Review: Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange - Inspire // Radicalise (Energy Exchange Records)

You know that even if there's a hint of Naarm/Melbourne  area going on (unless it's Belle Gibson) we're going to get excited, but when it's a new album by band of one of the leading lights, Ziggy Zeitgeist, you know we are going to feeling the spirit of 'Inspire // Radicalise'.

You'll recall Ziggy is now resident in Berlin and we were ready for this "modern West African Disco" when the single came out, 'Celebrate Some Time' (see review HERE) and it would feature "a cast of 1000s"

Well that might be a little far fetched but it is a 18 track release and the guys can do a 'modern' jazz-funk groove as good as they could in the 70s, even better - check the opener 'Astras Theme', 'Clearly Packing' (one for the flute gang) and 'Just One Bump' (see video below).

We the album features and is co-produced by Lewis 'Good Mood' Moody on keyboards and moog bass that adds that bit of jazz-fusion funk like 'Who's The Kid?' (Ed. Prince?), 'Cyberpunk', the part broken 'Wavy' and the killer 'Lifestyles Of Hip And The Crazy' (Ed. Jaco?)

Just a couple of vocal tracks, Karai on 'Shine Your Light' and talking of Berlin, you may recognise the name Desney Bailey from her collaborations with nu-jazzers Slope, Deyampert and Jazzanova and she features on the track 'Slyvester' as does Eric 'Sunny' Owusu who is prominent on congas and percussion throughout the album.

As the album closes with 'Midas Touch' the echos 'Shades Of Oshu - Collaborations From The New Berlin Jazz Underground' 

I like the concept that there are tracks that are 'Inspire' and others that 'Radicalise' and who's to say what side artists like Slyvester, Sly Stone, Return To Forever, James Brown or Kraftwerk.  I think they've all had an input on the album from a distance of course and ZFEE have done them proud and have got to be one of the hottest bands in town.

‘Inspire // Radicalise' is going to be a benchmark album for 2025 and the let's celebrate now!

Artist:  Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange

Title: Inspire // Radicalise  

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label : Energy Exchange Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 2xLP in Gatefold Sleeve / Digital / Bandcamp (order LP - BUY LINK: INSPIRE // RADICALISE)

Review: Raz & Afla - Windowlicker / Going Back To My Roots (Wah Wah 45s)

This is great for all fans of the cover version: two absolute classics done by Raz and Alfa - get ya orders in now on Wah Wah 45s.

More Wah Wah madness!  Who would have thought that Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey, the guys who brought you 'Echoes Of Resistance (that interestingly on my itunes comes up as 'unknown genre') could turn their fusion of electronic and African rhythms to two absolute classic tracks from both ends of the spectrum.

Raz & Afla (see review HERE) have, "made it their own", Aphex Twin's iconic 'Windowlicker' (check out the fantasic cover) with the multi-versioned 'Going Back To My Roots' - not only Odyssey but also Hugh Masekela, Orlando Julius, Richi Havens that was first performed and written by Lamont Dozier in 1977!

So two tracks that span nearly 25 and 50 years ago match incredibly well and it's set big for the whole of 2025; don't go home before you check this out.

Dom, big fat 12" required?

"Ohhh whaouuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" Laurent Garnier (Worldwide FM)
"Love this cover and it hits the spot!" Phat Phil Cooper (Nu Northern Soul) 
"Version excursion!!" Rob Da Bank (Camp Bestival)

PS. Don't forget Alfa is featured on Medlar's 'Islands' album (see review HERE) and there's news of a Raz Olsher solo project coming soon too!

Graphic designer Michael Sallit 

Artist: Raz & Afla
Release: Windowlicker / Going Back To My Roots
Release Date: 18th April, 2025
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHDIG200 
Format:  Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Anushka - Really (Nothing is Cool) (inc. Max Wheeler dub) (BBE Music)

With previous album releases on Brownswood and Tru-thoughts it was only a matter of time that Anushka have an album on BBE, that's coming soon and hear's a taster - and it's great!

Victoria Port’s vocals and matched by Max Wheeler production skills (particulary on the dub edit) to give post-Chic-soul boogie-Detroit.

This is one of 3 pre-album singles but if you've not heard 'Overwhelmed' that came out last month with a DJ Die DnB mix but it's clear this is going to be a big album even if "Nothing Is Cool".

The album 'Ancestry' is coming out later this spring.

Artist: Anushka 

Title: Really (Nothing is Cool)

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label :  BBE Music

Catalog Number: BBE776SDG2

Format: Bandcamp  

Review: Thee Baby Cuffs and Cold Diamond & Mink - There Ain't Enough Roses b/w Instrumental (Stylart Records)

Spring is springing in the garden, check 'Weeds Up To Me Knees' if you've not noticed, but you don't need Garden's Question Time to tell you 'There Ain't Enough Roses' as the new soul sensation, The Baby Cuffs are there for you.

This is totally different from the Cold Diamond & Mink's last appearance on a 7" (Emilia Sisco and Cold Diamond & Mink - see review HERE) or even when they were Jimi Tenor on the LP,  'Is There Love In Outer Space?' (see review HERE), so much so, it's on a different label: Stylart Records!

 

Currently comprising Joe Narvaez and Reality Jonez, this is the romantic Modern Room soul as backed by the equally fantastic Timmion House band, Cold Diamond & Mink as per the b-side instrumental.

If this is West Coast soul, watch out if Deptford Northern Soul move to join their Bristol counter-parts?

Artist: Thee Baby Cuffs and Cold Diamond & Mink

Title:  There Ain't Enough Roses b/w Instrumental

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label : Stylart Records (Timmion Records)

Catalog Number : SO010

Format: 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mark de Clive-Lowe - past present (tone poems across time) (IMPRESS!VE Collective / BBE Music)

Mark de Clive-Lowe has always impressed so when it comes to an album with the Impressive Collective, it's going to be.... impressive! 

Over twenty years ago, as one of the first names outside of the UK that found broken beat, future jazz, hip hop and house combinations that constantly made records, particularly 12s with Lady Alma and Abdul Shyllon, the New Zealand wonder kid Mark de Clive-Lowe was the name eveyone wanted to drop.

At that time we'd have been unware of his Japanese connections and that he'd released solo albums in New Zealand before the move to London and then onto USA to study at Berklee College and then live in LA before moving to Japan.  His undertakings are relentless and even includes spell running night clubs.  So it may be a surprise that 'past present (tone poems across time)' as 11 tracks is more of an electronic ambient ENO style homage to Japan's spiritual reflectiveness; like water gardens on 'gratitiude' or 'reflection'; note: the cover is a photograph taken in 1953 of his dad, Robin de Clive-Lowe at Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Japan.

It's probably worth pointing out this wasn't that long after the end of WW2 and whilst MDCL recorded the album in LA with a cast of a 1000 keyboards and synths it also includes his own filed recordings from various locations iin Japan.  

There's nothing to dance to here as the tracks have a certain brooding about them even with titles like 'acceptance', 'forgiveness', 'compassion' and 'peace' I was hoping the title track would prove to be a revelation (a title of a track also) but it adds to the cinematic OST theme.  Don't get me wrong, this is a highly enjoyable album and its very Ryuichi Sakamoto but still a long way from the first album on the IMPRESS!VE Collective, Jessica Lauren's 'Film' (see review HERE).

There's extension liner notes by Mark himself and I did notice that he says the album was due in large part to the encouragment given to him by his friend Carlos Niño (he of 'Everyone's Children', AmmonContact, Build An Ark, Hu Vibrational, The Life Force Trio; you get the idea).  And having met Carlos some years ago and spoken to him for a mere half an hour, I can tell you he'd be the most positive and encourging friend that Mark could have hoped for (along with label boss Greg Boraman).

Not everyone's cup of tea (drinking ceremony) but it is music for zen and now in a tone poem time capsule.

Artist: Mark de Clive-Lowe

Title: past present (tone poems across time) 

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label :  IMPRESS!VE Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE803

Format: Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Eric Hilton - Je ne t’aime plus (feat. Natalia Clavier) / Leave It All (feat. Puma Ptah) (Montserrat House)

Eric Hilton has been half of the seminal Theivery Corporation for decades and now is with singers Natalia Clavier and Puma Ptah on the new release on the Montserrat House label; what'dya mean, 'Je ne t’aime plus'?

We know Eric boarders on the trip-hoppy jazz side, check out 'Corazón Kintsugi' that also features the dreamy vocals of Argentinian singer-songwriter Natalia Clabier (see review HERE) so it's no surprise that je/tu/nous/vouse aime plus.

Moving away form the les parapluies de Cherbourg in the 60s, 'Leave It All' taps into Massive Atttack's Bristol without umbrellas but with a big groovy bassline that is tops my Mr. Ptah's soulful vocals.

Both single are taken from a forthcoming album called 'Midnight Ragas' so sitars at the ready?  

And don't forget Eric's excellent album from last year, 'Sound Vagabond' (see review HERE) and I feel contractually obliged to mention that Hilton (as Theivery Corp.) was so influencial (as masters of the trip/dub/downtempo/future jazz genre and check their many remixes including our favourites Rockers HiFi).

Artist: Eric Hilton with Natalia Clavier & Puma Ptah

Title: Je ne t’aime plus (feat. Natalia Clavier) / Leave It All (feat. Puma Ptah)

Release date: 18th April, 2025

Label : Montserrat House

Catalog Number : MH029

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Joseph Malik - Proxima Ebony Variant Issue (Ramrock Red Records)

Joseph Malik's 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' is the stuff of prime taste makers Craig Charles, Don Letts and even more big wigs at BBC 6 Music - find out why as it's out now!

What a week it has been for Ramrock Records as it started with the release of ROY INC x Darren Morris' deep 'Rivers Of Blood' (Original Version - see review HERE), followed by the Bandcamp Listening Party for 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' (with lots of the contributors to the new album and bossman Mr. Malik himself in attendance: and I don't think he mentioned Celtic once!) and then the actual album coming out today.

Did somebody say, "we already have 'Proxima Ebony', that was rated 10/10 by Blues & Soul" (see review HERE).  Well, if you have, you'll be needing the 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue' as this 'project' is far more than a remix, so much so, you'll be questioning yourself as to whether it's better than the original release (Ed. for the avoidance of doubt, you clearly need both). 

What with Kameelah Waheed (Philly, originally Camden, NJ - Not 'Camden New Journal' - Ed. did I ever tell you I once made the front page? Another day) featuring on two tracks, the Variant Issue Orchestra Vocal & an L'Opera Noir variant of 'My Whole World' plus the 'Be A Lion' (Sound Signals Vocal Remix.  There's a full on Shaka Loves You heavy on the string disco remix of 'Trouble With A Capital T' (so Craig Charles), Jo Wallace (Ramrock in all its forms) plus Mike Keat (The Cuban Brothers) with another 'Adjust Like Dat' as remixed by the Oddball Creatives.  Plus Shuya 'Shuya San' Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive and WeOutHere) gets busy on 'Tokyo To Edbinburgh' and 'Adult Contemporary'

This album has taken two years to co-ordinate as label boss Jo told Joseph and Darren T to take their time to expand what was original going to be an EP.  It's a good job they did as we might have missed out on 'Crazy Days And Nights In Madrid - Interlude  #2' with DJ Pupilas and Nasty P on the kuts and my current favourite, Steven Christie's 'High Over Low' Rework.

So a wealth of talent and loads of 'ooooooooooooohhh' moments when the 'variant' issue of one of your (pre)loved Proxima Ebony tracks becomes your new favourite Variant Issue: if you're unsure, this is another 10/10 rating and in the 'Best of 2025' listing.

Artist: Joseph Malik
Title: Proxima Ebony Variant Issue
Release date: 11th April, 2025
Cat. No: RRRLP015
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Review: Medlar - Islands (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I remember Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s, Jazz FM etc) telling me years ago that, "Medlar is brilliant" so a follow-up to the debut album is well overdue, but is it the difficult second album?

Well 'Sleep' came out in 2013 on Wolf Recordings so in terms of time you might say it was difficult, even the Medlar collaboration Dele Sosimi on Mr Servini's label Wah Wah 45s was 5 years ago and inbetween times he's released his South London influenced tracks on labels including Full Pupp, West End and Peckham Cuts along with Delusions Of Grandeur.

And with that back ground he's been album to call up some mates to help in out on the 11 track album including Dele, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters (one of our all time favs from back in the day & checking my notes, see review HERE) Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey (as in Raz & Afla, see review HERE) and Arnau Obiols.

The opener with Dele is 'Take A Trip' Tropical Afro-post-psych-dub that'll you'll hear everywhere at some stage of the set this summer.   Dele also appears on 'Jungle Ridge' with Arnau Obiols that takes Lonnie Liston Smith (on organ) to the rave (in similar style to some of Charles Petersohn's 'Children Of Zu Zu' EP (see review HERE).

Still in the jungle or Rio Carnival, 'Yeah' is a Finn Peter's special jazz flute gang Peech Boy jazz-disco: NYC!  Talking of NYC, if you're a lovetempo kinda person, 'Luv Interlude' (featuring Kim Anh) takes the 303 Acid up a notch and then in a flash, your in Ibiza (with Andy 'In Plain Sight' Blake).

More trippy jazz is the horn of Sam Virdie on 'Sun Spots' and you can't rule out the appearance of Alfa Sacke of Raz & Afla (see review HERE) on 'Atlantean' as track of the album (and we're not talking about the Leyland double-decker bus chassis - 1958-86 of the same name).

In fact, the album is full of great tracks including the single, 'Dot The T's' is a little bit different for the clever rap by Deevoenay and in terms of 'out there', 'Cicada Dance' is exactly what it says on the tin but a violin solo!  Is that taking the Jean-Luc Ponty?  Rebekah Reid's solo is perfect Transglobal Underground: violin and loop pedal is the new jazz harp.

One of the reasons Dom is so excited about Medlar is that he know how good the Dele Sosimi Meets Medlar featuring Tamar Osborn 'State Of Play' (and the remix EP) is from a couple of years ago.  'Islands' sounds more like a love letter to various places he's visited on holiday with some of his best mates and he was clearly saving it for the BIG album release.

There's a Remix EP on it's way so stay tuned - wonder if he's got Charles Petersohn's number? 

BUY LINK: https://medlar.bandcamp.com/album/islands

Also featured in the Colour & Pitch March Mix by Will Sumsuch.

.

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

Artist: Medlar

Title: Islands
Release date: 18th April, 2025
Label :Delusions Of Grandeur
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil - Merhba Remix EP (Compost Records)

Afro-futuristica flute gang house (with cover artwork to match) with a release on the always adventurous Compost Records label - gets remixed!

We know of Beatkozina after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE) and the 'Merhba EP' itself (see review HERE) but now we've got the remixes via some masters like Laroye, Moodorama, Chocolate Garage Productions, Sax Conversation and the always excellent Inskwel featuring Colonel Red making 'Merhba' sounding even better.

So that six more mesmerising afro-house jazz flute gang goodness that's rooted in Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbert Laws, Bobbi Humphrey, Ron Trent, Joe Clausell, Osunlade, Louie Vega, King Tubby (and more)": that is excepting the 'Sax Conversation' mix that's a nice jazz up and Inkswel's instrumental synth up.

'Merhba' is 'Welcome' in Arabic and these guys have welcomed Beatkozina (a London and Marrakech based duo of Mehdi Baami and Gregory Jouandon) with open arms.  The smart money is on at least one of these remixes witll be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch but I wouldn't wait, the 'welcome' is remixed.

Artist: Beatkozina feat. El Mago & Axel Camil

Title: Merhba Remix EP

Release date: 11th April, 2025

Label : Compost Records

Catalog Number : CPT652-3 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Awa Khiwe - African Women Arise (Outhere Records)

These guys are so Out Here with 'African Woman Arise' by Awa Khiwe, 'Zimbabwe's Rap Queen' as this is more than a call to arms.

Produced by Ghanaian Stallion (who has worked with Joy Denalane, Black Sherif, Burna Boy and more) this is Africian hip-hop blended with the sounds of Malatu, Fela, Pat Thomas et al as the music label based in Munich does a take of Philophon (Berlin). 

As strong as Awa's vocal performance, the music is perfect "WOMAD" by Zimbabwe's Mokoomba band with the horns of Ghana's Kwashibu Area Band on selected tracks.

For Awa's debut album this is very impressive and having a release on the day before Record Store Day is very brave' don't overlook this one.

Note: "Huge thanks to Lomedy Mhako for the beautiful artwork"

Artist: Awa Khiwe

Title:  African Women Arise

Release date: 11th April, 2024

Label: Outhere Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp