Review: Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP) (Ramrock Red Records)

For those keeping up with Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony' story and subsequent 'Variant Issue', those "prime taste makers" Craig Charles, Don Letts and even more can't get enough of it - and here's a new twist from Tokyo on the Edinburgh soul master!

As regular readers will know, YATM has a big case e of Japanophilia, whether that's BBE's J-Jazz compilations, Masters Series or book (news has it that there's another compilation due soon - also see HERE) or DJ Muro (see HERE) or J-Salsa (see Orquesta Del Sol, HERE) or City Music Tokyo (see HERE) or my latest favourite, Ken Matsudaira, you'll get the idea that we're more than excited to here of combination of Mr Malik and Shuya Okino.

It all started we're told when both of them were signed to Compost Records in the early 00s and "Joseph was on tour in Japan with iconic soul artist, Terry Callier. Shuya showed up at the gig and took Joseph to his legendary night club ‘The Room’ in Shibuya, Tokyo" [and when they say "legendary", check out anything on Especial Records at that time you'll get an idea why].

The pair stayed in contact ever since so no surprise that Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive to WeOutHere) gets busy on 'Adult Contemporary'

But the story doesn't end there as this is a whole new re-work recorded in Japan and mastered by Darren Morris (the follow-up to his 'Union I', Union II out now, see HERE) and you think, this is a whole different track to the original as 'Chic funk dance' gives it up to the recognizable vocal to Joseph with "Release me..." and plea for "Somebody help me"; well it's clear that the Tokyo family has and it's another winner.

So, you may be wondering why 'Tokyo To Edinburgh (Interlude 1)' is included? For 107 seconds of beats/Japanese spoken word with killer mod-jazz organ, you'll want it in any Sci-Fi mixtape. 

This would make a great 7" single but until that existing, it's a great digital release.

P.S. Did someone mention, DJ Kawasaki 'It's Your World'? (Ed. that's so niche)

BUY LINK: RRR086 - Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary - Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP | Joseph Malik + Shuya Okino x ROOT SOUL | Ramrock

Artist: Joseph Malik
Title: Adult Contemporary (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP)
Release date: 18th July, 2025
Cat. No: RRR086
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Remixed by Shuya Okino & ROOT SOUL
Lead vocals: Joseph Malik
Directed by Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive)
Bass, Keyboards, Guitar: Kenichi Ikeda (ROOT SOUL)
Drums: Soki Kimura (Osaka Monaurail）
Drums recorded by Soki Kimura (Osaka Monaurail）
Mixed by Kenichi Ikeda (ROOT SOUL)
Mastering: Darren Morris @North Street West Studio

Review: Berkeley Hunt - A Ghostly Tryst (Soul Quest Records)

More Soul Quest Records I hear you call!  We'll we've certainly got a favourite jazzy/leftfield house label as Berkeley Hunt's 'A Ghostly Tryst' is far jollier than the title and comes with a Stefan Ringer remix to give it a full house! 

The original of ‘Wicked Sins’ has a big touch of Cesaria Evora's about it in so much as the vocals/beats cover traditional sounds of Africa and Latin America.  So a good choice to get one of the hotest names in house to up the pace on the remix with Stefan Ringer.  Possibly influenced by the classic Carl Craig remix of 'Angola'? Who knows? But it's an instant must have in the YATM offfice.

But some say "more trumpet"? Well, you certainly get a lot of drums and space-jazz dubiness cramed into 'Lost In The Delirium' which could be post-dnb-prog-bruk-jazz - but definitely one for the adventurous Leftfield jazz dance tent this summer; this is were Miles Davis would be in 2026. 

The opening track, 'It Called' is more of a 'A Ghostly Tryst' in the crypt which is equally in Krog 'n' synth-pop as it is as OST: this 4 tracker in mezmerising in many ways. 

Following the label head Max Sinal's collaboration with KingCrowney on 'Intentions' (see review HERE with vocalist Liv East), this label knows a leftfield synth-jazz Bruk dancefloor hit - and more!  

BUY LINK:  Exclusive with traxscource until 25th July

Artist: Berkeley Hunt

Title: A Ghostly Tryst

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Soul Quest Records
Catalog Number : SQR014
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: La Deep - Risk It All ft. Sindiswa Vinqi (inc. Fish Go Deep Remix)(Wooden Discos)

You can take the wood out of the disco?  New label heads at Wooden Discos find La Deep into the Deep House disco shed to find some dance lumber. 

As an off-shoot from Canadian label Nordic Trax, Wooden Discos debut release is solid and features Sfiso Sizwe Khumalo (aka La Deep) who comes from Bethal, a small town in the province of Mpumalanga and fellow South African, Sindiswa Vinqi who is also making her debut as a recording artist.

Sindiswa has an interesting tone which adds to the "different perspective" of La Deep's risk assessment has it all.

Add to that, Cork's house duo Fish Go Deep with a remix, dub and instrumental versions and you've definitely got a winner.

Artist: La Deep

Title: Risk It All ft. Sindiswa Vinqi (inc. Fish Go Deep Remix)

Release date: 18th July, 2025

Label: Wooden Discos

Catalog Number: WD001

Format: Digital

Review: Ria Moran - Cubico (DeepMatter Records)

Ria Moran goes 'Cubico' to break out of "Introducing" and moving into her own light in more ways than one.

You may know Ria from BBC's 'Introducing' programming or her debut EP, 'Moving Into The Liight' but if you're following the progress of Georgie Sweet (see review of her First Word debut album, HERE) you'll want to add Ms. Moran to your list of 2025 discoveries.

The vocals are similar in style as delivery as is the music, albeit it bit more of a focus on guitar in the nu-jazz beats envelope. No surprising really as she's worked with Nubiyan Twist (who feature on the closing track 'Take It Or Leave It'), Gotts Street Park and Daniel Casimir of late.

After a bit of a slow start this album gradually builds and by the time you get to the title track, you're hooked as it gets more jazzy-funk dramatic; 'Leo' fits somewhere between the two extremes and is definitely a favourite in the YATM office - and it's just in time to hit the decks at We Out Here Festival.

Clearly influenced by the R&B 'golden era' - Jill Scott, D'Angelo etc along with the current crop of groovers from Oz, particularly Allysha Joy, don't miss out on this one - if you get in quick there's a vinyl option of 'Smoked Orange' (Ed. isn't that an old JUUL flavour?)

Artist: Ria Moran 
Title:  Cubico 

Release date: 18th July, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl -Smoked Orange / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Angus Lima - La Casa De Las Aves (Be Adult Music)

Angus Lima's new release, 'La Casa De Las Aves' has got two original tracks that are  "packed with quality organic house and a wealth of emotions that epitomize this Argentine producer". 

'Conversation Between Lovers' is nearly nine minutes of deamscape that matches the artwork whilst lead track, 'La Casa De Las Aves' is odds on to match July's Colour & Pitch sessions mixtape.

 'In case you need a recap, Be Adult Music have had a great year in 2024 [again] as they celebrated their 8th Anniversary (see review HERE) along with their sister labels, Be Adult Roots (see review HERE) and Be Adult Weapons: 2025 is proving more adult than usual.

Artist: Angus Lima 

Title:  La Casa De Las Aves

Release date: 17th July, 2025

Label: Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM449

Format: Digital / Bandcamp.

Review - Jiri Jiri - Give Me Disco - Vol. 1 (Curated by DJ Kobayashi) (Batov Records)

What is this summer of heatwaves missing?  Of course, the first in a new series of 12" releases of "pan-European disco and Neapolitan funk" curate by Batov Records head honcho and king of the B-sides (in Soho), DJ Kobayashi.

Jiri Jiri, formed by members of Muito Kaballa and YĪN YĪN, have a Afro-disco synch boogie for 70s Italo Balearics on a sun drenched euro-Studio 54.   The vocals are a bit Euro Hall & Oats etc which is always on point but the instrumental Lumo Luvva is modern warp (in a hot way) of Southern Freez / Shakatak jazz-funk.

Condensing Euro Nettuno & Bruno Belissimo's 'Bruno Boogie' (see review HERE) and Gabriele Poso's 'Ritmo Italiano' 'Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo' compilation (see review HERE), this is going to be a series you'll want to collect and play out.

Artist: Jiri Jiri

Title:  Give Me Disco - Vol. 1

Release date: 18th July, 2025

Label : Batov Records

Catalog Number : BTR124

Format: 12" Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp   

Review: Loretta Heywood - Melodica Blues Pt. 1 (Melodica Blues Music)

When it comes to reggae, dub and roots, there's only one Melodica King and that's, of course, Augustus Pablo but when you've got the talents of Loretta Heywood and Kendell Johnson on an album called 'Melodica Blues' with a single 'I've Been Around The World' it's time to buy the ticket.

Loretta Heywood, she of "electronic dance pioneers" Bomb the Bass and TransGlobal Underground has recently been seen with a cover version of 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' as a duet with Lisbon Kid (Ed. Kylie & Jason?) but this new single, you might say, is more of back to her reggae/dub roots.  

Jamaican producer Jordan Armond (aka Natural High) got the a team of Hamid Mantu and Tim Whelan (Transglobal Underground), saxophonist Carlton Headley, and guest vocalists Shakka 'I'm Not The One' Black and Kendell Johnson from West London’s Rastafarian community for a set that inlcudes 'I've Been Around The World', 'Boy Blue' and a cover of the Rasta classic, 'Satta Massagana' as a 6/8 Blues mix!

With the recent Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds cover versions (see review HERE) we could be heading for a new 'golden era' of reggae/dub especially as the project features both new and remixed versions of tracks from Heywood's extensive back catalogue.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/melodica-blues

Title: Loretta Heywood

Title: Melodica Blues Pt. 1

Release date: 12th June, 2025

Label : Melodica Blues Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital 

Review: Sorcerer - Sunlight Hits (Dream Chimney)

The Sorcerer has performed some sort of alchemy here as 'Sunlight Hits' transforms into off-kilter boogie down hip-hop, jazzy beats 'n' Balearics, reggae and more.

The association between Sorcerer (aka Daniel Saxon Judd) and Dream Chimney goes back to the start of the San Francisco based label along with his label debut album 'Tape Dreams' which led to 'Bubble Funk' a couple of years ago.

You could says that the huge pot of his genre mixing in more focused for this album as there's a duel theme of an imaginary OST for a video game that's also aimed a the dancefloor with the magic combo of "galactic syths" and "chilled tropical rhyhms".

Don't expect Miles Davis' 'Sorcerer' but there's a lot going on in the tracks. 'Alien Shore', 'Mystery Tripper' and 'Casio Magician' - you get the idea from the track titles.  Well, you thought you were until the title track hits you with some dreamy funk in the Balearics (nice guitar work when you least expect it) before then we get some electric beach reggae with 'Control Your Soul'.  

At a time like this, I'd usually say that it'd be great if there was a Biggabush remix (for 'Control Your Soul') but even his knob movement couldn't better this one.   And then there's two more tracks on the album where he does it again, 'Picasso On Beach' and 'President Skank'.

If you want to get wax-on, there's some 'Windchime Meltdown' along with 'Status Break' and the jazz-dub Island sounds of 'Winter Swell' so you can wax-off too! 

At the start of the year, Dream Chimney's smokestack blew up with the "best go-go jazz funk" (on 'Geimotheque' by Tonarunur - see review HERE) so no surprise that by July, their back with another eclectic hybrid that's as bright as 'Sunlight Hits' that could easily grow into your favourite album of the year.

BUY LINK: Music | Dream Chimney

Artist:  Sorcerer 

Title:  Sunlight Hits 

Release date: 14th July, 2025

Label : Dream Chimney 

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: Cassette / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi - Whispers Of Rain (Tru-Thoughts)

"Internationally acclaimed harpist Alina Bzhezhinska (pronunciation - Bshe-shin-ska) and Ibiza-based producer Tulshi announce their collaborative album ‘Whispers of Rain’, Alina’s debut album with Tru Thoughts".

If you've been following Alina with us from the single back in March (see review HERE) and her collaborations with Tony Kofi and The HipHop Collective, you'll know that this is the perfect festival season summer chill sound, especially as the seven tracks are based on the cooling element of rain; in all its forms.

Taking Alina's spirtiual jazz and classical background and Tulshi's electronic, tech-dub ambient knowledge they synch together like children playing; which was the inspiration for the first track they ever did called 'Child's Play' which opens the album up for a full 9 minutes.

You can tell from the track titles, 'Starling', 'Across The Sea', 'Warm Days, Cold Nights' and the closing track 'Journey's Home' that there's a instrumental narrative connection between both musicians and the tracks:  indeed, there's a near 40 minute continuous mix 'bonus track' on the digital release. 

One track definitely not to overlook is the Afro-tech jazz-house of 'Nomad's Nocturne' that's heavy in its percussion and takes for early Kraftwerk/Tangerine Dream.

You can't review one of Alina's albums without mentioning Alice Coltrane or Dorothy Ashby (Ed. it's the law) but 'Whispers Of Rain' is this years' Floating Points' 'Promises' without Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra (Ed. that was 2021!)

Alina will be hosting a listening party at Brilliant Corners, London on Monday 23rd June, followed by an album launch show at The Vortex, London on Friday 4th July, featuring Tony Kofi (saxophone) and special guests!

BUY LINK: Whispers of Rain | Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi | AlinaHipHarp

Artist:  Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi

Title:  Whispers Of Rain 
Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings
Catalog Number  TRU467
Format: Black Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds - Disco Jack / Disco Jack (dub mix) (Gee Recordings)

With the recent tribute to  Curtis Mayfield’s "timeless sound" as a refreshed reggae and dub 7", why not  do a tribute to the reggae legend of the keys, Jackie Mittoo as 'Disco Jack'?  

Soul Sugar (aka Guillaume Méténier) has again teamed up with Dub Shepherd's with a follow up to the incredible 'Give Me Your Love (Love Song)' featuring Jolly Joseph (see review HERE).

Mittoo, who made his name in JA from an early age and joining The Skatalites in the 60s before playing sessions with everyname in reggae you care to mention before moving to Canada.  Both sides have 'The Keyboard King' ingrainded into them and the dub particularly stands out giving us even more reason to say we'd have prefered a 12" Discomix.

You may recall the Mittoo orginal was re-issued on an EP on Record Store Day 2018 some 40 years afer the original 7"!  This new version is fresh and not as mellow but so good you can't afford not to get it for the love of reggae, roots, dub organ from the Nyabinghi.

BUY LINK: Disco jack | Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds | Gee Recordings

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Artist:  Soul Sugar meets Dub Shepherds
Title: Disco Jack / Disco Jack (dub mix) 
Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label: Gee Recordings
Catalog Number:  GEE1005
Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp