Review: VA - Thirty Years Of Freerange Vol. 1 (Freerange Records)

30 years is a long-time and in Freerange Records timezone they're celebrating with 30 tracks from 30 artists on 5 EPs - and VOLUME ONE is here!

There's certainly no shortage of folks that are more than happy to be involved with Jimpster's label, don't forget, they've just released Crackazat's incredible "jazz-funk" album 'SUN' (see review HERE) so this is the first set of "a handpicked cross-section of the Freerange continuum from artists who’ve shaped the sound alongside up and coming voices pushing it somewhere new. Different shades, different voices, same ethos: independence, longevity, and an unwavering commitment to the dancefloor and beyond".

And when I say they kick-off strong with Ralph Session featuring the incredible Brandon Markell Holmes, with 'Everything' - I mean deep.  But it gets better, our favourite Berlin based New Zealand excile, Philippa slips in some 'Mixed Messages' which is on the trans-europe express main-line high speed dancefloor; even the vocoder vocals fits this track perfectly.

With Palm Skin Productions there's always something to be aware of and here its in the ACID warp factor - one for late nights.

And talking of dancefloor royalty, Philadephia legend Josh Wink confides with 'NGF' which gets very busy towards the end.  Apparently, Spain's Nacho Marco was last on the label 20 years ago so 'The Flying Fox' is a we'll return.

All that said, we've always loved Lovebirds (aka Sebastian Döring) and he ends this set with a track called 'Janet Nice' and I'm sure she is but this 7 mins of slo-mo shuffle is even better.

When you think that there's going to be another 4 Volumes - this is a series you want to invest in this summer - don't miss out.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: 30 Years Of Freerange - Volume One | Freerange Records

Artist: Various Artists

Release: Thirty Years Of Freerange Vol. 1
Release Date: 29th May, 2025
Label: Freerange Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Crackazat - SUN (Freerange Records)

If you see Crackazat (aka Ben Worrall) on the remix, you know it's a good un but it might be a surprise to hear 'SUN' is his forth album, but it's his most enlightened todate - indeed, the one he always wanted to make.

 

Hot summer sunshine is the order of this album 'menu' that's got 13 tracks that takes his formal jazz training and his 10 years living in Sweden to the next 'Mad Mats' level as the blender of house, hip-hop,soul, jazz n' funk on the dancefloor. 

If the idea of 'SUN' was to draw "on the idea of the sun as life’s foundation - our shared source of warmth, light, and energy. Crackazat channels that universal force into music designed to uplift, connect, and radiate timeless positivity" it's certainly grounded in legends like Thundercat, Roy Hargrove, Roy Ayers, lovetempo and lost more as Worrall says, "the jazz funk album Crackazat always wanted to make" [nice to seem him use 'Crackazat' as a third person].

As you don't get more of a seal of approval in this regard as Gilles Peterson 'spoken word' (on the opening track 'Promised Right', talking about the Brit-funk explosion) and then going into a particularly Level 42 track 'Grey'.  We know how much Peterson loves Level 42 (Ed. does he? - see HERE).

The lyrics are particularly good and even this far in you'll be thinking, is this really Crackazat? Well, one of the reasons its an upgrade on his excellent remix projects, whether it's previous works on Stay True Records, Freerange (with Jimpster) and Local Talk (where he was embedded in Sweden), this album is his first fully collaborative release including vocal performances from Eva Lazarus (best known for her Mungo's Hi-Fi collabs), Lyric Jones, Cap1tala and Olivier St. Louis plus many musicians spanning the Stockholm/New York axis including Tamez Dolev (live drums/percussion), Andreas Gidlund and Karl Olandersson (horns).

In fact, 'Crouching Tiger' (the one featuring Lyric Jones, last seen on Close Counters' 'Lovers Dance Academy - see review HERE) and 'Set My Sun' (with Bristol based Lazarus) will imediately recognise 'Worldwide' Peterson golden era elements and Bristol ties; whilst at the same time, it could be Jazzanova Berlin, Star Creature Chicago, Razor'n'Tape New York or any number of cool soul-jazz-funk locals; hopefully near a beach/poolside - particualarly 'Pick Me Up' where the horns come over classy Baggar & Co.

'Shine' is another sunny stand-out track (and one to keep the Rocksteady Disco Flute Gang happy in Detroit) happy and there has to be a funky 70s keyboard track set in the rainforest (a la Lonnie Liston Smith/Stevie Wonder/George Duke) meets sax player (say, Grover Washington, Jr.) on 'Who's Boss' - well at Freerange Records it's Jamie Odell, son of Shakatak's drummer Roger (do you get it now as this is not the most obvious Freerange Records sound).

Getting into some Sunday night lovin' is Olivier St. Louis in the best R&B style ('Nothing But Love') and the album ends on a couple of chilled tracks, 'Night Child' and the instrumental, 'Waiting' that's particular cool as a jazz-indo-dub-version.

In fact, this album covers quite a lot of bases and there's not a duff track so I'm happy to report it's the album we wanted Crackazat to make and I promise you, you'll be hearing this everywhere this ; summer 'cos the 'SUN' is out, it's shinning and it's the way that we go - ask Gilles or Jimpster; could have been the Shakatak jazz-funk album Odell's Dad wish he'd made?

BUY LINK/PRE-ORDER: SUN | Crackazat

Artist: Crackazat

Title: SUN

Release date: 15th May, 2026

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" vinyl   / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimspter - Bassic Rollers EP (Freerange Records)

It's hard to believe that Jimpster has been releasing music for 30 years (under this name and many others) but there's no stopping him as he's back on Freerange Records with a four track EP, 'Bassic Rollers'

Coming in at squad No. 11 in the recent Traxsource 'Top Artist Of The Year', Jimpster (aka Jamie Odell) as DJ/Producer/Label Owner is more than busy and this keeps him in the public eye and ear and 'Bassic Rollers' will keep him there.

Being the son of Shakatak's drummer guarantees that the groove is deep and the synths sexy with liberal sample use, like the "squeaky" track 'Heads Down' it supposed to have been inspired by late ’90s club culture - the kind of grooves you might have heard on a Wednesday night at Kenny and Luke’s influential Space nights at /Bar Rhumba.  

Funnily enough, the first Jimpster album I got was the late 90s 'Messages From The Hub' which was much more Monday night at Bar Rhumba with Peterson's 'That's How It Is' which was broken/downtempo/future jazz with a version of Herbie Hancock's 'Maiden Voyage'.  Now you don't take that on lightly and that's what you'll be thinking about 'Crispy Pancakes' as it's ready to have you for breakfast.

Talking of "future jazz" (Ed. are we there yet?), the closing track 'Far Side' is hot downtempo disco that's so groovy on the keys and percussion with that touch of horn and hint of dub; it's the winner for me.

Having said all that, the lead track is the opener, 'Out And About' and that's what Jamie has been doing with all his different shades of Jimpster for decades and he won't let you down on the dancefloor: all great tracks.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Bassic Rollers EP | Jimpster

Artist:  Jimpster 

Title: Bassic Rollers EP

Release date: 24th April, 2024

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : FRD302

Format: Digital  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Review: Soul Clap - Drowning In Your Love (ft. Shaun J. Wright) (Freerange Records)

Time to celebrate on 2 fronts, Freerange are 30 this year and Soul Clap have their first release on the label that's so boyant, 'Drowning In Your Love with Shaun J. Wright is setting the high water mark for bangers this year!

We know Soul Clap from many releases and remixes, most recently on the spllit EP with MoFunk (see review HERE), and this track gives us even more Funk with Shaun J. Wright (Hercules & Love Affair etc) on vocals; and together with a dub version that can plunders High Speed Trains on the black tidal sands plus a bit of trademark Lonnie Liston Smith and 80s synth drop classic (plus a whistle and ping-pong table) and you've got unbeatable party madness: forever!

And if that wasn't enough, Charles Levine and Eli Goldstein (aka Soul Clap) have work on their EFUNK alternative with 'EFUNK Anthem' as a stripped mix (more rounded as a track) and a funk mix (so heavy!)

This is the House, Funk and more (Ed. EFUNK?) and it'll drive you're feet (and head to a degree) you'll be instantly mad about.  Your first 'Must Have' of the year!

 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Vinyl): Drowning In Your Love EP | Soul Clap 

Artist: Soul Clap

Title: Drowning In Your Love 

Release date: 23rd January, 2026

Label: Freerange Records

Cat. No: FRD313S

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Coflo - Who The Frequency EP (Freerange Records)

The cult of Coflo are going to go mad when they hear this as it's "Coflo’s Freerange debut is a confident statement from an artist fully in his lane — bold, underground, and built for the floor."

We asked, "What's going on in San Francisco?" after the more than impressive Coflo remix on Yuu Udagawa's 'Beats Sculpture' (see review HERE) and this followed his Kerrier Collective 'Life Wants To Live' remix (see review HERE).

So what is the frequency in the bay area? Well, Jimpster's Freerange Records have tuned in to a 4 track EP that's very dancefloor focused; so much so, I've even forgive one of my pet dislikes, the 'Pink'n'Percy' vs. Roger vocal EFX on 'Yewnight' (Ed. as featured on the much maligned Richie Rome album 'Deep' - his first and last!)

That's the opener and the closer, 'Yapperz' is totally different, "head-nodding, body-rocking, late-night business!" and almost footwork. Brilliant!

In-between, two tracks featuring Rawb Bob with the title track, 'Who The Frequency', "I am the frequency' and it swings and posts bruk's the synths on the dancefloor. And what's this, 'Ring The Alarm'!  Phew, not a cover of the Dancehall classic but another tapping into Co-Op sytle synths and it's loud enough to ring the alarm.

As a micro-version of Freerange's 'City To City' (last seen in Lisbon, see review HERE), San Francisco is definitely the place to be.

BUY LINK: https://coflo.bandcamp.com/album/who-the-frequency-ep

Artist: Coflo

Title: Who The Frequency EP

Release date: 26th September, 2025

Label: Freerange Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: James Kumo - Motivate Your Mind EP (Freerange Records)

'Motivate Your Mind'.. "and your ass will follow" as wise men might have said in the world of 1970s Funkadelic - they'd probably say the same thing today.

Struck as we are by San Francisco's Coflo  and his Who The Frequency EP' (coming out on Freerange Records soon but we've got to sort this one out first,

Kumo is a DJ/producer based in Manchester and runs his own Wayout Records that went 'Space Funk' mad in 2021 with releases that featured Byron The Aquarius (as last seen on Igor Jadranin's 'Contemporary Outdoors' -see review HERE).

No need for BTA here as 'Deep Inside' is the jazzy keys dub banger that'll take the rest of the summer on the wall ('Band' or otherwise)  It's not hard to imagine Ron 'Lift Off' Trent on this one in the Bowl at We Out Here Festival as it's getting late; or early morning for that matter. 

You don't have to have a Reiki Master's fire head massage to 'Motivate Your Mind', the title track that's also on the dubby side but take's more influence from Lonnie Liston Smith's expanded mind of Cosmic Echoes. 

But the big tune, is the opener 'Loosen Up' which has the best elements of the other two tracks with "rolling conga" and some big strings in support.

Jamie Odell (Jimpster) at Freerange is on such a roll at the moment, as this falls between the Coflo EP (as mentioned above) and Black Loops, Milton Jackson & Brian Kage's 'Fire Emoji' (see review HERE) and the Lisbon City to City (see review HERE). 

Definitely time to loosen up and motivate your mind, and your cosmic dream will follow.

BUY LINK: https://jameskumo.bandcamp.com/album/motivate-your-mind-ep

Artist: James Kumo

Title: Motivate Your Mind EP

Release date: 15th August, 2025

Label: Freerange Records

Cat. No: FR308 

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - City To City: Lisbon (Freerange Records)

I love this type of concept compilation, a 'City To City' exploration of music and in this case your city is: Lisbon!  Via Freerange Records who have selected six tracks by six different artists to showcase the city.

Well, I say series as I can't believe this won't be a huge success as this includes tracks from Kasper From Lisbon ('Mereces'), DJ Honesty ('Jazz Mutant'), Jorge Caiado ('Good Days'), Megatronic ('Casey Screams'), Moreno Acido ('Until The Break Of Dawn') and Yen Sung & Photonz ('Changes').

And like all good city breaks, these are names that are new to us.  Well, that's apart from Megatronic who has just appeared on JKriv's outstanding 'Intuition EP' on the title track - see review HERE).  And she also steals the show here with some post-acid "Wow, Wow" 

Although I said "steals the show", 'Until The Break Of Dawn' is dancefloor Latin, 'Changes' is out-there Theo Parrish-ness and 'Jazz Mutant' is Pots'n'pans Ping-Pong vs. keys and bouncey bass; watch 'em jazzdance move to this! 

It's good to know that Kasper From Lisbon wasn't overlooked and 'Good Days' is certainly that as Jorge managed to find time from running his Carpet & Records store/label that's in the centre of the city.

If anyone remembers those Rough Guide City Break releases; was it London, New York, Berlin, Tokoyo?  You get the idea, this is a great EP and somewhat different from the last time we had a Freerange Records release (being, Radic The Myth's 'Back To You EP' - see review HERE) who had a track himself featured on last years' 'City To City: Johannesburg'.  That was the first in a "series shining a light on new and established producers from the world's most influential house music cities". 

And just to back it up Soul Fusion Portugal (8-15th May, 2025) is hosting Atjazz, Jimpster, Crackazat and many more yet to be announced including local DJs, sounds like Freerange have it covered.

BUY LINK: JUNO.CO.UK  https://www.juno.co.uk/products/city-to-city-lisbon-vinyl/1076270-01/

FESTIVAL LINK: Soul Fusion Portugal 2025

Artist:  Various Artists

Title: City To City: Lisbon 

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Radic The Myth - Back To You (Freerange Records)

Radic The Myth may not be a legend at the moment but 'Back To You' has got that feel of being on the cusp as Freerange Records continues its love of promoting South African based deep house.

After all the excitement of Jimpster & Bishy's 'Come Down' last month on Freerange Records (see review HERE), it's 'Back To You' with an EP by Radic The Myth. 

After releasing tracks on the influential Stay True Sounds label and having 'Rainy' on Stay True Sounds Vol.4, Compiled By Kid Fonque, and 'Ubuntu (Unity)' selected for Vol. 5 (see review HERE), the 3 tracks on Back To You, being the title track, 'Phone Calls' and 'Summer Solstice' are even further from obvious 'Afro-house' and much more iin the Chicago corner of Jimpster's label. 

The stutter of 'Back To You' plus the echo/dub vibe makes this a grower, especially as there's a "warm sub bass" in the house.  'Phone Call' is loft spoken world Parrish/Moodymann tradition with the Chicago Loop train system in support.  , 

And for some, the most exciting element is Jimpster addding his synth/keyboard talents to 'Summer Solstice' with infusion of jazz that is one of his trademarks attributes.

This EP compliments his other tracks, especially the dancefloor favourite, 'Ubuntu (Unity)' or indeed long-time supporter, DJ Andy Garvey's favoutrite, 'Return Of The Zulu Gangsta' (check out Andy's Delectabeats show on Afrodisiac Radio HERE every Sunday) and if there is going to be a Freerange equilvalent of 'There Ain't No Album!' lets have it before the summer solstice; hopefully with dub versions too!

BUY LINK https://radicthemyth.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-you-ep

Artist:  Radic The Myth

Title: Back To You EP

Release date: 17th Janurary, 2025

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jimpster & Bishy - Come Down (Freerange Records)

We'll all come down at some stage of the game but this 'Come Down' is the brilliant pick me up from Jimspter & Bishy

Bishy is another producer in Essex (you daren't say there's something in the water these days) and they've definitely hit on a roots of deep house vibe with dreamy Afro-beat inspired dance with fuzzy vocals and spoken word.  It's just right track for when you think you've had enough and then, this come on and you're ready to go again in that Jimpster knows the dancefloor best way.

And if you want to get totally submerged in the heady drum circle trip-out, there's dub mix too!  

Even though Jimpster has been at the cutting edge of electronic music for such a long time (I think I first saw him in early 2000s), he's been working with so many people recently like Philippa (the New Zealander now based in Berlin - see review of her Cosmo Klein & The Campers remix HERE), Crackazat (another keyboard whiz who shares the interest in live improvisation) and fellow workaholic producer Atjazz, he's also releasing music on his Delusions Of Grandeur label, most recently Soul Of Hex's 'Constellation EP' (see review HERE) and even resurrecting an old aliase, Loxodrome (see review HERE). 

And not only that, everything he turns his magic hands to is dancefloor heaven - so "COME [ON] DOWN" as they used to say.

Note: Check out 'Come Down' as featured on Colour and Pitch's 'Best Of The Month' mix.

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - November 2024

Artist:  Jimpster & Bishy

Title: Come Down

Release date: 9th December, 2024

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : FRD302

Format: Digital LINKS / Bandcamp