Review: Vital Disorders / Kotoa - Zombie (Wah Wah 45s)

If it's Fela Kuti, it's always worth repeating, 'Zombie' and Wah Wah 45s are on it in two distinct ways.

It was only last week that Land Of Echo's debut album, 'Almost Music' was released (see review HERE) and not long before that, Raz & 'Remixes of Resistance' (see review HERE) so it's a bit of a surpise, even with their very close association with Afica 70 member Dele Sosimi, here are two versionos Fela's classic track.

Each shorter that the original but you've got Vital Disorders on a vocal version and Kotoa with a raw jazz-funk instrumental.

And if you think there's echos of Bristol scene post-punk, you'd be right as back in 1982 when Vital Disorder's Nigerian born vocalist Lenneka at the time was 'discovered' by the band's  bassist in Norwich (!) and it became a big tune in their set; only to be unearthed years later by Gilles Peterson and his Arsenal fan mate Dom Servini was inspired to grab it for re-issue and paired it with a cover by one of the groups on his Wah Wah 45s label (sounding close to Soothsayers/Youthsayers)

As a protest anthem, 'Zombie' as stood the test of time since its original release and these two versions - whether recorded 40 year ago or this year - are as equally powerful.  Limited 7" release so don't miss this one.

BUY LINK: https://wahwah45s.bandcamp.com/album/zombie

Artist: Vital Disorders / Kotoa 

Title:  Zombie

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label : Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Vinyl /Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Wanda Felicia - Stuck On You / Flowers In The Garden (Timmion Records)

Wanda Felicia shares 'Flowers In The Garden', taken from her double-sider 'Stuck On You b/w Flowers In The Garden'.

Backed by Cold Diamond & Mink, the single highlights Wanda’s soulful vocals and mature songwriting.

The A-side is an uptempo soul shuffler that's timing to link-up with the summer madness news re-cycle of the re-emergence of Northern Soul "is back!" - you don't have to be from Wigan, Blackpool, Cleethorpes, Deptford or Bristol to know it never went away as this sound is 'Stuck On You' you could say.

'Flowers In The Garden' is a mellow midtempo groove, the song uses blooming garden metaphors to reflect on relationships and emotional growth, featuring harmonies, a soaring chorus and a graceful sax solo by Pope Puolitaival.

Beautiful lyrics and sax, luv to Wanda in the garden. Late summer soul chill and perfect back up to Jeb Loy Nichols' new single, 'Step In' / 'Coming Home Love' (see review HERE).

Cold Diamond & Mink perfect as always.

Artist: Wanda Felicia

Title:  Stuck On You / Flowers In The Garden 

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label : Timmion Records

Catalog Number : TR762

Format:  Limited Edition 7" / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Brenda - Bath Time (College Of Knowledge Records)

'Where Did I Go Wrong'? Well, what about 'Bath Time with Brenda' as the Heads Of House at the College Of Knowledge release the latest album of Hudson Whitlock's alter ego.

It's a bit of a scary cover as the label avoid the title 'Bath Time with Brenda'.  Hudson Whitlock (Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and The Pro-Teens) unveils a full album of this solo project that takes inspiration from the1960s pysch (not exactly Jeffersob Airplane's 'After Bathing At Baxter's') but more a mix of Melbourne cinematic soul movement, The Delfonics, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Serge Gainsbourg!

Whitlock's usual drummer duties are augmented with his falsetto vocals as singer, composer, and arranger for some reason I'm thinking James Blake vs. FlyLo vs. Little Dragon vs. Jeb Loy Nichols vs. Thundercat and more: it's quite a heady mix.  

A great follow-up to the single, 'Where Did I Go Wrong' (see review HERE) which takes centre stage along with other lyrically emotional 'My Tempo', 'Hardly', 'Dedicated' and 'Family'.

All ten tracks are beautifully produced and if you're thinking of doing a pared down Wall Of Sound in Australia, these guys have got the valves before you.  

Shame he wasn't available to step into Michael Kiwanuka's shoes when he couldn't do last weekends We Out Here festival but you're likely to hear this on Gilles Peterson's BBC 6 Music show and all the other obvious DJs on the station.

Artist: Brenda

Title:Bath Time

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label: College Of Knowledge Records

Cat. No: COK015

Format: LP (Limited Edition) / Digital / Bandcamp

Hudson Whitlock - Vocals, drums, percussion
Darvid Thor - Bass
Lachlan Stuckey - Guitar
Jethro Curtin - Piano, Farfisa
Nobby Denton - Percussion
Esther Henderson - Violin, backing vocals
Ella Thompson - Backing vocals
Lewis Coleman - Backing vocals
Zoe Fox - Backing vocals
Ruby Dargaville - Backing vocals

Recorded and mixed by Henry Jenkins
Mastered by Max Dowling

Cover art by Hudson Whitlock
Cover photo by Estella Paltos

Review: Nina Maia - INTEIRA (Deluxe Edition) (Mr Bongo)

Anyone for a Brazilian Girl without a Pearl Earring?  I should say so as Mr Bongo's diving for treasure has found yet another star!

If Don Glori is on the edge of Brazilian soul-jazz (see review HERE) and Julia Madstre's 'Maravilhosamente Bem' is at the "dreamy pop" end (see review HERE),  Zé Ibarra's 'AFIM' as nu-MPB (see review HERE), Nina Maia's 12 tracks are an impossible mix of all three plus influences of Caetano Veloso, Tim Miai and Arthur Verocai plus the modern nu-wave of Bala Desejo (see review HERE).

Apparenly, this album was released last year in Brazil with 8 tracks and came into Mr Bongo's hands via a cassette tape entitled 'Pleased To Meet You' in Stockholm of all places.  Nina herself is based in São Paulo, Brasil and 'INTEIRA' (whole) is an incredible debut album for the 22 year old singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer who definitely has a feel for the beautiful and dramatic.

The album features Yann Dardenne (acoustic guitar, co-producer and the one who had the cassette mentioned above, Francisca Barreto (cello and vocals), Thales Hashiguti (viola and violin), Valentim Frateschi (bass), Thalin (drums) and Nina on piano, Rhodes, guitar and production.

"Any relation to Tim?", I hear you shout from the cheap seats.  Not that I'm aware but you could include him in the mix of influences along with Beatles and Kate Bush for he obvious, a non-dancey Kelley Polar for the not so obvious. In fact, it's hard to give a comparison as it really stands out on it's own as a brilliant album.

BUY LINK: https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/inteira-deluxe-edition

Artist: Nina Maia

Title:  INTEIRA (Deluxe Edition)

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB325

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Funkwrench Blues - Mischief In The Musitorium (Need To Know Music)

Can you imagine "Ornette Coleman meets King Crimson in a New Orleans warehouse - wild, unboxed, and unapologetically bold"?

If you can, you're not going to be far off Funkwrench Blues' 'Mischief In The Musitorium'.  With Frank Swart (bass/producer) managing to assemble a truely "All-Star" line-up including Lenny White (Miles Davis, Return to Forever), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Nduduzo Makhathini, Jason Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Hamid Drake, Guitar Shorty, Adam Holzman, G Calvin Weston (Ornette Coleman), Grant Green Jr., and Joseph Bowie, the album pushes the boundaries of groove-based improvisation along with alt-jazz blues and funk.

So you've got Ornette is a sort of King Crimson group (probably in their 'Earthbound priod when Mel Collins was on various saxes) in a We Jazz 'Big Band' where Billy Jenkins (of South London) and Fripp (of Dorset) at guitars from various angles over the nine tracks including a tribute to Jeff Beck and Ornette.

The opener, 'Reflections of the Future' is very fusion, as you'd expect with Lenny White of board, but it showcases Nduduzo Makhathini in a Return To Forever way (for a variation on this, check 'Suite for Chick - see review HERE).  And talking of fusion, the track 'Mr Coleman' is lead by Reid a la Jeff Beck's 'Wired' period.  All the tracks are quality but 'Funk-ish' is a bit of a winner with Jason Marsalis on vibes (but why the fade out?), 'Ode To Jeff Beck' and Joseph Bowie (DEFUNKT etc) leading on 'America The Brutal'.

We (well the YATM office) tend to think that London is the exciting alt-jazz hub (with the likes of Kokoroko, Yussef Dayes, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings et al) but Swart has played with such a huge range of artists over the part 50 years, hence the super-group contacts book.  So no better person to look out for if you want his alt-Funk, Avant-garde Jazz, Free Funk, Free Jazz, Free Improvisation, Fusion, Funkwrench Blues style - there's mischief in this musitorium!

Artist: Funkwrench Blues

Title:  Mischief In The Musitorium

Release date: 15th August, 2025

Label : Need To Know

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital  

PS. King Crimson fans circa 2015 era, look out for King Crimson at Symphony Hall Birmingham, UK, September 15, 2015, Hackney Empire, London September 8, 2015, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, September 24, 2015 and possibly more out now - somebody has to pay for Fripp's Greenhouse extension (planning permission pending?) 

Review: Tambores En Benirras - Ondas Horizontales Remixes One (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul are on the beach again with some killer remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' - even the artwork has been given a make over.

 

At the start of the month, NuNorthern Soul released Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE) with that Tallinn view of NuNorthern Soul.  At the other end of the month, you could say that they've got the test cards out, retuned Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' with four remixes that ouze chilled, world, Balearics boogie.

Originally released in 2023 on the album 'Ondas Horizontales' was all the work of Tambores En Benirras (aka Graham Newby) apart from the fantastic artwork by Johnny Kavannagh and recorded in the dual centres of Ibiza (obviously) and most unlikely, Barrow-in-Furness!

Ruf Dug has stepped up to the plate for a remix of 'Mi Suno Vive En Reverb' with some early morning beach yoga session, can you have one in Manchester?   Good job Mr. Dug is also based in Ibiza and you know he's a man of sound choice if you recall his feedback on Yuu Udagawa's 'Beat Sculpture' (see review HERE) as, "OG is 1000000% the one here!"; pretty cool as Coflo is on the remix! 

Talking of influencial trend setters, 'Extensor Entrgado' gets a remix by none other than Steve Cobby, he of Fila Brazillia and inspriation for Third Attempt's 'We Are All Connected EP' on Beatservice (see interview HERE).  This is a great remix for over 9 minutes of synth heavy Balearic funk groove and worth the price of the 12" in itself.

I can't say I'm as familir with Andres Y Xavi ('Templos Del Sol') or Simon Sheldon ('Un Placer Celestial) but as you can guess from the titles, both track are looking skywards.   'Templos Del Sol' as remixed is bouncing its way around the Iberian space lab dancefloor (it's a bit adictive) and is far away from the origin's dreaming Japanese-synth garden (with spoken word).   

Simon Sheldon has a history with electronic music goes back many decades and his remix gets us back in the chill tent with downtempo Massive Attack whispering so closing this EP as  a proper 12" release for DJs and home listening.

Newby contacted 12 of his favourite artists to request reworks – a mix of Balearic heroes, rising stars and friends and this remix collection is definitely a different perspective to the orginals, ('Different Perspectives' being the order of the day at NuNorthern Soul, see the last release on the label by Roots Artefact - review HERE).  

This EP is the first in a series of remix specials of the original album that'll be available in digital format so book in for the 'Listening Session' for this week - see below links.

BUY LINK: https://tamboresenbenirras.bandcamp.com/album/ondas-horizontales-remixes-one

Ondas Horizontales Remixes One Listening Session 

Listening Party August 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM GMT+1 (book in HERE]

Artist: Tambores En Benirras

Title: Ondas Horizontales Remixes One 

Release date: 22nd August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSTEBR001
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Phat_Phil_Cooper · A Phat Phil Cooper Sunset Mix [Ibiza, May 2025]

Review: Boddhi Satva - Manifest Everything (BBE Music / Batakari)

Boddhi Satva is definitely his own man when it comes to producing music being the originator of 'Ancestral Soul' and at the same time, he likes  collaboration: so it's always a good time to 'Manifest Everything'.

We know from Boddhi's and Dino D'Santiago's 'Moda Boddhi' (see review HERE) that the Satva blend of Afro-house-soul in an 'Ancestral' way  is quite unique and this album confrims this.

In double gatefold format, there's 13 tracks that run from soul-pop to deep funky house ('In That Funk' stands out) together with collaborations with soul legend, Raheem DeVaughn plus Davi Lorenzo & Mr Luu, J'Something, Spilutu & Kaysha, Zaki Ibrahim, Jorge Bezerra and his mate from Pangea, Feddy da Stupid (see review HERE).

Sartva has been mates with long term fans of Masters At Work, Osunlade, Black Coffee

Louie Vega, Gilles Peterson’s BBC 6 Music and Worldwide crews. 

Artwork:  Jean-Michel Basquiat

Artist : Boddhi Satva  

Title : Manifest Everything

Release Date : 11th July, 2023

Catalog Number : BAT011ADG

Label : BBE Music 

Format: Vinyl / Digial / Bandcamp

Review: Land Of Echo - Almost Music (Wah Wah 45s)

It's always worth repeating,
in the Land Of Echo, 'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week,  'Almost Music' is coming out this week.

This is Land Of Echo's debut album but when you're told it is the 'return of the' Rob Mac, he of Jumbonics, Gum Drop, Speeka, Matt Smooth & The Easy Rockers on many labels including Tru-Thoughts, Altered Vibes, Sonar Kollektiv and Wah Wah 45s.

 

So a like bit of a home coming on the label with a 9 new tracks of "altered disco, downtempo soul and experimental electonics aided by the synths and violins of Lucy Wilkins, having herself played with Massive Attack, Radiohead and Roxy Music.

The centrepiece track 'Freedom In Our Rhythm Parts 1 + 2' is Massive Attack-eques a go-go so that's a winner on its own!

The vocals are provided another returnee from a career break, Sheffield's Kathy Diamond (Morgan Geist, Hercules & The Love Affair, Soul Clap and many more) and Tokyo born/London based Ayana Homma (Tokyo Riddem Band & Sound Anthropology).  And whilst we're at it, Angus 'yes i'm related' Mac in on bass and if you can't dance to the opening track, 'What We Want' with the groovy bassline, disco synths and string and sing-a-long vocals; there's no hope for you.

There's definitely some hang-over from the 'Hi-Falutin' Gum Drop album, which is a good thing and you can bet that they're already lining up outside Wah Wah 45s North London HQ for the remix options (Kay Suzuki on a dub? A Kelley Polar 'symphonic-disco' rewerk? etc) but that's a no-go for now as there's some real highlights here like 'Lean Into Your Own Breath', 'Never To Never' (I'll forgive the "bah, bahs"), 'Don't Talk (Just Dance)' and 'I Want'.

So the Land of Echo is on repeat in the office - don't miss this one.

BUY LINK: Almost Music | Land Of Echo

Artist: Land Of Echo

Title:  Almost Music

Release date: 15th August, 2025

Label : Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number : WAHLP034

Format: Vinyl /Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Yoshi Horino, M-Scape and Werner Niedermeier - Fall EP (Yung Dumb)

Afro-futuristica J-House from St. John's Newfoundland! Surely not?

The eastern Canadian label get some Trans-Canadian - Japan business with Tokyo-based producers Yoshi Horino, M-Scape and Werner Niedermeier on the "rhythmic 2-step percussion, growling deep basslines, and ethereal synths with swinging vocals" 

As the label's 23rd release 'Fall' is a collaborative two track EP, 'Fall' and 'Don't You' that's got some elements of classic Japanese deep house business from one side of the pond to the other. 

'Don't You' in particualar is a mix of synth vs. Lonnie Listron Smith cosmic jazz-funk a la Ron Trent vs. Bugge Wesseltoft.

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

Artist: Yoshi Horino, M-Scape and Werner Niedermeier

Title: Fall

Release date: 15th August, 2025

Label : Yung Dumb

Catalog Number : YD023 

Format: Digital / Bandcamp  

Reviw: Böhm - People Communicate EP (Morris Audio)

Laurent Garnier is still a fan and here's another EP that shows us why as Böhm communicates with people!

It's been a little while since we got on the Chicago Loop via Citi Beat and the 'This Is Citi Beat' EP (see review HERE) and regular readers will know that any track called 'Train Ride' is going to get our attention in the YATM office!

But 'Crystal 727' goes one further in the Techy-old skool house and there's a bit of a New Order bass, a bit Italo keys and some very old skool jazz-funk whistle blowing that is just magic!  Or is that a train guard blowing his whistle? 

The other two tracks, being 'Country' and the title track he just as much fun and the perfect introduction to Böhm.

PS. You might have guessed from the oranje artwork, Böhm is Dutch.

 

BUY LINK: https://www.junodownload.com/products/bohm-people-communicate-ep/7190689-02/

Artist: Böhm 

Title: People Communicate EP
Release date: 15th August, 2025
Label :Morris Audio 
Catalog Number: MA133
Format: Digital / Bandcamp