Friday 8 November 2024

If you know your VHS from your Betamax, you're half way to loving this one already as The Oddball Creatives return to Scorpio Leisure's 'No Apologies' for a remix treat.


Fans of twangy guitars a la a slo-mo dub of Chris Isaak's 'Blue Hotel' (I know that there's loads of you out there who are) with an eerie post Halloween presence of 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' (Bauhaus, 1979) but with vocals by Hettie Noir in a 80s disco (and now there's even more fans out there into this), will love what The Oddball Creatives (aka Joseph Malik and Daniel Walls) have done on the remix of 'No Apologies' as it's got them instant access, past the Bouncers (Security), straight into the best of basement clubs with this one (plus the instrumental version).

This is so on-trend these dayz (Ed. ohhh, very VHS!) with post-punk disco re-emerging with 'Two Synths, A Guitar (and) a Drum Machine' (Soul Jazz) , 80s revival of Skeet (Almost Unknown/Efficient Space) and a look back to Edinburgh's Fast Product label.

You'll recall the Malik/Walls partnership we're responsible for the totally synth-funky 'Only Fans' from last years' 'Album Of The Year' (see review HERE) and but most recently the X-Press 2 remixes, see review HERE). 

The 'No Apologies' remix fits nicely in the ball park of F*CLR's Natashia Kitty Kat (also Edinburgh based) after her recent release, 'Intergalatic Vampire' (see review HERE) and don't forget Scorpio Leisure's 'Give Us Some Space' (see review HERE) that's equally great.

Now, where can I get one of those Poker/Golf/Tennis visors?


Artist: Scorpio Leisure
Title: No Apologies (The Oddball Creatives VHS Remixes) 
Release date: 8th November, 2024
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR071
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp
Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , ,

Well, you might not recognise the name Loxodrome, (possibly for good reason) but you'll know Jamie Odell (aka Loxodrome, Jimpster and many more) who released the original 'The Loxodrome EP' in 1994! Here's the follow up!


You'd have thought Jimpster would have enough work on his keyboards with running labels Freerange and Delusions Of Grandeur along with DJing and seemingly endless quality remixes to have the time to slip back 30 years to check out some acid droppin' tech house?  Well he has and it's as hot now as it was with the emergence of 303 emulators. 

The title track is quite jumpy and eye-2-eye contact dancefloor warped and mixed with some Star Trek-ed flight command star date time to "tune in and drop out" in a club way, not a Timothy Leary's '66 revival way. 

The last track, 'Fornax A' sneaks onto a Balearic Peech Bros, NYC seashore which you might have to save for next summer but the meat (vegan options are available) of the EP is 'Emberfall' and 'Emberfall (Dub)' which has elements of 'Drop Out' and 'Fornax A' that creates something bigger than the knob twiddling parts.

Cyphon Recordings have also released artists like Kirk Degiorgio (As One), DJ Rocca, Yuu Udagawa (she of the recent Compost remix releases 'Ride it'/'Set Me Sneakers' - see review HERE) and the Odell/Loxodrome is definitely going to give them an even higher profile.


Artist: Loxodrome 
Title: Drop Out EP 
Release date: 8th November, 2024
Label: Cyphon
Catalog Number  -
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , ,

We love a bit of 'Loyalty' here at YATM so when we got the nod that Greg Blackman is featuring on a release by Goshawk that also features Dutch artist Lyma called 'Loyalty', our eagle eyes/ears were ready to focus on our prey.



LYMA  (aka Lyma aka Tjerk Lammers) is an Amsterdam based producer/singer/songwriter and mate of Lumberjacks In Hell's founder Marcel Vogel so he fits in perfectly with this soul-disco-house track by Goshawk (aka Matt Rivem) that's sounds reminiscent of Jamiroquai/Loverbirds productions with Stee Downes so that sounds like a winner to me.

The Jamiroqua comparision is even sharper on with the two versions of Goshawk's '1 Up, 1 Down' being the original that bounces with some nice synth lazer beams and funky bass with a glitchy Lyma remix [warning for a bit of potty mouth at the start]. 

Greg Blackman (as in 'Over Again - see review HERE and 'Wait To The Morning' - see review HERE) is a [rock]star here on the 'Ain't Gonna' that's a heavy handed piano banger soul vocal skat that's similar to Omar at his best - there's some great wobbly keys too.

Lumberjack's In Hell have released tracks over the years by some of our other favourites (including Rahaan, Inkswell who have both had recent releases along with Soulphiction (RIP), Prequel and Lay-far to name just a few) so the more open minded Amsterdam ADE people will be playing these tracks; even though Lumberjacks In Hell sound like they should be at a Grunge flannel shirt convention in Canada, these guys axes are sharp for any dancefloor.

P.S. Mr Vogel, "impressed by @petefowler artwork!!!" 


Artist: Goshawk ft. Lyma & Greg Blackman 

Title:  Loyalty EP

Release date: 8th November, 2024 

Label : Lumberjacks In Hell

Catalog Number : LIH046

Format :  Vinly 12" / Digital https://lumberjacksinhell.lnk.to/LoyaltyEP

 / Bandcamp


Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , ,

It's fair to say that Magro grew up emersed in music and after a move from Stugartt to Berlin nearly 10 years ago, he got his hip-hop 'Golden Era' beats tuned-in and 'Tokyo Tree EP' is a 8 track that's for today. 



Sonar Kollektiv are as equally emersed as Magro as the mulit-aspect hip hop and the EP is improved with the soulful vocals of Jess Reis ('Pursuit') and other tracks with vocals/rap; 'Beauty' featuring Oswin Benjamin 'Grief' featuring Moses Yoofee and 'Need A Friend' with Rapturous.

All three are highlights of the EP whilst the rest will more than satisfy fans of old skool Dublab/Flying Lotus jazz fusion beats especially the title track.


Artist: Magro
Title: Tokyo Tree EP
Release date: 8th November, 2024
Label : Sonar Kollektiv
Catalog Number : SK497D 
Format: Digital / Bandcamp 


This ain't rude, it's focused 'Downtown Love' with Abstract, Inkswel and Andre Espeut.



I said in the review of the single, 'Dangerous Times' (see review HERE) that, "this pair are perfect partners to sooth us with this modern soul room and the album, 'Synchronicites', indicates how well these two pair up." Well, you know the old saying that two's company, three's a crowd?  Not in this case when Inkswel and Andre Espeut are joined by West Coast rapper 'Abstract Rude'

Mr. Rude, aka Aaron Pointer, is either best know for his work on Netflix or back in the day with the Freestyle Fellowship members Aceyalone & Myka 9 or even DJ Vadim on label's from Alpha Pup to Big Dada - but what you can say is, he's always spot on.

And that's the case with 'Downtown Love' a bouncey soul track that's give you that uptown feeling.

Really looking forward to hearing this new album coming out on the 29th November.

Artist: Inkswel & Andre Espeut

Title: Downtown Love feat. Abstract Rude 

Release date: 8th November, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT6044 / Digital / Bandcamp  

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , ,

A tribute to Raiss El Hajj Mehdi Ben Mbark by Cranky and Salah Fafah featuring Hassan Tays in the form of 'Ayamargi' is more than uplifting.



I can't say I know much about Amazigh music but one of their heroes, the 90 year old Raiss El Hadj Mehdi Ben Mbark (المهدي بن مبارك), the Moroccan religius singer and acknowledged pioneer of Amazigh religious song, has passed away in Casablanca.

Apparently his passing is in somewhat mysterous circumstaces which is made the more tragic as he'd been working on this update of his song 'Manik Arad skergh Ayamargi'.

The aim of fusing "modern elecctronic sounds" and traditonal North African folk/world with the vocals of Hassan Tays is definitely in the "job done" folder and equally a great companion to othe releases on Ostowana, just like the 'Angelito EP' by Miserez (see review HERE) as we all encounter sunrises and sunsets in out lifetime. 


Artist: Cranky, Salah Fafah Feat. Hassan Tays  

Title: Ayamargi 

Release date: 8th November, 2024

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST080

Format: Digital

Thursday 7 November 2024

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , ,

When you're talking about name dropping album guest artists, to misquote a film, "You had me at Brian Jackson"!  Yes, Gil Scot-Heron's famous keyboardist/flautist partner is on this album and he's not even the primary flautist as  Ludivine Issambourg continues to pay tribute to the Law family on 'Above The Laws'.


This album follows her 2020 release, 'Outlaws (A Tribute To Herbert Laws)' and there were not many folks above the Law (family) back in the 70/80s on the jazz funk scene (by coincidence, only yesterday, I was reading on the rear cover of NYPA's 1977 album, "Special thanks to Eloise Laws for her sex background vocals"!)

Getting back to Jackson, he's on here with a version of 'Angel Dust' on vocals and keyboards and it was noticed on his recent BBE album and live at WeOutHere Festival this year when he did some tunes made famous by both of them (notably 'The Bottle') and it was evident how much he sings like Gil; and Louie Vega got him to guest with him and his band, Elements of Life, on stage too that was a magical experience).   And like 'The Bottle', the track 'Angel Dust' is a dark story that doesn't match the original Fairy Tale story book use of the title.

And when I say "jazz funk", I mean "FUNK" has an equal billing, check 'Hop Scotch" (featurng Laurent de Wilde on keys) and ACT label regular, Nils Landgren on 'bone with 'New Morning'; and when it comes to name dropping, who hasn't he worked with over that past 30 years?

So, you'll remember last night, no word of a lie, looking at me copy of Ronnie Law's 12" 'Let's Keep It Together' (from the album 'Fever' 1976, UAG 20007) and here's a Afrobeat version of 'Fever' featuing Céline Bonacina (on sax) and where Issambourg shows off how magic she is on flute.

Apparently, she's going on an extensive European tour next year to promote the album and this is going to be really big before that happens; Flute Gangs and Jazzdance DJs, there's a new heavenly sweetness in the air to dance and spin to, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ludivine Issambourg!

BANDCAMP - Listening Pary - Above The Laws
November 7, 2024 at 6:00 PM GMT


Artist: Ludivine Issambourg
Title: Above The Laws
Release Date : 8th November, 2024
Catalog Number : TBC-
Label : Heavenly Sweetness
Format:  Black vinyl 180g LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Monday 4 November 2024

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , ,

If you were surprised by Bradley Zero's professed love of Simon & Garfunkel recently?  Well as Peckham's finest celebrates '10 years of Rhythm Section International' as well as his kissa bar, Jumbi with Paul Camo being featured on Worldwide FM, perhaps they should give the pairing of Yoav & Jabulile Majola as a couple of diamonds from South Africa.



Why the surprise at Mr. Zero's love of Simon & Garfunkel?  I don't think I've heard anything on the RSI label that is anything close to that style (check out the leftfield dance roots like Chaos In the CBD, FYI Chris, Al Dobson Jr., Heny Wu and many more) so you don't expect he'd be into poignant storytelling and soulful vocals which the pairing of Yoav and Jabulile Majola have excelled at here with the three tracks, 'Stranger','Nyoni Yami' and 'Running'.

The duo's voices at time match the folky-pop duo and the 'Nyoni Yami' track sung in Zulu is particular is very touching.

There's an album called 'Unyazi' that's had a limited home country release but these three tracks will be their introduction to a world audience.

Worldwide FM - Jumbi takeover with Paul Camo. 

Friday 1 November 2024

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , , ,

You know the saying, "great minds think alike" and this certainly applies to Jessica Lauren's album 'Film" and IMPRESS!VE Collective's Greg Boraman as here's the very impressive new release on his label.


You can't get much different from thier last release (the equally brilliant,  Ginger Johnson And His African Messenger's 'African Party' - see review HERE) and like the previous re-release of that album (albiet on mp3 for me), I've loved the original CD release of 'Film' since it was originally released.

Not only because I met her some years ago and suggested it should be re-issued (Ed. great minds eh!) but it's quite ageless jazz groove.  In fact, the reason I got the original CD was that Jessica had made a name for herself in the jazzdance scene with soul-jazz/jazz funk/Chris Bowden produced album 'Siren Song' and the first track from 'Film' is a futuristic jazz-funk OST 'Uptown'.

And the rest of the album follows this lead of modal jazz, library, electronica, Latin with Ms. Lauren's keyboard skills to the fore, like the beautiful 'Stone Garden', the Christmas Box 'A Pearl For Iona', spacey 'Live Your Life' and 'Ajua' plus a touch of neo-classical 'Coming Home'.

Lots of Schifrin /Hancock 70s funky keys/synth/harpsichord experimentation OST biz going on with tracks like 'Shibuya' and 'I Love You My Brother' (like an updated 'Get Carter' if you like).

Jessica's been a big supporter of Emanative (she was on his/their last album 'Abstact Intuition' - see review HERE) and his love of spirtual jazz is evident on this release of 24 years ago; was Nick Woodmansey even born then?  And whilst on the subject, you may recall the pair of them were on the Emanative remix of the Yellowtail 'Seasons In My Mind' featuring Mark Murphy no less (see review HERE).

'Uptown' and 'Treasure Island' were picked for single release at the time of original release and both tracks stand up today as quality so, as you can imagine, your usual DJ suspect are on this already now it's finally out on a 2024 vinyl release, like Gilles, Patrick Forge and DJ Colin Parnell (Stomp Radio) who featuring a track on his show a couple of weeks ago.   

Thankfully, the artwork is a 1000% improvement on the original and fitting for this great album.

Artist: Jessica Lauren

Title: Film

Release date: 1st November, 2024

Label :  Impressive Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE643

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , , , , ,

After rockin' the WeOutHere Festival this year (and no doubt everywhere else musclecars have performed), BBE release the 'Double Honey Pack' knock-out version of this years' album where Craig Handfield and Brandon Weems (the duo known as musclecars) go head-to-head with alternate versions and remixes with music legends Louie Vega (also at WeOutHere Festival with The Elements Of Life) and Maurice Fulton.



You'll recall we were very excited about musclecars being represented on the Audrey Powne single, 'Feed The Fire'(see review HERE) and then we got 'Ha Ya (Eternal Life)' (see review HERE) followed by the album 'Sugar Honey Iceed Tea!'.

Well, it's a good job we're still on this as the 'Double Honey Pack' even supasses them all as the 'Ha Ya! (Enternal Life) (Planetarium Mix)' is the spiritual flute gang jazz-house classic of the year and 'I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw The Stars' is 11 minutes of pure Latin-jazz-house perfection.

It's a bit pricey for the double vinyl verson (worth it for 'Water (Spiritual Mix)' on its own) but with all the dancefloor remix version, to mis-quote this weeks' budget statement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "think of it as an investment in the future".

Get It tonight!
  1. Tonight 05:55

  2. Tonight (Louie Vega Bronx Dub) 05:50

  3. Tonight (Louie Vega Remix) 08:22

  4. Hello? (Maurice Fulton Remix) 06:44

  5.  'Ha Ya! (Enternal Life) (Planetarium Mix) 07:35

  6. I Don't Remember The Last Time I Saw The Stars 11:10

  7. Water (Spiritual Mix) 08:30

  8. Tonight (Louie Vega Bassin Dub) 05:38

  9. Tonight (NV South Jersey Dub) 03:48

  10. Tonight (Louie Vega Remix Brooklyn Solo Dub) 08:22

  11. Tonight (Clean Version) 05:55

  12. Tonight (Louie Vega Remix) (Clean Version) 08:22


Artist: musclecars 
Title: Double Honey Pack 
Release date: 6th September, 2024
Label : BBE Music
Catalog Number : BBE763
Format: 2 x LP / Digital / Bandcamp