Review: SHOLTO - The Sirens (DeepMatter Records)

SHOLTO's musical vision of sirens, being the every day tale of "a number of women or winged creatures whose singing lured unwary sailors on to rocks" is as dreamy and cinematic as the cover artwork!

There's been much anticipation of "cinematic maestro" SHOLTO's as the follow-up to 2024's double album, 'Letting Go Of Forever' (see review HERE).  

Being his third album in three years he's not running out of ideas and I think it's fair to say the 'The Sirens' is even deeper into the cinematic as a soundtrack to the film without a film, 'The Sirens' and the "themes of duality, temptation, and emotional dislocation, in SHOLTO’s words, “blurring grief with groove, seduction and surrender”".

We know that SHOLTO is based in Hackney (Ed. which is not London's version of Hollywood) where he's joined by Syd Kemp (bass), Clementine Brown (strings) and Rachel Horton Kitchlew (harp) which makes the sound so much bigger.

Singles like 'Tied To The Mast' that brings to mind the story of JMWTurner's famous painting, 'Snow Storm, Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth' or is it Odysses lashed to the mast; John William Waterhous et al? Either way, there's the 'after the storm' moment of calm as the harp generates the 'sea mists' .

What really gets this album deep into the romantics are the strings and the use of the harp that is perfectly embraced on the lead single ‘Persephone’s Perception’ that "sets up the mythological themes of the album, reimagining the Greek goddess’s descent to Queen of the Underworld as a choice!  A steady, rolling groove, low-slung bass, and euphoric string break set up a call-and-response between shadow and light, with SHOLTO embracing the beauty".

Follow up single ‘Smooth Sailing’ was a bit different as it features vocalist Phoebe Coco who perfectly reflects the other world nature of the lure of the sea. Other guests include Thomas McBrien on keys ('Temptress') and you're definitely warned by 'Invisible Conductor of the Orchestra (Come With Me)' featuring the mysterious spoken vocals of Lea Petges.

There's even more foreboding whilst there's some proper Morricone 'Swampland Of The Soul' and 'Purple Flow' (Ed. this must have been recorded in Italy?) and talking of OST, Oscar ‘SHOLTO’ Robertson has proved himself as the latest link between the likes of Sven Libaek, Piero Umiliani and David Axelrod and those is the wake of bands/producers of Surprise Chef, Sven Wunder and The Cinematic Orchestra/Jason Swincoe like on 'Ghibli's Dream'.  

This is likely to be all over those DJ's of choice like Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne, Huey Morgan and Deb Grant (BBCR6), Jyoty (Rinse FM) and Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) so recommended to get on the pre-order as demand will be high.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Sirens | SHOLTO

Artist: SHOLTO
Title:   The Sirens

Release date: 21st November, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : DMSH02

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Drums, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Flute, Percussion, Vocals – Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson

Vocals – Phoebe Coco, Lea Petges

Bass – Syd Kemp

Piano & Keys – Thomas McBrien

Harp – Rachel Kitchlew

Strings (Violin, Viola) – Clementine Brown

Cello – Sebrina Lambert Rose

Flute – Arthur Sajas

Artist – Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon

Vinyl Designer – Liam Kay

Review: SHOLTO - Persephone's Perception (DeepMatter Records)

On the same day that Sholto takes to he Main Stage at Gilles Peterson's We Out Here Festival, here's a sneak preview of the forthcoming album coming out later this year.

Nearly two years since ' SHOLTO's double album, 'Letting Go Of Forever' (see review HERE), which instantly became a Gilles Peterson favourite with a Worldwide FM live session, he's back with a single from the forthcoming album 'The Siren'.

Fans will know that the SHOLTO studio in Hackney is where the spirits of David Axelrod and Lalo Schrifin with the Cinemation Orchestra with "the Australian revisonists" Surprise Chef, The Pro-teens, Karate Boogaloo supporting: how good does that sound?

Don't forget, you can go for a swim at the festival in The Sanctuary area to reinact the artwork!

We Out Here Festival: Thursday Main Stage 

13:00 - 15:00Tina Edwards

15:00 - 16:00Sholto

16:40 - 17:40Hermeto Pascoal

18:20 - 19:20Florence Adooni

20:00 - 21:00Horace Andy & The Dub Asante Band

21:45 - 22:50Noname

Artist: SHOLTO

Title: Persephone's Perception

Release date: 14th November, 2025

Label :  Deep Matter Records

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: VA - Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 (Re:Warm)

The heat is on as they used to say as we get Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 from Re:Warm on the soulful sunny South Coast.

This is impressive to say the least, four hours, 20 tracks as a musical day-in-the-life of compiler Josh Mason-Quinn (aka Somewhere Soul) from daybreak to dancefloor.

Hard to believe that out of the 20 tracks, we've featured previously Allysha Joy & Finn Rees (as in Joy Spheres Rees's 'Trust The Feeling' - see review HERE), Chip Wickham, Amanda Whiting (see review HERE), our homeboy Emanative (with his version of 'Space Is The Place'), Blue Lab Beats, MATTERS UNKNOWN and SHOLTO so that covers most of the day!    

Clearly, Mr Mason-Quinn knows his 'Somewhere Soul' in the form of jazz, soul, funk, house and other global beats and grooves as a DJ, A&R and event programmer.  He regularly appears on radio stations like Balamii and Soho radio and has performed at festivals like Love Supreme and will be at Mostly (Birmingham) this year.

If you missed out on the exclusive Re:Warm Launch Party, don't miss out on the real thing as the next Soumewhere Soul and Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' party is at the Fox & Firkin on Saturday 2nd August with Matters Unknown headling live (see review of their 'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal HERE) and a host of DJs including Tina Edwards.

BUY LINK: Somewhere Soul + Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' - TICKETS HERE

BUY LINK: https://warmagency.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-soul-rituals-volume-1

Somewhere Soul · Music for . . . Dancing (Vol. 1)

Aritst: Various Artists - compiled Josh Mason-Quinn

Title: Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label: RE:WARM 

Cat. No: RE:WARM TBC

Format: 2 x LP Pink or black-gateflold / CD / 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