Review: Ripperton & Joy Frempong - Sirens (Compost Records)

You might be thinking that you haven't heard from Ripperton for a while and you'd be right.  As Ripperton has been redesigning: Ripperton, mostly as Headless Ghost,  Compost Records have put Joy Frempong with him to get some 'Sirens' to playout. 

You'll recall Ripperton (aka DJ/producer Raphaël Gros from Laussane, Switzerland) is known as a innovator in the electronic music having launched labels like Perspectiv Records, and Tamed musiq, releasing music on leading underground imprints including Innervisions, Border Community or Planet E.   Although, I'd say it was his extended/minimal remix work that made his name, out of the hundred's he's done, particularly Beanfield ('Tides'), Laurent Garnier and Radiohead (it seems like Gerry Hectic's 'Nude' edit has been deleted from Soundcloud!).

Knowing Joy Frempong from OY, having remixed Laundry with 'Modern Jealousy' in 2012, her Afrofuturist dispora Avant-pop poetry/storytelling is perfect for a Ripperton collaboration. Like a a antidote/counter point of Anthony Joseph's recent album, 'The Ark' (see review HERE). 

In fact, 'Sirens' has been "in the making" since that remix and like other sirens (see HERE) you always hear the sirens; in this case  in four versions original, clouds, melodydreamer and instrumental.

Sounding more choral than subterreanan this is tipical minimal with electronic soul and you can tell from the instrumental version how Frempong has elevated the song into "something haunting and profoundly human".

It's a grower with the gentle guitar being swept by waves and the gothic organ calling from Whitby churches.  Not everyone's cup of tea by great to see/hear Ripperton with us once again.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://CompostRecords.lnk.to/RippertonXJoyFrempong-Sirens

Artist: Ripperton & Joy Frempong

Title: Sirens EP

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 671-3

Format: Digital 

Review: Brandon Markell Holmes - TRY Remixes (toucan sounds)

Well, it's safe to say that there's no shortage of folks in the queue to remix any tracks with Brandon Markell Holmes' voice on them, but you've got to try your hardest to get on the list for his track 'TRY' and you've got six of the best on this hot 8 track release!

Brandon moved from Chicago to NYC where he's attracted attension from the likes of Derrick Carter, Dee Diggs, musclecars and more to do a remix of his songs after he appeared on Gorillaz album ,‘Humanz'.

And the gang are back again for a look at the album 'TRY' that came out last year and the track 'Fuller' (see review HERE) got one of our favourite world wide DJs, the constantly busy Aroop Roy.  

And another one of our long-time favourites is Byron The Aquarius and he gets ontop of the pumping 'Go Ahead' like a train (which is always a good thing in our books and don't forget the original 'Go Ahead' - see review HERE) and then you got Bad Colours (he of 'Promise' - see HERE) deals with the post-watershed late night weather forecast.

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One of the many stand-out tracks on the album was 'Es Pa Ti' featuring label boss, Robert PM and whilst we're talking of fast trains, you get that on Moon Boots' remix and radio edit.

Dee Diggs sounds so good with BMH they are clearly best buds (see 'Toss It') and the Diggs' remix of 'It Goes On' is the longest on here as just over 6 minutes.  This would usually mean it's our favourite, and it's very close, but if you pushed me to it's down to the 808 Beach (yep, see review HERE) with their remix of the title track 'TRY' (extended and normal for some retro synth disco heaven).

TRY all you might, you might not a better collection of dancefloor groovers than this lot in just one album, so don't try; TRY remixes is the answer.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://music.toucansounds.com/tryremixes

Artist: Brandon Markell Holmes

Title: Try Remixes

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label: Toucan Sounds

Cat. No: YTCW167

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kiala & Afroblaster - Spiritual Power (Tangential Music)

Tangential Music has a long association with the power of Fela Kuti's musical legacy and here's some excellent 'Spiritual Power' that's TALKING LOUD!

With more than a nod to James Brown and the Gilles Peterson's 'Talkin' Loud' label, the Kiala & Afroblaster have been inspired by 'Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Somethin'", Afro-beat funky like label mates Lagos Thugs (see review HERE),original Fela MD/bandmate Dele Sosimi, the London Afrobeat Collective and the like to produce "a vibrant statement of Afrobeat, funk, hip hop, and soul-driven groove led by legendary guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader Kiala Nzavotunga."

Kiala toured with Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 and he brings the same 'big band' sound of the ten-peice Afroblaster collective from Amsterdam and it's powerful like the previous singles 'Spiritual Power' (James Brown gets another name check), 'Motherland' (big rap on this one and perhaps a bit more Acid Jazz?) and the previously mentioned 'Talking Loud'.

You can imagine hearing this walking around the canals and streets of Amsterdam with a natural boost of spiritual power that you can almost aborbs through the other track titles themselves, 'What Is The Meaning', 'Medicine' and we're told, "every song carries Kiala's philosophy.

'Telephone' is my current favourite as it's just funky as but then as importantly, they're all big dancefloor movers.

BUY LINK: bfan.link/Spiritual-power-EP

Artist:  Kiala & Afroblaster

Title: Spirtual Power

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label: Tangential Music

Catalog Number:TBC

Format: Digital

Review: Jerk - as day breaks / as night falls (DeepMatter Records)

Jerk's 'As Night Falls' EP now has an 'answer' EP, obviously, 'As Day Breaks' as Brookyn opens the worlds eyes to "jazz fusion meets Bob James' hip-hop off-spring". 

Composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Jerk wakes up with eight more tracks influenced by Dilla/Madlib beats as much as Thundercat / Bob James jazz-fusion-funk-OST.

Once again Jerk (aka Joshua Kinney) is joined by Martin Wade (drums) and Wyatt Rydlewski (bass), and after 'alarmed', 'as long as I breathe' (don't you just love these early morning titles), 'lean in' kicks off our day and if you pick flowers at the speed of 'picking flowers' the Dutch growers will want you at a pace.

There's some interesting times patterns going on here that's a little unsettling as they say, "This joint album project is the essence of Jerk — neither day nor night, but something more ethereal" that tracks like 'putting it back together' and 'steppin' out' mix the funk and nu-jazz in different moods of light and shade; perhaps even dark.

You can easily imagine this is the type of thing that he dreams about like 'still dreaming' and 'wait', the latter labelled by Jerk himself as 'son-tra' (being abrev - 'sonic mantra') as you think James, Rushen, Dilla et al fusion.

I think we can forgive him that one as, like the 'As Night Falls' set (see review HERE), don't be surprised to hear that any of these tracks have slipping onto a soundtrack or advert soon as; particuarly 'lean in' as it's so reminiscent of and unique at the same.  No wonder he's made the playlists of Somewhere Soul and DJs including Huey Morgan on BBC 6 Music, Tony Minvielle and John Osborne on Jazz FM, Papaoul and Tom Ravenscroft on Rinse FM, and more.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: as day breaks | Jerk

Artist: Jerk
Title:   As Day Breaks / As Night Falls EP 

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Double EP Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - XPRESS Singles Vol. 2: Nothing But The Music / 20 Buck Funk (The Disco Express)

After the XPRESS Singles Vol. 1, service is resumed with Vol. 2 as your 4 carriage (track) train of "funk, soul, nu-disco, house".

The next train of singles after XPRESS Singles Vol. 1 release (see HERE) sees XPRESS Singles Vol.2 leave the platform and its a certified dance floor weapon with London duo Dirty Supercar with a brand new cut, 'Nothing But The Music' in original and Angelo Ferreri remix versions.

We know Dirty Supercar from 'Get Down Boogie'/'Body Slam' (see review HERE) and this track is supported by the soulful vocals of Elliot Chapman with some super 70s strings.   

Ferreri version is a bit of a slow burner but it builds to peak time levels: this guy knows what he'd doing.

But hold on, what's this '20 Buck Funk' on a return ticket from the Château d'Amour residency? 

Bustin' Loose's love letter to James Brown

 (see review HERE).  This time it's the DE SOFFER remix and it's got to be a "stand out" we demand the funk, "the 20 Buck Funk".

And you know that 'Hot' by La Felix was melting (see review HERE) well, it's back and DE SOTTER extended for more dancefloor action.  Both DE SOTETER remixes feature West Coast's Relaye on the rap that moves the crowd to the front for the heatwave.

A seriously strong vinyl package from front to back. Pressed in a limited run of 300, and already sounding exceptional on wax, this is one for the collectors and the selectors alike.

BUY LINK / Pre-Order: https://thediscoexpress.bandcamp.com/album/xpress-singles-vol-2-nothing-but-the-music-20-buck-funk

Nothing But The Music https://go.protonradio.com/r/rlQyAH8AtCSbE

20 Buck Funk https://go.protonradio.com/r/rl2BFofbSChUA

e & Felmann,Funky Love EPThe Disco Express,7

Artist: Various Artists (Dirty Supercar, Angelo Ferreri, Bustin’ Loose, Relaye, La Felix)

Title: XPRESS Singles Vol. 2

Release date: 15th May, 2026
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS109
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Did Virgo ft. Mickey D'Lange - Dream Alone (inc. Black Spuma, JKriv & Marc Brauner Remixes) (Ravanelli Disco Club)

If you can imagine an Italian football player with a high level of panache that's just moved from Middlesbrough to Marseille, it's going to leave an impression - and here's another big impression as Did Virgo and Mickey D'Lange get together on the Ravanello Disco Club label to 'Dream Alone'!

It's hard to believe that there was a time when footie stars at the top of their game would move from Juventus (Italy) to Teesside for a couple of years and then to Marseille all in the late 90s: well that's what Fabrizio Ravanelli did and could it have been to inspiration fo the nu-disco label Ravanelli Disco Club?  I'd like to think so and even more so as this new release is like a relaunch after 18-months out (of the first team) with a big re-signing on vinyl of Did Virgo with guest Mickey L'Ange on a bouncey original track 'Dream Alone' where acid touches the Empire (well, it's only a little passed May 4th - be with you).

Not only that, what would possibly the most active record label boss of Razor-N-Tape, DJ, Producer, JKriv (he of 'Real Ones' - see review HERE) make of a remix?  Perhap, not surprisingly, he builds up from a slow-mo with the sleazy synth wobble with the percussion taking front row of the main stand.

And now you've got the feel for it, Marc Brauncer remixes pushes you onto the TGV for some hi-speed acid disco that's mad rave up whilst Black Spuma manages to fit it all into one big 6:29 dream sequence.

This 12" is far more Marseille than Middlesbrouugh and great fun for a DJ set that'll fit a party anywhere.

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: DID VIRGO feat MICKEY L'ANGE - Dream Alone Vinyl at Juno Records.

Title: Did Virgo ft. Mickey D'Lange

Title: Dream Alone (inc. Black Spuma, JKriv & Marc Brauner Remixes)

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label : Ravanelli Disco Club

Catalog Number: RDC020

Format: 12" vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Number - Discoid (Ramrock Red Records)

Ramrock Red have finally pollinated the new single from Number with a big 'Discoid' that's template for the dancefloor.

If you're following the curious evolution of Number from 'Le Boucle Nouveau' (see review HERE)  and 'Pollinate' album (see review HERE), this 'A Certain Radio, Talking Heads, P-Funk' hybrid project.  Taking this single from the album, now with vocal and instrumental versions, D-I-S-C-O-I-D dancefloor is aiming high this summer holiday with pollination potential

As we know 'Discoid' has that disco groove and old skool vocoder that seems to be trendy once more but don't turn off as it's knob setting is low so it doesn't disctract as would an AI would - suspect these guys love their analog equipment.

We're told Ali and Rich (aka Number) grew up with "the dirty disco bass lines, noisy drum machines, wonky percussion, leering live drums, jagged guitar melodies and uplifting soulful songs of the 80's" with their original incarnation as Red Snapper that flowered in the 90s sharing stages/studios with The Prodigy, Björk and Massive Attack, ACR, The Sugarhill Gang , Edwyn Collins, The Sabres of Paradise, David Holmes and more.

BBC Radio 6's Lauren Laverne is a big fan of Number and get ready to move your 'Discoid' butt. 

LINK / PRE-ORDER: RRR095 Number - Discoid | Number | Ramrock

Artist: Number

Title: Discoid 
Release date: 5th May, 2026
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR095
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Detroit Rising - Lush Grooves Vol. 1 (DownJazz Records)

Detroit Rising, "A Cosmic Jazz-Funk Adventure", is on the rise again with Vol. 1 of some 'Lush Grooves'.

Nothing to do with the LUSH's fresh handmade cosmetics for "Vegetarian & Cruelty Free" bath bombs but as explosive as the 2023 Remixes release that featured our favourites Jimpster, Sean McCabe and Kaidi Tatham. 

Well Kaidi and Jimpster are back for this 5-track EP along with Kai Alcé (famous for his NDATL remixes), DJ Spinna's Galactic Soul Remix (last seen on Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina ,'When You Find Your Love... Hold On' with new DJ Spinna - see review HERE) and Matica.

But that's only half the story as this project is connected to the label's recent album by Mark Adams & The Ubiquity Band (see review HERE); Mark being Roy Ayers' band's Musical Director for 25 years! 

Opening with Kai Alcé's BBQ remix of 'Talking Walls', well , if they could talk and dance they'd say this is the one that's so LUSH with big strings - no vegetarian BBQ here - or perhaps it is?

So you've got you're value track there but wait!  A cover version of 'You've Got The Feeling' as a Jimpster Dub!  You're kidding?  But so true and talk about bringing "fresh energy" to the project.  Not only that, DJ Spinna does the same with 'Open Letter', taken fromt he album, that's more basic Ayers' as in soulful vocal, horns, synths and of course, vibes.

 

Kaidi Tatham is the "godfather of Broken Beat" and another UK heart touched by Ayers over his many jazz-funk years.  And you'd be surprised his 'Day Dreaming' mix is exactly that, deep soul dreamstate that's make you want to "kiss and hug"- until it flip into a synthy jazz-funk wobble board.  The set ends with Matica doing his 'Funk Dub' Love NSA of 'Talking Walls' which is the most mixed of the lot - brilliant!

Whether you have grown up with Ayers' music or never heard of him - this project (as album and remix) is mor than a fitting tribute to the great man as the great maverick/innovator that he was.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Detroit Rising - Lush Grooves, Vol. 1 on Traxsource 

Artist: Detroit Rising 

Title: Lush Grooves Vol. 1 EP

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Downjazz Records

Catalog Number : DJRLUSH001

Format : 12" LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Tema Due (Nicola Conte & Nico Lahs) - Universo Astratto (Schema Records)

Tema Due's album, 'Universo Astratto' is 'THE WAY' 

You'll recall EP1 and EP2? There's no EP 3 as they've gof on straight into the double Vinyl LP 'Universo Astratto' for the electronic, spiritual, jazzdance album of the year by Tema Due, the immaculate pairing of Nicola Conte & Nico Lahs! 

The album features an exceptional cast of musicians — including pianists Giovanni Guidi and Pietro Lussu, percussionists Gabriel Prado and Abdissa Assefa, Magnus Lindgren on winds and Hammond, and vocalists Lalin St. Juste, Siya Makuzeni, Nina Miranda, and Toco.

More than a club record, Universo Astratto is a manifesto — treating the dance floor as a space for collective awareness, inviting listeners into an immersive world of ancestral grooves and cosmic jazz designed to transcend as much as it moves.

BUY LINK: Music | Schema Records

Artist: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs)

Title:  Universo Astratto 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC548

Format: 2 x LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bolbec - Foutu Félin (Batov Records)

Childhood friends and multi-instrumentalists both, Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet are back with another fantastic album crammed with your favourite influences with 'Foutu Félin' and there's more than a bit of musical fun in there too!

Bolbec's' album ;Victime De l'aube' was deep in the OST world of Piero Piccioni, Michel Legrand or Jonny Trunk's favourite, Basil Kirchin with a more than healthy dollop of library (see review HERE).

I can't say 'Foutu Félin' takes us further than 'Feuille D'orage' in that you can can still find a bossa theme next to a 60s gangster jazz noir (in a bathroom!) which in diggers terms is still "worth the price of the album" on its own.

In fact, we're told it's "richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that feels less like a record and more like an imaginary film — one where melody, harmony and rhythm take centre stage in deliberate contrast to the texture-obsessed trends of contemporary scoring."

Like a lost John Barry?   And there's some great flute-gang vibes going on, like 'En Voiture' as a hip-hop beats blues walk; could Dingwalls eventually have a Backroom? This would be where you'd find me totally chilled with 'Le Fou-Rire' along with 'Fanny au Phare''s trumpet!

 

And perhaps it's because these 10 track have a strong sense of française from ya overflowing 'Café Frappé' to 'Terrassée' it still sounds so familiar yet it's new!  And it's no surprise that it's this good as he duo are again supported by Ben Lamdin and Nostalgia 77 (still love 'The Lonliest Flower In The Village; see review HERE).

Batov Records 'traditional' Middle Eastern Grooves (see review HERE) and if you have had enough of dusty Bruton / KPM / Chappell and the like, swing onto this is the must summer album.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Foutu Félin | Bolbec

Artist: Bolbec

Title:  Foutu Félin 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR136

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp