixes on nearly every disco/nu-disco-house label going for over 25 years now and Lumberjacks In Hell is clearly impressed as much as Compost, Sonar Kolletiv, Is It Balearic? Recordings, Gomma, Nang, Rong Music and all our other favourites including his own Mangled.

You might be thinking by now, that's too much!   Don't believe it as you can't overlook 'Mist' that's funks that Prince feel on a slo-mo groove.

You'll recall Lyma was part of the Goshawk 'Loyalty EP' that featured Greg Blackman (see review HERE) but in Lyma we've got a Dutch master of the dance.

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/lyma-that-fool-aint-me-vinyl/1066036-01/

 

Artist: Lyma  

Title:  The Fool Ain't Me (Ray Mang Remixes) 

Release date: 21st February, 2025 

Label : Lumberjacks In Hell

Catalog Number : LIH047

Format :  Vinly 12" / Digital  / Bandcamp