Review: Kiiōtō - Black Salt (Kiiōtō Records)

The new album by Kiiōtō is definitely "spine-tingling" and unique as who'dthere have thought that there could be a jazz-noir folk Carole King, Khruangbin, Alice Coltrane influenced duo could be so good!

Fans of the single(s) 'Warpaint' and 'Little Axe' (see review HERE) will know what to expect on the 10 track album, 'Black Salt': or do they?

Mercury Music Prize nominated singer/songwriter Lou Rhodes, former lead vocalist and co-founder of Lamb, joined forces with award-winning songwriter and pianist Rohan Heath to form Kiiōtō after both had seemingly stepped away from making music. Kiiōtō’s second album, 'Black Salt', casts the net wide and deep in the stories it tells. Throughout, the arrangements remain spare and bold, leaning into jazz, broken beat and soul textures, with references as diverse as Carole King, Khruangbin and Alice Coltrane.

Written primarily in Kiiōtō’s home studio in North London, Black Salt features guest appearances from a melting pot of musicians, notably guitarist Hawi Gondwe (Amy Winehouse), double-bassist Andy Hamill (4 Hero, Carleen Anderson), drummer Mykey Wilson (Corrine Bailey Rae), and even some impromptu guitar by the one and only David Arnold.

Debut single Butterfly is a dark and brooding critique of a narcissist, its prowling bass, angular chords and bell motif creating a claustrophobic chill. In contrast, Zero Gravity - inspired by Samantha Harvey’s Booker Prize winning novel “Orbital”- zooms out into space, reflecting upon the transformational experience of orbiting Earth, its heartbeat intro giving way to brush drums and stacked vocal refrain. Little Axe tells of the challenges of raising young men amidst the threat of violence in urban life, set to soulful guitar and congas, while White Noise highlights the hold of social media on the modern mind, in staccato rhythm and abstract piano. Lost Map reflects on the results of DNA tests the duo took in search of a deeper understanding of their disparate heritages, against a backdrop of spacious piano and muted trumpet. Closing track Five Eight, conveys the aching loss of Heath’s mother, Rhodes’ vocal stripped bare over shimmering Wurlitzer. Throughout, the arrangements remain spare and bold, leaning into jazz, broken beat and soul textures, with references as diverse as Carole King, Khruangbin and Alice Coltrane. The resulting album is impossible to define by genre, but is fused by the unique interplay of Heath’s melodic sensibilities and Rhodes inimitable voice.

Of the making of the album, Heath says: "The creation of Black Salt wasn’t an easy one. Yet it was precisely out of conflict, tension and introspection that it was born. Sometimes it felt like two planets colliding; a new star forged of chaos and heat, brighter than the sum of those destroyed." “Black Salt was a rite of passage,” adds Rhodes, “one that often took us to places way beyond our comfort zones. The result though, is an album we couldn’t be prouder of.”

It certainly is a special album that needs more than a couple of listen's to fall in love with it, but once you're there, you definitely wll.

PS. Special Album Launch Show at the perfect venue in London, Kings Place on May 1st, 2026.

Further UK & Europe dates TBC.

Album pre-order and gig tickets here: https://linktr.ee/kiioto

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Black Salt | Kiiōtō

Artist: Kiiōtō

Title: Black Salt

Release date: 17th April, 2025

Label: Kiioto Records

Catalog Number: KIIOTOLP01NC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Coldcut - Sound Mirrors (Record Store Day 2006 Re-issue) (Ninja Tune)

It's that time of year when we get totally overwhelmed with Record Store Day so lets look back 20 years for a significant 'Ninja Tune' release that's due another look/listen as 'Everything Is Under Control'?

The original album came out on 2xLP in 2006 when CD's were all the rage.   So, with a cast of 1000s (well quite a few) including some who continue to challenge us like Roots Manuva (as recently seen with Oliver Night on 'Boss' - see review HERE), Soweto Kinch (see HERE) and Phil France (see HERE).

The RSD reissue comes as a 'eco-mix marbled 2LP with a mirror board printed sleeve' but hee's a chance to look back when I was scribbling away for www.flyglobalmusic.com in pre-bandcamp days.

Internet Archive link:  COLDCUT - SOUND MIRRORS | FLY | EUROPE: REVIEWS

Artist: Coldcut

Title: Sound Mirrors (Record Store Day 2006 Re-issue) 

Release date : 18th April, 2026

Label : Ninja Tune

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: LP Vinyl 

Coldcut are Jon More and Matt Black and they have received as much promotion for their long-awaited album as any band could expect of their label. It’s a good job then that they are also the boss men at Ninja Tune.
With the release of Sound Mirrors, even if they weren’t the top dogs, no one could criticize them on the grounds of quality. True, some of the early reviews were a little less than ecstatic, but this is a great album and one that’s going to stand up long after Classic Gold radio stations stop playing their earlier chart hits. Having said that, this is no elitist album either. Of course, we’ve had a head start with the singles including the opener ‘Everything is Under Control’ (Jon ‘Blues Explosion’ Spencer and rapper Mike Ladd), ‘Man In A Garage’ [folky John Matthias] and ‘Mr. Nichols’ (Saul Williams). Not only do these tracks sound better on the album, they bind the album together along with some particularly catchy tunes. Such as the Indo-pop-dancehall rap with Roots Manuva, which is getting crossover support from the likes of Bobby Friction & Nihal. Roots is fresh from his own Awfully Deep success of last year on Ninja Tunes, the hip hop offshoot, Big Dada. The mixing on ‘Walk A Mile’ is great and it features the vocal house favourite Robert Owens. Based on the (worn-out) theme of walking in other’s shoes (Depeche Mode, Alwyn Evans, etc) it builds from a blues to a chill-out feel. The first half of the album is completed by the instrumental title track, ‘Sound Mirrors’ — no doubt inspired from somewhere within a Japanese Zen Monastery. The next trio of tunes goes to the other extreme and are firmly in the Club. ‘Boogieman’ is a techno-afro-funk version of ‘True Skool’ with another poetic contribution, this time by Amiri Baraka. ‘This Island Earth’ shows off Mpho Skeef’s soulful side and mixes up the afro/broken/house influences. And how many Club-Rave tunes have lyrics by a leftfield jazz stalwart? Try ‘Just For The Kick’ via past ECM artist Annette Peacock. Saxophonist, Mercury-nominee, Jazz Jamaica member and ex-Jazz Warrior, Soweto Kinch serves up a rap-rant on “Aid Dealer”. Former Ninja Tune Andrew Broder (aka Fog) joins in on downtempo ‘Whistle And A Prayer’ which is a bit strange in the saw-violin way and leads us into 60s Byrdslike tripness of ‘Colours The Soul’. So forget all that Yazz and Lisa Stansfield Coldcut history or the cutting edge stuff like computer programmes, VJing, art exhibitions, collaborations with minimalist composers and the like, just put on Sound Mirrors and enjoy an album. The best thing they’ve ever done. Reviewed: Coldcut - Sound Mirrors (Ninja Tune) Cat. No. ZENCD 115 Tracklisting: 1. Man In A Garage - Vocals - John Matthias 2. True Skool - Vocals - Roots Manuva 3. Just For The Kick - Vocals - Annette Peacock 4. Walk A Mile In My Shoes - Vocals - Robert Owens 5. Mr. Nichols - Vocals - Saul Williams 6. A Whistle And A Prayer - Vocals - Fog 7. Everything Is Under Control - Vocals - Mike Ladd , Jon Spencer 8. Boogie Man - Vocals - Amiri Baraka 9. Aid Dealer - Vocals - Soweto Kinch 10. This Island Earth - Vocals - Mpho Skeef 11. Colours The Soul - Vocals - Dom Spitzer 12. Sound Mirrors Press Quotes: “Has the cutting edge that modern day contemporaries couldn’t create if they had full instructions. Sound Mirrors is remarkable… truly a master-class in beat science from start to finish.” NME 8/10 “Still passionately engaged with future music… a feast for the ears” Mixmag “Never sounded so good. Sound Mirrors is mightily impressive; the production flawless and the songwriting exhilarating.” Blues & Soul “Coldcut are the influencers not the influenced… classy” Time Out “Coldcut come again - full blooded and schizoid… Still as fresh and relevant as ever.” Straight No Chaser Links: Coldcut www.ninjatune.net/coldcut Ninja Tune www.ninjatune.net Annette Peacock Bobby Friction & Nihal Tracklistings 01/02/2006 1. Coldcut feat. Roots Manuva - ‘True Skool’ (Ninja Tune) —Gerry Hectic Saturday 4 February 2006

Review: DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA - Cuban 45 Boxset (Mr Bongo)

Over the years, Mr Bongo has released some sort after 7" box sets, like 'Brazilain Beats' and 'Wild Syle' for starters so keep your eyes pealed on Record Store Day for this fantastic 'tribute' to Cuba as DJ KOCO (aka SHIMOKITA) compiles ' Cuban 45 Boxset'.

I remember a well known digger telling me that Cuba is a tresurer trove of unknown Latin jazz-funk 45s that are dirty cheap: the only problem was once bought, you had to smuggle them out passed the Cuban security as there was an export ban.   

So here's more than a great compromise as DJ KOCO has not only down the diggin' for you, he's got these ten golden nuggets on RSD vinyl release.   Japan's DJ KOCO curated the tracks for you (as he did for the Brazil 45 Boxset, 2024) and with this turntablist ear and reputation as a DJ's DJ you can be sure that there's no duffers included here.

If fact, quite the opposite as Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo's track, 'Rompe Cocorioco' is worth getting in itself.  And then there's the disco soul ballad of Farah María ('Ámame Y No pienses Mas') which is pure joy as is, the totally dubbed out DJ Koco edit of 'Amancer' by Grupo Ismaelillo that's Mexico Herb Alpert goes leftfield.

There's another Edit he's done, FA-5's 'Muévete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazón' to maximise the "funky dancer" appeall with it's "heavy b-boy/girl break from 1976".

Taking of mid-70s, 'Orquesta Riverside' do Fania on the the heavy 'En Casa Del Tromp No Bailes', the serious trombone on 'Y Viva La Felicidad' (reminds me of Raul de Souza) and the incredible 'Tema Para Un Amanecer' (by Rembert Egües) as we get Roy Ayers vibes mix with Lalo Schfrin orchestration.

Hopefully, this will see a new dawn in interest for Cuban music, especially as there's a hip-hop 'sample' element to all the tracks here as his thing is rare and groove fit for the dancefloor - kinda the inverse of Japanofiles like Higgins/Peden types (see HERE).  Or even fans of the recent Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.3 (see review HERE) and, indeed Vol. 2 (see reviw HERE) that know how to more a dancefloor.

I remember seeing the Brazil 45 Boxset for sale in Southampton on RSD (shop since closed) and thinking no one will buy this, I've got time to get to another shop and back and if I've still got some cash, I'll get it later (I think this was the 2021 DJ Marky boxset); clearly, it was sold before I got back and it still rankles - so don't make the same mistake if you see this boxset on the 18th at a Record Store near you.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: RSD release (https://www.mrbongo.com)

Artist: Various Artists

Title: DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA - Cuban 45 Boxset

Release date: 18h April, 2026 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRB7235

Format : Vinyl 7" boxset

Review: Hollie Cook - Shy Girl In Dub (Mr Bongo)

All eyes on Hollie Cook's 'Shy Girl' gets a full King Tubby make over by producer and desk master Ben McKone - shy now more! 

Hollie Cook's 5th album 'Shy Girl' (see review HERE) get a full Ben McKone 'Made For Record Store Day' 2026 analogue mixing desk dub up.

If you find Ms. Cook a bit too "Lovers Rock" the dub experience is made for new converts and old fans alike.

Just the right combination of vocal hook edits, back in vocals, bass accents and trademark ecno.

We know on 'Rockaway' and 'Take Me In Your Arms' to the delays, echoes and reverb roots of King Tubby (as recently recommended by Bass, Mids, Tops' Joe Muggs) which work so wll alongside the original versions or one their own; 'Dub Me In Your Arms' is particularly spacey even if it uses more of Cook's vocals.

But some tracks are arguably better like 'Frontline Dub' with the horn the first line of attack and the sparce pack mentality of 'Wolf Dub'. 

Not everyone's a fan of the Record Store Day experience but this album will make the experience that much better; so again, "shy girl no more me thinks".

NOTE: The green vinyl version with added A4 sticker sheet is dropping as part of @recordstoreday on April 18th..

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://holliecook.bandcamp.com/album/shy-girl-in-dub

Artist: Hollie Cook

Title: Shy Girl In Dub 

Release Date : 17th April, 2026

Label : Mr Bongo Records

Catalog Number : MRB341

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: lovetempo - There Is A Light (Bastard Jazz)

The most anticipated album of the year is here and a perfect way for Bastard Jazz Recordings to celebrate their 25th anniversary with lovetempo and 'There Is A Light' - turn it on!

Nearly a year since the release of the 'But I Do' single/remixes (see review HERE) so it's been a while 'till we've got our hands on the album by lovetempo (aka Mattie Safer) who made his name in The Rapture and Poolside before going solo. 

The 'But I Do' single was one of Gilles Peterson's most favourite tracks of last year so I'm still hopefully that lovetempo will be on the bill at Peterson's 'We Out Here' Festival this year (especially as the US tour dates have been announced - see below).  

But this isn't just NY trendy soul/funk/disco dance hits as there's a downtempo space shuffle of 'Maybe In Another Life' and talking of trendy, Mattie duets with Kate Mattison (of 79.5) on the track 'I Wanna Be With You' (79.5 also having featured on Fouks' recent 'Sundays' EP - see review HERE) and it's strangely in a Sunday Nite radio funk groove that harks to Motown boy/girl love songs - even Rick James & Teena Marie (Ed. that's one for the teenagers).

And if that's reminds you of some steamy 'Portuguese Love' the album ends on a couple of  tracks, 'By Your Side' that has that Latin rolling percussion and hot lyrics that peaks with some out-there synth followed by a blues (of sort), 'A Miracle Or Two' with a bar room sax solo.

What this album highlights is how good this guy is in a variety of styles whether its the soulful 'Never The Same', the pacey Charles Stepney-ish 'Thinking About You', the 'disco' bell-ringer opener 'The Right Way' or the clappy gospel sing-a-long 'pop' of the title track, 'There Is A Light'

As an aside, I played the Rapture big hit at a vinyl only night recently, 'House Of Jealous Lovers' from 2002 on the super trendy (at the time) DFA and this guy got super excited telling me his brother, his trendy older one, played it repeatedly back in the day and it held really good memories for him - 'There Is A Light' will no doubt do the same for folks today - let it shine people!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://ffm.to/thereisalight_lp.HGW

US.upcoming live dates  

4/26 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right (Album Release Show)
5/6 - Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers (Album Release Show)
5/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA*
5/13 - Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s*
5/17 - Providence, RI @ The Parlour*
5/23 - San Francisco, CA @ Madrone Art Bar (Hybrid DJ set)
6/10 - Mexico City, DF @ Tonál (Album Release Show)
7/31 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Airliner^
8/1 - San Diego, CA @ TBC^
8/2 - Phoenix, AZ @ TBC^
*with Meghan Dowlen
^with Social Lovers

Artist: lovetempo

Title:  There Is A Light

Release date: 17th April, 2026

Label: Bastard Jazz

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

P.S. Gilles Peterson's interview with lovetempo on Lot Radio (in association with Worldwide FM) from NYC for the Winter Jazz Festival starts 12:00 and the whole show is worth a listen 

Link: GILLES PETERSON LIVE FROM NYC at The Lot Radio | WorldwideFM

Review: Conic Rose - Wedding (Conic Rose)

The release of Conic Rose's new album is like wedding, a time of celebration and all are invited!

You'll recall that three years ago we had the first singles from their debut album 'Heller Tag' (see review HERE) and we've kept an eye open for them ever since.

The single 'loving parents' came out recently (see review HERE) and they are still covering the influences of the "Kruder & Dorfmeister and Cinematic Orchestra's lovechild, this collection of jazzy, ambient, hip-trippy electronica OST instrumental with more Bonobo and Nils-Petter Molvaer!" it's easy to see why the BBC 6 Music gang of Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne and Nemone are fans.

With the album, there unique take on jazz, infused with seemingly disparate influences like Radiohead and the local Berlin techno/electronic scenes, particularly 'too many flowers' and the title track, reaches out to folky broken beat, Herbert, ambient, alt.rock, dub, psych-types

I hope they get some live gigs in churches as well as normal venues when they go on tour to promote the album as it's said, "'Wedding 'describes a state of being".

The 12 tracks are equally to touchstone to Miles' 100 birthday celebrations as trumpeter (and flugelhorn) Konstantin Döben is clearly influenced and having Bertram Burkert on electric guitar gives us a Fripp-ness which suits their Berlin 'Station ot Station' base/surroundings or even Dave Okumu with The Invisible's debut which was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize way back in 2009.

Without a doubt, this is an exceptional album and for fans of jazzy electronica it's a must!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://conicrose.bandcamp.com/album/wedding-2 Vinyl arrives on April 17th, with a full digital release following in late summer.

Artist: Conic Rose 

Title: Wedding

Release date: 17th April, 2026 

Label: Conic Rose

Cat. No: CONICROSELP03

Format: Digital

Composed & Produced by: Johannes Arzberger, Bertram Burkert, Konstantin Döben

Trumpet: Konstantin Döben

Guitar: Bertram Burkert

Keys & Modular Synth: Johannes Arzberger

Bass: Bertram Burkert & Franzi Aller

Drums: Nicholas Stampf & Silvan Strauss

Review: Apoll - The Order Hidden Inside The Echo (Morris Audio)

Apoll aka André Pollmann digs to find 'The Order Hidden Inside The Echo' in the Morris Audio of sound!

After Gastek & L.D.F.'s 'Iremember (Detroit Mixes) EP  featuring Dmitri SFC (see review HERE),  here's some more deep house from the pulpit of Morris Audio.

Pollmann is a veteran when it comes to producing electronic music! He started in the 80’s with EBM (electronic body music) and was very present in the "minimal scene“ with his own Tongut label and releases on top labels like Substatic, Agnes’ Sthlmaudio or last years' fantastic album on Acid Cuts. 

He’s also no stranger to Morris Audio, as 2 EPs were released in 2003 and 2004 - and more than 20 years later he’s back! 

A 3-track EP that's full to the brim; Religion' is you big gospel house, the "club version" of Annie & The Caldwells if you like, 'Echoes On The Way' is a warp back to minimal dub with a big bounce upfront and 'Not The Grace' falls between the two in terms of House sound dynamics.

This is a big comeback that's definitely in order!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Apoll - the order hidden inside the echo | Apoll | Morris Audio

Artist: ApolI

Title:The Order Hidden Inside The Echo
Release date: 17th April, 2026
Label :Morris Audio 
Catalog Number: MA137
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Aline Rocha & Caio Cenci - Berimbau (Razor-N-Tape)

Of course, If you are based in Brooklyn, where do you go to find Brasilian based classic for the World Cup? London is where you'd find exciles Aline Rocha and Caio Cenci for 'Berimbau' and 'Miss The Water' of course: time to get ready for kick off!

After label boss JKriv recently released the 'Real Ones' EP with Jason Linder (see review HERE), you could almost see it coming that he'd flip the 180 for the next release on Razor-N-Tape.

But this isn't Astrud Gilberto / Dom Um Romao Latin jazz dancefloor 'Berimbau', this is instrumental space disco more in keeping with the Space/Atmosfear plus some very Latin percussion (as you'd expect).  What is surprising (to me anyway) is the magic of 'Miss The Water' is a peak time splash of big vocal house boogie; and I mean, really BIG!

If you know Aline Rocha from DJ events at/of Defected/Glitterbox or Cenci's previous releases on King St and Nervious this ain't a surprise at all, you'll recall Caio's remix on TDE's Dirty Supercar release (see review HERE) and 'Family Affair' Vol. 4 (see review HERE). 

This will be massive long after the World cup has been lifted this year - needs longer versions for a future 12" release?

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://razor-n-tape.bandcamp.com/album/aline-rocha-caio-cenci-berimbau-ep

Artist: Aline Rocha & Caio Cenci 

Title: Berimbau /  Miss The Water

Release date: 17th April, 2026

Label : Razor-N-Tape Records

Catalog Number : RNT

Format : Digital / Bandcamp

Review: FSQ, Moniquea, & XL Middleton - Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discomiks Versons) (Soul Clap Records)

It wasn't that long ago I was saying hat it's it hard to follow in the footsteps of Prins Thomas and if you're reading this you'll know exactly what I men as the Prince of Discomiks is back; and he's 'Feeling Wide'.

After the collab of FSQ, Moniquea & XL Middleton with the original 'Feeling Wide' (see review HERE), Prins Thomas turns his attention form having a sex disco with Trip Tease & Alain Vice's (see review HERE) and gets onto feeling long with his trademark 'Diskomiks' quality.

NYC centric FSQ (Funk, Style, Quality) your Norse disco-royality, Prins gets down for some cosmic, house, jazz, psychedlic rock, Italo, disco headspace to displace 80s punk-funk with dreamy "Balearic breeze" that sits on Latin percussion as:-

 Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discomiks) 9:42 

 Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discodub) 8:48 

 Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discomiks Instrumental) 9:42 

 Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discomiks Radio Edit) 3:42 

And once you hear the Diskodub, you'll want a diskodub of all your favourite tracks as its "layered with extra luminous, sugary chords over echo-drenched and dubby low ends"

Moniquea's vocals balances out the dub and instrumental version to what will be the sound of 2026!

BUY LINK /PRE-ORDER: Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Diskomiks Versions) | FSQ, Moniquea, XL Middleton, Prins Thomas | FSQ

Artist: FSQ, Moniquea, & XL Middleton 

Title: Feeling Wide (Prins Thomas Discomiks Versons)

Release date: 17th April, 2026

Label: Soul Clap Records

Cat. No: -

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Old Sedan - With Love My Dear (Partyfine)

Yuksek's Partyfine label is known for seeking out party music but would you find that in an Old Sedan? YATM put the pedal to the metal to find out with this new release, 'With Love My Dear'!

You'll recall the compilation from Partyfine, 'Vol. VII Universalismo' (see review HERE) and I can safely say, any of the track on 'With Love My Dear', could happily be included.  

But this the first solo EP by Batien Francoulon (aka Old Sedan) and it was conceived/envisaged as "a journey through an urban landscape" with a 90/00s house synth-pop beat; i.e. very much up Yuksek's own downtown.  A track would definitely earmarked for 'Vol. VIII Universalismo' - but dearest, which do you love the most?

Well, you'd want to start by getting a space race 'Honda CR 500' into town as all the office workers are on their way home (Ed. bike fans, don't try this as the CR range is off-road, get the CB 500; four cylinders to the floor you might say).

'Phone Call' reminds me of something Talc could have slipped into in the past order perhaps a Daft Punk/Jean-Michel Jarre hybrid as we're in France whilst 'Move Your Feet Like This' is peak time electro-disco groove.

By the time you're on 'All Night Long', with synth-beat sunrise, it is already on its way with a late echo Berlin Bowie period before it all gets funky busy on 'Union County'. 

'Let's Call It A Wrap' closes the set but you'll be heading straight back into this as you'll definitely wanna 'Move Your Feet Like This'!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Old Sedan Music & Downloads on Beatport

Artist: Old Sedan

Title: With Love My Dear 

Release date: 17th April, 2026

Label: Partyfine

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp