Review: Disko Cowboy - Give Ur Luv 2 Em feat. Brandon Markell Holmes (Toucan Sounds)

We love everything and everyone on toucan sounds (Brooklyn, NYC) with a new release by Disko Cowboy with Brandon Markell Holmes on vocals and studio whiz Robert PM on the edit, can I say it'll send you into raptures?

Not sure what the Obi strip is about on the artwork as this release comes as an orginal version with a Robert PM 'extension' edit.

Too late for a We Out Here Festival takeover, (Ed. if anyone heard this in the roller disco, please let me know) but this Disko Cowboy has worked a bit of Flying Mojito Bros style magic (see review HERE) on the 'Give Ur Luv 2 Em' with a bit of desert guitar and the inspired choice of Brandon Markell Holmes (he of 'Fuller' - see review HERE).

I would say prefer the extended edit by label boss, Robert PM as merely because it's longer but we miss the electric guitar solo.

Brandon Markell Holmes has recent had his long-awaited full-length album 'Try' released on toucan sounds featuring Robert PM, his 'Go Ahead' mate Toribio (see review HERE) and loads more - no Dee Diggs, no Byron The Aquarious - let's get 'em on the remix.

BUY LINK: https://music.toucansounds.com/giveurluv2em

Artist: Disko Cowboy
Title:  Give Ur Luv 2 Em feat. Brandon Markell Holmes
Release date: 26th August, 2025
Label: Toucan Sounds
Cat. No: TBC
Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Led Bib - Hotel Pupik (Cuneiform Records)

You'll recall Led Bib were one of the leaders of "anarchic jazz" revolution back in the day and now they are an 'Award-winning UK Jazz Group' but what are they like when the book into 'Hotel Pupik' with their new album?

I think it's fair to say that when Led Bib burst onto London's jazz circuit 20 years ago, folks didn't know what to make of them.  "Sun Ra didn't die in vain" [sic] said The Times.  The Observer's Music Monthly, "We need bands like Led Bib to make the world safe for dangerous music".  Well, they were still dangerous when they made their debut album on the US label Cuneiform back in 2009 with the undangerous title, 'Sensible Shoes'.  This is their 5th album on the label, a forward looking jazz label if there ever was one that was founded by Steve Feigenbaum over 40 years ago.

Led Bib's current line-up is Pete Grogan (saxophones), Chris Williams (saxophones, effects), Liran Donin (bass, effects) and leader Mark Holub (drums) and you'll note, the first time in their 22 year/10 album history, there's no keyboard player.  Any group/band that's 20% down is going to feel a difference, so what difference will this singular double horn attack make?

Well, on the opener, 'Iron Ore' its not a lot as it's raw energy harks back to when they were quoting thier diverse range of influences as Metallica, Delia Derbyshire, Northern Soul, NY improv and John Surman (Surman himself also being on Cuneiform).   Back to 'Iron Ore', by coincidence, Jazz Sabbath (the keyboard led, Black Sabbath 'tribute' trio) have had lots of coverage lately for obvious reasons, but 'Iron Ore' is full of the heavy metal influence so it is good to see that they are still able to rock.

I say that because the other six track on the album are somewhat different in that there's elements of 'rock' - particularly in the drums and bass - whilst at the other extreme, it's very ECM ambient and 'natural'; no more so than in 'Dawn Chorus'.  And most of the tracks include this apparent dichotomy.  But is it really?  Not on gentle 'Transient Weaving' and manic army marching plodding blues of 'Pure O':  'O' for Ozzy perhaps?

This mix is great and I envisage one of those old Quadraphonic LP sleeve notes where it gives you the best position to sit in the room to hear the album correctly with each performer having a speaker to themselves: Pete and Chris front right and left, Liran and Mark back row left and right.

So I can almost hear you saying, where's the 'free' jazz and if it's squarky sax and army marching heritage, why no mention of Albert Ayler?  We'll Ayler was more known for palying with his brother Donald (on trumpet) and whilst it sounds 'free', as it sounds so good as a group, I don't think this could be 'free' in the original sense of the 60s trippy period althought it definitley sounds more Ayler without the keyboards in the group. 

And what could be better than two 'Alberts' or an Ayler/Surman sax attack at the same time?  Nothing!  Especially when it comes to the opus that is the 12 minutes of title track. Collectively and individually Led Bib shine on this track, and indeed, throughout the album such that by the time time you get to the end of the last track, the mournful 'Till Next Time', you'll want to play it again and again; and even go back to 'Sensible Shoes' where tracks like 'Early Morning' can be seen as a precursor to 'Hotel Pupik'. 

Not as jazz-fusion as Lampen's 'Halogen' (see review HERE) and not as rock as Ivdf (see review HERE soon) but either would be great support acts to a Led Bib live gig; and talking of which, I can only imagine how powerful 'Hotel Pupik' as an album will sound live so if you're lucky enough to catch them on the forthcoming UK tour, don't hesitate and book tickets now!

Tour dates - UK.

• Sep 14: The Dukes, Lancaster 
• Sep 15: Puzzle Hall Inn, Sowerby Bridge 
• Sep 16: Cube Cinema, Bristol
• Sep 17: Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham 
• Sep 18: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 
• Sep 19: MOTH Club, London
• • Sep 20: The Rose Hill, Brighton
• BUY LINK: cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hotel-pupik-3

 

Artist: Led Bib 

Title: Hotel Pupik 

Release date: 29th August, 2025
Label :  Cuneiform Records
Catalog Number : Cuneiform Rune 541 
Format:  Vinyl LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Frollen Music Library - Lovely Beats To Study To - Vol. II (Frollen Music Library)

Frollen Music Library return with there "signature sound while drawing fresh inspiration from vintage Mood Music and Muzak, with subtle nods to minimalist and darker hip-hop sensibilities that anchor the atmospheric exploration"!

Release on the same day as Brenda's 'Bath Time with Brenda' (see review HERE), Hudson Whitlock (aka Brenda) Darvid Thor and Henry Jenkins are all active members of Melbourne’s thriving soul music community that makes up Karate Boogaloo, Surprise Chef and The Pro-Teens.

Whitlock's usual drummer duties provide the backbone to the analogue vision of 60/70s cool jazzy library beats that's been picked up in the past by ScHoolboy Q ('Smile') and Leon Thomas ('Feelings On Silent').

All 15 tracks comes with BPM for all you sample freaks but it's just as much fun just to chill in the library.

BUY LINK: Frollen Music Library - Lovely Beats To Study To - Vol II

Artist:Frollen Music Library

Title:Lovely Beats To Study To - Vol. II 

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label: Frollen Music Library s

Cat. No: FML 025

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

<a href="https://fabionobile.bandcamp.com/track/zuma-rock-3">Zuma Rock by Fabio Nobile</a>Artist: Fabio NobileTitle: Kalakuta RepublicRelease date: 11th July, 2025Label : Space Echo RecordsCatalog Number Digital / BandcampFabio Nobile: drums, Wurlizer Höfner bass, Telecaster guitar, Moog, Guitar, Farfisa professional organ, vocalAlessandro Fariselli: tenor saxAndrea Guerrini: trumpet, mellophoneLuca Mattioni: PercussionLuca Nobile: Farfisa professional organ, Telecaster guitar solo

Fabio Nobile, drummer and multi-instrumentalist with 25+ years of experience, blends West African traditions and jazz as core elements of his musical identity.

His upcoming new album 'Sankofa Soul' explores the connection between past and present, inspired by the Akan word “Sankofa” – meaning “to go back and fetch what is good”

On 'Kalakuta Republic', once again, we embark on a sonic journey through West Africa, with Nigeria beating at the heart of this musical tale. A heartfelt tribute to the self-proclaimed community, the legendary home of Fela, so that the rebellious spirit of the “Kalakuta Republic” may never be forgotten. This piece becomes the voice of the deepest essence of afro-jazz, wrapped in a hypnotic 12/8 rhythm, an echo of ancient African traditions. Its enveloping pulse intertwines with the boundless expressive freedoms of jazz, giving life to a vibrant and compelling dialogue, suspended between ancestral roots and modernity.

Perfect timing for Fela fans and companion to the 7" on Wah Wah 45s that came out on Friday, two different versions of the classic 'Zombie' recorded over 40 years apart (see review HERE).

Expect support from all DJ fans like Peterson, Forge, Beadle, Curtis, Parnell, Hill, Hectic and the like. 

Artist: Fabio Nobile

Title: Kalakuta Republic

Release date: 11th July, 2025

Label : Space Echo Records

Catalog Number   Digital / Bandcamp

Fabio Nobile: drums, Wurlizer Höfner bass, Telecaster guitar, Moog, Guitar, Farfisa professional organ, vocal
Alessandro Fariselli: tenor sax
Andrea Guerrini: trumpet, mellophone
Luca Mattioni: Percussion
Luca Nobile: Farfisa professional organ, Telecaster guitar solo

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]