Review: Dan The Drum x Chris Bangs - My Tune EP ft. Jasmine Rose (Ramrock Records)

Dan The Drum is getting in the habit of teaming up with folks to produce something that excels the parts; in this case it's DJ Chris Bangs and Jasmine Rose that combine to make 'My Tune' hurt so bad as a modern Lovers Rock version of 1978 hit by The Cool Notes!

Regular readers will recall the Dan's collaboration with Carmy Love's version of 'Hurt So Bad' ft. Darren Morris with guests Joseph Nesbitt Larkin and Carl Davies (see review HERE) and the remixes (see review HERE) plus Dan's tribute to UK House with Sutart Patterson, 'UK House Sermon' (see Interview HERE).  So no real surprise when Chris Bangs and Dan the Drum got together after Dan delivered several sophisticated house remixes on Chris x Dave Lyn’s latest track, ‘Children of the Sun’ they'd subsequently that they'd so a 1976 style Carnival track for the heatwave of 2026 - "What about a cover version of the 1978 Lovers Rock hit 'My Tune' by The Cool Notes?" says Chris.  And Dan says, "Yes I" (or even more accurately, "Yes, I & I") - also check out David's album 'The World I Hear' from a cople of years ago (see review HERE).

So a bit of a surprise that when the original came out in a period, Chris was holding down a Saturday night jazz-funk night in Bournemouth at the Exeter Bowl (as per J-Jazz deep digger Mike Peden and confirmed by Chris himself - see review HERE) and before Dan Spalding was dubbing down Manor Park/Romford Road; or would that have been Elton's in Seven Sisters or the Mecca on Tottenham High Road?

But what is clear is that they're inspiration on both of their musical journeys makes this release both a celebration of the original and a heartfelt nod to the sound that embraces roots, romance and culture. 

The duo’s fresh interpretation on the original pays tribute to the timeless sound of Lovers Rock, bringing a contemporary, respectful warmth and depth to the new co-production. This huge summertime anthem encapsulates everything that is fabulous, with Chris and Dan unleashing their prodigious production and arrangement skills on the beautifully ethereal vocals of Jasmine Rose, Joe Nesbitt Larkin’s insanely deft guitar work, Carl Davies’s masterful saxophone playing and Darren Morris’s brilliantly authentic keyboards. 

The enigmatic Dr R.E.Y provides an Augustus Pablo inspired, melodica dub. ‘My Tune’ is a super sweet Lovers Rock outing on Ramrock Records, mixed and mastered by Darren Morris at North Street West studio in Hastings and also saluting CB’s youthful 70s DJ career at his Friday night residency at South Harrow’s legendary ‘Bobby McGee’s’ night club. The original Cool Notes vibe has been brought up to date and has all the hallmarks of a 21st century Lovers Rock classic, introducing it to a new generation of listeners.

It doesn't seem fair that we won't have the chance to dance to this at the much missed Wilkswood Reggae Festival - Peace, Dub & Harmony in the Woods By The Sea (Think Notting-Hill-by-the-Sea - see P.S. below) but any Sound System that does play any of the 3 versions will be getting a load of love this summer.

P.S. Any fans of Dubheart will want to get down to Chaplin's Cellar Bar on Friday 21 August to celebrate ate the life of bongo master Steve Parsons!! RIP

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: RR015 - Dan The Drum x Chris Bangs 'My Tune' EP | Dan The Drum x Chris Bangs ft. Jasmine Rose | Ramrock

Artist: Dan The Drum x Chris Bangs 
Title:   My Tune EP ft. Jasmine Rose (Original, Dr R.E.Y Meldica Dub, Instrumental Mixes)

Release date: 14th September, 2026
Label: Ramrock Records
Cat. No: RR015
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Andre Espeut & Stefano de Santis - Wanna Know What’s On Your Mind (Ramrock Records)

Well it wasn't on our minds that Andre Espeut & Stefano de Santis would team up for a Lovers Rock summer, check out 'Wanna Know What’s On Your Mind' on Ramrock!

Regular readers may well be surprised to hear that Andre Espeut (last seen HERE teaming up with Inkswel as well Robert Burbridge - see HERE - and King Bee on Ramrock Red Records - see HERE) would get together with Stefano de Santis (a Ramrock regular - see HERE) at North Street West studio in Hastings via London and Rome, to produce 'Wanna Know What’s On Your Mind', original and dub, which are perfect lovers for a Sunday (and the rest of the week). 

Stefano says, "I met Andre in 2022 through some of his work. From the very first listen, I was struck by his tone and versatility, and I remember immediately thinking how great it would be to do something together.  Shortly after the release of my first EP, I received a message from him asking if I wanted to collaborate. “There you go, the law of attraction works perfectly!” I thought. We started working together, and a lot of great, diverse music has been coming out of it.   A common ground for our collaboration has been reggae. Both Andre and I grew up with this genre, and it was beautiful to reconnect with that vibe, since it’s not something we usually play and create, even though we both love it deeply".

 
Coming out just after Chilled Cider festival (which is just down the road from the much missed Wilkswood Reggae Festival and the news of the passing of Dubheart's Bongo Steve; RIP) this is the much needed boost to spiritual roots reggae and dub.

Let's hope by next years' Chilled Cider Festival I'll have a vinyl copy to play!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  RR014 Andre Espeut & Stefano De Santis 'Wanna Know What's On Your Mind' EP | Andre Espeut, Stefano De Santis | Ramrock

Artist: Andre Espeut & Stefano de Santis

Title: Wanna Know What’s On Your Mind 

Release date: 10th July, 2026
Label: Ramrock Records
Cat. No: RR014
Format: Digital / Bandcamp