Review: Anthony Joseph - The Ark (Heavenly Sweetness)

Heavenly Sweetness' championing of Anthony Joseph over the years is coming to it's peak as 'The Ark' is ready to take us on a journey with Dave Okumo. 

Any excuse to recommend the Joseph's Afrofuturisic poetry, but it's hard to believe that Joseph's book, The African Origins Of UFOs was originally published in October 2006!  The best part of 20 years on, five albums on Heavenly Sweetness, he now brings us 'The Ark' for us to get onboard.

Joseph's spoken word/poetry is like a space-age funk Zephaniah and is perfecty accompanied by the 'Great Modern Black Music' of Dave Okumu who "burst" onto the London "underground" scene at the time of Bugz In The Attic, Gilles Peterson's "golden era" and getting noticed in the highly acclaimed ) trio 'The Invisible' (with Tom Herbert and Leo Taylor).  In fact, the album features quite a few of Dave-like usual suspects, Tom Skinner, Eska Mtungwazi, Colin Webster, Nick Ramm, Aviram Barath, Byron Wallen, James Wade Sired, Dan See, Richard Spaven and Giacomo Smith.

Opening with tracks 'James' and 'Blue 'Susan', you get the lyrical jazz-funk-soul reference framework (Delfonics, James Brown, Archie Bell & The Dells, Thad Jones, Don Byas) that lies on bed of Sun Ra, Gil-Scot Heron/Brian Jackson and Bill Laswell.

Where 'The African Origins of UFOs' (so influencial) leads to the title track and clearly Joseph "connects" with Sun Ra (as recently seen HERE) with last weeks' Record Store Day, props for the Winifred Atwell acknowledgements ('Transposition Of Space (Glissant)'.

Sounds like a modern day equivalent band behind the influencial album 'Genes And Spirits' by Moses Taiwa Molelekwa back in 2000, with the poetic readings, there's also a ambient/dub vibes that's quite unique.

Would be amazing at any gig/festival (WOMAD,We Out Here, etc), 'James' is like a the James Brown tribute the world needed to get onto 'The Ark', which becomes less obvious/losses its way or finds it's direction/two by two salvation depending on your point of view. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Ark | Anthony Joseph

Artist: Anthony Joseph
Title: The Ark
Release Date : 24th April, 2026

Label : Heavenly Sweetness 
Catalog Number : -

Format: 2 x LP (Gatefold) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Varv - Transit (Off Record)

Boardering on an instrumental avant-garde, Stones Throw/James Pants/Madlib, SMD, Thundercat, Billy Cobham, prog rock jazz experimental concept album - what pigeon hole fit this abstract? All I know is the Varv's sophmore album is in 'Transit' and it's a monster on its way! 

This is already the Italian duo's best album to date, following thier debut 'Lowlands', as its  described as "shape-shifting dialogue between synthetic electronic pulses and improvisation, suspended in a liminal space of endless reinvention and borderless sonic exploration" but it's more out-there than Wout van Aert in space.

Perhaps only a Belgian label called Off Record could release this six track album project of Andrea Cappi (keys/synths) and Francesco Mascolo (drums) as it's weaves from one musical pavé section to another, often via space synth airwaves.

ELP types will find easy access to the album via 'Wormhole' whilst they say, "which swallows the listener whole — a disorienting vortex stripped of reference points, a chaotic pull into the unstable matter of sound itself."  It's certainly a head to head battle that's a mad dead heat finish.

But that's not the start of this half-dozen break-a-way tracks, opening with 'Bright' that grows from synth beats to incorporate a bit a firework whilst 'Place To Digress' adds a piano to the combo a la Steve Reich's schema to Nonclassical/InFiné diversion.

All these tracks and 70s cop theme 'Vice', heavy on funk and synths, are 6 plus minutes long in the mini-opus parading which makes me wonder why 'Arkose' and the closing track, 'Drifter's Deal' are shorter?   It makes it all the more odd when 'Arkose' has all the elements of another 'Wormhole' - any chance of an extended 12" mix?

This is the jazz fusion version of Death From Above 1979 and Suicide that you never knew you needed and after the madness of Record Store Day, I hope you've saved a few pennies fot the one from the back of the van (Ed. one for Ford Transit fans).

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | Off - record label

Artist:  Varv 

Title: Transit

Release date: 24th April, 2026

Label: Off Record

Catalog Number: OUI072

Format:  CD/ Digital

Review: Guido Spannocchi - Kammermusik (Audioguido Records)

The new Guido Spannocchi isn't the same as the old with the release of the new album 'Kammermusik' that's a little bit odd and introspecitive; the cover art is the perfect representation of this Not-jazz Jazz!

After the album, Guido Spannocchi Quartet'sLive at Porgy & Bess, Vienna from a few years ago, (see review HERE), 'Kammermusik' is his first studio album in 5 years.

 And what can you expect?  Well, he's gone minimal, ambient rejection of 'loud' modern jazz.  Having grown up in Vienna and having lived in London for many years, jazz meets chamber music "with hints of exotica' with James Lart (vibes/tubular bells), Danny Keane (cello) and Andrea Di Biase (bass).

Perhaps 'Echoes Of A Formal Education' catchs the feel of the album most obviously in its low-key highbow spirit; Lart's unflashy vibes is like Roy Ayres without the "showman".  On 'Imaginary Cape Town' Spannocchi's sax flows like a river with the bonus of some quirky electronica.  It's quite different.  Ttubular bells on 'Seven Dials Triptychon' with a angular cello section keeps the rural folk dance in an inner city Third Man era (without the zither). 

Perhaps this was on the cards as his brother Rahael mixed the album, sleeve notes [Philosophical] by his dad, Dr Eugen Spannocchi and that artwork, Daniel Domig.  There;s no genre that this album fits into so lets call it, 'Kammermusik' and enjoy it.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://kud.li/audioguido32

Artist: Guido Spannocchi 

Title: Kammermusik Guido 

Release date: 24th April, 2026

Label: Audioguido Records

Cat. No. : TBC

Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Web Web - Kover Kover (Compost Records)

Web Web are making a habit of musically kicking you in the solar plexus as the Munich based fusion jazz group 'Kover Kover' scores even more than Bayern's Harry Kane! 

Exactly a year ago, Compost Records released Web Web's 'Plexus Plexus' featuring. JJ Whitefield (see review HERE) following 'WEB MAX II' (see review HERE) came out a couple of years earlier but this is their seventh album in total and arguably their best yet!

Why 'arguably'?  Well, they're taken the well-worn route of doing an album of cover version of popular tunes in thier own jazz style; most recently seen with Jazz Sabbath as they focus on Black Sabbath's back catalog as a quasi-tribute band.

Web Web, are not that insular, albeit they do cover Sabb's 'chill-out' classic 'Planet Caravan', with the core of Roberto Di Gioia (Fender Rhodes, Piano, Organ, Synthesizers, Percussion), Tony Lakaos(Flute, Altoflute, Soprano- and Tenorsaxofone), Christian Von Kaphengst (Upright Bass, Fender Jazzbass) and Pete Gall (drums, keys)

So can you imagine how good this sounds when they can sound like Weather Report doing a cover version of 'Slave To The Rhythm'! But they don't stop with just Grace Jones and Black Sabbath, they've dug deep into Nirvana ('Come As You Are') Klaus Doldinger, Jimi Hendrix ('Burning Of The Midnight Lamp'), Talking Heads ('Once In A Lifetime'), Grandbrothers, Dave Pike (Big Schlepp), Empire Of The Sun, Joe Jackson ('Steppin‘ Out'), Eurythmics ('Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)'), Kruder & Dorfmeister as their interpretations sound like Web Web originals; talk about making 'standards' their own, Web Web have truly eclipsed some of the originals.

It's a shame some of the tracks are so shtort but 'We Are The People', 'High Noon' and 'Slave To The Rhythm' make up for that but perhaps there's some plans for 12" longer versions? (Ed. wishfull thinking at the moment) but after 10 years on concentrating singularly on thier own compositions, this is a massive 14 track album that's full of twists ('Once In A Lifetime' is not the dancefloor monster you might have second guessed at) and turns ('Big Schepp' goes even more Cathedral-space-mod) so that by the end, all you slaves to the rhythm will be thinking, 'Album Of The Year'!

PS. If you're very quick there's a special offer on Bandcamp to purchase all of their 7 albums including 'Kover Kover'.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/WebWeb-KoverKover

P.S. Cover artwork by Jan Steins.

Artist: WEB WEB 

Title: Kover Kover

Release date: 24th April, 2026

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 677

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Naná Rizinni - Epiblast (Bridge The Gap)

Don't 'Mind The Gap' when you can bridge it - and that gap is Naná Rizinni's 'Epiblast' album with roots in São Paulo with a gap of Latin/Rock/Jazz/prog!

The last release on the label was by progressive and contemporary trio St. Barbe (see review HERE) and now London based, Naná Rizinni has picked up something of their Math rock jazz on this album, 'Epiblast'.

Having trained in Brazil with top drummers (including Lilian Carmona, Vera Figueiredo, and Duda Neves) she's a much sort after musician in her own right having toured extensively and played in numerous groups.  Having moved to London in 2020, this ablum is written and co-produced with saxophonist Mark Cake over the past two years its a proper mix.

The singles have been well received by the disperate radio stations like Radio 3 at one end and Rinse FM at the other and championed by Somewhere Soul (he of 'Rituals' -see review HERE) and Tim Garcia.  'Familiar Stranger' was a eye-opener with it's whispy vocals, Jazz FM sax solos and Chinese cinematic strings; compare with 'The Right Side Of The Esalator' battle of Cake's sax and a cross of BRUK Tango, Miles' melody and synth wobble. 

The last single 'Fifth Life', we're told is  Naná's favourite track on the album for it's Steve Reich soundscape that goes leftfield Latin flute gang to guitar/synth out-there (apparently influenced by David Fiuczynski, the founder and leader of Screaming Headless Torsos)

This album seems like a bridge between Café OTO and cinematic jazz beats and lots in-between, we're told that the title ‘Epiblast’ comes from "an early embryonic layer from which the entire organism develops. For me, it represents multiple births and rebirths — new roles, identities, and directions — capturing both fragility and infinite potential.”  Perfect!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Epiblast | Naná Rizinni

Artist: Naná Rizinni

Title: Epiblast

Release date: 24th April, 2026

Label : Bridge The Gap

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Dgital / Bandcamp  

Review: Declan McDermott - Why Don't You Believe Me? EP (inc. I:Cube & DJ Nature Remixes) (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I'd normally say, "In typical Delusions Of Grandeur style", but when it comes to the Jimpster team and Declan McDermott's, they excell themselves as not only do they believe in 'Why Don't You Believe Me?', they've gone and got a couple of remix big guns on the case, again! 

We know from Declan McDermott's Delusions Of Granduer debut EP, 'Doin' It All For U' (see review HERE) that not only is he a super talent in the deep house jazzy department that's got a thing for Ritchie Rome, but big names like Tom Trago and lovetempo are happy to step up to the plate on the remix.

The time you've got Versatile Records' veteran  I:Cube from France and NYC-based DJ Nature.  But once you'be heard 'Why Don't You Belive Me?' with some sexy Sparky/Rome interplay with female vocals in French and English on a Fender Rhodes bed - you may ask yourself, "Pourquoi?"

I:Cube speeds it up and has a choppy approach to the vocals and it kicks some with a tape loop switch!  

I've always liked what DJ Nature does, from his earliest Golf Channel days and Tim Sweeny Beats In Space appearances as he got the perfect blend of Theo Parrish meets jazz not jazz house.  And he hits that brief in buckets on this remix with mod/Blackpool organ undercurrents on the pourquoi to the why!  

Australian Declan McDermott is now based in Berlin but this four tracker ends on something 'global' as a tribute to his homeland.  ‘Yara-Kimba (Lindeman Island)’ is "named after Yara-Kimba, the Indigenous name for Lindeman Island in the Ngaro Nation/Whitsundays region of Australia, given by the Ngaro people, the traditional custodians of the land meaning ‘place of the snapper fish’."  As popular as snapper is down under, there's echoes of everyone's favourite Ron Trent’s spacious, spiritual deep house that permeates the arrangement, with gentle percussion, tropical tones, and a calm-breathing groove. As Declan says “This track is a tribute to Yara-Kimba, inspired by childhood memories, the island’s natural soundscape, and my vision of a distinctly Australian / Oceanic house sound.”

So if I said, this EP is essential and unbelievable, would Declan say, "Why Don't You Believe Me?"

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Why Don't You Belive? EP | Declan McDermott

Artists: Declan McDermott 

Release: Why Don't You Believe Me? EP (inc. I:Cube & DJ Nature Remixes

Release Date: 24th April, 2026

Label: Delusions Of Grandeur

Cat. No. DOC111

Format: Vinyl 12" (SOLD OUT) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Another Taste - Another Taste II (Space Grapes)

It's hard to tell if this taste is now or 1970s - I say, any excuse to have 'Another Taste II'! 

"Dutch funk collective Another Taste returns with their second full-length album ‘Another Taste II’ on Space Grapes Records, a lable run by a certain Danilo Plessow - better known as Motor City Drum ensemble!

In a digital age, the band doubles down on analog and here ‘Another Taste II’ delivers eight new cuts of boogie, funk and obscure disco recorded live to tape". 

With a live set that's seen them pay London (Camden Town) venues KOKO and Jazz Café  and clubs Tresor Berlin, New Morning Paris, and festivals like Love Supreme (UK), Lost Village (UK), Nuits Sonores (FR), Hamburg Jazz (DE), Lowlands (NL), ADE Amsterdam they's taken their debut 2024 album sound to a full disco/radio/club show with ‘Another Taste II’, as "the full immersion".

The flit from disco 'Party Lights' to radio jazz-soul 'Waiting Game' and 'Never Down' back to party time 'Run Into Love' and 'Into The Night' gets various Chic/Shalamar/Rose Royce/etc boxes ticked without any hint of cliché or cheese.

And here's an anthem for the age as on 'Peace Call', they are joined by Arp Frique and the Perpetual Singers (they of Alpha & Omega' - see review HERE) and bolstered throughout by a dedicated brass section. 

But does anyone remember Blue Feather? The Dutch soul/funk band from 70s/80s and their big hit 'Let's Funk Tonight' you might think would be an inspiration?  Well, I'm guessing 'Blue Feather Movement' is Another Taste's tribute to them and it's all what you'd want in a Latin-jazz-disco killer track - lets hope there's an even longer 12" mix on the cards (Ed. on blue vinyl?)

The new album presents a whole new menu creation that’s both timeless and comforting in equal measures - it'll be even more of a monster at festivals/shows this year including the Brick Lane Festival..

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: ANOTHER TASTE - Another Taste II Vinyl at Juno Records.

Artist: Another Taste
Title: Another Taste II 
Release Date : 24th April, 2026
Catalog Number : SGP 016

Label : Space Grapes

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimspter - Bassic Rollers EP (Freerange Records)

It's hard to believe that Jimpster has been releasing music for 30 years (under this name and many others) but there's no stopping him as he's back on Freerange Records with a four track EP, 'Bassic Rollers'

Coming in at squad No. 11 in the recent Traxsource 'Top Artist Of The Year', Jimpster (aka Jamie Odell) as DJ/Producer/Label Owner is more than busy and this keeps him in the public eye and ear and 'Bassic Rollers' will keep him there.

Being the son of Shakatak's drummer guarantees that the groove is deep and the synths sexy with liberal sample use, like the "squeaky" track 'Heads Down' it supposed to have been inspired by late ’90s club culture - the kind of grooves you might have heard on a Wednesday night at Kenny and Luke’s influential Space nights at /Bar Rhumba.  

Funnily enough, the first Jimpster album I got was the late 90s 'Messages From The Hub' which was much more Monday night at Bar Rhumba with Peterson's 'That's How It Is' which was broken/downtempo/future jazz with a version of Herbie Hancock's 'Maiden Voyage'.  Now you don't take that on lightly and that's what you'll be thinking about 'Crispy Pancakes' as it's ready to have you for breakfast.

Talking of "future jazz" (Ed. are we there yet?), the closing track 'Far Side' is hot downtempo disco that's so groovy on the keys and percussion with that touch of horn and hint of dub; it's the winner for me.

Having said all that, the lead track is the opener, 'Out And About' and that's what Jamie has been doing with all his different shades of Jimpster for decades and he won't let you down on the dancefloor: all great tracks.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Bassic Rollers EP | Jimpster

Artist:  Jimpster 

Title: Bassic Rollers EP

Release date: 24th April, 2024

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : FRD302

Format: Digital  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Review: Jean Jacques Smoothie - Success For Dummies (P J Principle Remixes) Colour and Pitch)

In need of some some self help?  Let Jean Jacques Smoothie get you in the mood for success on the dancefloor with some disco/funk/boogie on the latest release on Colour & Pitch as it doesn't get much better than this!

You'll recall that six months ago, Jean Jacques Smoothie (aka Steve Robson) 'returned' with remixes of his 'One Hit', '2 People' that has clearly re-launched him into activity such that there's an album coming out in June, 'Sleeping In the Flowerbeds'.

But before that, here's a taster single, 'Success For Dummies' with five (Ed. count 'em) versions by PJ Principle.  The original is synth heavy bass funk which "doesn't get much better than this", so why all the alternatives?  Principle says, "When Steve sent me the demos for the album," says PJ (Peej) "I immediately picked out 'Success For Dummies' as a favourite; it's a catchy track with great musicianship and a cool "self help" voiceover that reminded me of Will Powers' "Adventures in Success". Working with such good elements made coming up with remix ideas a fairly simple task. I hope that the results have been a 'success'!"

'Disco Mix', 'Disco Edit', 'House Mix', 'House Instrumental' and 'Disco Instrumental' - now if that doesn't motivate you for extended DIE and HIE edits I don't know what is. Make plans but either one should get success on the dancefloor.

Spring into action and get it now and 100% be featured in this months' Colour & Pitch Mix!

PS. Great artwork too - oh yeah! 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://go.protonradio.com/r/rl801xrhvXOx0

Artist: Jean Jacques Smoothie

Title:Success For Dummies EP

Release date: 23rd April, 2026

Label:  Colour and Pitch

Catalog Number: CAP094SDG2

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Namas - Tonight (Demi Lune Records)

As an antidote to yesterday's Record Store Day madness, here's an opportunity to chill out to the Namas' 'Tonight' - the second album that is with us now and it's just as much a rich tapestry of modern jazz as their first!

This is a the Rennes trio of of Gaël Bourgeault (Grand piano, upright piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards), Léo Debroise (Upright bass) and Victor Dubois (Drums) and 'Tonight' is perfect for a quiet, late or listening room one as they mellow out piano trio bad boys (like The Bad Pluse, BadBadNotGood etc) to a Dilla-esque cinematic orchestra. 

The cinematic ambience created mostly by the range of Bourgeault's keyboard choices with particalarly emphasis on the jazzy Fender Rhodes to the classical grand piano.

The album consists of 7 instrumentals and one with vocals by Keysuna, the fittingly entitled 'Don't Rush' and it's alreay had plays on Gilles Peterson' 'Worldwide FM' show, Tina Edwards' 'Bandcamp Selects' show and featured by Laurent Garnier, Somewhere Soul (he of 'Rituals' - see review HERE) and Music Is My Sanctuary.

So if you've had a busy day and you're looking for a Saturday 'Tonight' luxury, check out the comfortable warm sounds of the Namas.

BUY LINK: Tonight | Namas

Artist: Namas

Title:  Tonight

Release date: 27th March, 2026

Label : Demi Lune Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital  / Bandcamp