Review: Blue Earth Sound - Cicero Nights (Root Records)

Chicago based Blue Earth Sound is the place to explore 'Cicero Nights' - not as a Roman consulate rave up or as a town in North-East Illinois!

We already know from Tomorrow's Yearning (see review HERE) that the guys at Root Records love jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor along with Dilla/Madlib beats but James Weir's Blue Earth Sound project diggs even deeper into Chicago's jazz history.

Developed with the help of Dave Vettraino, the in-house engineer for International Anthem who, as a label, has recently been blessed by compilation madness as 'Gilles Peterson Presents International Anthem' with underground fee-jazz-soul-experimental gold like Carlos Niño, Damon Locks, Makaya McCraven, Jaimie Branch (RIP) and many more: far removed from Weir's rock-post punk band background.

So even more impressive that, even as a multi-instrumentalist, he's got such a cool jazz-focused album together with a little help from guests, notably Eamonn Prizy on flute/saxophone and particularly on 'Lovers Rock' and 'Half & Half'.

The single, 'Mariposa' and 'On The Court' have that downtempo feel that so fits his inspiration of, "I just wanted to make tunes that a DJ could pay at a Chicago bar like 'Danny's' at 8:30pm that would set a good vibe"; (Ed. perfect for the Futuristica Music Sessions on a Wednesday at 60MPC of old).

Don't be surprised to see these guys on one of Peterson's many projects.

PS. Danny's, 6021 S. Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

 

Artist: Blue Earth Sound 
Title:  Cicero Nights

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Produced by Blue Earth Sound

Recorded and Mixed at The International Anthem Warehouse by Dave Vettraino

Additional Recording in Little Village by Jason Balla

Additional Recording at the Mango Pit by Joshua Wells

String Production by Austin Lemoine in St. Louis

Mastered by David Allen

James Weir - Piano [1, 2, 3, 8], Rhodes [3, 4, 5, 7, 8], Organ [1, 3, 4, 7], Wurlitzer [2, 6], Guitar [4, 5, 6, 7], Bass [1- 8], Slide Guitar [2], Synth [2]

Patch Romanowski - Drums [1- 8], Triangle [4]

Eamonn Prizy - Flute [1, 3, 4], Saxophone [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]

Will Miller - Trumpet [1, 2, 3, 5]

Michael Wells - Guitar [1, 3, 8]

Jackson Ramsey - Strings [1, 5]Alex Aguero - Percussion [4, 6, 7]

Joshua Wells - Percussion [3, 4, 6, 7, 8]

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Review: Yesterday's Princess - Tomorrow's Yearning (Root Records)

If you had the mind to get Surprise Chef and Sven Wunder vs. Lalo Schfrin and David Axelrod vs. Lonnie Liston Smith and George Benson (CTi period) with DIlla vs. Madlib on the knobs, you could well end up with some jazz library hip-hop beats of Yesterday's Princess - couldn't get much better than that!

The duo of Fredrik Bregsten and Marcus Larson might sound like Celtic's new Scandinavian signings but they've been producing music for over 10 years and 'Tomorrow's Yearning' is a mere four tracks to tease us with as jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor.

'Anemoia', 'Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)' (the early single - see review HERE), 'Bygone' and 'Meanwhile' are all recorded with real instruments including drums to replace the old skool sample pack and a bass player brought in to join the Fender Rhodes and electric guitar. 

 

If you know the standard of 'Dirty Harry', 'Death Wish', 'Hill St. Blues' themes and along with the forthcoming work of Pink Butter (see review HERE soon), this is a brilliant jazz-funk warm-up that's as much retrospecitve and forward looking at the same time.

 

Artist: Yesterday's Princess
Title:  Tomorrow's Yearning

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Yesterday's Princess - Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)(Root Records)

I hope we've all forgotten Eurovision from yesterday as 3 blokes from Finland represented Sweden, in a Sauna and they were pre-show favourites!  So let's get back to 'real' Swedish music as Yesterday's Princess release 'Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)'.

The 2nd single from their forthcoming debut EP, ‘Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)’ continues to showcase Yesterday's Princess' take on the soulful & hip-hop leaning library and instrumental revival, with a trance-inducing bass line paired with silky backbeats and glistening Rhodes melodies. The pair draw influence from the ground-breaking library music style pioneered by the KPM and Music de Wolfe music libraries, whilst also pulling in psychedelia, modal jazz and melancholic flavours from Swedish folk and prog music. 

The full EP is out on Friday, 25th July 

Artist: Yesterday's Princess 
Release: Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)
Release Date: 21st May, 2025
Label: Root Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format:  Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: SHOLTO - Letting Go Of Forever (Root Records)

Is it any wonder that Oscar 'SHOLTO' Robertson is one of directors of "resurgenct cinematic psychedelia and library music"?  This guy will be at the awards in the future.

On the back of last years' 'The Changin Tides Of Dreams' album, as supported by Jazz Fm and BBC 6 Music, 'Letting Go Of Forever' is a massive double LP of a massive 26 tracks that is heavily Italian OST a la Piero Umiliant. Alessandro Alessandroni etc with West Coast mastery of a David Axelrod with jazz-funky leanings and where there's vocals in French (Elle Músa), Stereolab isn't far from your mind.
 

Amazing to think this was produced in a studio in Hackney as we've got big strings (arranged by Clementine Brown), wandering flutes (Arthur Sajas), twinkling vibes (James Larter) and Rachel Horton Kitchlew on harp, some dreamy synths with SOLTO on drums that does give us the impression of a Cinematic Orchestra session.

Whilst Lalo, Herbie and Quincy's 60/70s soundtracks have been an influence, there's that DJ Shadow sample culture and more recently, the Australian revisonists (Surprise Chef, The Pro-teens, Karate Boogaloo etc), this is a relaxed set; remembering it's time to let go of forever.

And if you can check Worldwide FM today for Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Basement featuring "live session with Sholto, featuring performances from his latest album", check it out HERE.  

P.S. here's one for future Jonny Trunk and Mike Wallace's of the world, get the vinyl now.

Artist: SHOLTO

Title: Letting Go Of Forever

Release date: 15th November, 2023

Label :  Root Records

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: 2 x LP / Digital / Bandcamp