Review: Erin Buku - Listen (Inc. Osunlade, LDLDN, Leonard Charles Remixes) (Inner Tribe)

We've heard many a tune from the Melbourne/Naarm area over the years but here's a new release on Tribe Records outta Adelaide, Australia for the R&B/Soul fans by Erin Buku and you better 'Listen'!

The record label thinks this track evokes the spirit of Masters At Work, perhaps on the beaches of South Australia but within touching distance of an urban disco.

And if you can't get a MAW remix, Osunlade is a bigger name alternative that can turn the emotional soul vocals into a highlight with a stripped broken beat backing; shame we don't get more of the guitar solo which would give it more of an acid jazz vibe.

If you know Leonard Charles' work with Inkswel, Leroy Burgess and Robert Owens, you'll be excited to hear the Leonard Charles disco dub remix

When it comes to mixing up a genre, LNLDN has many strings to his bow/remix equipment and this has more of you're Brand New Heavies about it plus the vocal message of hope and understanding.   I can hear this as an summer anthem, especially at We Out Here Festival with Gilles Peterson et al.

This EP gets better as the tracks get longer so one for all the DJs out there.

BBBBBBBBBB

Artist: Erin Buku 

Title:   Listen (Inc. Osunlade, LDLDN, Leonard Charles Remixes)
Release date: 8th July, 2025
Label : Inner Tribe
Catalog Number : ITREBLT02

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Bloomy Meadows & Inkswel - The Passion (Inner Tribe Records)

When it comes to 'Synchronicities', Inkswel is pretty good at spotting them as he's done it so often and next off the rank is Bloomy Meadows along some names you'll also recognise who want to join in on 'The Passion'.

From the Inkswel/Andre Espeut album 'Synchronicites' (see review HERE) we know that Inkswel is so good at weaving  modern soul, hip-hop, broken beats, some jazz, house and more.  This project with Bloomy Meadows stays true to hip-hop culture throughout the 11 tracks.

UK hip-hop is back even if there's an International supporting cast of that's raided Inkswel's 20 odd year contact book - check this lot out; US legends Lyrics Born and Abstract Rude along with Reggie B (USA), People Without Shoes (USA), Küf Knotz (USA - who we know from 'Glow' - see review HERE), Level Mtindo (Africa), Leonard Charles (NZ), Taiaha (SA), Erin Buku (SA - who we know from 'Listen' - see review HERE) and Kultar Ahluwalia (SA).

At times it's a bit of an ode to ATCQ/Souls Of Mischief/West Coast hip-hop cool and the younger me wouldn't find the potty mouth instances irksome but that's just a small gripe as these guys are more than passionate about their art.

'Passion' is a much over used and mis-used word but not in this case. 

BUY LINK: https://bloomymeadows.bandcamp.com/album/the-passion

Artist: Bloomy Meadows & Inkswel 

Title: Synchronicities

Release date: 3rd October, 2025

Label : Inner Tribe Records

Catalog Number : ITRLTD09

Format:  Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Inkswel & Andre Espeut - Synchronicities (Compost Records)

With a cover that looks very William Morris (that's the English textile designer, poet, artist, writer and socialist associated with the Arts and Craft movement at the end of the 19th Century) [and not the plumber], Inkswel and Andre Espeut combine artistically and soulfully on the album 'Synchronicities'.

We know from the singles, 'Dangerous Times' (see review HERE) and 'Downtown Love' (see review HERE) that soulfull hip-hop beats are what these guys excel at and with their super guests Abstract Rude (Project Blowed), flautist Han Litz ('Callin' 4 U') (Ed. is there some flute revival going on in late 2024? Where's the Flutestrumental mix?), Leonard Charles (multi-instrumentalist/producer) and between them, 'Synchronicities' is an album of eight tracks that fuses modern soul (sometimes R&B), hip-hop, broken beats, some jazz, house and more.

We first came across Inkswel at the time of fellow antipodean invasion to Europe of Fat Freddie's Drop, The Black Seeds, Joe Dukie et al and twenty years on, the synchronicisation with London based Andre Espuet (pronounced 'Esporr') gives this project a fusion that's like a Fat Freddie's Drop as the song writing is very heartfelt and crosses the pop boundary like 'Yesterday's Gone', 'Uprinsing' and the most FFD, 'Street Soul' and 'Play With Fire'.

I don't know what coincidential occurance happened to create 'Push N Pull (Synchronicites)' but I think the this is the peak of the meeting of the musical minds; shame about the 'sharp' ending.

Obviously comparisons with Inkswel's past collaborations with Colonel Red (see 'Holders Of The Sun' review HERE) or further back to his more hip-hop rooted 'Super Foods' release (see review HERE) that included some of the big name acts that are still get us excited now like DJ Nature, Linkwood and Tom Noble (who has just released his long awaited album, 'House Of Spirits' - see review HERE).

I wonder at the timing of the release as it seems more summer sound but at least it will keep us going through the winter months.

PS. Props to PECUE for the artwork and recommend a vist to the William Morris Museum, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London E17.

Artist: Inkswel & Andre Espeut

Title: Synchronicities

Release date: 29th November, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT6044

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp