Review: Dan The Drum & Stuart Patterson - UK House Sermon ft. Carmy Love (No'West 'Black Market' Remixes) (F*CLR Records)

All night long with Dan The Drum, Stuart Patterson, Ashley Beedle, Jo Wallace, Darren Morris and Carmy Love with 'UK House Sermon' on No'West 'Black Market' remixes.

 

The original (see review HERE) is a work of beauty itself that was followed by X-Press 2 with a "stripped to a mostly blue palette" (see review HERE) and now we have the all-singing, all dancing 'UK House Sermon' (featuring Carmy Love on vocals) on a re-energised No'West 'Black Market' Remix release.

The No'West team up everything from the Italo-piano, synths, Darren's piano (channeling the spirit of Frankie Knuckles, being taken to church, 1991 and all that), Darren's organ (or should that be the Noir marché organ - see review HERE) and that bass!  It's a heady combination!

To mis-quote the BBC, this isn't a history lesson, it's a 'UK House Sermon' that happens to be a history lesson and totally worthy of being in 3 parts, almost a trilogy of three: g'wan, there's room for one more?

We are looking forward to hearing from Dan The Drum on (interview coming HERE soon) but in the meantime, check out the Bandcamp page for vinyl version of the original HERE, the X-Press 2 Remixes (HERE) and now the No'West 'Black Market' Remixes.

"We've got House music, We've got love".

PS. And for those that remember Black Market Records.

PRE-ORDER VINYL 12" HERE - ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE AUGUST 2025

Artist: Dan The Drum & Stuart Patterson
Title:  UK House Sermon ft. Carmy Love (No'West 'Black Market' Remixes)
Release date: 16th May, 2025
Label: F*CLR Records
Cat. No: FCLR039
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Credits: Dan The Drum: Production, arrangement, composition, percussion.

Stuart Patterson: Lead vocals, lyricist
Carmy Love: Lead vocals
Darren Morris: Production, arrangement, composition, keyboards, Synth Bass, percussion.
X-Press 2: Remixers, drum programming, synths
Mastered by Darren Morris at North Street West studios.

Review: Medlar - Islands Remixes (Delusions Of Grandeur)

I think Medlar and Delusions Of Grandeur are out to get me - perhaps they're out to get us?  Why else would they release a remix EP so soon after the brilliant album?

As we know, the 'Islands' album came out last month (see review HERE) with a great lava lamp inspired artwork.  The 4-track Remixes EP either enforces the 'no man is an island' theory or separates it - not sure about the Norwich canaries colour scheme.

What you can say is that it's brilliant as each remix is it's own island.  The previous single 'Dot The T's' (featuring Deevoenay on the spoken/rap poem) gets a typical off-disco electro NYC Peech Boys drama with heavy synths by Ron Basejam. 

A kinda of warm up for the big room acid of Paranoid London that's busy and buzzin' on 'Luv Interlude' (featuring Kim Anh) just to proove yesterday's gone (but not really as those acid 

trax still sound as exciting as they ever did.

And you recall the Sun Shone's 'Patience' album (see review HERE) that was edge-worldy, Medlar's gone an done a Mad Professor dub of world dance that's harks back to Transglobal Underground: dubby with the violin of Rebekah Reid's getting fully space-out. 

And don't miss out on the heavily percussive poolside remix of 'Atlantean' (featuring Wah Wah 45s Alfa Sacke of Raz & Afla (see review HERE) by MAD Josh Ludlow (as in Make-A-Dance) who's deep into the Tribal dub as we loved on Tigerbalms' 'Profunda Alma' (see review HERE).

Like I say, each track is a stand-alone companion to each other making it an essential EP for the summer and possibly a template for more 'Islands' get-a-way remixes .

Also featuring original 'Dot The Ts' on the Colour & Pitch March Mix by Will Sumsuch.

.

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

Artist: Medlar

Title: Islands Remixes
Release date: 16th May, 2025
Label: Delusions Of Grandeur
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mystic Jungle - Sunset Breaker (Periodica Records)

This is out there: not only is it not 'Mystic' it's not 'Jungle' but get you're sunset breakers out for some seriously ring-fenced 80s Ital-disco funk.

If you're happy with a modern take on Baccara, Boney M and other 70/80s disco fun that's authenic and without cheese, Mystic Jungle's 'Sunset Breaker' on the Italian coast is the place to be.

In fact, it's a bit like a 70s disco as Naples' Mystic Jungle produced these tracks over a long time period due to various issues so a track like 'Innervision' slips into a bit of rock guitar along with a reggae/funk groove and a nod to a sitar - mad eh!  The electro reggae 'Twilight' (Ed. Eddie Grant) follows 'Shine For Your Desire' which reminds me a bit of 10cc and that's not too bad a comparision as many of their tracks were of no fixed genre; being super competitive songsmiths.

King Tubby meets Disco Dâm‐Funk with the Isley Brothers 'In Time'!  Mystic Jungle's clearly lost in time.  

Still not convinced, the title track is full-on Sade space dub... on a Latin smooch beach!

If you've got a musical genre chip on your shoulder, this isn't one for you but it's a great album for a fun time dance.

Artist: Mystic Jungle 

Title:  Sunset Breaker

Release date: 12th May, 2025

Label : Periodica Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Yuu Udagawa - Golden Glow EP (Compost Records)

Compost Records will be basking in the 'Golden Glow' of Yuu Udagawa as it becomes a summer must have: expect big support from Gilles Peterson and all the usual suspects. 

You'll recall Yuu Udagawa's 'Ride It' / 'The Peaceful Dawn' from last year with the a trio of remixes by three of our favourites on the "knob twiddles": JKriv, Fred Everything and Manuel Tur (see review HERE).  Well, 'Golden Glow' is a 4-tracker that's even better as Yuu's jazzy keys have some additional Henri Mancini 60s OST cool with "electric samba-infused broken beat".

It's housey warped jazz CO-OP (see 'Our Music Our Culture Vol. 2' review HERE), especially the killer instrumental track 'Reverie' and 'Velvet City' that hints at 'golden (Ed. no pun etc) era' hip-hop jazzy house. 

The other two tracks are just as mesmeric, the title track and the jazzy electro boogie mash of  'One More': love the jazz club vibes here. 

Yuu Udagawa is the highlight of the summer so far! Again!

BUY LINK: https://compostrecords.lnk.to/YuuUdagawa-GoldenGlowEP

As featured in:

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

Artist: Yuu Udagawa 

Title: Golden Glow EP

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 654-3

Format: Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Omar - On My Own feat. Paul Weller & There's Much Love In The World (IMPRESS!VE Collective - an imprint of BBE Music)

This continues to be a big year for Omar, not only does it mark his 40th year as a recording artist, he will soon commence his second North American tour, and with this, his 3rd and final single ahead of his Impressive Collective album 'Brighter The Days' he combines his talents with another true British music icon, and as a bonus adds a genuine US jazz legend into the mix.

Don't forget to catch up with single 'Research' & 'Brighter The Days' (see review HERE) but hang on!  What's this Motown groove featuring the Modfather himself, Paul Weller (from The Jam you know).  The best thing Paul's been associated with since The Style Council (Ed. discuss amongst yourselves) as Omar and Weller re-discover 60's soul horns, organ and backing vocals!  This ain't the Bowie/Jagger trite love letter to Motown, this is the real thing.

And whilst we're at it, lets get some big Lalo Schifrin strings out for some soul-bossa beach groove with 'There's Much Love In The World' with added "Stan Getz" sax.

Did I say 'organ', no normal organ - it's Ronnie Foster (fresh from Smoove & Turrell - see review HERE): "Organ for hire!" he's your man.  Oh! isn't Omar 'The Man'? 

BANDCAMP LINK: On My Own / There's Much Love In The World | Omar

BANDCAMP LINK Lovey Dovey / This Thing Called Life (Instrumental) | Omar 

Artist: Omar

Title: On My Own feat. Paul Weller & There's Much Love In The World

Release date: 9th May, 2025

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

Catalog Number: BBE801SDG3

Format: Bandcamp  

Review: Third Attempt - We Are All Connected EP (Beatservice)

Is it hard to follow in the footsteps of Prins Thomas and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm as the next king of Norwiegian space disco?  Well, Third Attempt has more than one hand on the crown with the 'We Are All Connected EP' out on Beatservice.

Ok, so lets ignore Inspector Norse for a moment and look at the Olso based producer who has his own 'bouncy house' view that 'We Are All Connected' encapsulates.

The EP opens with 'Blessed' which starts with the gospel rally cry - and indeed we all are blessed - and it's arguably the most commercial of the set before moving onto 'People Are Beautiful' - and, indeed we all are: especially those that can produce a track like this with its "dancin' 'til the morning light"/"feels so right" hook to a deep bass synth weave with a theme from Taxi funk groove which then gets acid busy.

'Tears On My Mixer' gets more acid-synth soul (did I mention Todd Terje?) and ending on the title track, 'We Are All Connected' that's the most, erm... connected as it gets jazz-funked with string backings; obviously a big fan of 70s soul.

Third Attempt, aka Torje Fagertun Splide, is definitely one to follow; or should I say connect with?

And don't forget, we got our communication lines sorted with the YATM interview HERE for the low down on Third Attempt.

Artist: Third Attempt

Title: We Are All Connected EP

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label: Beatservice

Cat. No: -

Format: digital / Bandcamp

Review: Coco Chatru Quartet - Future (2025) (Trygger Music)

We've been so lucky recently to have featured new jazz albums from Sweden and here's another that's a revelation and shines a light on Coco Chatru Quartet's 'Future'.

The artwork might be retro (al la Ladybird book covers), Coco Chatru (the Quartets inspiraton, is a legendary Swedish adventurer) and the album was debuted at the Glenn Miller Cafe (this is no Glenn Miller war-time jazz).

So before we look to the 'Future', it's worth a moment to point out that jazz has been in Sweden for nearly 100 years, and whilst it might not be at it's historic peak at the moment, it does seem from this distance that there is a 'revival' similar to the Norwegian Jazzland Recordings or Finland's Ricky-Tick Records 20-25 years ago.  

That's not to say there haven't been some modern Swedish jazz masters like free jazz saxophonist, Mats Gustafsson and more recently, Anna-Maria Nordström band on 'Mod' (see reveiw HERE) and Joel Haag's 'Bistro' (see review HERE).

Back to the 'Future', this eight track album is beautifully recorded and there's some big swingin' tracks like, 'På Flykt (x) Genom Djungeln' and the where all four members are on it: being, Linus Kåse (alto sax), Charlie Malmberg (baritone sax), Håkan Trygger (double bass) and Daniel Kåse (drums).

On a different vibe, Swedish bossa mellows out on 'Paubrazil' and at the othe extreme, the two longest tracks (at just over six minutes), 'Tillbaka Till Hytten' is a tender Ayler-esque blues and 'Ner I Djupet' is a killer, baritone sax led film noire OST big band swing in a Quartet setting. 

And it's interesting how swinging horns are supported by drums and bass on 'Kampsång', 'Plötsligt Händer Det' (the one with Håkan's acoustic bass solo) and 'Dagdroppe'.

All songs are their own compositions and when you're as good a musician as these guys are, it could have been easy to have thrown in a quick populist cover version,  That would have have stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb as the Coco Chatru's Jazz Adveturers are cooler than that.

Just going back to history, I don't suppose I can leave out meniton of the adoption of many U.S. jazz musicians in the sixties in Europe, particularly Albert Ayler, Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman in Scandinavia (and importantly, The Ornette Coleman Trio's album, 'At The "Golden Circle", Stockholm' on Blue Note) and CCQ have taken some of that heritage into their Stockholm free-swing on this great album.

2025 Update, this was only available on vinyl last year (see review HERE) but now available on streaming platforms. 

Artist: Coco Chatru Quartet

Title: Future

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label: Trygger Music

Catalog Number : TM1

Format :  Spotify / Tidal (Vinyl LP - 28th March, 2024)

Review: Daylight Robbery with Nick Marks - Third Island Suite (Melting Pot Music)

British jazz has open boarders to the Third Island Land as Daylight Robbery has joined forces with Nick Marks on potentialy the highlight of spiritual jazz fusion with hip-hop for 2025. 

We know the power of Nick Marks, he of 'Cinematic Chromatics' (see review HERE) and there's more than a hint of McCoy Tyner on 'Invitation Unknown' along with a Nostalgia 77 quality - it's a link jazz-fusion link with the spiritual jazz of Nādt Orchestra (the album 'Dualism' is out this week too (see review HERE).

We've had the single 'Inivitation Unknown' on the YATM hi-fi now for some weeks so it's glad to finally get the album, as it touches a bit of 'prog' wit 'Tonight's Entertainment', a bit of coral/ dnb and Nick's beautiful jazz keys (throughout but highlighted on 'Satyr Ceremony') is the connection throughout.

No idea who Daylight Robbery is (described as "British jazz producer" but there's a synergy here with Mr. Marks that's got some early Ninja Tune/Cinematic Orchestra tinkerings about it. 

Perfect jazz to add to Melting Pot's mix along with FloFilz (see review HERE) with more classy artwork too!

Artwork by Cologne artist Jens Roth.

 

Artist: Daylight Robbery with Nick Marks

Title:  Third Island Suite

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label : Melting Pot Music

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Nādt Orchestra - Dualism (Locomotiv Records)

Nādt Orchestra are based in Bologna and take put the BadBadNotGood into the Cinematic Orchestra to get any driver of a locomotiv full steam ahead!

As all fans of jazz-yoga spiritualism know, 'Nādt' is from the Sanskrit denoting subtle channels through which prāṇa flows; similar to life-force in Tai Chi/Qigong and the like.  Which reminds me of Surya Botofasina & Carlos Niño 'Everyone's Children' (see review HERE); particularly on 'Koko' and 'Abatur' but these eight youngsters have nailed this thoughout.

We love 'Koko' as it features "the best 'bone in the bizz", Gianluca Petrella (who was on 'What Is Wrong With Your Mind' - see review HERE) and it's hard to believe that the band are led by a guitarist, Domenico Romano, as, mostly there's a relaxed hard bop horn section leading the way: difficult to describe and unusual in a good way.

To mis-quote someone, world without global, jazz without jazz, locomotiv's without loco with I suppose is 'Dualism' but, in this case, seriously good.

Domenico Romano - guitar
Vincenzo Bosco - piano
Lorenzo Napoletani - bass
Yado Uzun - percussion
Francesco Guerra - drums
Federico Privitera - trumpet
Lorenzo Righetti - trumpet
Riccardo Dalle Vedove - trombone
Marco Porcelluzzi - alto/tenor saxophone

Artist: Nādt Orchestra

Title: Dualism

Release date: 9th May, 2025

Label: Locomotiv Records

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman - Unity EP ft. Javonntte (Ascension On Wax)

You won't be surprised to find out the Toronto Hustle (aka Mark Kufner) and Sean Roman are Canadians and after thinking about visiting Detroit soon?

You've got to be good to follow thier last release, The Symington Avenue EP (see review HERE) that included a remix by Atlanta-based Kai Alcé, they're done a quick switch from the Wolf label to Ascension On Wax with this 4-track EP that brings them together with vocal house royalty Javonntte; and most recently seen on Delusions Of Grandeur's Soul Of Hex 'Constellation' EP (see review HERE).

And no surprise they'd give Javontte a ring as they've previous teamed up on 'The Detroronto' EP (Ed. did you see what they did there?) which also had a Late Night Dub on it as they have with 'Deep In This' with the equally deep, 'When You Look At Me'

And last time we asked, what's 'An Abacus Re-Edit' like? We'll as Abacus is a Canadian producer, it's like an upbeat disco dub a la Kai Alcé! 

Clearly, if you were into 'The Symington Avenue EP', fans of the ATL Sh*t won't miss Kai Alcé (in a good way) as all eyes will be on them; plus the bonus of 'Run The Numbers'.

BUY LINK: The Unity EP | Toronto Hustle & Sean Roman

Buy / Pre Order: 26th April 2025

Artist: Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman ft. Javonntte

Title: The Unity EP
Release date: 9th May, 2025
Label : Ascension on Wax
Catalog Number:  AOW003
Format: 12" vinyl Pre-Order / Digital / Bandcamp