Review: Temporary Blessings - Sumbisori (College Of Knowledge Records)

If you're keeping up to date with the graduates from the College Of Knowledge, Temporary Blessings have earnt a permanent gold star for this debut album, 'Sumbisori'.

So this is the 'big screen' version of the  Melbourne/Naarm cinematic soul movement that takes  jazzy-beats of 'student's like Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens' and move the centre of groove ot 60s OST themes by the likes of Morricone and Piero Piccioni et al.

You'll recall the single, 'Fata Morgana' is high on the flute and vibes but these ten tracks have it all, 'Michelin Star' over looks the Bay of Naples all the way to Death In Venice and 'Silence Leaves an Open Wound'.

Led by Liam McGorry (trumpet player/piano/organ/composer) who is joined by Will Morrissey (tenor saxophonfe), Lachlan Stuckey (guitar). Tom Petitt (bass), Katarzyna Wiktorski (piano) and Hudson 'Brenda' Whitlock (drums, vibraphone - see 'Bath Time' review HERE).

The album ends on the 'drama' of 'Delon' and 'Carlton Streets' and whilst there's no 'Get Carter' theme, it's definitely in the Roy Budd envelope - order the vinyl before it sells of of the limited edition.

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BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (VINYL): Sumbisori | Temporary Blessings

Artist: Temporary Blessings 

Title: Sumbisori 

Release date: 5th December, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Temporary Blessings - Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound (College Of Knowledge Records)

College Of Knowledge Records get it totally right with the release of the new 7" by Temporary Blessings; suggest you purchase this and make it a permanent fixture.

College Of Knowledge Records followed-up Brenda's 'Where Did I Go Wrong' with the right-on album, 'Bath Time' (see review HERE) so this dig into Melbourne/Naarm cinematic soul movement jazzy-beats delve a la Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens by Temporary Blessings is hopefully the forerunner of a new album.

Clearly fans of 60s OST themes by the likes of Morricone and Piero Piccioni with some Hancock funk, 'Fata Morgana' is high on the flute and vibes. 

The driving force for this project is trumpet player/composere Liam McGorry who is joined by 
Will Morrissey (tenor Saxophonfe, lute, farfisa organ), Lachlan Stuckey (guitar). Tom Pettit (bass) and Hudson 'Brenda' Whitlock (drums, vibraphone).

'Silence Leaves An Open Wound' is a chance for McGorry to feature his trumpet in a downtempo groove which makes this 7" very versatile.

BUY LINK: Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound | Temporary Blessings

Artist: Temporary Blessings 

Title: Fata Morgana b/w Silence Leaves An Open Wound

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: COK45-002

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Brenda - Bath Time (College Of Knowledge Records)

'Where Did I Go Wrong'? Well, what about 'Bath Time with Brenda' as the Heads Of House at the College Of Knowledge release the latest album of Hudson Whitlock's alter ego.

It's a bit of a scary cover as the label avoid the title 'Bath Time with Brenda'.  Hudson Whitlock (Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens) unveils a full album of this solo project that takes inspiration from the1960s pysch (not exactly Jeffersob Airplane's 'After Bathing At Baxter's') but more a mix of Melbourne cinematic soul movement, The Delfonics, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Serge Gainsbourg!

Whitlock's usual drummer duties are augmented with his falsetto vocals as singer, composer, and arranger for some reason I'm thinking James Blake vs. FlyLo vs. Little Dragon vs. Jeb Loy Nichols vs. Thundercat and more: it's quite a heady mix.  

A great follow-up to the single, 'Where Did I Go Wrong' (see review HERE) which takes centre stage along with other lyrically emotional 'My Tempo', 'Hardly', 'Dedicated' and 'Family'.

All ten tracks are beautifully produced and if you're thinking of doing a pared down Wall Of Sound in Australia, these guys have got the valves before you.  

Shame he wasn't available to step into Michael Kiwanuka's shoes when he couldn't do last weekends We Out Here festival but you're likely to hear this on Gilles Peterson's BBC 6 Music show and all the other obvious DJs on the station.

Artist: Brenda

Title:Bath Time

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: COK015

Format: LP (Limited Edition) / Digital / Bandcamp

Hudson Whitlock - Vocals, drums, percussion
Darvid Thor - Bass
Lachlan Stuckey - Guitar
Jethro Curtin - Piano, Farfisa
Nobby Denton - Percussion
Esther Henderson - Violin, backing vocals
Ella Thompson - Backing vocals
Lewis Coleman - Backing vocals
Zoe Fox - Backing vocals
Ruby Dargaville - Backing vocals

Recorded and mixed by Henry Jenkins
Mastered by Max Dowling

Cover art by Hudson Whitlock
Cover photo by Estella Paltos

Review: Brenda - Where Did I Go Wrong (College Of Knowledge Records)

Brenda is not your usual Sheila as he asks, 'Where Did I Go Wrong'?

College Of Knowledge Records welcomes Brenda – the solo project of prolific ARIA-nominated drummer Hudson Whitlock

Known for his work with Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens, Whitlock steps forward as singer, composer, and arranger, blending introspective lyricism with delicate falsetto and cinematic soul

Drawing from 1960s sweet soul and the Melbourne cinematic soul movement, Brenda’s music evokes The Delfonics, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Serge Gainsbourg

This marks a shift from Whitlock’s underground solo releases—now joined by key collaborators from Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo—with more Brenda music coming in 2025

A great follow-up to The Pro-Teens' 'MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed' (see review HERE).

Artist: Brenda

Title: Where Did I Go Wrong

Release date: 2nd May, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: COK45-001

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Pro-Teens MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed (College Of Knowledge Records)

Whilst this 'tribute' album was recorded a long time before the LA fire disaster, it has added poignancy as news that Madlib has lost "decades of music" as his home burned down last week.

Especially as the new album, is the Pro-Teens set of 14 iconis tracks of the late MF DOOM (Daniel 'Dumile' Thompson (July 13, 1971 - October 31, 2020) possibly best known as half  of Madvillain with Madlib.

This album is much anticipated after the singles 'Peachfuzz' and 'Kon Queso' (see review HERE) and the super cool video as these guys are some of the finest musicians in Melbourne.  And to prove they are real fans they've not just gone of obvious tracks as they trace DOOM's many aliases and career. 

'A Dead Mouse' is particularly good but it's hard not to tie in the beauty of the track 'DOOMSDAY' with the LA fires: A Madlib fundraiser has been set up [HELP MADLIB AND HIS FAMILY AFTER TRAGIC LOSS | LOVE LIKE WATER INC (Powered by Donorbox)] but he is just one of many that's been devistated.

MF DOOM may have been a short blip for many that were not on the coat tails of a London born rapper that had fans on the underground west coast that went onto make big names for themselves in the industry; Flying Lotus, DJ Premier and Madlib himself - but when you see the iconic mask on prime time PFL's Mike Florio in a cartoon form of mick take, someone up there is saying, "my work is done".  Congrats to LA Rams this week in more ways than one, Jerry Jones has lots to learn; so says the sports 'Sofa King'!

Raise a glass of 'One Beer' to Daniel.

Artist: The Pro-Teens 

Title: MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed

Release date: 17th January, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP (Black or Orange vinyl) / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Pro-Teens - MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed (College Of Knowledge Records)

Long term fans of the Australian top chef series that's based in the Melbourne schools of instrumental hip-hop beats like Karate Boogaloo and Surprise Chef will know of The Pro-Teens are the next champions of the rank, especially with their new forthcoming album.

The Pro-Teens', 'Kon Queso' taster for the new album 'MF Teen: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed' is typical of the quality of the 'compilation' that's led by Karate Boogaloo's and Suprise Chef's drummer/percussionist.

As you can guess from the artwork/title, these guys have re-imagined instrumental beats version on the original 'MF' DOOM - all caps of course - and in many of his guises from MM.. FOOD, Vikto Vaughan, Danger Doom to arguably the most successful, the Madvillian. 

Their 'Doomsday' was played on Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music) on his Worldwide show (19.10.24 - see HERE - that's the show that featured Wojtek Mazolewski, see review of his 'Beautiful People' album HERE) along with the original which is an indication of the respect these have for their hero (plus Madlib). 

It's been a little over 4 years since MF DOOM passed away and he seems as popular as ever so it seems timely that the Pro-Teens take on a tribute as the vinyl diggers to follow for instrumental funk hip-hop.

Artist: The Pro-Teens 

Title: MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed

Release date: 6th December, 2024

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp