Review: VA - Future Sounds of Jazz Vol. 16 (Compost Records)

'Future Sounds of Jazz', the highly influential compilation series on Compost Records, this time compiled by Michael Rütten (Soulpatrol / Soulsearching radio show) and label founder Michael Reinboth has set many a benchmark in future looking jazz/music reference points; no surprise then that Vol. 16 does just the same!

It's now just over 30 years since 'Future Sounds of Jazz' Vol. 1 (1995) was released and subtitled 'Ambientelectronicabstractdigitaljazz'!  Well you might think that by now, 1. we are in the future and 2. the 'Ambientelectronicabstractdigital' genre would be fully developed as “Future Sounds of Jazz” and chronicled in the previous 15 editions?

Of course, when your in so envolved with Compost Records there always the next best electronic music to discover - especially when music magazines such as Groove, Mixmag, Faze, and DJ Mag hold you out as pioneering in the establishment of the future jazz genre.

Indeed, little old 'YouAndTheMusic' are happy to play its small part as as this new compilation kicks off with two of our favourites, Emanative featuring Jessica Lauren (see review HERE) as remixed by Hector Plimmer, DJ Oil (with 'Yaka Di Bongo' from 'The Rise Of The Cosmic Dancer' - see review HERE), a Kaan Duzarat remix of Ilhan Erahin's Istanbul Sessions, Peter Gall (new album coming out soon), Charles Petersohn's 'Zu Zu Music' (see review HERE) and the leftfield of Felix Lanband (see review HERE). 

And with the 'Future' moniker, there's a strange 'world' undercurrent with folks like Brittany Davis, Nico Zam, Momoko Gill and Compost veteran Beanfield but particularly check out 'Nine Serpents' by Baba Sikander and 'Telluric' by Booker Stardrum.among many other others as this is "a wild and eclectic ride through hidden hinterlands where jazz and electronic music meet".

There's even a track by Michael Reinboth himself, 'As If By Magic' and Soul Patrol (Michael Rütten & Max Schneider) so there's much to explore in 20 track CD option or triple vinyl 15 track version!

PS. 'Future Sounds of Jazz' is Kerem Dubmission's favourite genre; and for good reason (#1378 - see HERE; WYEP Pittsburgh)

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/FSOJ16

x3 LP: 15 TRACKS, 3 EXCLUSIVE, 5 FIRST TIME ON VINYL.

x2 CD: 20 TRACKS, 4 EXCLUSIVE.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Future Sounds of Jazz Vol. 16

Release date: 18th September, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT 681

Format: 3xLP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: David Lyn – Empathy (You Can Only Feel It) (Music Without Labels)

Music Without Labels' are ready to release the much anticipated follow up to David Lyn's 2024 album 'The World I Hear (Essence of Life)' with 'Empathy' and you can only feel it!

Not exactly hot on the heals of 'The World I Hear (Essence Of Life) (see review HERE), David Lyn now presents his new album 'Empathy (You Can Only Feel It)'. Comprising of David's poems and lyrics set to an innovative and diverse exploration of Jazz, House, Afro-House, Funk and Soul rhythms and melodies.

'Empathy' also features an array of contemporary Black music artists and is co-produced by the legendary Chris Bangs (he of the stunning DanThe Drum x Chris Bangs 'My Tune' EP - see review HERE) who with Dan The Drum released the summer dance anthem, the remixed version of 'Children Of The Sun' featuring JTheVoice.drum

The new album contains the original version of 'Children Of The Sun' along with 'We Rise' (manic Gil Scot-Heron poetry on a dnb bed!) and 'African Jazz Music' (exactly what it says on the tin) and these three epitomise the excellence that occurs when genuine music lovers and creative forces come together to record perfectly crafted songs with live instruments and guest musicians. 

The leader of Music Without Labels sets the tone for the album as music for the mind, the body and the dance floor as the respective vocals of Davoice on the Lyn and Bangs composition 'We Rise' and Shamrock Guitor on the David Lyn penned African Jazz Music blend and weave with spoken word, bass, percussion, saxophone and woodwind duduk.

David Lyn is a DJ, musician (who plays Sax, Percussion, Flute and Synths on Empathy), lyricist and poet and radio broadcaster on TWR Radio. As part of the renowned TWR Sundays schedule David's Music Without Labels show attracts a listenership from across the globe uniting Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe with its knowledgable and exciting tracklistings. David has been a champion of new music and new artists which is reflected in the artists that appear on Empathy (You Can Only Feel It) and as a DJ no one who was there will forget his Saturday Main stage set at the 2024 We Out here Festival warming up for Louis Vegas' Elements of Life.

Chris Bangs' music pedigree is unsurpassed as DJ, producer and songwriter. From coining the term 'Acid Jazz' to his production of and collaborations with Mick Talbot and Paul Weller, Galliano, Will Downing, Yada Yada, Linda Clifford, Courtney Pine, The Quiet Boys and others, Chris has been a massively influential component of the UK's world reaching Black music scene.

Empathy (You Can Only Feel It) is released on the 19th of September as a vinyl LP and a high resolution digital download. with an official launch at London's BBE Store with an all day party featuring David, Grumpy Brown, Elbert Phillips, Colin Curtis,Simon Fane and N'Dinga Gaba on the decks.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Music | Music Without Labels

1. Intro 2. Be You 3. Zwisisa Umoya 4. Barky 5. Stop and Think 6. Nothing Gets Within 7. We Rise 8. African Jazz Music 9. Watch The River Flow 10. Children of The Sun 11. Outro

Artist: David Lyn 

Title: Empathy (You Can Only Feel It)

Release date: 19th September, 2026

Label: MWL Productions

Catalog Number: MWL  

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

 

Review: Terry Callier - Live Peace (BBE Music / IMPRESS!VE Collective)

Terry Callier with 13 tracks packed with 'Live Peace'; known for 'Love Theme From Spartacus' - Terry is Spartcus of love and peace - this is as close to perfection!

Whilst the 2023 Record Store Day release 'Hidden Converstation' (see review HERE) had the "re-launch" vibe of Terry's appearance at the Meltdown Festival currated by Massive Attack with the Bristol trip hop sound is all over over it, this is an intermate live concert that showcases the master vocalist in a more mellow Gil Scot-Heron/Brian Jackson style

And it's no as this was recorded live by renowned sound engineer Martin Dixon at The Yardbird Suite / The Underground in Leeds in 1998 and 2001, these performances feature Terry alongside his hand-picked ‘Family Band’; which included legendary guitarist Jim Mullen (he of Morrissey Mullen), Chris Kibble on keys and famed percussionist Joao Bosco De Olivera (both of the Robin Jones Jazz Sextet).  Lovingly restored from the only surviving source using modern AI-assisted audio tools, the aim was never to polish away the grain, but to let Terry’s voice, message, and band shine once more.

'If I Could Change Your Mind' find Terry at his most Dwight Trible/Leon Thomas but the whole album is class and unsurprisingly endorsed by Terry's daughter Sunny who also provided the perfect picture of her Dad for the cover.

The Callier back story of his emergence in the 1960s on Prestige/Cadet/Elektra labels to , working in a car factory as he was, to then re-emege to a whole new 90s generation of fans with five albums on Mr Bongo from 2001 until his untimely passing in 2012; and if you remember the 'Welcome Home' album from 2008, I always felt it missed something of Callier's regular appearance at the Jazz Cafe, festivals with his, laid back style; this album lacks nothing in that department: this is Terry live and in peace (if at times, an angry peace).

Take a bow Mr. Callier - original hipster!

P.S. Hard to believe the 4 Hero mix of 'Love Theme From Spartacus' was 1998! Talkin Loud - That's How It Is Gilles!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Live Peace | Terry Callier

Artist: Terry Callier

Title: Live Music

Release date : 18th September, 2026

Label : BBE MUSIC / IMPRESS!VE Collective

Catalog Number : BBE644

Format: LP / Bandcamp

Review: Third Attempt - Shine Your Light On Me [Inc. Hotmood Remix] (The Disco Express)

Norwegian producer Third Attempt returns to The Disco Express with 'Shine Your Light On Me', "a warm, soulful cut that sits comfortably between disco, house and leftfield electronica".

Following 'We Are All Connected EP' (on Beatservice - see Review HERE) and his appearance on The Disco Express' 'Summer Heatwave' compilation (see review HERE), Torje Fagertun Spilde (aka Third Attempt) is back on The Disco Express with more summer heat with 'Shine Your Light On Me' plus a Hotmood Remix. 

Built around an infectious groove and Third Attempt’s signature musicality, the track carries that rare balance of laid-back sophistication and dancefloor intent. It’s the kind of record that works equally well as the sun goes down, deep into the night, or soundtracking a slower moment away from the club.

Oslo-based Third Attempt has developed a distinctive catalogue across house, funk, disco and soul, with releases on respected labels including Beatservice, The Disco Express and Paper Recordings. Completely self-taught, his musical journey has taken him through ambient, trip-hop, house and techno, shaping an evolving sound that feels both deeply considered and distinctly his own. As a DJ and live artist, he has shared stages with Bon Entendeur, Skatebård, Todd Terje, Lindstrøm and Craig Charles, while his three vinyl LPs and five expansive albums have earned support from key players across the underground.

There’s a romantic thread running through “Shine Your Light On Me” and the wider project. As Third Attempt puts it, “I've come to the conclusion that I am somewhat of a romantic. So this recent EP is centered around my love for many things. Among them is dance music. Woven together with feelings and reflections from a very special time in my life. Renewing my eye for beauty and uplifting expressions. For people with growing hearts. And for the listeners and dancers out there.”

Taking the track in a different direction is Mexican DJ and production wizard Hotmood, (already been on The Disco Express train and remixed HERE), brings his unmistakable disco touch to the remix and turning up the groove for the dancefloor

And don't forget, we got our communication lines sorted with the YATM interview HERE for the low down on Third Attempt.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://thediscoexpress.bandcamp.com/album/shine-your-light-on-me

Artist: Third Attempt

Title: Shine Your Light On Me,Hotmood Remix, EP

Release date: 11th September, 2026

Label: The Disco Express

Cat. No: XPRESS123

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jo Wallace - Soul Set @ More Fountains x Margate Arts Club Ramrock Hi-Fi)

Here's one for Sunday Soul Fans, Mrs Ramrock (aka Jo Wallace) has posted her fantastic set from More Fountains x Margate Arts Club  that has features Modern Soul room perfection for well over 2 hours which has taken 50 years to achieve - "Thank me later" as someone might say!

What a gig this must have been as Divine Disco's Greg Belson (the oft mentioned master of gospel house and soul) was there too!  We know Jo as Mrs Ramrock - the lady boss of Ramrock Records and remixer/producer/arranger and vocalist for the North Street West production unit consisting of me, Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris.

But she tells us, "I started DJ'ing back in 1976 - that's 50 years playing the platters that matter and keeping the faith. If you've never been to one of my gigs, I'm bringing one to you - it's the one I did last year as Greg Belson's guest on his UK Divine Disco tour. It was an absolute honour to be able to play alongside the Don and to give some of my soul sides a spin. If you love your 'modern' soul/ Blackpool Mecca vibe, this is the playlist for you".

So, tracklist below for all you crate diggers with some spare cash and for the rest of us, "Sprinkle the talcum powder and get on the dancefloor - Enjoy and big love".

Press play!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Jo Wallace's Soul Set @ Greg Belson's Divine Disco event - Margate Arts Club - 18.07.25 by Jo Wallace | Mixcloud

Artist: Jo Wallace (Ramrock Hi-Fi)

Title:  Soul Set @ More Fountains x Margate Arts Club 

Release date: 6th September, 2026

Label : -

Catalog Number : -

Format: Mixcloud

Tracklist:

Tommie Young – Hit and Run Lover 00:00

Jean Wells – What have I got to lose? 02:27

Tony Troutman – What’s the use? 04.47

Sam Dees – Fragile, handle with care 07:51

Manhattans - I Can't Stand for You to Leave Me 11:13

Ty Karim – Lightin’ Up 13:44

Bessie Banks – Don’t you worry, baby 16:54

Mayberry Movement – Two wrongs don’t make a right 20:27

Channel Three – The sweetest thing 23:29

Dramatics – A thousand shades of blue 26:37

Ace Spectrum – Keep holding on 30:28

Dee Dee Warwick – Funny how we change places 38:59

Jan Jones – Independent Woman 41:33

Four Tops – Don’t bring back memories 45:25

Lew Kirton – Heaven in the afternoon 48:18

James Walsh Gypsy Band – Cuz it’s you, girl 53:59

Mandrill – Too late 57:51

The Natural Four – I thought it was you 01:01:27

Impressions – I’ll always be here 01:04:17

Brother’s Guiding Light – Gettin’ together 01:07:08

Philly Devotions – I just can’t say goodbye 01:09:46

Ujima – I’m not ready 01:12:55

Bill Harris – Am I cold, am I hot? 01:15:53

Walter Jackson – Touching in the dark 01:21:01

Skip Mahoney – Janice 01:24:59

Gladys Knight and the Pips - Baby, Baby Don't Waste My Time 01:28:32

Street People – You’re my one weakness girl 01:32:20

Timeless Legend – I was born to love you 01:35:28

John Edwards – How can I make it without you? 01:39:06

Intruders – Be thankful for what you’ve got 01:42:01

Mel & Tim – Forever and a day 01:45:10

Voices of East Harlem – Cashin’ in 01:49:48

Four Tops – I just can’t get you out of my mind 01:52:04

Moments – Nine times 01:55:59

General Johnson – Don’t walk away 02:00:30

Jackie Wilson – Because of you 02:04:59

Ace Spectrum – Don’t send nobody else 02:08:28

Dynamic Superiors – One Nighter 02:12:27

Gloria Scott – A case of too much love makin’ 02:16:23

Gloria Gaynor – This love affair 02:20:14

Lamont Dozier – New Breed Kinda Woman 02:22:49

John Gary Williams – The whole damn world is going crazy 02:25:44

Archie Bell & The Dells – Where will you go (when the party’s over) 02:28:45

Review: VA - Skyrager presents Coconut Dreams Volume One (Mr Bongo)

Those familiar with compilatons from the Mr Bongo label, whether their own Record Club or the recent Luke Una É Soul Cultura collaborations will know how good they are at getting them right and here well go with another a Skyranger gets his Coconut Dreams off to a shy hit with Vol. One! 

That said, you won't believe how good a cocktail of sounds 'Coconut Dreams' is until you hear it; think of a mythical, utopian retreat nestled in the most exquisite of settings, crafted and conjured up by esteemed collector, producer and DJ, Skyrager. At the heart of the experience is a soundtrack evoking this tropical paradise, with an undercurrent of serenity that carries you gently away from the familiar into the expansive. A collection of pleasure-heavy tracks to lean into and get lost within, journeying through sun-drenched folk, dream-inducing soul, astral ambience, AOR breeziness, and much more in between.

Known to many as one half of the illustrious Psychemagik, Danny McLewin has spent decades releasing acclaimed original productions, cherished compilations and touring the world DJing. A collector at heart, he’s been unearthing hidden gems in record shops and private collections everywhere he goes. With a taste second to none, he is no stranger to curating a compilation. Psychemagik’s Magik series and his Traces of Illusion comp under the Skyrager alias are all must-haves for any collection. Coconut Dreams is an embodiment of everything Skyrager is all about - a deep-diving, soft-focused drift that sweeps you up to a place far, far away.

Each track has been chosen with care and consideration and is sequenced to take the listener on a peaceful, dreamlike journey. Every song conveys its own message, but the overarching thread is an invitation to slow down, be present and appreciate the moment. The compilation begins with the crashing waves of The Carmets ‘Silver Moon Beach’ as you check in and leave your hectic day-to-day life behind. The gentle chimes, hypnotic synths and divine female vocals of ‘You Are Like the Sunlight’ and Angela Bofill’s mesmerising soul jazz masterpiece ‘Under The Moon And Over The Sky’ further reset your body and brain, ready to lose yourself in an immersive experience from the very first song to the last.

Alongside the ethereal dreamers there’s also power and pertinence. Keiko Nosaka & George Murasaki's koto-infused prog rock number ‘Oritatamu Umi’ leads into the insistent and ever relevant ‘Apartheid Must Go’ by Fred Bryan & The All Stars. O’Donel Levy’s otherworldly tale of heartache and longing ‘I Am, I Am’ then explodes into a tropical fiesta jam.

You may find yourself moving between states, between memory and imagination, between the known and something just beyond it. Joseph’s soul-rousing, soft rock epic ‘Three O’Clock In the Morning’ and the cosmic-leaning ‘Lady, Lady’ marry with the bird calls and organic feel of ‘Harari’ and the galactic synth-laden ‘Drum Drops’.

Landing you softly back down to earth is a run of celestial brilliance. Those ever-present waves lap up against you on ‘Martinique’, as Pat Wells’ heavenly folk heart-melter ‘The Seeker’ and the glistening bassoon-led ‘Trullion Alastor 2262’ form a blissful penultimate double-header. You return from your tropical paradise escape, lighter and calmer, carried by the sea swell and the ethereal ambient mix of Yasuko Agawa’s ‘LA Nights’.

Unplug, relax and ease into an alternate reality… return trips to Coconut Dreams are essential!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://bfan.link/skyrager-presents-coconut-dreams-vol-1-1

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Skyrager presents Coconut Dreams Volume One

Release date: 4th September, 2026 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP334

Format : 2 x LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kraak & Smaak - Velvet Seas Remixed (Boogie Angst)

Boogie Angst has delivered the perfect post summer festival remixed dance album as Kraak & Smaak's 'Velvet Seas' album gets a fresh brush up by some of our favourite remixers - out 4th September!

Been a bit quiet on the Boogie Angst front since Fouk's 'Sunday' EP (with Archil & Leo, Phenomenal Handclap Band and 79.5 - see review HERE) possibly because they've been working on this monster of the underworld, Kraak & Smaak's 'Velver Seas - Remixed'!

We known Kraak & Smaak as the duo formed in Leiden that had their own blend of funk, disco and electronic soul that's resulted in seven albums over the past two decades.  And during that time, Oscar de Jong, Wim Plug and Mark Kneppers have sharpened a sound that's unmistakably their own: warm, analogue, and always twisting old soul into something new. That sound has carried them from small European clubs to Coachella and American late night TV.

Their 2025 album Velvet Seas was written between Leiden and Los Angeles, and it shows: Californian light and a touch of psychedelia sit easily alongside deep funk and a cinematic reach. The record leaned on a wide circle of guests, among them IVAR, Berenice van Leer, Izo FitzRoy, Butter Bath, The Undercover Dream Lovers, iogi, Kosta G and Kainalu.Velvet Seas Remixed hands the album's best moments to a curated set of international producers. British disco heritage, classic French touch, Brazilian disco funk, Melbourne club music and homegrown Dutch groove all take a turn, with each producer bending a familiar song toward their own instincts while keeping the album's character intact. Longer, extended versions and alternate mixes round out the full release, letting several of these tracks land in more than one form.

It opens at a late afternoon pace, with Kosta G's warm, West Coast streaked vocal drifting across the original's hazy calm. French producer Yuksek (he of Partyfine) hears that ease and decides to dance with it, rebuilding the song around bright, tropical percussion and a springy bassline, nodding to Italo disco and vintage French touch while keeping everything built for the floor.

From there the record opens outward. Rio producer Diogo Strausz, who built his name fusing electronic production with Brazilian disco funk (see review of his 'Dance Para Se Salvar' album HERE), takes one of the album's biggest orchestral highs and opens it out further still, surrounding it with congas and circling synths that nod to Brazilian studio greats like Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti for a sunlit, beach ready rework.

Then comes Anoraak, the project of French musician Frédéric Rivière and a key figure in the Valerie Collective, who takes one of the album's lighter, more effortless pleasures and treats it with real respect. He stretches the groove and adds flickers of disco brilliance, keeping Butter Bath's cool, understated voice front and centre but opening a bigger, darker space
around it: the result is polished but instinctive, and made to move.

The emotional weight lands at the centre of the record. British dance lifer Ray Mang and remix addict (see HERE) has been recording since 1996, gives the album's title track the space to stretch out into an extended, percussion driven arrangement with a warm, dubby disco engine, letting Izo FitzRoy's gospel schooled voice rise and soar until what felt like a sunrise on the original becomes a floor at full pelt.

Harvey Sutherland is another that knows a remix (see HERE) takes things in the opposite direction. The Melbourne producer strips the cosmic soul warmth of Real Love back to bare rhythm, tightening the loops and letting a circling synth line and repeating bassline carry the track from cosmic blur into sharp, hypnotic club focus.

The final two tracks return to different corners of the album from opposite ends. Dutch producer Stirmouth (Xavier Morssinkhof) pulls Heat down into the pocket with swung drums, a heavy low end and warm chords that frame Butter Bath's cool in a dustier, more soul soaked setting.

Then Sound Support, the pairing of Lars Dales and Lorenz Rhode, take Travel Light straight for the strobes: punchy programmed drums, bright analogue tones and rubbery basslines, tipping between Italo, early house and classic disco for a tighter, more combustible take on the original's orchestral rush.

Across Britain, France, Brazil, Australia and the Netherlands, Velvet Seas Remixed holds onto the melodic instinct and analogue warmth at the heart of Kraak & Smaak's music, even as it pushes the Velvet Seas world brighter, leaner and further out.

NOTE: available digitally and as a limited picture disc vinyl - check the amazing artwork! 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/kraak-smaak-velvet-seas-remixed-vinyl/1171249-01/

 

Artist: Kraak & Smaak

Title: Velvet Seas Remixed 

Release date: 4th September, 2026

Label : Boogie Angst

Catalog Number : BA 150V

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Bajune Tobeta (& Friends) - Sergio Mendes Tribute (CROIX JAM)

It's not every day (or night) you get a Japan/Brazil collaboration that's a tribute to the genius that is Sergio Mendez - headed by Bajune Tobeta with guests and friends of the late Mendes, this is a must for all, night and day!

 

Sérgio Santos Mendes passed on 5th September 2024 and whilst on this earth, he was instrumental in he promotion and populization of Brazilian/Latin music all over the world.  As a small example, those that know DJ Colin Parnell  (Shiftless Shuffle - see review HERE, Stomp Radio Jazz Show, Chilled Cider) will often say on hearing many a record, "I prefer the Sergio Mendez version" as Mendes was indeed proflic producing albums often full of cover versons in 'his' style.  And it's his style and tracks that made Mendes the household name that Japan's Bajune Tobeta celebrate here on the anniversary.

Apparently Tobets's father's copies of 'Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66' and 'Look Around' were played endlessly on the family turntable, creating timeless memories and this love is evident through all the tracks 

 
"This project began with a single wish: to hear Gracinha sing 'Mas Que Nada' once more," Tobeta says. "In the studio in Los Angeles, when her voice met her husband's signature song again, the room went quiet in a way I will never forget. Everything else on this album grew from that moment."
 
From there, the project continued to grow in scope into a tribute project that is both approved by the Mendes family as well as the Mendes estate. It was recorded across Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Los Angeles, where the sessions with Gracinha Leporace, Mendes' wife and musical partner of five decades, took place at Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions.
 
Leporace's blessing for the project was important for Tobeta, and her active participation in the collaboration instills an authenticity and direct line to Mendes' history that can be felt throughout the release. Ahead of the album's release and the second anniversary of Mendes' passing, she delivers a heartfelt message about the project here.
 
Additionally, in support of the new release, Tobeta and his collaborators have released the third single with "Inutil Paisagem." The track is a partnership with Brazilian singer Paula Morelenbaum and penned by Antonio Carlos Jobim, known as the subject of the 2001 album Casa from Ryuichi Sakamoto. Here an authentic bossa nova lineage meets Bajune Tobeta's quiet sonic architecture, pushing the classic to futuristic new places.
 
The liner notes for the album were written by Jin Nakahara, one of Japan's foremost authorities on Brazilian music, who has spent decades introducing Brazilian music to Japanese audiences. His presence signifies the blessing of the Brazilian music world on the Japanese side, just as Gracinha and the estate bless it from the Brazilian side. A veteran critic, Nakahara is the longtime selector for J-WAVE's celebrated Brazilian music program "Saudade! Saudade" and his notes beautifully articulate the story behind this unique tribute. They can be found in English, Japanese and Portuguese versions. 
 
Other guests on the 'Sergio Mendes Tribute' in addition to Gracinha Leporace and Paula Morelenbaum include Lisa Ono, Black Prez, Atom Heart (AtomTM / Señor Coconut), Filo Machado, Saigenji, Febian Reza Pane, Thais Motta, JOCA, and Kazuo Yoshida.
 
Atom Heart contributed to the arrangement and programming, connecting the record to the electronic-Latin lineage. The album was mixed in part at Abbey Road Studios by Paul Pritchard and mastered by Denis Blackham. 
 
The Sergio Mendes Tribute closely follows Tobeta's recently released artist album Anechoic, a separate body of work in the ambient and modern classical world. He studied and worked alongside Ryuichi Sakamoto, and his three-decade career spans game music (the Katamari Damacy series), contemporary classical and electronic work, and a lifelong engagement with Brazilian music. 
 
Throughout his career, Tobeta has collaborated with 'names' like Christian Fennesz, Arto Lindsay, Joyce Moreno, and Jaques and Paula Morelenbaum. 

With Brazil being home to the largest Japanese diaspora in the world and with a deep connection between the two countries, the cross-cultural tribute is a meaningful one to Tobeta both personally and historically. The album is structured as a single memorial ceremony from overture to farewell.

I must admit, the version of 'Look Of Love' (solo piano by Febian Reza Pane) and 'Night and Day (feat. Thais Motta & Filo Machado)' brought a tear to my eye but this multi-lingual celebration of Medes is great; like a variation on Seu Jorge meets David Bowie of some years ago.

And how did I get through that lot without mentioning Gilles Peterson or Higgins/Pedens' J-Jazz compilations on BBE?

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDERS:  Sergio Mendes Tribute | Bajune Tobeta

Artist: Bajune Tobeta (& Friends) 

Title: Sergio Mendes Tribute 

Release date: 5th September, 2026

Label: CROIX JAM

Catalog: TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Eleven76 - A Day Of Unrest (Légère Recordings)

Extend your summer with a soundtrack to the movie that's yet to be made from 60s surf to funky soul OST circa 70s and early 80s, that's what you find in Eleven 76's 'A Day Of Unrest'  - and a whole lot more!

It's been a while since Légère Recordings' released Al Sunny's 'Summer End' (still a good 'un to catch up with this time of year - see review HERE) but imagine travelling through coniferous woodlands tinged with yellow gorse that lead to eroded cliff faces and soft sand wet from the ominous waters of the North Sea, this part of the Northern Hemisphere - the East Coast of the U.K. with its mythical stories of underwater villages, beasts that terrorised clergymen and Bond-Villain-style nuclear facilities seem like an unlikely location for a musical partnership drenched in European cinema soundtracks, American B-movies, oddball funk and a DIY post punk aesthetic. But this is the place where we find Paul Elliott and Dan Smith, known collectively as Eleven76.

Nestled in their respective studios, experimenting and developing sonic textures, firing files across the internet and coming together to lay the foundations of compositions and to finalise mixes, Eleven76 have a process of work that marries the best parts of the analogue and digital worlds. Live instruments, spontaneity and a love for music are key to their workflow.

With their four albums 'Space Voyage' (2018), 'Occhio Occhio' (2022), 'Synchronization' (2023) and now with their latest episode “A Day Of Unrest’”, Eleven76 transports the listener to parallel universes. Creating the soundtracks to films that do not exist is no mean feat. With smart compositions utilising vintage instruments whilst keeping an eye firmly set on the groove, the pair have been able to teleport the listener to retro-futuristic space missions, the cool sun-drenched European cities of the late 60s and 70s, through to intense dystopian b-movie thrillers of the early 80s.

With 'A Day Of Unrest', Eleven76 produce a soundtrack album that fuses 70s US cop drama with Italian ‘giallo’. There’s tension, intrigue, moments of light and heavy groove, making “A Day Of Unrest’” a body of work that reveals itself more upon each listen. This thematic record draws you from imaginary scene to imaginary scene and your mind’s eye can see the narrative unfold in front of you as you listen.

Working together for almost two decades, the work of multi-instrumentalists Paul Elliott and Dan Smith has included composing for TV, film and commercials, as well as writing and performing in both studio and touring bands. Paul began DJing in his early teens and has since developed a reputation as a wide-ranging collaborator and his projects have intersected with artists including Asha Puthli, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band and Shawn Lee, reflecting a practice built on exchange, groove-led thinking and a creative instinct that continues to inform his approach today. Similarly Dan Smith has continually been a top tier co-writer and collaborator for both commercially minded, left field and avant-garde musical projects, which have seen him reach the top of UK charts with the Noisettes and for seven years become an integral band member of The Heliocentrics and now the Crazy World of Arthur Brown who he currently tours and records with. A musical architect, His genre-spanning ability and depth of knowledge is second to none.

Their sound is built on a friendship and trust of musical taste, spontaneity, improvisation and an evolving collaboration. Eleven76 have a system … and it works..

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://eleven76.bandcamp.com/album/a-day-of-unrest

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  September 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM GMT+1 Join Eleven76 for the listening party of "A Day of Unrest"and enjoy an  album length of fun & funk, insights & stories.

 

Artist: Eleven76

Title: A Day Of Unrest

Release date: 4th September, 2026

Label: Légère Recordings

℗ Legere Recordings 2026

© Legere Recordings

Published by Mr. Mellow's Music

Composed by Paul S. Elliott, Daniel Smith

Cat. No: LEGO417

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Finest Wear - For The People EP (Minor Sounds)

UK based Italian Cenzo Scoglio loves to turn minor sounds into major sounds for his label, Minor Sounds! Put on ya best tucker for Finest Wear's latest 4-track EP, 'For The People'.

Following on from 'Good Vibrations' EP (see review HERE) and  'The Obsidian EP' on Closer To Truth (see review HERE),  Finest Wear returns with his fifth release on Minor Sounds, presenting to you - For The People EP, landing on 4th September 2026.

Staying true to its title, 'For The People' is a collection built for the dance floor while remaining firmly rooted in the underground. Blending deep house and garage house influences, the EP showcases Finest Wear's signature sound warm analogue basslines, crisp drums, rich synth textures, and infectious grooves that move effortlessly between intimate late-night sessions and peak-time club moments.

Leading the release is the title track, a synth-laden journey driven by tight percussion, warm analogue low end, and the unmistakable rolling energy that has become synonymous with Finest Wear's productions.

Next up is 'Keep On Lovin'', where smooth, rolling beats powered by the new LM Drum combine with trademark basslines, lush synth patterns, and tasteful garage inspired vocal cuts to create an irresistible groove.

The third cut, 'Midnight Kiss', explores the deeper and more melodic side of Finest Wear's sound. Built around classic 4x4 rhythms, a gentle rolling bass line, soulful vocal textures, and a sweet, hypnotic acid line running throughout, it delivers a warm late night appeal making it a perfect weapon for those after-hours moments.

Closing the EP is Deep Down, The darkest offering of the four, Diving into deeper underground territory, it pairs hypnotic moody synth stabs work, a rolling low-end, and cool oldskool vocal snippets.

Finest Wear continues to refine his distinctive blend of deep house and garage influences, delivering four cuts designed with one purpose in mind, keeping people moving from the first track to the last.

If you like what you hear please show some love and support in your Radio Shows, Live Streams, Clubs/Bars & DJ Charts.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://minorsoundsmusic.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Finest Wear 

Title: Good Vibrations EP 

Release date: 4th September, 2026

Label : Minor Sounds

Catalog Number : MS005

Format: Download / Beatport / Traxsource / Bandcamp

Review: Peter Gall - Drum Seeds (Compost Records)

Compost Records have had their eyes on Peter Gall for the past seven years since his debut album and now its the time to release the jazz drummers' unconventional  album, 'Drum Seeds': watch them grow!

A couple of years on since the Peter Gall 'difficult' second album 'Love Avatar' you'll recall that project recorded with top musicians from the European jazz scene which got top reviews (see review HERE), led to successful tours and performances at renowned jazz festivals and won the German Jazz Award for “Album of the Year” in 2025.

The temptation to repeat a winning formula must have been, quite literally, tempting!  But jazz drummers are not typically typical so when drummer/producer Peter Gall says he's doing a solo album, 'Drums Seeds' is much more than just a drum statement.

The groundwork was actually laid by Compost label head Michael Reinboth: He had long wanted to produce a pure drum album with Peter Gall. So they met at Jan Krause’s (Beanfield) studio, where Peter Gall had also recorded numerous albums for the Compost universe with the spiritual jazz supergroup WEB WEB. In this familiar atmosphere, hours of material emerged—ranging from beats and grooves to layered drumkits and, in some cases, orchestral drum-and-percussion arrangements. On DRUM SEEDS, Gall’s drumming is more prominent than on any of the roughly 50 albums the 42-year-old has recorded to date for various bands and artists. Nevertheless, he remains averse to sheer, virtuoso show-off drumming. “For me, it’s more about the feeling and the story a simple groove can tell,” he says.

Peter Gall’s love for vintage analog synthesizers then derailed the original plan to let only the drums take center stage on the album. And suddenly, the mantric beats evolved into partly song-like tracks with immersive sound collages that evoke associations: with the ambient works of Aphex Twin, the dancefloor bangers of Caribou, the jazz of the ’60s and ’70s, with The Streets, Boards of Canada, the soundtracks of David Lynch or Blade Runner, but also, time and again, to Gall’s earlier jazz albums—with compelling melodies, profound harmonies, and an imaginative, spiritual atmosphere.

PS. Did I not say 'Groove Receiver' and 'Super Truth' are amazing?  Kraut-Rock-Returneth!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://petergall.bandcamp.com/album/drum-seeds

Artist: Peter Gall

Title: Love Avatar  

Release date: 4th September, 2026

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 635 1-2-3

Format:Vinyl LP + Download Card / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

673794268019 > LP
673794268026 > CD
673794268033 > Digital

Review: Blurry The Explorer - Clear Blue Mind (Nublu Records)

Blurry The Explorer's cleans up the blue book with an album of 'Clear Blue Mind' experimentation that's oceans deep and Latin too!

Hot on the heals of Guri Assis Brasil debut solo album as 'Animal Invisível', "an instrumental project fusing 70s Brazilian grooves, jazz, and psychedelic rock" (see review HERE), Blurry the Explorer (aka experimental composer Jeremy Gustin) returns with 'Clear Blue Mind', his third album, featuring Rodrigo Amarante, Tenniscoats and Annakalmia Traver. 'Clear Blue Mind' is Jeremy's most expansive work yet: a borderless musical journey, recorded at the legendary Marini Studio in Rio de Janeiro.

So a bit of Brasilian trend going on at Brooklyn's Nublu Records we think, especially as this 10-track album expands the project's borderless sonic world with contributions from an international cast including Rodrigo Amarante (Brazil), Tenniscoats (Japan), Annakalmia Traver (Rubblebucket, Kalbells), and Lola Parda (Argentina). Following tours and intensive work with legendary Brazilian producer Kassin, Gustin assembled core collaborators Ricardo Dias Gomes (Caetano Veloso), guitarist Ryan Dugre (Rubblebucket, Joan As Police Woman), and producer/guitarist Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Paul Simon and fond memories of 'The Grape & The Grain' - see review HERE) for focused but spontaneous recording sessions embracing intuition, chance, and the joy of not knowing where the journey leads.

"More often than not, the songs are born out of improvising over simple ideas one of us brings" Gustin explains. "We always leave space for...something. This unknown element is always exciting and confusing. " The album's diverse vocal palette creates what Gustin describes as "a full world of colors, shapes and sounds. " From Rodrigo Amarante's intimate storytelling to Tenniscoats' ethereal harmonies, Annakalmia Traver's expressive range, and Lola Parda's haunting beauty, each voice brings distinct character to the sonic journey. Vocalists Katy Pinke, Lip Talk, Tall Juan, and Tigra Rose (recorded in a Bali hostel after a traditional Hindu puppet show) round out the international ensemble.

The recording sessions themselves seemed touched by serendipity. While browsing the record shop beneath Marini Studio—home to underground venue Audio Rebel—Gustin discovered a recording of his grandfather performing Mozart's Bassoon Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. "I don't know what this means besides a deep feeling of being in the right place at the right time, " he reflects.

The name Blurry the Explorer comes from an unexpected source: a fleeting reference in the complete, unedited Diary of Anne Frank, discovered by Gustin during lockdown in a silent Manhattan. Frank mentions writing an amusing story for a friend called “Blurry the Explorer” a phrase that struck Gustin instantly. It perfectly captured the spirit of the project—an entity constantly exploring, undefined, and intentionally unclear, revealing itself slowly through experience.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Super limited edition vinyl LP housed in full color jackets w CMYK Labels, arrival dust sleeves, and pressed on Laguna eco-mix vinyl. Only 200 Made for the world!): https://blurrytheexplorer.bandcamp.com/album/clear-blue-mind

Artist: Blurry The Explorer

Title: Clear Blue Mind
Release date: 4th September, 2026
Label : Nublu Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

CORE BAND:
Jeremy Gustin – Drums, keys, vocals
Ricardo Dias Gomes – Bass, keys
Ryan Dugre – Guitar
Leo Abrahams – Guitar [Hectic, Gerry (1 February 2009). "Reviews: The Grape and the Grain"Fly Global Music. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.]

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:
Jake Sherman – Vibraphone (track 8), Keys (tracks 5, 6, 8, 9)
Will Graefe – Acoustic Guitar (track 10)
Kassin – Lap Steel (track 9)

GUEST VOCALISTS:
Começo – Ricardo Dias Gomes
Wiggle Room – Annakalmia Traver
There On The Moon – Lip Talk
Sete Velas – Rodrigo Amarante
Clear Blue Mind – Aaron Roche
Fondo Del Azul – Lola Parda
Forever Dusk – Tall Juan
It's OK Paul – Tenniscoats
Laut – Tigra Rose
In My Garden – Katy Pinke