Review: Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds - Disco Jack / Disco Jack (dub mix) (Gee Recordings)

With the recent tribute to  Curtis Mayfield’s "timeless sound" as a refreshed reggae and dub 7", why not  do a tribute to the reggae legend of the keys, Jackie Mittoo as 'Disco Jack'?  

Soul Sugar (aka Guillaume Méténier) has again teamed up with Dub Shepherd's with a follow up to the incredible 'Give Me Your Love (Love Song)' featuring Jolly Joseph (see review HERE).

Mittoo, who made his name in JA from an early age and joining The Skatalites in the 60s before playing sessions with everyname in reggae you care to mention before moving to Canada.  Both sides have 'The Keyboard King' ingrainded into them and the dub particularly stands out giving us even more reason to say we'd have prefered a 12" Discomix.

You may recall the Mittoo orginal was re-issued on an EP on Record Store Day 2018 some 40 years afer the original 7"!  This new version is fresh and not as mellow but so good you can't afford not to get it for the love of reggae, roots, dub organ from the Nyabinghi.

BUY LINK: Disco jack | Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds | Gee Recordings

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Artist:  Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds
Title: Disco Jack / Disco Jack (dub mix) 
Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label: Gee Recordings
Catalog Number:  GEE1005
Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Todh Teri - The Return of Neela Devi EP (Masala Movement)

Todh Teri's 'Sampadan' set a new form for 'India Gets Physical' so 'The Return of Neela Devi EP' takes the house to its next logical mystical dub path to the dancefloor.

If you felt the love for 'Sampadan' (in all its versions), this EP has 3 more tracks to take you out to the electronic spiritual disco; no more so than the 12 minutes of 'Maalgaadi 54'. 

That's the one to get the tent rockin' but flip over for some dubbed up Gotan Project inspired acid trip 'Beauty Blues' (BTW: what a beatiful cover if a little bit irreverent - perhaps?) whilst the trio is completed by some 'Cosmic Dirt'. the kind of dirt the Flying Mojito Bros. might find in an "Indian spaghetti western" disco for Giorgio Moroder fans.

'The Return of Neela Devi' is a vinyl-only series where the iconic characters from 'Deep In India' are at the front of the celebrations 

BUY LINK: TODH TERI - The Return Of Neela Devi Vinyl at Juno Records.

Title: Todh Teri

Title: The Return of Neela Devi EP

Release date: 11th July, 2025

Label : Masala Movement

Catalog Number : MM006

Format: 12" Vinyl

Review: Rockers Hi-Fi - Mish Mash with 'Now I Deliver' (BiggaBush Versions) (!K7 Records)

Whether it's Lightning Head, Studio Don, BiggaBush or as a co-founder of seminal Rockers Hi-FI, Glyn 'Bigga' Bush is full of electronic  dub/funk/dancehall/boogie to keep us rockin' to Hi-Fi soundsystem sounds with an re-released album 'Mish Mash' with 3 new versions of 'Now I Deliver' by Glyn himself.

Hard to believe that Rocker's Hi-Fi exploded in 1995 with the album 'Rockers To Rockers' on 4th & Broadway with tracks like the classic  'Push Push' and 'What A Life?' [Ed. I've got my copy signed by Glyn].  And whilst Glyn and Dick Whittingham formed in RHF in Birmingham, this and their other collaborations including AirGoose and Original Rockers were more dub and reggae focused than those Black Sabbath rockers.

And with the recent Ozzy revival, just as good a time as any to re-check their follow up album from 1996, 'Mish Mash'.  Originally released as a 17 track triple LP (Ed. did these guys think they were Yes?) it got picked up by WEA for its international release after the original home studio got an upgrade with new dubness in their sound along with, who was to become an almost Rockers ever present, Farda P and a 'new' Mellotron; plus a load of cleared samples.

And the album's title came from this mix of sample all this and more. Rockers Hi-Fi were one of the orignal multi-genre sounds led by tracks like 'Going Under' (featuring Farda P) and 'Now I Deliver' with it's 'Orignal Rockers Hi Fi' rap by Phoebe One.

And just to prove how a head of the genre-fluid game they were, also on the album is a "re-imagined" version of 'Ghetto Defendant' by punk royalty, The Clash as 'Queen Of The Ghetto'.  The mix of dub-poetry, dnb and trip-hop was so far from punk (as The Clash themselves developed) with the Rockers' forming primordial dubstep soup you might say?

The re-issued album comes with 3 BiggaBush versions of 'Now I Deliver' (original, extended and instrumenal) and that you can get a taste of as the single released today (see below).

P.S.  For other BiggaBush info, check out our exclusive interview HERE and the review of 'A Different Style EP' (see HERE) that includes the Hectic Extend'ed version of 'This River'.

BUY LINK: Mish Mash | Rockers Hi-Fi | !K7 Records

Artist: Rockers Hi-Fi
Title: Mish Mash with Bonus Tracks of 'Now I Deliver' (BiggaBush Versions) 
Release date: 9th July, 2025
Label : !K7
Catalog Number : TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various Artists - 15 Years Of SlothBoogie (SlothBoogie Recordings)

SlothBoogie celebrates it's 15th Birthday Party with nothing but boogie that's so sloth, you can't help yourself move to the 15 tracks.

Even if they couldn't squeeze all 15 tracks onto the double vinyl release (having two bonus digital tracks), this compilation includes Iceland's Intr0beatz (see 'Static Motions' review HERE) and New Zealand's Phillipa (now living in Berlin and last seen on Razor-N-Tape's 'Family Affair' compilation) isn't too shabby for a club night, party/festival, radio show collective that started as a blog in 2010!

The launch party is this Friday at the Panorama Bar, Berlin with Demuja live (as included on the album with two tracks, 'Backwards' and 'Face In The Mirrow'), Intr0beatz (I love 'Unconditional' with it's music policy declaration), Phillipa (the album opener, 'Little Lady' featuring Mani Simon) and Joe Cleen ('Last Minute').

SlothBoogie were also into Edits and apart from DJ Greg Wilson, The Revenge was at the top of his game when they started (about the same time as the compilation of his edits came out on Z as 'Reeki'structions').  And when I say was, I mean is as 'Take Your Time' has all his trademarks.

Other names you'll recognise are Ralph Session, Scruscru and Tiptoes (who both released tracks on the SlothBoogie label).

Fans of deep house, disco, boogie, Detroit that are familiar with SlothBoogie will definitely "like dis" as they've gone full-on "no-filler dance music, nuturing new talent while continuing to collaborate with established figureheads of the scene" - just goes to show what Blog culture can achieve?

Launch Party: 15 years Sloth Boogie — Berghain

BUY LINK: https://slothboogie.bandcamp.com/album/15-years-of-slothboogie. [Pre-order now]

Artist:  V/A

Title: 15 Years Of SlothBoogie

Release date: 8h August, 2025

Label: SlothBoogie

Cat. No: TBC

Format: 2 x Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Erin Buku - Listen (Inc. Osunlade, LDLDN, Leonard Charles Remixes) (Inner Tribe)

We've heard many a tune from the Melbourne/Naarm area over the years but here's a new release on Tribe Records outta Adelaide, Australia for the R&B/Soul fans by Erin Buku and you better 'Listen'!

The record label thinks this track evokes the spirit of Masters At Work, perhaps on the beaches of South Australia but within touching distance of an urban disco.

And if you can't get a MAW remix, Osunlade is a bigger name alternative that can turn the emotional soul vocals into a highlight with a stripped broken beat backing; shame we don't get more of the guitar solo which would give it more of an acid jazz vibe.

If you know Leonard Charles' work with Inkswel, Leroy Burgess and Robert Owens, you'll be excited to hear the Leonard Charles disco dub remix

When it comes to mixing up a genre, LNLDN has many strings to his bow/remix equipment and this has more of you're Brand New Heavies about it plus the vocal message of hope and understanding.   I can hear this as an summer anthem, especially at We Out Here Festival with Gilles Peterson et al.

This EP gets better as the tracks get longer so one for all the DJs out there.

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Artist: Erin Buku 

Title:   Listen (Inc. Osunlade, LDLDN, Leonard Charles Remixes)
Release date: 8th July, 2025
Label : Inner Tribe
Catalog Number : ITREBLT02

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Visions of Light - The Mandala Vortex (NuNorthern Soul)

If you think Visions Of Light sounds like the sort of thing NuNorthern Soul label boss Phil Cooper would be getting very excited about, you'd be right and here's the album 'The Mandala Vortex' to get you ready for a Balaphonic summer!

Just to be clear, 'The Mandala Vortex' is nothing like Balaphonic's 'Resolution Revolutions' (see review HERE and the interview with Danny 'Balaphonic' Ward HERE), but much like the other recent release on the NuNorthern Soul label, Maarten Goetheer (featuring Pong Nakornchai), the "tribute", 'Suite For Chick' (see review HERE) there's more than a synergy between them all.

No more so than the track 'Breathe' (featuring Alma Chomel on vocals) which brings Acid to QiGong/Yoga exercises in 'Left Bank' francaise bien sûr and the dubby trip hop ambient space jam 'The Last Domino' - expect the likes of Mixmaster Morris and The Rhythm Doctor playing these out a the obligatory festivals from Glastonbury to WeOutHere.

If you're already a Freebooter's Simon Sheldon along with Nik Muzka and Dan Dub Lounge (aka Daniel Sanders) you'll know that there's going to be lots of dubby "21st century Balearica" particulary on 'Clearwater' and 'Daytime'. 

For the serious Flute Gang collective, wait for the 'Destination' to arrive on ya beautiful dreamy jazz ears (flute by Alex Saxon) whilst the liquid 'Echoes Of Time' (featuring the sax of Gionni Cigwood) cascades to the Balearic beach dub before 'Sands' meets at the after club acid souk.

And in case you were wondering where the reggae-dub vs. Japanese formal garden themed track was, don't worry as it's here in the form of 'Bring It Back' and a synthy 'Trip' that's yet another stand out track on an album of stand-outs that'll mesmerize you in a good "too slow to trip-hop" way that you'll won't want to turn it off.

A classic collection of ten tracks that'll keep you 'turned on', 'tuned in' and 'Breathe'!

BUY LINK: https://visions-of-light.bandcamp.com/album/the-mandala-vortex

 

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Artist: Visions of Light

Title: The Mandala Vortex   

Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label : NuNorthernSoul
Catalog Number : NUNS069D
Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Lakeshouse - Renate's Dan (Hot Toddy & Gouldian Finch Remixes) (Paper Recordings)

For fans of the always classic synth-pop, novelty instrumental 'Popcorn', the Norwegian leftfield band Lakeshouse, have take this style one step onto nu-disco, one step Italo and one step house to leave a dancefloor as hot buttered as you'd want to see it.

It's hard to imagine that the rest of the forthcoming album by the band is as bonkers good as the title track 'Renate's Dans' is such such fun as it is, Daft Punk meets a disco Wendy Carlos anyone?  But you never know with Norwegians, from Espen Horne to Unionen, what's going to move the dancefloor - for further digging on this subject check out our interview with Third Attempt (aka Torje Fagertun Splide - see HERE).

So I can see why Paper Recordings thought it was a good idea to get some 'safe hands' on some remix action.  

Well, I say "safe" as if you're still in love with Georgio Moroder (in his Ms. Summer period). Crazy P's Hot Toddy gets this instrumental into a main room with some big synth action that'll go mental.

And with that in mind, the main songwriter in Jaga Jazzist, Martin Horntveth (aka Gouldian Finch - Ed. sounds a bit Hogwarts?) really goes leftfield and ends up well outside the tent clutching on the guide ropes for dear life in a space ship fuelled on ambient techno free jazz with Solar 360 lighting showing us the way.

It's been over ten years since Todd Terje's classic disco jazz fusion classic 'Inspector Norse' and this could be just a big!  Even a Bugge Wesseltoft's New Conception Of Jazz re-conceptualised?

BUY LINK:  Lakeshouse - Renate's Dans [Paper Recordings] | Music & Downloads on Beatport

Artist: Lakeshouse

Title: Renate's Dan 

Release date: 9th July, 2025

Label : Paper Recordings
Catalog Number : SQR014
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Val Xalino - Dançá Dançá T'Manchê (Acid Pauli Mixes) (Compost)

Berlin DJ and production hero Acid Pauli conjures up a summer hit here with 'Dançá Dançá T'Manchê' (Dance Dance Until The Break Of Day)!

What we know of the Cape Verdi islands is limited to the annual jazz festival and Cesária Évora's hit 'Angola' as remixed by Carl Craig and Pepe Bradock 20 odd years ago.   To that short list we can now we can add, Val Xalino's 'Dançá Dançá T'Manchê' that was self-released in 1986.

Val was apparently a singer, guitarist, percussionist, ukulele player and you'll be hard pressed to find any of his albums from the 1980s.  Whilst in sharp contrast, over the past 20 years, Martin Gretschmann (aka Acid Pauli) has been on a multitude of labels with his own electronic music and countless remixes.

These version of 'Dançá Dançá T'Manchê'; Acid Pauli's Fullmix, Autowah Dub and Sublib Dub keep the 80s Island groove in a pop-disco way (think Ottawan more than Autowah) and the dubs twist and psych it out; not quite as tropicalia 'out there' as the artwork, but pretty close! 

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.

BUY LINK: https://CompostRecords.lnk.to/ValXalino-AcidPauliMixes Digital stores July 4th, with 12" vinyl following on August 29th.

Artist: Acid Pauli / Val Xalino

Title: Dançá Dançá T'Manchê 

Release date: 4th July, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT652-3 

Format: 122 Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

 

Review: Sababa 5 - Nadir (Batov Records)

Nadir's big chance as Sababa 5 new album is released that is more of a album perhaps than previous releases as we learn that, "The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith" so it's more than just a name of a Peter Hammill album! 

Unlike some of the recent collaborations with singers from arounnd the middle-eastern psych-funk diaspora, (including Sophia Solomon and the album with Yurika, 'Kokoro', see review HERE), these 11 tracks have more of a summer heatwave of a chilled OST; especially, 'Zenith', '2025' and 'Tell' with an undercurrent of The Heliocentrics, JJ Whitefield and the likes.  

There's a Bandcamp listening party tonight, 3rd July, 7.00 GMT+1 or the full release tomorrow.

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Nadir

Release date: 4th July, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Guitar - Ilan Smilan
Bass - Amir Sadot
Keys - Eitan Drabkin
Drums - Itamar Weinstein

Review: Sly5thAve - The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute to Dr. Dre + Grand Performance

Now, let's think, what about a top 3?  Madlib, definitely.  Dilla, of course.  But as someone once said, "Don't forget about Dre".  And Austin's Sly5thAve certainly hasn't as the composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist took to the rostrum to conduct a 30-piece orchestra at the weekend performing the work of Dr. Dre with turntable royalty, J-Rocc.

Now on YouTube (see below), Sly5thAve, who released the original 'The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute To Dr. Dre' on Tru-thoughts back in 2017 followed by 3 other album on the label, was gracious to acknowledge Eric Coleman in the crowd who had his own 'Grand' events as co-founder of Mochilla (along with Brian Cross, aka B+) when they did their big orchestral event 'Suite For Ma Dukes - The Music Of James "J Dilla" Yancey' as conducted/arranged by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (CD/DVD 2010, that was released on vinyl in 2021 as a Record Store Day release!)  

And the links there, J-Rocc headlined the lanch release party for 'Suite for Ma Dukes' in London's Cargo with other top underground hip-hop folks like members of the Heliocentrics and Daedelus.

In the new tribute to Dre, all ya big tunes are there, 'No Diggity', 'California Love' and, of course, 'Forgot about Dre' and it's just a classy (and classical) as the Dilla event.

But is it me, just can't help feeling someone has forgot about Madlib?