Review: Various Artists - Wah Wah 45s Remixed 3 (Wah Wah 45s)

Wah Wah 45s see out 2025 with a whopping thirty track compilation, showcasing some of the finest remixes and reworks that have been released on the label in recent years, as well as a dozen brand new, never heard before cuts!

The new 'Wah Wah 45s Remixed 3' is the first remix compilation on the label in seven years and what an impressive choice 'leader' Dom Servini has made from the wealth of producers, DJs and musicians that have worked with over the years.

From the most recent Sunbörn Meets Clap! Clap! project (with 'Vuvuzela Dourada' on the Cengiz remix) to Jamie Finlay with the album opener, the Quiet Dawn remix of 'Family' (originally on the album 'Sun Dogs' - see review HERE).

Of course you can't miss out Dele Sosimi who seems busier than ever with gigs in Bristol and London's Fox & Firkin early in the new year.  The album 'The Confluence' (see review HERE) with The Estuary 21 didn't need any remix, but Dazzle Drums are more than up to the task on 'E Si Mè dò' (and if they're listening, Dom, Chris Long and me are still awaiting the FB3 Dazzle Drums Remix - please). And so influencial Dele is, you'll the project with Medlar (see review HERE) and there's the Dele Sosimi x Medlar 'Full Moon' Dam Swindle remix and then Medlar's own remix of their 'All About The Dance' and Daz-I-Kue on 'Gudu Gudu Kan'.

And there's a heavy Afrobeat heritage presence with Raz & Alfa Sackey, Isaac Birturo & The Rail Abandon, Eparapo (with a WheelUP remix - check out his new album, 'Inner Light, see review HERE) plus the Sam Remore remix of 'Black Lives Matter'; Brum's finest Redmore having had Dele Sosimi guesting on his track 'Home' (see review HERE).

The label, like Dom's DJ sets and radio shows, are always varied, fun and quality and that's what's the feature of this collection, especially as long term artists like the always impressive Soothsayers ('Natural Mustic' Sarathy Korwar remix), Bev Lee Harling (Aroop Roy remix HERE and Hardkandy HERE) to the 'historic' TALC, The Reflex Revision of 'De Gui Ding' (see review HERE) and you'll know Afrikanz On Marz as Ashley Beedle who we understand will be recuperating from home soon with his F*CLR/Ramrock musical family and another of Dom's old mates, Espen Horne's 'Bergen Sunray's being remixed by Session Victim (see review HERE).

Even then, names that perhaps are not so familiar stand out, like Land Of Echos', 'What We Want' (remixed by disco guru Delfonic - fresh from his Roy Ayers 12", see review HERE) as they've "got it".

With all these tracks and seven years of remixes to pick from this is a collection that you'll be more than happy to say that you've got it!

BUY LINK: Wah Wah 45s Remixed 3 | Wah Wah 45

Artist: Various Artists

Release: Wah Wah 45s Remixed 3
Release Date: 28th November, 2025
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Xan Tyler - You're My Muse (Oddball Creatives Remix EP) (Ramrock Red Records)

If you're still in a horror film hangover, trust the The Oddball Creatives take on Xan Tyler's 'You're My Muse' to sober you up double quick time!

As regular readers will know, Ramrock Records and their extended family like some 'horror' based creatives, particularly Edinburgh's Natasha Kitty Kat (and her Synaptic Juice - see review HERE) and, of course we know The Oddball Creatives from 'No Apologies (see review HERE) and most recently their remix EP of Joseph Malik's 'Adult Contemporary' (see review HERE).

But neither of their respective long-dated backgrounds, Mr. Malik with Daniel Walls or Ms. Tyler with Alan McGee’s Creation Records and Mad Professor, you'd imagine that they'd create this soundtrack from a Trainspotting Inspector Rebus big screen/scream (Scottish) Nordic noire.

There's two versions of the vocal and the eerie instrumental to contend with but don't imagine any Francis Bacon triptych Freud visions as that'd be too scary.

Xan appears on Ramrock's forthcoming ‘Last Night From Glasgow’ so look after yourself and admire the muse. 

P.S. Irvine Welsh (Edinburgh notable) likes it too!

BUY LINK: RRR093 - Xan Tyler 'You're my muse' (Oddball Creatives Remix EP) | Xan Tyler, Oddball Creatives | Ramrock

Artist: Xan Tyler 

Title: You're My Muse (Oddball Creatives Remix EP)
Release date: 28th November, 2025
Cat. No: RRR093

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Tambores En Benirras - Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three (NuNorthern Soul)

We've been following NuNorthern Soul's exploration of remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' and trois is a magic number and the final edition in the set. 

Back in August, we had the "daytime" remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' (see review HERE) and then came remixes 2 (see review HERE) which is where we find For Mankind and Leo Zero remixing 'Eastrelias En Mstella', Asto on the tiltle track, 'Ondas Horizontales', Jesbell's 'Alma Habiando' and 100 Poems remix of 'Generadora de Rayos'.

All are fitting tributes to Tambores En Benirras (aka Graham Newby) and his original album that came out in 2024 as “ambient soundtracks, cosmic journeys, Balearic rhythms and poolside sessions”.

To open the third and final EP in the series, Newby has turned to cross-generational Balearic dream team For Mankind and Leo Zero. One for dancefloor stamina as it's a near ten-minute revision of ‘Estrellas en Mastella’ that's got wobble synth-heavy, delay-laden beats said to be influenced by the Afro-jazz-funk futurism of Jasper Van’t Hof’s Pili Pili project (see review HERE of the recently released 'Selected Works' album).

Ready to calm things down, Astro takes a laid back dreamy groove to ‘Ondas Horizontales’ on "sun-bright Balearic" beaches

The London-based Balearic rework specialist Jezebell does a take on ‘Alma Hablando’ for the  head nodders on the back row with some James Mason 'I Want Your Love' styling and for more b-boy cool, 100 Poems get on "Guru’s Jazzamatazz style beats", dubbed out guitars, simmering strings and sparkling synths to ‘Generadora de Rayos’ for another great summer track.

This is more White-Isle Friday than Black but glad it's out now so we can revel in the warmth that these 4 tracks deliver.

BUY LINK: Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three | Tambores En Benirras

Artwork by Johnny Kavannagh

Artist: Tambores En Benirras

Title: Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three

Release date: 28th November, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSTEBR003
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Tru Thoughts 2025 (Tru Thoughts)

Reflecting the label’s eclectic and international roster the 22-track anthology spans Neo Soul, Jazz, Electronica, Grime, Broken Beat, Hip Hop, and beyond - it celebrates new signings, landmark collaborations, and fresh twists on catalogue favourites.

 At the one extreme, the bully boy 'BOSS' (from Oliver Night's album, 'Between The Lines - see review HERE) and at the other, the gentle 'Starling' in the middle (from Alina Bzhezhinnska & Tulshi's Whispers Of Rain - see review HERE),just the usual brilliant best of Tru Thoughts with another 'Love Letter' for a year of success. 

A massive 22 tracks that also features Lance Fergusson's cover of 'Could Heaven Be Like This' (from the album, Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 3 - see review HERE), WheelUp's 'Flash' (review HERE), Footshooter, Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra present Terra Coda (see review HERE) and many more.

As they say, "‘Tru Thoughts 2025’ once again captures the label’s unique ethos: a commitment to nurturing new voices while celebrating heritage and collaboration. With music stretching from grime and broken beat to jazz-funk, harp-electronica, and brass-driven anthems, the compilation stands as a vibrant reflection of where Tru Thoughts has been this year and where it’s going next".

Once more, many thanks for 2025 (and since 1999!)

BUY LINK : Tru Thoughts 2025 | Tru Thoughts

Artist: Various Artists 

Title: Tru Thoughts 2025

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD698

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Coco Chatru Quartet - Lost Christmas (Trygger Music)

Coco Chatru Quartet's 'Lost Christmas' is here to bring and cheers whilst raising your jazz spirits with not the obvious seasonal fayre!

If you could look into Coco Chatru Quartet's 'Future' (see review HERE) and the follow-up, 'Limbokolia' (see review HERE), I bet that nobody could have foreseen a "Christmas" album.  That said, this is a 'lost' christmas that's not full of cover versions and cliché.  No doubt, due to the a continued the inspiration of Coco Chatru (a legendary Swedish adventurer) who may (or not) journeyed to see Father Christmas.

This 'alternative' seasonal vibe is assisted by some traditional bell jangling and twinkling on a couple of intros like 'Gästerna kommer' (The Gutests Are Coming) which has a sense of forebodding/jazz excitement: this is perfect a just when you think the band is going into a Wayne Shorter-est solo, there's this Gregorian Chant that would suit the Xmas Edition of 'Traitors'.

And talking of TV shows, the mournful waltz of 'Mys vid brasan' might sound like a outtake from 'Tales Of The Unexpected' but the warmth ot the baritone sax gives away the translated title of 'Cozy By The Fireplace'.   

'Pulka' is more 'sled' related buisness which again has an angular swing in the Christmas forests as Santa bring us gifts; which is cool, but why is the track so short!  I suppose it links in with the concept tied into the abstract storyline like 'På vinterpromenad' (On a Winter Walk) and 'Ringdans' (Ring Dance).  

Have you noticed the Swedish language seems to have more poetic expressions for winter events?  'En juldröm' is 'A Christmas Dream' and it sounds just like that whilst 'Tomtarnas midnatt' is a little horn battle of a jumpy affair (The Gnomes' Midnight) and 'Coco Raskar över isen' (Coco skates on the ice) is the quirky in the middel of the two.

The longest track on the album 'Prosten' ('the Dean') manages to combine all of the above with the jingles bells to start, leading up to a bit of a blow out as the party starts before they all get lost in a swinging 'Snöyra' (that 'blizzard' to you and me) with Linus showing us the way.

And this why Christmas is "lost" with the band being playful and serious and still proving that a jazz quartet does not necessarily need a piano, as in Linus Kåse (alto saxophone), Charlie Malmberg (baritone saxophone), Håkan Trygger (double bass) and Daniel Kåse (drums/vibraphone).  

And talking of vibes and playful, 'Julnocturne' is the name for a nightime sky in July (Christmas lost?) and 'Slädens framfart' (Ed. Stop sniggering at the back) is the rushing 'The Sled's Progress' as it's racing through the snow to your favourite Xmas jazzdance [Insert here - we're going for 21st December at Shiftless Shuffle Xmas Edition with DJs Perry Louis, Paul Murphy and Colin Parnell at Great Portland Street, London] along with a belting 'NEIPA': oh! yeah!

But before that, and If you're lucky enought to be in Stockholm this month, there's the gig/release party on 29th November at the Record Store Djungel & Jazz (located in the heart of Södermalm, Stockholm).  You'll recall that the previous albums were vinyl only so I'd encourage you to pre-order now (see links below).

Definitely going raise a glass to 'Lost Christmas' this Christmas and it might save yours (musically at least?)

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://tidal.com

Artist: Coco Chatru Quartet

Title: Lost Christmas

Release date: 29th November, 2025

Label: Trygger Music

Catalog Number : TM4

Format : Vinyl LP / Spotify / Tidal 

Review: ventoux^ · Loop Dreams (Flamme Rouge)

It's been a few months since le tour went up Mont Ventoux and now the weather's taken a turn for the colder, time to warm yourself up with some more rest day 'Loop Dreams' with ventoux^'s newly serviced album!

ventoux^ (aka James Risebero) has gained a '^' after his debut album in 2006 that was a heady mix of future jazz, dub, ambience that featured David Jean-Baptiste and included a version of on Mongo Santamaria's classic track as 'Afro Blue In Five'.

Such eclecticism caught the attention of Glyn 'Bigga' Bush (see review interview HERE) and whilst there's been a couple of collaborations, we've had to wait until now for the new album.

Ten tracks of nu-jazz, ambient Latin beats - a bit of a cross between Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith and Madlib's lounge: how good is that! 

Biggabush played 'Del Toro' on his  'Friends & Family' Big Dig 1BTN show but for some Latin French library, try 'Clouds' and 'This Side Of Sunshine' brings some synth-funk to the flute gang groove, the dreamy 'Free Fall' and the cosmic vibes of 'Les Balieues' and here's one for the Chilled Cider guys, 'Love Was All Around' featuring saturnVille on vocals with some understated 'Richie Rome' electronic jazz-dub leanings.

If you're struggling on the lower slopes like most mere mortals, here's an album that you can only dream of before you reach your own summit - grab your bidon and ride with this one.

BUY LINK:  Loop Dreams | ventoux^

Artist: ventoux^ 

Title: Loop Dreams

Release date: 16th November, 2025

Label : Flamme Rouge
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Digital 

Review: S-Pazz - Birth Of Light EP (Pont Neuf Records)

Following their debut releases on Pont Neuf Records, including 'Tales Of Dancing Waters' and 'We Of The Sea', S-Pazz opens our senses with the beautiful EP, 'Birth Of Light'.

We've just had a 'revival' on Jazzanova with a major retrospective (see review HERE) but you could argue, they wouldn't have happened without Kruder & Dorfmeister who wouldn't have happened [insert your own influencial pre-decessors].  So, here's a duo, Nathan Mary and Grégoire Elkouby, that happen to be from Paris, that effortless follow in footsteps as they blend house, jazz, broken beat, ambient, OST (check 'My Heart' as a prime example of them at their elegant best).

We're told that they purposefully "infused it [the EP] with a wide range of influences, spanning different eras and cultures. ‘Birth of Light’ builds on the foundations laid with our first EP: crafting music at the crossroads of our respective influences, always driven by our love for cinematic soundscapes."

.And you know this is true from the opening track, 'Ce Matin-Là' that swims with strings (that have been arranged by Nathan's Dad) that matches the breif of Cinematic Orchestra, 4Hero, Bonobo.  And the EP ends on a Tour-Maubourg remix of the  same track which puts it in a bossa nova bag for DJ's to travel it around the beaches for flute-gang lovers (and also featured on the Colour & Pitch November Mix, see below).

'Together' talks about "different people”, whilst slipping into smooth jazz bruk whilst 'Bees Die After Stinging' gets more jazzy dub OST with harp touching on the recent Levitation Orchestras teritory (see review HERE).  Talking of teritories, your equally not going to be surprised that St. Germain are also in the influencial mix which is where 'Ocean Reflections' fits and features the vocals of Claire Grunenberger to sing and Grégoire's noddling jazzy keys.

Whilst Grégoire focuses on his mult-instrumental/jazz-training and Nathan applied his DJ/beatmaking, it's clear that   influenced by hip-hop and raised in a family of musicians. Their debut EP Tales of Dancing Waters (these guys have progressed since last years' 'Tales Of Dancing Waters' and under the overview of Point Neuf Records, light is born.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://spazz.bfan.link/birth-of-light

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions - November 2025

 

Artist: S-Pazz

Title: Birth Of Light EP

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label: Pont Neuf Records

Cat. No: PN038

Format:  12" Black vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimena Angel - Aguacero (Partyfine)

Yuksek's Partyfine label seeks out party music and this time, it's all out worldwide Aguacero, Cumbia, Latin electronica, pop and reggae: talk about 'Universalismo'?

You'll recall the compilation from earlier this year Partyfine's Vol. VII Universalismo (see review HERE) when we first came across Jimena Angel on the track 'Liego la Luz'. 

'Liego la Luz' is perhaps the most obvious dancefloor track on the album that's full of her modern Cumbia that's she's now perfected on her fourth album, the first with Yuksek.  But Yuksek being Yuksek and perhaps, Angel being Angel, they don't leave it there as all ten tracks are 'aguacero' - the title track itself being stand-out Latin funk-with a gothic flamenco dub vibe!

If you're already excited about the return of WOMAD next year, pack 'Caracoli' in your bags for a twangy shuffle and 'Erasonia' for some pan flute on the dancefloor (and there's that dub echo again).  This must be what's hot in Bogotá (where Jimean is from) and 'Que Yo Ta Voy Pa' that has more of Cumbia feel whilst being more percussive heavy and then 'Selflove' which reverses into reggae (some great horns on this) . 

If a bit of a knock out to start with but as it comes at you as a mystery (like the cover artwork, what pictures can you see in the shadows?)  But on repeated listens, the reggae-dub vibe of other tracks like the heavy Tierra Caliente' and the closing track 'Adios' are great fun; can only imagine what Wrongtom/Mad Professor would do with a full-on dub brief!

We're told this album was written whilst on tour in Europe (she's a guitarist in a number of rock band) and living in the Carribean thus the "musically influenced the sound with dub, highlife, Konpa and tropical disco fusing with the melodies of Colombian bullerengue and the “magical realism”.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://jimenaangel.bfan.link/aguacero

Artist: Jimena Angel

Title: Aguacero 

Release date: 28th November, 2025

Label: Partyfine

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: MOb - MOb II (Veego Records)

If you judged albums on thier titles, Mob's debu 'MOb' and this new follow-up album, 'MOb II' doesn't instill you with confidence that it will be cammed with punk-jazz rock energy with hip-hop influences - so you'd be wrong as this covers bases from Ornette Coleman to Throbbing Gristle to Killing Joke to Bill Laswell - you name it!

You'll recall previous releases on Veego Records, the jazz-folk of Kolida Babo (aka Socratis Votskos and Harris P (see review HERE) and the Volanis/Pagidas' 'Outsde The Long Walls' (see review HERE), so this is tottally different.  

If you missed MOb I, don't worry as what was hailed by the press "as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene... their music moves seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as an entire orchestra played by just three musicians". And I'm happy to say the 'MOb II' is doublely good as Mariothe trio of s Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) are aided by award-winning producer Bruno Ellingham (Massive Attack, Portishead) and guest Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev, aka Waking Monkey, on spoken word/rap with the single 'Tipping Point' plus 'Encounters.  'Encounters' is "enriched” by  , while Angelos Polychronou on percussion as is 'The Listener' that's on the edge of the spiritual Carlos Niño.

And talking of YATM favourites and spiritual, the dramatic 'Utu And Sin' is mixed by Malcolm Catto who was recently "seen" on Sven Wonder's new album along with Daniel Ögren (he of 

Dina Ögon!  (Ed. how often do we mention Mr. Catto?) 

Whilst there's no mass repeat of '4044' from the first album, MOb's Athenian spirit has ventured a long way from home, particularly the Walking Monkey contributions that move the compass further to New York's NUBLU (be prepared for JMMR - coming here soon) but '333' is close as it gets us ready to take off at Bullet Train space shuttle departing from Frankfurt railway station emulating their innere Kraut Rock.

Even then there's that Nu-Troop angularism mixed with some BRUK vibes mixed in with their version of punk-jazz, which is pretty close to the Acoustic Ladyland debut at their strongest.

Any fans of WeJazz, experimental and spiritual jazz and electronica, 'Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain' (see review HERE) will love this as it's mesmerising, hypnotic and essential all at the same time: a MOb remix . 

BUY LINK: https://promo.theorchard.com/kwZ1bUpEQbFFQLtDipwi

 The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa

Artist: MOb 

Title:  MOb II

Release date: 28th November, 2024 

Label : Veego Records

Catalog Number VR056

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Footshooter - The Oasis (Remixes) (Tru-Thoughts)

Time to start 'Folding' again with Footshooters big track of the summer now on the remix by Marla Kether as a  boomerang returns to South London with more remixes and instrumentals.

Last month we had Allysha Joy  and DJ Footshooter (aka Barney Whittaker) dropping the track 'Folding' from debut album for Tru-Thoughts, 'The Oasis' (see review HERE) as "jazzed up" by Marla Kether's remix and this month we get a four track package with 3 instrumental versions.

1. Boomerang feat. Native & Wilf Petherbridge (Last Nubian Remix)
2. Folding feat. Allysha Joy (Marla Kether Remix)
3. Surrey Canal Road feat. James Mollison (Fiyahdred Remix)
4. What You Saw feat. MA.MOYO & Mahon (Anja Ngozi Remix)

BUY LINK: The Oasis (Remixes) | Footshooter

Artist: Footshooter

Title: The Oasis (Remixes)

Release date: 25th November, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts 

Catalog Number : TRUDD686

Format: Digital / Bandcamp