Review: Eric Hilton - Sound Vagabond (Montserrat House)

Eric Hilton if half of Thievery Corporation but his new album, Sound Vagabond, is no 50% effort, in fact it's more than 100% essential this year.

Thievery Corporation, as one of the early exponents of trip-hop, downtempo, dubby beats, making their name with Bebel Gilberto as one of Gilles Peterson's favourite tracks on the late 1990's, 'So Com Vocé', forming the ESL label and being sought after remixes ever since.

Since 2020 Eric has been just as busy as 'Sound Vagabond' is his sixth album on his own Montserrat House label.  Don't think for a moment he's not got the enthusiasm for a 14 track instrumental album as this sound vagabond has travelled the world and picked up so many influences that the album is a proper melting pot but not sloppy; all tracks are as sharp as the 60s mod artwork.

With such a history of making music with samples and remixing, it is incredible that the album has been formed with some free library music as a backbone.  From the opening track, hip-hoppy harp with 60s organ on 'Endless Affair' (like a modern day Thomas Crown) to the last track 'Lumi' (that possible encapsulates the whole album) you'll be thinking, "this is my favourite" track as it's quality throughout.

If you push me, 'Poppy Fields' is a fantastic mix of 60s cinematic Indo-funk acid jazz and the longest tracks on the album, 'Mumbai Hustle' (very sexy) and the dreamy jazz beats of 'Cerro Alegre' are mesmeric; along with 'The Grand Intro'.

This album has been inspired by many global influences and as an album for the world, the only problem with this album is tht all the tracks could be longer as they are so good and whilst we loved his album with Natalia Clavier, 'Corazón Kintsugi' from last year (see review HERE), 'Sound Vagabond' is even better! 

Artist: Eric Hilton  

Title: Sound Vagabond 

Release date: 23rd February, 2024

Label : Montserrat House
 

Catalog Number : MH027 Digital / Bandcamp 

 

Review: Tomasz Guiddo & Jimi Tenor - Where The Wild Roam / Smile (Compost Records)

The word on the streets was that Compost Records have got some really exciting projects lined up for us this year - and it's true! 

It hasn't taken us long to get impatient for Vol. 2 of the 'Future Sounds Of Kraut' compilation by Fred und Luna but here's another project  to get estatic over as globe trotting DJ and veteran of undergroung sounds, Tomasz Guiddo teams up with electronic/jazz/afrobeat/Sun Ra fan, Jimi Tenor: 'Future Sounds of Finland' you might say?

This EP features two tracks, 'Where The Wild Roam' and 'Smile' featuring Louie Austen who probably couldn't help but smile after getting the call to do some post-Rat Pack crooning for Compost.

'Smile' is a Guiddo/Tenor take on Lounge jazz and it's really cool with bits of Indo-Café Del Mar shuffle - a perfect compliment to Eric Hilton's 'Sound Vagabond' (see review HERE and also released today) especially as there's an instrumental version.

'Where The Wild Roam' is one for the Flute Gang (Jimi on top form as usual) along with some 60s space-mod organ and dreamy Mike Sammes Singer's style vocals.  Love the original and there's remixes by Erobique (pretty funky 'Disko' meets boogie), Ale Castro (Argentinian Italo-House stylee) and the approapriately more "less defined out-there" one by Freestyle Man. 

All the instrumentals and radio edits are great so get your orders in for the 12" as they're guaranteed to be 'Sold Out' before you can say, "Sähkö Puu" or "Philophon" - it's #1 on Sun Ra's Chart on Jupiter Radio.

  

 

Artist: Tomasz Guiddo & Jimi Tenor 

Title:  Where The Wild Roam

Release date: 23rd February, 2024

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number :  CPT 627 12" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Otis Sandsjö - Y-OTIS TRE (We Jazz Records)

We Jazz Records knows a winner project when it sees one and ' Y-OTIS TRE' is definitely that, three is a magic number after all!

Saxman Otis Sandsjö follows-up 'Y-Otis' and 'Y-Otis 2' with another adventure into experimental, avant-garde abstract jazz hip-hop soaked 12 tracks with multi-instrumentalist/bassist/producer Petter Eldh (he of ENEMY, Koma Saxo, Tilo Weber and more) and synths/keyboards of Dan Nicholls (he of divr's 'Is This Water' album- see review HERE)

This is going to be one of my favourite albums of the year as don't we all love a bit of Berlin based Scandi-space jazz that follows the paths of Jimi Tenor (recently 'discovered' by soul-jazz London DJ legend Robbie Vincent!), Madlib and Thundercat/Kamasi Washington.

Not convinced?  Listen to the totally manic-cinematic-Bruk-eque 'LOOMY' and 'midi day job, pt. 4' which stacks up to any 'golden-era' Daedelus or the other single, 'CLICKS 2023' or the instant favourite, 'perla / moln'.

No surprise then that Gilles Peterson, Jazzwise, WIRE and the like are early to the party with this one and any label as varied as hosting The Stance Brothers (see review HERE) and Anni Kiviniemi Trio (see review HERE) is going to be open to the Y-Otis project; FOUR as they might say (as in sometime words have more than one meaning).

Artist: Otis Sandsjö 

Title: Y-Otis Tre

Release date: 23rd February 2024

Label : We Jazz Records

Catalog Number : WJLP63

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: David Manso - Groovy Smile (Be Adult Music)

Don't be confused by the artwork as this isn't Acid, it's just a 'Groovy Smile' from Be Adult Music.

But it's more than a groovy smile cos there's a right groovy track behind it.  It's the first solo release by DJ David Manso, not to be confused with legend David Mancuso, even if there's a fair bit of Paradise Garage and funk influence on 'Reason To Smile' on a beach with the usual beach dreams of Be Adult Music.

The 'sister' track, 'Groovy W.' is even funkier and jazzy with a sax spurt that's 70s friendly; it's like a very cool remix of an unknown  Average White Band/Weather Report track.

This is a fantastic way to celebrate the label's 350th release and expect to hear this on all great parties this year and definitely one earmarked for this months' Colour & Pitch Mixtape.

Artist: David Manso

Title: Groovy Smile

Release date: 22nd February 2024

Label; Be Adult Music

Catalog Number: BAM350

Review: Substance Abuse ft. Kurious - Don't Add Me EP (Ramrock Red Records)

Substance Abuse is a pretty cool name for a couple of High School kids that happened to find themselves growing up a the heart of the LA hip-hop scene in the 1990s; but what's this match up with Kurious all about in 2024?

Curiously enough, I find that I picked up their 'Profitless Thoughts' 12" featuring MF Doom a mere 10 years after it was released on Kutmasta Kurt's Santa Monica label Threshold Recordings, (Ed. it's take's that long for Imports?) but when you're hanging around Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Declaime, Oh No and the like like they were, it's still a surprise that their 'Bridges' track (featuring Aceyalone) came on Ramrock Red  back in 2019.

Apparently, the connection with 'Bridges' was made via Ladbroke Audio's A&R man Neil who introduced Ramrock's Jo Wallace and Kurious is equally well connected with scene legends like Doom (particularly, on 'Born Like This' that features my favourite Dilla track, 'Lightworks') and Kool Keith (he of Dr. Octagon and many, many more).

'Don't Add Me' is more funky-jazz hip-hop, consious boom bap with the sideways poke (no pun) at the shallowness of the 'social media' fallacy of off quoted likes/adds/plays etc is some quality assurance (and that's without touching the evil of SM's role in the increasing list of teen/adult murders).  

Back to the record, in explicit, clean, instrumental forms, "Don't Add Me" is perhaps a reminder that social media can be a force tor good and any rap that warns us that, "Gil Scott-Heron will not post on Instagram" - is an odd mirror of 'This Revolution Will Not Be Televised'; a far cry from Kardasians/West self-implosion

Nicely follow's the label's Joeseph Malik's release, 'Be A Lion' featuring Kameelah Waheed (see review HERE) and in both cases, all are showing us that hip-hop still has substance and it's not to be abused; you do the sums (as the kids might say).

PS. Big radio shouts to BBC 6 Music for their Dilla day (especially Gilles Peterson for featuring BBE's Peter Adarkwah at Gilles Peterson - Pete BBE on J Dilla - BBC Sounds : as one Detroit resident put it, "it seems that you're doing more (to celebrate) than we are in Detroit".

Artist: Substance Abuse 

Title: Don't Add Me ft Kurious

Release date: 19th February, 2024

Label: Ramrock Red

Cat. No: RRR055

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Audrey Powne - From The Fire + Instrumental (BBE Music)

Edging ever closer to the album release, this single of 'From The Fire' with the instrumental goes to show what a talent BBE have discovered with Audrey Powne.

This track is a perfect mix of R&B/Soul, Herbie Hancock inspired jazz and Roy Hargrove hip-hip - much in the same ways as the equally 'Feed The Fire' (see review HERE with Atjazz and musclecars remixes).

Still no news on the Audrey Powne remix of musclecars as yet bit if half as good as the tinged-dub style of the instrumental of 'From The Fire', I can't wait.

Artist:  Audrey Powne 

Title: From The Fire + Instrumental  

Release date: 16th February, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE753SDG2b

Format: Digital  

Review: Janek van Laak – The Killah Gorilla (Sonar Kollektiv)

Sonar Kollektiv's sense of the dancefloor is as diverse as the collective that makes the label so strong and inovative as they've found a nu-jazz of Janek van Laak with a single, 'The Killah Gorilla'.

This is taken form the forthcoming album, 'Circle Of Madness', the single is named after UFC's cage fighter, Jared 'The Killa Gorilla' Cannioner - I'm scared already. Somewhat of an odd choice for an Afro-jazz infused rocker.

Janek (drums) is joined by Richard Maegraith (alto sax, flutes, bass clarinet), Gabriel Garcia (trumpet and flügelhorn), Isabel Rößler’ (bass) and Tim Foley on percussion and they really come together on the track 'OCTAPUSSY' that you can check out on Bandcamp (see link below).

It looks like Sonar Kollektiv have the same artwork on this as TTeo's 'Loveexpress77' (see review HERE) and i wonder if a remix is on the cards?

Title: Janek van Laak
Title: The Killah Gorilla
Release date: 15th February, 2024
Label : Sonar Kolletiv

Catalog Number : SK479D / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Magic Number - Badly Written Songs (Atjazz Record Company)

What could be better than another album on Atjazz Record Company that brought you singles by Magic Number last year?  Only the full album itself and it's now out!

It's no secret that we loved 'Good Morning Sunshine' (see review HERE) and 'Better' (see review HERE) and I'm pleased to say that these two tracks do no overwhelm the other excellent seven tracks on the album entitled 'Badly Written Songs'.

Of course, what all these tracks do is to reinforced that the album's title is firmly in the self-deprecating tongue in cheek-to-cheek on a dancefloor as Magic Number (aka Ross Hillard) has brought all his experience of working with the likes of Louie Vega, DJ Spen, Kerri Chandler, Lay-Far and Atjazz (to name a few) to produce a soul-house album that musically have has elements of Matthew Herbert with the horns of a Big Band together with the vocals of Sophia Marshall who has a vocal style that reminds of Róisín Murphy, Alison Goldfrapp, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and at times, a Lana Del Rey.

'Thinkin' Bout' and 'SFS' are very Herbert 'jazz' and 'SFS' could be yet another single as could 'Loving You' that's is more in the mainstream and I'd say 'Was This Love' is very radio earworm you won't be able to get it out of your head (love the vibes on this one); and then 'All I Ever Wanted' isn't too far behind all of them with those deep synths and bassline. 

Whilst it's all very clever, 'Exit' might be the most obvious dance track with a great some catchy hook and I suspect Mr. Atjazz (Martin Iveson) must have been more than enthusiastic hearing this album by his mate as you can see in you minds eye/ear that he's thinking of a remix or to: both of their address books must be full of canidates but in all honesty, if that is in the future, there's no rush as this album/all these tracks are going to be on many a chart listing this year and if they can make the summer festival circuit, they're going to be very busy indeed.

Artist: Magic Number
Title: Badly Written Songs
Release date: 9th February, 2024

Label : Atjazz Record Company

Catalog Number : ARC240AD Digital / Bandcamp 

Reveiw: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi - Anima (BBE Music)

It's unusual for BBE to release a stand-alone digital single, but you'll soon see why on the first listen to 'Anima' they have this time.

Lots of hip-hoppy jazz spiritual harp ambience going on at the moment, but Alina Bzhezhinska with Tony Kofi on sax must be close to the ultimate with this single.

We know Alina from her album 'Reflections' and the remix of 'Fire' (see review HERE) whilst Tony made his name with the UK jazz explosion that saw him as a main stay playing with the Jazz Warriors and moving on to the equally influencial Gary Crosby's Nu Tropp.

There's six track album by the pair called 'Altera Vita' is coming out soon and in the meantime, lets breath with this: guaranteed it'll get pick up for cinematic/TV use and QiGung/Tai Chi approved jazz.

Artist: Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi 

Title: Anima

Release date: 9th February, 2024

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE779SDG

Format: Digital  

Review: Dina Ögon - Orion (Playground Music)

Dina Ögon are a fourpiece who certainly have their own identity and Swedish post-folk swagger.

You might have come across earlier single of 'Glitter' / 'Det läcke' with summer jingley/jangley sixties pop sensibilites... along with some splendid Swedish vocals.

Don't think of you're usual stereotypes from Sweden (a certain pop band, specialist film/magazine industry or Sven-Göran Eriksson - who we wish all our best after his recent health annoucement) but these guys are a healthy mix of Tuung (UK) the nu-Rio wave of Bala Desejo (see review HERE) with some West Coast CSN&Y influence; and that's more than enought to get excited about.

The nine tracks on 'Orin' are a 'Best Of' selection so the quality doesn't really dip as it's all brilliant but if you pushed me, 'Milton' is very Vashti Bunyan meets Indo-Fleetwood Mac (Ed. we could do with a longer mix for this one) and the almost dubby title track (Ed. where's Mad Professor?) and if there's some seagulls flying about, the Balearic soft-rock of 'Mellan de sju fjällen'.

If you're looking for this years' Altın Gün, look no further and if you've ever listened to the BBC Radio series 'The Cold Swedish Winter' that revolves around an Anglo-male living in Sweden with his Swedish wife and young son, you'll have some sort of knowledge of how complicated life in Sweden is; Dina Ögo make it sound so beautiful you'll want to go there anyway.

Artist: Dina Ögon

Title:  Orion

Release date: 2nd February, 2024

Label : Playground Music

Catalog Number : -

Format: Digital / Bandcamp