Review: Roots Artefact - Different Perspective EP (NuNorthern Soul)

Tallinn! Estonia! Not exactly the heart of reggae music you'd think?  Perhaps it's time for 'Different Perspective' from Roots Artefact on NuNorthern Soul?

 

Roots Artefact is Estonia's Saimon (best known for his reggae/dub exploits with Strictly Dub Records) matched up with Seafront International's Tallinn beach groove that was first heard on NuNorthern Soul's summer compilation with the track 'The Big Calm Dubwise' (along with Visions of Light's 'Stages' that you can now find on the album 'The Mandala Vortex' - see review HERE).

The 'Different Perspective' EP comes a bit too late for the Chilled Cider festival this year but is like a too slow for Rockers in a downtempo dub stylee (inna Rocker Hi-Fi influence - see review HERE).

All four tracks,  'The Big Calm Dubwise', 'Riding With Ease', 'In Circles' and the title track with flute and sax bursts are as just in The Rhythm Doctor's DJ set list as Balaphonic "21st century Balearica" (The Rhythm Doctor is on Tallinn's IDA radio station with his 'Waiting Room' show evey Monday morning that's a great way to start the week).  

I like how there's a little bit of a toe in the water paddle with some slow-mo Ital-piano to cool things down on 'In Circles' but all four tracks are fantastic. 

BUY LINK: Different Perspective EP | Roots Artefact

 

Artist: Roots Artefact 

Title: Different Perspective EP 

Release date: 1st August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNS070 
Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Pink Butter - Can We Go Back (DeepMatter Records)

There's many reasons why groups have the most unusual names; some good, some not so good - when it comes to Pink Butter, they're something special as their EP, 'Can We Go Back' proves - and no, you can't go back!

A Swedish quartet of Oskar Bettinsoli (guitars), Björn Lehnert (keyboards), Malte Bergman (bass) and John Bjurström (drums) are able to blend jazz and hip-hop and have found a couple of like minded folks to collaborate with including T3 (RL Alttman III of Slum Village) and Jermaine Holmes (backing singer with D'Angelo).

Those with long memories will know the 'golden era' LSK who had Dwele and Slum Village on their debut (back in summer of 2000!) this is very much that sort of quality.  Indeed, 'Can We Go Back' featuring T3 feels retro for the now.  

In fact, the whole 6 track EP is very 'Futuristica Music' from back in the day, i.e. see the new release by Georgie Sweet 'I Swear To You' (see review HERE), as in 'Alright' featuring Joanné Nugas (and some great jazz guitar from Oskar) and 'Lost My Mind' featuring Elma.

On the mellow soul side Jermaine Holmes sings on 'Made For Me' which is perfect for the chill out zone whilst his contribution to 'U' with Venus Anon is close to spaced out soul as these guys get.  Being nearly six minutes long in a Part I & II style, it's my favourite of the set; equally, it's a shame it's not longer in more of a 12" mix (Ed. and work in 'Voice Memo'?)

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) and The Offline's Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto influenced 'In Session' (see review HERE) and this is a another hot release; keep it cool as we don't want it to melt as you can never go back.

Artist: Pink Butter 
Title:  Can We Go Back 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl - Smoked Pink / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Various Artists - Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl (Right Tempo)

You had me at Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music! What's just as impressive is the line-up on these 10 tracks; can you believe I:Cube and I:Cube with a Daft Punk remix, the massive Masters At Work on a Flute rework (illiminating Janet Jackson, in name only), Frankie Knuckles and more!

Of course, I don't eat caviar but this album signifies everything that a jar of Beluga is: exclusive, smooth and expensive (in terms of quality): the Masters At Work flute rework will save the dancefloor time and time again as it's a monster track.

Never heard of Jo Boyer's 'Isabelle & The Rain'?  No worries, here's the Da Funkie & Cosmic Girl Caviar Jazz Edit!  Sounding very cultured Latin influenced Italo-jazz with massive Fender Rhodes keys all over it.

And whilst you're being thankful for what you've got, this compilation gives more like Josma's 'Voices In Los Angeles (Disco '70)' and more jazz keys of Cricco Castelli, 'Life Is Changin' Again' as a club mix and original.

We know Right Tempo from their recent 12"s, Attilio Zanchi's 'Mingus Portrait (DJ Farrapo Remixes) (see review HERE) and the Yellowtail/Mark Murphy 'Seasons In My Mind' Remixes (see review HERE) but this is next level for the clubs.

Even looking backwards to look forward, a Clepto mix of Frankie Knuckles' 'Bac N Day'; you can't afford to miss this one.

BUY LINK: https://righttempo.bandcamp.com/album/caviar-jazz-a-journey-into-jazz-inflected-house-music

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Caviar Jazz - A Journey Into Jazz Inflected House Music compiled by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl 
Release date: 10th July, 2024 

Label : Right Tempo 

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: JKriv & Megatronic - Out Of Time (Razor-N-Tape)

The ever busy JKriv has joined up again with Megatronic on a 7" as he release the 'Out Of Time' that's a space disco rocket as we all feel we're running 'Out Of Time'.

Taking the next step on from the EP release 'Intuition' (see review HERE), the title track  featured Megatronic (who also turned up on 'City To City: Lisbon' at the same time - see review HERE), they're back with an apocolyptic (running) 'Out Of Time' which works really well on the 7" as the one vocal version that's not got the 'Sparky's Magic Piano' efx of 'Intuition' but retains the Grace Jones like spoken word urgency before the climax.

And then the instrumental captures all the city energy of a hot night of NYPD sirens and some deep acid synths.

Jkriv and his label Razo-N-Tape have proved time and time again that they can do no wrong (also check the recent Nomi Ruiz & Eli Escobar album, 'Love Louder' - see review HERE) so don't let the grass grow and run out of time, get it as soon as as an anthem for summer 2025 with impending doom at a disco sauna.

BUY LINK: https://razor-n-tape.lnk.to/OutofTime

 

Artist: JKriv & Megatronic 

Title: Out Of Time
Release date: 1st August, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTD125
Format :  7" - 2 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - We Are Worlds Away (Nublu Records)

"The uplifting and anthemic title track from their upcoming EP on New York’s legendary Nublu Records".

The Phenomenal Handclap Band is Daniel Collás, Juliet Swango, and Monika Heidemann. Since 2017, the Brooklyn based trio has released numerous critically acclaimed singles on labels such as Daptone, Toy Tonics, and Glitterbox that have garnered attention and praise from such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Gilles Peterson, Elton John, Don Letts, and Simon LeBon and more.

In 2023 the band released the 'Burning Bridges' EP on New York dance label Razor-N-Tape (they of 'Family Affair' etc) followed by the vinyl only 12” Like a Constellation on Lone Limited at the end of 2024 before popping up on Peter Matson's 'Hotel PM' album on Bastard Jazz (see review HERE).

‘We Are Worlds Away’, was written and recorded in Stockholm, Sweden’s Pansarmarängen Studio with the help of longtime collaborators Fredrik Swahn (Dungen, Melody’s Echo Chamber) and Morgan Phalen (Justice, Drakkar Nowhere).

Miles away from Zé Nigro's 'Silêncio' (see review HERE) but the YATM office thinks that's a good thing for a label as it shows that they are going places, even worlds away?

BUY LINK: https://ffm.to/worldsawaysingle

Artist: The Phenomenal Handclap Band 
Title:   We Are Worlds Away
Release date: 29th July, 2025
Label : Nublu Records
Catalog Number : SI-NUB-069
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Art Of Tones - Gold EP (PALP)

Palp returns with Art Of Tones as they win 'Gold' with their new EP: expecting the first two positions in the Tour de France disco.

We know Art Of Tones (aka Ludovic Llorca) has many fans on the remix scene (like the guys at Disco Express, see HERE) and he started their own label Palp in the early 00s releasing a couple of EPs.

Now, for the third time he's reached to top of hte podium with a very 'Art Of Tones' release of disco meets house with big strings and soulful vocals.  It's a bit cheeky, to call the instrumenal of 'Gold', 'Silver' but it'll keep the dancefloor bouncing just as much as it reaches the crescendo: it's like taking Sébastien Tellier's 'La Ritournelle' to the hot end of the disco and you can't get much better than that! 

BUY LINK: Art of Tones - Gold on Traxsource

Artist: Art Of Tones

Title: Gold EP 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label: PALP

Cat. No: TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Secret Garden - Spirals ft. Cordelia Olwen (Ramrock Red Records)

Let's see what's in The Secret Garden this summer.  Dizzy after Mrs Ramrock's  vocals for 'Names In The Sky', this time is 'Spirals' on the beach, litterally, as that's where Cordelia Olwen's vocals were recorded!

You will recall the previous release by The Secret Garden, 'Names In The Sky' that featured the vocals of Jo Wallace, the boss at Ramrock HQ (see review HERE), that got worldwide plays and was championed by Don Letts at BBC 6 Music.

Well, this time the vocals by Cordelia (50% of Clone + Cord) were recorded so close to the sea that you've got authenic wave sounds on 'Spirals' that give it more than a synth-pop Balearic vibe that's deep. Plus, there's some proper lazy days lyrics here and that's enhanced by the "dreamy" instrumental version.

Apparently, the seed of this collaboration was planted last summer at a rare The Secret Garden gig in the Chiltern Hills where Alex and Cordelia met.  Since then, after some serious file swopping, 'Spirals' will be spinning your head and feet.  

I hope this will be released on vinyl at some point so we can get it played at Chilled Cider (Ed. that's the one that overlooks the sea) but until then, it's yet another summer winner from Ramrock, perfect timing as ever.

 

Artist: The Secret Garden

Title: Spirals ft. Cordelia Olwen

Release date: 28th July, 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR087

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: Number - Le Boucle Nouveau EP (Ramrock Red Record)

Your Number is up as Ramrock Red Records release numbers 84 and 85 with Le Boucle Nouveau EP and 'Le Boucle Nouveau' Duncan Gray Remix.

It's a busy week at Ramrock HQ as The Secret Garden's latest single 'Spirals' featuring Cordelia Olwen and Joseph Malik's 'Adult Contemporary' (Shuya Okino + ROOT SOUL Rework EP) are both coming out soon.  But, when Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace, was approached by Rich Thair and Ali Friend (co-founders of Red Snapper) with a brand new project from their band, Number, room had to be found in the busy schedule.

We are told that the pair have performed all over the globe and been on the bill supporting some of the biggest bands as you'll likely to name but their real lust was to recreate "dirty disco bass lines, noisy drum machines, wonky percussion, leering live drums, jagged guitar melodies and uplifting soulful songs of the 80s".  And it's fair to say they've managed to do that on the teaser from their forthcoming album - the brand new single ‘Le Boucle Nouveau’.

Do you wanna add dub to that lot? You can in the form of a the Duncan Gray remix that taps into Andrew Weatherall's legacy and Sean Johnston's 'A Love From Outer Space' sensibilities.

As a fan of 'Weeds Up To Me Knees', any album titled 'Pollinate' is going to get the YATM office excited. If you need a bit of a 101, their first album, in 2020, was on Sunday Best, and 'Binary' featured the track 'Face Down In Ecstasy' which was lauded by Lauren Lavern, featured an acclaimed video by Leo Nicholson and got onto the coveted BBC 6 Music playlist.

It would seem the pollinators have done a number on the duo as they've moved on from Sponge Bob's Square Talkin' Head animations.

 

Artist: Number

Title: Le Boucle Nouveau EP/ Le Boucle Nouveau (Duncan Gray Remix) EP

Release date: 25th July, 2025 / 8th August 2025

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR084 / RRR085

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: DB Cohen - On Target (Ramrock Red Records)

Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake vs. RAF Target, what's your modern flava? The wise heads at Ramrock Records have gone with the target in these smoke free enlightened days but that's not to say DB Cohen isn't on fire!

But if you've seen DB Cohen and band giging this summer you'll know that there's much more to their set that a symbol.   And from their recorded works on Ramrock from the start of the year the indie-pop 'For the Love Of Ella' single as a follow-up to 'Manchild' - see review HERE) drenched in  Americana, Thames Delta Blus, ska and more. 

Cohen was born in London and lives in Canada with a zest for a trobadour lifestyle so you get the lot from Essex Billy Bragg to Dylan to country Small Faces Mod and Canvey Island Dr Feelgood rockers Woody Guthrie; when did you last hear "brolly" in lyrics - Chas & Dave?

Let's see what the man himself says, "Filtering life through the blues, I write, play guitar/ harp and sing on all my records and smash it up live with a seven piece band formed with a who’s who from the Ottawa Blues scene. We’re playing all this summer all around Ontario & Quebec including the Capital Fair in August. I’m also planning a Canada/U.S tour around my forthcoming L.P release ON TARGET out on Ramock Red Records July 2025. ON TARGET is a real UK/ Candian collaboration, and produced in part by legendary producer, Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove. The record covers many sub genres within the blues sphere - Chicago Blues, Bluegrass, Rhythm & Blues, Traditional Folk and a smattering of Ska for good measure.  Maple Blues winning bassist Laura Greenberg, guitarist Murray Kinsley (Wicked Grin) as well as some of the UK’s best blues talent- Steve West Weston & Darrel Higham – all feature on the album. See you at the bar’"

If you missed the Bandcamp Listening Party last night, you missed what sounds like a late alternative 'Album of the Week' as this is 'On Target' in so many ways.

Artist: DB Cohen 
Title:  On Target
Release date: 25th July, 2025
Label: Ramrock Red Records
Cat. No: ,RRRLP013
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yesterday's Princess - Tomorrow's Yearning (Root Records)

If you had the mind to get Surprise Chef and Sven Wunder vs. Lalo Schfrin and David Axelrod vs. Lonnie Liston Smith and George Benson (CTi period) with DIlla vs. Madlib on the knobs, you could well end up with some jazz library hip-hop beats of Yesterday's Princess - couldn't get much better than that!

The duo of Fredrik Bregsten and Marcus Larson might sound like Celtic's new Scandinavian signings but they've been producing music for over 10 years and 'Tomorrow's Yearning' is a mere four tracks to tease us with as jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor.

'Anemoia', 'Not Today (Maybe Tomorrow)' (the early single - see review HERE), 'Bygone' and 'Meanwhile' are all recorded with real instruments including drums to replace the old skool sample pack and a bass player brought in to join the Fender Rhodes and electric guitar. 

 

If you know the standard of 'Dirty Harry', 'Death Wish', 'Hill St. Blues' themes and along with the forthcoming work of Pink Butter (see review HERE soon), this is a brilliant jazz-funk warm-up that's as much retrospecitve and forward looking at the same time.

 

Artist: Yesterday's Princess
Title:  Tomorrow's Yearning

Release date: 25th July, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp