Review: Matteo Pastorino – Lightside (A.MA Records)

As a bass clarinetists, even in jazz, it's not the most common of instruments - even more chance of making a name for yourself then?

Normal clarinets ain't been a thing since Akker Bilk (Ed. ask your grandparents) or at the other extreme, the children's introduction to the orchestra with Prokofieve's 'Peter And The Wolf.

But there's non of that with Matteo's 'Lightside' who is joined by Domenico Sanna (piano), Dario Deidda (bass) and Armando Luongo (drums).

The opener. 'Gorèe' is a teaser as to how deep Matteo is whilst 'Coming Back' and the tiltle track, show a deep and spiritual vibe of the Bass Clarinet which multi-instrumentalist Alfred Weisberg-Roberts (aka Daedelus) used to draw up in his mulit-layed hip-hop electronic tapestry.

And talking tapestry, 'Les Annèes Folles' is like a weaving river flow with Matteo and Domenico setting the pace from the front whilst the 'best' example of the group's playing are 'Scarabocchio' and the closer, 'Marzo'.

Their 'Tigre' is a mellow jazzcat and 'Elvira' is no mistress of the dark; shadey but no mistress.

So a bit of an eye opener plus a solid jazz album that follows in the footsteps of Miloš Čolović's 'To The Beat of My Footsteps' (see review HERE), A.MA are not letting the grass grow under thier jazzy feet.

Artist: Matteo Pastorino 

Title: Lightside 

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : A.MA Records

Catalog Number : AMCO4

Format: CD / Digital / Bandcamp (Pre-Order on Bandcamp Friday, 14th March)

Review: Lorenzo Galardi - CYDONIA EP (EXODUS Recordings)

This is extraordinary from Exodus Recordings after Mr. X has given space travel such a bad name, Lorenzo Galardi re-imagines Ennio Morricone 'Mission to Mars'  as a four track EP, 'CYDONIA'.

Starting from the cover image of 'Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, 1981, Bulgaria' to the pre-blast off opener 'Ignition', this is something a bit different as we go into 'Orbit' with communication radio waves getting warped and distorted. 

The title track is HSTT (High Speed Train Techno) with haunting space winds that's for long speed journeys; if Sun Ra did/does techno, this would be close to it.   

So when it comes to the remix, not surprising we get someone who is out-there (Ed. Argentina?) who had a EP out last year, Hakkon's 'Neural Petterns' (on Conceptio Hipnotico) that takes 'CYDONIA' into the testing phase of wind tunnel to bombard it with echo signals - and it passes the test.

Not sure if Ricardo Villalobos is still available for a minimal remix but this is fun in the meantime as Lorenzo Galardi is on a mission.

Artist:  Lorenzo Galardi 

Title: ICYDONIA EP

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : EXODUS Recordings

Catalog Number : EX09

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Georgie Sweet - Smaller / All That We Were (First Word Records)

Georgie Sweet's debut on First Word Records is the single 'Smaller' / 'All That We Were' and although there are retrospective elements in the lyrics, there's more than future indications that all that they are will be growing bigger.

Whether that'll be bigger in terms of recognition, financial success, self-or any other yard stick that we tend to beat ourselves up with but I know that with the aid of Marc 'Heat' Rapson (who has supported her since day one with her debut album on Futuristica Music alond with DJ Simon S, Deborah Jordan and K15!)

I know the Futuristica Music team are excited that Georgie's singing and songwriting has developed and they'll be many more stories to share; where's the 'Gerry Hectic 7 Extension Edit' of 'Stories' I here you say?

The last time I saw Georgie in Bournemouth was just before she was off to London to check out some opportunites - it seems to be working out fine as she’s previously supplied vocals to 'Balance', the title track of the highly-acclaimed sophomore album by Children of Zeus, along with Akemi Fox. 

Watch 'Smaller' grow, that's all I'm saying.

P.S. the video is great!

BUY LINK: https://lnk.to/fw330

Artist: Georgie Sweet

Title: Smaller / All That We Were

Release date: 20th March, 2025

Label: First Word Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Partyfine Volume VII - Universalismo (Partyfine)

Yuksek's reputation means that he's got easy access to loads of dancefloor favourites that want to be a part of the most up-to-date Partyfine compilation series and No. 7 has a bumper collection so why not call it 'Universalismo'?

What fantastic artwork to accompli this 13 track compilation (Ed. is that you and Mrs Hectic?) that includes some of our favourites like Tigerbalm (remember 'Profunda Alma' - see review HERE), Partyfine's own Chilam Balam (see review HERE) and, of course, Yuksek himself (check out that video below!)

Yuksek is now known for being a bit of a maverik who loves anything from acid, disco, house, indie, house, Latin, leftfield, synth-pop, world and more.  You certainly get a taste of that in the first three tracks with Tigerbalm's 'Cumbia Calypso' featuring Jimena Angel, 'Ceasy' by Alex Blex and Claap!'s 'Caracas'. 

It's been 20-ish years since Yuksef started out and I remember thinking that his electro based releases on the flamboyant Relish Records were a bit different so you're in for a 'surprise' when he and Chilam Balam get on a Klub mix of Bertand Burgalat's 'Nuit Bleue' that's so 70s disco (with a bit of 'Ring My Bell'n'dub): this is dance music of the Lacey Lady, Room At The Top, Goldmine and Maison Royale 'Nite Club' all rolled into one.

Yuksek also features on the Juveniles' 'Roll With That', his track 'Hyprasesorial' featuring Voyou & Paula as remixed by Bellaire; well it is his label after all.

That said, if you ever get over 'Nuit Bleue', Weekend Affair's 'Promenons-Nous' (Klub Mix) is another Saturday night space boogie banger, like a Wang Chung protege.

The Mang Dynasty remix of Chilam Balam's 'Yaxuma' is a previously unreleased track (and it's black hole heavy!) and there's even time for some more Latin coolness with Invigo's 'Otxie Otxia', Jimena Ángel's 'Llegó La Luz' before finishing on more Claap! (and Destiino) 'Viiens' (set your phazers to 'Acid' and your "ga-ga" to "gou-gou") and chill out to 'Noix De Coco' by Tchiki Boum.

 

An "outstanding collection of tasty disco sounds" indeed but so much more, if you want to impress your friends at a party, fine - if you want to impress yourself, even better.

BUY LINK:: https://partyfine.bfan.link/partyfinevol7

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Partyfine Volume VII - Universalismo

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label: Partyfine

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Ostowana Of Organic House Vol. 1 (Ostowana)

Consider this compilation a 'Best Of' if you will as it's got some great tracks on it, perhaps it's time to fully switch to organic?

Some people have trouble with the term/phrase 'organic house' or even the concept but when it comes of Ostowana they are the best when it comes to the traditional ethnic grooves from North African, Moroccan, Arabic and putting artists together. 

Not exactly a cast of 1000s but in these 10 tracks you've got the best of Aziz Ozouss, Blade SA, Cranky, DeDeXgErande, Desert Raven, Enam, Exit Onli, Hassan Tays, Hind Ennaira, Khalid Elhamri, Lilyass, Omary, Sabry, Salah Fafah, Seguya Sadam, The Black Types, The YONA, DJ SK.

Even so, it's hard to fault 'Nkosi Ya Wolo' (see review HERE) and 'Ayamargi', that came out late last year (see review HERE) but as a 'best of', it's all great especially if you like a bit of late night 'shopping' in 'The Kasbah' (Lilyass featuring DJ SK); definitely one for our man in Marrakesh (DJ Bob Hill, not Herbert Lom) or get lost on the camel train with those 'Desert Echoes' (Blade SA).

And if you need a 'companion' to last months' 'Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1' (see review HERE) you need not walk through the Saharan sands any further.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Ostowana Of Afro House Vol. 1

Release date: 19th March, 2025

Label: Ostowana

Catalog Number: OST098

Format: Digital

Review: Plastic Bamboo - Cinerama EP (Star Creature)

The mastermind of Star Creature, Tim Zawada, has a knack of attracting to the Chicago based label the best in dance floor friendly tracks and the 'Cinerama EP' is six of the best!

Plastic Bamboo are on an intergalactic world of music space ship with an incredible variety of "fuel" in a Balearic, boogie, disco, funk, house, jazz and even zouk mixture that's in this cosmic rocket.

Camille Bertin (aka Plastic Bamboo) has created an inflight movie that's been ready on the launch pad for a while but you'd never know and as they say, patience is a virtue.

How long?  'Touki Bouki' could have been waiting since Miami Vice went to Chinatown with 'A Scene At the Sea' riding back up, 'Woman In The Dunes' stays on the beach with some jazz-bougie keys to the foreshore a la instrumental Shalamar dub for nearly 6 minutes.   What this woman is doing in the dunes we have no idea but it's a killer of a track.

'Zabriskie Point' is as cinematic synth boogie funk as you can get whilst 'La Salamandre' and 'Bad Boy Bubby' are at more of the space-disco end of this EP and are more likely get noticed first; particuarly 'Bad Boy Bubby' as it's early Human League on Italo-house roller disco speed skates with pan pipes! 

Apparently, Mr. Zawada has said, "I was literally just waiting for the record to come out so I could by it and play it" and you'll feel the same now that is actually out: pre-order now to avoid disappointment.

BUY LINK:  https://starcreature.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Plastic Bamboo

Title:  Cinerama EP

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : Star Creature

Catalog Number : SC1251

Format: Vinyl 12" /  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  

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