Review: The Offline - La Grande Evasion (DeepMatter Records)

Get offline with the Offline and prepare for 'La Grande Evasion' - it's not all sunglasses and calm seas.

The Offline (aka Felix Müller) you'll recall released 'In Session' last year so this album 'La Grande Evasion' brings us a follow-up of more "hip-hop-leaning, library-tinged cinematic-world" focused goodies. 

Sounding like a live session, there's the deep Batov style of 'Boulevard National' and 'Nikonos V' edges on the Khruangbin but the single, 'Le Trip' takes us on a journey (possibly to 70s TV Theme) where Felix is aided by Kimo Eiserbeck on sax. 

The label are on a crest of a wave themselves after the release of SHOLTO's album 'The Sirens (see review HERE) but The Offline's 'soundtrack' is more south of France beach life and cool summer.

Clearly, this is an area where BBC's 6 Music DJs Huey Morgen and Deb Grant feel comfortable plus Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) and Somewhere Soul  (a fan of SHOLTO also and his own compilation, 'Rituals' see review HERE).

I've said it before, The Offline can add a sense of Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto and a host of your favourites from the Melbourne area (Surprise Chef, Robohands, Karate Boogaloo etc) so I'm expecting this to be just as popular.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (12" Black LP with Obi Strip): La grande évasion | The Offline

Artist: The Offline
Title:  La Grande Evasion 

Release date: 28th November, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMTO005

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Drums, Percussion - Chris Hill
Bass, Guitar, Additional Percussion, Mellotron, Moog, Solina Strings, Synths - Felix Müller
Rhodes, Piano, Organ - Felix Behrendt
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Hans-Christian Stephan
Flute, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Baritone Sax - Kimo Eiserbeck
Strings - M1

Review: SHOLTO - The Sirens (DeepMatter Records)

SHOLTO's musical vision of sirens, being the every day tale of "a number of women or winged creatures whose singing lured unwary sailors on to rocks" is as dreamy and cinematic as the cover artwork!

There's been much anticipation of "cinematic maestro" SHOLTO's as the follow-up to 2024's double album, 'Letting Go Of Forever' (see review HERE).  

Being his third album in three years he's not running out of ideas and I think it's fair to say the 'The Sirens' is even deeper into the cinematic as a soundtrack to the film without a film, 'The Sirens' and the "themes of duality, temptation, and emotional dislocation, in SHOLTO’s words, “blurring grief with groove, seduction and surrender”".

We know that SHOLTO is based in Hackney (Ed. which is not London's version of Hollywood) where he's joined by Syd Kemp (bass), Clementine Brown (strings) and Rachel Horton Kitchlew (harp) which makes the sound so much bigger.

Singles like 'Tied To The Mast' that brings to mind the story of JMWTurner's famous painting, 'Snow Storm, Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth' or is it Odysses lashed to the mast; John William Waterhous et al? Either way, there's the 'after the storm' moment of calm as the harp generates the 'sea mists' .

What really gets this album deep into the romantics are the strings and the use of the harp that is perfectly embraced on the lead single ‘Persephone’s Perception’ that "sets up the mythological themes of the album, reimagining the Greek goddess’s descent to Queen of the Underworld as a choice!  A steady, rolling groove, low-slung bass, and euphoric string break set up a call-and-response between shadow and light, with SHOLTO embracing the beauty".

Follow up single ‘Smooth Sailing’ was a bit different as it features vocalist Phoebe Coco who perfectly reflects the other world nature of the lure of the sea. Other guests include Thomas McBrien on keys ('Temptress') and you're definitely warned by 'Invisible Conductor of the Orchestra (Come With Me)' featuring the mysterious spoken vocals of Lea Petges.

There's even more foreboding whilst there's some proper Morricone 'Swampland Of The Soul' and 'Purple Flow' (Ed. this must have been recorded in Italy?) and talking of OST, Oscar ‘SHOLTO’ Robertson has proved himself as the latest link between the likes of Sven Libaek, Piero Umiliani and David Axelrod and those is the wake of bands/producers of Surprise Chef, Sven Wunder and The Cinematic Orchestra/Jason Swincoe like on 'Ghibli's Dream'.  

This is likely to be all over those DJ's of choice like Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, Huey Morgan and Deb Grant (BBCR6), Jyoty (Rinse FM) and Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) so recommended to get on the pre-order as demand will be high.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Sirens | SHOLTO

Artist: SHOLTO
Title:   The Sirens

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMSH02

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Drums, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Flute, Percussion, Vocals – Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson

Vocals – Phoebe Coco, Lea Petges

Bass – Syd Kemp

Piano & Keys – Thomas McBrien

Harp – Rachel Kitchlew

Strings (Violin, Viola) – Clementine Brown

Cello – Sebrina Lambert Rose

Flute – Arthur Sajas

Artist – Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon

Vinyl Designer – Liam Kay

Review: Jerk - As Night Falls EP (DeepMatter Records)

Jerk's 'As Night Falls' EP has a Brookyn in the dark groove as jazz fusion meets Bob James' hip-hop off-spring. 

This is quite a bit different to Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound (see review HERE) as DeepMatter go on a night cruise to discover multi-instrumentalist Jerk as influence by Dilla/Madlib beats as much as Thundercat / Bob James jazz-fusion-funk-OST.

Jerk (aka Joshua Kinney) is joined by Martin Wade (drums) and Wyatt Rydlewski (bass), the single 'stealthy, she moves' is like a nervous sax cat stalking the dark back alleys on a Co-Op beat.

'Incoming' features a more cock-sure walking bass as emergency vehicle sirens go off in the background along with that cat knocking over milk bottles.  And, of course, if you're in Noo York, there's going to be a Fania influence as Phillip Catherine finds Patrice Rushen at a  'dance beneath a dripping moon'.  

Don't be surprised to here any of these tracks slipping onto a soundtrack or advert soon as.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:as night falls | Jerk

Artist: Jerk
Title:   As Night Falls EP 

Release date: 14th November, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound - Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood (DeepMatter Records)

Not usual to see trades in the NFL but there's a healthy respect between Vikings and Eagles so, musically, when the lead singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer best known for Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos (Minnesota) teams up with the Eraserhood Sound (aka Maxwell Perla & Vincent John of Philadelphia) we get ‘Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood’ that's deep into the golden era of soul.

Nine tracks drenched in that combine Jr. Thomas' vocals and songwritig with the production of the duo of Maxwell and Vincent in thier Philly studio (with was Questlove's at one stage!).

Fans of modern soul like the Cold Diamond & Mink at Timmion, Jalen Ngonda and Steven Bamidele (with the recent THE CRASH! album - see review HERE) with some great flute gang and vibrazone jazzy flavours.

Very different to the label's recent SHOLTO releases and Blue Earth Sound (see review HERE) but it'll be somewhere in the middle with 'Thank You Honey' and the Modern Room of 'Can't Leave You Alone'.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Jr. Thomas in The Eraserhood | Jr. Thomas

Vincent John – Bass, Guitar, Synth
Maxwell Perla – Drums, Auxiliary Percussion, Congas
Raynier Jacildo – Piano, B3 Hammond, Wurlitzer, Synth
Ron Kerber – Flute
Angelo Outlaw —Vibraphone
Turquoise Cobb – Backing vocals
Zeek Burse - Backing vocals
Thomas McDowall - lead vocals, backing vocals, synth

 

Artist: Jr. Thomas & Eraserhood Sound 
Title:  Jr. Thomas in the Eraserhood

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: SHOLTO - Persephone's Perception (DeepMatter Records)

On the same day that Sholto takes to he Main Stage at Gilles Peterson's We Out Here Festival, here's a sneak preview of the forthcoming album coming out later this year.

Nearly two years since ' SHOLTO's double album, 'Letting Go Of Forever' (see review HERE), which instantly became a Gilles Peterson favourite with a Worldwide FM live session, he's back with a single from the forthcoming album 'The Siren'.

Fans will know that the SHOLTO studio in Hackney is where the spirits of David Axelrod and Lalo Schrifin with the Cinemation Orchestra with "the Australian revisonists" Surprise Chef, The Pro-teens, Karate Boogaloo supporting: how good does that sound?

Don't forget, you can go for a swim at the festival in The Sanctuary area to reinact the artwork!

We Out Here Festival: Thursday Main Stage 

13:00 - 15:00Tina Edwards

15:00 - 16:00Sholto

16:40 - 17:40Hermeto Pascoal

18:20 - 19:20Florence Adooni

20:00 - 21:00Horace Andy & The Dub Asante Band

21:45 - 22:50Noname

Artist: SHOLTO

Title: Persephone's Perception

Release date: 14th November, 2025

Label :  Deep Matter Records

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Pink Butter - Can We Go Back (DeepMatter Records)

There's many reasons why groups have the most unusual names; some good, some not so good - when it comes to Pink Butter, they're something special as their EP, 'Can We Go Back' proves - and no, you can't go back!

A Swedish quartet of Oskar Bettinsoli (guitars), Björn Lehnert (keyboards), Malte Bergman (bass) and John Bjurström (drums) are able to blend jazz and hip-hop and have found a couple of like minded folks to collaborate with including T3 (RL Alttman III of Slum Village) and Jermaine Holmes (backing singer with D'Angelo).

Those with long memories will know the 'golden era' LSK who had Dwele and Slum Village on their debut (back in summer of 2000!) this is very much that sort of quality.  Indeed, 'Can We Go Back' featuring T3 feels retro for the now.  

In fact, the whole 6 track EP is very 'Futuristica Music' from back in the day, i.e. see the new release by Georgie Sweet 'I Swear To You' (see review HERE), as in 'Alright' featuring Joanné Nugas (and some great jazz guitar from Oskar) and 'Lost My Mind' featuring Elma.

On the mellow soul side Jermaine Holmes sings on 'Made For Me' which is perfect for the chill out zone whilst his contribution to 'U' with Venus Anon is close to spaced out soul as these guys get.  Being nearly six minutes long in a Part I & II style, it's my favourite of the set; equally, it's a shame it's not longer in more of a 12" mix (Ed. and work in 'Voice Memo'?)

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) and The Offline's Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto influenced 'In Session' (see review HERE) and this is a another hot release; keep it cool as we don't want it to melt as you can never go back.

Artist: Pink Butter 
Title:  Can We Go Back 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl - Smoked Pink / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Ria Moran - Cubico (DeepMatter Records)

Ria Moran goes 'Cubico' to break out of "Introducing" and moving into her own light in more ways than one.

You may know Ria from BBC's 'Introducing' programming or her debut EP, 'Moving Into The Liight' but if you're following the progress of Georgie Sweet (see review of her First Word debut album, HERE) you'll want to add Ms. Moran to your list of 2025 discoveries.

The vocals are similar in style as delivery as is the music, albeit it bit more of a focus on guitar in the nu-jazz beats envelope. No surprising really as she's worked with Nubiyan Twist (who feature on the closing track 'Take It Or Leave It'), Gotts Street Park and Daniel Casimir of late.

After a bit of a slow start this album gradually builds and by the time you get to the title track, you're hooked as it gets more jazzy-funk dramatic; 'Leo' fits somewhere between the two extremes and is definitely a favourite in the YATM office - and it's just in time to hit the decks at We Out Here Festival.

Clearly influenced by the R&B 'golden era' - Jill Scott, D'Angelo etc along with the current crop of groovers from Oz, particularly Allysha Joy, don't miss out on this one - if you get in quick there's a vinyl option of 'Smoked Orange' (Ed. isn't that an old JUUL flavour?)

Artist: Ria Moran 
Title:  Cubico 

Release date: 18th July, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl -Smoked Orange / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: The Offline - The Offline in Session (DeepMatter Records)

This week we find Hamburg's The Offline totally online with a 'live' collection of six of the best.

The Offline (aka Felix Müller) brings us the follow-up to the Instrumental, Breaks, Soul-Jazz, Funk, Soundtrack, Jazz-Funk soaked album from a couple of years ago, 'La Couleur De La Mer' and we find him, his guitar, and the band.

As a live 'session' with tracks from  'La Couleur De La Mer' with EPs 'Les Cigales' and 'En clair-obscur' (what is it with these live sessions in Germany, also see Jazzanova's 'In Between Revisited' the live version - see review HERE). 

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) whilst The Offline can add a sense of Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto and a host of your favourites from the Melbourne area (Surprise Chef, Robohands, Karate Boogaloo etc).

Artist: The Offline
Title:   The Offline in Session

Release date: 27th May, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Chris Hill - Drums [1-6],
Timor Litzenberger - Bass [1-6]
Felix Müller - Guitar [1-6],
Felix Behrendt - Rhodes, Mellotron [1-6]
Hans-Christian Stephan - Flugelhorn [1,3,5,6], Trumpet [2,4]
Kimo Eiserbeck - Flute [1-6], Saxophone [3,4]

Review: Matt Wilde - It's A Delight EP (DeepMatter Records)

This is Mancunian jazz in the footsteps of Dilla/Glasper where his debut album 'Hello World' caught the ear of BBC 6 Music friendly with fans including the main DJs Gilles Peterson, Deb Grant/Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan amongst many more.

Wilde has already been involved in Peterson's Brownswood Basement 'academy' and it shows in this new 6 track EP as it also feautres other Mancunian alt-soul artist [ K S R ] (who you'll recall from the Searchlight track 'We Could Be More' (see review HERE) and trumpet player Aaron Wood (who stands out on 'Good Things Happen').

The instrumentals are as stand out as the vocal tracks and he's definitely more of a Robert Glasper pianist than say, a Jamie Cullen; there's even some Robert Mitchell classiness too on the title track and 'Timekeepers'.

On the heals of Myele Manzanza's 'Homesick' - the Marble SunTh Remix (see review HERE), Matt Wilde is another name to watch out for in the beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove and lots more folks are going to love this.

Artist: Matt Wilde
Title:  It's A Delight EP 

Release date: 11th October, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Myele Manzanza - Homesick (Marble Sun Remix) (DeepMatter)

Here's some serious remix action by Marble Sun who transforms the classic 'Homesick' into something even more powerful.

The original version of 'Homesick' is on Myele Manzanza's album 'Crisis & Opportunity, Vol. 4 - Meditations and for a drummer, in a trio with Matthew Sheens (Piano) and Matt Penman (Double Bass) it's reminisent of some of Robert Mitchell's jazz trio work of some years ago.

Indeed, you may recall the New Zealander has been based in the UK for years and had releases on First Word Records and his cutting edge broken beat influenced debut album 'One' (some of the regulars may recall, 'City Of Atlantis' featuring Charlie K & Ladi6 (Gerry Hectic's 50/50 Flip 12" Edit) - albeit it was never released!)

Like wise, 'Homesick' is re-worked as Marble Sun's vocalist Olivia Williams, adds atmospheric lyrics to a two-steppa beat that moves the track onto the dancefloor for soul-jazzers.

Seems like a good idea to check out what Myele has been doing but we know is next move is in Tamil Rogeon's band (together with Audrey Powne!) with the launch party for the 'Wave Theory' album (see review HERE) on 3rd October at BBE HQ (see HERE) so get your tickets now 'cos this really is the hottest ticket in town.

Artist: Myele Manzanza

Title: Homesick (Marble Sun Remix) 

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label : DeepMatter

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp