Review: Coco Chatru Quartet - Lost Christmas (Trygger Music)

Coco Chatru Quartet's 'Lost Christmas' is here to bring and cheers whilst raising your jazz spirits with not the obvious seasonal fayre!

If you could look into Coco Chatru Quartet's 'Future' (see review HERE) and the follow-up, 'Limbokolia' (see review HERE), I bet that nobody could have foreseen a "Christmas" album.  That said, this is a 'lost' christmas that's not full of cover versions and cliché.  No doubt, due to the a continued the inspiration of Coco Chatru (a legendary Swedish adventurer) who may (or not) journeyed to see Father Christmas.

This 'alternative' seasonal vibe is assisted by some traditional bell jangling and twinkling on a couple of intros like 'Gästerna kommer' (The Gutests Are Coming) which has a sense of forebodding/jazz excitement: this is perfect a just when you think the band is going into a Wayne Shorter-est solo, there's this Gregorian Chant that would suit the Xmas Edition of 'Traitors'.

And talking of TV shows, the mournful waltz of 'Mys vid brasan' might sound like a outtake from 'Tales Of The Unexpected' but the warmth ot the baritone sax gives away the translated title of 'Cozy By The Fireplace'.   

'Pulka' is more 'sled' related buisness which again has an angular swing in the Christmas forests as Santa bring us gifts; which is cool, but why is the track so short!  I suppose it links in with the concept tied into the abstract storyline like 'På vinterpromenad' (On a Winter Walk) and 'Ringdans' (Ring Dance).  

Have you noticed the Swedish language seems to have more poetic expressions for winter events?  'En juldröm' is 'A Christmas Dream' and it sounds just like that whilst 'Tomtarnas midnatt' is a little horn battle of a jumpy affair (The Gnomes' Midnight) and 'Coco Raskar över isen' (Coco skates on the ice) is the quirky in the middel of the two.

The longest track on the album 'Prosten' ('the Dean') manages to combine all of the above with the jingles bells to start, leading up to a bit of a blow out as the party starts before they all get lost in a swinging 'Snöyra' (that 'blizzard' to you and me) with Linus showing us the way.

And this why Christmas is "lost" with the band being playful and serious and still proving that a jazz quartet does not necessarily need a piano, as in Linus Kåse (alto saxophone), Charlie Malmberg (baritone saxophone), Håkan Trygger (double bass) and Daniel Kåse (drums/vibraphone).  

And talking of vibes and playful, 'Julnocturne' is the name for a nightime sky in July (Christmas lost?) and 'Slädens framfart' (Ed. Stop sniggering at the back) is the rushing 'The Sled's Progress' as it's racing through the snow to your favourite Xmas jazzdance [Insert here - we're going for 21st December at Shiftless Shuffle Xmas Edition with DJs Perry Louis, Paul Murphy and Colin Parnell at Great Portland Street, London] along with a belting 'NEIPA': oh! yeah!

But before that, and If you're lucky enought to be in Stockholm this month, there's the gig/release party on 29th November at the Record Store Djungel & Jazz (located in the heart of Södermalm, Stockholm).  You'll recall that the previous albums were vinyl only so I'd encourage you to pre-order now (see links below).

Definitely going raise a glass to 'Lost Christmas' this Christmas and it might save yours (musically at least?)

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | Coco Chatru Quartet

Artist: Coco Chatru Quartet

Title: Lost Christmas

Release date: 29th November, 2025

Label: Trygger Music

Catalog Number : TM4

Format : Vinyl LP / Spotify / Tidal 

Review: ventoux^ · Loop Dreams (Flamme Rouge)

It's been a few months since le tour went up Mont Ventoux and now the weather's taken a turn for the colder, time to warm yourself up with some more rest day 'Loop Dreams' with ventoux^'s newly serviced album!

ventoux^ (aka James Risebero) has gained a '^' after his debut album in 2006 that was a heady mix of future jazz, dub, ambience that featured David Jean-Baptiste and included a version of on Mongo Santamaria's classic track as 'Afro Blue In Five'.

Such eclecticism caught the attention of Glyn 'Bigga' Bush (see review interview HERE) and whilst there's been a couple of collaborations, we've had to wait until now for the new album.

Ten tracks of nu-jazz, ambient Latin beats - a bit of a cross between Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith and Madlib's lounge: how good is that! 

Biggabush played 'Del Toro' on his  'Friends & Family' Big Dig 1BTN show but for some Latin French library, try 'Clouds' and 'This Side Of Sunshine' brings some synth-funk to the flute gang groove, the dreamy 'Free Fall' and the cosmic vibes of 'Les Balieues' and here's one for the Chilled Cider guys, 'Love Was All Around' featuring saturnVille on vocals with some understated 'Richie Rome' electronic jazz-dub leanings.

If you're struggling on the lower slopes like most mere mortals, here's an album that you can only dream of before you reach your own summit - grab your bidon and ride with this one.

BUY LINK:  Loop Dreams | ventoux^

Artist: ventoux^ 

Title: Loop Dreams

Release date: 16th November, 2025

Label : Flamme Rouge
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Digital 

Review: S-Pazz - Birth Of Light EP (Pont Neuf Records)

Following their debut releases on Pont Neuf Records, including 'Tales Of Dancing Waters' and 'We Of The Sea', S-Pazz opens our senses with the beautiful EP, 'Birth Of Light'.

We've just had a 'revival' on Jazzanova with a major retrospective (see review HERE) but you could argue, they wouldn't have happened without Kruder & Dorfmeister who wouldn't have happened [insert your own influencial pre-decessors].  So, here's a duo, Nathan Mary and Grégoire Elkouby, that happen to be from Paris, that effortless follow in footsteps as they blend house, jazz, broken beat, ambient, OST (check 'My Heart' as a prime example of them at their elegant best).

We're told that they purposefully "infused it [the EP] with a wide range of influences, spanning different eras and cultures. ‘Birth of Light’ builds on the foundations laid with our first EP: crafting music at the crossroads of our respective influences, always driven by our love for cinematic soundscapes."

.And you know this is true from the opening track, 'Ce Matin-Là' that swims with strings (that have been arranged by Nathan's Dad) that matches the breif of Cinematic Orchestra, 4Hero, Bonobo.  And the EP ends on a Tour-Maubourg remix of the  same track which puts it in a bossa nova bag for DJ's to travel it around the beaches for flute-gang lovers.

'Together' talks about "different people”, whilst slipping into smooth jazz bruk whilst 'Bees Die After Stinging' gets more jazzy dub OST with harp touching on the recent Levitation Orchestras teritory (see review HERE).  Talking of teritories, your equally not going to be surprised that St. Germain are also in the influencial mix which is where 'Ocean Reflections' fits and features the vocals of Claire Grunenberger to sing and Grégoire's noddling jazzy keys.

Whilst Grégoire focuses on his mult-instrumental/jazz-training and Nathan applied his DJ/beatmaking, it's clear that   influenced by hip-hop and raised in a family of musicians. Their debut EP Tales of Dancing Waters (these guys have progressed since last years' 'Tales Of Dancing Waters' and under the overview of Point Neuf Records, light is born.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://spazz.bfan.link/birth-of-light

 

Artist: S-Pazz

Title: Birth Of Light EP

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label: Pont Neuf Records

Cat. No: PN038

Format:  12" Black vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimena Angel - Aguacero (Partyfine)

Yuksek's Partyfine label seeks out party music and this time, it's all out worldwide Aguacero, Cumbia, Latin electronica, pop and reggae: talk about 'Universalismo'?

You'll recall the compilation from earlier this year Partyfine's Vol. VII Universalismo (see review HERE) when we first came across Jimena Angel on the track 'Liego la Luz'. 

'Liego la Luz' is perhaps the most obvious dancefloor track on the album that's full of her modern Cumbia that's she's now perfected on her fourth album, the first with Yuksek.  But Yuksek being Yuksek and perhaps, Angel being Angel, they don't leave it there as all ten tracks are 'aguacero' - the title track itself being stand-out Latin funk-with a gothic flamenco dub vibe!

If you're already excited about the return of WOMAD next year, pack 'Caracoli' in your bags for a twangy shuffle and 'Erasonia' for some pan flute on the dancefloor (and there's that dub echo again).  This must be what's hot in Bogotá (where Jimean is from) and 'Que Yo Ta Voy Pa' that has more of Cumbia feel whilst being more percussive heavy and then 'Selflove' which reverses into reggae (some great horns on this) . 

If a bit of a knock out to start with but as it comes at you as a mystery (like the cover artwork, what pictures can you see in the shadows?)  But on repeated listens, the reggae-dub vibe of other tracks like the heavy Tierra Caliente' and the closing track 'Adios' are great fun; can only imagine what Wrongtom/Mad Professor would do with a full-on dub brief!

We're told this album was written whilst on tour in Europe (she's a guitarist in a number of rock band) and living in the Carribean thus the "musically influenced the sound with dub, highlife, Konpa and tropical disco fusing with the melodies of Colombian bullerengue and the “magical realism”.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://jimenaangel.bfan.link/aguacero

Artist: Jimena Angel

Title: Aguacero 

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label: Partyfine

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: MOb - MOb II (Veego Records)

If you judged albums on thier titles, Mob's debu 'MOb' and this new follow-up album, 'MOb II' doesn't instill you with confidence that it will be cammed with punk-jazz rock energy with hip-hop influences - so you'd be wrong as this covers bases from Ornette Coleman to Throbbing Gristle to Killing Joke to Bill Laswell - you name it!

You'll recall previous releases on Veego Records, the jazz-folk of Kolida Babo (aka Socratis Votskos and Harris P (see review HERE) and the Volanis/Pagidas' 'Outsde The Long Walls' (see review HERE), so this is tottally different.  

If you missed MOb I, don't worry as what was hailed by the press "as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene... their music moves seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as an entire orchestra played by just three musicians". And I'm happy to say the 'MOb II' is doublely good as Mariothe trio of s Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) are aided by award-winning producer Bruno Ellingham (Massive Attack, Portishead) and guest Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev, aka Waking Monkey, on spoken word/rap with the single 'Tipping Point' plus 'Encounters.  'Encounters' is "enriched” by  , while Angelos Polychronou on percussion as is 'The Listener' that's on the edge of the spiritual Carlos Niño.

And talking of YATM favourites and spiritual, the dramatic 'Utu And Sin' is mixed by Malcolm Catto who was recently "seen" on Sven Wonder's new album along with Daniel Ögren (he of 

Dina Ögon!  (Ed. how often do we mention Mr. Catto?) 

Whilst there's no mass repeat of '4044' from the first album, MOb's Athenian spirit has ventured a long way from home, particularly the Walking Monkey contributions that move the compass further to New York's NUBLU (be prepared for JMMR - coming here soon) but '333' is close as it gets us ready to take off at Bullet Train space shuttle departing from Frankfurt railway station emulating their innere Kraut Rock.

Even then there's that Nu-Troop angularism mixed with some BRUK vibes mixed in with their version of punk-jazz, which is pretty close to the Acoustic Ladyland debut at their strongest.

Any fans of WeJazz, experimental and spiritual jazz and electronica, 'Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain' (see review HERE) will love this as it's mesmerising, hypnotic and essential all at the same time: a MOb remix . 

BUY LINK: https://promo.theorchard.com/kwZ1bUpEQbFFQLtDipwi

 The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa

Artist: MOb 

Title:  MOb II

Release date: 28th November, 2024 

Label : Veego Records

Catalog Number VR056

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Footshooter - The Oasis (Remixes) (Tru-Thoughts)

Time to start 'Folding' again with Footshooters big track of the summer now on the remix by Marla Kether as a  boomerang returns to South London with more remixes and instrumentals.

Last month we had Allysha Joy  and DJ Footshooter (aka Barney Whittaker) dropping the track 'Folding' from debut album for Tru-Thoughts, 'The Oasis' (see review HERE) as "jazzed up" by Marla Kether's remix and this month we get a four track package with 3 instrumental versions.

1. Boomerang feat. Native & Wilf Petherbridge (Last Nubian Remix)
2. Folding feat. Allysha Joy (Marla Kether Remix)
3. Surrey Canal Road feat. James Mollison (Fiyahdred Remix)
4. What You Saw feat. MA.MOYO & Mahon (Anja Ngozi Remix)

BUY LINK: The Oasis (Remixes) | Footshooter

Artist: Footshooter

Title: The Oasis (Remixes)

Release date: 25th November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD686

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Cay Taylan - Oh, AuDHD (lobp.records2511)

You can't have a better introduction than Cay's:

"Earlier this year I was diagnosed with autism and adhd.  

What a beautiful and life changing moment. 

What's better than putting my whole self into music.

Here it is. 

Listen and enjoy".  

Regular readers will know that we do love a long track, whether it's B.J. Smith's recent version of 'Don't Be Cruel featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (on NuNorthern Soul - see review HERE) or yours truly with the extended version of BiggaBush's 'This River' (the Gerry Hectic Towpath Extension) on Tru-Thoughts; well here's another that's in that ball park as 'Feels Like Dancing For 15 Minutes By Myself On The Beach, While The Sun Goes Down' is, as you'd guess a quarter of an hour of dreamy Balearic beach beats.

But this isn't just a one-track album as the other 9 tracks, albeit not 15 minutes long each, are just as engaging particularly, for us spiritual martial artists with 'Be Water My Friend' being inspried by Bruce Lee's famous Kung Fu philosophy.

But this is not all internal dream on beach sequencies as contrasted by 'Hyperfixation (For Yousuke & Sathoshi)' that pony trots into the club along with the what it says on the tin, 'Predictable & Repetitive (For Maris Zimmermann)'.

'My Digitone 2 Took The Us In Hambu' and 'Summer, Stimming & Me' fall somewhere between the beach and head dancefloor and it's clear from the title track, 'AuDHD' that Cay Taylan is where he's most confortable musically.

Don't let this pass you by.  

Buy / Pre Order: https://caytaylan.bandcamp.com/album/oh-audhd-album

Artist: Cay Taylan

Title: Oh, AuDHD

Label: Lobp.Records
Release Date: 25th November, 2025

Cat No: lobp.records2511
Format: Digital

Web / Social Media Links:
www.caytaylan.com
caytaylan.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/caytaylan
youtube.com
facebook.com/caytaylan

Review: The Offline - La Grande Evasion (DeepMatter Records)

Get offline with the Offline and prepare for 'La Grande Evasion' - it's not all sunglasses and calm seas.

The Offline (aka Felix Müller) you'll recall released 'In Session' last year so this album 'La Grande Evasion' brings us a follow-up of more "hip-hop-leaning, library-tinged cinematic-world" focused goodies. 

Sounding like a live session, there's the deep Batov style of 'Boulevard National' and 'Nikonos V' edges on the Khruangbin but the single, 'Le Trip' takes us on a journey (possibly to 70s TV Theme) where Felix is aided by Kimo Eiserbeck on sax. 

The label are on a crest of a wave themselves after the release of SHOLTO's album 'The Sirens (see review HERE) but The Offline's 'soundtrack' is more south of France beach life and cool summer.

Clearly, this is an area where BBC's 6 Music DJs Huey Morgen and Deb Grant feel comfortable plus Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) and Somewhere Soul  (a fan of SHOLTO also and his own compilation, 'Rituals' see review HERE).

I've said it before, The Offline can add a sense of Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto and a host of your favourites from the Melbourne area (Surprise Chef, Robohands, Karate Boogaloo etc) so I'm expecting this to be just as popular.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (12" Black LP with Obi Strip): La grande évasion | The Offline

Artist: The Offline
Title:  La Grande Evasion 

Release date: 28th November, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMTO005

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Drums, Percussion - Chris Hill
Bass, Guitar, Additional Percussion, Mellotron, Moog, Solina Strings, Synths - Felix Müller
Rhodes, Piano, Organ - Felix Behrendt
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Hans-Christian Stephan
Flute, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Baritone Sax - Kimo Eiserbeck
Strings - M1

Review: Various Artists - Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.2 (feat. Lars Behrenroth, Session Victim mixes) (Deeppa Records)

Here's some deeppa deep house that represents 5 years of Deeppa Records on digital and 12" that includes Lars Behrenroth and Session Victim remixes!

When we reviewed Darryl Baaliki's 'Songs The Won't Be Silenced' (see review HERE) on Deeppa Records we didn't know that they'd put a shout out to Session Victrim (they of the 'Side Quests' series on Delusions of Grandeur - see review HERE) to do a remix of 'Heavenly Sweetness'. 

As good as that is, check out the other 4 tracks on this EP: Nutty Nys 'The Promise' with a huge Lars Behrenroth remix), Christophe Salin's 'The Visit', Thierry Tomas' 'My Smile' and Eloi's 'Take Your TIme'..

I know what you're thinking, if they got six perfect dance tracks from six different artists all on one 12" for Vol. 1, how come Vol. 2 is only 5?  Trust me, once you hear it, you'll be more than happy with this 5-some but don't take your time, it'll sell out just as quick as the last one!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: www.juno.co.uk

Deeppa Records · VA: Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years. Vol.2 [DEEPPA15] preview

Artist:Various Artists

Title:  Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.2  EP

Release date: 24th November, 2025

Label : Deeppa Records

Catalog Number : DEEPPA14

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.1 (feat. Laroye mix) (Deeppa Records)

Here's some deeppa disco-jazz-deep house that represents 5 years of Deeppa Records on digital and 12" that includes a Laroye remix!

Layroye, as in Msizee Laroja's 'Musu'Kuyenza' remix (see review HERE) on Trusted Rhythmn Records and on this release, he's trusted with Phillipa's 'We'd Rather Do It Like This' as a Cosmic Disco mix that's mighty jazz-funky with Johnny Hammond/Lonnie Liston Smith synthed up at a pace - Brilliant! 

New Zealand's Phillipa (now living in Berlin) has just been seen on Louis Baker's remixed 'Keep On' (see review HERE), 15 years of SlothBoogie (see review HERE) and Razor-N-Tape's 'Family Affair' compilation) is joined on this compilation by Sune ('Don Fetti'), 'Shaka ('That Spot Under The Sun'), Jehan ('Casino Aquatique'), Scruscru ('High Flyer') and I Gemin 'Inside Out').

If you're after some Flute Gang jazz-inspired Level 42 instrumental disco, 'The Spot Under The Sun' is a killer track whilt 'Casino Aquatique' has that has a beefed up St. Germain vibe and 'High Flyer' (featuing S. Timoshenko) gets down and Light of the World funky meets Bohannon disco at the pool party

The 'back in the day' spoken word staple is provided by 'Inside House' (Ed. did you see what they did there?) as 'Don Fetti' rounds off the six tracks.

I know what you're thinking, how do they get six perfect dance tracks from six different artists all on one 12"?  I don't know either but be sure to subcribed as this is just Volume 1!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: www.juno.co.uk

Deeppa Records · VA: Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years. Vol. 1 [DEEPPA14] preview

Artist:Various Artists

Title:  Music Makes Me Deeppa 5 Years: Vol.1 (feat. Laroye mix)  

Release date: 24th November, 2025

Label : Deeppa Records

Catalog Number : DEEPPA14

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital Streaming / Bandcamp