Review: Lee Ross - Kingdom Of Rain (Ramrock Red Records)

Can you imagine Jeb Loy Nichols a la Twelve Caesars?  Watch those clouds as the 'Kingdom Of Rain' is about to fall with Lee Ross!

With Ramrock Red reaching '100' with Andrew Pipe and Stephen Ennever (aka Twelve Caesars) and their 'Mission Creep' (see review HERE), production supremo Darren Morris gets classic poolside soulful on 'Kingdom Of Rain'.

We're told, Lee first met Darren Morris, North Street West studio owner and 1/3rd of No’West Productions, at a party in Hastings and after teaming up, they serenaded the guests at the piano. After their duetting, Lee told Darren that he was a singer/songwriter, whereupon Darren invited Lee to send him some demos. Lee duly sent Darren the rough demo of ‘Kingdom of Rain’ which was played to Jo Wallace at Ramrock Red Records who said, ‘this is rather fabulous – yes please’.

‘Kingdom of Rain’ draws upon the golden era of 70s West Coast blue eyed soul/drive time AOR, showcasing the magnificent production techniques of Darren Morris, with the collaboration nodding towards those supreme musical craftsmen, Ned Doheny, Kenny Loggins, Bill LaBounty and Rupert Holmes. With Lee’s vocal delivery and Darren’s production, there is a timeless quality to ‘Kingdom of Rain’ giving it the vibe that it could’ve been conceived at Warner Bros studios or Sunset Sound, LA. Lee has been a prolific songwriter and considers it his true passion, fronting bands from his teens through his twenties culminating in an offer of a five album deal with Eddie 'I'm a fan of Small Wonder Records' Piller at Acid Jazz with his band PROPAGANJA. 

Unfortunately, the band split before they were signed but Lee continued to write. Delivering music for dance companies and, with Boo Hewerdine, producing an EP of his original material, Lee also wrote the wedding song for the marriage of his actor friend Andy Serkis to Lorraine Ashbourne. Alongside his musical career, Lee is an award winning actor who holds an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contribution to the acting profession. A mainstay on our stages, televisions and cinemas for over forty years, he is best known for the hit children’s TV show ‘Pressgang’, the Catherine Tate Show, Eastenders and more recently ‘White Gold’ and ‘Andor’. Lee has also appeared in over twenty feature films including the iconic character ‘Gumbo’, the cult classic ‘ID’, ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’, the Oscar winning ‘The English Patient’ and Palme D’or winner ‘Secrets and Lies’, directed by Mike Leigh. Currently, Lee is in a leading role in the MGM/BBC thriller ‘Legacy of Spies’ starring Mathew McFadyen. 

Lee has a huge portfolio of new material which he and Darren are currently wtaorking on together - watch this space…

P.S. the instrumental is fantastic too!

P.P.S. Jeb Loy Nichol's latest album, 'This House Is Empty Without You' on Timmion Records - see review HERE

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: RRR102 - Lee Ross 'Kingdom of Rain' EP | Lee Ross | Ramrock

Artist: Lee Ross

Title: Mission Creep

Release date: 31st July, 2026

Label : Ramrock Red Records

Catalog Number : RRR103

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

.

Review: Pahua y Willy Soul - NY/CDMX (TheJazzDiaries)

NY Post-punk Funk with percussion madness! And flute gang friendly  Can you believe it's been 20 years since Louie Vega Presents Luisito Quintero – Percussion Maddness on Rapster/BBE? Jitwam on it - put a note in ya Jazz Diary. 

The power of funk bridges Mexico City and New York as CDMX singer, songwriter, and producer Pahua joins forces with Brooklyn DJ, producer, and MC, Willy Soul to deliver a fresh take on dance music inspired by two cities built on hustle, creativity, and soul. Led by the duo and featuring a cast of legendary musicians, NY/CDMX blends their distinct musical identities and hometown influences into a vibrant cross-cultural statement. The EP marks the 23rd release on TheJazzDiaries record label.

The project is introduced through two original singles, with alternate versions, remixes, and interludes to be announced shortly after:

Tenemos El Funk (Out July 9) — A mid-tempo, upbeat drum-machine funk track fueled by lively Latin percussion, punk-funk basslines, and Pahua’s signature blend of singing and rap, balancing attitude with effortless flow.

Nueva York (Out July 31) — A soulful house groove shaped by the Latin diaspora, featuring Spanglish lyrics from Pahua, spoken word from Willy Soul, infectious percussion, driving basslines, and four-on-the-floor energy. The song serves as the emotional and lyrical centerpiece of the EP, drawing parallels between the relentless rhythms of NYC and CDMX.

Pahua brings her unmistakable modern Mexican perspective through layered harmonies, vivid storytelling, and a dynamic vocal presence. Willy Soul shapes the sonic direction as the EP’s producer, merging New York's underground dance-floor sensibility with Pahua’s electro-tropical roots. Anchored by Roland TR-808 and TR-707 drum machines and bass-driven arrangements reminiscent of Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the production strikes a balance between funk, dance music, and live-band energy.

The EP reflects the shared experiences of two artists navigating independent music careers and life in 2026. While Willy has spent years building community and culture through New York's nightlife scene, Pahua has established herself both as the frontwoman of acclaimed Mexican group Sotomayor and through a thriving solo career. Having collaborated in studios and on stages across both cities, the pair channel their personal connection into a body of work that celebrates the creative exchange between New York and Mexico City.

To deepen the musical palette, Pahua and Willy invited a collection of friends and award winning icons to contribute. Through an introduction from Louie Vega, multi-Grammy Award-winning percussionist Luisito Quintero joined both singles, bringing his unmistakable rhythmic touch via timbales, congas, bongos and a range of hand instruments. His extensive list of collaborators includes Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Willie Colón, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Masters at Work, among many others.

NYC heavyweight producer and keys player Morgan Wiley—former frontman of Midnight Magic, collaborator of LCD Soundsystem, and co-producer of key releases by indie soul queen, Adi Oasis —adds Wurlitzer to Nueva York while also handling mixing and engineering duties across both tracks. Latin Grammy Award-winning producer Ze Nigro, known for his work with João Donato, reimagines Willy Soul’s original bassline composition on Nueva York, infusing it with rich Brazilian and Latin influences. Latin Grammy Award-winning flautist Domenica, known for her work with Flor de Toloache and NYC afro-disco-rock outfit Underground System, also lends her distinctive touch to Tenemos El Funk. The EP was mastered by Brooklyn studio veteran Abe Seiferth, founder of Transmitter Park Studios and former DFA engineer, whose credits include work with Yeasayer, Nation of Language, Sinkane, Guerilla Toss, and a wide range of acclaimed independent artists.

NY/CDMX will be released via TheJazzDiaries, the label founded by Jitwam in 2013 and known for blending jazz, world music, funk, and underground dance sounds from New York, Detroit, and beyond. Highlights from the catalog include Jitwam’s debut release, later featured on Moodymann’s DJ-Kicks compilation, as well as the recent single PEOPLE by Natasha Diggs and Megatronic.

Remixes, extended versions, and dub mixes will be announced soon ahead of a forthcoming vinyl release. 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://jazzdiaries.lnk.to/TenemosElFunk

Artist: Pahua y Willy Soul

Title: NY/CDMX

Release date: Tenemos El Funk - 9 July 2026

Nueva York - 31 July 2026

Label : TheJazzDiaries (The label is distributed by !K7)

Catalog Number : TJD-023

Format: Streaming/Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Star Creature & Twilite Tone present - The Twilite Tone Bundle (3 x 7") (Star Creature)

Talk about packet of 3 - Star Creatures collab with the Twilite Tone makes us happy, jacks and brings love - and that's only the half of this bundle of joy!

Here's a trio for DJs, collectors  and diggers, a Promo Only 7" Series!  Not only that, it's a. interpretation of original house influences by an original from the late 80s/early 90s, Tone (aka Dem Dare and with No ID/Dion who released much sort after tracks as 3.2.6 / 3 2 6 on Chicago's Muzique label). 

So Tone offers a unique and insider's perspective that Star Creature's Tim Zawada didn't know until te early 2010s but it wasn't until 2019 that he first heard the "genius flip on a classic - absolute perfection in a style that I don’t think anyone else can do" of 'Your Love' (amazing that we've got not one, but two incredible versions of the 1986 classic 'Your Love' - check Mamacita ft Persona RS - Tu Amor - see review HERE).

And it's 6 minutes long!

As intimated, from 'Love' we go to 'Jack' as a Twilite downtempo groove which you can see why Tim was saying, after 'Love', "I begged him for years for more of the same. I wanted to hear Chicago House filtered through The Twilite Tone - freed from the confines of tempo, club appeal. Well here we are 6 years later with 6 tracks ready to share…”  

And you can almost feel his excitement when you hear 'Feel It' is like a defective 'Rockit' and the 'Christmas Box' of electro wobble of 'Joy'. 

At the other extreme, 'Work's' industrial boogie that's got a distorted lyric that's a bit 'potty' is a long way from 'Love' and 'Happiness' (another mutant Al Green 'Can you feel it' synth-warp).

As a mash-up that isn't this is not as leftfield as you might think and it'll be worth its weight in years to come!

OpenLab:  Star Creature Vibes Radio - Tim Zawada HERE

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Love / Jack | The Twilite Tone

Artist: Star Creature & Twilite Tone present  

Title:  The Twilite Tone Bundle (3 x 7") 

Release date: 1st August, 2026

Label :  Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC7093 / SC7094 / SC7095

Format: 7" Vinyl  / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Twelve Caesars - Mission Creep (Ramrock Red Records)

Any connection between incidious mission creep of Ramrock Red Records reaching the 100 release milestone is entirely coincidental as Twelve Caesars' return with their new single.
 

If you're familiar with earlier work of Twelve Caesars, you'll recall their album 'Cointelpro'  is named after a FBI counter inteligence program between 1956-76; a twenty year period of attack on the voices of civil rights luminaries like Fred Hampton, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, John F and Bobby Kennedy plus many more (see review HERE) . 

The love/hate affair of Andrew Pipe and Stephen Ennever (aka Twelve Caesars) have with the U.S of A continues with the last single to be taken from the album following the ballad of 'Ruby Ridge' (see review HERE).

'Mission Creep' is the full-on 'orchestral version' production with Pipe's vocals approaching a soulful Thom Yorke (not his Radiohead 'Creep'); for a quick 101 on 'Mission Creep', Andrew tells us:

"The track was inspired by an exchange between legendary New York Times war correspondents, Homer Bigart and Neil Sheehan. The following is an excerpt from ‘Vietnam and the Presidency’ – keynote by David Halberstam: “And on the first day, there was a little bit of a victory. And on the second day, there was a sort of typical, pillow-punching operation. Followed by a third day with even less contact. And on the way back, Neil Sheehan was gnashing his teeth and grumbling and Homer said “Mr. Sheehan, what is the problem?” And Neil grumbled and said something about, “No story.”
And Homer said, “But there is a story, Mr. Sheehan. IT DOESN'T WORK. That’s your story.” And that is the defining one."

So congrats to Ramrock Red on reaching 100 and Twelve Caesars for 'Ruby Ridge' being in Portsmouth's Express FM's 'People's Choice' Top Ten Chart for an incredible 5 months!  That's your story!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: RRR100 Twelve Caesars - Mission Creep | Twelve Caesars | Ramrock

Artist: Twelve Caesars

Title: Mission Creep

Release date: 27th July, 2026

Label : Ramrock Red Records

Catalog Number : RRR100

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Tryangle Man - Hotel Defou (Tryangle Man Records)

You can't say we didn't tell you that 'superhero' Tryangle Man has booked out of 'Hotel Defou' and he's got his album with him, all 11 tracks and it's out now! 

It's been a couple of years since Tryangle Man's 'Discovery Of Pangea' (see review HERE) and the 'Voyages' trip on Atjazz Records (see review HERE) but our favourite 'superhero' [Ed. that's Tryangle Man] kept it together and after his 'Tooka Martini' single (see review HERE), the 'Hotel Defou' is now open/out!

This is actually his 5th album and it's got all his jazzy, Chicago, Deep House, classical. Latin, soul-jazz, funk, Nu-Disco element/influences all together on the 11 tracks; the title track capturing the 'Tryangle Man' superpower.

Online portal Beatport first picked up on 'Lemon Squeeze' with it's Deodato street-funk keys with humerous horns, it set the tone for the Reception desk entrance at the Hotel.

So you now get the idea with 'Elevator Music' taking you to the 'Royal Suite' (for Kings and Queens) where you can order 'Room Service', put your 'Please Do Not Disturb' on the door, drink you 'Tooka Martini' and generally have a great time.

You're, more than likely, find me at the 'Swinging Pool' in me trunks or writing a 'Postcard To Edith' (Ed. as fans of the 'Handwriting Letter Soceity' and the 'PostboxSaturday' groups).

With the strong emphasis on the jazz-funk/house keyboard lead, it won't be a surprise to hear that 'root' of the album began over a full year of touring and improvising on stage with live-loops and the crowd reaction. As they say, "[if] you caught Tryangle Man live you already danced to these songs. Now you have the versions he always intended you to hear".

Not that any of the tracks are short, I do like the longer tracks like the title track, 'When We Met' and 'House Of Desired Funk' that reminds me of pianist Bugge Wessltoft a la 'New Conceptions of Jazz' period but we move on to Tryangle Man's conceptions and it's enought to make anyone smile and dance whether you're at the Hotel or not, "Non-Residents welcome" you might say! 

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://snd.click/hotel-defou

Artist: Tryangle Man

Title:  Hotel Defou 

Release date: 24th July, 2026

Label : Tryangle Man Records

Catalog Number : TMR

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Jon E - Messages From Easy Street, Part I (Natural Element)

If you recall, "We all live in Brookyn Baby" and the message from Jon E's Easy Street is that Roy Ayers/Lonnie Liston Smith jazz-funk is very much a message for today!

Fans of Detroit Rising and the remixes (see review HERE) will know how House / Broken Beat Future Jazz vibes fit next to the greats of the 70s original jazz-funkers.  And to that end we can now add UK born, Fremantle-based producer Jon E. who his returns to the label Natural Element, after his sell-out debut release ‘Smoke’ in 2025 captured the attention of DJs and dancefloors around the world.

'Messages From Easy Street, Part I' is the first of a two-part series of EPs that displays "the fruits of a deeply creative phase following an injury that had him bed bound for months. The sonic progression from his debut is tangible across all four tracks, with an enhanced palette and clear versatility. The EP is a deeper expression of his production skills and unique, authentic sound. Natural sounds of the city make for an organic touch throughout, giving tracks an atmosphere that makes them feel alive".

Picking up street sounds, 'One More Time’ sets the 'jazzy' tone with images of water fire hydrants going off (in Brooklyn) and summer street parties. Anded to that ‘We Can Make It’ (featuring Roxanne Myles on vocals) takes 'One More Time' up a level into the house.

 

‘Raise Them Up’ "takes things a little deeper with a moody roller inspired by Moodymann" and ‘Day n Night’ steers more into Broken Beats swing.

Perfect 12" for Part 1 of the summer, expecting Part 2 to be just as good.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Messages From Easy Street, Part I | Jon E. | Natural Element

Artist: Jon E

Title: Messages From Easy Street, Part I 

Release date: 24th July, 2026

Label : Natural Elelment

Catalog Number : NE005

Format: LIMITED VINYL 12" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: DJ Soch - Let Me Tell You EP (Wolf Music)

DJ Soch tells Wolf Music exactly what they need to know about the olden days of massive house tunes like this new track, 'Let Me Tell You' - a trois, or a tre! 

As a follow-up to Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman's 'Social Narcotics' (see review HERE) this message of "Hope" by DJ Soch is perfect low-level Gospell soul that's pumpin' higher.

Love the keys and church organ on 'Power Mix' and the vocals on the 'Original Mix' as both tracks are high intensity bangers - in fact, due to church organ, the label say they fell in love with the track as it's a "real Timmy Regisford tops-off jam": yes it's that hot, even in a heat bubble.

The Italian DJ, producer, label owner (Black Angus Records), DJ Soch house roots go deep into his 40 year love affair with all things Detroit and Chicago including techno, disco, funk, hip-hop and, of course, house itself.

And on the flip, as you can't compete with the A-side, there's a track called 'Chewing Gum' which bounces up and down as a Prince Palmer Remix that's said to be reminiscent of prime time Strictly Rhythm!

The guys at Wolf seem to be getting hotter as they approach Cat. No.100!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | WOLF Music

Artist: DJ Soch

Title: Let Me Tell You EP 
Release date: 24th July, 2025
Label : Wolf Music Recordings
Catalog Number: WOLFEP088
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order / Digital 

Review: Curió Curió - 'Curió Curió’ (Mr Bongo)

Don't be put off by the cover as this 'Curió Curió’ isn't as curious curious as it would appear with Mr Bongo getting deep into modern Brazilian MPB tropicalia! 

Rooted in Brazilian MPB and shaped by psychedelic disco and studio experimentation, Curió Curió is the meeting point between Rio-born singer and actress Luiza Monteiro and German producer Dustin Braun. Treating tradition as something alive, migratory and unresolved, their self-titled debut album is not simply bound by a shared love of Brazilian music but a deeper question that runs through every track. Where does one belong when home becomes plural?

“I have been living in Europe for nine years”, says Monteiro. “At some point I realised I was no longer the same person I had been in Rio but I was not fully from here either. The album comes from that question: where do I belong?”.

That question is never answered directly. Instead it is carried through images, fragments and gestures. A barefoot figure looking out across Guanabara Bay in ‘Tô Chegando’, a family calling someone back in ‘Vem pra Casa’, a voice learning to trust itself in ‘Menina Passarinho’. The album moves between cities and emotional registers without settling, tracing a sense of identity that shifts rather than resolves.

Braun’s production follows a similar logic. Initial ideas were often built without obvious reference points, only later pulling in rhythmic and vocal elements that hint at Brazil without reproducing it. “We wanted it to feel authentically Brazilian without being cliché, like something you recognise but cannot fully place”, says Braun. Analogue techniques, tape, ribbon microphones and live ensemble recording bring a tactile quality that reflects the duo’s interest in process as much as outcome.

Many of the album’s defining moments come from chance encounters. The choir on ‘Bem Querer’ emerged from a bar conversation that led to a group of non-professional singers gathering in a room to capture a shared energy. “The euphoria of people being together has that authentic samba street vibe”, Braun explains. “That feeling cannot be simulated”.

Elsewhere, the record opens itself to more intimate moments. ‘Vida que Entorna (Interlúdio)’ was recorded in a single take over field recordings from a family birthday in Brazil. “The song is about my father being ill”, Monteiro says. “When we listened back to it we were both very moved. And that was it. It was ready”.

The push and pull between collective expression and personal reflection shapes the listening experience. There is a sense of movement throughout, between dancefloor and interior space, between immediacy and memory. “In the first moment I want people to feel joy”, Monteiro says. “To move, to dance, to feel present. Then later I want them to reflect. To think about where they come from, who they miss, what home means to them”.

That duality extends into the themes of love, work and creative identity. Songs like ‘Amor Doente’ and ‘Mar sem Dar Pé’ circle around relationships that resist clarity, while ‘Menina Passarinho’ captures the fear and necessity of committing to music as a path. For Monteiro, deepening her commitment to music alongside years in theatre was both inevitable and difficult.“For a long time I was afraid to invest in music because it matters so much to me”, she says. “This project was a way of accepting that I need it in my life”.

The album closes with ‘A Cor do Meu Sonho’, a quiet act of insistence. A refusal to shrink in unfamiliar environments, and a belief in the strength of difference. It is less a conclusion than a continuation, leaving the central question open. “I started to understand that I can belong to many places at once”, Monteiro reflects. “And that can be something to embrace”. Lyrics from the song ‘Raiz’ translate in English to “I value a burning sun and the cold in the air. Constant change is my companion”. With Curió Curió, that idea is lived through sound, story and collaboration. A debut that feels both searching and assured, grounded in heritage yet shaped by distance.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://bfan.link/curio-curio-1

Artist: Curió Curió

Title: 'Curió Curió’ 

Release Date : 24th July, 2026

Label : Mr Bongo Records

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP343

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Lonely Deckchair - Lonely Deckchair (NuNorthern Soul)

Could there be anything sadder than a lonely deckchair, on a beach, a discarded member of the a family?  Well, trust NuNorthern Soul to pick this one up and make it part of the family group! 

Lonely Deckchair first washed up on these shores as one of the 'Summer Selection Six'  hits (see review HERE) along with B.J. Smith, Sasha Foam, Roots Artefact, Visions Of Light and Perth Lewis (don't forget his new 'Cherry Moon' EP, see review HERE).

So quite tricky for a sub-3 minute 'early evening transition' track to stand-out amongst that lot but 'Adaflo' clearly did and it now lines-up as one of the 10 tracks of the self-titled Lonely Deckchair album.  

Thankfully to other tracks are in the 5-6 minute bracket with 'Aguadulce' approaching 9 which makes sense as a lead track as Lonely Deckchair (aka Andrew Wright) is a solo music project he's created that's is shaped by his memory of childhood summers rooted in Aguadulce on Spain's southern coast; great use of Seagulls squaking and waves lapping on 'Aguadulce'.

And whilst there is ambience there's this childish (in a good way) innocence and excitement undercurrent to 'beach life'.  Like the opener, 'Rayman's Kingdom' with is Trans-Europe Express chilled to Augusto Pablo's melodica echoes and guitar twang.

And on the subject of dub, 'Carr’s Dub' bring together "Andalusian oud, aching orchestral swells, congas and distant rave piano, nodding gently towards Mediterranean club culture without losing the album’s emotional centre".  In truth, the keyboard and bongo arrangement reminds me of the glorious party sounds of Mr. John Shuttleworth which makes it even more of a seaside sensation in my books.

This album, is a mix of enough Balearic beach groove electronica and dancing percussion like 'Dripfed', Sunrun' and 'Warren's Apology' that's deep into his "faded photographs, silent Super 8 footage and half-remembered family holidays", kayaking and hill climbs in the Mediterranean; as opposed to Blackpool 'Kiss Me Quick' hats and coastal amusements and bingo.

'Alhambra Space Station' is one to save for you're Festive holiday time dub mixes whilst 'Caminante del Agua' (meaning “water walker”) would neatly follow Ellie Wilson's 'Listen To The River' (see review HERE) as it's spoken word points out that its difficult to listen to Mother Earth from a the 'seaside' past.  

I suppose, today there's the options of paddle board, jet skis, wind surfing and more  technical ways to relax on a beach, leaving the hallowed symbol of holiday enjoyment as an even more loney deckchair.   But wait, get this album and enjoy it on your own ...or in a group, sitting down... or dancing up!

PS. I was going to mention that its the type of album that Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM, Soho Radio and more) would have in his bag at the legendary Pikes Bar that he's recently been playing at only to find there's a hour long 'Lonely Deckchair mix' by label boss Phat Phil for us to enjoy  - see below - Brilliant!

BUY LINK / PRE ORDER:  Lonely Deckchair | Lonely Deckchair

MIX RECORDED LIVE AT PIKES, IBIZA MAY 2026: 

Phat_Phil_Cooper · Lonely Deckchair Full Album Promo Mix Recorded at Pikes, Ibiza

Artist: Lonely Deckchair

Title: Lonely Deckchair

Release date: 24th July, 2026
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSLDLP001V / NUNSLDLP001D
Format: Limited Edition Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: De-Phazz - belooped (MPS)

Bet you had to look twice at MPS and De-Phazz! But it's true, downtempo's lounge kings have gone to the land of the Black Forests to eat the jazz gateaux.

We've only just heard that Christian Prommer (he of the Verve remix of 'Winter Wonderland' by Shirley Horn - see review HERE) have a new album coming out only to find Germany's De-Phazz (who also had a Verve remix of Ella Fitzgerald's 'Wait 'til You See Him') have broke into the famed MPS label's vaults for some serious beloopin'.

De-Phazz founder Pit Baumgartner has been granted access to the archives of, full name, “Musik Produktion Schwarzwald” to flip electric jaCzz lounge back to their soul, Latin, trip-hop roots for a modern dancefloor/listening bar.

This means global stars such as Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald and George Shearing (and more if your lucky) get out of the Cheapo/Charity Shops/Thrift bins ....

 

steering toward a more contemporary sound. The result is a musical collage that combines the “Most Perfect Sound” of the 60s to the 80s with the electro-organic vibes of the lounge pioneers, proving that timeless jazz and modern dancefloors are no contradiction.

Like Prommer, this album is going to be a must for fans of "St. Germain, Floating Points and refined grooves at all speeds" in-between: put it on repeat.

Release Dates are as follows:

01.05.2026 De-Phazz & George Shearing - “Continental” feat. Malia
22.05.2026 De-Phazz & Ella Fitzgerald – “This Girl’s In Love With You”
12.06.2026 De-Phazz & Oscar Peterson - “Wave”
03.07.2026 De-Phazz & Monty Alexander – “Love & Happiness”

ALBUM RELEASE 24.07.2026

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://MPS.lnk.to/belooped

Artist: De-Phazz

Title: belooped

Release date: 24th July, 2026

Label: MPS, Musik Produktion Schwarzwald (Edel)

Catalog Number : CPT 670-6

Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Make It Disco - What You Gonna Say EP (The Disco Express)

'What You Gonna Say' when Make It Disco says what it exactly is on the tin-can these guys Make It Disco?  Yes they can!

Don't forget TDE have just released Ayce & Spirit Of House featuring Lawrence Rowe & Phebe Edwards 'Stronger EP' (see review HERE) but this 5-track EP is stronger in a different way.as East London's Make It Disco makes his debut on the label with "modern disco-funk that's as timeless as it is fresh.. [that draws] inspiration from the golden era of late-70s disco, soul and boogie, the producer and bassist delivers a set of irresistibly catchy originals, packed with infectious melodies, rich live instrumentation and his signature slap bass grooves".

We're talking Chic, Rose Royce, Chaka, Ellerman et all with the tracks showcasing the vocals of Yvonne Park (SAULT, Emeli Sandé) on the title track with rolling rhythms and big strings, 'No Matter' featuring Ebony G is more soul-discog and 'Be My (Only One)' sees Silla take centre stage on a feel-good groove built for repeat listens and packed dancefloors alike.

Of course, The Disco Express founder Bustin' Loose can't resist a remix of 'No Matter' and the set ends on more vintage disco musicianship with modern production finesse as Monsieur Van Pratt Delivers a "Groove-Heavy Remix of” 'Be My (Only One)'.

Make It Disco (MID?) is clearly "one of the scene's most exciting new names" and TDE is the station, goods yards and all disco transportation this guy needs..

Once more, The Disco Express proves they are at the cutting edge of match Disco-House from 1970s to the present day under the watchful ear of Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly) as leader; don't forget our interview with Tom of last year, see HERE.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://thediscoexpress.bandcamp.com/album/what-you-gonna-say-ep

e & Felmann,Funky Love EPThe Disco Express,

Artist: Make It Disco 

Title: What You Gonna Say EP 
Release date: 24th July, 2026
Label : The Disco Express
Catalog Number : XPRESS116
Format:  Digital / Streaming / Bandcamp

Review: Henna Onna - Maboroshi EP (feat Kuniyuki, Satoshi Fumi Remixes) (Deeppa Records)

You don't get to say, "Armenian jazz-house and broken beat fusionist" that often but Henna Onna is one, if not the leading one when it comes to some jazzy deep house.

And the six track EP 'Maboroshi' goes even futher east with remixes by Kuniyuki ('Shibuya Oiran' as a deep dub version) and Satoshi Fumi ('Enoshima').  Both remixes are great, Satoshi is the most upbeat and synthed out acid-warp bullet train: definitely for dancefloor action, whilst the 'deep dub' emphsizes the Japanophiles elements (Ed. one for Nick Luscombe - see HERE).

Talking of Luscombe, he's one that'd appreciate the "modal synth lines that pull from Eastern tonal reference" of the original mix of 'Shibuya Oiran' (and the spoken word) whilst on the digital release version you get Kuniyuki's original remix (the dub is on the 12" and the digital release) which emphasises the strings and synths.  The other digital bonus is the beatless 'Shibuya Oiran'.  I love it when far and future sighted labels like Deeppa do this as there's a version for everyone.

The title track is another from the ambient temple jade garden with the waterfalls and bird song that'll calm anyone down as opposed to the upbeat original deep space bongo house version 'Enoshima'. 

Not a lot of 'Armenian broken beat' going on here but that's more than OK with the 8 tracks that are!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/henna-6onna-maboroshi-ep-feat-kuniyuki-satoshi-fumi-vinyl/1151625-01/

Artist: Henna Onna

Title:  Maboroshi EP (feat Kuniyuki, Satoshi Fumi Remixes)

Release date: 20th July, 2026

Label : Deeppa Records

Catalog Number : DEEPPA18

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Hill Collective - Fire In Orbit (Batov Records)

This is a 'Fire In Orbit' that's as if its been sent by Sun Ra himself and has landed on Batov Records - don't get burned, order now!

 

Batov Records' last three released albums; Bolbec's' 'Foutu Félin' (see review HERE), Kronstad 23's 'Dødehavet' (see review HERE), and Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed's 'Reverie' (see review HERE) were at the leftfield jazzy, cinematic, libarary, glogal, folky psych end, Brighton's Hill Collective are at the Sun Ra end and they're hot!

For a debut album, its even more impressive that these jazz-adjacents on the south coast have migrated locally in 3 years of gigs and festival appearances (Love Supreme and The Great Escape).

We're told that the tracks were recorded over three unhurried days at Sea Breeze Studios by the band themselves, the album moves through chorus–solo–chorus forms, call-and-response and collective improvisation — led by alto saxophonist Pete Piskov and a flexible, often double-digit ensemble whose influences (Eric Dolphy's angular lyricism, Art Ensemble of Chicago's collective consciousness, touches of Latin rhythm and Arabic modality) are absorbed rather than quoted.

Don't be scared off by the cover or the mild-mannered single, 'A House Is A Home Like Honey', the other 3 lengthy tracks, the title track, 'Keep Breathing' and 'A Song for A Blossom Baby' are all spiritually deep. .

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Fire In Orbit | Hill Collective

Artist: Hill Collective 

Title: Fire In Orbit

Release date: 17th July, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR137

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Pete Piskov - Alto Saxophone, Percussion

Joe Edwards - Drumkit, Congas, Percussion
Joe Snelling - Double Bass
Luke Congdon - Piano (1, 3, 4), Keys (2)
Chris Luu - Keys (1, 3, 4), Piano (2), Vocals
Vincent Malloch - Electric Guitar
Will Roberts - Trombone
Ivy Loska - Cornet
Jay Orpana - Flute, Vocals
Max Generowicz - Violin (3, 4)
Sudhi S Pooniyil - Tabla (4)

All compositions by Pete Piskov
Recorded by Joe Edwards and Will Roberts at Sea Breeze Studios
Mixed by Pete Piskov
Mastered by Will Roberts