Review: Cee ElAssaad & Beatkozina - Beauty is Magic (Ensouled)

Latin Afro-futuristica house on the beach makes this a beautiful single release!

We know of Beatkozina after the release on Afroterraneo, 'Nusrat Passion' featuring Abirah Shah (see review HERE), the 'Merhba EP' feat. El Mago & Axel Camil on Compost (see review HERE) and if you can imagine tthat along with Cee ElAssaad's 'Ore Yeyo O' (see review HERE) you're not going to be too far from 'Beauty is Magic' for a post jazz-funk generation.

I expect the vocal will be on this months' "Best Of" Colour & Pitch Sessions mixtape with Sumsuch but I there's also the instrumental and radio edit.

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

Artist: Cee ElAssaad & Beatkozina

Title: Beauty is Magic

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Ensouled

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Tigerbalm with Giorgio Lopez - Nayar (Ubiquity Records)

Ubiquity Records take on Tigerbalm as they reel under the tango, bango, mango, commando, wango tropical disco madness of 'Nayar'.

You'll remember Tigerbalm's album 'Profunda Alma'  on Razor-N-Tape that came out at the end of last year (see review HERE) as Nicola Robinson unleashed her Afro-Latin obession on the dancefloor

Ubiquity have previously released Tigerbalm's 'International Love Affair' album that attracted some name remixers like Chico Mann, Daniele Baldelli, Emperor Machine and Bustin' Loose (aka Tom Lilly at the Disco Express - see interview HERE) so they should know what they've let themselves in for?

But I'm not sure even Tigerbalm herself had some idea as our Londoner has caught the Italo-synth-wave house revival teaming up with Naples' Giorgio Lopez (like 'Mystic Jungle' see review HERE) with some J-pop vocal chorus.

Known for her "kaleidoscope of global influences", I'm not sure the remixes by Elado (turns up the synths), Bernado Pinheiro (adds some atmospheric Latin percussion from the rainforest, that could have gone more dubby) and Piek (mainroom Spanish house with disco lazers)

We're told this is a mere taster for Tigerbalm's next album, 'Bubblegum Discos' that's due out next years so we're likely to have these 4 versions of 'Mango-Bango' disco all summer long. 

BUY LINK: Nayar | Tigerbalm

Artist: Tigerbalm with Georgio Lopez

Title: Nayar
Release date: 23rd July, 2025
Label : Ubiquity Records
Catalog Number : TBC
Format :  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Farhot - RAQS (105-118BPM)(Kabul Fire Records)

From Afganistan to Hamburg, DJ Farhot has found 'RAQS' to share on the dancefloor.

It seems a lifetime ago, 20 years in fact, that I firsts spotted the name DJ Farhot on the production/engineer credits on Nneka's album 'Victim Of Truth'.  That was on CD, the album was re-issued a couple of years ago as a double LP, and the power of her vocals still stands up today.

And not only has Farhot had a hand in most of here subsequent albums, he runs his own label Kabul Fire Records, he's half of 'Die Achse' (with Bazzazian) along with production credits for Giggs, Kano, Talib Kweli, LOC and many more along with his own Kabul Fire Vol. 1 & 2.

Hip-hop meets Batov Middle-Eastern vibes on this 5 track EP as 'MARS' set that 'RAQS': which translates as the Dari word for "dance"; in Arabic, three root letters, ra, qa, sa = to dance.

In true underground hip-hop fashion, you'll find samples from Egypt, Lebanon, Somalia and further a far as these tracks take on a synth, psych Wedding dance celebration for the Flute Gang, particularly 'Ya Saghira' which has a very sharp ending.

For Afgan-Hamburg House, 'Hooyoo' (with Siriusmo) is the most WOMAD friendly - especially as it's the longest track with sing-a-long chants, a funky guitar lick, a wicked organ and a bit of dub echo; what more do you want?

'Yana' (with Daniel Kimaz, the flautist on The Mighty Mocambos' album 'A Higher Frequency' that was released last month, see review HERE) and 'Al Quds' (with Bazzazian) which both have a touch of Stones Throw 'golden era' about them as if Daedelus was transported to North Africa.

 

The vinyl is super limited so get your feet off the ground and onto your likely suspect record shops quick before they run out.

BUY LINK: https://idol-io.ffm.to/raqs105118bpm

Artist:  Farhot

Title: RAQS EP

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Kabul Fire Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kʒːlu – Standing Ovation (Fish Go Deep Remixes) (Creeping Curtain Records/Tangential Music)

Fish Go Deep say, "We don't do many remixes - only when a track really grabs us...[and] this one did!", prepare to get grabbed.

Sounds a little ironic as the YATM Office like a Fish Go Deep remix (see review HERE of La Deep's 'Risk It All' on Wooden Discos) as that grabbed us only last week.

Kʒːlu is the solo project of Cork-based musician Patrick Hatchett who is influenced by global beats, late-night moods and wild natural surroundings. 

'Standing Ovation' gets deep (no pun etc) with the remix with some squiggy synth boogie and echo units.  So, you think, this would be cool as a 'Standing Ovation dub mix'; and here it is and clocks in at 7:34 as a couple of minutes longer of bing-bong fun under the LSP influence.

Kʒːlu (curlew) had an album out back in 2021 that featured Idris Rahman (Ill Considered, Soothsayers etc and brother of Zoe) so lets keep our eyes open for a 'Standing Ovation' album version; but in the meantime, let yourself be grabbed by the dub.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/standing-ovation-2

Artist: Kʒːlu 

Title: Standing Ovation (Fish Go Deep Remixes)

Release date: 23rd July, 2025

Label: Creeping Curtain Records / Tangential Music

Catalog Number:TBC

Format: Digital

Review: Till Brönner - Viva La Felicità (earMusic / Edel)

Till Brönner is a big name in jazz, particularly European jazz, even before the 'Só Danço Samba' remixes by Mousse T and Nicola Conte came out and hit the dancefloor; time for an update?

Brönner has worked with countless jazz musso's over the years (including Bob James, 'On Vacation' 2020) and his 2008 'Rio' album caught the ear of Italian Latin jazzdance expert Nicola Conte (he of Schema Records, last seen HERE) there was no surprise Conte would want to get onboard for the remix.

It comes as little surprise then that when the Hamburg-based trumpet thought of an album entitled 'Italia' he'd think first of Conte as a producer for his lounge jazz easy listening exotica OST in a 'la dolce vita' groove.

'Viva La Felicità", a cover version of theme from "Il Signor Rossi Cerca La Felicità", a 1970s Italian cartoon series is the first single from the album and whilst Till's horn is as amazing as ever, along with, what sounds like the Schema house band, why the fade out?  Can only hope there's an extended version on the album itself.

A what a great cover too!  Deserves a 7" vinyl release at least.  

BUY LINK:

Artist: Till Brönner 

Title: Viva La Felicità 

Release date: 23rd July, 2025

Label: earMusic / Edel

Cat. No: BAM001RE

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: ventoux^ - Loop Dreams (Independent)

As it's the day after the afternoon before, the 112th edition of the Tour de France has climbed Mont Ventoux and we can now have a musical 'rest day' so to speak and dream of loops with ventoux^'s new album!

ventoux^ (aka James Risevero) has gained a '^' after his debut album in 2006 that was a heady mix of future jazz, dub, ambience that featured David Jean-Baptiste and included a version of on Mongo Santamaria's classic track as 'Afro Blue In Five'.

Such eclecticism caught the attention of Glyn 'Bigga' Bush (see review interview HERE) and whilst there's been a couple of collaborations, we've had to wait until now for the new album.

Ten tracks of nu-jazz, ambient Latin beats - a bit of a cross between Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith and Madlib's lounge: how good is that!

Biggabush played 'Del Toro' on his recent 'Friends & Family' Big Dig 1BTN show (see below) but 'This SIde Of Sunshine' brings some funk to the flute gang groove, the dreamy 'Free Fall' and the cosmic vibes of 'Les Balieues'.  'Neon Cars' is a bit synth pop-easy Swingle Singe rs and here's one for the Chilled Cider guys, 'Love Was All Around' featuring saturnVille on vocals with some understated 'Richie Rome' electronic jazz-dub leanings.

If you're struggling on the lower slopes like most mere mortals, here's an album that you can only dream of before you reach your own summit - grab your bidon and ride with this one.

BUY LINK:  

ventoux^ · Loop Dreams

Artist: ventoux^ 

Title: Loop Dreams

Release date: 16th July, 2025

Label : Independent
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:  Digital 

Review: Feed LA - More Feed (Mighty Eye Records)

Now what would you call the follow-up to Feed LA's self-titled debut album? Let's have a think about that one.

Feed LA are a bit of an underground super group of German jazz and funk being part Poets Of Rhythm and Faruk Green and you'll find this new 11 track album manages to merge jazz-funk with the leftfield, library and OST; like 'Der Erste Dritte Tag' - jazz, breaks, funk, Chet Baker TV theme.

You might say "wandering detours" and it kind of reminds us of the works of Italians like Calibro 35 or The Offline (see review HERE) at the same time having some tangents of Batov Records' Turkish/psych, primarily due to Jeff Özdemir's bass, check out 'Feed Lala' that's reined back with Michael Treetop Voß (trumpet) and Özgür Bayraktar on keys.

If there was a band leader, perhaps it's drummer Daniel Ray Gahn says that their improvisional style guides the "conversation between players" where you can get something as short as 'Die Risikobegegnung' or OST funk as 'Fash Cash (Up In Stratosphere)'.

The vocals on 'Verschwende den Tag' go a bit Robert Wyatt in German but there's nothing wrong with that: indeed, I think we need more Feed LA!

Artist: Feed LA

Title:  More Feed
Release date: 18th July, 2025
Label : Bridge The Gap
Catalog Number : Mighty Eye Records
Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: VA - With Love: Volume 3 - Compiled by miche (Mr Bongo)

The last time miche released 'With Love' we said that he has definitely found a niche in soul, funk, jazz, Latin, disco deep diggin' fraternity following in the footsteps of Peterson /Charles/Scruff/Luke Una: this time the 17 tracks selected on this new compilation seem to be even more coherently leftfield as a nu-soul genre of itself - if only we could think a inclusive name?

'With Love' Volume 1 came out in 2022 which was followed by Vol. 2 a year latter (see review HERE) so we've had quite a wait for Volume 3 and there's probably two reasons for this; 1. miche is even more in demand as an Internation DJ and 2. these 16 tracks are as even more definitely further into 'What followed Northern Soul' as all these tracks are super rare.  

You'll recall 'We Out Here' 2023 festival programme that Miche played B2B with Rainer Trüby and last year it was 8 Hour 'Root Down With Love' (Ed. did you see what they did there?). Now with 3 volumes of 'With Love', what do you reckon?  A 24 hour B2B set with Rainer - and if there was, you'd still be excited to hear the next track just like on this compilation.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/with-love-vol-3

Artist : Various Artists

Title : With Love: Volume 3 - Compiled by miche

Release Date : 25th July, 2025

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP327

Label : Mr Bongo

Format : 2XLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 (Re:Warm)

The heat is on as they used to say as we get Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1 from Re:Warm on the soulful sunny South Coast.

This is impressive to say the least, four hours, 20 tracks as a musical day-in-the-life of compiler Josh Mason-Quinn (aka Somewhere Soul) from daybreak to dancefloor.

Hard to believe that out of the 20 tracks, we've featured previously Allysha Joy & Finn Rees (as in Joy Spheres Rees's 'Trust The Feeling' - see review HERE), Chip Wickham, Amanda Whiting (see review HERE), our homeboy Emanative (with his version of 'Space Is The Place'), Blue Lab Beats, MATTERS UNKNOWN and SHOLTO so that covers most of the day!    

Clearly, Mr Mason-Quinn knows his 'Somewhere Soul' in the form of jazz, soul, funk, house and other global beats and grooves as a DJ, A&R and event programmer.  He regularly appears on radio stations like Balamii and Soho radio and has performed at festivals like Love Supreme and will be at Mostly (Birmingham) this year.

If you missed out on the exclusive Re:Warm Launch Party, don't miss out on the real thing as the next Soumewhere Soul and Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' party is at the Fox & Firkin on Saturday 2nd August with Matters Unknown headling live (see review of their 'Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal HERE) and a host of DJs including Tina Edwards.

BUY LINK: Somewhere Soul + Friends presents 'Summer Rituals' - TICKETS HERE

BUY LINK: https://warmagency.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-soul-rituals-volume-1

Somewhere Soul · Music for . . . Dancing (Vol. 1)

Aritst: Various Artists - compiled Josh Mason-Quinn

Title: Somewhere Soul : Rituals Volume 1

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label: RE:WARM 

Cat. No: RE:WARM TBC

Format: 2 x LP Pink or black-gateflold / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jerkboy & Marcel Vogel ft. Million Miles - Real Love (Oliver Night Remix) (Lumberjacks In Hell)

"So right", you're in the house waiting for the manic disco banger that's ready to blow the Dutch house roof off?   Let me tell ya, 'Real Love' is it!

Lumberjack's In Hell head honcho Marcel Vogel has this time has teamed up with Jerkboy for some 'Reel Love' - could be a double play on words there - for a string drenched soul house monster with the vocals of French vocalist Million Miles.

There's a bit of dirty synth action before the end so I hope we'll get a full instrumental at some stage but let's not be greedy now as Vogel, based in Amsterdam of course, has had to track down Jerkboy (aka Adam Stivala) in Sydney and Miles in LA.

In fact, the 'JB Rendition' is sort of a instrumental with dub and vocals that sort of gives you two versons for the price of one.

And talking of which, London's Oliver Night has two versions himself.  The house mix (that's partly Co-Op) and a full-on Co-Op Brukwise remix that goes 'real' deeper: love it!  And you can see why Atjazz is such a fan on Night's work.

This comes off the back of Vogel's Intermate Friends pairing with  Tim Jules with remixes by Lyma, Floyd Vader and 'star' of the moment, Stefan Ringer (having just remixed Berkeley Hunt's track on the 'A Ghostly Tryst' EP  - see review HERE).

As ever, Lumberjacks showing the world some real love.

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/jerk-boy-marcel-vogel-real-love-vinyl/1094681-01/

 

Artist: Jerkboy & Marcel Vogel ft. Million Miles

Title:  Real Love (Oliver Night Remix)  

Release date: 25th July, 2025 

Label : Lumberjacks In Hell

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :  Vinly 12" / Digital  / Bandcamp