Review: VA - Verve // Remixed Holiday (Verve Records)

When I called for the return of Verve//Remixed Christmas, I never thought it'd actually happen - but it has!  With Ella and Nina on the originals you're on a winner to start with but Tourists, Ginton and Two Another on the remix the subtle approach of all concerned is much to be admired.

The 'original' album, a compilaion fom 2008 produced by Dahlia Ambach Caplin & Todd C. Roberts, was indeed in 2 volumes, the original artists version of eleven tracks featuring he jazz greats of Count Basie, Louie Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Jimmy Smith etc and their respective Christmas hits.   Whilst the update for "younger ears" were the best of remix experts of the day including Christian Prommer, FINK, The Real Tuesday Weld, YesKing, The Orb, Oh No and more.

Interesting to note that the cover artwork features tthe traditioal sleigh updated as a snow mobile with US and GB flags as a Winterland nu-mod scooterist!  The 2025 version goes in for acoustic piano with analog synths and speakers; I suspect they might have thought about a pictorial depiction of ChatGPT for 2025 but that's quite a stretch.

However, the return of this "vibrant reimagining of classic holiday tracks from Verve Records’ legendary catalog features five brand new remixes from a cutting-edge lineup of DJs and producers including Ginton, Tourist, and Two Another" as they fuse "modern electronic textures and grooves with jazz, soul, and holiday nostalgia".

This release offers a renewed celebration of the season—where vintage vocals meet forward-thinking production. From cozy fireside vibes to festive dance-floor energy, Verve // Remixed Holiday bridges generations of sound and spirit.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Various Artists - Verve // Remixed Holiday

Artist: Various

Title: Verve // Remixed Holiday

Release date: 19th December, 2025

Label : Favorite Recordings

Catalog Number : WP3643

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Reveiw: Richard Earnshaw & Sabrina Chyld - Better For Me (Artworx)

Debut release on Artworx, Richard Earnshaw teams up with Sabrina Chyld as it's better for them to see the beauty inside of them with 'Better For Me'.

It's almost 2 years to the day that we last saw Richard Earnshaw at YATM with remixes of Gavin Holligan's 'When Boys Become Men' (see review HERE) as this time, we get a female point of view with 'Better For Me'.  

We know Ms. Chyld from her work with Abel on Atjazz (see review HERE), Julian Gomes on the album 'Bruno & The Birds' (see review HERE) and Peacey's 'Play It By Ear' (see review HERE) whilst Earnshaw has worked with loads of people over the years.

This is just a taster.from a forthcoming EP series by Earnshaw entitled 'Different Spaces' and he's just the man to find 'em.when it comes to soulful house gems.

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

5 Magazine · Premiere: Richard Earnshaw & Sabrina Chyld - Better For Me (Original Mix) [Artworx]

Artist: Richard Earnshaw & Sabrina Chyld

Title: Better For Me

Release date: 19th December, 2025

Label : Artworx

Catalog Number : ATWX001

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Kerrier Collective ft. Polly Myrick - Somatic Tick (BiG AL Remix, Studio & DJ Version) (Colour and Pitch)

Colour & Pitch have a new release with Kerrier Collective teaming up with Polly Myrick as they get to grips with 'Somatic Tick' on the exciting EP that's coming out in three versions including a Big Al remix!

We previously had Kerrier Collective & wolf peaches taking on 'Rotten Peaches EP (see review HERE) and you'll recall Kerrier Collective from a couple of years ago, 'Life Wants To Live' (see review HERE) but this is them at an angular dancefloor where indie meets "violins" and synths with 'Somatic Tick' elegance provided by Ms. Myrick's lyrics and vocals that could be Everything But The Girl house.

We're told that BiG AL's remix is "in a typically rolling and hypnotic reworking of 'Somatic Tick', showing love for the original while adding subtle flourishes all his own", and it's good that it's still includes some of the original's glitchy elements.

And now you've got you're head around this, the original studio version is raw and smooth all at the same time; love the guitar stabs which compete  with the horns and Myrick for attention.

Be ahead of the cool kids on the dancerfloor with this one as already had its first play on Sumuch's Colour & Pitch November Mix (see link below). 

BUY LINK /PRE-ORDER: https://kerriercollective.bandcamp.com/album/somatic-tick-ft-polly-meyrick

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions - November 2025

Artist: Kerrier Collective 

Title: Somatic Tick EP

Release date: 19th December, 2025

Label:  Colour and Pitch

Catalog Number: CAP096

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Panorama (De La Groove)

Here's some 13 tracks that are in De La Groove with a big dancefloor 'Panorama'! 

Larry G, De La Groove's A&R says, "We wanted to offer a compilation that once again provides an insight into the scene and what is happening right now" and he's not wrong as it's packed with as many 'house' elements as you want for the dancefloor.

As a compilation, there's comparisions with The Disco Express '100' (see review HERE), especially with the high speed (Ed. perhaps that should be TGV?) of Larry G's 'Smooth & L' and the pumpin' piano house 'A Night At The Blainville' by Sebastien Grand (that almost gets sucked into a Latin groove with the percussion) and Maison Blache & Vitctor Tomasi's 'Reverse'.

Whilst these guys are tres French focused, I don't think their mix of jazz, funk and hip-hop in the house is misplaced even if the vocals on Knuckle G's '6AM In Paris' sounds a little blurred with it's UKG base and the jazzy blip of 'Bad Landing' of Kazam.  

Whilst at the other extreme, can you feel the funk of Sabadé's 'Can't Feel It' that's just class and if you think that there's not enough Brooklyn in this, check 'NYC Wot Up' jazz-funk of Ten Fingerz, 'Black Works' by Lil Morriss or, at a stretch, Avecunk's 'Break It Up'.

This is a great comp for the seasonal time of year that'll keep the dancefloor busy for a lot longer; after all, ;Lovee Is The Answer'.

BUY LINK:   PANORAMA | De La Groove

Artist: VA

Title:  Panorama 

Release date: 12th December, 2025

Label : De La Groove

Catalog Number : DLG032

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: VA - Nicewon VA (Donnie Moustaki, Jeff Swiff, Joint4Nine, JR From Dallas, Last Nubian, Ugly Frankie, Christian James, J. Fenix) (Nicewon Recordings)

If 'Nicewon' sounds a bit "geezer" to you, don't take any notice as this selection of no less than eight tracks is ready for the dogs bollox dancefloor action. 

Nicewon have been a bit quite over the last couple of years but they resurface with a brand new 12 (as in NCWN12)!

Including, Last Nubian ('Anybody Home'), Joint4Nine ('Where Are U'), JR From Dallas ('Unloved'), Jeff Swiff ('Stereo'), Donnie Moustaki ('You Ever Going To Change Or What', Ugly Frankie ('Guy On The Buffalo'), Christian James ('Loop #60'), and the best of the lot, J. Fenix's 'Jazz Shit'.

"Eight heaters built for the heads and anyone chasing something deeper, this VA struts from deep and dusty chunkers to swingin' late-night groovers, with a side uh raw Midwest funk. Gritty, soulful cuts, just like we like em. Call it a love letter to the realwons, and a reminder that the Nicewon signature stamp still hits".

Ready for the weekend, Nicewon.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | Nicewon Recordings

Artist: Various Artists 
Title: Nicewon VA
Release date:    Dec 12th, 2025 - Traxsource + Bandcamp Exclusive
                          Dec 26th, 2025 - General Release
Label : Nicewon Recordings
Catalog Number:  NCWN12
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Pepe Link feat. Malcolm "Molly" Duncan - Kalakuta (Kiko Navarro Remix) (Afroterraneo Music)

The latest release on Kiko Navarro's latest release on Afroterraneo Music is a modern take on the soul makossa tradition with Pepe Link's 'Kalakuta'  featuring Malcolm "Molly" Duncan.

Still excited about the last release we heard from Kiko Navarro/Afroterraneo, Farolinho & Kiko Navarro feat. Hannah Nedas & Ivan St. Ives with 'Alaroye Yokode' (see review HERE) but hang on, this was originally released 20 years ago on Groove Junkies’ More House label.  Not only that, 'Kalakuta' by Spanish producer Pepe Link and legendary saxophonist Malcolm “Molly” Duncan (founding member of the iconic Average White Band) has been given a new lease of life thanks with a Kiko Navarro remix.

A friendship spanning more than 30 years between Pepe and Kiko already bore fruit back then, with Kiko, under his alias Ma-Yokins, producing the Dub version of Kalakuta. Two decades later, fate would bring the track back to him in the most unexpected way.

A few months ago, Kiko accidentally stumbled upon the original version of Kalakuta, which he hadn’t heard in years. Instantly inspired, he had a “vision” of how the track could sound today. He called Pepe to ask if the original session still existed. After digging through old hard drives and stacks of CD-Rs, Pepe unearthed the long-lost recordings featuring Molly’s majestic sax, Jerry’s lead vocals, and Bilonda’s backing harmonies, the raw essence of Kalakuta was alive once again.

Declared fan of Fela Kuti and deeply influenced by his Afrobeat legacy, Kiko Navarro reimagines Kalakuta through his distinctive Afro-house lens, blending organic percussion, hypnotic rhythms, and the timeless groove of Molly’s saxophone to craft a fresh, soulful tribute to a musical era that continues to inspire generations.

Kiko at his best and necessary for this time of year.

Artist: Pepe Link feat. Malcolm "Molly" Duncan
Title: Kalakuta (Kiko Navarro Remix) 
Release Date : 12th Dercember, 2025
Catalog Number : AFTNE078
Label : Afroterraneo Music
Format: Digital

Review: El Combo Batanga - Spanish Dogs (Ubiquity Records)

Ubiquity Records take on Fania a la Cuba with El Combo Batanga and a hoard of 'Spanish Dogs' ready to go to dancefloor war - get ready for 'Cocacho Mambo'!

You might have seen the other day someone on SM asking if anyone knows the licencing contact at Ubiquity Records - I can understand that as they've got an incredible back catolog and you can add this new album 'Spanish Dogs' to that as you enjoy the digital version over Christmas before the vinyl comes out in January 2026 - your first album of the year candidate.

I was concerned that there was going to be a Cuban Brothers vibe to this (Ed. nothing wrong with that - see review HERE) but it doesn't take long to get deep into Latin/soul deep with influences from James ('Darling') Brown to the the three-piece horn section having years of experience that included backing legend Joe Bataan on tour (Ed. did I ever tell you of the time I met Mr. Bataan and his wife? Another day I think).

Not only that, the core rhythm section (ex-Los Chocolatiers) have been together for 20 odd years and with this expanded lineup headed by vocalist Ale Gutiérrez, this is an album of 10 tracks that you can't fall as we get some modern room Latin Northern, 'You Better Watch Out' and some great West Coast 'Fania' funk, 'La Cuota', the brilliant 'Coacho Mambo' and some boogaloo revival plus some great horn and trombone expertise.

These 'Spanish Dogs' are, surprisingly, Madrid based but believe me, they're the 'Real' deal and worthy of any comparisons with Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Hector Lavoe:  Watch Out!

BUY LINK: https://elcombobatanga.bandcamp.com/album/spanish-dogs

 

Artist: El Combo Batanga

Title: Spanish Dogs 
Release date: 12th December, 2025 - vinyl 23rd January, 2026
Label : Ubiquity Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various Artists - Sweet 16 Mixtape x Stuckey & Sensible J (Hopestreet Recordings)

Fans of Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, Ziggy Zeitgeist, Godtet, JK Group and the rest of Melbourne hip-hop / jazz / soul /funk massive that'll looking for a present that'll survive the Xmas hols, look no further than this 16th Birthday mixtape compilation .

The Hopestreet Studios are 16 and to celebrate, here's a special mixtape: one side featuring brand-new MPC edits and remixes by producer Sensible J and the other side being a seamless all-vinyl DJ mix by Lachlan Stuckey (Surprise Chef / College of Knowledge Records).

Since 2009, the artist based co-operative have released 50 records and fostering a community spanning soul, R&B, funk, Latin, Bollywood psychedelia and more.  And who doesn't love a mixtape?  

Diggin' deep into the Hopestreet vaults as far back as Zillanova, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Zretro and The Putbacks, while Stuckey’s side curates long-loved 7” staples from The Cactus Channel, Danielle Ponder, Karate Boogaloo and beyond.

 

If you mix the spirit of West Coast / Stones Throw or catch their current day south coast Aussie neighbours with this party tape.

BUY LNK /PRE-ORDER: Sweet 16 Mixtape | Hopestreet Recordings

Artist: Various Artists

Title:  Sweet 16 Mixtape 

Release date: 12th December, 2025

Label : Hopestreet Recordings

Catalog Number :  HS

Format:  Cassette Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Frits Wentink - Remixed (Wolf Music Recordings)

This 12" is all about you and the dancefloor: and whilst I say it's about you, there's 3 of you in this relationship; with remixes by Ian Pooley, Prince Palmer and Dominic Oswald.

This new Remixed EP leads with the track 'About You' that was previously featured on Frits' own 'Together EP' (see review HERE).

Having a "bonfide legend" with over 1,000 credits on albums/singles/EPs that is, Mr. Ian Pooley on the remix (noting that, at the time of writting, Mr. Pooley is outside Tower Records in Tokyo!) with a DJ friendly beats and the full remix, itself, WOLF music knows it's on a winner.

On the B-side, there's more 'Intentions' than Frits' remix of Max Sinàl & KingCrowney track (see review HERE) as the original version of this 'Intentions', that appeared on 'Remember That Feeling' (WOLFEP70), gets a main room remix by Prince Palmer - thus returning the favour of Frits remixing Palmer's track 'Airlift' that came out in the summer (Ed. sounds like a lot of back scratchin' goin' on here).  

Rounding the set off, another Frits favourite, 'Club Land' (original on the Club Land Special - WOLFEP73); so now you have to take your pick from the original, alternative mixes and now the Dominic Oswald remix.  The alternative mix is a bit faster and a little quirky so Oswald has kinda split the difference with jazzier keys added and I can see why this is added to the set.

This is the fourth in recent FRITS X WOLF series of 12” showcasing Frits, the label and, in this case, the remixers - Note: some recent releases from this guys are all fetching big bucks on the resale site so get in quick. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER  Remixed | Frits Wentink

Artist: Frits Wentink 
Title: Remixed
Release date: 12th December, 2025
Label :Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number  WOLFEP082
Format: 12" VINYL / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Nightsteppaz - Getting Into The Groove (Inc. Bushwacka! Remix) (Vibe Me To The Moon)

Can you believe Nightsteppaz has not only got into the groove, he's got Bushwacka! on the remix - that's worth another '!' 

After Franck Roger's 'Can U Believe' EP (see review HERE) turned up on Nightsteppaz' own 'Want Me' with a remix (see review HERE), speculation was rife as to who would be next on the label's hit list.

Well, I didn't think it would be the Bushwacka! half of the famed Layo & Bushwacka combo that ruled the decks at the (in)famous London club, The End that started in the mid 90s in central London and as a duo had countless inclusions on compilations both as artists and DJs.  

The original version is very late-night groove only for Bushwacka! to take us back to the dayz of the air-raid siren as "the drums and bass are more bubbly and bouncy to get the floor popping" - it really feels like it's primordial acid rave house.  It might be underground but it's great.

I remember when The End ended as I used to pass through the Midtown area London at that time.  It was an interesting time for London clubland as the 'CBD' of of night time clubbing moved from the bright lights to the grubby other side of the Euston Road in the planning  blighted area that became home of the new hot clubs The Cross, Bagleys and Egg. 

Thankfully, there's other places now that you can be 'Getting Into The Groove' and Vibe Me To The Moon is your place to start.

BUY LINK:  https://www.traxsource.com/title/2661622/getting-into-the-groove

Artist: Nightsteppaz

Title:  Getting Into The Groove (Inc. Bushwacka! Remix) 

Release date: 12th December, 2025

Label : Vibe Me To The Moon Records

Catalog Number : VIBE034

Format:  Digital