Review: VA - Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 (Re:Warm)

The heat is on as they used to say as we get Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 from Re:Warm on the soulful sunny South Coast.

This is impressive to say the least, four hours, 20 tracks as a musical day-in-the-life of compiler Josh Mason-Quinn (aka Somewhere Soul) from daybreak to dancefloor.

Hard to believe that out of the 20 tracks, we've featured previously Allysha Joy & Finn Rees (as in Joy Spheres Rees's 'Trust The Feeling' - see review HERE), Chip Wickham, Amanda Whiting (see review HERE), our homeboy Emanative (with his version of 'Space Is The Place'), Blue Lab Beats, MATTERS UNKNOWN and SHOLTO so that covers most of the day!    

Clearly, Mr Mason-Quinn knows his 'Somewhere Soul' in the form of jazz, soul, funk, house and other global beats and grooves as a DJ, A&R and event programmer.  He regularly appears on radio stations like Balamii and Soho radio and has performed at festivals like Love Supreme and will be at Mostly (Birmingham) this year.

If you missed out on the exclusive Re:Warm Launch Party, don't miss out on the real thing as the next Soumewhere Soul and Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' party is at the Fox & Firkin on Saturday 2nd August with Matters Unknown headling live (see review of their 'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal HERE) and a host of DJs including Tina Edwards.

BUY LINK: Somewhere Soul + Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' - TICKETS HERE

BUY LINK: https://warmagency.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-soul-rituals-volume-1

Somewhere Soul · Music for . . . Dancing (Vol. 1)

Aritst: Various Artists - compiled Josh Mason-Quinn

Title: Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label: RE:WARM 

Cat. No: RE:WARM TBC

Format: 2 x LP Pink or black-gateflold / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Amanda Whiting - Can You See Me Now? (First Word Records)

If you know Amanda Whiting from her social media postings, you'll know that this harpist from Wales, loves a 'Jazz Face'.  With her latest album, 'Can You See Me Now?', if we didn't know before, she's more than just a jazzy face. 

With the help of Alice Russell (the voice of Nostalgia 77's 'Seven Nation Army') on 'What Is It We Need', this a truly beautiful spiritual jazz celebration that starts off on 'Contented' with choral voices that really sets the tone.

I'm surprised that she hasn't been picked up by Carlos Niño (he of 'Openness Trio') to give that 'Coltrane' connection as she can play hip-hop/trippy-hop/underground instrumental beats/vibes, like 'Intent' and 'Could It Be'.

And she's caught the attention of Somewhere Soul as the track 'The Other Side' has been included on the compilation, 'Rituals Volume 1' on Re:Warm (due out July).

The 'other' female jazz harpist, Alina Bzhezhinska (Ukraine-born, Warsaw Conservatoire-trained, London-based) being Amanda's Dorothy to her Alice (or visa versa) has her new album coming out (Friday, 11th July), with Ibiza-based producer Tulshi on Tru-Thoughts - what price  a jazz harp battle at a summer festival?

Artist: Amanda Whiting 

Title: Can You See Me Now? 

Release date: 6th June, 2025

Label : First Word Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: CD / Digital / Bandcamp