Review: Amanda Whiting - Can You See Me Now? (First Word Records)

If you know Amanda Whiting from her social media postings, you'll know that this harpist from Wales, loves a 'Jazz Face'.  With her latest album, 'Can You See Me Now?', if we didn't know before, she's more than just a jazzy face. 

With the help of Alice Russell (the voice of Nostalgia 77's 'Seven Nation Army') on 'What Is It We Need', this a truly beautiful spiritual jazz celebration that starts off on 'Contented' with choral voices that really sets the tone.

I'm surprised that she hasn't been picked up by Carlos Niño (he of 'Openness Trio') to give that 'Coltrane' connection as she can play hip-hop/trippy-hop/underground instrumental beats/vibes, like 'Intent' and 'Could It Be'.

And she's caught the attention of Somewhere Soul as the track 'The Other Side' has been included on the compilation, 'Rituals Volume 1' on Re:Warm (due out July).

The 'other' female jazz harpist, Alina Bzhezhinska (Ukraine-born, Warsaw Conservatoire-trained, London-based) being Amanda's Dorothy to her Alice (or visa versa) has her new album coming out (Friday, 11th July), with Ibiza-based producer Tulshi on Tru-Thoughts - what price  a jazz harp battle at a summer festival?

Artist: Amanda Whiting 

Title: Can You See Me Now? 

Release date: 6th June, 2025

Label : First Word Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Raz Olsher - Craters Of The Lost Souls (Fossil Sounds)

As Raz Olsher walks off into the setting sun, the 'Craters Of The Lost Souls' arise whist the ghosts of Mary Anning and the Man With No Name!

You may recall Raz Olsher's classical background got 'warped' as a "Dilla meets Harry Potter on the way to the dripping underworld" on his album 'Rubato' (see review HERE). 

'Craters Of The Lost Souls' is far more "discovered" and we're in a DJ Shadow-eque Ennio Morricone that's got reflections of Dick Hyman.

Not that surprising when you consider his 'day job', Raz & Alfa, have recently released the 'Windowlicker/Going Back To My Roots' (see review HERE).

Described as the soundtrack to a "retro-futuristic score to an imaginary Spaghetti Western movie".  The 12 tracks start with 'Opening Titles Theme' and ends with 'End Titles Theme' with a middle of 'Over The Hill', 'Pacific Dreaming' 'Armagedon', 'Godmother' (very dramatic this one), 'Strings Attached' buidling ups to 'The Dual'. 

Raz plays nearly all the instruments, think 'Musician for hire in Mare Street' instead of gunman for hire and there's some great cameo's of flute, guitar, trumpet, jews harp and vocals!  There's a special vinyl option if you're that way inclined but there's a ready made OST if you're up for making the film.

BUY LINK: Craters of the Lost Souls | Raz Olsher

Artist: Raz Olsher

Title: Craters Of The Lost Souls
Release date: 30th May, 2023
Label: Fossil Sounds
Cat. No: TBC
Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Credits:

Music Written by Raz Olsher
Performed by Raz Olsher: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Electric Keyboard, Piano, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Percussion, Vocals.
Filippo Galli: Drums
Clive Bell: Flute
Rory O’Connor: Tenor Vocals
Sylvia Hallett: Jaw harp, Hurdy Gurdy, Saw, Accordion, Violin
Sefi Zisling: Trumpet
Layla Moallem: Vocals
Francesco Pedrinoni: Vocals, Guitar
Produced and mixed by Raz Olsher
Assistant Engineer Francesco Pedrinoni
Recorded at Fossil Studios, London
Mastered by Peter Fletcher
Visuals by Raz Olsher

Review: Joseph Malik - Trouble With A Capital T (Shaka Love You Remix) (F*CLR Music)

"Here comes trouble" and it's original soul boy Joseph Malik's 'Trouble With A Capital 'T'''; and that's a really big 'T' !

The original version of 'Trouble with a Capital T' was taken from Joseph's 2023, 'Proxima Ebony' LP (see review HERE). Then, fellow Edinburgh resident and DJ/Producer, Natasha Kitty Katt, asked Joseph if she could remix with her F*CLR electronic dance take on 'T' (see review HERE).  And now, the triptych is complete with a sideways shift into Glasgow Disco with Shaka Loves You (aka Jamie and Marty) on the remix knobs..

As I've said before, this train is a 'soul train' so I'm not at all surprised that SLY (Shaka Loves You) have upped the strings and put it almost in the rarified 1st class disco ball carriage of Caroline Crawford's 'Coming On Strong'! 

So, that's a big "Yes" from us and if that doesn't convince you, check out Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Show (BBC 6 Music - Trunk Of Funk 10th May - The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show - Joseph Malik Trunk of Funk - BBC Sounds) which is available for 28 days (hopefully will be available elsewhere) with is a great summary update of Joseph's lastest album, 'Proxima Ebony Variant Issue (see review HERE).

Ramrock boss, Jo Wallace says, "It's one of the best remixes of Joseph's music I've ever heard" - you've been told.

Artist: Joseph Malik

Title: Trouble with a Capital 'T' (Shaka Love You Remix)

Release date: 2nd June, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR081

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Coy Haste - Salonica (Stereo Ferment)

Once more, if you know your illicit grooves from your fermented grooves, Coy Haste on the Stereo Ferment label will be a familiar name to you.

Coy Haste (aka Brad Weber, based in Toronto and the tour drummer with Caribou) has slipped out this "laid-back, boom-bappy, sun-soaked gem for your ears to feast on"; and to go a bit further than that, it's one for a 70s Welcome to Un Vrai Paradis Ce Cefalù/BBC TV Theme for the modern day B-Boy.  

It sits nicely with his previous 3-tracker, 'Bancha Bounce' from last year (see review HERE) that's a heady combo of contemporary House and Disco influences with 70's and 80's South Asian Psychedelia.

You'll recall the 'Fermented Grooves Volume 4' compellation (see review HERE) and I've recently heard from my globe trotting Digger contact that Toronto is a nightmare to find vinyl - well, here's you're answer, stay at home and get onto Stereo Ferment.

Artist: Coy Haste
Album: Salonica
Release date: 9th May, 2025
Label : Stereo Ferment
Catalog Number : SF018
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs) - EP1 (Schema Records)

I said the other day that the spearhead trio of Schema Records Italian jazz scene was Gerardo Frisina, Gianluca Petrella and Nicola Conte and all of a sudden, we a new entry into the 'Champions League' positions, Tema Due!

If you're "a fan of the Schema 'school' of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Latin and all points south of the Italian base of the label for many years" as in that most recent Gerardo Frisina album referred to above, 'Insight' Vol. 2 (see review HERE), you'll wonder what's hit you with Tema Due is equal measure of Latin jazz dance perfection and modern Brazilian House.

'Macumba De Oxalà' is heavy on the percussion and jazz-vocal whilst 'La Danse de l'esprit' is 

the keyboard/flute gang fusion for the jazz dance de la Balearics.

Ask yourself, what would Airto and Flora Purim do if they had just arrived in Bari 30 years ago?

And that's what Nico Lahs brings to Conte's sharp jazz suits with house remix credits for Alton 

Miller and Detroit legend Amp Fiddler.  Obsessed with 60s jazz and modern dancefloor, this

 release is perfect. 

BUY LINK: Music | Schema Records

Artist: Tema Due (Nicola Conte, Nico Lahs)

Title:  EP1

Release date: 30th May, 2025

Label : Schema Records

Catalog Number : SC547

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: IKE - On Higher Dreams (Wah Wah 45s)

Isaac de Martin (aka IKE) is 'On Higher Dreams' and we're up there in the clouds with him.

You'll recall the single, 'Sidda' as a melange of ambient proggy "Ethio-Egyptian influenced jazz" wrapped in a Italian OST heritage envelope plus some Swingle Singers-esque cherry on the cake.

'Rapids' featuring Danny Kuttner and 'Eventide' are previous singles that picked up radio plays by Gilles Peterson (Worldwide FM/BBC 6 Music), Enrique Domenich (CKUT FM) and, of course, label boss Dom Servini (Jazz FM/Soho Radio) as they have fallen for IKE's blends of jazz and electronica that's "warm, smooth and often cinematic". 

You can see why the Italian lifestyle of Treviso suits the music, especially if you've been watching the Giro d'Italia this month; I wonder where Mr. Servini family background is from?  [Ed. you can't guess Woolwich].   We're told, IKE's bandground is a bit of a "flip" as he was born in Italy to parents with a British background and that he trained in the UK in classical guitar and jazz.

That said, much of the influence for the album was Egypt/Ethiopia, for example, the introduction to 'Sidda' is inspired by 'Ashweyna' (translates from Hindi as 'Child Of The Star)' by Ethiopia's Mahmoud Ahmed whilst 'Siddha' in Sanskrit, means “one who is accomplished”, and refers to the masters who have achieved a high degree of intellectual perfection, as well as liberation or enlightenment: a state of being 'On Higher Dreams'.

With UK appearances with the album launch, with a full live show at A L P H A B E T (Brighton: with a DJ set by Dom Servini, 25th May), plus a listening party at the Total Refreshment Centre (North London, 30th May) and an in-store at Love Vinyl (Hoxton, Saturday, 31st May). 

BUY LINK: On Higher Dreams | IKE

P.S. Did you notice 'SIDDA' is Addis backwards (as in Addis Abeba), the capital of Ethiopia! 

Artist: IKE

Release:  On Higher Dreams
Release Date: 30th May, 2025
Label: Wah Wah 45s
Catalog Number: WAHLP
Format: Limited Vinyl (Black) / Digital / BANDCAMP

Review: Shakti Soundsystem - Shakti Soundsystem (Anova Music)

Trippy space funk for kraut rockers warping in summer enlightenment; Namaste everyone!

Shakti Soundsystem is yoga without Shavasana, Here & Now without punk, Mad Professor vs. Massive Attack, System 7 with Ibiza and countless other spiritual nirvanas for body, ears and minds to dance to.

So it's no surprise to find out that Shakti Soundsystem is a six-piece 'commune' of supergroup of member of Garden City Movement (check out their album, 'Never On Time' - see review HERE), RAS and Alligator Ladies who live an improvised underground live session.

And this album is a bit in the spirit of a 'free' Don Cherry/Headhunters jam session, 'Dream' being the most jazz-funk in the widest sense of Gong goes 'Silver' with kraut-rock of CAN and Berlin squatters favourite band Amon Düül.   

raditionists might argue that there should be a 20 minute plus length opus for true "future-facing psych" but if you're got a Bulbul Tarang and an array of modular sythns,  I'd say you argument stops there: check out 'Ambi'!

Seven tracks for fans of Or Kantor vibes (see review HERE) who will love this and it's got a lot of elements to make it 'Album Of The Week' and a great way to make our way into June.

Did somebody mention Hawkwind vs. Klaus Schultz?

Artist:  Shakti Soundsystem

Title:  Shakti Soundsystem

Release date: 30th May, 2024 

Label : Anova Music

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format:  Digital + 7" single 

Review: Charles Webster X China Charmeleon feat. Girly - Many Blessings (Stay True Sounds)

To say Stay True Sounds stay true to thier sounds might be a truism, but when you've got the talents of Charles Webster on board, you don't really need much more of a recommendation!

Stay True Sounds amazed us with the Webster & Muzi track 'Bakulindele (see review HERE) and they're back with some heavily percussive 'Webster' action.

If you can remember back to the Doctor Rockit's 'Café De Flore' with the Charles Webster's 'Latin Lovers Mix' or my introduction to Kahil El'Zabar (Chicago legend of percussion) with the remix of 'Running In The Streets' (Mix One & Mix Two, 2004), you've been a fan of Charles Webster as ever since as he seems to know just the touch to make great tracks greater and he's definitely got the feel for the ever growing South African house scene with both 'Free' and 'Many Blessings'.

Girly is from Delft Western Cape and 'Many Blessings' celebrates the musical heritage of Jo'burg and Cape Town (Ed. watch out for them penguins) whilst Atmos Blaq, originally form Dobsonville in the Soweto area, is another talent that's evolving out of the 3-step movement.

Already picked up be Colour & Pitch Sessions (see below), this is blessed!

As featured:

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

Artist: Charles Webster X China Charmeleon feat. Girly 

Title:  Many Blessings

Release date: 30th May, 2025

Label : Stay True Sounds

Catalog Number : STS

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Urbs & Cutex - Wherever You Are (feat. T.R.A.C.) + Bird Of Paradise / Memories (Compost / Beat Art Department)

Wherever you are this release is perfect for 'Wherever You Are' -  what'd mean they taken their time?

You'll remember Urbs from the album 'Im Geheimland' (see review HERE) and now he's re-acquainted Cutex, this instrumental hip-hop trip of Viennese Whirls is a perfect addition to the groove, so much so, Compost has set up the Beat Art Department to deal with it.

So summer park cool, even Central Park, 'Wherever You Are' with instrumental and rap of New York MC, T.R.A.C. (he of Visioneers) plus more sunshine with 'Bird Of Paradise'  and 'Memories' this is ya jazzy beats sorted in one EP.

It's been 22 years since Urbs & Cutex released their album 'Peace Talks!' so the new album, 'On Our Way' is eagerly awaited and due out next month so stay tuned.

Artist:  Urbs & Cutex 
Title: Wherever You Are (feat. T.R.A.C.) + Bird Of Paradise / Memories
Release date: 30th May, 2025
Label : Tru-Thoughts Recordings
Catalog Number  BAD 016-1 / -3,
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Offline - The Offline in Session (DeepMatter Records)

This week we find Hamburg's The Offline totally online with a 'live' collection of six of the best.

The Offline (aka Felix Müller) brings us the follow-up to the Instrumental, Breaks, Soul-Jazz, Funk, Soundtrack, Jazz-Funk soaked album from a couple of years ago, 'La Couleur De La Mer' and we find him, his guitar, and the band.

As a live 'session' with tracks from  'La Couleur De La Mer' with EPs 'Les Cigales' and 'En clair-obscur' (what is it with these live sessions in Germany, also see Jazzanova's 'In Between Revisited' the live version - see review HERE). 

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) whilst The Offline can add a sense of Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto and a host of your favourites from the Melbourne area (Surprise Chef, Robohands, Karate Boogaloo etc).

Artist: The Offline
Title:   The Offline in Session

Release date: 27th May, 2024

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number :tbc

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Chris Hill - Drums [1-6],
Timor Litzenberger - Bass [1-6]
Felix Müller - Guitar [1-6],
Felix Behrendt - Rhodes, Mellotron [1-6]
Hans-Christian Stephan - Flugelhorn [1,3,5,6], Trumpet [2,4]
Kimo Eiserbeck - Flute [1-6], Saxophone [3,4]