Review: re:ni & BiggaBush - Uprising Space Bass Dubplate (Ilian Tape)

There's loads of examples of musical acorns not falling far from trees and these two, re:ni (aka Lauren Bush) and her drum/percussion obsessed Dad, Glyn 'Bigga' Bush are ideal for investigating the roots of electronic dub - in space of course!

Almost 3 years to the day after the release of re:in's 'BeautySick' (see review HERE) the combo of re:ni and BiggaBush emerge from of the shadows of post-dubstep dark electronic d'n'b and take the Krautrock space ship to check out Sun Ra and King Tubby?

And the 'Bass Is The Place' is indeed the place to be with it's deep spaceship synth contrails that form into downtempo drum patterns to gets you into another worldly place.

Mastered in Munich, this EP is deep in the echo chamber catacombs like 'Mae Uprising' with bouncy beats and whilst various knob effects whilst 'BigLozTek' forces it's way through the techno/Trans Europe Express embankments.

Dad's favourite MC and very long time collaborator, Farda P gets the call for 'Death By Dubplate' which reminds us of Bigga's Rockers Hi-Fi days and 'Mish Mash' that was re-issued last year (see review HERE).

So more evidence that BiggaBush is still master of the mixing desk and you'll remember re:ni was mentioned in our big interview/catch up with BiggaBush (see HERE) and had a long running radio show on NTS (see HERE) focusing on "Forward-thinking sounds from across the bass spectrum" whilst Bigga is showing yet another 'Different Style' (see review HERE) along with his long running monthly radio show on 1BTN called, appropriately, Bigga's Big Dig (see https://1btn.fm/dj/glyn-bigga-bush/).

All recommended!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.junodownload.com

Artist: re:ni & BiggaBush
Title: Uprising Space Bass Dubplate
Release Date : 26th February, 2026
Label : Ilian Tape

Catalog Number : TTX042
Format: Vinyl - 180g Heavyweight 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

PS. Don't forget the Farda P - Catfood Supachunka ('Wolverhampton' Edit)

Rockers Hi-Fi - Going Under [!K7]

 

Review: Alcides Neto - Amú (Music In Exile)

Music In Exile have found another Brazilian multi-instrumentalist that's fallen in love down under with Alcides Neto's album, 'Amú'.

We love a new Brazilian superstar, whether it be from the regional models of Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Milton Nascimento, Seu Jorge or even the Naarm/Melbourne influenced Don Glori (he of 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' - see review HERE).  

Well, who knew that Alcides Neto was on said album, 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' albeit in a limited role.  So it was great to hear the singer/songwriter's single 'Canforá' that's set the the pulses racing with it's Rio-cool soul/jazz easy groove.

Having said that, we're told Neto grew up in the distinctly none coastal São Paulo and you get the idea of his influences when Alcides explains “'Canforá' comes from the camphor tree. My grandma used to keep camphor leaves soaking in ethanol next to her bed and would offer it to me for lots of different purposes. The lyrics playfully talk about how powerful camphor is and how it can heal anything. Like many of my compositions, this one is also inspired by my grandmother.”  

This all sounds a little 'Hermeto Pascoal' but that's no bad thing as on ''Carmariô' the percussion moves ya feet and the sax frees the soul (guaranteed to be coming to 'Another Sunday Afternoon at Dingwalls' soon).  And even though Neto says that the eight track album is aimed to "capture the simplicity of childhood", tracks like 'Ari, Serigio, Melo, Marco, merda' do hark to the sound to a non-Portuguese speaker like me of troubled/exiled 60s Tropicália (Caetano Veloso, Nara Leão, Gal Costa, Os Mutantes et al), especially 'Darebin' (probably?) and the magical 'Chão'.

In fact, theres's more than a couple percussive and Latin jazz-funk dance vibe tracks like 'Essa Noite',  'Chão' and 'Amuleto' which, of course, I'm going to say are too short: and you can bet they're going to get more than a few remix requests down at Music In Exile HQ for these tracks.

But wait for it,the modal/almost instrumental jazzer that completes the album, 'Role de Imigrante', is the best of the lot as it showcases the whole band even more than the rest of the album. 

And for an album that inspired by 'childhood', this is a most mature album with its release perfectly timed for his appearance at WOMADelaide Festival in Adelaide on 6th-9th March. Not currently on the WOMAD 2026 Line-up (Lineup 2026) but there's more to be annonced so you never know.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://xelon.ffm.to/amu

Artist:  Alcides Neto 

Title: Amú

Release date: 27th February, 2026

Label : Music In Exile

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Alcides Neto - guitar, percussion and vocal
Ben Vanderwal - drums
Cheryl Durongpisitkul - saxophone
Hong Yang - piano
Mestre Val Boa Morte - percussion
Steve Hornby - double bass
Yael Zamir - flute

All tunes written by Alcides Neto.

Review: Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Mystic Suite (Marlow Records)

The conclusion of the triptych; 'Oceanic Suite' (2016), 'Celestial Suite' (2023) has arrived in a spirital climax as the Atlantis Jazz Ensemble emerge out of the sea with tridents in hand!

 

You'll recall that the last time we featured Marlow Records was the Cinephonic album 'Refuge' (see review HERE) that was a project of Pierre Chrétien, also known for his work in Souljazz Orchestra and Atlantis Jazz Ensemble.

Well, here he is again in a quintet aided by Petr Cancura (tenor saxophone, percussion) who was a long time member in Cecil McBee's group and Marielle Rivard (percussion) who is another member of Souljazz Orchestra.. 

There's a big fusion sound to match the classical Greek Gods.  From the sword hanging over the introduction of 'Damocles', "before the full band drops a dark Elvin Jones-style mambo" to the rising of 'Spirits Unseen'.

And if you're into the jazzdance groove. 'As The River Flows' will carry out to the unburned joy of the bossa swing on the shoreline before you find yourself at Afrobeat infused 'Gates Of The Sun'. 

Don't forget to check out the earlier ablums but as a backwards introduction to the jazz band from Atlantis, the is the 'Mystic Suite' of a starting point; as DJ Kev Beadle has already said, "One of my favourite records of the year" and it's only February!

Artisit: Atlantis Jazz Ensemble070

Title:  Mystic Suite

Release date: 27th February, 2026

Label: Marlow Records

Catalog No. MRLP

Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Personnel:
Ed Lister - trumpet, flugelhorn
Zakari Frantz - alto saxophone, percussion
Pierre Chrétien - electric piano, percussion
Chris Pond - bass
Mike Essoudry - drums

with:
Petr Cancura - tenor saxophone, percussion
Marielle Rivard - percussion

Review: Léna C - Stimuli (Earthly Measures)

New 'Stimuli' from Earthly Measures as Léna C gets a nu-groove inspiration for this new 5-track EP.

Last month we had the Perth Lewis album 'Distance Between'  on NuNorthern Soul (see review HERE) and it strikes us that there's not much distance between Lewis's aqua Balearics downtempo soundscape and Léna C's slightly more uptempo worldly 'Stimuli'. 

You'll recall Earthly Measures released Sun Sone's album 'Patience' from this time last year (see review HERE) that had influences from "FlyLo to Sakamoto" (see interview HERE).  Likewise, Léna C's 'Stimuli' has moved away from her long sold-out 12" 'Promenade' (on Manchester's trendy Sprechen label) in 2023 which had more of a peacockery of a dancefloor element with leanings of island 'Breeze', 'Azur', 'Haku' and 'Shokran' (you get the idea).

So this year we get a more earthly (no pun etc) Balearic that has fans like DJ Colleen Cosmo Murphy, Pete Herbert and Auntie Flo on board already with the singles 'Au Large' (being washed ashore on a tropical island with bongos a plenty) and 'Elle Dani' (touched by the middle-east via Kruder & Dorfmeister and Yellow Magic Orchestra).

Equally, 'Bat Kare' has that mix of Latin samba and far eastern temple woodwind which could fit into any jazz set of a Yousef Lateef vibe whilst 'Inspirational Zouk' (inspired by Cazy P's vocalist Danielle Moore who passed in late 2024) is an instrumental that.ups the electronics and could equally be in a rain forest with David Sanborn.

This EP ends on a dubby/tribal/Morricone 'Clap de Fin' that really does encapsulate the whole five tracks that as a travelogue of "encounters and souvenirs collected along the way" as a slo-mo dancefloor groove from pool to beachside; and it's hot!.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://earthlymeasures.bandcamp.com/album/l-na-c-stimuli

Artist: Léna C

Title: Stimuli
Release date: 27th February, 2025
Label : Earthly Measures
Catalog Number : EARTHLY032
Format:  Digital / Streaming  

Review: Fish Go Deep & Tracey K - Love’s Cloth (Go Deep Recordings)

What better way to start a new year than to go back 20 years and deep into some classic house that sounds as thrilling today as it did then?  Tracey K and Fish Go Deep agree and wrap themselves in 'Love's Cloth'. 

We've just been blown away with Razor-N-Tape's re-invention of Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina ,'When You Find Your Love... Hold On' with new DJ Spinna and Musclecars Remixes (see review HERE), so here's another piece of house history from 2005, Tracey K's album 'Lil 'Hand' with Fish Go Deep's Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson.

That album produced the single 'Battery Man' and 'The Cure and the Cause' with a remix by Dennis Ferrer that got picked up by Ministry Of Sound (their compilation Ibiza 1991-2009) and Defected with a remix by Idris Elba no less.  This track, 'Love's Cloth' was the climax of the original album and there was re-issued digitally with bonus tracks on the band's own label in 2020.

As it's still a regular play on the dancefloor, FGD have gone back again and produced 'Love's Cloth' as Revisited, Dub and Edit for even more plays this year.  The new version (and edit) still has the love and joy of the vocal but it's the 8 minute dub/instrumental that'll get you on it's express train rush to the dancefloor - could it have more of a doppler/echo chamber action, perhaps(?)

And we know Fish Go Deep can do a remix (as in fellow Cork based musician Kʒːlu's 'Standing Ovation' - see review HERE and La Deep's 'Risk It All - see review HERE) so prepare yourself for this re-visit and a mighty dub/instrumental version.

Another winner as early 00s is the new 2026!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Love's Cloth - Revisted on Traxsource

Artist: Fish Go Deep & Tracey K 

Title: Love’s Cloth

Release date: 27th February, 2026

Label: Go Deep Recordings

Catalog Number: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Toolate Groove - Librame EP (MATE)

It's not Toolate [to] Groove as MATE release another stunning EP, 'Librame' coming to a hot dancefloor/record store near you soon! 

I wouldn't say we're best mates with MATE, but it's easy to understand why everyone would want to hang out with them after Shaka's EP 'About Love & Pain' and the previous release, Bress Underground's 'Take Me Higher' EP (see review HERE) and as excellent as these releases are, they've found another great track with 'Librame'.

It doesn't need a remix but Urbanity Recs (aka Shannon Harris) gives us his 'Love Yourself Dub' rework in the big house main room with the Cuíca going into overdrive with the percussion and some deep down jazz-funk keys.

This is rediculously cool and supported by '97 Ride' as a club mix (with the Rhodes taking the lead) and a Destiny Dream dub (tell me that bass is the dogs) only to be topped off with 'Fresh From Abidjan' that's got break/hip-hop elements.

That said, you're not going to beat the party of the orginal version - all 8 minutes of it with it's vibraphone solo - did I hear someone say, "vibraphonic"?

BUY LINK / Pre Order: www.juno.co.uk/products/toolate-groove-librame-ep-vinyl/1125148-01/

Artist: Toolate Groove

Title: Librame EP

Release date: 23rd February, 2026

Label : MATE 

Catalog Number : MATE 023

Format: Vinyl 12" / Bandcamp 

Review: Bei Bei - Two Moons (Bei Bei Time Productions)

Internationally acclaimed artist Bei Bei teams up with London-based composer and producer Paul Elliott to set their musical telescope for 'Two Moons' to find light in the dark skys above!

Always on the look out for what Bei Bei is up to after her link-up with Shawn Lee with he 'Beauty & The Beats' 10" release on Ubiquity which led to a couple of albums that followed in 2010 and 2017.

However, there's no surprise that Chinese Guzheng player/composer/teacher has also worked on Disney’s hit film 'Mulan' and Dreamwork’s 'Kung Fu Panda' as well collaborating with A-lister Cristina Aguilera, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with Will Smith and performed as a soloist with the Pacific Symphony orchestra!

All that being in sharp contrast to this seven track "lo-fi and analog-leaning electronic" album as it's yet another yin-yang soundscape "that bridges tradition and futurism" with cinematic leanings as Bei Bei's mastery of the this ancient chinese harp/zither can at times sound like themes from 'Get Carter' or 'The Third Man'.

As the album develops from the 'Two Moons' introduction, 'Gaoshan Electronica' (featuring Shu Zhiming) and 'Shanghai Dreams (featuring Ron Korb) get confrontational with the traditional which you can easily envisage on a soundtrack; shame 'Cruising In Snow' (featuring Yang Liu) missed out on the Winter Olympics - perhaps when they next turn up in Beijing?

Liu's bass make it the funkiest track on the album (Ed. Jah Wobble would have loved this gig) but the tracks without guests are just as cool, especially 'Silk Soiree' where it goes all a bit John Williams 'Hong Kong' Library rock which reminds me of the 'Hendrix' element of Manu Delago and Max ZT collaboration album 'Deuce' (incredibly released on the same day - see review HERE).

'Walk The Fame' seems to capture all the elements of this album and it's a shame it's not longer; along with the closing track 'Midnight Bizarre' as Bei Bei and Elliot take us into space.

These two moons are safe on earth and it's more global ambient fusion that's going to be big this year.

BUY LINK:  Listen on: Spotify, Apple Music, QQ Music & many more digital platforms.  

Artist: Bei Bei

Title: Two Moons

Release date: 20th February, 2026

Label: Bei Bei Time Productions

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital (Spotify / Apple etc)

Review: Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir - Stay Calm/Frustration (Tru Thoughts)

Yet another discovery on Tru Thoughts that's not quite what you'd expect as they discover new talent with Kyla and Max as these two tracks immediately show us how to 'Stay Calm' and embrace 'Frustration'.

For Brighton-based 23-year-old singer-songwriter Kyla Kilzer and Jersey-born producer Max Noir, this dboule A single is a warm-up for the release of EP, 'Sip & Wonder' and thier Main Bar take-over at London's Brick Lane Jazz Festival on Saturday, 26th April (they'll be other Tru Thoughts artists there that day so keep an eye open).

Opening the double single, “Stay Calm” unfolds like a deep breath, a tender, minimalist moment drifting between lo-fi soul and meditative alt-R&B. Written as a mantra to ease anxiety, the track finds Kyla grounding herself through sound. “This song is about our lovely friend Anxiety,” Kyla shares. “It was something I had to overcome most days, and I could never have done it without music. While writing, I imagined what words would comfort someone listening. In the chorus, I talk about using your five senses to stay calm, exactly how my mum taught me.”

Then comes “Frustration,” its shadow twin. Built on dusty percussion and a hip-hop swing laced with Spanish-tinged rhythm, the track channels restlessness into rhythm. Kyla’s vocals shift from silk to steel as she turns anger into motion, while Max’s production keeps the pulse steady and hypnotic. “I was angry with myself,” Kyla admits, “but we just poured it all into the music and came out with this lovely piece.” Max adds, “I love how the breathy vocal layers in the chorus reflect the feeling of frustration, building up in intensity as the track progresses.”

And we're told, "Tru Thoughts heard about this music through BandLab Technologies (BandLab/ReverbNation) through an artist submission campaign via Opportunities, and BandLab/ReverbNation are supporting this release".

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Sip & Wonder | Kyla Kilzer 

Artist: Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir 

Title: Stay Calm/Frustration

Release date: 19th February, 2026

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD700

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: St. Barbe - Shoal EP (Bridge The Gap)

Math Rock/Jazz, progressive and contemporary as a trio! St. Barbe, manage to mix it up and come out the other side as a shoal sticks together; as on this new EP release, 'Shoal'.

The mixed genre world of jazz and rock, particulary math rock evolved from old jazzers in prog-rock bands, King Crimson, Colosseum etc so by the time you've got the extremes of The Mars Volta and Kneebody, who knows what Math Rock is?    Luckily,  guitarist James Maltby, and synth programming by him and drummer Floyer Sydenham, this EP the music moves from the raw and unfiltered hues of Julian Lage and Bill Frisell-inspired ballad ‘Dorothy’ (a track that's previously been 'Track of the Week' on Jazz FM), through to the ferocious, riff-led floor fillers ‘Pinch’ and ‘Shoal’.

'Pinch' features corto.alto (Mercury Prize nominees who were at the We Out There Festival a couple of years ago) sound more 'Freak Zone' and the closest thing to 'rock' is the opener 'Tierra'.  

All the usual suspects will be supporting this one like Jazz on 3, BBC Radio 6's Deb Grant, Stuart Macione and Gilles Peterson (Note: at the time of writting, 2 out of 3 as it's only a matter of time in GPs case), Jazz FM and more plus the adventurous DJ jazz dance types; like fans of the Kneebody/Daedelus project, 'Kneedelus': now, that'd be a remix!

Don't forget this is a shoal the sticks together and sounds together.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Shoal | St. Barbe

Artist: St. Barbe 

Title: Shoal EP

Release date: 18th February, 2026

Label : Bridge The Gap

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Dgital / Bandcamp 

Review: Sababa 5 - Ça Va Ça Va (Batov Records)

Sababa 5 are back with a new album 'Çeva Va Ça Va' and it's exactly what you want to hear from them; Middle Eastern global funk! 

The nine tracks on the album are mostly celebrations you'd hear and a wedding for total get up and dance events all but two written by the band: the two key exceptions being 'Ypárcho' (I Exist), "a beautiful instrumental journey inspired by a classic Greek song traditionally performed by Stelios Kazantzidis" and 'Asunsan' "an instrumental flip of the much-loved Sababa 5 collaboration 'Nasnusa' with Yurika Hanashima" (that we first heard on 'Kokoro' - see review HERE). 

Fans of twangy surf guitars and mod organs will be super excited to have the band back to the bands' "a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds, layered with psych-soaked guitars, cosmic synths and heavy, driving grooves. A pure dose of party energy and nostalgia". 

There's a Bandcamp listening party tomorrow night, 18th February, 8.00 GMT or the full release on Friday.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:Ça va Ça va | Sababa 5

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Ça Va Ça Va

Release date: 20th February, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

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