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

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: The Heliocentrics, Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott, Bilal – Nuclear War (Strut)

A 'jazz' Record Store Day release that isn't as re-issue but is over 10 years old and celebrates Sun Ra, Marshall Allen, Malcolm Catto and "Yellow & Orange 'hazardous' vinyl" must be world a look'?  Oh, yes - 'Nuclear War' and Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards, 2015!

The Heliocentrics (the Sun Ra 'arkestra' centred on Malcolm Catto and Jake Ferguson) who team up with a number of jazz giants from the leftfield, like Lloyd Miller (see below), Mulatu Astake, Orlando Julius, were booked to play at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Award gig in 2015, check the line-up HERE, to give Marshall Allen a life-time achievement award and for Catto, the John Peel Award.

This EP(LP?) is the, up until now, reheasal Malcolm has had on his hard-drive for over ten years which, of course, showcases Ra's apocalypic vision of 'Nuclear War' (full background HERE).

Allen sounds as good then as he does now (Ed. 101 years old and counting) and the only moan is each track should be at least a whole side of the 'Yellow & Orange "hazardous" vinyl' - anyway it reminded me of the review I did for the LLoyd Miller album in 2010.  Miller himself passed in 2024 aged 86 and; "Dr. Miller was also known as Kurosh Ali Khan, a name he used while hosting a prime-time television show in Tehran, Iran in the 1970s". 

Nuclear War, Where Pathways Meet, Angels And Demons At Play, Astro Black ft. Bilal

Internet Archive link:  LLOYD MILLER & THE HELIOCENTRICS - LLOYD MILLER & THE HELIOCENTRICS | FLY | EUROPE: REVIEWS

Artist: The Heliocentrics, Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott ft. Bilal

Title: Nuclear War (Record Store Day 2006 Release) 

Release date : 18th April, 2026

Label : Strut

Catalog Number : STRUT279LP

Format: LP Vinyl 

Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics When I first heard about this one, I admit that I was a little excited and the combination of Lloyd Miller and The Heliocentrics is just that, excitement.
You’ll recall that The Heliocentrics have been turning up on the pages of FLY Global Music with increasing regularity from to the debut album Out There to last years’ award winning Inspiration Information collaboration with the Godfather of Ethio Jazz, Mulatu Astatke (full review HERE and still sounding brilliant on the Jazz Chronicle decks on a monthly basis). And in truth, the sneaky 10” was the first I saw of this new release (at May’s Jazz Chronicles in the hands of a certain Martin Gordon) so the album has been the talk of the message boards ever since. But it’s not only The Heliocentrics (as lead by Malcom Catto) that we’ve heard of before. Lloyd Miller was destined to be an underground jazzman by definition being the son of a professional clarinet player and coming from New Orleans. He had his first 78 out in 1950 and then in the late 50s followed his Dad to Iran and absorbed himself in the music and instruments of Persia and the Middle East. And then, like many other jazz musicians from the U.S. he found Europe’s ears receptive to his jazz leanings and lived in Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and Germany and toured with Eddie Harris and Don Ellis (he of the Turkish Baths; you see the connection?). Anyway, we already know that his favourite ex-pat home was in Paris where he teamed up with the ‘left bank’ of Jef Gilson (see reviews of Soul Of Africa) and worth checking the re-issue with Lloyd Miller on Free Spirits on Kindred Spirits. You don’t need to get all these previous releases (or even Jazzman’s compilation A Lifetime In Oriental Jazz) to appreciate this new album. In fact, I’m in two minds whether you need to as this is brilliant. ‘Electricone’ is fantastic introduction, ‘Nava’ fades out far too soon and the track ‘Pari Ruu’ just is crate digger’s Indo-eastern jazz heavenwithout spending hours diggin’ or the cash buyin’. That’s just the first three tracks! Whether it’s the Heliocentrics or Miller that provide, what the label say is “a freeform mix of Eastern arrangements, jazz and angular psychedelics” is debateable but there’s no doubting that together they prove to be a spiritual force. ‘Salendro’ is a neat diversion that hails from the Far East whilst ‘Spirit Jazz’ is Far East - West Coast and all cosmic points in-between: and therefore for fans of Pharoah Sanders to Nat Birchall and all points in-between. For funky jazzster that are friends of Alice [Coltrane], ‘Modality’ is fantastic! In fact, I’m struggling to say “fantastic” enough here. ‘Rain Dance’ goes indo, ‘Lloyd Lets Loose’ is beat poet jazz meets Peanuts freestyle ‘Latin’ is a proper Astatke-esque jazz piano groover that sets your feet a-movin’ and your heart a-pumpin’ that make’s it a modern classic even before it’s released. And ‘Charhargah’ isn’t far behind in its modal cool whilst ‘Sunda Sunset’ is a suitable chill out ending to the CD. You don’t have to be on the hubble bubble pipe to get this vibe and just as exciting as the album, we’re promised a tour next year (Oh! don’t you wanna be on that tour bus?) And whilst we’re in the vibe, must mention that the artwork for the album features a specially commissioned illustration by artist Alex Williamson with photography by Alexis Maryon and I’d say there’s it’s got that Eastern look at say a Roald Dahl story which is just about the right pitch if you ask me. On a final note, how does this work? Metro’s Album of the Week gets 3 stars and Lloyd Miller (Age 72) and The Heliocentrics gets 4 stars on the same page! In the Jazz Chronicles, there was and always will be a place for Lloyd Miller (and the Heliocentrics for that matter) but Lloyd is certainly no jazz drop out - more of a jazz must get: fantastic! Reviewed: Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics (Strut) Cat. No. STRUT060CD Release date: 19th July 2010 Tracklisting: 1 Electricone (3:42) 2 Nava (4:55) 3 Pari Ruu (4:15) 4 Salendro (2:08) 5 Spirit Jazz (6:55) 6 Modality (3:19) 7 Rain Dance (3:22) 8 Lloyd Lets Loose (3:30) 9 Bali Bronze (6:14) 10 Latin (3:16) 11 Charhargah (4:07) 12 Sunda Sunset (5:39) Links: www.strut-records .com http://e-edition.metro.co.uk The Metro 19th July 2010 p38 “A stunning return for a man who inexplicably dropped out of jazz history” John Lewis —Gerry Hectic Wednesday 21 July 2010