Review: Sampology - Ripen EP Vol. 1 (Middle Name Records)

Sampology's 'Ripen', "Sounds like my back garden sitting in the summer house (if only) - he's cracked it with them strings - looking forward to the EP" and now, here it is! 

There's so much great music from Australia at the moment including one of the leaders in the Hip-hop/beats/BRUK/World/Jazz-Funk/Soul field, Sampology and we've now got his 5 track  'Ripen' album to prove it.

You'll already know the two previous singles, the get up Latin jazzdance of 'Morning Sun' and 'Ripenning' featuring NMMWL (Ed. nice 'warm up track' if you're going to play any Minnie Riperton's 'Lovin' You' at any festival near you soon).

And you get a bonus of vocal and beats tool version of 'Morning Sun' which is DJ cool but there's a vibes friendly with 'Samba Sampo' (Ed. great title) that features Charlie Hill on drums (he of the 'Yore EP' of a couple of years ago, see review HERE), that'll move a Latin dance floor with Mike Sammes style vocals and some squiggy synths: plus it's one for the Flute 

Gang!

So that's all amazing but what about 'Marigolds For Movement', the musical equivalent of Gardeners' World and Yoga For Health mix for a boogie-jazz-funk dancefloor.

This might sound like its been sampled from Sam's pseudonim but check out below the artists on this, it's really has a modern Lonnie Liston Smith meets Charles Stepney in Brisbane feel to it, 'Morning Sun' - too hot!

BUY LINK: Bandcamp

Artist: Sampology

Title: Ripen EP Vol. 1 

Release date: 4th July, 2025

Label : Middle Name Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Vocals - Tiana Khasi
Vocals - Hannah Macklin
Vocals - Kalila
Violin - Flora Wong
Violin - Sam Andrews
Viola - Julianna Kim
Cello - Hannah Harley
Trumpet - Tristan Rogers
Saxophone - Cassandra Whitehead
Bass Guitar - Sam Maguire
Double Bass - Ken Poggioli
Conga & Timbale - Gustavo Cereijo
Drums *Samba Sampo* - Charlie Hill
Vocals *Ripened* - NMMWL

Keys, Synths, Vibraphone, Drums, Percussion - Sampology

Here's your digital promo of 'Ripened', the new single from Sampology coming out 6 June on Middle Name Records

• Sampology shares 'Ripened', the second single from his upcoming Ripen Vol. 1 EP, featuring the recording debut of South Sudanese-Australian poet, activist, and artist NMMWL

eleases July 4, 2025

Review: Nadeem Din-Gabisi - OFFSHORE (Moshi Moshi Records)

For over a quarter of a century, Moshi Moshi Records have been championing artists and acts that "don't fit the agenda" of other labels and it so happens, Nadeem Din-Gabisi's debut album is 'OFFSHORE' in more ways than one.

The single, 'B Happy' is no Bobby McFerrin sideways tribute but the lyrical rap is a reflection on today's [un]happy times with a warped bruk shuffle/trad Chinese/jazz-funk backing. So, what is this and why is he drapped in the England flag? 

We're told "The album follows the journey of the character Jack Surname George in the Land of Hope and Glory. Jack is an immigrant, a Black African man who is attempting to understand if he and how immigrants can own the land in which they live on, what it means to assimilate into a culture and still be true to your own. Through wearing all white Jack symbolises purity, clearing his mind to figure out if England can be his. ‘OFFSHORE’ is an album of skillful wordplay, powerful narratives and exuberant energy - Nadeem’s words hit hard across a sonic backdrop of diverse instrumentation. Moments of furious intensity give way to reflective, introspective moments- providing a thrilling soundtrack as Nadeem navigates complex scenarios of the diaspora, and the dichotomy between warring emotions".

Like the late TY (Big Dada / BBE) or Gil Scott-Heron/Brian Jackson there's some cheeky wordplay about with the street-level jazz politics - see live dates below - which maybe due to recently joining a New Poets Collective, a year long poetry workshop at London's Southbank Centre.

One of the hightlights is 'Pub Lunch', that also features Coby Sey, as a wry look at a Euston Tavern with a São Paulo/bruk/Rio soundtrack.  And most of the music here is as cool as the vocal performances and includes Tamar Osborn; an instrumental/dub album version like Roots Manuva's label would do, would be cool.

Support already from BBC 6 Music's Jamz Supernova, Don Letts and NTS Radio and Nadeem is going to be the big post-Glasto next big thing.

LIVE DATES:

6th July -    London, Marxism Festival 

26th July - Thirsk, Deer Shed Festival 

2nd/3rd August - Oxfordshire, Supernormal Festival 

5th August - London, The Forge

Artist: Nadeem Din-Gabisi

Title:  OFFSHORE

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : Moshi Moshi Records

Catalog Number : TBX

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp