Review: Ebi Soda - frank dean and andrew (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

"Off-kilter jazz crew Ebi Soda" release their third album, 'frank dean and andrew' with 11 tracks that takes other worldly to another world.

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Leftfield jazzy downtempo fans have a new favourite group; especially if you add some cinematic OST, dubby, avant-garde, punk into the mix.  

Ebi Soda are 'jazz-disruptors' as we are told these tracks evolve from countless hours of jam sessions which is perhaps most evident in the seamlessly cool compositions rather than any angular 'free' jazz elements. 

Kicking off with one of the longer tracks, 'bamboo' it sets the tone whilst 'toucan' flys high into the sky (Ed. might be one for Guinness to investigate) whilst much of the album is in the moody of dubstep on jazz (like 'location' - Ed. Croydon?) but I hear more Jah Wobble's PIL period punk-dub.  And on 'milk in my console', with added trombone, I think of the spirit of Rico plus the eerie 'freely' with string quartet(?).

Jianbo adds a rap to 'red in tokyo' which doesn't sound out of place with the other tracks but previous single, 'when pluto was a planet and everything was cool' (see review HERE) does stand out even though it's a bit different - what would Jerry Dammers have made of this if he was given the producer reins?

The album ends on the 11 minute tour de force, 'insectoid creatures are infesting the land' when build upon the excellence of the previous ten tracks.

As a reminder, last year when I was chatting to Tru-Thoughts head honcho Robert Luis at We Out Here Festival, corto.alto were 'the' hot jazz collective (and subsequently their album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2024) and this year,  I won't be surprised if 'frank dean and andrew' is shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2025!

Having featured on Soul-Jazz's compilation 'Kaleidoscope (New Spirits Known & Unknown)' along with loads more on the jazzy new wave, Ebi Soda have found their time whether they know it or not. 

TOUR DATES - 2025
Fri 26th Sept / Brighton - Bella Union (In-Store / Electronic Set)
Thurs 2nd October / London - Jazz Cafe (album launch)
Fri 10th October / Stockholm Jazz Festival
Sat 1st Nov / St Leonards-On-Sea - The Piper

BUY LINK: https://truthoughts.ffm.to/frank.OPR

Artwork by Ez Goomi: ezgoomi.com

Artist: Ebi Soda

Title:  frank dean and andrew

Release date: 19th September, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number: TRUD466D

Format: Vinyl / CD/ Cassette / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Steven Bamidele - THE CRASH! (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

"A collision of cosmic soul, existenital dread and a desperate search for meaning in the static" of modern life you may add as Stven Bamidele breezes through the 'difficult' sophomore album, 'THE CRASH!' is a beautiful sound.

Leftfield downtempo soul fans have been shouting the name Steven Bamidele sometime now and this 12 track new album is not to be avoided if you like the sound of folk drum'n'bass above the sound of the hummingbirds. 

The Nigerian-born, London-based singer, songwriter, musician and producer has a very dream like quality to his lyrics, voice and character - can you imagine a combination of Cat Stevens, Beach Boys and Thundercat?  Neither can I but this isn't far from it as he laments of the loss of innocence ('Truman', as in the 'The Truman Show' film') with the now omnipresence of big media/state intrusions into our lives - wanted or not.  

Along with "Everyone wants to live a good life" ('Cookoo Goes The Clock', with British rapper Cam Thomas (Ed. a pop at Harry Lime?) and 'The Fool' (featuring Sly5thAve - he of 'Calfornia Love', see review HERE), this is a 30 year olds' world view as 'THE CRASH!' but is a positive way and not a crash to destruction.

He's joined on 'Nichiyoubi' by French-born singer, songwriter and guitarist Célia Tiab and is such a cool lounge-jazz warp of a love song on the day of relase, not that he'd know, DT decides to rename the Department of Defence! 'Take Cover' indeed.

In fact, 'Take Cover' is the closest to a dance track on here as this album would suit fans of Michael Kiwanuka, Frank Ocean, Jalen Ngonda - in fact, the soulful duet with Scarlett Fae on 'Withdrawn' is one of the many highlights on the album.

Mr Bamidele is super talented and Tru-thoughts have found yet another Worldwide winner here.

BUY LINK: THE CRASH! | Steven Bamidele

Artist: Steven Bamidele

Title:  THE CRASH! 

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number: TRUD468D

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Catpack - Meowmixes (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

Tru-Thoughts are the new Stones Throw?

Following their celebrated self-titled debut and its accompanying remixes, LA-based trio, Catpack, comprised of Amber Navran (Moonchild), Jacob Mann, and Phil Beaudreau, return with ‘Meowmixes’, a fresh spin on their own material, with each member offering a personal reinterpretation of a track from the record.

The tracks are short jazz-funk hip-hop beats reminiscent of early Flying Lotus with Dilla/Madlib going on with touches of Daedelus' electric 1930s swing fixation.

In short it's purr-fect for an fans of summer Pusheen. 

BUY LINK: Music | Tru Thoughts

 

Artist: Catpack

Title:  Meowmixes 

Release date: 14th August, 2025 

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : TRUDD662

Format : Digital  / Bandcamp 

Review: Oliver Night – Run Like The River feat. TREV / Reach Out (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

Definitely time to 'Run Like The River' when it comes to Oliver Night's debut single on Tru-Thoughts.

It's been an exciting couple of weeks for Oliver Night as, first off there was the two remixes on Jerkboy & Marcel Vogel ft. Million Miles 'Real Love' EP on Vogel's Lumberjacks In Hell label (see review HERE) and now he's back on 'home ground' with two tracks on Tru-Thought label.

London's Oliver Night has made a name for himself in the post-Co-Op) house a la 'Run Like The River' featuring the soulful vocals of TREV and "full-on Co-Op Brukwise" 'Reach Out' that's really underground club blow-up brilliant..

Regular readers will know I don't need too much of an excuse to crowbar in the Gerry Hectic's River Stour Remix of Biggabush's 'This River' (see below) but as both are on Tru-Thought's and both mention "river", perhaps Robert Luis will give us a call up?

More likely though is now Night is on the same label as WheelUP (see review HERE), Tru-Thoughts is once again at the dancefloor cutting edge cut up.

BUY LINK: Music | Tru Thoughts

 

Artist: Oliver Night 

Title:  Real Love (Oliver Night Remix)  

Release date: 12th August, 2025 

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : TRUDD675

Format : Digital  / Bandcamp 

Review: Ebi Soda - milk in my console / when pluto was a planet and everything was cool (Tru-Thoughts)

"Off-kilter jazz crew Ebi Soda presents singles 'when pluto was a planet and everything was cool' (out now) and 'milk in my console' ".

Last year when I was chatting to Tru-Thoughts head honcho Robert Luis at We Out Here Festival, corto.alto were the hot jazz collective (and subsequently their album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2024) and Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi's album 'Whispers Of Rain' hadn't even had it's artwork printed (see review HERE): put all that together and add some OST in the mix you've got some of the application and vibe for the forthcoming album, 'frank dean and andrew' by Ebi Soda.

Citing speghetti westerns and 'Blade Runner' this "off-kilter" jazz is in the Cinematic Orchestra OST envelope. 

No idea why the singles' titles are all in lower case as is the album title (Ed. I used to work will a bloke called Frank Dean and they named a building in after him in Camden, Dean House!) but I won't be surprised if 'frank dean and andrew' is shortlisted for the Mercury Prize "Album Of The Year" 2025!

BUY LINK: https://truthoughts.ffm.to/milk https://truthoughts.ffm.to/pluto.OPR

Artwork by Ez Goomi: ezgoomi.com

Artist: Ebi Soda

Title:  when pluto was a planet and everything was cool / milk in my console

Release date: 5th August, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings

Catalog Number: TRUDD666 / TRUDD670

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi - Whispers Of Rain (Tru-Thoughts)

"Internationally acclaimed harpist Alina Bzhezhinska (pronunciation - Bshe-shin-ska) and Ibiza-based producer Tulshi announce their collaborative album ‘Whispers of Rain’, Alina’s debut album with Tru Thoughts".

If you've been following Alina with us from the single back in March (see review HERE) and her collaborations with Tony Kofi and The HipHop Collective, you'll know that this is the perfect festival season summer chill sound, especially as the seven tracks are based on the cooling element of rain; in all its forms.

Taking Alina's spirtiual jazz and classical background and Tulshi's electronic, tech-dub ambient knowledge they synch together like children playing; which was the inspiration for the first track they ever did called 'Child's Play' which opens the album up for a full 9 minutes.

You can tell from the track titles, 'Starling', 'Across The Sea', 'Warm Days, Cold Nights' and the closing track 'Journey's Home' that there's a instrumental narrative connection between both musicians and the tracks:  indeed, there's a near 40 minute continuous mix 'bonus track' on the digital release. 

One track definitely not to overlook is the Afro-tech jazz-house of 'Nomad's Nocturne' that's heavy in its percussion and takes for early Kraftwerk/Tangerine Dream.

You can't review one of Alina's albums without mentioning Alice Coltrane or Dorothy Ashby (Ed. it's the law) but 'Whispers Of Rain' is this years' Floating Points' 'Promises' without Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra (Ed. that was 2021!)

Alina will be hosting a listening party at Brilliant Corners, London on Monday 23rd June, followed by an album launch show at The Vortex, London on Friday 4th July, featuring Tony Kofi (saxophone) and special guests!

BUY LINK: Whispers of Rain | Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi | AlinaHipHarp

Artist:  Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi

Title:  Whispers Of Rain 
Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings
Catalog Number  TRU467
Format: Black Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: MELONYX - Soul Glow Remixes (No'West, Ten Thousand Nights, Tyler Daley, Dub-Liner & Riffz Remixes) (Tru-Thoughts Recordings)

Nottingham is the home of the pairing of Georgia Copeland and Nadia Latoya (aka MELONYX) and their 'Slow Glow' remixed project is out today featuring the No'West team, Ten Thousand Nights, Tyler Daley, Dub-Liner & Riffz.

Originally on the Joe Buhdha produced album 'Slow Glow' from 2023, it's a good time to release as 4 different remixers/7 tracks with vocal and instrumental versions plus two dub versions; how does that work out?

Taking pride of place is our favourite No'Westers (aka Ashley Beedle, Darren Morris and Jo Wallace) with their own pack of 3 as vocal, instrumental and dub.  Fresh from their 'Black Market' remixes of Dan The Drum & Stuart Patterson's anthem, 'UK House Sermon' (featuring Carmy Love - see review HERE), their 'Soul Glow' is very different as they stick with a R&B, Hip-hop, lovers rock slow jazz groove - perfect summer love.

At the other extreme, there's the Tyler Daley (Children Of Zeus) UKG-bass wobble whilst Ten Thousand Nights heads to the skies with "Butterflies" that's nicely dancefloor out-there with some Theo Parrish influence.

What you don't really expect is full on DnB as a vocal and extended dub from Dub-Liner & Riffz.  And even if I say so myself, as it follows the style of BiggaBush's 'This River' (the Gerry Hectic Towpath Extension that is also on Tru-Thoughts) it makes these two remixes particular favourites.

MELONYX have acquired to all your usual DJ fanbase, on BBC 6 Music alone, they include Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Jamz Supernova and then there's also some guy called Elton John!  Elton currently fighting the Government about artist royalty issues, he's cool be to love and be loved by once again.

P.S.  And Children of Zeus have worked with Georgie Sweet who has her Jazz Cafe gig next month (see review HERE).

Artist:  MELONYX
Title:  Soul Glow Remixes
Release date: 20th May, 2025
Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings
Catalog Number  TRUDD582
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi - Whispers of Rain (Tru-Thoughts)

Finally, when spring is springing, here's some 'Whispers of Rain' that are cooler than cool.

Alina Bzhezhinska is one of the ever increasing jazz harpists that are taking the instrument back to Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby's spiritual heritage.

You'll recall that she joined forces with saxophonist Tony Kofi last year with 'Altera Vita' (see review HERE) and now she's with Ibiza-based producer/engineer/DJ Tulshi for this single.

Sounding exactly how you'd expect it would sound being influenced by John Coltrane's 'After The Rain' and Tulshi looking out on a rain shower with a cup of tea in his hand; quite zen, quite Japanese ornamental garden.

There's a tour and an album launch - at the Vortex with Mr. Kofi - see below:

Whispers of Rain’ Live Dates:

23/06/25 - Brilliant Corners, ‘Whispers of Rain’ - New album listening party, London
3/07/25 - Peggie’s Skylight, ‘Whispers of Rain’ - Preview show, Nottingham
4/07/25 - The Vortex, ‘Whispers of Rain’ ft. Tulshi, Tony Kofi & Ni Maxine, London
16/08/25 - The Bear Club, ‘Whispers of Rain’ ft. Tony Kofi, Luton
16/09/25 - EastSideJazz ‘Whispers of Rain’ ft. Tony Kofi, London

Previous support for Alina Bzhezhinska includes: Jazzwise, Irish Examiner, Jazzitalia, Downbeat, Youandthemusic (Ed. that's us!), The Entertainment Factor, The Quietus, All About Jazz and more

Artist: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi 

Title: Whispers of Rain 

Release date: 18th March, 2025

Label : Tru-Thoughts

Catalog Number : TRUDD649

Format:  Digital Bandcamp