Review: Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP) (Ramrock Red Records)

For those keeping up with Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony' story and subsequent 'Variant Issue', those "prime taste makers" Craig Charles, Don Letts and even more can't get enough of it - and here's a new twist from Tokyo on the Edinburgh soul master!

As regular readers will know, YATM has a big case e of Japanophilia, whether that's BBE's J-Jazz compilations, Masters Series or book (news has it that there's another compilation due soon - also see HERE) or DJ Muro (see HERE) or J-Salsa (see Orquesta Del Sol, HERE) or City Music Tokyo (see HERE) or my latest favourite, Ken Matsudaira, you'll get the idea that we're more than excited to here of combination of Mr Malik and Shuya Okino.

It all started we're told when both of them were signed to Compost Records in the early 00s and "Joseph was on tour in Japan with iconic soul artist, Terry Callier. Shuya showed up at the gig and took Joseph to his legendary night club ‘The Room’ in Shibuya, Tokyo" [and when they say "legendary", check out anything on Especial Records at that time you'll get an idea why].

The pair stayed in contact ever since so no surprise that Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive to WeOutHere) gets busy on 'Adult Contemporary'

But the story doesn't end there as this is a whole new re-work recorded in Japan and mastered by Darren Morris (the follow-up to his 'Union I', Union II out now, see HERE) and you think, this is a whole different track to the original as 'Chic funk dance' gives it up to the recognizable vocal to Joseph with "Release me..." and plea for "Somebody help me"; well it's clear that the Tokyo family has and it's another winner.

So, you may be wondering why 'Tokyo To Edinburgh (Interlude 1)' is included? For 107 seconds of beats/Japanese spoken word with killer mod-jazz organ, you'll want it in any Sci-Fi mixtape. 

This would make a great 7" single but until that existing, it's a great digital release.

P.S. Did someone mention, DJ Kawasaki 'It's Your World'? (Ed. that's so niche)

BUY LINK: RRR086 - Joseph Malik - Adult Contemporary - Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP | Joseph Malik + Shuya Okino x ROOT SOUL | Ramrock

Artist: Joseph Malik
Title: Adult Contemporary (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP)
Release date: 18th July, 2025
Cat. No: RRR086
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Remixed by Shuya Okino & ROOT SOUL
Lead vocals: Joseph Malik
Directed by Shuya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive)
Bass, Keyboards, Guitar: Kenichi Ikeda (ROOT SOUL)
Drums: Soki Kimura (Osaka Monaurail）
Drums recorded by Soki Kimura (Osaka Monaurail）
Mixed by Kenichi Ikeda (ROOT SOUL)
Mastering: Darren Morris @North Street West Studio

Review: B:Dum B:Dum Sound - The Lost Tapes (Ramrock Records)

Once booed off stage at one of their very rare gigs when supporting an early version of The Verve, Jo Wallace has been delving in the lost corners of Lancashire attics to find 'The Lost Tapes' of B:Dum B:Dum Sound; now fully cleaned up (the tapes), 30 years on, they are ready for a new dancefloor.

It wasn't that long ago that Jo Wallace (head honcho at Ramrock) unearthed the semi-lost album, 'Planet Fantastique' by The Ercons (see review HERE). A couple of months later, the human TBM (aka 'The Mole') has dug even deeper! This time, not only finding 'The Lost Tapes' but also a barely found band/group/person, B:Dum B:Dum Sound.

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So unless you were in 'The In Crowd' of Manchester's early 90s art school echo chambers of the 3 northern lads who had a 4 track EP released with the help of Bolton Arts Council, you won't be aware on the post-industrial dub beats of B:Dum B:Dum Sound (the name taken from one of the many popular tunes by Manchester's punk leaders, The Buzzcocks).

So to find a DAT tape in the attic with 4 tracks on it, 'There Is No Question Pt. 1', 'Only A Ghost', 'Mercy' and the only previously (extremely limited) released track, 'Do/Don't' is a bit of a coup:  'Do/Don't' being very much in the style of Lee 'Scratch' Perry (perhaps the one producer with more found 'lost tapes' than anyone else in history) .  

You can imagine that 'electronic' music of samples, loops, dub, house isn't going to easily find an audience in Manchester at a time of contemporaries like then up and coming, indie/guitar bands like The Verve (the B:Dum B:Dum Sound supported band booing incident is not uncommon as in Suicide supporting The Clash on UK Tour or Simian Mobile Disco (The Klaxons) to name just two. But now in more enlightened times, with echo's of Jah Wobble/Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound etc and Augustus Pablo being in the building (not literally of course) with 'Only A Ghost' this is going to find a wider audience, particularly as 'Mercy' is proper mesmeric as it's been trapped in the catacombs of dub for far too long (Ed. actually, it's been 'trapped' in the loft).  

We're unlikely to ever have a 'There Is No Question Pt. 2' (which is shame) but as these tapes have been remastered by Darren Morris (he of 'Union I' - see review HERE - and shortly 'Union II') this is definitely one for fans of early adoptors like Sean Johnston (did someone say, "Cisco Cisco"?) and The Flightpath Estate DJ collective plus the Rhythm Doctor (he of 'Digital Juju', see review HERE, who had he's own 'lost tapes' story release last year with Skeet's 'Park Road' EP that was big with Gilles Peterson: so much so, the Rhythm Doctor is appearing at WOH Festival this year) and Madtone (see 'Livicate EP' with Jasmine Tutu, see review HERE).

Definitely one to get now as it's far too good to be in the attic.

Artist:  B:Dum B:Dum Sound

Title: The Lost Tapes

Release date: 27th June, 2025

Label: Ramrock Records

Cat. No: RR013

Format:  Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy - Feel The Flow EP (Ramock Records)

Deep Excavation is drilling down to 'Feel The Flow' with Morris Revy that fits in with the Ramrock red, green and gold mining for quality reggae and dubs.

In fact, it was a combination of Ashley Beedle (the other half to Ramock Records' prime instigator and all-seeing eye of musical goodness, Jo Wallace) that got hold of Deep Excavations (aka Alan Keane) in Ireland (Ed. any relation?) with a vocal by Nigerian Morris Revy.

Mr Revy has a really expressive vocal delivery that approaches dub poetry as this guy really does feel the riddim with a Ha Ya! eternal life (no, not this one - see review HERE).

The instrumental continues the groove as it's like a mesmeric train ride where you make a move like an express; with no stops, or buffet car!

And there's a dub which just perfect for the nyabinghi house trippers that's equally suitable for some balearic beach action.

No only that, there's a Balmr remix (aka Greg O'Connell) that sounds like the southbound tube line on dub race to Brixton with no time to read the poem of the day as you feel the flow.

Somewhat difffent to the last release from the Ramrock family,  Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers 'When Hurt Walks Out The Door' (see review HERE) but it's equally as great: as you'd expect from all Ramrock productions.

Artist: Deep Excavation ft. Morris Revy

Title: Feel The Flow EP

Release date: 8th March 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RR012

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers - When Hurt Walks Out The Door (Ramrock Red Records)

Craig Charles' Funk & Soul show loves these guys and so will you when hurt walks out the door with their new single on Ramrock Records.

If you like that mix of US soul via Stax, Stateside, Motown (Marcus was a member of Detroit's very own Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels) and that UK style of  R&B (at random, say, Van Morrison, Frankie Miller, Jess Roden, Graham Parker), 'Hurt Walks Out The Door' is right up your street with it's immaculate horn arrangements and solid guitar solo (that really stands out on the instrumental version).

Kinda of reminds me of James Carr's classic, 'Dark End Of The Street' and don't forget the album 'Interstate 75' (see review HERE) for even more great tracks.

Even so, you gotta get the instrumental of 'When Hurt Walks Out The Door' as the organ will make the hairs on the back of your neck and the guitar solo will make you cry and reach for the Wah Wah pedal at the same time.

Artist: Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers

Title: When Hurt Walks Out The Door

Release date: 23rd February, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRR057

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Twelve Caesars (see review HERE) and the increasingly compelling album by DB Cohen, 'Scratchcards & Wine' (see review HERE) but that's why we fell in love with the label are continue to be in love.

Lovers rock on roots foundations as Errol Lamzi falls 'In And Out Of Love' with Senator B (not literally of course).

As you'd expect from this very classy single we're very much on the "in" love side of things as Errol's follow-up to last years' single, 'Lonely' (also on Ramrock).

Those with a good ear for these things will recognise The 1997/8 riddim 'Funny Feeling'/Hotter Claps Clap Them' by Rankin' Joe & The Steppers and as anthemic as that is, wait 'till you hear the rollin' Senator B track that really gets the love standing to attention on both the vocal and the instrumental versions.

Very different to Ramrock's last two releases, the now anthemic 'Ride The American Wave' by 

Twelve Caesars (see review HERE) and the increasingly compelling album by DB Cohen, 'Scratchcards & Wine' (see review HERE) but that's why we fell in love with the label are continue to be in love.

Artist: Errol Lamzi

Title: Falling In And Out Of Love ft. Senator B

Release date: 1st December, 2023

Label: Ramrock Records

Cat. No: RR011