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  

Review: VA - City To City: Lisbon (Freerange Records)

I love this type of concept compilation, a 'City To City' exploration of music and in this case your city is: Lisbon!  Via Freerange Records who have selected six tracks by six different artists to showcase the city.

Well, I say series as I can't believe this won't be a huge success as this includes tracks from Kasper From Lisbon ('Mereces'), DJ Honesty ('Jazz Mutant'), Jorge Caiado ('Good Days'), Megatronic ('Casey Screams'), Moreno Acido ('Until The Break Of Dawn') and Yen Sung & Photonz ('Changes').

And like all good city breaks, these are names that are new to us.  Well, that's apart from Megatronic who has just appeared on JKriv's outstanding 'Intuition EP' on the title track - see review HERE).  And she also steals the show here with some post-acid "Wow, Wow" 

Although I said "steals the show", 'Until The Break Of Dawn' is dancefloor Latin, 'Changes' is out-there Theo Parrish-ness and 'Jazz Mutant' is Pots'n'pans Ping-Pong vs. keys and bouncey bass; watch 'em jazzdance move to this! 

It's good to know that Kasper From Lisbon wasn't overlooked and 'Good Days' is certainly that as Jorge managed to find time from running his Carpet & Records store/label that's in the centre of the city.

If anyone remembers those Rough Guide City Break releases; was it London, New York, Berlin, Tokoyo?  You get the idea, this is a great EP and somewhat different from the last time we had a Freerange Records release (being, Radic The Myth's 'Back To You EP' - see review HERE) who had a track himself featured on last years' 'City To City: Johannesburg'.  That was the first in a "series shining a light on new and established producers from the world's most influential house music cities". 

And just to back it up Soul Fusion Portugal (8-15th May, 2025) is hosting Atjazz, Jimpster, Crackazat and many more yet to be announced including local DJs, sounds like Freerange have it covered.

BUY LINK: JUNO.CO.UK  https://www.juno.co.uk/products/city-to-city-lisbon-vinyl/1076270-01/

FESTIVAL LINK: Soul Fusion Portugal 2025

Artist:  Various Artists

Title: City To City: Lisbon 

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : Freerange Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Clément Melome et L'International Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Reworks Pts 1 & 2 (Canopy Records)

Orchestre Poly Rythmo classic afro gems reworked by Jose Marqez & Sol Power Sound on Canopy Records, what more could you want?

 

Canopy Records who you'll recall released Joi N' Juno's album 'Samemala' (see review HERE) have, dare I say it, gone the extra mile with this one as the world famous Melome Clement and L'International Orchestre Poly-Rythmo's track 'Zo Tche Kpo Do Te' gets the benefit of Sol Power All-Stars make over (they of 'Nyah Rock' - see review HERE and on 10 years of Rocksteady Disco - see review HERE).

The title translates as 'My Fire Will Not Go Out' and to make sure that doesn't happen, The Ibibo Horns (they of the Ibibo Sound Machine) join in and along with Scott Baylis (of The Ibibio Horns) synths they make it even hotter!

Hardly enough room for Jose Marquez' live bass and percussion on his 'Mezcla' that funks like a train.

Brilliant stuff that was orignally thought of as, what we'd now think of as politically incorrect, "Voodoo-disco", time to dig out Fela Kuti's 'Zombie' me thinks.

And, this follows last month's 'Unité Africaine' versions of Clément's band when they were called T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.  Again split between a Jose Marquez remix (that sounds even more Benin than the original) and another brilliant Sol Power All-Stars Rework, this is sunshine music with a political message.

Artist:  Clément Melome et L'International Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
Title:  Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Reworks Pts 1 & 2 
Release date: 24th January, 2025

Label : Canopy Records
Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mamacita ft Persona RS - Tu Amor (É Soul Cultura)

If I said to you Jamie Principle, you say 'Your Love' (with Frankie Knuckles).  If I said to you Luke Una, you might say lots of things, but let's imagine you'd not seen one of his video 'rants' you are likely to say, DJ, É Soul Cultura  and digger. 

So when he says he's found a cover version of 'Your Love' and he's putting it out on 12", you just know it's going to be the best cover version you've heard of such an anthem - definitely top ten of all time.

Absoulutely nothing like his recent releases by Transmission Towers or the Crooked 'remixes' (see review HERE) but could have turned up on the Mr Bongo compilation, Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura Vol.2 (see review HERE).

In the 'original' Spanish version, that's got that half-imagined "I know this" vs. this is brilliant way followed by the 'Double Drop Luke É Soul Re-Edit' mix that's like a dub and you'd still get your money's worth with 2 copies and playing 'em back to back.

Great find Luke and he couldn't explain it better, "There was a real charm to it, it was quite an unorthodox arrangement, a huge wonkiness and just sounded so DIY in a brilliant way. I was chatting to Luke (Solomon) about how much we loved it and we decided to re-edit it together. Accentuating the wonk of those crazy synths, we’ve extended it to make a fiercer underground club tool, without taking away that very charming cosmic feel".

PS. BBC Radio 4X is currently airing "The House Of The Windy City - Dance Music's Forgotten Hereos", originally broadcast in 2016, DJ Dave Pearce tells the story of the birth of house music in 80s Chicago and featuring the track 'Your Love' and it's influence. Worth a listen if you don't know - available 'till 28th March BBC Player HERE.

P.S. As also featured on February's Colour & Pitch Mix

Colour and Pitch · Colour and Pitch Sessions with Sumsuch - February 2025

Artist: Mamacita ft Persona RS

Title: Tu Amor 

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label: É Soul Cultura

Cat. No: ESOUL12004

Format: All the Digitals / Bandcamp

Review: Charles Webster & Muzi - Bakulindele (Stay True Sounds)

So what's the chances that we mention Charles Webster last week, and then a couple of days later, here he is with Muzi and a single from a forthcoming album, 'Bakulindele'.

 

As experienced as anyone in Afro-centric dance, this new track shows he's still at the top and the buzz for the forthcoming album 'Charles Webster And The South African Connection - From The Hill', is going to be massive.

In radio and extended versions, this with turn heads, but the 7 minute 'Extended' is a monster that starts on a major organ grind before Muzi's sweet gospel vocals joins in.

Ideal in some format for the next 'Stay True Sounds' compilation, see review of Vol. 5 HERE, as label head honcho Kid Fonque himself brought Charles to South Africa to record the album.   

This is like a 'companion' to Charles Petersohn's 'Children Of Zu Zu (see review HERE) so it's going to be fantastic to play these tracks out together.

Artist: Charles Webster & Muzi 

Title: Bakulindele

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label : Stay True Sounds

Catalog Number : STS

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Joy Spheres Rees - Trust The Feeling (BBE Music)

With some of the best in the Naarm / Melbourne community, Allysha Joy, Hidden Spheres (AKA Tom Harris) and Finn Rees have got together for futher explorations in soulful/Balearic bounce-hop for 'Trust The Feeling' by Joy Sphere Rees - did you see what they did there?

Yet another BBE find as who wouldn't want the trident of Joy (as in 30/70 - see review HERE) along with Close Counters (see review HERE) and with Finn Rees (see review HERE) plus the meat in the sandwich so to speak, Tom 'Hidden Spheres' Harris.

This is the first digital single from a forthcoming album called 'Solina' that'll be a vinyl and digital release.

BUY LINK: Trust The Feeling | Joy Spheres Rees

Artist: Joy Spheres Rees 

Title: Trust The Feeling 

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE805SDG

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Accident Machine x Natasha Kitty Katt - Circus Deep (North Street West Remixes) (Ramrock Red)

We know that the Ramrock Records family have an 'out-there' vibe and when it come to the Edinburgh Contingent and 'Circus Deep', would they want to reel them in with a remix EP? Well, if they did, all thoughts have now gone to 'out of mind' with vocal remix, dub and instrumental versions.

Head honcho Jo Wallace has recently announce that they are branching out into the Noir with a Darren Morris album record in the Union Chapel (review coming HERE soon) but as the pair of them (Jo & Darren) re-purpose the original (see review HERE), the "spaced-out Afro-acid" track, be prepared for the noir dance.

If you can imagine the snake charmer style of 'Tales Of The Unexpected' TV theme with hypnotical clock swinging ("You are getting sleepy") but don't go to sleep as you're miss the D-Train / Blancmange/  Fun Boy 3 hybrid. 

We said when the original came out that it was so different to the previous release on the label (the mod/indie/Acid Jazz of DB Cohen's 'For the Love Of Ella' - see review HERE) and you could say the same with the North Street Remixes as all 3 versions are all brilliant in a really sinister type of way: even better played back to back for full on creepy - anyone for a trip to the crypt?

PS. If you happen to be in Edinburgh tomorrow, check out Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Variant Issue' at the Voodoo Rooms where the usual 'local suspect' wil be out on the town.

Artist: Accident Machine x Natasha Kitty Katt 
Title:  Circus Deep  (North Street West Remixes) 
Release date: 14th March, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR076
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Accident Machine x Natasha Kitty Katt - Circus Deep (Ramrock Red Records)

The Ramrock Records family have an out-there second home in Edinburgh and to some extent, 'out of mind' comes to mind with the awesome 'Circus Deep'.

This is a busy (dare I say, "Hectic") time for the extended Ramrock/F*CLR/North Street West family but if spaced-out Afro-acid is the thing on your dance floor, these guys ain't clowning around.

We know Natasha Kitty Kat from her scary monster/horror dancefloor tracks (on F*CLR - see review HERE and she's got an album coming out this year too!) who met up with Accident Machine (George T and Mairi 'b' Pots) at a session with the always stunning Joseph 'Only Fans' Malik.

Why these guys should think synth acids in the pecussive jungle with a spoken vocal should sound 'Circus Deep' in anyone's guess but with original vocal, instrumental and dub versons it's hard not to get imprisoned in a Kaa style serpentine hypnosis.

This is like a Fun Boy 3 that have run off to join a three-ringed circus run by like Daevid Allen(Gong), Ivor Cutler and MixMaster Morris - how good would that be?

This is so different to the last release on the label (The mod/indie/Acid Jazz of DB Cohen's 'For the Love Of Ella' - see review HERE) but there's a heritage connection in their somewhere (Ed. the spirit of John Peel?) such that they are all brilliant.  

Artist: Accident Machine x Natasha Kitty Katt
Title:  Circus Deep 
Release date: 14th March, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: RRR073
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Rejoicer and Nitai Hershkovits - Cinema Royal (Rhythm Section International)

What would an ECM album be like if it was done by Mulatu Astake under the supervision of Rudy Van Gelder and Lalo Schifrin? 

I don't know either but you'll recall Shay Hazan's album 'Wusul وصول' on Batov Records where we said that the killer track 'Sunflowers' (featuring the keys of Nitai Hershkovits) fades ,,, into a Mulatu afro-jazz groove (see review HERE) so this is an album we've bee with Nitai's long time collaborator Rejoicer is one we've looking forward to.

And to prove us right, 'Affair In Redondo' have been described as "a calm Mulatu in the jazz lounge watching a ITC screening" with 'Food Bowl' and 'Her, I' as the Afrobeat Fela versions.  

This years' Kruder & Dorfmeister of 'out there' where East Asian zithers and synths get funky on the big screen OST fronted by Nitai's piano backed with Rejoicer (aka Yuval Havkin); a veteran with releases on Stones Throw and Raw Tapes who adds the beats heritage to the project.

The more cinematic downtempo moments are captured on 'Apry's Velvet Dress' and some sort of waltz in the med, 'The Orchard Dreamer' (great to hear an accordion as always think of Daedelus on the MF Doom/Madlib track - also see Pro-Teens MF TEENS - see review HERE).

Hard to believe it's been over 10 years since Rhythm Section International started with Al Dobson Jr's Rye Lane project, FYI Chris and Prequal; particularly liked 'Midnight In Peckham' by Chaos in the CBD and with my tenuous South London connections, this label was a big influence of Futuristica Music/Jazz Chronicles playlists.

And they still are when in the Cinema Royal, sounds like a posh hotel where the piano lounge is the best you've ever heard. 

Artist:  Rejoicer and Nitai Hershkovits

Title: Cinema Royal 

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label: Rhythm Section International 

Cat. No: RS068

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: 6161 - 6161 (Severn Songs)

6161, known to his mum as Matt Stockham Brown, is releasing the album
'6161' on Severn Songs, run by the Bristolian trend setters Ishmael Ensemble.

You'll recall Ishamel Ensemble's album, 'Rituals' (see review HERE) but this is somewhat different.  Matt Stockham Brown has performed and recorded with some major international artists including Massive Attack, Gregory Porter along with Get The Blessing and Ghostpoet but as '6161' he's got some like minded jazzers on an album that's like the dark edges on Massive Attack and Get The Blessing.

Produced and mixed by Riaan Vosloo, who will known to fans from his regular collaborations with Benedic Lamdin and Nostalgia 77 (see review HERE) to even further back with his Impossible Ark work, will know that here is emerced in modern/experimental jazz.   He also adds additional electronics to Matt's drums, compostions and arrangements with Dan Moore's synths and four horn attack; Jake McMurchie and Sophie Stockham (tenor saxophones), Tom Taylor (baritone sax) and Peter Judge (trumpet).

Starting off with the powerful 'Sneakanon' Parts 1&2 for 10 minutes it's there with those Bristolian jazz influences that followed by the nearly as long 'Surge' Parts1&2. The horns, particularly the baritone sax adds an element of cathedral aurora that's darklyspiritual; particulary 'Surge' Part 1 as it builds to a foreboding climax before Part 2 starts as a heavy jazz Sabbath of twang.

The single 'UP' has more of a cinematic undercurrent, "evoking the spirit of a post-war ballroom with a waltzing rhythm that beckons dance." (an element that's in the Marshall Allen debut album 'New Dawn' - see review HERE; and he's old enough to remember many post-war periods).

Like jazz drummer Sebastian Rochford's previous bands, it's not all about the drums but there's a definite presence like 'Morag' that has that Get The Blessing (who started out as The Blessing with a live album from The Bell Inn, Bath in 2004 and released an update last year, live from the same venue).  

That said, the album ends on a couple of tracks, 'For Felix' and 'Prowl' that are harder jazz rock where Matt/the band do have the opportunity to show-off in Acoustic Ladyland meets Rip Rig & Panic way.    

So that's finale is quite different from the opening tracks and it's a bit of a journey, you could say the only way is 'UP' for 6161

Artist: 6161

Title: 6161

Release date: 14th March, 2025

Label: Severn Songs

Cat. No: -

Format: digital / Bandcamp