What better way to start a new year than to go back 20 years and deep into some classic house that sounds as thrilling today as it did then? Tracey K and Fish Go Deep agree and wrap themselves in 'Love's Cloth'.
We've just been blown away with Razor-N-Tape's re-invention of Alistair Colling vs. Tortured Soul ft. Sabina ,'When You Find Your Love... Hold On' with new DJ Spinna and Musclecars Remixes (see review HERE), so here's another piece of house history from 2005, Tracey K's album 'Lil 'Hand' with Fish Go Deep's Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson.
That album produced the single 'Battery Man' and 'The Cure and the Cause' with a remix by Dennis Ferrer that got picked up by Ministry Of Sound (their compilation Ibiza 1991-2009) and Defected with a remix by Idris Elba no less. This track, 'Love's Cloth' was the climax of the original album and there was re-issued digitally with bonus tracks on the band's own label in 2020.
As it's still a regular play on the dancefloor, FGD have gone back again and produced 'Love's Cloth' as Revisited, Dub and Edit for even more plays this year. The new version (and edit) still has the love and joy of the vocal but it's the 8 minute dub/instrumental that'll get you on it's express train rush to the dancefloor - could it have more of a doppler/echo chamber action, perhaps(?)
And we know Fish Go Deep can do a remix (as in fellow Cork based musician Kʒːlu's 'Standing Ovation' - see review HEREand La Deep's 'Risk It All - see review HERE) so prepare yourself for this re-visit and a mighty dub/instrumental version.
It's not Toolate [to] Groove as MATE release another stunning EP, 'Librame' coming to a hot dancefloor/record store near you soon!
I wouldn't say we're best mates with MATE, but it's easy to understand why everyone would want to hang out with them after Shaka's EP 'About Love & Pain' and the previous release, Bress Underground's 'Take Me Higher' EP (see review HERE) and as excellent as these releases are, they've found another great track with 'Librame'.
It doesn't need a remix but Urbanity Recs (aka Shannon Harris) gives us his 'Love Yourself Dub' rework in the big house main room with the Cuíca going into overdrive with the percussion and some deep down jazz-funk keys.
This is rediculously cool and supported by '97 Ride' as a club mix (with the Rhodes taking the lead) and a Destiny Dream dub (tell me that bass is the dogs) only to be topped off with 'Fresh From Abidjan' that's got break/hip-hop elements.
That said, you're not going to beat the party of the orginal version - all 8 minutes of it with it's vibraphone solo - did I hear someone say, "vibraphonic"?
Internationally acclaimed artist Bei Bei teams up with London-based composer and producer Paul Elliot to set their musical telescope for 'Two Moons' to find light in the dark skys above!
Always on the look out for what Bei Bei is up to after her link-up with Shawn Lee with he 'Beauty & The Beats' 10" release on Ubiquity which led to a couple of albums that followed in 2010 and 2017.
However, there's no surprise that Chinese Guzheng player/composer/teacher has also worked on Disney’s hit film 'Mulan' and Dreamwork’s 'Kung Fu Panda' as well collaborating with A-lister Cristina Aguilera, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with Will Smith and performed as a soloist with the Pacific Symphony orchestra!
All that being in sharp contrast to this seven track "lo-fi and analog-leaning electronic" album as it's yet another yin-yang soundscape "that bridges tradition and futurism" with cinematic leanings as Bei Bei's mastery of the this ancient chinese harp/zither can at times sound like themes from 'Get Carter' or 'The Third Man'.
As the album develops from the 'Two Moons' introduction, 'Gaoshan Electronica' (featuring Shu Zhiming) and 'Shanghai Dreams (featuring Rob Korb) get confrontational with the traditional which you can easily envisage on a soundtrack; shame 'Cruising In Snow' (featuring Yang Liu) missed out on the Winter Olympics - perhaps when they next turn up in Beijing?
Liu's bass make it the funkiest track on the album (Ed. Jah Wobble would have loved this gig) but the tracks without guests are just as cool, especially 'Silk Soiree' where it goes all a bit John Williams 'Hong Kong' Library rock which reminds me of the 'Hendrix' element of Manu Delago and Max ZT collaboration album 'Deuce' (incredibly released on the same day - see review HERE).
'Walk The Fame' seems to capture all the elements of this album and it's a shame it's not longer; along with the closing track 'Midnight Bizarre' as Bei Bei and Elliot take us into space.
These two moons are safe on earth and it's more global ambient fusion that's going to be big this year.
BUY LINK: Listen on: Spotify, Apple Music, QQ Music & many more digital platforms.
Yet another discovery on Tru Thoughts that's not quite what you'd expect as they discover new talent with Kyla and Max as these two tracks immediately show us how to 'Stay Calm' and embrace 'Frustration'.
For Brighton-based 23-year-old singer-songwriter Kyla Kilzer and Jersey-born producer Max Noir, this dboule A single is a warm-up for the release of EP, 'Sip & Wonder' and thier Main Bar take-over at London's Brick Lane Jazz Festival on Saturday, 26th April (they'll be other Tru Thoughts artists there that day so keep an eye open).
Opening the double single, “Stay Calm” unfolds like a deep breath, a tender, minimalist moment drifting between lo-fi soul and meditative alt-R&B. Written as a mantra to ease anxiety, the track finds Kyla grounding herself through sound. “This song is about our lovely friend Anxiety,” Kyla shares. “It was something I had to overcome most days, and I could never have done it without music. While writing, I imagined what words would comfort someone listening. In the chorus, I talk about using your five senses to stay calm, exactly how my mum taught me.”
Then comes “Frustration,” its shadow twin. Built on dusty percussion and a hip-hop swing laced with Spanish-tinged rhythm, the track channels restlessness into rhythm. Kyla’s vocals shift from silk to steel as she turns anger into motion, while Max’s production keeps the pulse steady and hypnotic. “I was angry with myself,” Kyla admits, “but we just poured it all into the music and came out with this lovely piece.” Max adds, “I love how the breathy vocal layers in the chorus reflect the feeling of frustration, building up in intensity as the track progresses.”
And we're told, "Tru Thoughts heard about this music through BandLab Technologies (BandLab/ReverbNation) through an artist submission campaign via Opportunities, and BandLab/ReverbNation are supporting this release".
Math Rock/Jazz, progressive and contemporary as a trio! St. Barbe, manage to mix it up and come out the other side as a shoal sticks together; as on this new EP release, 'Shoal'.
The mixed genre world of jazz and rock, particulary math rock evolved from old jazzers in prog-rock bands, King Crimson, Colosseum etc so by the time you've got the extremes of The Mars Volta and Kneebody, who knows what Math Rock is? Luckily, guitarist James Maltby, and synth programming by him and drummer Floyer Sydenham, this EP the music moves from the raw and unfiltered hues of Julian Lage and Bill Frisell-inspired ballad ‘Dorothy’ (a track that's previously been 'Track of the Week' on Jazz FM), through to the ferocious, riff-led floor fillers ‘Pinch’ and ‘Shoal’.
'Pinch' features corto.alto (Mercury Prize nominees who were at the We Out There Festival a couple of years ago) sound more 'Freak Zone' and the closest thing to 'rock' is the opener 'Tierra'.
All the usual suspects will be supporting this one like Jazz on 3,BBC Radio 6's Deb Grant, Stuart Macione and Gilles Peterson (Note: at the time of writting, 2 out of 3 as it's only a matter of time in GPs case),Jazz FM and more plus the adventurous DJ jazz dance types; like fans of the Kneebody/Daedelus project, 'Kneedelus': now, that'd be a remix!
Don't forget this is a shoal the sticks together and sounds together.
Sababa 5 are back with a new album 'Çeva Va Ça Va' and it's exactly what you want to hear from them; Middle Eastern global funk!
The nine tracks on the album are mostly celebrations you'd hear and a wedding for total get up and dance events all but two written by the band: the two key exceptions being 'Ypárcho' (I Exist), "a beautiful instrumental journey inspired by a classic Greek song traditionally performed by Stelios Kazantzidis" and 'Asunsan' "an instrumental flip of the much-loved Sababa 5 collaboration 'Nasnusa' with Yurika Hanashima" (that we first heard on 'Kokoro' - see review HERE).
Fans of twangy surf guitars and mod organs will be super excited to have the band back to the bands' "a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds, layered with psych-soaked guitars, cosmic synths and heavy, driving grooves. A pure dose of party energy and nostalgia".
There's a Bandcamp listening party tomorrow night, 18th February, 8.00 GMT or the full release on Friday.
Not one but 'Deuce' as Manu Delago and Max ZT explore the handpan and the hammered dulcimer on this new 9-track album that's aimed at finding inner peace and beauty - and they're on a UK spring tour soon!
It doesn't take long before you're engrossed with the peaceful beauty of these Grammy-nominated innovators, Manu Delago (handpan) and Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) in this new partnership of sound.
Drawing on "a lifetime of lifetime of globl collaboration, deep improvisation, and refined compositional craft, the two virtuosos create immersive, meditativee soundscapes that unfold with both delicacy and drive".
Taking inspiration from the likes of Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane from the 60s/70s to the 1994 Grammy Award winner, Best World Music Album, for the improvisied, collaborative album 'A Meeting By The River' by Ry Cooder (bottleneck guitar) and V.M. Bhatt (Mohan Vina).
So there's form for this duo meeting of the minds, like a musical yin and yang as the full and empty stretch mediative sounds from nature to almost Greek/Mediteranian themes; '40/40'. This reminded me of when I first heard the pandrum in the early 20-10s (?) in a more contemporary/electronic jazz context of Mathew Halsall's Gondwana Records and Asaf Sirkis (Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble, John Law, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock and many more) and it can, at times, sound ambient electronic and here, mixed with the dulimer, eastern yogic. Other times, just great, like running through a field of corn in the countryside in the summer, 'Inhale'.
That said, it's unfair to focus on any single track as the album is more of an 'immersive' whole; albeit, 'Sweetspot', 'Pace' and 'Exhale' are a pretty good trio-run to the end.
The project seems totally natural and immediate, so its a little surprising to be told that. the duo met almost 10 years ago when Manu Delago was touring in the US. “Originally we started with improvisation, but over the years we developed various compositions. Last year we finally found the perfect time and space to record the music, in an amazing 18th-century space in an even older monastery in the Alps. A duo facing each other where both members had just turned 40? We had to call the album Deuce” remembers Manu Delago".
Both players are not only in tune with one another, Manu has played drums/handpans with diverse artists as Björk, Anoushka Shankar, The Cinematic Orchestra and performed as soloist with the Metropole Orkest, London Symphony Orchestra as well as award winning album and film scores plus green credentials; in 2021, he, his band and crew cycled 1500 kilometers across Europe as part of his Re:cycled tour..
Max ZT, has been called, “The Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer” with a "lifetime of global study and innovation" having being an apprentice with Senegal’s revered Cissoko Griot family and studying under the legendary Pandit Shivkumar Sharma in India. Also having collaborated with a load of diverse musicians, releasing lots of albums including his most recent, 'On Becoming' being nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards.
Hardly surprising then that when these two guys got together to produce 'Deuce' it has been said, that this album feels both ancient and new at the same time. Yet another duplciity, but there's no deciet here, just beautiful sounds on a beautiful album.
29 March - Milton Court, London 31 March - Band on the Wall, Manchester 1 April - Old Woolen, Leeds 2 April - St George’s, Bristol 3 April - Brewery Arts, Kendal 4 April - St John’s, Cardiff 5 April - Lansdown Hall, Stroud
Artist: Manu Delago & Max ZT
Title: Deuce Release date: 20th February, 2026 Label : Session Work Records Catalog Number TBC Format: Digital
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'?
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!
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.
%20-%20Love%E2%80%99s%20Cloth%20(Go%20Deep.jpg)
What better way to start a new year than to go back 20 years and deep into some classic house that sounds as thrilling today as it did then? Tracey K and Fish Go Deep agree and wrap themselves in 'Love's Cloth'. %20-%20Love%E2%80%99s%20Cloth%20(Go%20Deep.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
