Review: Eric Hilton - A Sky So Close (Montserrat House)

Eric Hilton has 30-plus years as a producer, co-founder of Theivery Corporation and all that experience has been channelled into his new album, 'A Sky So Close' that's as reflective as the title!

We've been waiting for this album since last summer when the single, 'Midnight Ragas' featuring Natalia Clavier and Puma Ptah, (see review HERE) as it promised the groove for the other 11 tracks on the album to follow. 

And indeed, it does as "reluctant" bass player Hilton, gets all his downtempo trip-hop jazz lined up for "a journey to a place of sensual attainment"; much like the vocalist on 'Midnight Ragas' and particularly his long-time associate Clavier on equally beautiful 'Lalitā' with it's "concoction of sitar and HIndi chanting" and 'The Dharma Lovers'.

Far more 90s Asian Underground than, say, Shakti Soundsystem (see review HERE) with tracks like 'Pondering Soul' and the Italo-crime cinematic downtempo 'Get Carter' theme of the title track.

If you think he's lost the cool of the TC fanbase, 'Ghatam' and 'Kali' tie it all together along with the closing track, 'The Lotus Game'.  

In addition to the new album, super fans might know that he's also been working on a collaboration with Berlin-based company RESØR, who has put together Hilton's personally spec of hand-crafted rotary mixers as a limited edition of 50.   A little out of the YATM office price range but this album will sound just as good on a soundsystem of your choosing

A perfect start to the resolution filled start of the New Year to give your inner soul some priority - did I mention the "desi-meets-drum and bass" of 'The Emeral Door'?

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://lnk.to/bcKVah

Artist: Eric Hilton  

Title: A Sky So Close 

Release date: 20th Februry, 2026

Label : Montserrat House

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP Sky Blue Vinly / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jake Mason Trio - The Modern Ark (Soul Messin' Records)

Love is in the air as the Jake Mason Trio encapsulate that late 60s/early 70s Mod/Soul/Jazz spirit that can extends Blue Note sleaze funk to lounge jazz - and who does love that? They've even got US jazz singer heart-throb, Kurt Elling to sing on the title track!

Whether it be Blue Note's organ star turns Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Larry Young (and we'll throw in Grant Green for good measure) to organ led prog-rockers ELP, there is something special with Hammond B3 led trios; and Jake Mason and his two mates,  are indeed perfect companions as the long awaited follow up to their debut album, 'The Stranger In The Mirror'.

And in addition to Danny Fischer (drums) and James Sherlock (guitar) they've managed to get international jazz singing star Kurt Elling to sing on the title track, 'The Modern Ark' is a nu-Mod classic.   Back in the day, used to play-out track from Kurt's 2011 album, 'The Gate' so this guy knows how to swing.

The other guest vocal is on 'Stop Searching For Love' featuring Kate Ceberano as a downtempo ballad and there's one or two slower tracks on the ten track album which is in keeping with the Jimmy Smith 'school'.

Equally "in keeping" is the fast pace opener 'The Last Piece', the dancey 'Boogaloo Popcorn' and 'Green Pick' (Ed. wonder who inspired that one?)

But hang on, even though this is so much more than a one trrack album, you need this for the killer final track 'Here's Your Change' - It's a shame that it's not longer but is that Aussie humour in the title?

Pretty much a perfect follow up to 'Cookin' The Books' by Cookin' On 3 Burners (see review HERE) for the Soul Messin' label; and why did it take so long to be released? Don't know but we're told it was recorded 'live' like they did at Blue Note and it's got that Van Gelder Studio sound - no wonder it's so good!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Modern Ark | Jake Mason Trio

Artist: Jake Mason Trio

Title: The Modern Ark

Release date: 13th February, 2026

Label : Soul Messin' Records

Catalog Number : SMRLP0225 / SMRCD-0225

Format: Vinyl 12" LP (Limited) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Zachary Berns (Zbeeez) - Oh Yes! EP (Apparel Music)

New York based composer / producer / drummer Zachary Berns declares 'Oh Yes!' from the jazz n' choir meets house that sits between gospel at one extreme and classical at another!

The title track 'Oh Yes' reminds me of a church choir in amongst the setting for the famous black-and-white photograph of 57 jazz musicians, 'A Great Day In Harlem' (Art Kane for Esquire magazine in 1958) as a modern studio production.  A track counter balanced by a jazzy classical cut up called 'Living Room' and the opener 'Shadows' with the trust of the live drumming and a service call bell for supper's ready.

This EP has the genre skipping cool that's over K&D/Ninja Tune/house edits to jazzdance clubs.

Any of these tracks would fit musically on the album, 'Apparel Music: B-Day 15' (see review HERE: if not on the time-line) and this will equally cross-over with any jazz-fused crowd so it's big in our world.

P.S. Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM, Gooner and more) is a fan - see below.

BUY LINK: https://apparel-music.lnk.to/APDEXTRA062

Artist: Zachary Berns (Zbeeez)

Title: Oh Yes! EP

Release date: 6th February, 2026

Label : Apparel Music

Catalog Number : APDEXTRA062

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Shaka - About Love & Pain EP (MATE)

How you doin' MATE? 

Our last feature on MATE was Bress Underground's 'Take Me Higher' EP (see review HERE) and as excellent as that is, you're not going find any bigger flute gang monster than 'Love & Pain' gives us for some Latin inspired house shuffle.

Brilliant stuff and it's backed up with some 'Sonic Of Joy' with vocals from Eve that's "jazzy synth work and swaying, vibey grooves that show off some serious piano chops" and a big saxy solo.

Anything else is a bonus, 'Inner Balance' is more than that too as there's echoes of jazz-funk dance with big organ and a heavy Jonnny Hammond touch (with acid!)

Spain is full of deep house experts but as this is only the 22nd release on the label, definitely ones to get up to date with and follow.

BUY LINK / Pre Order: bit.ly/3IXVt0s

Artist: Shaka

Title: About Love & Pain EP

Release date: 3rd February, 2026

Label : MATE 

Catalog Number : MATE 022

Format: 12" / Bandcamp 

Review: Eshach - Ada EP (Karakol)

Mornin' as Eshach opens his 'Ada' EP from the beautiful soundscape of a garden in Porto, awaiting the school bell to stop and let the birds sing!

That's how the debut release from producer and composer Eshach starts this EP (with 'Intro (Bingin') as the other three tracks mark "a refined and confident entry into the electronic music landscape. Melodic, cinematic, and soulful to the core, Ada is a carefully curated introduction to Eshach’s world… one where emotion, groove, and storytelling coexist across four distinct yet cohesive tracks".

The title track, 'Ada'  continues the link to the outdoors with more twittering birds in the background but the location moves to more of a workshop environment with factory banging sheet metal/bottle shop that turns echoy dub but without getting industrial; quite the opposite, as it rolls on a funky baseline.

Wasn't expect an Afro-house switch with 'Am I Here' but you can't go wrong with a bit of flamingo jazz flute gang business and then to finish off, 'Piantito' that's arguably more mainrom as it references some of the the elements in the other three track with a melodic theme that weaves pictures around your head.

We're told this EP "represents the beginning of Eshach’s solo journey… an assured debut that balances club functionality with musical storytelling" and YATM are happy to agree. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Eshach.o | Instagram | Linktree

Artist: Eshach
Title: Ada EP 
Release date: 6th February, 2026
Label: Karakol
Catalog Number: KR001
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina - When You Find Your Love... Hold On (DJ Spinna & Musclecars Remixes) (Razor-N-Tape)

25th Anniversary Mixes!  No way - some of us weren't even born in 2000 when the original track came out on Central Park Recordings, Bowery, New York; how has that resurfaced with remixes in 2026? 

It's hard to remember a time when there were masses of records store in towns and cities everywhere and in particular, New York was the home of loads with a need to serve DJs and clubs.  At that time Satellite Records was connected the the Satellite Records store and one of the sub-labels fell on a deep house hit by Alistair Colling that needed a vocal and were lucky enough to gett Tortured Soul's frontman and songwriter John-Christian Urich to write it.

Not only that, 'I love you' and 'la la lahs' were elevated to a feel good classic level with Sabina Sciubba (then of Brazillian Girls) to record the vocals plus remixes by another Brooklyn stalwart Jon Culter (a regular name on the wall of London record shop racks and opened 60 Million Postcards at about this time!) 

No only is it a classic that's stood the test of time, the re-issue is connected with today's Razor N Tape is the co-founder JKriv (who was Tortured Soul's bassist and collaborator of 10 years) so who better to revive this one and with his networking abilities he's got the strong-arms of New York house 'names/, Musclecars (as in 'Dubble Honey Pack' - see review HERE) and another remix legend, DJ Spinna (as in Galatic Soul and 'The Sound Beyond Stars: The Essential Remixes - see review HERE).

In terms of the vinyl that's available on pre-order, there's the Galatic Soul Remix and what sounds like a heavy-weigh musclecars remix on the A-side.  Along with the original mix, along with some franciase, there's Jon Cutler's Distant music mix on the flip.

If quantity is you thing, the digital also includes instrumentals of DJ Spinna and musclecars plus the original Jon Cutler mixes giving you 9 versions including the original and the little known Alistair Colling Breakbeat Mix.

Superb way to start the new year and one that'll will last another 25 years in clubs and at home.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER Vinyl: Tortured Soul, Alistair Colling - When You Find Your Love…Hold on (25th Anniversary Mixes) [feat. Sabina Sciubba]

Artist: Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina

Title: When You Find Your Love... Hold On - DJ SPINNA & MUSCLECARS REMIXES 

Release date: 13th February, 2026

Label : Razor N Tape

Catalog Number : RNTD131 / RNTR086

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Oscilloscope - There Is Always Darkness, There Is Always Light (Independent)

Once more we return to the dichotom of yin and yang, darkness and light, peace and war etc - but this time as an 11 track study of electronic sounds that's been produced by the Oscilloscope!

Released on Bandcamp Friday, the Oscilloscope (aka Jason Cooke - he of Comedy Balloon and Charity Shop Classics on All FM) recorded these tracks in the January 2026, mostly "in one take, although some had additional pads and solos added in post production" and you'd never know as there's hardly any element of time contraint; mostly gentle soundscapes that'll any electronic influences of the likes of Ravi Shankar, Alice and John Coltrane from the spiritually enlightened 60s/70s.

Perhaps 'Back To Work' is more 'industrial' (with a small 'I') getting into Tangerine Dream more than Kraftwerk; bearing in mind it was recorded at the Institute Of Psychedelectronics, Manchester and mixed Rhosneigr Beach, Anglesey.Of Psyche (Ed. note his connection with 'Comedy Balloon')

Of course, there's the obligatory space themes (more of the Star Trek than modern today Musk) with 'Return To The Space' and 'Full Of Stars' but this is no vanity project as it's complimentry to Manu Delago & Max ZT forthcoming duet, 'Deuce'  and duo of Ben Seretan and Jake Thayer and their formcoming album, 'Sunbean Of No Illusion'.

I must admit, I prefer the longer, more Edgar Froese / Klaus Schulze Kraut-synth tracks 'Prologue - The Action Is The Decision' and 'Erebus Rising' but as in the Light vs. Darkness envelope, tracks like 'Proton' and 'Stylo' are the other side of the coin toss mind of the ever changing Oscilloscope.

"Great stuff" as a wise man once said - recommended.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: There Is Always Darkness, There Is Always Light | Oscilloscope

Artist: Oscilloscope 

Title: There Is Always Darkness, There Is Always Light
Release date: 6th February, 2026
Label : Independent
Catalog Number  TBC
Format:  Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 - Haf (Bubblewrap Collective)

Keep on smiling with Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18's new 10 track album 'Haf' because, when it comes to poppy "samba, salsa, Andean balladry, Latin soul, tropical funk and sun-soaked grooves, sung in Welsh, English, and Spanish" no body does it better! 

Yes, that's right, 2026 might have its most uplifting album already with 'Haf' as this magical combination Hall & Oates meets Brazilian folk and Latin jazz  to the track with the extremes of 'Gwenyn y Gwanwyn' to the "Salsoul" 'Como Te Amo' to 'Shades Of Red' sung in English by Anglo-Brazilian Nina Miranda (previously 50% of Zeep with past releases on Compost, Far Out Recordigns, etc).

This is the third album by Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 in little over a year as is earmarked as a "break through" which is not to say, third time lucky.  This is perfectly crafteed even though Carwyn was also envolved with Edwyn Collins and the North Mississippi Allstars at the time!

Even track is like a little 'Bubblewarp' of odd-pop sunshine with 'Whistling Sands' (about a beach in North Wales) and the instant 'Keep On Smiling' as standouts.

And if you're wondering about the track 'Haf' and album title, it's dedicated to Carwyn's late music teacher Haf Morris who, he says, “her focus, guidance and patience shaped me like no other. I hope she’s enjoyed my musical journey, from wherever she’s watching. Diolch, Haf”.

The album is on the Cardiff based label and is on black vinyl or double CD (as it includes the immediate. previous album 'Fontana Rosa').

P.S. Today marks 43 years of the release of the single 'Rip It Up' by Orange Juice (fronted by Edwyn Collins).

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 - Haf | Bubblewrap Collective

Haf | Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 | Bubblewrap Collective

Artist: Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18

Title: Haf

Release date: 6th February, 2026

Label: Bubblewrap Collective

Catalog Number: BWR084

Format: Vinyl LP / 2 x CD (inc. previous album 'Fontana Rosa') / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Owelu Dreamhouse - Owelu Dreamhouse (Hopestreet Recordings)

Drawing from West African records, Latin influences, and 90s R&B, the duo that is  Owelu Dreamhouse with co-producer Henry Jenkins have got  and Melbourne's top session players to create tracks that'll make 'Owelu Dreamhouse' a must have album. 

The compilation to celebrate Hopestreet  Studios 16th Birthday (see review HERE) did not give us any warning about Owelu Dreamhouse debut, 'Owelu Dreamhouse'.

The artist based co-operative who have released 50 records whilst "fostering a community spanning soul, R&B, funk, Latin, Bollywood psychedelia and more" have excelled themselves on Owelu Dreamhouse as their Charles Stepney meets Motown opus as Nkechi Anele (vocals with Saskwatch) and multi-instrumentalist Nic Ryan-Glenie with a blend of Afrobeat, soul, psych, jazz in an cinematic setting a la prime Curtis Mayfield / Isaac Hayes.

'Struggle For Kasawa' hints at 70s Blaxploitation with a 60s Bassey/Winehouse element, throw in some beats with 'Okra 4 Bilalli' and gentle jazz ('Yellow Trumpet'), the album explores "being a third-culture kid, with the band's name playing on Nkechi's grandmother's village Owaelu in Nigeria - single 'Tourist' captures the complexity of returning home while simultaneously feeling out of place" whilst the heavy percussion and horns keep it Afrobeat centric, like the stand-out 'Oluwatsam' and the Manu Dibango-influenced 'Stutter' (Ed. the Cameroonian saxophonist who had world wide hits with 'Soul Makossa', 'Big Blow' and many more).

Touched by the poetry of 'Daughters Always Listening' that flows into the the soul-pop of 'Niger River' the Hopestreet 17th Birthday party is going to be special as the the spirit of West Coast Africa links up with south coast Aussie.

"Trust me when I say that this is seriously good." Josh 'Somewhere Soul' Mason-Quinn (8 Essential New Albums From Around The World)

BUY LNK / PRE-ORDER: Owelu Dreamhouse | Owelu Dreamhouse

Artist: Owelu Dreamhouse

Title:  Owelu Dreamhouse

Release date: 6th February, 2026

Label : Hopestreet Recordings

Catalog Number :  HS

Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Dina Ögon - Människobarn (Playground Music)

The Dina Ögon are a now on their fourth album and this time they've nailed their identity as the premier Swedish post-folk popsters with the 13 track baby 'Människobarn'!

We've been tracking the four-piece Dina Ögon since their track 'Bakom glaset' made it onto Vol. 6 of the Mr Bongo Record Club compilaiton (see review HERE) which got a litttle overlooked sitting next to Sweden's Sven Wunder and being a bit poppy!

However, we are now fully onboard with the summery jingley/jangley sixties pop sensibilites last year with thier single, 'Orion' (see review HERE), the double A sider 'Dålig teve' ('Bad TV') and 'Margaretas sång' ('Margareta's Song') (see review HERE) that are both on the album.

Of course these two tracks stand out now on the album as they're both embedded in a consciousness, along with 'Orden brann' (that you might find in Stockholm's 'Peace' Culture Project in the near future) but it'd be easy to pick 'singles' as it so good throughout; possible due to being sung in Swedish by Anna Ahnlund's voice.

Not that I can understand any Swedish, 'Människobarn' does come over as "bittersweet", like early Bowie/Spiders verses the 5th Dimension and Joni Mitchell with a a gentle Pixies!

The electric guitar of Daniel Ögren (he of Fastingen 92 on Mr Bongo - see HERE) is as high profile as Anna's vocals and whilst it can sound Fleetwood Mac at times, tracks like 'Du ska va kvar', 'Verdandi', 'Hack i häl' and the closing track 'Hélena', melt in their summer sound.

In fact, whilst I can only think of Tunng as a experiment folk-pop comparision you'd have to transpose them to 60s California which is a pretty good recommendation in anyone's book. 

The tracks are mostly in the constaint of the pop/radio 3-4 mins and it'd be cool if the tracks had a "jazz" version with solos and Anna doing a full Norma Winstone - but that's just me as this 'Människobarn' is perfect just as it came out.  .  

BUY LINK:  https://dina-ogon.ffm.to/manniskobarn-album

Artist: Dina Ögon

Title:  Människobarn 

Release date: 6th February, 2026

Label : Playground Music

Catalog Number : -

Format: Digital / Bandcamp