Review: Mark de Clive-Lowe - past present (tone poems across time) (IMPRESS!VE Collective / BBE Music)

Mark de Clive-Lowe has always impressed so when it comes to an album with the Impressive Collective, it's going to be.... impressive! 

Over twenty years ago, as one of the first names outside of the UK that found broken beat, future jazz, hip hop and house combinations that constantly made records, particularly 12s with Lady Alma and Abdul Shyllon, the New Zealand wonder kid Mark de Clive-Lowe was the name eveyone wanted to drop.

At that time we'd have been unware of his Japanese connections and that he'd released solo albums in New Zealand before the move to London and then onto USA to study at Berklee College and then live in LA before moving to Japan.  His undertakings are relentless and even includes spell running night clubs.  So it may be a surprise that 'past present (tone poems across time)' as 11 tracks is more of an electronic ambient ENO style homage to Japan's spiritual reflectiveness; like water gardens on 'gratitiude' or 'reflection'; note: the cover is a photograph taken in 1953 of his dad, Robin de Clive-Lowe at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Japan.

It's probably worth pointing out this wasn't that long after the end of WW2 and whilst MDCL recorded the album in LA with a cast of a 1000 keyboards and synths it also includes his own filed recordings from various locations iin Japan.  

There's nothing to dance to here as the tracks have a certain brooding about them even with titles like 'acceptance', 'forgiveness', 'compassion' and 'peace' I was hoping the title track would prove to be a revelation (a title of a track also) but it adds to the cinematic OST theme.  Don't get me wrong, this is a highly enjoyable album and its very Ryuichi Sakamoto but still a long way from the first album on the IMPRESS!VE Collective, Jessica Lauren's 'Film' (see review HERE).

There's extension liner notes by Mark himself and I did notice that he says the album was due in large part to the encouragment given to him by his friend Carlos Niño (he of 'Everyone's Children', AmmonContact, Build An Ark, Hu Vibrational, The Life Force Trio; you get the idea).  And having met Carlos some years ago and spoken to him for a mere half an hour, I can tell you he'd be the most positive and encourging friend that Mark could have hoped for (along with label boss Greg Boraman).

Not everyone's cup of tea (drinking ceremony) but it is music for zen and now in a tone poem time capsule.

Artist: Mark de Clive-Lowe

Title: past present (tone poems across time) 

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label :  IMPRESS!VE Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE803

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers - African Party (Deluxe Edition) (Impressive Collective)

Back in 2015, Freestyle Records reissued a remastered version of this 1967 classic ten track album by Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers but this is the 12 track Deluxe Edition as the first on the Impressive Collective label.

You may know Mr. Boraman from his connections with Brian Auger (see review HERE) so it's no surprise that he loves this seminal album from that late sixties when Ginger Johnson was not only opening the London/UK ears to Afro-jazz percussion, he was also a mentor to then London resident, Fela Kuti as well having work with British jazz greats as Ronnie Scott, drummers Phil Seaman, pianist Victor Feldman, Kenny Graham (in his Afro-Cubists band) as well as percussionist in Edmundo Ros' popular dance band in the 50s (always check the credits his album).

This album is full of Yoruba vocals/chants, heavy percussion and Brit-jazz horns and flute; 'Hi-Life' being particularly good but it's all excellent and often mentioned as the start of Afrobeat. 

Johnson's band also went on to include future members of Cymande and Osibissa and you can hear elements of calypso/Carribean on 'African Party' and even Zamrock meets jazz ('Witch Doctor' (Afro Rock)'.

A truley amazing album and especially in this expanded form (the extra two tracks having been taken from a long lost 45 that's been a 'Repair Shop' restoration so as to match the rest of the album).

When Tony Allen (RIP - albeit mentioned this week - see review HERE) said, Ginger "was a pioneer, the trailblazer for all of us", he really should be better known and this 'African Party' will definitely make that happen.

Artist: Ginger Johnson And His African Messenger

Title: African Party

Release date: 18th October, 2024

Label :  Impressive Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE771

Format: Vinyl 2xLP (early 2025), Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Various - The Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk Vol. 3 (BBE Music)

Coincidence is amazing sometimes isn't it? There we are at the big festival this weekend and I overhear someone say, "Craig Charles plays all the best remixes on his Funk & Soul show" and the next day, we get 19 tracks on the The Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk Vol. 3 compilation.

It hasn't been that long since Craig interviewed Ramrock Records' Jo Wallace for their 10 year anniversay Trunk Of Funk mix and whilst there's no Ramrock artists, he's plucked out a couple of BBEs, Roy Ayers 'Tarzan' and Sly Johnson's 'Trust Me' (from the album, '55.4')

And if you've got any of Craig's previous compilations (or listened to his Radio shows), this is more of the same high quality soul, jazz, disco, funk, hip-hop, gospel and house along with those exclusive 'Trunk of Funk' remixes.

Particularly, putting life back into Beggar & Co's 'Somebody Help Me Out' (as your grandparents - or Surfin' Dave), Smoove (he's done so many) update of 'Mercy' by The Third Degree and The New Mastersounds' 'Watchu Want'.

There's many more and tracks from his many favourite artists/band/vocalists like Kylie Auldist, The Nextmen Dave Lee & Omar that fit in with diggers delights like Sunlightsquare's cover of 'I Thought It Was You' (as your grandparents again), The Harlem Gospel Travelers and new future stars Sai Galaxy (watch out for new release 'Keep It Movin') and She, She, She.

Mr Charles has come a long way from Red Dawf and Corrie and long may his trunk be full of funk that he's willing to share and let us all enjoy. 

Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Show is on BBC 6 Music Radio every Saturday. 

Artist: Various

Title: The Craig Charles Trunk Of Funk Vol. 3 

Release date: 5th July, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE764

Format: Vinyl 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp