Review: Raz & Afla - Remixes Of Resistance (Wah Wah 45s)

WAH WAH 45s could not resist themselves as Raz & Afla's 'Echoes Of Resistance' from last year becomes Raz & Afla's 'Remixes Of Resistance' this year - but your can't resist this.

We're long term fans of the label and the singles previously released, 'What's Going On', 'Ebo Be Me' and the awesome 'Shikor Shikor' that were just three of the highlights on the original album (see review HERE).

Of course, we were hopeful that the Hectic Extenson of 'What's Going On' would make the cut but you can't argue that Lumberjacks In Hell's Marcel Vogel (he of 'Real Love - see review HERE) and Seamont's remix is a great opener.

But they're not the only ones stepping up to remix tracks by Raz Olsher (electronics) and Afla Sackey (percussion and vocals) that Dom Servini, the label's head honcho, was/is enormously proud of.

I was kinda taken aback with the Jamz Supernova and Sam Interface remix of 'Shikor Shikor' as talk about bassbin wobble!  And add to that, JKriv's remix of 'Stefana' gets us moving like his other recent releases on his own Razor-N-Tape label a (see review HERE of his 'Intuition' EP and HERE, the JKriv & Megatronic 'Out Of Time' that's out this week too!)

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Even a track with a multiple repeated chant of 'On Da Fone', Davin Varda & Buscadora don't put the breaks on "the run-a-way double headed freight train" and DMX Krew gets busy on  'We Taya' (big tune) and the "haunting re-work" of 'Mo Ni Fere' by Maxxi Soundsystem (massive tune!).

We said last time that, "There are moments of pure euphoria and unadulterated joy too though, as tracks like 'Mon Ni Fere', 'Voodoo Zeezee' and 'Baby Moo' inspire elated, tribal dance floor pleasure" and whilst I still prefer the 'Voodoo Zeezee' original, Lawne (Joe Martin and Joe Nicklin) meld 'Ano Be Mumu' into some prog-OST! 

This is a fantastic album that's not as 'compilation' as many a remix album even with such a range of remixers on the case, including the warp of Motion Kin's 'Eno Be Me' doesn't seem out of place.

Artist: Raz & Afla

Release:  Remixes Of Resistance 
Release Date: 8th August, 2025
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHDIG21
Format: Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Fortunato Durutti Marinetti - Bitter Sweet, Sweet Bitter (Quindi Records)

Fortunato Durutti Marinetti sounds like an Italian prog-rock supergroup from the 70s whilst in reality it's an album from the mind of Daniel Colussi, Turin-born and Toronto based which sits between soft-rock, leftfield jazz and art-pop!

If you're familiar with the work of Leo Chadburn (aka Simon Bookinsh) who has a new album coming out soon (see review HERE), he's got the experimental art-pop poetry whilst DB Cohen (new album out this week, see review HERE) being London born and Canadian based has some similar North Americana influences.

As you can image and 'Baroque Art Pop / Poetic Jazz Rock' album of 9-tracks is hard to pin down, save for the obvious jazz of 'Theme I (Alex's Theme)' and 'Theme II' but that's a t that of the joy of this set as it calls for repeated listens.

Opening with 'Full Of Fire', it sets the tone for a happy Leonard Cohen as a rural Jarvis Cocker mix with a rock band with strings and horn section giving a big sound that's proggy even if the core band in just six.  'Beware' is the oddest 70s funk (with clavinet) as a duet with Victoria Cheong and not funky and then there's another, non-house disco of 'A Perfect Pair' (with Maddee Ritter on vocals): there's a bit of Cockney Rebel / The Devine Comedy in here somewhere.

The centrepiece is the 7 minute opus 'A Rambling Prayer' where his Dylan-ist drawl is sharpened with a the lounge piano of Tom Waits and it's a cool, smooth and angular all at the same time.

The album title, is a twist on Anne Carson's book 'Eros: The Bittersweat' with a duality theme as referenced in the cover photo of a dog with two heads (Ed. Not the 70's Status Quo album) and the more you listen to it, it's hard to nail down Colussi's his own heroes like Robert Wyatt, Annette Peacock, Pierre Barouh and Brigitte Fontaine.

Buy the time of the closing track, 'My Funeral', he's nailed it.

BUY LINK: Vinyl buyers in North America please get it here: fortunatoduruttimarinetti.bandcamp.com/album/bitter-sweet-sweet-bitter

Artist: Fortunato Durutti Marinetti

Title: Viva La Felicità 

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label: Quindi Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Recorded, produced and mixed at Dining Room Sound, Toronto

Louie Short -- Recording & Mixing (A Perfect Pair)

Jay Arner -- Mixing & Post-Production 

Heather Kirby at Dreamland -- Mastering

Daniel Colussi -- Vocals & Guitar
Victoria Cheong -- Vocals (Beware)

Brandon Gibson De Groote -- Violins, Viola & String Arrangements

Alex Fournier -- Bass

Alex Hamlyn -- Saxophone

Stefan Hegerat -- Drums

Blake Howard -- Percussion

John Jowett -- Euphonium & Trombone

Tara Kannangara -- Trumpet

Eliza Niemi -- Cello (Do You Ever Think?)

Luan Phung -- Lead Guitar

Chris Pruden -- Piano, Synth, Rhodes

Maddee Ritter -- Vocals (A Perfect Pair)
Jay Arner -- Clarinet (Beware)

Review: Louis Baker - Keep On (Best Works Remixes w/ Andre Lodemann, Philippa and Hollis P. Monroe) (Best Works)

If you're a fan of the label Best Works, you'll know that the partnership of DJ André Lodemann and A&R manager, promoter and radio host Daniel W. Best down is only interested in Best Works, especially when it comes to the remix.

Blimey, it's been 15 years since Berlin's Eva Be's 'New Crack' EP on Best Works and even longer since New Zealand's Fat Freddy's Drop/Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie relased 'The Room' on the forerunner label, Best Seven (Ed. founder member of Fat Freddy's Drop, Chris 'Mu' Faiumu sadly passed away on 17th July this year, RIP). 

So no surprised that the Berlin based label has teamed up with another New Zealand export, Louis Baker and provided a deep remix team of Lodemann himself, Philippa (NZ and last seen on 15 Years Of SlothBoogie - see review HERE) and Hollis P. Monroe.

In fact, the Hollis P. Monroe remix has some resonance with Joe Dukie's soulful vocals that make the track dreamy that you'll want to 'Keep On' and on [NB.Mr. Best first heard Louis Baker, a New Zealand-based soul singer, perform "Keep On" as the opening act for Fat Freddy's Drop at the Tempodrom in Berlin in 2024]

Lodemann weighs in with 3 versions himself, a vocal mix, radio mix and dub.  Regular readers will know what's coming next - where's the combined 20 minute version?  Smooth soul with Lonnie Liston Smith jazz-funk dreams and spiritual bells: it's going to be in all the best (no pun etc) DJ Chart lists this year.

Not to be outdone, Phillipa's 'Don't Lose The Fire' mix that pumps like a train ready for the club with the vocals sounding even more Marvin Gaye with a bit of echo and some crazy synths.

Not only that, we're promised a Part 2 with Delfonic (watch out for 'Roy Ayers Delfonic Reworked #1' coming soon on BBE), Larse and Gush Collective: got to keep on and stay strong with this.

Artist: Louis Baker
Title: Keep On (Best Works Remixes w/ Andre Lodemann, Philippa and Hollis P. Monroe) 
Release date: 1st August, 2024
Label :Best Works
Catalog Number  BWR032
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Roots Artefact - Different Perspective EP (NuNorthern Soul)

Tallinn! Estonia! Not exactly the heart of reggae music you'd think?  Perhaps it's time for 'Different Perspective' from Roots Artefact on NuNorthern Soul?

 

Roots Artefact is Estonia's Saimon (best known for his reggae/dub exploits with Strictly Dub Records) matched up with Seafront International's Tallinn beach groove that was first heard on NuNorthern Soul's summer compilation with the track 'The Big Calm Dubwise' (along with Visions of Light's 'Stages' that you can now find on the album 'The Mandala Vortex' - see review HERE).

The 'Different Perspective' EP comes a bit too late for the Chilled Cider festival this year but is like a too slow for Rockers in a downtempo dub stylee (inna Rocker Hi-Fi influence - see review HERE).

All four tracks,  'The Big Calm Dubwise', 'Riding With Ease', 'In Circles' and the title track with flute and sax bursts are as just in The Rhythm Doctor's DJ set list as Balaphonic "21st century Balearica" (The Rhythm Doctor is on Tallinn's IDA radio station with his 'Waiting Room' show evey Monday morning that's a great way to start the week).  

I like how there's a little bit of a toe in the water paddle with some slow-mo Ital-piano to cool things down on 'In Circles' but all four tracks are fantastic. 

BUY LINK: Different Perspective EP | Roots Artefact

 

Artist: Roots Artefact 

Title: Different Perspective EP 

Release date: 1st August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNS070 
Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Pink Butter - Can We Go Back (DeepMatter Records)

There's many reasons why groups have the most unusual names; some good, some not so good - when it comes to Pink Butter, they're something special as their EP, 'Can We Go Back' proves - and no, you can't go back!

A Swedish quartet of Oskar Bettinsoli (guitars), Björn Lehnert (keyboards), Malte Bergman (bass) and John Bjurström (drums) are able to blend jazz and hip-hop and have found a couple of like minded folks to collaborate with including T3 (RL Alttman III of Slum Village) and Jermaine Holmes (backing singer with D'Angelo).

Those with long memories will know the 'golden era' LSK who had Dwele and Slum Village on their debut (back in summer of 2000!) this is very much that sort of quality.  Indeed, 'Can We Go Back' featuring T3 feels retro for the now.  

In fact, the whole 6 track EP is very 'Futuristica Music' from back in the day, i.e. see the new release by Georgie Sweet 'I Swear To You' (see review HERE), as in 'Alright' featuring Joanné Nugas (and some great jazz guitar from Oskar) and 'Lost My Mind' featuring Elma.

On the mellow soul side Jermaine Holmes sings on 'Made For Me' which is perfect for the chill out zone whilst his contribution to 'U' with Venus Anon is close to spaced out soul as these guys get.  Being nearly six minutes long in a Part I & II style, it's my favourite of the set; equally, it's a shame it's not longer in more of a 12" mix (Ed. and work in 'Voice Memo'?)

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) and The Offline's Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto influenced 'In Session' (see review HERE) and this is a another hot release; keep it cool as we don't want it to melt as you can never go back.

Artist: Pink Butter 
Title:  Can We Go Back 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

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

Review: Various Artists - Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl (Right Tempo)

You had me at Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music! What's just as impressive is the line-up on these 10 tracks; can you believe I:Cube and I:Cube with a Daft Punk remix, the massive Masters At Work on a Flute rework (illiminating Janet Jackson, in name only), Frankie Knuckles and more!

Of course, I don't eat caviar but this album signifies everything that a jar of Beluga is: exclusive, smooth and expensive (in terms of quality): the Masters At Work flute rework will save the dancefloor time and time again as it's a monster track.

Never heard of Jo Boyer's 'Isabelle & The Rain'?  No worries, here's the Da Funkie & Cosmic Girl Caviar Jazz Edit!  Sounding very cultured Latin influenced Italo-jazz with massive Fender Rhodes keys all over it.

And whilst you're being thankful for what you've got, this compilation gives more like Josma's 'Voices In Los Angeles (Disco '70)' and more jazz keys of Cricco Castelli, 'Life Is Changin' Again' as a club mix and original.

We know Right Tempo from their recent 12"s, Attilio Zanchi's 'Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) (see review HERE) and the Yellowtail/Mark Murphy 'Seasons In My Mind' Remixes (see review HERE) but this is next level for the clubs.

Even looking backwards to look forward, a Clepto mix of Frankie Knuckles' 'Bac N Day'; you can't afford to miss this one.

BUY LINK: https://righttempo.bandcamp.com/album/caviar-jazz-a-journey-into-jazz-inflected-house-music

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl 
Release date: 10th July, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo 

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - We Are Worlds Away (Nublu Records)

"The uplifting and anthemic title track from their upcoming EP on New York’s legendary Nublu Records".

The Phenomenal Handclap Band is Daniel Collás, Juliet Swango, and Monika Heidemann. Since 2017, the Brooklyn based trio has released numerous critically acclaimed singles on labels such as Daptone, Toy Tonics, and Glitterbox that have garnered attention and praise from such luminaries including Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry,  Elton John, Don Letts and Gilles Peterson (this is going to make Peterson's soon coming 'We Out Here' festival very sweaty).

In 2023 the band released the 'Burning Bridges' EP on New York dance label Razor-N-Tape (they of 'Family Affair' etc) followed by the vinyl only 12” Like a Constellation on Lone Limited at the end of 2024 before popping up on Peter Matson's 'Hotel PM' album on Bastard Jazz (see review HERE).

‘We Are Worlds Away’, was written and recorded in Stockholm, Sweden’s Pansarmarängen Studio with the help of longtime collaborators Fredrik Swahn (Dungen, Melody’s Echo Chamber) and Morgan Phalen (Justice, Drakkar Nowhere).  Once you hear Linda Mirada's 'Qué largo es el verano' (review coming soon) that's got a big PHB imprint on it, 'We Are Worlds Away' and 'Free Time' sounds even better!

This is miles away from Zé Nigro's 'Silêncio' (also Nublu, see review HERE) but the YATM office thinks that's a good thing for a label as it shows that they are going places, even worlds away?

BUY LINK: https://ffm.to/worldsawaysingle

Artist: The Phenomenal Handclap Band 
Title:   We Are Worlds Away
Release date: 29th July, 2025
Label : Nublu Records
Catalog Number : SI-NUB-069
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: JKriv & Megatronic - Out Of Time (Razor-N-Tape)

The ever busy JKriv has joined up again with Megatronic on a 7" as he release the 'Out Of Time' that's a space disco rocket as we all feel we're running 'Out Of Time'.

Taking the next step on from the EP release 'Intuition' (see review HERE), the title track  featured Megatronic (who also turned up on 'City To City: Lisbon' at the same time - see review HERE), they're back with an apocolyptic (running) 'Out Of Time' which works really well on the 7" as the one vocal version that's not got the 'Sparky's Magic Piano' efx of 'Intuition' but retains the Grace Jones like spoken word urgency before the climax.

And then the instrumental captures all the city energy of a hot night of NYPD sirens and some deep acid synths.

Jkriv and his label Razo-N-Tape have proved time and time again that they can do no wrong (also check the recent Nomi Ruiz & Eli Escobar album, 'Love Louder' - see review HERE) so don't let the grass grow and run out of time, get it as soon as as an anthem for summer 2025 with impending doom at a disco sauna.

BUY LINK: https://razor-n-tape.lnk.to/OutofTime

 

Artist: JKriv & Megatronic 

Title: Out Of Time
Release date: 1st August, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTD125
Format :  7" - 2 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Art Of Tones - Gold EP (PALP)

Palp returns with Art Of Tones as they win 'Gold' with their new EP: expecting the first two positions in the Tour de France disco.

We know Art Of Tones (aka Ludovic Llorca) has many fans on the remix scene (like the guys at Disco Express, see HERE) and he started their own label Palp in the early 00s releasing a couple of EPs.

Now, for the third time he's reached to top of hte podium with a very 'Art Of Tones' release of disco meets house with big strings and soulful vocals.  It's a bit cheeky, to call the instrumenal of 'Gold', 'Silver' but it'll keep the dancefloor bouncing just as much as it reaches the crescendo: it's like taking Sébastien Tellier's 'La Ritournelle' to the hot end of the disco and you can't get much better than that! 

BUY LINK: Art of Tones - Gold on Traxsource

Artist: Art Of Tones

Title: Gold EP 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label: PALP

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Secret Garden - Spirals ft. Cordelia Olwen (Ramrock Red Records)

Let's see what's in The Secret Garden this summer.  Dizzy after Mrs Ramrock's  vocals for 'Names In The Sky', this time is 'Spirals' on the beach, litterally, as that's where Cordelia Olwen's vocals were recorded!

You will recall the previous release by The Secret Garden, 'Names In The Sky' that featured the vocals of Jo Wallace, the boss at Ramrock HQ (see review HERE), that got worldwide plays and was championed by Don Letts at BBC 6 Music.

Well, this time the vocals by Cordelia (50% of Clone + Cord) were recorded so close to the sea that you've got authenic wave sounds on 'Spirals' that give it more than a synth-pop Balearic vibe that's deep. Plus, there's some proper lazy days lyrics here and that's enhanced by the "dreamy" instrumental version.

Apparently, the seed of this collaboration was planted last summer at a rare The Secret Garden gig in the Chiltern Hills where Alex and Cordelia met.  Since then, after some serious file swopping, 'Spirals' will be spinning your head and feet.  

I hope this will be released on vinyl at some point so we can get it played at Chilled Cider (Ed. that's the one that overlooks the sea) but until then, it's yet another summer winner from Ramrock, perfect timing as ever.

 

Artist: The Secret Garden

Title: Spirals ft. Cordelia Olwen

Release date: 28th July, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR087

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Number - Le Boucle Nouveau EP (Ramrock Red Record)

Your Number is up as Ramrock Red Records release numbers 84 and 85 with Le Boucle Nouveau EP and 'Le Boucle Nouveau' Duncan Gray Remix.

It's a busy week at Ramrock HQ as The Secret Garden's latest single 'Spirals' featuring Cordelia Olwen and Joseph Malik's 'Adult Contemporary' (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP) are both coming out soon.  But, when Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace, was approached by Rich Thair and Ali Friend (co-founders of Red Snapper) with a brand new project from their band, Number, room had to be found in the busy schedule.

We are told that the pair have performed all over the globe and been on the bill supporting some of the biggest bands as you'll likely to name but their real lust was to recreate "dirty disco bass lines, noisy drum machines, wonky percussion, leering live drums, jagged guitar melodies and uplifting soulful songs of the 80s".  And it's fair to say they've managed to do that on the teaser from their forthcoming album - the brand new single ‘Le Boucle Nouveau’.

Do you wanna add dub to that lot? You can in the form of a the Duncan Gray remix that taps into Andrew Weatherall's legacy and Sean Johnston's 'A Love From Outer Space' sensibilities.

As a fan of 'Weeds Up To Me Knees', any album titled 'Pollinate' is going to get the YATM office excited. If you need a bit of a 101, their first album, in 2020, was on Sunday Best, and 'Binary' featured the track 'Face Down In Ecstasy' which was lauded by Lauren Lavern, featured an acclaimed video by Leo Nicholson and got onto the coveted BBC 6 Music playlist.

It would seem the pollinators have done a number on the duo as they've moved on from Sponge Bob's Square Talkin' Head animations.

 

Artist: Number

Title: Le Boucle Nouveau EP/ Le Boucle Nouveau (Duncan Gray Remix) EP

Release date: 25th July, 2025 / 8th August 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR084 / RRR085

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: DB Cohen - On Target (Ramrock Red Records)

Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake vs. RAF Target, what's your modern flava? The wise heads at Ramrock Records have gone with the target in these smoke free enlightened days but that's not to say DB Cohen isn't on fire!

But if you've seen DB Cohen and band giging this summer you'll know that there's much more to their set that a symbol.   And from their recorded works on Ramrock from the start of the year the indie-pop 'For the Love Of Ella' single as a follow-up to 'Manchild' - see review HERE) drenched in  Americana, Thames Delta Blus, ska and more. 

Cohen was born in London and lives in Canada with a zest for a trobadour lifestyle so you get the lot from Essex Billy Bragg to Dylan to country Small Faces Mod and Canvey Island Dr Feelgood rockers Woody Guthrie; when did you last hear "brolly" in lyrics - Chas & Dave?

Let's see what the man himself says, "Filtering life through the blues, I write, play guitar/ harp and sing on all my records and smash it up live with a seven piece band formed with a who’s who from the Ottawa Blues scene. We’re playing all this summer all around Ontario & Quebec including the Capital Fair in August. I’m also planning a Canada/U.S tour around my forthcoming L.P release ON TARGET out on Ramock Red Records July 2025. ON TARGET is a real UK/ Candian collaboration, and produced in part by legendary producer, Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove. The record covers many sub genres within the blues sphere - Chicago Blues, Bluegrass, Rhythm & Blues, Traditional Folk and a smattering of Ska for good measure.  Maple Blues winning bassist Laura Greenberg, guitarist Murray Kinsley (Wicked Grin) as well as some of the UK’s best blues talent- Steve West Weston & Darrel Higham – all feature on the album. See you at the bar’"

If you missed the Bandcamp Listening Party last night, you missed what sounds like a late alternative 'Album of the Week' as this is 'On Target' in so many ways.

Artist: DB Cohen 
Title:  On Target
Release date: 25th July, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: ,RRRLP013
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yesterday's Princess - Tomorrow's Yearning (Root Records)

If you had the mind to get Surprise Chef and Sven Wunder vs. Lalo Schfrin and David Axelrod vs. Lonnie Liston Smith and George Benson (CTi period) with DIlla vs. Madlib on the knobs, you could well end up with some jazz library hip-hop beats of Yesterday's Princess - couldn't get much better than that!

The duo of Fredrik Bregsten and Marcus Larson might sound like Celtic's new Scandinavian signings but they've been producing music for over 10 years and 'Tomorrow's Yearning' is a mere four tracks to tease us with as jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor.

'Anemoia', 'Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)' (the early single - see review HERE), 'Bygone' and 'Meanwhile' are all recorded with real instruments including drums to replace the old skool sample pack and a bass player brought in to join the Fender Rhodes and electric guitar. 

 

If you know the standard of 'Dirty Harry', 'Death Wish', 'Hill St. Blues' themes and along with the forthcoming work of Pink Butter (see review HERE soon), this is a brilliant jazz-funk warm-up that's as much retrospecitve and forward looking at the same time.

 

Artist: Yesterday's Princess
Title:  Tomorrow's Yearning

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Cee ElAssaad & Beatkozina - Beauty is Magic (Ensouled)

Latin Afro-futuristica house on the beach makes this a beautiful single release!

We know of Beatkozina after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE), the 'Merhba EP' feat. El Mago & Axel Camil on Compost (see review HERE) and if you can imagine tthat along with Cee ElAssaad's 'Ore Yeyo O' (see review HERE) you're not going to be too far from 'Beauty is Magic' for a post jazz-funk generation.

I expect the vocal will be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch but I there's also the instrumental and radio edit.

BUY LINK: https://ensouled.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Cee ElAssaad & Beatkozina

Title: Beauty is Magic

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Tigerbalm with Giorgio Lopez - Nayar (Ubiquity Records)

Ubiquity Records take on Tigerbalm as they reel under the tango, bango, mango, commando, wango tropical disco madness of 'Nayar'.

You'll remember Tigerbalm's album 'Profunda Alma'  on Razor-N-Tape that came out at the end of last year (see review HERE) as Nicola Robinson unleashed her Afro-Latin obession on the dancefloor

Ubiquity have previously released Tigerbalm's 'International Love Affair' album that attracted some name remixers like Chico Mann, Daniele Baldelli, Emperor Machine and Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly at the Disco Express - see interview HERE) so they should know what they've let themselves in for?

But I'm not sure even Tigerbalm herself had some idea as our Londoner has caught the Italo-synth-wave house revival teaming up with Naples' Giorgio Lopez (like 'Mystic Jungle' see review HERE) with some J-pop vocal chorus.

Known for her "kaleidoscope of global influences", I'm not sure the remixes by Elado (turns up the synths), Bernado Pinheiro (adds some atmospheric Latin percussion from the rainforest, that could have gone more dubby) and Piek (mainroom Spanish house with disco lazers)

We're told this is a mere taster for Tigerbalm's next album, 'Bubblegum Discos' that's due out next years so we're likely to have these 4 versions of 'Mango-Bango' disco all summer long. 

BUY LINK: Nayar | Tigerbalm

Artist: Tigerbalm with Georgio Lopez

Title: Nayar
Release date: 23rd July, 2025
Label : Ubiquity Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Farhot - RAQS (105-118BPM)(Kabul Fire Records)

From Afganistan to Hamburg, DJ Farhot has found 'RAQS' to share on the dancefloor.

It seems a lifetime ago, 20 years in fact, that I firsts spotted the name DJ Farhot on the production/engineer credits on Nneka's album 'Victim Of Truth'.  That was on CD, the album was re-issued a couple of years ago as a double LP, and the power of her vocals still stands up today.

And not only has Farhot had a hand in most of here subsequent albums, he runs his own label Kabul Fire Records, he's half of 'Die Achse' (with Bazzazian) along with production credits for Giggs, Kano, Talib Kweli, LOC and many more along with his own Kabul Fire Vol. 1 & 2.

Hip-hop meets Batov Middle-Eastern vibes on this 5 track EP as 'MARS' set that 'RAQS': which translates as the Dari word for "dance"; in Arabic, three root letters, ra, qa, sa = to dance.

In true underground hip-hop fashion, you'll find samples from Egypt, Lebanon, Somalia and further a far as these tracks take on a synth, psych Wedding dance celebration for the Flute Gang, particularly 'Ya Saghira' which has a very sharp ending.

For Afgan-Hamburg House, 'Hooyoo' (with Siriusmo) is the most WOMAD friendly - especially as it's the longest track with sing-a-long chants, a funky guitar lick, a wicked organ and a bit of dub echo; what more do you want?

'Yana' (with Daniel Kimaz, the flautist on The Mighty Mocambos' album 'A Higher Frequency' that was released last month, see review HERE) and 'Al Quds' (with Bazzazian) which both have a touch of Stones Throw 'golden era' about them as if Daedelus was transported to North Africa.

 

The vinyl is super limited so get your feet off the ground and onto your likely suspect record shops quick before they run out.

BUY LINK: https://idol-io.ffm.to/raqs105118bpm

Artist:  Farhot

Title: RAQS EP

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Kabul Fire Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp